Ed had gone straight home after his talk with Breda. There were now two things he wanted to know about the man.
One, how the hell did he know about me and Havoc? And two, when did he get so good at giving relationship advice? I've never even seen him TALKING to anyone other the colonel and all the others.
Not that it really mattered. He was right. Ed did have to think about what it was he really wanted. He thought he would be happy to give up Havoc if it meant keeping Al. But he wasn't. He was slowly coming to the realisation that he wanted both of them in his life. He wanted the three of them to be able to spend time together, without worrying about what anyone thought. But how? Al had already made it clear what he thought of the situation, and Havoc didn't exactly make it seem like he wanted their relationship to go public.
I'm just going to have to make the two of them see reason. They both claim to love me, so they should have to listen!
With that thought in his head, Ed marched back to the room he and Al shared.
-------
Al was on his way back to the dorms when he saw Ed talking to Breda.
Whats he doing here? And why hasn't Ed gone to work? He's been getting really slack lately.
He stood at the edge to grounds, unsure whether to continue on or turn and head back the way he had come. Not that there was anything interesting where he had been. He had spent the last two or three hours walking around the park down the road, trying to think of a way to make up with Ed. He truly hated it when they argued, and he couldn't deny that just for a change, it had been his fault rather than Eds.
I reacted without thinking. How could I have said those things to him? He must have been under such stress, and I treated him like he was nothing.
He still wasn't sure how to try and get Ed to talk to him again. He had come in the night before to find Ed in bed, pretending to be asleep. He wanted so badly to be able to apologise, but he knew better than to try and talk to his brother when he was determined to be asleep. He had noticed that, even in the moonlight, Ed was remarkably pale. Al hoped he was ok. He had waited until Ed was properly asleep before he stopped watching over him. Even then he was well aware of the fitful night Ed had, tossing and turning almost non-stop, occasionally groaning in his sleep as though he were scared of something in his dreams. A little after dawn, Al had decided to leave, to try and find a way to fix things. And now, here he was. As unsure as ever.
Ed and Breda had finished talking. Al watched Breda head off, and Ed turn and make his way back to the dorms. He should call out to him now. It was sunny, and it somehow seemed easier to have this sort of conversation in the sun. He should call out, but he just couldn't get his voice to work. He raised an arm, then dropped it back to his side with a clank. He watched Ed open the door, enter, close it behind him. Still Al stood and watched.
Stop being such a coward! Go and talk to your brother! He deserves an apology and you know it.
Al straightened, squared his shoulders. If he didn't do it now, if he kept putting it off, he would never be able to do it. What was so scary about apologising to someone, anyway?
Well, if it was just someone, there wouldn't be a problem. But when it's Ed, and you know you deserve everything he could possibly throw at you...well. That's a whole different story.
Al forced his foot forward, and it felt like someone had chained it to the ground. His second step was just as bad. As he took more though, it got easier. Not easy, but not as hard at least. He made it to the door full of determination to make Ed listen to his apology. He opened the door and stepped in.
"I broke it off with Jean last night."
Al stopped in shock.
That wasn't what I meant! Al, what have you done?
Al stood still, unable to comprehend what Ed had just said. He said it so calmly, sitting on the edge of the bed, that Al thought that maybe he hadn't said it, not really.
"Brother, why? Why did you do that?"
"Because I thought it was the only way to make it up to you. To make up for hiding it from you, for lying to you."
"Ed! I never intended for you to do that! I shouldn't have said the things I did. Please tell me you didn't really break up with him!"
Al felt himself panicking. He had noticed that change in Ed, and now saw that it had coincided with his time with Havoc. Havoc was making Ed happy. And he had given it up because he thought Al wanted him to.
Ed looked at Al, visibly trying to hide the sadness in his eyes.
"I did. I did it to make you happy. I didn't want anything to ever come between us, Al. But I've realised something. I want Havoc, too. I want both of you in my life. I love you more than anything. And I love Havoc as well, in a different way. I want the two of you to always be in my life, and in each others lives."
Al crouched down in front of Ed.
"Ed, I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. Please tell me what I can do to make it up to you. Please."
Ed smiled wanly. He reached forward, putting his flesh hand on Al's chest.
"Just be Al. And let me work this out."
Al felt the weight fly off his shoulders.
It's ok. Brother will forgive me. But I have to try and get him and Havoc back together. I have to!
-------
Ed watched Al potter around their room, tidying things that didn't need tidying, dusting spotless surfaces, and rearranging books that were already in order. He was glad they had made up, even if now Al was driving him nuts by acting like a mother hen. He had fussed over Ed, making him go and have a shower and put clean clothes on. And had then insisted on braiding Ed's hair, instead of just letting him do it himself. Ed winced, remembering the pain of the pulled knots when Al had tried to comb it.
"So what are you going to do about the Lieutenant? Are you going to tell him you changed your mind?"
Al stopped tidying to look at Ed. Ed felt his heart plummet when he thought of Havoc.
"It's going to be a little harder than that, I think."
"Why? All you have to do is say you didn't mean it, and then he'll be happy and you'll be happy and I'll be happy and it will all work out!" Al beamed.
"He told me he loved me."
"You see? That's so great! That means there'll be no way it won't work out."
"I told him I didn't."
Ed covered his ears at the sound Al's armour made when he banged his fists against his thighs.
"Why did you go and do a thing like that? That's just made things harder for you, hasn't it?"
Ed raised an eyebrow. Amazing how quickly Al 'forgets' things, really.
"I didn't think I did. But once I had thought about it, I realised. I do love him. But I've royally screwed things up now. I don't know if he'll even want to talk to me. Especially after the way I did it."
"How was that? Were you really mean about it?"
Ed's face flushed as he remembered his method of breaking up. That was not a story Al needed to hear.
"Um..yeah. I...yeah. It was mean." Ed coughed, and set about tucking the loose strands of hair Al had missed back into their braid.
Al looked curiously at Ed.
Wow. He must have been REALLY horrible to the Lieutenant if he won't tell me what he did.
"Well, we have to think of someway to make him talk to you. If you like, I can come with you."
Ed smiled. Al really was trying his best to be helpful. He felt a sudden wave of affection for his brother. Al thought it was his fault, and he was willing to do almost anything to help put it right.
I really do have the greatest brother in the world.
"No, I think I have to do this by myself. But thank you for offering. It really does mean a lot to me."
"Ok then. Well, let's plan out what you're going to do. I don't think you can just bowl up and declare your love for him. Or maybe you can..." Al started staring off into the distance. Ed wasn't sure he really wanted to know what was going on in that head.
-------
Havoc stood at the doorway, waving Breda off. He had said he was going to tell Mustang that there had been some sort of weird bug going around, and that Havoc couldn't leave his house. He really was immensely grateful to him for that. He was also grateful for the help Breda had given him. He had been full of ideas for how to get Ed to come back to him. Havoc shook his head in wonder.
I still can't believe that BREDA would be the one to help me.
Well, they had a plan now. Although Havoc was still having trouble keeping it straight in his mind. Was it him that had to lure Ed out, or was it Breda? Oh well. They could go over it again later. Havoc wasn't sure he could see Ed for a day or two without making a fool of himself and bursting into tears anyway. He had to at least wait until he reached his zombie stage. Everyone was used to that one.
He stepped out into the sunshine, lighting a cigarette. For now at least, he might as well get some relaxation in. The next few days were going to be anything but relaxing.