Chapter 2: Housewarming

Al stood over the open drawers, unpacking his clothes into them. They were few, and none fit perfectly. Half had belonged to Ed, meaning they were too small. The rest had come from Winry, old things once her father's that she'd kept for working and around the house. They all swallowed him up. He needed his own clothes sorely, but they wanted to get settled in first. That and Winry had made him wait until her next monthly visit. Ed had fussed that it was just clothes shopping, what was the big deal? Wanting to prevent an argument, Al had stepped in and explained why that was the big deal.

In any case, there was plenty to do in the meantime. A sudden chill blew up from the cold floor, and Al shivered. He dug through the open suitcase until finding a pair of pants, being dressed only in boxer briefs. They were a snug fit, and pinched slightly as they were vinyl, he now noticed.

"Of course," he said to the room, "Ed would own clothing he could see his own reflection in." He swiveled to try to get a look at his backside, taking notice of how the garment hugged every crevice and muscle contour. It was the same in the front. "Creepy," he whispered in a singsong voice.

It was at that moment that Ed padded in, fresh from a hot shower and towel drying his hair. Oblivious to the company, Al continued to puzzle on the usefulness of such restricting attire. Ed bit his lip to hold back laughing, instead settling on a harmless query.

"Admiring your new body, Alphonse?" he said smoothly, voice softened by the curative bath. Al didn't jolt, as he'd become used to his brother's sulking ways. This was not to say that he wasn't embarrassed, and spoke still facing away from the door, waiting for the heat to leave his cheeks.

"Just looking for some clothes," he replied. "It's weird, feeling different textures again. And these things fit like a glove." He turned as he spoke, confident that the blush had passed. "How can you stand it?"

"Gotta wear something that does me justice!" Ed laughed, false ego welcomed by Al as a distraction from his own embarrassment. At least for a moment. "But they're much kinder to you."

Al's face betrayed no emotion towards to comment, not did it as Ed slowly approached, eyes half lidded and wearing a deceptively weak smile. Standing firm against the confusion washing over him, Al dared not close his eyes or look away, lest he miss some vital clue as to his elder's behavior.

And Edward strolled right past him. Al relaxed at his brother's passing, concealing the tension he'd harbored ever since his questionable comment. Ed walked to the corner, pulling the sheet from a full-length mirror mounted on claw feet. It was massive, intricate swirling designs carved into its frame. Obviously an antique and probably expensive at that.

Ed stepped back while folding the sheet over one arm, waving Al towards the mirror. "Try it out." He beamed expectantly, awaiting praise. Al's sense of unease had evaporated upon seeing the elegant fixture. Tracing a finger along the cherry wood frame, Al realized with a start how long it had actually been since he'd seen his own reflection staring back at him. Seeing your own face confirmed thought, feeling. Seeing your whole body, moving and thriving, proved you were alive.

"It's beautiful," he said in a hushed voice, looking to Ed with as much gratitude as he could express. Ed smiled fondly in return, in an almost motherly fashion.

"Only as beautiful as what it reflects." The words had escaped before Edward could find a reason for saying them. Of course I'd be happy to see him in the flesh again. But not…Ed shoved the strange logic aside, quickly covering. "Which is a new life for you."

Al was too in awe of the gift to be perturbed by Ed's debatable choice of words. But he had caught the sigh of relief, mistaking it for fatigue.

"Feel any better?" he asked. Ed had tried to eat again when they'd first arrived, but to no avail. He shrugged indifferently at the question.

"I guess so." The truth was, all of his efforts at the time were being focused on just standing up. But he wanted to be there to present Al with the mirror, before he discovered it himself. Tossing the sheet to one side, he placed both hands on Al's shoulders, directing him back towards the glass. "Look, Al." he murmured in his brother's ear. "Here you are, standing right in front of me. I can feel your warmth."

Al shuddered at the contact, the hot breath on his neck. Despite his own confusion, Ed delighted at the response. He continued, his voice a low hum. "But if you ever need it, here's the ultimate proof."

Al's insides were on fire, stemming from Ed's hands. One sent liquid flame through him, the other, a white-hot tingle. He squeezed his eyes shut against the onslaught of sensation. His brain frantically sought an explanation, finding comfort in the possibility that everything could feel enhanced after just regaining your senses.

But he'd been flesh for a few weeks now…

And Ed's touch had never set him on edge before. Not even on that first wondrous night, when he'd slept in his brother's arms just to feel the nearness of another human being. This must be a lapse, he thought, though doubting of the notion. I've just been stressed, that's all. The gate, the move, Ed's sick, that girl…beautiful girl…

Her face haunted him, a lost, helpless entity, not of this world. Or perhaps too close to it. Why Ed could trigger such a reaction struck him as…eerie.

"It doesn't matter," Al whispered, not realizing he'd said the word aloud. It became clear once Ed withdrew his hands. Al turned to see a hurt look on the young man's face, eyes clouding with the same familiar weariness that Al had witnessed but not understood for the last several years. Al suddenly felt very ashamed. Forcing a shaky smile, he attempted to salvage the moment. "Because I have you."

Edward's expression melted into one of pure understanding, and he began to fish around in his pocket. He retrieved a small metal object and placed in firmly in Al's palm. Al stared quizzically at the trinket, examining it between his thumb and forefinger.

"What is it?"

"A key." Al wrinkled his nose in confusion.

"To what?"

"Unlocking something, one would assume." Al rolled his eyes at the sarcasm, gracious that the moment had resettled into normal brotherly bickering.

"Where'd you get it?" Ed grinned devilishly before answering.

"Picked it off that girl at the station." He sounded quite proud of the steal. As lucky as he found himself, Al's conscience took over.

"You what!" Yup. Back to normal.

"Aw, come on!" Ed whined. "You wanted her and you know it." A lump caught in Al's throat, and he had to gulp it before answering.

"But she could get locked out of her house or something!"

"Not if you fly to the rescue." Al had opened his mouth to scold further, but reconsidered. Ed tousled Al's hair with his left hand. "Now you're gettin' it!"

"But…" Al started, still a bit confused. "Why? What makes you think--"

"She was totally into you!" Ed gave a frustrated snort. "I know you saw that drawing." Al hadn't been able to shake the image since, but decided to test his brother's knowledge of the subject. Folding his arms across his chest, Al stared Ed down skeptically.

"What drawing?"

How cute, Edward mused. He thinks he's got the upper hand. "I'm disappointed in you, Alphonse." He pouted, continuing in a serious tone. "You really think I'd forget those eyes, when they were all I could see from the second they left me?" Al was dumbstruck. He couldn't think of a single thing that would even justify a response. Not in words. There was only one other option.

Without hesitation, heedless of the disturbance that had transgressed through touch, Al took the martyred boy in his arms. It was then, as the embrace was returned, that the words finally came to him.

"They'll never leave you again. And neither will I."

"You never did," Edward choked, laughing bitterly. "Happy Homecoming, Al."