Al was tidying up the dorm room when Ed came slouching through the door.

"Brother! I was wondering when you were going to get in. I spoke to Breda this afternoon, and he said you had another argument with Colonel Mustang."

Al's voice took on a slightly questioning tone at the end, although he didn't really expect Ed to tell him what had happened. As he thought, Ed merely looked at him before flopping on the bed.

"How did things go with Schiezka? Did you find anything new?"

"Not really. Just re-tellings of the same stories. Same as usual. But Schiezka says if we keep looking we'll be bound to find something new!"

Ed grunted, and turned on his side.

"Are you going to do anything with those clothes?"

Al gave a start as he realised he was still standing in the middle of the floor with an armload of Eds clothing. He spun around a few times, looking for the basket, before spotting it lying on its side underneath the desk. Once he had picked it up and shoved the clothes inside, he turned to Ed.

"Brother, are you going to tell me what happened with you and the colonel? Or where you went?"

There was no answer. Al stepped around the side of the bed to try again, but Ed was asleep. Al sighed. Ed really did look exhausted. It was probably best to let him sleep. He retrieved the clothes basket and left the room, making sure to close the door as quietly as possible. He figured by the time he finished getting the washing done, Ed should have woken up. Who knew? Maybe he would even be in the mood to talk.

-------

As the door clicked shut, Ed opened his eyes. It was too hard trying to lie to Al. Evasion was the only way he would be able to cope with his questions, especially when he was asking where it was Ed has gone.

He didn't feel any less guilty for it though.

He wondered what exactly it was he was doing with Havoc. What did he think would happen? He had his doubts that Jean thought of it as anything more than a fling. So, he tried to act as light heartedly as possible, like it was nothing special. It seemed to make Havoc happy, at least.

Ed wasn't sure he could say the same for himself.

-------

Jean Havoc sat in his chair, cigarette in mouth, cloud of smoke around his head. When Ed had finally woken up, he had acted as though nothing had happened. To hear him speak, one would have thought that he'd turned up to borrow a cup of sugar, and was now leaving.

What am I doing?

Havoc took another drag on his cigarette, stood up, walked to the kitchen. He stood there for some time, unable to forget the sight of the distraught shape that had been huddled up in there earlier. He sighed. One day, perhaps Ed would come to regard Havoc in the same light that Havoc did him. He wasn't exactly holding his breath though.

What on earth am I thinking?

It wasn't like this was the first time Havoc had fallen for someone who didn't see him in the same way. He should be used to it by now. It really was funny though, that no matter how many times it did happen, he still felt just as lousy. This was no exception.

Only, this time it is.

This time, it was more than just a passing interest. There was nothing that Havoc wouldn't do to put that smile back on Edwards face. Nothing he wouldn't do to hear that laugh.

Nothing he wouldn't do to get Ed to look at him, just once, like he mattered.