Rating Information - Rated "M" overall due to scenes of an explicit or disturbing nature later on. Meaning Boy on boy, with incest dabbled into there. If you do not enjoy these types of stories, you may press the back button. But if you do enjoy this type of 'kink' then please stay put. Thing are about to get bumpy in here.

A/N:I just have to say. My beta reader is the bestest ever. He puts up with my lame messages and stupid grammatical errors. And for that, much love. I also would like to take a moment to thank all my Followers, and Lurkers. Thanks for stopping by! Also to all the people who review. You guys are greatest and the only reason this story is still going. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

Warning: Language. Time lapse (5 weeks). Partial chapter. Part one. Filler-chapter-is-filler.

FYI: I'm-wincing-so-hard-I-can't-see-any-of-my-typos. So tell me if you see any!

ΓΑΩ
(part one)

The light of the early morning was creeping through the cracks of the window, the rich orange arms stretching out into an amber arch along the white walls. Alphonse sat in the center of his room, legs folded over one another and his palms resting on his thighs. His head hung to his chest, in quiet contemplation.

It's been five weeks since Edward moved out of their apartment and abandoned Alphonse to the wolves. Five weeks, and only a handful of awkward phone conversation passed between the brothers. (Edward still paid the rent on the apartment, so technically he still lived there. His room was still exactly how he'd left it. Except he didn't actually resides in the shared apartment any longer.) Edward was residing with Alfons Heiderich, or so Ed had said over an uncomfortable discussion they had weeks ago.

Alphonse was just trying to exist with the ache in heart. That didn't go to say he didn't feel broken and lost without his brother's constant presence by his side. It was a weird feeling not seeing Edward's face at least once throughout the day. Let alone, not see each other for nearly an entire month.

The few times they had actually talked over the phone, Alphonse could feel the pit of remorse growing in his chest. The sweet sound of Ed's voice trailing through like a caress whispering through the line.

Alphonse dreadfully missed Edward.

It was a horrible slow recovery, trying to purge something from his system Alphonse didn't even want gone in the first place.

With a great sigh, Al stood from his seated position. The sun was higher in the sky now, painting everything in his small room with its morning shine.

The best time of day to practice what I'd been taught all those years ago by Teacher…

The Stance itself is done with your knee's bent; the toes and the heels in the same parallel line. While bending your knees, you roll your feet outwards with your toes griping the ground as you slide forward, slowly. It was a balance of breathing and contracting your muscles. Moving your arms in a graceful line and keeping everything centered.

Inhale.

Contraction of muscles.

Exhale.

Move.

Step.

Inhale.

Contract.

Punch.

Exhale.

The same repetitive movement, back and forth through his room.

Alphonse's mind went completely blank as he lived in the motions of his hands and feet moving as one.

His thoughts haunted him in sleep, preventing him from any rest. Tossing and turning, all because the house felt empty. Hollowed from within; deprived of Edward's presence. The lack of sleep drove Al to the edge of his irritability, something Alphonse wasn't notorious for.

When he woke at night, Al found himself searching for the sounds of his brother in the house, but there weren't any; just crippling silence in its place. It was such an unconscious motion, such an innate desire to have his brother in the same living space as him.

Sleeping alone, in a house by yourself is offsetting, it was not something Alphonse was used to experiencing. Though, Al cursed himself every time he found himself craving for the sound of Edward, his brother's warmth, his arm about Al's waist. Every dream, (every thought) was plagued by Edward. Either nightmares of being left behind and abandoned, leaving him in cold sweats and clutching the sheets. Or they woke him, hot with a burning desire for his brother's rougher touches.

It was the latter dreams that made Alphonse the angriest with himself.

His mind nor his body wanted a reminder of what he could not have. However, his flesh craved his brother in the most depraved of ways. Craved his touch, craved his sex. Craved for anything to not be ignored.

Alphonse was repulsed by himself, every time his body betrayed his mind, every time he was awoken aroused by phantom memories of his brothers mouth on his. He wanted to cry out in frustration.

Alphonse's irritation, his anger is what drove him onward. It was simpler to dwell upon his hatred for his traitorous lover than to think upon the loss of his brother.

Even if they are one in the same. Dropping his hands from where they had been gliding through the air, Al's shoulders gave a great heave as a sigh slid from his lips.

Yet again, His thoughts strayed towards Edward. He was getting tired, so very tired of the same unwonted line of thinking. Alphonse wished there was some kind of pill he could take, to erase it all from his head. Alas there wasn't anything of the equivalence

Shaking his hands out by his side, he rose them again and positioned his body in a ready stance, clearing his mind as he did so. His arms and legs started the meditative dance again.

Inhale.

Contraction of muscles.

Exhale.

Move.

Step.

Inhale.

Contract.

Punch.

Exhale.

This, the repetitive movements of his body timed with his breathing was the only rest his mind gained as of late. The only moment his thoughts cleared of the trifling matter of a broken heart. It didn't matter how much his eyes burnt from lack of sleep, the moment his head hit the pillow at bed time, Al's mind would start to stray. It left his stomach feeling sick and his chest empty, haunted by the mistakes of the what-ifs and could've-beens. The only reprieve he was able to find was in a meditation of sorts.

And even though he tried to stave it off, there was always this lurking, deep, dwelling accusation towards his brother. That this pragmatic problem was entirely his fault. That somehow in Alphonse's human transformation something had gone astray and all the evidenced crumbled into Edward mismatched hands.

It wounded Alphonse to his core to even think such things, but how could he not? All the bloody evidence was there and it angered him beyond any means. For fuck-sake, Edward had all but confessed he was the cause of Alphonse's confused feelings towards his brother.

Plainly, he was haunted by the face of Edward, almost overpoweringly so. He barely slept, his mind plagued with thoughts not wanted. Meditating helped little, Al's thoughts too rapid and unrelenting. He just wanted rest from this guilty onslaught.

This isn't working… Alphonse thought hotly, dropping his hands once again. Like so many time before, Al couldn't get his mind clear enough to focus completely. With an irritated growl, he exited his room after grabbing a spare change of clean clothes. His bare feet slapped the hardwood floor noisily as he entered the bathroom.

I might as well get ready for the day, class is at ten.

In under no time, Alphonse showered and changed into his pressed clothes. Brushed his teeth and combed his hair and still the amounting agitation pooling in his chest spread like a sick disease. Everything Alphonse did was coated in a thin sheen of anger. It was tiring to say the least… tiring because he wasn't used to experiencing such heady emotion none stop.

Exiting the bathroom, a plume of steam followed him out.

The sounds of glass clinking together in Edwards's bedroom made its way to Alphonse's ears. It drew his blond brow downwards in confusion. His heart picked up speed slightly with thoughts circling that it was his brother in the other room. Setting off down the hallway, the floor creaked under foot, alerting the next room of his presence. The wooden door opened on its hinges, and there stood Alfons Heiderich. An elusive smile on his mouth. Alphonse's stomach dropped to his feet.

"Hello Alphonse. I just came b—"

"What are you doing here?" It came out harsh with an edge of a bite without much thought put behind it.

Alfons didn't skip a beat, smiling wider and shuffling the box in his hands for better leverage. "Edward needed some things, and I offered to pick them up in my spare time."

Alphonse brought his arms up to cross them over his chest, "That doesn't explain why you invited yourself in…"

"Edward gave me his key, said to just let myself in…"

"Why didn't he come himself?"

"Oh- well…" The other man's smile wavered as he stuttered, "He's been really busy with work. You should understand. The contractor just added on three new jobs…"

Alphonse's bitter agitation bled through his posture, his expression. "Then get whatever you need and go… I have to leave soon."

With that he turned to walk down the hallway to his bedroom. Except Heiderich called out for him to wait. Al could feel his blood beginning to boil, gritting his teeth against replying with something nasty, he glanced back. What the fuck does he want…?

"What?" he basically growled through slated eyes.

Alfons shuffled the box in his grasp, until it was cocked on his hip under one arm. At the same time he reached around to his pants back pocket, pulling a white envelope from the depths. "Ed wanted me to give this to you…"

Al stared at the folded paper warily, before reaching out and taking it. "What is in it?"

Heiderich shrugged, exiting Ed's doorway. "How should I know?" With that said, the blond man made his way down the hallway and out of the apartment.

Alphonse was left standing there, holding the white envelope. I really dislike that man… Al thought darkly, gripping the paper into a fist. Walking into his room, he threw himself onto his freshly made bed. Ripping the seal on the envelope, he pulled out the contents. A neatly scrawled check was present, Edward's looped signature resided at the bottom. Setting that aside, there also was a crisply folded paper. Opening it up, a hundred dollar bill fluttered to Al's sheets. Letting it rest where it laid, Al read the short note written on the white paper.

Hey…

Here's rent. Please drop it off at the front office. I also added in an extra hundred for your living expenses. If you need more, please don't be afraid to ask.

I love you Al.

I'll call you later.

E.

The letter was crumbled into a ball faster than Alphonse realized he'd done it. Edward made Al's anger run cold in fury.

The nerve of that man…

Alphonse was furious enough to spit. Obviously Edward didn't quite grasp the concept he was the one to walk out on his younger brother. Alphonse didn't want Ed's money, and he definitely didn't expect any handouts.

Edward could take his money and his 'I love you's' and shove them up where the sun doesn't shine.

Getting off his bed, Al glanced over at the red-faced digital clock sitting on his desk.

9:32 AM

It was time to leave for class, being a twenty minute walk to the campus from the apartment. Alphonse knew the trek over would help even out his temperament, or so he hoped. He wasn't looking forward spending the next two hours trapped in a stuffy classroom but understood it was needed. His finals were drawing near. Every moment spent in class helped with his grades and chances of graduating.

Didn't mean I have to enjoy it… With a deep sigh, Alphonse slipped on his sneakers and pulled his navy-blue hoodie over his head. Grabbing his backpack, he tossed it onto his shoulder and exited his apartment, locking the door behind him. On the way out of the building Alphonse slipped the check through the front office mail slot before exiting the building.

Alphonse realized he was going have to look for a job. His pride alone wouldn't allow him to live off Edward any longer. Al needed out the apartment, and a place he could call his own. He needed to become independent, a scary thought to have, but none the less, something that needed to be done.

Alphonse wasn't the lost little boy, trapped in a metal suit any longer. He didn't need his older brother to care for him. He was a grown adult, and it was about time he started acting like one. Getting a job would be the first step towards the right direction.

He just didn't understand why that particular thought caused his stomach to roll with uncertainty. Heaving another great sigh, Al picked up his pace. Trying his best to keep such thoughts at bay for the time being.

Something easier said than actually accomplished.

It wasn't until after class let out, and Alphonse was walking through the crowded quad, that he realized he didn't want to go home to the empty apartment. He hated to admit it, but he was terribly lonely.

Wednesday class was always particularly long and tedious. The professor was old and stuffy and not very creative with the way he lectured. Alphonse always found himself nodding off into his calculator and text book… It also didn't hurt matters, Reese wasn't in that specific class.

Alphonse and Reese had been spending a lot of time together since Edward basically moved out. Al was trying to surround himself with something (more like someone) who helped ease the bitter ache in his heart. Reese abetted Alphonse tremendously. The other male was like a soothing balm to a severe burn. He was the only person who could still managed to make Al smile these days.

Speaking of the devil, Reese came out of nowhere.

"There you are!" His warm hands landing on Alphonse shoulders from behind, making Al jump a mile in his own skin from the unexpected touched to his back.

Alphonse yelped, his voice cracking on the end. A hand held over his heart (which at that particular moment was) trying to escape out of his chest. Reese chuckled, letting go on Al's shoulder as he stepped around in front of the shorter male.

"Didn't mean to scare you…" A cocky smile splayed on his lips.

Liar… Alphonse thought darkly as he visibly rolled his eyes with blithe ease. "Like I believe that…"

Reese smiled wider, the cute dimples appearing in the depths of his cheeks. Alphonse noticed and his stomach twisted in a flurry. "You know me all too well…" Reese bantered sarcastically. "What are you doing today?" Reese asked a second later. Not even giving Alphonse enough time to respond before continuing. "—because, I just got invited to a party. And you're coming with me."

Alphonse gazed at the his brunette friend skeptically, "I really don't think tha—"

"Come on… you big ol' stuffy pants." Reese chided with a gleam of humor in his green, green eyes. He took a step forward into Alphonse's personal space and ran his long finger through Al's blond hair. "Let your hair down once in a while, Al. Live a little bit…"

Alphonse's breath hitched in his throat at the playful contact. He knew Reese was just teasing him, but the touch felt pleasant and something Alphonse was craving strongly. It been too long since he'd last been touched.

Reese muttered something under his breath, which Alphonse didn't catch outright.

"What?" he asked.

"What?" Reese replied tipping his head to the side in a question as his nimble hands dropped away. A devious smile touching his lips all the while.

"What…?" Now Alphonse was smiling subtly. Reese always had a way to bring one out of him.

"What?" Reese smile lengthened giving Alphonse a slightly bewildered stare.

Alphonse snorted, "What are we even talking about?"

"Fuck if I know…" Reese confessed before clapping his hand as he got an epiphany. "The party! We were talking about the party and how you are coming with me."

"Reese, I don't know."

"Oh, seriously Alphonse. Come on. You've been staying home every night playing video games and watching old Kung-fu movies. Let's go out together and do something fun! For god-sake we're college students. We're supposed to get drunk and go to parties…"

Reese did make a solid argument. And on top of everything Alphonse didn't want to be alone tonight. It was all adding up to something Al was realizing he (might) actually want to do.

"O-okay. I don't see why not."

Reese's face broke out in a happy smile, as he rushed forward and picked up Alphonse by the waist. A mantra of, "thank you, thank you." Lilting from his mouth. Then he proceeded to shake Alphonse like a salt-and-pepper shaker up and down. People in the quad were beginning to stare, it only made Alphonse laugh louder and harder. By the time Reese let go of Alphonse, his cheeks hurt from smiling so broadly.

And for the first time in a long time, Alphonse essentially felt happy.

Reese and Al eventually decided to meet up at the dorms, around six-thirty and then walk the three blocks to the house party together. Reese said a group of his friends were joining them once they got there. Alphonse didn't know how he felt about this. He hadn't met anyone from Reese's life (as of yet). Honestly, it felt a bit off kilter. Almost too soon, and quite frankly was practically being forced upon Al.

Alphonse couldn't help but feel Reese was counting this as a date between them. When that was the farthest thing from Al's mind. He wasn't even ready to begin thinking about such things. His heart still felt like it had gone a cycle in a blender, ripped to a sunder and left bloody from the carnal aftermath. Reese hadn't the slightest clue, though. Only thinking Alphonse grief was over the argument he had with his older brother. Not at the fact he'd been wounded by his lover, therefor slighted by his brother because they were one in the same.

The closer they got to the party the antsier Alphonse became. Reese noticed Al's constant fidgeting, his hand on Alphonse elbow slowed their movement as they stilled under a flickering light of the street-post.

"Are you alright?" The other male asked, the worry present in his voice.

Alphonse sighed, turning his body towards Reese, "No… wait yes… no… fuck!" Alphonse paused running his hands through his short hair and licking his lips before continuing. "Yes. Yes, there's something." He bit his bottom lip to stop his running mouth… real smooth… he scolded himself internally.

Reese's brow slotted together as he looked at Alphonse with a perplex expression. "Okay… I know you're worried about meeting—."

Alphonse scoffed interrupting. "That's not it!" he hurried to finish, stuttering over the phrasing of his words. "I j-just… It's just…"

Reese's expression melded into a sweet smile, "Spit it out, already." He playfully taunted, taking a step closer to Alphonse. His eye's a merry color of green. Alphonse could feel his cheeks flaming in embarrassment as he tried to look at anything but Reese standing so near.

"Thisisn'tadateisit?" The words came out so fast they were barely comprehensible.

Reese's smile grew, his dimples appearing in the shadow of the pale street-light.

"What was that? Are you even speaking English?"

Alphonse could feel his blush spreading over his chest and arms. His ears were on fire, his cheeks burnt and suddenly his mouth was very dry. Somehow he found it in himself to repeat the question he just asked none too eloquently.

"This isn't a date, is it?" he asked fiddling with the hem of his right sleeve.

Reese's smile flickered on the edges before turning into a knowing smirk. A gleam of something impish in his gaze.

"Do you want it to be?" Reese asked, slipping his hands into his front pockets of his sweater.

Alphonse paused. Not expecting the other male to answer his question with another question. He cautiously tried to read Reese, trying to find some sort of clue as how the other man expected him to answer. In the end Alphonse answered honestly.

"No."

Reese's dusty mouth twisted upwards, he took the remaining step into Alphonse personal space. Al remained where he stood with his back ram-rod straight and chin jutted forward, yet he still couldn't meet Reese's eyes. His heart was beating so loudly in his ears, Al swore Reese could hear it as well.

Alphonse didn't notice Reese extracting his hands from the depths of his hoodie's front pocket. Sly, he let his long dexterous fingers ghost along Alphonse's freshly shaven jaw. The shudder that rippled up Al's spine was instantaneous, and an instinctive reaction. Alphonse could feel the blush on his cheeks darkening, as his eye's widened comically, finally looking up towards Reese's.

He hadn't meant to react, and by no mean was it an excuse, but Alphonse body was deprived of human contact. Completely starved for some sort of physical touch. It was like drinking in an oasis after walking endlessly in the desert. That simple touch set off a chain reaction in his body. As soon as he realized what his body was doing he was correcting himself and pulling out of the touch.

Warning bells sounding loudly in his head. This is wrong…

"Stop—. "

Reese's hand gripped his chin to halt Al's retreat. A deer caught in the headlights, Alphonse couldn't look away from the intensely lit gleam held in Reese's green eyes. Reese's knowing smile returned to his mouth, as he titled Alphonse's jaw upwards towards his face.

"You're going to like me Alphonse Elric," He spoke close enough to feel the heat of his words. "—and I'm going to let you pretend for a little while longer, you don't already." He purred, letting his thumb snake over Al's bottom lip. Before he let go of Alphonse completely, turning and walking down the street as if nothing just happened...

He got a few paces, when he gathered he wasn't being followed. Glancing back over his shoulder to where Alphonse still stood. Locked in a dazed state.

"Alphonse, you coming?"

For how smart Alphonse claimed to be, his brain couldn't wrap around what he just heard. It was from the left field, totally unexpected. Sure Reese was a flirt, (he flirts with everyone) but it was all in good fun, wasn't it?

Alphonse swallowed, turning wide eyes towards Reese a little ways up the street. He didn't know how to feel about what just happened. His body was telling him, more; touch me more. But his heart cried out; treason, Reese is not Edward.

"Come on…" Reese laughed, walking back the few paces and grasping Al's wrist in his much larger hand. "We're going to be late."

Alphonse snapped out of his shock induced haze, "Y-yes. Sorry. Yes I'm coming."

The rest the way to the party was spent in quiet. At some point Reese's hand let go of Alphonse's wrist and slithered back into the dwelling of his own hoodie. Al could still feel the heat of the other male's touch on his flesh. He knew he was being silly, but a part of him wanted to reach out and lace his fingers with Reese's. To walk hand in hand, like a normal couple would do. But the other part of him, the part that actually had a handle on reality, knew Reese and Alphonse weren't anything of such. They definitely weren't in a relationship, and could probably never essentially reach such a point logically.

Alphonse couldn't even bring himself to allow the notion to take hold. His heart still belong to his brother. No matter how burnt Alphonse became, he couldn't stop holding a blazing torch for Edward.

It was something he was working on, trying to forget the past (like he knew he should) but he couldn't allow himself the pleasure. Alphonse wasn't ready to move on, yet. He was still hoping Edward would change his mind. That perhaps Edward would realize his mistake and return to Alphonse with open and waiting arms.

The youngest Elric knew he was kidding himself, holding his breath. He knew firsthand how stubborn his brother could be. Knew Edward's pride was legendary, and when his mind was set on something, Ed would move mountains to see it through. This didn't mean he couldn't hold onto the small string of hope left floating between the two brothers. If there was still a beacon of light, a glare of optimism left Alphonse was going to clutch it till the very (bitter) end.

Something Alphonse wasn't consciously nor entirely aware of. His subconscious had already decided for him.

The house the party was at was anything but small…

In all honestly it was beyond huge… Alphonse had said as much as they walked through the crowded streets leading up to the house. Apparently it was a fraternity house (Alpha Gamma Omega) throwing the party. Alphonse thought idly looking around the teeming front lawn, I thought these types of party only happen in movies… Oh, how he was wrong in so many ways…

There were people every which way you looked. Some stood off to the sides like wall flowers, talking quietly amongst themselves. While others were being loud, grouped together as they horsed around the large lawn. To say the least— it was a culture shock for Alphonse, never had he attended a 'kegger' before. The only other parties he'd ever went to were back home in Amestris for Eliza's fifth and sixth birthday and those in comparison were childish in nature.

Alphonse was a tad overwhelmed with the amount of noise and people littered out and around the large white house, and they hadn't even made it up the front sidewalk. Alphonse was never comfortable in large groups of people. It had something to do with all the skin to skin contact, or in general the touching all together.

Reese's hand at Al's lower back helped to steer him through the thick of people, and for that Alphonse was thankful for. Reese's name could be heard being called through the dense population of the people lingering around the wrap-around porch near the front entrance. Alphonse couldn't figure out where from though…

"Reese!" A girl with long curly blonde hair pushed through the crowd, a smile on her face as she recognized Reese from the distance.

"I thought you'd never get here…" the girl said enthusiastically wrapping her arms around the taller male's neck. Reese's hand fell from Al's back as he returned the hold loosely.

Alphonse found himself standing off towards the side awkwardly as they embraced. Not really knowing what to do, or how to act…

"Yeah. I know." Reese related pulling away from the hug. "I had to go pick up Al."

"Oh. He's here? He actually came?" she asked excitedly standing up on the tips of her toes, glancing over Reese's much taller shoulder towards Alphonse. Her black eyes landed on him, and Al gave a stroppy smile and wave.

"Hi. Nice to meet you."

"Oh. My. God. Reese!" She bellowed, ignoring Alphonse's attempt at a greeting, while pushing Reese out of the way to get to Al. "…you never said anything about him being incredibly adorable!"

Alphonse could tell this girl was a talkative person normally. Add a few drinks in her and she was the type who became loquaciously loud. He didn't even know her name, and he could read her body language easily. She was a loose, free-loving woman. Al gave another awkward smile, her carefree words making his cheeks flare with heat. Side glancing Reese, the other man's expression vaguely resembled mortification; an emotion Alphonse had never witness on the taller male before.

"That's because, Wendy, I knew how you'd react…" said Reese sternly, his cheeks tinted in a light rosy color.

"As if…" Wendy uttered, rolling her eyes and looking towards Alphonse. Her finger coyly playing with the buttons on Al's shirt as she did. "You just didn't want to say because you were afraid I'd swoop in on your territory."

Al's chest erupted in a heat-wall of embarrassment, "I-uh…" lamely fell from his mouth, taking a step back his spine came into contact with the wall of the porch. Wendy never let go, only following Alphonse's into his personal space. She was someone he didn't know very well, Alphonse was never comfortable with people he didn't know touching him.

Reese, like a knight in shining-fucking-armor swooped to rescue him by lacing his finger within Al's, and pulling the shorter male next to his side.

"Enough Wendy! Go find someone else to play with…"

She pouted, jutting her bottom lip out like an over grown child while crossing her arms over her large chest. "Seriously, you are no fun, Reese." Turning her attention back to Alphonse she winked and told him she'll be seeing him later before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Reese let out a large breath of air as he ran his free hand through the back of his hair, "Sorry about her…"

Alphonse laughed nervously, taking his hand back from within the other man's grasp. "It's quite alright…"

Reese didn't try to hold on, his own hands slipping back into his hoodies pocket. "No, seriously Al. I'm sorry. She's an ex-girlfriend who likes to rile up anyone she sees me talking to." The other man explained with another sigh falling from his lips.

"Reese, it's okay. She's gone. I'm fine. Everything is okay."

The taller male didn't totally looked convinced Alphonse wasn't uncomfortable. Alphonse smirked, bringing both hands to his friend shoulders, making the other man look directly towards him. "Let it go. A little flirting never hurt anyone…"

Reese smiled reluctantly. The corner of his mouth turning upwards in a subtle grin, "You're right," He sighed closing his eyes shortly before reopening them and leaning his forehead forward until it rested along Alphonse's. "You're always right Al…"

Alphonse snorted a soft ironic laugh at the other male's statement. "No… No I'm not." His heart kicked up into his throat at the close proximity of Reese presence.

"Yeah," the other male laughed breathlessly, "yeah you are." Reese expressed, bringing both of his hands up to cup Al's reddening cheeks. His lengthy thumb gliding over Alphonse's heated skin. The cold metal of the other man's silver rings on his thumbs sent a chill racing up Al's spine. Reese pulled his head away, backing off slightly to gaze down towards his friend's rosy face.

Alphonse felt mortified that he wasn't trying to maneuver out of the other male's light hold. As if by some strange magnetic pull, he couldn't force himself to move away. Alphonse's hands by their own accord, slid down Reese shoulders onto the other's biceps in an unintentional sign of affection.

There was a pause and for a single moment, Alphonse thought Reese was going to lean down and clear the space separating their lips. The anticipation was there twisting Al's stomach in a chaotic mess. He could count the flaps of the butterfly's lining his gut.

The kiss never came though. Instead—

"I can't blame her though," Reese sighed, his breath falling over the shorter male's overheated face. "You are absolutely adorable." With another blistering swipe of Reese's thumb, he let go of a very confused Alphonse and took a step away.

"Come on, let's go find out where they are keeping the all the alcohol."

The house was pulsating with activities. The volume was almost unbearable with everyone talking over one another and the blaring music coming from the front living room. (Or what you could call a living room. The room consisted of a single patchy couch pushed off into the corner and a DJ table set up in the center. People stood around the speakers, writhing and thrusting against one another to the beat of it all.)

Alphonse had to push through the crowd of people to follow after Reese into the kitchen. When they entered, they were greeted by a loud roar of laughter. Alphonse couldn't believe his eyes… A grown man was being assisted, held over a keg of beer with the connected clear plastic tub being feed into his mouth as he guzzled the liquid down his throat upside-down. Never in Al's life had he witness something so bizarrely idiotic.

Someone could get hurt… Alphonse realized abruptly looking around the room at everyone watching, that was the point. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, including the individual inhaling the alcohol like a mad person. His feet were let down, and the tube out of his mouth. Alphonse watched as the larger man, face twisted before he let out a large belch. Making the whole room erupt in cheers and laughter.

Alphonse stood there stupefied. Why had I agreed to come…?

Reese's warm hand lacing with his own quickly reminded Al as to why he'd ever even consider coming to a fraternity party in the first place. Oh, yeah. That's right…

The taller male looked back at Al, his brow pulling downwards in concern. Alphonse had been frowning when he glanced towards him.

Alphonse watched Reese open his mouth to say something, but his name being called over shoulder stopped his words in their track. Reese turned and was collided into by a large green blurb. Alphonse had to let go of Reese's hand as the taller male was grappled into a bear hug.

"Holy fuck man, you came!"

Reese's laughter rang out as he was picked up and spun in a circle by the man hugging him.

"Jesus, Melderic. I just saw you early today." Reese finally said as he was set back onto his own two feet.

"I know man, I'm stoked you actually came though. You never come to our parties!"

Alphonse was eyeing their interaction from the sidelines. Not wanting to interfere. Melderic was a tall man, even taller than Reese. Large deltoids and matching biceps. He obviously worked out a lot to keep his physique in that good of shape, or he could've been one of those freaks who had zero percent body fat, no matter what they did or ate. Melderic's hair was pale in color, almost the shade of spun white gold. He was attractive, but in sort of the way of being too masculine for Alphonse's own taste.

Alphonse realized Melderic ambiguously reminded him of Major Armstrong. The thought brought a smile to his face, drawing the attention of the other two males. Al's smile stuttered along the edges as he resurfaced from his reverie.

"—and who is this?" Melderic questioned, his eyes flickering with marry mirth.

Reese smiled brightly turning towards Al, "Alphonse Elric. I'd like you to meet my very best friend, Melderic Evans."

To be continued….

A/N: I know. I know. I stopped right there… But, but, but… It was the perfect place to call this chapter a wrap. Nineteen pages is by far enough. Chapter ten will be a two part-er. I apologize for all the OC interaction in this chapter. I promise in part two, there will be Edward to Alphonse contact.

Believe me when I say; the shit is about hit the fan, next time in part two.

Five reviews for update.