A/N: When I watched episode 6 of Brotherhood again one question got to my mind: Who the hell braided Ed's hair? After all, it's impossible to do it one-handed. What started out as confusion developed into a cute little bonding situation. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I don't own te characters or the setting or anything. No monetary gain in it for me.


It had been an impulsive action to unfix his hair, but he was used to doing it before going to sleep so he hadn't given it any further thought. Besides, it would've looked like a haystack by now.

So instead he faced a whole lot of long, blond, annoying strands of hair, doing whatever pleased them. He couldn't braid them one-armed. Al didn't have a second arm at his dispense either and nobody besides the Major was there so he did the only thing possible.

„Major Armstrong?", he said, his tone an inch away from rude.

„What is it, Edward Elric, do you require my help?", he asked, glittering and an inch away from ripping off his shirt.

Ed sighed, this was harder than he thought.

„Could... Could you... Braid my hair?", he took all his courage to ask and waved the hair tie as an emphasis.

„My, of course", he swelled his chest and reached for the hairbrush.

„Sit down", he ordered Ed and pointed at the chair in front of him. With a huff the young man sat down.

The overly muscled man gathered all of the longer hairs in the back and started brushing through them. Ed had expected more than a little tugging and tangling. But the Major was so chary, he barely felt anything. Very surprising, considering he himself only had one short lock of hair on his forehead.

„You're very... uh... skilled, it doesn't hurt one bit", Ed admitted, trying to make a bit of friendly conversation. He thought back at when Al had done it the first time. It was a painful memory.

„I've had a lot of practise", Major Armstrong rumbled.

„Let me guess. The ancient braiding technique handed down in your family for generations?", Ed lifted an eyebrow though the Major could only see his back. That question prompted a booming laughter from the man. He had put one hand on Ed's shoulder so he, too, vibrated from the laughter. The blonde gritted his teeth.

„No, when we were younger my big sister always made me plait her hair", he explained.

„Made you?", Ed would have cocked his head but the Major had begun to braid.

„She didn't care to learn it."

„And you just... obeyed her?", Ed sounded very curious. Who could make this big bear-man do anything?

Again a laugh.

„She would have beaten me up if I refused. But she always did anyway. Whenever I pulled on a strand too forcefully or it didn't look perfect afterwards."

„Beat you up? That's...", he searched for words.

Again the Major laughed.

„It is her way of expressing affection."

Ed had nothing to say about that.

„Hand me the tie", Alex said and Ed complied.

„It is...", he said, standing up, taking of his shirt and showing his muscles,„Finished!"

He strained especially his biceps to show his success.

Ed looked at the product in the mirror. It really looked good. He rarely took the time to do it that neatly.

„Thanks, Major", he grinned at the older man.

He grinned back.