Title: Dreamless
Author: tir-synni
A/N: Just a ficlet written when I was unable to work on my other fics. Elricest if you want to see it that way.
Dreamless
Curled on the bed, Edward stared out the window, the blanket clutched around his tense body. He was all too aware of Al lying on the bed opposite him. Only that kept him from tossing and turning, from clawing at the blankets and himself, from shrieking to the moon. And it was Al lying so soundlessly beside him that urged him to such violence.
What if I am truly the tie securing Al's body? Edward wondered, uncaring of the thought's repetition. If I had allowed Scar to kill me . . . fuck. What would have happened to Al? How could I have been so selfish?
Edward closed his eyes, blocking out the moon's silent glare. Dammit! What kind of big brother am I?
He could still recall the feel of the shovel's wooden handle against his left hand as he dug up the old grave, the feel of those human bones in his hands. For just a moment, those bones had been sheathed in flesh, had held up the disfigured body as it gasped for breath. Bile rose in his throat; Ed fought it off.
What kind of person am I?
Edward didn't realize his automail hand was ripping his pillow until Al's gentle voice called to him. "Brother? Are you all right?"
Edward swallowed thickly, not turning around. "I'm fine, Al. Rest up. We have a long day tomorrow."
"My body can't get tired, Brother."
Ignoring the new lump in his throat, Edward answered softly, "You've had a lot shoved at you in the past couple weeks. You may not be able to get physically tired, but you can still get worn out. Rest."
Silence answered. Privately relieved, Edward reopened his eyes and resumed staring at the moon.
I can't see the stars. The moon's too bright. It's blocking them out.
A metal hand abruptly interrupted his view, and Ed gasped. He was too surprised to stiffen when large, hard, and impossibly tender fingers grasped his chin and forced Ed's head to turn. Wide golden eyes met blazing white.
"You're tired, too, Brother," Al growled. Ed could see Al scowling at him. "And you can get physically tired. Rest, and tomorrow we'll both try to finish what we both begun."
Ed gaped at Al, and the souled armor huffed. In one smooth, if slightly creaky, movement, Al scooped his big brother up, sat on the bed, and drew Ed's unresisting body again him. Carefully, Al tucked the covers back around Ed before wrapping his large arms around him.
"Now sleep!" Al ordered.
Against his will, Ed found himself smiling at his little brother's no-nonsense tone. "Right, right. I'm sleeping already!"
And to his own surprise, he soon was.