Dimensions
By: Kurama-Sweethart (Moe)
Warning(s): Spoiler for the SERIES AND MANGA. It isn't really based on either one alone, per say- but my own crazy rendition of the two. For example, the timeline is manga formatted- Cornello happened before Nina, and Ed is 15. However, the events that take place are in the anime format, when it comes to dialogue and happenings. Also, Mustang is Colonel as opposed to Major, as shown in the series. Obviously, in the beginning it is set before the death of Maes Hughes. Blah blah, I'm sure you get the idea.
Pairing(s): Blunt Roy x Ed in later chapters. Yaoi, Shonen-ai and probably some sex/smut along the way. Tringham love interests: Russell x Ed.
Author's Notes: Woot! Edo-angst! It's about time that I threw in some. His little Nina-revelation didn't quite do it for me. This chapter was by far the hardest to write- so let me know if I satisfied with this one. Anyway, enough of me rambling. Enjoy!

Ed stared at the dark ceiling, watching restless shadows play in the corners of his eyes. The moonbeams danced hazily through the window, giving just enough light to make his pupils dilate and back again, causing them to ache. The easy solution would be to just close his eyes and allow himself to drift peacefully off into dreamscape, if it weren't for the fact that they kept flying open randomly. He made a low groan in the back of his throat and rolled over, facing the adjacent bed where his younger brother was laying spread-eagled. He knew his brother wasn't sleeping. Alphonse didn't sleep- couldn't sleep, because he lacked in a real body that felt fatigue and required the rest. In the back of his mind, the alchemist wondered what his little brother thought about in his long nights awake. Maybe he was bubbling with hatred, flinging mental curses at his brother for what had happened to him… All your fault…

The Fullmetal Alchemist clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth together. No, he wasn't going to think about it. They had been foolish, naïve children. They didn't know that their attempts would be in vain. That they'd loose more than they ever anticipated. He had no way of knowing what would happen to Al. No matter how many times he'd repeat it, trying to convince himself, he just couldn't seem to grasp it. Why was he still plagued mercilessly with guilt?

Finally deciding he needed to get something, anything, to clear his head, he stood abruptly, flesh foot stinging from the cold floorboards.

"Brother…?" The armor inquired into the dark, sitting up. "What's wrong?"

Even though he was sure Al couldn't see him through the shadows, he smiled reassuringly, anyway. "I'm just gonna go down and grab some water. I'll be right back."

"Oh-okay." The younger Elric replied, laying his head back down. Ed sent one last sympathetic glance to his brother before heading down the hall and to the Tringham's kitchen.

"Well, well. Edward Elric, the insomniac." Taunted a sneering voice. Russell leaned against the counter lazily, a mug of hot chocolate steaming from his hands. He was clad in a rather tight sleeveless shirt and sleep-pants.

The Fullmetal couldn't help a grin. "Look who's talking," Some milk was still bubbling on the stove, and Ed poured some into an empty mug that the eldest Tringham had plunged into his hands.

"Couldn't sleep, huh?" The taller blonde offered, sipping from his mug.

Ed shot him a disgruntled glare, but inwardly smacked himself, offering a faint smile in apology. The elder Tringham couldn't possibly understand the cause of his insomnia. He couldn't understand the endless guilt that seemed to hover over him like a ghost…

"Something like that. You?" He stirred in some powdered cocoa; the rich steam wafting to his nose. He had to admit it smelled delicious.

Russell shrugged. "Just thinking." He stared down into his mug for a while, as if all the answers lay in the depths of the porcelain. Then, after a few moments of silence, in a much softer voice, said; "You blame yourself for what happened, don't you?"

Ed's head snapped up, and he gawked at the younger alchemist. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Oh please." The elder Tringham growled, exasperated. "Your younger brother wears a giant suit of armor, doesn't want to eat, and you have auto-mail arm and leg. I did notice, you know. Besides," he wisped some rebellious strands of hair from his face. "You have this… brooding look in your eyes. You blame yourself for what happened- whatever it is, that cost your limbs and your brother's body. Or am I wrong?" he offered, giving the shorter alchemist a 'you-can't-fool-me' stare.

The Fullmetal hung his head, defeated. "No, you're right. When we were just kids, our mom died. We tried to bring her back using human alchemy, but-"

"It only cost you more than you started with." He finished, swallowing the last contents of his cup. "Where was your dad during all this? Didn't he realize-"

Ed slammed his real fist into the counter, staring straightforward with an intense gaze that caused Russell's skin to crawl. "That bastard was never home. He finally left for good when Al was just two or three…She-she was all we had."

The younger alchemist looked down, unsure of what to say. "So that's what you want to learn Dimensional Alchemy for. To return your brother to his body…" he spoke under his breath, voice lowered to a mere whisper.

Nodding, the Fullmetal became very interested in studying the finish on the wood floors, his eyes covered in a thin film of fatigue and remorse. "And there's…something else." Ed started, fumbling over his words. "A little girl who got caught up in our lives and was killed at the hands of alchemy." He paused to swallow, and then added quietly: "I just want to make everything right again. Is that so wrong?"

The younger alchemist gazed down with worried blue eyes. Unsure of what to do or how to comfort the other, Russell stepped forward, wrapping both arms around Ed and pulling him to his chest. The Fullmetal was just tall enough to reach his chin, where it rested on the silky mop of blonde hair, pulled into a lazy braid.

"Do you think he hates me?" Edward inquired softly, voice muffled since he was talking into the material of Russell's shirt.

The younger smiled and stepped back, releasing his hold. "Alphonse? Fuck no. That kid's crazy about you, and with good reason. You're his older brother, and you've sacrificed so much trying to get him back to normal again."

It was only then, after the last inkling of their embrace had ebbed away, that the awkwardness of the situation started to sink in; those beautiful golden-brown eyes that Russell had started to admire avoiding his gaze at any cost. "Well, thanks, Russell."

"Anytime." The eldest Tringham muttered under his breath, watching as Ed made his way back up the steps into the guest room. As soon as he heard the door close and latch behind him, Russell slumped into a chair positioned by the dining table. "What did I just get myself into…?" he mumbled into his hands, now covering his face.

"Lust?" The Sin called, putting a finger to his lips.

A woman slunk from the shadows, the beams of light smearing her, making her appear as if she were some sort of hallucination. "What is it, Gluttony?"

He peered out the window to the laboratory at the top of the hill, already salivating. He could smell blood, warm and thick… He gulped. "When will I get to eat them?"

"The Tringham boys?" She asked, and he nodded in response. "Soon. After the Fullmetal brat gets the information he needs. It seems like we might even be able to get him to work faster." Lust closed her dark eyes, leaning her head back against the wall. "He's smitten with that stupid boy, maybe hearing of his bloody demise will motivate a quicker creation of the continuum."

"And then our curse will be gone?" Gluttony asked innocently.

She nodded, smiling. "Yes, our curse will be lifted." Her grin soon faded, however, and she frowned, gazing into the dark abyss of the room. "However, I'm embarrassed to admit that I made a slight miscalculation."

Gluttony turned from the window, gazing at her with small, watery eyes. "Miscalculation, Lust?"

She shook her head. "Never mind. You just concentrate on feeling those boys' blood down your throat."

"Colonel Mustang, Sir." Major Armstrong greeted, saluting. The man who was spoken to nodded in attention.

"Major Armstrong- I need you to travel to Xenotime." He ordered bluntly. His subordinate had just gotten off the train from East City, where he had been stationed. Now, he had been called in to baby-sit for a certain Elric duo. "Lieutenant Hughes is currently busy, and finding any available men is near impossible." He growled under his breath. "What with the recent attacks, as I'm sure you know."

The Major breathed a reply. "Yes, Colonel. I'll do my best."

"Good." Mustang complimented. "You are dismissed."

As Armstrong walked casually down the hallway, Hawkeye slipped back into the Colonel's office. "Sir, you have a summons."

He looked up from his papers and gave his Lieutenant a skeptical look. "A summons, Hawkeye?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes wishes to speak with you in the Central Library's Records Department." She held the small note in her outstretched arms.

Mustang took it from her, eyeing it warily. "Did he specify when?"

"As soon as possible, sir." The blonde answered. "He claims that it's urgent."

"Ugh." The Colonel mumbled, standing. He muttered under his breath a variety of colorful curses. "I'm busy, I don't have time for-"

"It's about the Elrics, sir." She finished, reading the bottom of the note after plucking it from his desk.

The Colonel frowned, swiftly snatching up his jacket. "I'll be back in a bit. If you could just get started on that paperwork, that'd be great, Lieu-"

Hawkeye cringed, and shot him an icy glare. "You can get started on it when you return, sir." The tone of her voice ordered that the conversation was over. He didn't dare argue.

I apologize if this chapter is a little bit shorter than usual. As mentioned before, it was very hard to write. I'm not exactly clear on why exactly, but for some reason I had a very hard time in the production. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!

As of the time this chapter is being posted, I only have Chapter Six and random paragraphs of seven done. At one point I was two or three chapters ahead of what I had posted here- but due to a rather grotesque bout of writer's block (that I knew would come to haunt me eventually) the chapters are getting less and less pleasing in the quality department and shorter and shorter in the time it takes for me to get them out field. I apologize! Hopefully my gears will get working soon.

As stated at least twice previously, this chapter took a lot of time and effort on the author's part. If you read and enjoyed this story, take just a few moments of your time to write me a constructive review. It would make me very happy: D