Chapter 1: The Architect

"He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery." –Harold Wilson

Alphonse Elric knew he was in love with Winry, his childhood friend from his hometown of Risembool. He had read books about puberty and crushes and love, and although he didn't have a body to portray the physical symptoms (butterflies, dilated pupils, blushing) he deduced that he loved her as a girl. It made sense- had to- because he just felt different around the girl.

It was sudden one day: a thought rushed at him and nearly bowled him over with the realization that he very much cared for the blue-eyed girl. Alphonse wanted to be with her his whole life. She knew what he and Edward did to end up in this situation and still cared about him, would still care about him once he got his body back. Winry was definitely a constant in his life and he wanted it to stay that way. The only way for that to happen, a voice in his mind spoke, is to make sure that she likes you as more than a friend.

The problem was that he was pretty sure that she only had eyes for his older brother, Edward. And it wasn't that Ed was not handsome or caring; rather, it was that he was always moving forward, always searching for answers. Maybe, if they had never tried to resurrect their mother, he could have been content in their small village. Now, Edward would always want to move, seeking new quests after they had found they restored their bodies. As much as he complained about those 'meaningless missions' he was given, Alphonse saw the way his brother interacted with the locals. He learned about their history and always made lasting memories with them in the process. Al, for all his friendliness and charisma, did not care to go deeper than the surface unless something was plainly wrong. All he saw in those towns they went to was what they could have had and it hurt.

Alphonse wasn't sure when Winry and Edward had begun to like one another. They hardly saw each other, hardly spent time with each other. How could you like someone you only knew from scattered childhood memories? Alphonse and Winry spent more time with each other, talking and trading tales. Winry only knew the things she knew about Edward in the now that Alphonse had told her or that she had occasionally witnessed herself. Some things, like his hatred for milk, never changed. The girl knew more about Alphonse than anyone, save his own brother. She could read him easily and cared for him greatly. Unfortunately, her caring only went so far as familial love. She remembered him as he was a child and now only saw this armored, hollow body. Winry saw Edward's muscular, healthy body.And, the voice whispered again, Ed did have an actual body to fall in love with.

Al wasn't a fool; you had to have a physical attraction to someone in order to love them – a good personality was just second to having a good body and pretty face. In fact, Alphonse had a better personality than his brother, and once he got his body back, he would be handsome as well. Therefore, he was a better match for Winry than Edward was and could ever be. How did Al make her see that without his flesh-and-blood body?

For the first time, Al was beginning to think that he might actually feel some animosity towards his brother for their predicament. Oh, he loved his brother and didn't fully blame him for their sin, but there was still a part of him that logically claimed some sort of ill will towards Ed. It's part of human nature and, after all, his brother insisted that Al was still human. There's a logical side and an emotional side and they sometimes come together, despite the situation.

And just like that, he came up with the solution. Alphonse would make his brother question his feelings and thoughts in such a way that would completely occupy all others- except for their search. Never their search.

A month later…

"That bastard just pisses me off!" Ed growled through clenched teeth, kicking the door open to their hotel room. "He just has some sort of sick, sadistic pleasure out of teasing me! Can't he just leave me alone? I've actually grown up some and he doesn't need to make fun of me for shit I don't do anymore! Right, Al?" That was when he realized that his brother wasn't following him or squeaking at him and his 'vulgar language'. Well, Ed was 16, in the military, and a guy- what the hell did his brother expect, especially after living with their teacher who a mouth worse than any thug? Sighing, the blonde decided to head back out and see if he could find his brother. His face was slightly red with embarrassment when he also realized that he had been talking to himself the whole way to their hotel room. Groaning to himself, he shut the room's door and bounded down the stairs and ventured outside once again.

As Ed walked closer to Central Command, it had seemed as though Alphonse had never left the offices. The people he asked all said the same: no one had seen or heard the armor clanking about, so Edward furrowed his brow and went in the large building. Why hadn't Al followed, though? He would have said something to Ed if he wasn't coming back with him, he always did, and it made the blonde nervous. He ignored everyone saluting to him, intent on finding his little brother. It was just odd, and it wasn't like his brother to just not say anything. What was going on?

Alphonse had expected his brother to storm out of the office as usual, a whirlwind of red and blonde muttering curses, so he was not surprised when Ed continued to walk out of the office and out of headquarters without stopping. This time, Al wasn't following him like he normally would, as his brother expected him to. The armor shook his head noisily and knocked on the door of his brother's commanding officer.

"Yes, come in." Mustang's deep voice muffled through the door and Al turned the knob and swung the door wide enough so he could fit his upper body through.

"Sir, may I speak to you for a moment? I can wait or come back if you're busy," the armor meekly asked.

"No, no, it's alright Al. What can I do for you?" The Colonel stopped pretending to do paperwork so he could give his full attention to the younger, more agreeable of the Elric brothers. Probably just going to apologize for his brother's insubordination again, he thought as he gestured for the teen to sit down.

"Well first, um, I'd like to apologize for my brother –"

Mustang waved his hand absent-mindedly. "Don't worry about that. I do provoke him, but if he really wanted to apologize he would do so himself. Besides, he certainly has matured. His anger isn't nearly as capricious as it once was."

Al nodded his head in agreement. "I know, but I still feel like someone should anyway. I guess it's just a sort of habit now at any rate. I'm glad he's matured recently, but at times…" The armor sighed in defeat. "Especially lately, because he's been rather… hormonal, I guess. I mean, I understand and everything, I really do, but it's not exactly the same because I don't have a physical body. I don't have hormones to make me crazy. And it's not so much that I think it's unusual, it's just that brother doesn't, uh, have an outlet for these particular issues."

"Hmmm." The dark haired man studied the armor for a moment. It's only natural that Fullmetal would be going through these changes. I remember when I was 16, thought I knew everything and could do it all and all that was on my mind – oh. OH. Mustang tried to hide in equal measure a smirk (because now he had more ammo against the pipsqueak) and a frown because even he wasn't that mean. Right?

Al had continued talking as the Colonel achieved his realization. "Brother is really a nice guy, though, a gentleman and he wouldn't use a girl or guy for that reason. Though I know that he has to be feeling tension as I'm always around him and the only way he can relieve that, ah, tension is in the shower. I don't know if he's done anything about anything, you see, and we never had anyone that could give us that… 'talk'. We can read all the books we like, not that I think brother reads ones on physiology and biology or any other genre, but it's just not the same. And like I said, I don't know what he's going through and I just don't know how to approach him at all because it's really getting out of control."

"…I see," Mustang said when Al had finished speaking. "I can understand myself how awkward of a situation he must be in. While I feel that he may already know much, if not all, of 'growing up' due to being surrounded by people on missions and certain people in the military (mainly, Havoc and Breda), you feel that he would benefit from some sort of a sit-down, correct?" He chose his words carefully. It was obvious what the younger sibling was referencing about but how the hell he expected the teen's commanding officer to try to get him to talk about the joys of masturbation was not something said C.O. wanted to be thinking about. There was also something that Alphonse had said, something that Mustang wanted to be clear about before he came up with a plan to deal with this extremely delicate, and possibly life-threatening, situation.

"Yes sir." The sibling had shifted uncomfortably the whole time, obviously uncomfortable. Ed does not realize how lucky he is to have a brother like Alphonse, the man thought. Sighing his frustration, he leaned forward on his desk and rested his chin on his folded hands.

"There is one person that comes to mind that would be an excellent person to talk to regarding this, though I'm afraid (very much so) that Maes is all the way in East City and about to visit Gracia's parents this weekend and stay there for a few weeks. If this 'talk' were to happen, Edward would need to have it face-to-face. This is not something that can be done over the phone…"

"Of course, that's why I came here. I wanted to talk to you about this to see how I should go about trying to set something up because I don't want brother to be embarrassed and try to avoid talking about this. Since you also know brother, I thought you might know the best way to go about this. And Mr. Hughes was also my first choice with this but if he's away… I just don't know how much longer brother can keep himself bottled up. He can be kinda explosive at times." Alphonse finished.

Roy blinked at the sudden mental image of Edward in the shower with water running through his hair and in rivers on his flesh and metal, flushed and gasping as he reached completion. The Colonel did not know if the younger brother had realized the innuendo of that last remark. Damn imagination, what the hell is wrong with me? He's a kid and I'm not… attracted? He cleared his throat, ignoring how his mind had phrased that as a question. "Well Alphonse, I certainly understand your concern. Are you sure he's actually going through puberty, though? Isn't one supposed to get taller when growing up?" Roy tried to jest so he could gather his thoughts. What Alphonse had responded, however, completely blew coherent thought out of the water for a moment.

"Yes sir. However, he has grown several inches within the past year alone and his voice has changed already. His shoulders are broader and he's even had to transmute his clothes a few times this past year. Also, his, um, area has gotten much larger and heavier."

The Colonel had never thought that he would want to vomit and have a nosebleed at the same time but at that moment that's almost what happened. He stopped breathing and his eyes widened.

"I suppose that's to be expected because my body is still at the gate and feeds off of my brother, so the only place he would physically complete puberty would be that area." The armor stated bluntly. The brothers had figured that Ed wouldn't get taller until they got Al's body back, but the rest of his body was starting to fill out anyway. Ed had only shrugged, saying that it wasn't like anyone would see him naked until they reached their goals anyway.

After the initial shock the Colonel had to wonder why Alphonse was so open about this. Were things really that bad? Yet the raven-haired man surmised that there was something else going on behind those soulful glowing orbs. Grasping at an idea, he responded: "Something you said earlier struck me. You said that your brother would not 'use' anyone for gratification… a woman or man. Is this what you are really worried about?"

The armored teen shifted. "It's not that I think brother is gross or wrong, it's just that I'm not as option oriented as him, as it were. At least, I think so because I know that there have been girls that he liked and also a guy and nothing has ever happened. I've told brother that it doesn't matter who he likes but I just can't talk to him about it because I don't know how to talk to him."

"And that is why you came to see me." Mustang nodded his head as he sat back in his chair after regaining his composure. "It's understandable and a completely valid concern." He sighed inwardly. "I suppose that I could talk with him, if you wish because Maes is not here. It seems that you are suggesting Edward would need this conversation as soon as possible and this is the only feasible solution I can come up with for now."

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, sir. Perhaps Lieutenants Havoc or Hawkeye might be able…?"

This time Mustang sighed audibly. "I don't think so. While I trust my men with my life, I don't think that Havoc would be more comfortable than I (or do more than scar the poor kid for life) and Hawkeye is a woman. Certainly, she would be my next choice but I think that Edward would be mortified (though it would be hilarious!). Whereas I would also be embarrassing for your brother, I know how to handle him better than Havoc or Hawkeye. There are also certain aspects I think I can help your brother with."

"Like what?" The armor asked innocently.

"I am someone that is not judgmental as I also have similar interests as your brother." Somehow, I feel as if you already knew this. "The military and country doesn't care about one's sexual preferences as every citizen knows. There are certain individuals who disagree with this standing and I've come across a few in my time. So I feel that I can help Edward understand his emotions, learn how to cope."

"I agree completely! Thank you so much Colonel! This takes a huge weight off of myself and brother. He'll definitely be embarrassed but at least he'll know that there is someone he can talk to." The teen nearly leapt out of his chair with gratitude, his armor creaking with the effort of staying still.

"Of course, Alphonse. I only wonder how we are going to get him to sit down for this. I assume that you will not be in the same area while I talk with your brother, correct?" The older man shifted in his chair as he spoke.

Alphonse nodded. "I think it would be better for brother if I were to be somewhere else. Actually, I do have a plan in mind, sir." He waited for the Colonel's gesture to continue before he spoke. "There are some errands that I need to do and I wouldn't be back in the hotel for a while. Before I leave however, you come over and I would let you inside- brother might not let you in unless you ordered him and it would tense him up and make him angry. So he would be somewhat relaxed while I leave and then you try to talk with him. It's not much of a plan but it's probably the only option that wouldn't have him bolting for the hills at first," he finished in an exasperated tone.

"Sounds good enough for me. I'll stop by tonight after work if that's soon enough for you." Might as well get this the hell over with, Mustang thought wryly. It's a Friday and hopefully by the time Monday rolls around the horror and mortification will have lessened.

"Yes, thank you very much! I really-" but Al's gratefulness was cut off when the door was slammed open by an automail hand. The person attached to said arm was glaring at the onyx eyes of his commanding officer.

"You couldn't just terrorize me, you also had to snark at my brother? Go do your paperwork!" The object of discussion sauntered in the office to stand next to said sibling. "I hope he wasn't giving you shit, Al." Golden spheres peered at the armor, softening. "I was worried when I couldn't find you," Ed stated softly.

The younger stood, only to hang his head. "I'm sorry, brother." He offered no excuse and the older mentally shrugged, figuring he had his reasons and they most likely involved apologies for Edward's attitude.

"Okay. Just let me know next time, alright?" The blonde titled his head and smiled. He swiveled back to Mustang, who was watching the brothers intently. "Hope I wasn't interrupting," though the teen's tone indicated that he didn't care whether or not he had. The Colonel merely raised an eyebrow.

"Are you done here, Al?" Ed asked.

"Yep. I'm ready to go back." As his older brother turned around, he looked at the Colonel, inclining his head slightly. The older man replied in kind, understanding the message. The two teens left his office and suddenly, the weight of the conversation sank in. The dark haired man slumped his head in despair, groaning at the thought of talking to the volatile alchemist about something so private.

"Sir?" Riza Hawkeye's voice made the Colonel look at her. "Is something wrong, sir?" Respectful and precise wording; the woman was always professional, even while being concerned.

Sighing heavily, the man sat up. "How do you talk to a hot-tempered, teenage alchemist prodigy about masturbation and sexual orientation?" He inquired of her.

If she was shocked at the unusual question she didn't show it. "I would think, sir, one would talk to him on such issues in a serious yet understanding manner. Sir."

Mustang inhaled deeply and ran a hand through his hair, letting out a deep breath before he answered. "I guess someone has to do it, right?"

The blonde haired woman nodded. "Good luck, sir." Without another word, she gathered up her superior's finished paperwork after handing him a new stack, leaving him to work out the logistics of that one.

The two brothers walked in silence through town to their hotel room. Alphonse ran through the conversation he had with the Colonel in his mind, amazed at how easily he could lie and manipulate. Sure, his brother liked Winry (though that would be changing soon enough), a girl, though he never liked anyone else- much less another male. Liking someone was only an afterthought to the immediate physical attraction to them after you got to know them better. Your body could be aroused without liking the person at all and this was just the principle that Alphonse relied upon to carry out his plan.

In fact, there was the time when the pair when to Xenotime and met the Tringham brothers. Alphonse had seen and heard Edward and Russell in a compromising action, and it was that memory he relied upon to complete his plan:

The night before their train left, Edward and Alphonse decided to stay with Russell and Fletcher to learn more about their dad's work. It was past midnight and Alphonse, possessing no physical body, did not need sleep. Nonetheless, he stayed still on his bed to give the illusion as the Tringhams did not know the truth. The door opened and Edward walked in, having gotten up and needing to use the bathroom. Before he could climb back in bed, however, the door swung open once more and the light from the hallway showed the tall form of Russell. Edward turned around and titled his head in question. Russell did not say anything but approached Edward silently, stealing glances at Alphonse, before stopping in front of the shorter blonde.

"What is it?" Ed asked sleepily, rubbing a hand through his tangled hair.

"Is he sleeping?" Russell whispered.

"Al? Uh, yeah. What do you want?"

Russell stepped closer and Edward stepped back, only to have to step back until he couldn't when the taller alchemist continued to back him against the wall. "Dude, what are you doing?" Edward hissed.

"Your fighting must have you pretty toned, right?" Russell asked, placing his hands at the wall to either side of Edward's waist.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Alphonse resisted the urge to smack his forehead in exasperation. His brother could be so dim sometimes. Didn't he realized what Russell was doing? Yet he kept still to see what would happen. He didn't want to ruin anything needlessly. Suddenly, he heard Edward's breath hitch as Russell moved his hands under Ed's top, feeling the sculpted body beneath. From his position on the bed, Al could see that Edward was frozen.

"Just as I thought," Russell whispered, a smirk evident in his tone.

"Wha-what are you-"

"I'm feeling you up, of course."

"Why?"

"Because," Russell leaned into Edward's ear and whispered something before moving his head slightly lower and doing something that Edward jerked at.

Edward made a strangled noise and tried to ask something again but Russell moved his face over the older and Alphonse heard him kiss his brother. He heard their mingled, unsteady breathing and the rustling of movement.

"Stop," Edward whispered when Russell had moved his head to Edward's neck, playing with the golden hair that he pushed to the other side. Edward jerked again and then pushed Russell away with one hand, clutching his neck with the other. "I said stop," he hissed.

"Why?" It was Russell's turn to question.

"I don't like you like that. I don't know what gave you that idea-"

"If I didn't know before I do now," Russell whispered in a husky tone, looking down at something.

"That- that is a normal reaction to-"

"Keep telling yourself that. I won't push you, but I'm here if you decide differently." The younger blonde stated, the huskiness replaced with understanding as he turned away and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Edward trembled and sunk to the floor as Alphonse got up as quietly and quickly as he could. "Brother?"

"A-Al," he croaked. "What happened?"

Alphonse comforted his brother, reassuring him that it was okay. Edward insisted that he didn't like Russell, that he didn't like guys at all, but he was still shaking. He didn't sleep the rest of the night.

Alphonse knew that his brother had pushed that memory down, locked it and buried it and they never spoke of that night again. It seemed that it didn't sway Edward at all the next day when they said good-bye to the Tringham siblings, or any day after that. But if something like that happened again, it would rock the foundations of his brother's world.

Since the moment Al decided to go through with this, he had spent all of his nights researching, trying to decide the best way to set the events in motion. He had an inkling in the back of his mind, niggling away at his good intentions until he was obsessed with finding a way around it.

It is the only way, the voice whispered in his mind. It's practical, efficient, and there is no way to trace it back to you.

But I don't want to hurt him, Alphonse argued with himself.

You're not. It's safe and it's not like you would be making him do anything. Mustang would never make your brother do anything either. It's the only way.

Countless arguments with himself kept him from trying to find other ways. He knew that even if he was able to sleep, he couldn't because this would keep him up for days.

It was twelve days after the first thought that led him down this path and he heard Hughes tell Mustang's office that he and his family would be heading out to East City that weekend for a much-needed vacation visiting Gracia's family. They would be gone for a week and a half. That moment something inside Al snapped and he gave in.

He would drug his brother.

Alphonse spend the next few days fervently researching while his brother did military work in Central Command. He looked up substances, herbs, roots, extracts- everything under the sun. Mentally exhausted, he at last found a rare flower native to Cretia that he had seen for a hefty price in the flower shop. The property of one of the chemicals in the flower lowered inhibitions and was also thought to be an aphrodisiac. The substance was only studied as one had to isolate the chemical and then work on making a tincture of it.

The only problem would be the alcohol involved in making the tincture. Mustang would most likely be able to taste the alcohol and that reduced the chances of the plan working slightly.

It's not like you need to drug him anyway, the voice said. Alphonse nodded in agreement. He had only wanted to be safe in the success of everything, but maybe it would be safer to have an adult that was not under the influence.

The next day Al went to the florist and bought a bouquet, making sure to include that flower in the mix. He walked back to the hotel and threw the other flowers in the garbage in the lobby, keeping the three that he needed to make the tincture. That night he transmuted the equipment and began his work and in the morning there was no evidence, save a tiny vial of a clear substance tucked away secretly. Now all he had to do would be to wait until opportunity struck.

Looking back, he hadn't expected it to be so soon, yet he was grateful that it was. The sooner the better, he reasoned. That voice hummed in agreement. After putting into motion the final part of his plan he felt confident that all would go well. Alphonse could not forget the way the Colonel had stopped breathing when he described his brother's body. At least that part wasn't a lie, he chuckled to himself. I still can't believe the Colonel, the master manipulator, was so easily manipulated.

Then Al felt extremely guilty and horrible. Edward and his commanding officer were going to be drugged and while the dark-haired man had certainly shown a curiosity in his brother, the blonde may not appreciate being somewhat coerced into such a situation. Even if the plan bore no fruit (the voice in his mind hissed in disagreement), at least he had tried. If there was any curiosity on Edward's part regarding his sexuality, it would be solved one way or another.

If Al could make Winry happy, then his brother would be happy, too. That didn't mean that Edward had to be alone, or Winry would never give up hope. Yes, it would hurt her deeply (and he regretted having to do this to her) but in time she would heal. Alphonse would be there for her, let her lean on him, and when the time came for his return to his body… everyone would be happy and satisfied.