UNBREAKABLE

DISCLAIMER: I DONT OWN FMA

A/N: Another idea that has been stewing at the back of my head for a while. A bunch of brotherly one shots in where either Alphonse or Edward have a nervous break down while the other or someone else has to calm them down.

One-shot 1:

Alphonse knew his brother wasn't unbreakable, but when he 'broke' it was rare. Edward would be be tossed into a horrible panic attack that would leave both parties scared until Edward would go back to his normal self, and assure Alphonse that nothing was wrong.

Alphonse knew that was a lie.

The thing Alphonse knew about his brother the best was that no matter who they were with or where they were, Edward wouldn't let his panic show. He'd always make a small excuse about going to the bathroom, or to go and get a breather. But when the two were alone, or in a secluded part of the library when the panic struck, Edward wouldn't run, he'd simply stand slowly, stagger towards Alphonse and when Al would look down at him Edward would tug at his big leather hands in a downwards motion with a look that would frightened most, his golden eyes dulled over and depressed looking. Alphonse would sit down, and his brother would clamber upon his armour, shaking and breathing unevenly, un-shed tears welling up, he would bury himself deep into his armour with an unspoken sentence.

"I need you here."

Alphonse knew this, so he would help his brother get comfortable and closed his big arms around his elder brother like a cacoon, and he would sit there and listen to the unsteady breathing of his brother. Some times when the panic was really bad, Edward would be crying, sometimes even screaming. On those days, Alphonse would pick his brother up and pull the hood over his head, so that no one but Alphonse can see his tears, and leave the library and or the barracks with his brother so that the warm summer air could calm him. To Alphonse, there were three categories for Edward's panic, the minor, the really bad, and the ultimate worst. Now during an 'ultimate worst' Edward would personally try and stab whoever would try to touch him, Alphonse hated those, he would always have to restraint his brother. Alphonse pinning his brothers arms to his armour and his thick legs holding his lower body down, so that nobody would get hurt. Now Alphonse knew his brother wasn't unbreakable, but he knew his brother wasn't fragile. Sometimes Edward's episode would happen during the worst moments, like during a battle, the episode would make him react and move slower but still he refused to give up a fight, and Alphonse would always discreetly step in to help him out wordlessly as if to say:

"I've got you brother."

Edward's panic always triggered at the worst moments.

Today seemed no different.

Except that everyone in their military unit was staring at them.

/

It started as a plain morning, Edward was groaning about giving a report to the colonel and Alphonse talking to him about other things. The two brother's made it to the central command, Edward jumped up the large stairs with Alphonse in tow. The golden boy looked at his brother with a small smile.

"Come on Al, I'm pretty sure the Colonel is waiting."

Alphonse looked at the rare true smile on his brother's face and let his 'eyes' drink in the sight of it. Alphonse loved his brother's smile, it would always remind him of their mother.

"Alright Brother, let's not keep him waiting longer than he should."

Edward opened the large wooden doors and walked in with an air of confidence, it was one of Alphonse's rare days, when he would notice something about his brother he had never noticed before. Today, he noticed that when they walked the stares would always be on Edward. His bright red coat, bright blond hair and black outfit always seemed to make people stare at the smaller figure rather than the bulky armour behind him. Alphonse smiled inwardly at his brother's attempt to sheild him from harsh stares.

Once they had passed the lobby, Edward's facade of confidence dropped a little and he rubbed at his throat idly. Alphonse noticed this as well, he gulped inwardly.

"Brother maybe we should come back later."

Edward looked at his younger brother in surprise.

"Why? We're already here Al?"

He paused in his walking.

"Is there something wrong Al?"

Alphonse shook his head, a cold sinking feeling in his 'stomach'.

"Nothing brother."

Edward tossed him a concerned look.

"Are you sure?"

Alphonse shook his 'head'.

"No, brother you look bad, like if your going to panic."

Edward reached out and squeezed his large hand with a small reassuring smile.

"If something feels wrong Al then I'll say 'problem'... Ok?"

Alphonse relaxed at this, if his brother did say it, then it'd mean that Edward trusted his brother to take care of him when need be. That'll also mean he had to try to get his brother to calm down without getting anybody injured. But he could manage.

Edward snorted softly and knocked his hand against Alphonse's chest plate.

"Come on Al, time to see the bastard."

Alphonse nodded and watched as his brother opened the large wooden door, and walked into the room, Alphonse at his heels. The whole room was buzzing with greetings, in which Edward responded with an unintelligible:

"Mornin'."

Alphonse waved at them and chirped a 'hello'. The second came to them with an unreadable expression.

"Follow me."

The brother's followed the 2nd Lt. Riza to the Colonel's office. She opened the door and told Roy:

"Your ten'oclock is here sir."

Roy looked up from his paper work with a sigh.

"Thank you Lt. You are dismissed."

"Sir!" she saluted and walked away.

Edward and Alphonse clambered into the room, Alphonse watched his brother carefully, Edward took out a manilla folder and tossed it to the Colonel.

"Here's your damned report."

Roy smirked and spoke, hands intertwined.

"Ah, there you are fullmetal, I was wondering how a folder got to my desk, but I just didn't see such a short person behind my paper work."

Alphonse watched his brother twitch in protest but didn't yell.

"Your an ass."

"I know fullmetal, tell me something I don't already know."

Edward 'tched' in annoyance.

"Are we done here?"

Roy smirked.

"Yup."

Alphonse didn't like that smirk, something was wrong. Edward raised an eyebrow.

"What? No more short jokes or jabs?"

"Yup. Your dissmissed major."

Edward narrowed his eyss and turned to Alphonse.

"Let's go Al..."

They headed for the door, and Edward seemed puzzled. Alphonse opened it and walked behind his brother as his eyes trained on Edward's movement.

They were getting slower.

As they turned the corner of the hallway to head into the units work station Alphonse spotted a sharp glare of light where it shouldn't be. He shouted at his brother in alarm, but it was too late, Edward tripped a bit over the sliver string and a trap door in front of him opened, a large burnt bloody feminine dummy launched itself towards Edward with a fake horror scream.

Everything happened so fast afterwards, Edward jerked back and jolted against Alphonse with a loud high pitched scream. Havoc and the other's were laughing and shouting:

"April fools!"

Although from their fallen position, Alphonse can see how scared Edward really was and tried to shout over everyone, but they were to busy hollering and laughing to care, Roy was laughing behind them and was joking about Edward. Alphonse's temper flared and he was afraid that he'd be the one to freakout if they didn't stop. Finally a loud gunshot echoed.

"That's enough! Everyone back to work!"

Havoc chuckled and looked at Riza.

"Oh come on Lt. Loosen up."

Alphonse sat up and ignored the bickering Lt. and turned his brother towards him and looked at him in the eyes.

"Brother?"

Edward's hair had fallen out of his face, and his features were pulled into a frightened expression. His lips where moving, Alphonse followed them.

'Problem.'

Alphonse went to grab him but before he could do anything Edward had stood up and with arms out, vaulted towards Havoc with an unearthly and animalistic screech. Alphonse watched in terror as his brother tackled the Lt. and raised an arm to attack him, flesh hand gripping a stray pen that he had somehow gotten ahold of.

"Brother!"

Alphonse rushed to grab his brother, making it just in time to stop the pen from stabbing the Lt.'s arm. He gripped his brother's wrist and tried to ignore the nonsensical screeching that was falling out of his brother's mouth.

"Breath brother!"

He managed to sit down and grapple a struggling Edward into his lap and held him there. Soon his brother had screamed himself raw and twisted and arched until there was no strength left to do anything but breath harshly and openly sob against his brother's chest plate. Alphonse heard the sound of footsteps and a pair of shoes appeared in front of his vision. The person crouched down and stared sadly at the golden bundle in his arms.

"Is the chief ok?"

Alphonse didn't respond, he only glared.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare him like that..."

Alphonse's glare softened

"I know, but brother has been having a bad day..."

Havoc sat across from them, and startled when he saw a golden eye peer at him through the tangle of blond hair.

"Hey boss...I'm sorry."

Edward just hid his face in his hood and snuggled up into Alphonse some more.

"Your an asshole."

Havoc smiled.

"I know."

Edward turned and hugged his brother around the neck brace.

"I'm sorry."

Edward's voice was raw and cracked and Alphonse just hugged him and told him that everything was ok. Even though they had fractured him, Alphonse knew that his brother trusted him to put the pieces back together. Edward wasn't perfect, but then again neither was Alphonse. And when one of the brother's fell, the other was there to break the landing.