Invader
By: Liete
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Full Metal Alchemist.
There was a foreign invader in the Elric household, one that Edward did not appreciate one bit. It was a small, round creature that had taken away the majority of his mother's attentions and affections. She seemed delighted by everything it did, though Ed could not comprehend in his young mind why she was so enamored by something so small and ugly. He was right there, brilliant for everything he did at such a young age, so why shouldn't he be the recipient of all the attention again?
He decided that he would have to investigate this new threat, maybe even find a way to rid himself of it. One morning, his mother put the baby down for a nap and Ed knew that was his chance.
He climbed up onto the bed and regarded the invader for a moment. It looked harmless enough, sleeping there peacefully, but there was still the matter of this thing stealing away all of his mother's attentions. He moved forward to investigate, but before he could do anything, it awoke and started wailing desperately.
Ed knew that he himself cried when he was upset, and although the noise was becoming unbearable, he felt no compassion for this . He poked at it, in the hopes that maybe that would turn off the cries. Before Ed could react, the baby's hand clamped around his finger. Startled, he tried to pull back, which only seemed to egg the baby on. He held on tighter, his cries had stopped, replaced by delighted laughter.
He had made it laugh? This thing could laugh? This was a startling revelation, as up until then he had only heard it cry. He poked again, and was rewarded with a happy squeal. Although Ed couldn't quite understand why, he was filled with an overwhelming emotion then, had he been a little older he might have understood that at that moment he had felt unconditional love for his younger brother. He continued to playfully poke and tickle, his own giggles mixed in with the baby's.
Trisha happened to enter the room then, having heard Al's cries she had planned to calm him down. She was greeted by the sight of her two sons laughing together, realizing with a start that this was the first time Alphonse had ever laughed. She leaned against the door frame, heart filled with joy at the simple, but loving exchange between her sons. Edward noticed her at this point and moved off the bed towards her, pointing with great enthusiasm at Al, who seemed upset at the absence of his brother. She swept him up in her arms and smiled, moving back towards the bed and setting Ed down by Al. She ruffled his hair and laid him down slowly next to his younger brother, both drifting off into sleep again.
From that point on, Ed took great joy in being near Al, always fascinated by new things he would do. Never letting him out of his sight for too long. He couldn't resent him anymore, not now that he knew why his mother liked him so much. He made the very important decision, carefully thought out of course, that Al would be his. If he had anything to do with it, he and Al would be together forever.
