"Niisan hurry up, Colonel Mustang is going to be upset!" Alphonse shouts, giving me an impatient look.

"Colonel Bastard can wait for all I care.." I grumble out, still pissed off at what he said at our last meeting.

"So Fullmetal, feeling better after your 3-month leave?" Mustang says, smirking at me with that weird look in his eyes.

"I was taking care of Al, you know, my brother who just got his body back?" I grit my teeth and glare at him. He's still wearing that damn smirk of his. I hate it.

"Yes, I saw. Your brother is looking quite well." A wild look washes over his face. "Quite well indeed."

I frown. "What exactly are you getting at here Mustang?" My hands ball up into fists. Not uncommon for me.

"Oh nothing, just that your little brother is becoming quite the attractive young gentleman." Another smirk graces his face. "But I'm sure you figured that out."

My eyes search his face for any sign of humor, and unfortunately I find none. A light blush creeps slowly onto my face. "So what? My little brothers handsome. I don't get what the big deal is."

"I'm not saying it's a big deal Fullmetal, I'm just saying that I as well find your little brother incredibly," He pauses to look at me with a gentle smile," and I mean incredibly attractive. Why, I think that once you leave, I may even give him a call."

My blood ran cold. "Stay away from Alphonse." Was all I could mutter out, considering I was using most of my energy to not punch Mustang square in the jaw.

He raises an eyebrow at my sudden change in mood. "What's wrong Fullmetal? Something bothering you? Maybe it's that you have feelings for your little brother. Beyond brotherly fellings hmm? i wouldn't be supr-" He was cut off by the sudden ringing of the phone. Convenient timing.

"Colonel, the Fuher wants to see you in his office. Immediately." Hawkeye said, her voice sounding mechanical and hollow over the intercom. Just like Al's did for 4 years.

Mustang looked at me with an expression of mock pity on his face. "Sorry for the," He paused," short conversation..."

"WHO YOU CALLING SO SHORT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE WITH A MICROSCOPE!"


Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to this visit. Especially since Al was coming.

Not that I hated Al. I could never hate Al. In fact, the feelings I had for Al were the complete opposite. I loved Al, with a passion that wasn't brotherly. I loved him like a man loves his wife, or vice-versa. I don't remember when i fell in love with him, but I remember the day I admitted to myself that I had feelings. i was 6 years old. 6. That meant my sweet, innocent little brother was 5. I was a sick-minded brother at 6 years old! I didn't think that was even possible.

I'd never tell him though. He'd leave me. He's never talk to me ever again, and tell everyone what a sick, disgusting freak his big brother was. And then I'd be kicked out the military, banished from Amestris, and have to live the rest of my life in exile and never get to see the beautiful face of my brother ever again.

"Niisan? Are you ok?" A worried tone calls form ahead of me.

I snap out of my daydream-no, more a nightmare, and look at Al who is giving me his Are-You-Ok-Because-I'm-Seriously-Worried face, or at least that's what he calls it. I call it another one of his adorable faces.

"Yeah, just thinking about whats for dinner!" I say, grinning at Al to show him I'm ok.

He laughs his angelic little laugh and gives me a look before turning around and walking inside. "That's my niisan, always thinking about food."

"Hey, wait up you little brat!" Is all I can shout before chasing after him. Once he sees me running after him, he speeds up. Soon it's become a full blown chase, and Al is shrieking and giggling happily ahead of me. I'm laughing and smiling and having a great time until Al rounds the corner and bursts into Mustang's office. My happy face turns to one of anger. Especially when I walk in and see Mustang checking Al out.

"Fullmetal. Alphoonnsee," He drags out the word Alphonse just to annoy me, I know it. He smirks at me and nods to Al, who is just looking at us with an expression of sheer happiness on his face. He then turns toward my brother and addresses him, "How is your new body suiting you?"

Al blushes lightly. "It's been great. Just using all my sense to their full extent again. Taste, smell, sight, sound, touch." He blushes again.

Mustang smiles. "I'm glad to hear that." Mustang then launches into a briefing about a trip we have to go on, but I'm not paying attention. I'm looking at Al, who is sitting down on Mustang's dirty couch. The sun is glinting off his chocolate brown hair, and right now he looks gorgeous. I bet the Colonel noticed too.

"-alright Fullmetal?" Roy asks, looking me dead in the eye.

"Yessir." I say, mock-saluting him. "Come on Al, we gotta get home anyway." As Al and I turn to leave, I let a small sigh of relief out. He hasn't asked me to stay behind so he can tell me about how delicious Al looks.

"Oh, and Alphonse?" Mustang calls out from behind us. S.. I think to myself, looking at the wall, trying to hide my flushed cheeks. I can practically hear him smirking.

"Yes Colonel?" Al replies, turning around to look at Mustang.

"Would you care to go on a date with me?"


Right in front of me. Right in fucking front of me.

Al was calling for me awhile back, but I stayed hidden. My hand hurt. I didn't think Mustang was gonna have such a hard head. Normally I'd resort to alchemy, but I took pity on him. Tears streamed down my face, and from looking in a puddle on the ground I could see my face was red and puffy. I just couldn't let Al see me like this. I don't think the fact that he asked Al to go out with him in front of me got me so angry. I think the fact that Mustang gave me a look that said I-Can-Have-Him-And-You-Can't-And-Never-Will really pissed me off. Why? Because it was true. Even if Al did return those feelings toward me (which would never happen, no matter how much I wished it would), we would never be able to be together. More hot tears slip from my eyes, and by now I've stopped caring who sees the Fullmetal Alchemist huddled in an alley, crying over his feelings for his little brother. I can hear footsteps approaching so I dry my eyes on my sleeve and sit, waiting to figure out who is approaching.

"Do you think he's over here?" A voice thick with worry calls. It sounds choked, as if they are keeping back sobs.

Al.

Oh god, I didn't even think about what this would do to him. He would think he did something wrong, and, and.. More sobs escaped from my throat. I hated myself.

"Nii-san..." Al murmurs. He's in front the dumpster I'm crouching behind. I can hear him cry, and the dumpster shakes when he slams his body against it. "Niisan... What did I do? Oh niisan, please come home.."

I'm holding back sobs, and I just wish I could get up and comfort him, wrap him in my arms and pull him in for a kiss.. But that's not gonna happen. I've given up on telling myself that its wrong to think these things. I mean, what's the point? Adding to my angst?

I don't even notice the soft meowing of the cat next to me until Al's crying ceases. "Is... that a cat?" Al asks aloud. I hear him turn and walk over to where I'm hiding.

No, no, don't come over here! Please don't see me like this. Please...

A soft gasp comes from Al. "You poor thing, all alone out here in the cold. I'l take you home, I'm sure niisan won't mind." I mentally scoff at that and Al scoops up the kitten in his arms. By now I can see his hands beside me, but he still can't see me yet. He cuddles the kitty in his arms for a few seconds before talking again. "Do you have any brothers or sisters? Let's take a look." He looks around the corner and comes eye to eye with me.

Silence.

"..."

"Niisan?"

"I'm sorry AI, I just didn-" I was cut off by Al, who pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Niisan don't ever leave me again!" He mumbles into my shoulder, and then pulls me closer. His hands are wrapped around my neck, and he nuzzles himself into the crook of my neck. His face fits so perfectly there, it's almost scary. I can feel heat pooling in my groin. Not now... I guess I got a little excited being so close to my brother.

We stay like this for a few minutes before he pulls away and gives me a half-hearted smile. I can tell he knows somethings wrong, but he isn't asking.

"Let's go home, ok niisan?"

"Yeah, that sounds nice."


"Hey Al?" I blurt out that night, as we're getting ready for bed.

"Yeah?" Al replies, his voice smooth and soft. I roll over so I can look at him when I ask my question. Bad idea. He's standing there half-naked, only wearing light blue boxers. His perfect but pale skin glows in the moonlight, and his newly formed muscles are just starting to show. His long brown hair is swept over the side, and it's out of it's usual ponytail. He smiles at me, not even realising how incredibly sexy he is. I feel my member slowly come to life, and I pull the sheets over my waist so he doesn't see.

"What did you say to Mustang?"

Al looks at me, his storm grey eyes thoughtful. He lets out a small laugh after a few seconds. "Before or after you punched him?"

I blushed. "You know what I mean."

Al looked at me and smiled. He sat on the edge of my bed, and put his hand on my leg. "I helped him up, and I declined his offer."

I looked up at Al, my heart beating 5 times faster now. "You... what?"

Al looks at me, his eyes focused on mine. "I said no. I'm not really into men like that."

And my heart stops. "Oh." Is all I can squeak out.

"Yeah" Al sighs, before laying back on my bed. "Hey Al?" I ask," Can we go to bed now?" He just looks at me with a sad look in his eyes before he sighs, gets up, and crawls into his bed.

I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. To think, at one point, there was a little piece of me that thought maybe, just maybe, Al loved me like I love him. But nope, not anymore. I would live in anguish for the rest of my life. Suicide crossed my mind at some point, but I couldn't do that. Not to Al. It'd kill him inside. I didn't even realize I was crying until I heard Al calling for me.

"Niisan? Are you ok?"

I rolled over and looked at him. Still beautiful. "Yeah I'm fine Al."

He fidgeted a little in his bed before looking at me with tired eyes. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Yeah, yeah you can."

I watched him get up and crawl into bed next to me. Thank god my member was down. I turned toward the wall, ready to drift off to sleep when I felt two strong arms wrap around me.

Yeah, this is how it should be. Forever. Too bad it won't last.