Silently fuming at Ed's order, Al stood up carefully, wincing in pain as he did. He felt like falling over, or just going back to bed, but he wasn't in the mood to just sit there and listen to Ed blabber on like he was an adult, because he wasn't. Al didn't need lecturing, and he didn't Ed to do it for him. That was what people had mothers and fathers for, but Al's parents were dead. Sure, he would listen, but he just wasn't going to sit and stare at him. Turning and walking into the kitchen, Al replied sourly. "Sure, go on then." Frowning, Ed slowly followed him into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. He looked at Al, noticing that his younger brother was doing his best to ignore him and avoid his gaze. Al began pouring himself a glass of milk. Ed felt a desperate urge to hold his nose and pretend to vomit. It was gross really. He could almost smell it. Oh the horror.

"How are you feeling?" Ed asked.

"Fine," Al lied, taking a large gulp of his milk.

"You're not going back," Ed informed his younger brother. Al felt a strange mix of emotions rushing through him. Most of his wanted to run over and hug Ed, but another small part of him felt angry and scared. So he would have to sit in this little apartment all day with Ed watching him like a hawk. Al shivered. He wouldn't be able to put up with that; Ed would never let him out of his sight!

"Back where?" Al asked dumbly. Usually, Ed probably would have rolled his eyes and laughed at Al – only teasing him though, of course. But tonight, Ed simply replied. "To school."

If he didn't go back, everyone would know why, and they would all think that he was scared, a stupid baby who needs his older brother to look after him. Al put on a brave face. "It's ok brother, I want to go back."

Ed stared at Al in surprise, a puzzled look on his face.

"What the hell would you want to do that for?" He demanded, raising his voice a bit. Al bit his lip, trembling slightly. He took a sip of milk. He hadn't expected Ed to get angry.

"Well, there are good things about school…" Al said, but couldn't think of anything, and prayed Ed wouldn't ask him.

"Oh really," Ed asked casually, "like?"

"Well… the teachers are nice," Al said. He clenched his fist, trying hard to resist the temptation to look at the faint scar that had marked his palm. "And we learn things…"

"Ok then, if you say so. What have you learnt?"

Al froze. What had he learnt? He couldn't make things up. Ed had been here for two years; Al hadn't been here very long. He didn't know anything about this world. Ed would know that he was making things up. That he was lying, that he had been lying. Al suddenly realized. He never lied. Ed himself had said that about Al to Winry, about three or four years ago in the hospital in Central after Ed and Al had been investigating at Lab 5. Al had been lying to Ed a lot recently, and keeping things from him. What was the point in lying? Ed practically already knew the truth. He knew that his little brother was an idiot who couldn't take care of himself. Ed had even called Al an idiot on numerous occasions. Ed knew that Al had been bullied, had been hiding things from him, had lied to him and had cheated. Why bother with all these stupid stories? Yet Al couldn't bring himself to open himself up to his older brother.

"Well? Anything?" Ed snapped impatiently. "You seem to be getting a heck of a lot of homework, so I would expect them to actually teaching you something."

Al was now looking Ed in the eyes. Those sharp, golden eyes. Al couldn't hide from them. They were searing his skin, able to see right through him. Al clenched his fists, staring timidly at his older brother. Ed was so much older now. There was now a physical five year age difference between them, and in that moment, Al felt like a stupid little kid.

"Or is there another reason you're doing so much work? Of the same work?" Ed demanded coldly.

Desperately Al tried to stop the tears from running down his face. His eyes burnt with warm, salty tears that stung his cheeks as they fell uncontrollably and his vision was blurred.

"Please stop," Al begged, "Just leave me alone."

"Al, what's wrong?" Ed asked. He stood up and touched Al's shoulder. Al shrugged him off and tried to run past but Ed grabbed his arm.

"Let go off me," Al spat bitterly.

Ed looked taken back. "Al, stop this! It's ok. Just stay here. You have to talk to me"

"Stop it!" Al cried. "I don't have to do anything you say, and I don't want to talk to you! Just leave me alone, I'm not a baby!" Al pulled away from Ed and ran to his room. He slammed the door and flung himself on to his bed, burying his face into his pillow and crying pitifully.

Ok, so there will probably be another chapter or two. This was originally going to be the last chapter, but I decided against that. I've already started the next chapter so that will be up either later tonight or tomorrow morning. Hope you enjoyed this.