"We can't afford that medicine." Alfons murmured, as he pulled on his jacket, ready to leave the doctor's office. The diagnosis had not been good. There was nothing the doctor could do to get rid of the cough; all he could do was give advice Alfons wouldn't—couldn't—follow.
"What did he say?" Edward asked.
Alfons shrugged at his roommate. "He told me to stay away from the rockets for a while." He chuckled, giving off a mask of nonchalance.
"What about medicine?" Edward's face was guardedly worried. "I heard you muttering about it."
"Doc just recommended something," Alfons lied, not looking at the older blond. "I don't need it—(another lie)—It's expensive anyway." A sudden cough helped cover the lie

.:.

Edward was downcast as they made thei way back to their apartment. Alfons found the silence between them awkward, probably because of the lie he had told his friend. He half wished Edward had gone to work at the university instead of tagging along. But anti-social Ed had a strange habit of needing to walk with somebody. Even if nothing was said, Edward seemed to prefer a companion to walking alone. Alfons hadn't minded earlier, and he didn't object now. Rather an awkward silence to Ed wandering around town with some girl—
Where the hell had that thought come from? Alfons wondered. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He was just tired, that had to be the source of it. Besides, Edward rarely showed interest in other people. Just him, which was fine by Alfons because Edward didn't belong with anyone else.
What. The. Fuck? Why was he thinking like this? Edward could be with anyone he wanted. What did he care?
But I want him, a voice in the back of his head said.
No I don't, no I don't, no I don't! He argued. No fucking way. That is sick and wrong!
But Edward's who I want, the voice insisted.
He's not! No way. I'm not gay. I want a girl; a woman, not the guy I share an apartment with!
"Hey, Alfons," Edward interrupted the inner battle (which was good as Alfons was about to beat his own head). "You go on ahead. I'm gonna go check something." With that, he turned around and left.
Alfons sighed. He's probably going to see if that girl from the sweet shop is available, he thought. To his horror, this assumption made him feel… sick? No, disappointed and forlorn.
If he hadn't been in public, Alfons would have hit his head against a wall.

.:.

Once inside the privacy of his own room, he proceeded to do so.
"I—" thunk! "Am—" thunk! "Not—" thunk! "Gay!" He repeated it aloud, over and over. "I don't like Edward. I like women. Not men and definitely not Edward." To distract his mind, he began to list the traits of the women he usually dreamed about.
"Light brown hair, like honey. No, lighter, like sunshine. Average height. Maybe a few inches shorter. Eyes… bright, like fire, but gold and—" He stopped. The "woman" that he pictured was vastly different from usual. And it was… Disgusted, Alfons hit his head especially hard against the wall.
It wasn't a good idea. It hurt—though it did get rid of the sudden and embarrassing picture of Edward from his mind—and made him dizzy. The action also triggered a coughing attack (or maybe he was just long over due for one).
The coughing hurt, tearing at his throat. It also brought a strange taste to his mouth.
"Stay away from those rockets of yours, Mr. Heidrich," the doctor had told him. "You've inhaled fumes that can be damaging after too long. Take a break and you may get better."
Alfons had caught the may in the doctor's warning. It was already too late for anything to make a difference. He was too young for things to end, too ambitious to let life go with out making his mark on the world. The coughing was going to kill him; might as well do what he could before then.
Alfons grimaced as the coughing stopped. The taste left behind was foreign, disgusting… and unnervingly familiar. He went to the kitchen to drown the taste out with whatever they had. He found half a bottle of scotch. It was Edward's but it had been hiding in the cabinet for a few months now. Alfons looked at the liquid inside, inwardly debating whether or not to drink it. He had never tried alcohol before but his eighteenth birthday was in a few days… wouldn't hurt to try it now. Alfons poured a small glass and downed the few mouthfuls.
It burned his throat as badly as coughing did. Alfons choked and began coughing again.
"Alfons?"
Shceisse, he thought as Edward came into the kitchen. Alfons was bent over, still coughing.
"Alfons, you idiot." Edward sounded angry, making Alfons cringe. "It's bad enough your sick with out testing how well you hold your alcohol."
"Sorry, Ed," Alfons gasped as he was forced to sit in a nearby chair. Edward was glaring at him. "I got thirsty, that's all. Where have you been?" Not the subtlest change of subject but it worked. Edward shrugged and threw a paper bag at him.
"I went back to get that medicine for you," was the simple reply. "Don't take it with anything alcoholic thought." Edward's face was suddenly a grin. Alfons blushed in embarrassment and hurried back to his room.
He stared down at the bag in his hands. The medicine, which had been expensive before the depression Gremany was going through, was now a heck of a lot more than they could afford on their measly salary from the university. Alfons wondered what Edward meant by this.
Just a friend helping a friend, Alfons told himself, already shooting down the hopes that voice in his head had started to bring up. Edward's just being nice, like always. He doesn't care about you like that.
He might, the voice said.
He doesn't. Edward's not like that. He'll find some pretty girl because that's what guys are supposed to do, fall for girls, not other guys.
Can't help who you fall for, the voice muttered.
Exactly. Edward's too straight for that. He's straight, and likes girls. And girls like him because he's nice and strong and handsome and perfect and… dear God… I'm gay.

A/N: Hello peoples! Well, since you're reading this, you must like HeixEd! I like you for that and because you took the time to read this (And if you're reading this and you don't like HeixEd, I still like you, but you really need to learn to like them together ). Yes, I know it's short, I have issues making my beginning chapters longer ; and whether or not the other chapters will be longer is beyond me (they prolly will be though XD). This series is called Heilung because Heilung is German for cure (and I get a huge kick out of it: /Hei/-/lung, get it?) Anyway, this is going to be at least (at the moment anyway) 17 or so chapters. I'm shooting for twenty though.
Stay tuned for more!!