(Goddess of Unfinished Projects, friend of the author, writes:

This is an Elriccest, not a humpfest. It is a very well thought out meaningful story so all you smut mongerers will actually have to read for once . . . not that the author herself isn't a smut mongerer she just wanted something challenging. And it was.)

(Author's Note from the Actual Author: When she says challenging she means if she hadn't made me sit and think it through it would have been a humpfest, not that those don't have a special place in my heart! So blame her.)

Chapter 1: Paper Eyes

Alphonse rested a cheek against the cold glass, drawing little pictures where his breath had fogged it up. He'd been watching the scenery glide by, unable to sit still since the train ride began. Even as bleary as it was outside, just watching it all unfold before him filled Al with childlike wonder. A whole world was out there waiting for him to savor it. Presenting all its treasures for him to smell, to taste, to feel, with taut new skin, fresh from some indeterminate womb.

Edward, however, was less than enthusiastic. A migraine loomed in the backs of his eyes, previous meals were beginning to rise in his stomach. Sweat consumed his enflamed body. God, I could use a shower, he tiredly mused. The fever had reared its ugly head just before leaving Resembool, where he'd had new automail constructed. It was the attachment that did him in. His nerves were always sore after maintenance, but pieces of his arm and leg ports had had to be recalibrated, and other current injuries only worsened things.

He tried to be excited with Al, but was completely subdued by pain and nausea. He wanted to sleep so badly, but forced himself to remain awake to see Al's face.

This is why you did it. Why you're still doing it. For him.

"Brother?" Al made no attempt to hide his worry. "If you insist staying awake just to baby-sit me, at least eat something." He gestured towards the dinner tray, its contents still warm. "No milk. I promise." Ed chuckled weakly in response, reaching a trembling hand for some bread. It was all he'd be able to keep down, if even that. But he only succeeded in bumping the tall glass of water next to it, dousing his only chance of a meal until Central.

"Dammit…" he groused. "Fucking clumsy." Innards throbbing in protest, Ed bent to mop up the mess when Al gently seized his hands. Al's exuberant eyes had softened in pity. Ed would never say it, but he resembled their mother at the moment.

"It's okay." the younger assured. "I'll get it." Helping his brother ease back into the seat, Al was surprised by the lack of resistance. "And then," he continued, voice picking up a bit, "I'll go get you some coffee. I just saw the cart pass."

"Don't bother." Ed rasped. "They can't make it like you." Al looked up from his cleaning, a contagious smile stretched across his face. Ed grinned in spite of himself and patted his brother's head lovingly.

"Complaining already?" Al teased. "Then you should be up and well in no time!" He rose to leave, tray and ruined food in hand. Looking over his shoulder, he gave one last motherly command before disappearing down the hall. "Now rest. I mean it. And I'll be back in two shakes with some coffee to clear that foggy head of yours."

"Can do." Ed gave a feeble thumbs up before falling over in the seat, balling up his trench coat as a pillow. He punched it angrily a few times until it crumpled into the desired shape. Inanimate object or not, Edward demanded respect. "Fuck you coat." he grumbled. "I'm a national treasure."

"So we've noticed," a sultry female voice sounded from across the hall. Ed didn't bother looking up, and wasn't particularly pleased when she came to him. He'd planned to keep his back to this nuisance until it gave up and left, but his temper flared when she casually plopped down in Al's seat.

"Hey!" Ed snapped as he turned to face her. "Get your ass outta my brother's seat." He noticed she would've been quite pretty if not for all the makeup and exposed skin.

"Oh," the intruder cooed, feigning innocence. "Is that who he is? I assumed you were lovers." Ed was unfazed by the remark and shot back without missing a beat.

"What he is to me is none of your damn business." His voice was cracking, and he was suddenly shaken with a coughing fit. "Now get out." he finally croaked.

"Fine." She shrugged passively, drawing a tiny piece of paper from her bust. "But give the darling this." Ed didn't need to read it to know that is was a phone number.

"And let a harpy like you sink its claws into him?" Snarling, he rose in Al's defense. "Don't think so. Mom would roll over in her grave." These words only seemed to make the woman more comfortable.

"Poor dears." She clicked her tongue in mock compassion. "All young boys need an older woman in their life to look after them." Even without a fever, her motives were enough to make Ed retch. But in his current state, he could actually feel the bile creeping up his throat.

"I know exactly what my brother needs," he coughed, the rush threatening to escape his mouth. "And it's not a whore." A predatory sneer crossed the woman's lips.

"So protective. But no need to get hostile. After all, we could make this a…"she paused, with the intent of driving Ed mad. "…family affair."

It worked. A swift clap and the sickly young alchemist was brandishing his arm blade at the offender's throat. She didn't flinch. Edward had lowered his voice to a low growl.

"I'm only gonna say this once, because I do not want to spend the rest of the night picking tramp outta my automail after my mechanic went to all that trouble to repair it." He leaned in slightly, with the hopes of intimidating. "You stay the fuck away from my brother." With his free hand, Ed gathered the hair at the back of the woman's head and violently tossed her out of the compartment, continuing the threat under his breath. "You and the rest of the world."

He slammed the compartment door before seeing her rise and walk away nonchalantly, apparently used to the reaction she'd garnered.

Ed's impulsive burst of movement had his body contorted in pain. Doubling over, he groped around for the road map, quickly transmuting a paper bag to catch his stomach contents. The door slid open just as he sputtered the last of it, and warm, fleeting hands were on his face, tucking the long flaxen bangs behind his ears. Al rubbed his back soothingly, whispering suggestions.

"You want me to get a cold rag? I'm sure they've got some medicine up there, to put you to sleep if nothing else. I brought your coffee, if you still want it. Here," he paused, hooking Ed's left arm over his neck and hoisting the smaller boy up into the seat. "Just sleep. Things will be better when we get home. I promise."

(A/N: The sleezy train tramp has no part in the rest of this story. I just felt like it. Sorry . . . no, you know what? I'm not sorry! So put that in your circle and transmute it!)

The rest of the ride had been a haze of broken sounds and images. But sleep had helped. That and fresh coffee, courtesy of Alphonse. Ed insisted on carting his own luggage as they left the train station, swatting at Al's hands whenever he tried to relieve him of it.

"Please," he groaned. "I'm just sick, not an invalid." Though he did stagger a bit as they spoke. Finally giving up on his brother, Al turned his attention towards a newly acquired map. Colonel Mustang had seen to it that the Elrics were provided an apartment for two, now that Al had need of personal belongings. But they'd never been there before. Roy had practically given it to them over the phone.

Being so preoccupied with the map, Al failed to notice the young girl who had her own nose buried in a sketchpad. The collision was all yelps and scattered possessions, followed by countless apologies before either of them even saw the other's face. Two sets of hands scrambled to gather up items not their own, and one of each brushed together across a half-finished drawing. It was a pair of eyes.

Al thought them vaguely familiar, but shrugged it off as he looked up to see the artist. Her face was a mask of bewilderment, softly carved porcelain, it seemed. Dark eyes were wide with fear, and some indeterminable color. Pale lips, the lower being pierced on its right side, quivered as if yearning to speak, but not being so by way of caution. She reminded Al of a frightened animal.

Edward stood patiently by, waiting for the moment to pass. Al had different plans. Step one was breaking the silence.

"Hi." he tentatively began. "I, um…didn't mean to…well, here's you drawing." The young girl broke from her trance, snatching the paper and hiding it away in her satchel. Al wondered if he had done something wrong. "I'm sorry, did I do something-"

"No." she exhaled. Taking a deep breath, she spoke again, sounding sure of herself now. "You just…startled me, is all. I didn't expect to see--never mind."

She quickly gathered her things, standing to leave. Rising with her, Al could now get at what turned out to be an enchanting creature. Lithe and frail looking, she was just under Al's height. Every line of her body appeared to blur at the edges, in sharp contrast with the jagged shapes formed by ear length hair, a deep red chocolate in color.

It swished as she whisked away, casting one last glance over her shoulder at Al. Standing transfixed by the pretty stray, he couldn't help but think her last expression was one of pleading. Then in a blaze of clarity, he remembered where he had seen the paper eyes. They were his own.