Ed and Al sat on the train back to Central. They'd been talking quietly for a long time, but Ed had fallen asleep. This was one of the few times Al minded, namely because Ed had fallen asleep leaning against him. He couldn't move without worrying out waking him. Al sat reading for a long time, and looking out the window. There wasn't much of a view, what with it being night, but what Al could see was mostly new and some of it beautiful.
"Excuse me?" a quiet voice said. Al turned and saw a boy, probably still in the single digits, with black hair and blue eyes looking up at him curiously. "Why are you wearing armor?"
For a moment Al froze, which was probably disconcerting seeing as he had no body to even twitch or blink. He'd been in the armor for about two years. How had he not thought of this? He had plenty of time to come with explanations at night yet here he was without a single reason.
"I . . . I need to," Al started. "It's for my alchemy training."
Okay. Anyone who knew about alchemy would know that didn't make sense, but how many people know anything about alchemy? Luckily the boy didn't seem to. A moment of realization crossed his face, then he smiled wide.
"Oh. So you're an alchemist?"
"Uh-huh," Al confirmed, nodding.
"That is so cool!" the boy exclaimed, bouncing slightly.
"Shh," Al warned, looking worriedly at Ed. Luckily, he was still asleep. Honestly brother, Al thought. The train could crash and you'd sleep through the whole thing wouldn't you? He turned back to the boy. "We should be quiet. My brother's sleeping." He pointed to Ed.
"Oh. But your not?"
It was an innocent question in retrospect, but Al instantly worried. "Neither are you," he pointed out.
"No." The boy shook his head. "I never want to go to sleep."
Al tried not to react. The boy didn't know. But why did it always have to be Al? Very few people would say they wanted an automail limb. No, no one would claim they wanted to be in Ed's position. Everyone said they didn't want to sleep.
"Don't say that. It's important your mind and body rest," Al explained as gently as he could. "Besides, you'd get lonely if everyone around you was sleeping."
The boy frowned and looked down slightly. "I guess that's true. . ."
"James!"
The boy turned. Apparently the person who called was his mother. She apologized for bother Al, to which he assured her it was no problem. An interruption at night was always welcome. Then she shepherded James away, Al waving after him.