Brother hasn't laughed since the accident. I don't think he can, physically I mean. His emotions speak for him. Even now he sits, with a scowl gracing his features, glaring at a new text book with disgust.
I sigh and my armor creaks slightly, jostling brother from his studies. "Maybe you should take a break, Brother. You'll get a headache if you read like that for hours." This time the scowl was directed at me. I could almost hear him whine: But Alphonse…
I shook my head "Don't give me that look Ed, you know it's true. Besides, I can take over. It's not like I have anything to do at night, right?"
At this brother seemed sad, his eyes dropped to the floor. "Brother? Is everything alright?" His bangs covered his face with dark shadows, he was eerily quiet (more so than normal). "Brother…you're thinking about mom, aren't you?" His head shot up. "It's okay brother, I do too. I think about her a lot."
He smiled softly, his eyes shifting to half shut lids, as if in thought, "I miss her too. But really brother, do you have to blame yourself all the time?"
Ed gave me a confused glance before it morphed into a stern stare. "I know you blame yourself for what happened. It's not your fault. Dad left for his own reasons and mom was just too sick."
Brother turned his head to the right, shutting his eyes. "It's not your fault! Stop blaming yourself for it! I wanted mom back too! We both did, both of us! I'm just as much at fault as you are!"
Ed glanced back towards me, a look of hurt on his face.
"Brother…" He shook his head, a smile graced his lips. Then what sounded like…chuckling? Brother was laughing! As good as it was to hear something like his voice, concern sneaked its way into my thoughts: Great he's lost it!
"Brother…are you okay? D-did I say something…?" He shook his head again before quieting down some. A few more chuckles here and there escaped once more, and then he stood up from the table. He smiled towards me and walked up to my chair. Patting my shoulder twice, he turned and left for the door. I watched him disappear down the hallway before shrugging it off. I planned on reading some more, however, when I looked down at my book there was a piece of paper with scrawled writing staring back at me:
You worry too much Al, but thanks.
"I love you too, Brother."