It was in his blood. His father had done it, plenty of times. Jumping from body to body for four centuries, destroying entire cities, all for the sake of the philosopher's stone. Yes, the art of the Taboo was surely in his family's bloodline. Alphonse Elric had that blood running in his veins, that explains his affinity to it. And so did Edward Elric, weather he wanted to admit it, or not. One week and two days.

16.

Edward was still recovering from his wounds after the beating he took from Winry for not telling Alphonse his secret. Alphonse was happy to find his brother could still walk after that. But other than that, the past few days were going alone nicely for the brothers.

'Now that there are no secrets between brother and I, maybe we can finally live normally again.' Alphonse thought as he ate breakfast, staring at his brother gulping down his second cup of coffee, from across the table. 'Finally, we don't have anything to hide from each other...well almost anything.' Al's persistent dreams hadn't stopped bothering him at night.

Ed noticed Al's gawking. Now, normally Ed would get annoyed and say something like, "What are you looking at!" or "Is there something on my face?". But this time, to Al's surprise, Ed...blushed...and quickly looked away.

'What the? What was that about? Ed always yells at me for staring.' Al didn't find this too shocking though. Ever since Ed had came out to him, he had noticed that his brother's behavior had changed. Not drastically, more like went back to his old behavior. Not the behavior from when they were on their journey, no, back farther. He kind of acted the way he did before their mother died. He seemed...happy.

He had noticed that Ed wasn't so tense anymore, and was quicker to laugh at things. When Al thought about it, late at night lying in bed, it made sense. 'Since brother doesn't have to hide it anymore, he doesn't have to pretend he's straight. That must be why he seems more...' Al didn't want to categorize his brother as feminine, but he had to describe it somehow. '...soft.'

Now, Ed had not turned into some pretty boy, like Winry's old employer, Garfiel back in Rush Valley. No, he was still the tough as nails Fullmetal Alchemist, Champion of the People, manly man and all. He just seemed a bit softer to Al.

Ed's blush finally subsided by the time he finished his plate of breakfast, "Come on Al, we gotta get to work early today. Granny warned me she would have more automail delivered to the post office today. Let's get this done as soon as possible." He said as he cleaned his plate in the sink. "I don't want to wait till later in the day, when we're already tired. Then those boxes will be hell."

"Okay." Al quickly finished his plate, and rose to join his brother's side as he washed his own plate.

As he was doing this his shoulder, ever so lightly, brushed Ed's. Once again, Ed did something strange. He took the slightest step to the side, just out of reach of Al's shoulder. 'Hmm?' Al pondered, 'I wonder...', Slowly Al took a step closer, once again brushing shoulders with Ed. This time he got a barely audible grunt, and another evasive side step. Deciding to test his hypothesis a bit more, as all gifted scientist like Al do. He took another small step closer, touching shoulders again.

By now Ed couldn't stand it any longer, he was stretching his arms out just to reach the sink, "Jeez Al, will you cut it out! Do you really need that much space?"

"No, but why do you need any space at all, your dish has been clean for a while now."

"..." Al was right, 'I completely forgot about the stupid plate, I was concentrating on him.', He didn't know what to say.

"Why did you keep stepping away in the first place?" Al asked suspiciously, he was getting tired of Ed's strange behavior. 'Why do I get the feeling he's hiding something...AGAIN!', "You never did that before?"

'Jeez, why is he grilling me?', "What's the big deal, you kept bumping me so I got distracted." He said matter-of-factly.

All the while, Ed had no idea. Al was just conducting a small experiment. "Forget it, we have to go brother." He had all the data he needed.

"Crap, that's right. Come on lets hurry." Ed said as he walked out of the door, holding it open for his little brother. "Hey Al?"

"Yeah?"

"RACE YA!" Ed took off at incredible speeds.

"HEY, THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Al yelled at the image of Ed's shrinking back.

Al came up with a very interesting theory about his brother that morning.

17.

"Uuuuuggghhhh! These stupid boxes get heavier and heavier every time. What is Granny doing, building a robot with these parts or something." Ed complained.

"It would seem that way." Al panted, he had to admit. Ed was right, the boxes were heavy! "Well Granny said this would be the last delivery for some time, so we don't have to worry for a while."

The rest of the way back was silent, the two were lost in their own minds.

'This dream...what does it mean?' Ed thought about a dream that had been bothering him for some time. 'Why do the dreams always end up the same way...I can never help myself. It's not like I want to dream about stuff like that...do I?'

Meanwhile, in Alphonse's mind, 'He's showing all the signs, just like I was. Then could it be? It's still to early to tell, so I shouldn't get my hopes up.'

'Why would I be dreaming about him like that?' Suddenly a voice in the back of Ed's mind chimed in, '(You know why. You know exactly why you dream of things like that.)' It was his guilt.

'It's not that hard to believe he would, I mean, I feel the same way. And it would explain the way he's been acting lately...no he couldn't want what I want...could he?'

'It's not right, I don't want to have those dreams anymore. (Of course it's not right! Only you could have dreams like that, your sick)'

'But maybe...just maybe...he does.'

'That's it, I can't keep thinking about this, I just have to forget about the stupid dream and I'll be fine. (You know you won't, you enjoy it don't you.) NO! It's wrong!'

'It wouldn't be that wrong, would it?'

'It's wrong and I'm just gonna forget I ever had the stupid dream! (Don't kid yourself)'

'But maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm just getting excited for nothing.'

'(You know it excites you! You like that dream, that's why you wake up in the middle of the night, heart pounding.)'

'I'm just letting my imagination get to me. He probably acts weird cause he's not used to me knowing he's gay.'

'(How do you think he would react...? Disgusted, thats how. You just can't stop hurting him can you Ed.)'

'But still. A boy can dream can't he!'

'No! I'm not gonna hurt him again...I won't...I...'

"Hi guys. Boxes heavy?" Winry exclaimed from her seat on the steps to the front door. "What's wrong, you two look funny?"

Ed blinked in surprise, 'I didn't even notice how far we'd gone.', "Nothing, just thinking about stuff."

"Oh? Better not be thinking about any secrets." Winry said as she gave him an accusing glare. "Mr. Secretive."

"Stop calling me that!" Ed fumed.

Al walked off to put his box in the back room.

"Okay then, what should I call you. Small-fry, midget, shorty, worlds smallest dwarf!" She smirked.

"WHO YOU CALLIN SO SMALL THEY NEED A LADDER TO USE THE TOILET!"

"Huh? I didn't say tha...WOAH!"

Al heard the sound of a large heavy object smashing into a wall. "What was that?"

Ed and Winry spent a long time picking up automail parts off the ground, under granny pinako's supervision that day.

18.

"Man, diner was great!" Edward proclaimed as he shut the front door to their house.

"Yeah, Granny Pinako sure can make some good stew." Al agreed, flopping down on the living room sofa. "Hurry up and take a shower, I'm tired."

"You can go ahead of me if you want Al.", Ed proclaimed, "doesn't matter to me."

Al smiled brightly. "Thanks brother."

"No prob'."

As Alphonse locked himself in the bathroom, Ed took his spot on the living room sofa. "Aaaaggghhh." he sighed. looking around from his position on the couch, he spotted something odd sticking out of the trash can in the kitchen. Walking over and grabbing it out of the trash, he found it was a book about human behavior. The cover had some old guy on it, he noted. Flipping through the pages he found something interesting. "Chapter 7. Homosexuality." Ed read aloud. 'Is this Al's? I didn't see him bring it home?' Ed read on for a while as Alphonse washed up.

'Ed is being really nice to me for no reason again. Maybe I was right, all the signs point to it. Like that night, when he was watching me sleep. And how he blushes when I stare at him.' Al felt butterflies in his stomach, 'Maybe I actually can be more than just the best little brother he has. I still have to test him a bit more though, just to be sure.'

Ed had retaken his position on the couch, and was holding the book open above his face. 'Hmm. This old guy kinda makes sense. Says here he thinks it's caused by genetics. That has to be why both Al and I turned out to be gay, what were the odds of that! I wonder if genetics has to do with the type of people we're interested in too? (There you go again. Being sick and perverted.)' Guilt chimed in, '(You would love that wouldn't you, so then you could fulfill your disgusting fantasies.) No, there not fantasies. There nightmares! (You keep telling your self that, but you know what they are.) NO, I...I DON'T LIKE THEM...THE DREAMS...THEIR WRONG! (Of course they are, but your the one who thought them up. What do you suppose that means?)' The bathroom door opened.

"Alright brother I'm done, you can go ahead" Al said as he walked to his room across the hall wearing nothing but a towel.

Ed didn't see him do this from the sofa. He got up and proceeded to Al's room. "Hey Al," He said as he opened the door. "When did you get thi..." He froze.

"AAGH! ED! DON'T YOU KNOCK!" Al squealed as he tried desperately to cover up his manhood. "ED GET OUT!"

Ed was blushing horribly, but he couldn't move. He just stared, he almost looked horrified, but no. This wasn't horror that Al saw in his eyes, it was something else.

"GET OUT ED!" Al complained, finally getting the towel wrapped around his waist.

"Uh...S-sorry Al." Ed slammed the door. He didn't know what to do, his heart was in his mouth. The image of Alphonse's slender body, glimmering with the left over water from the shower, was flashing over and over in his head. He just stood there.

Al finally opened the door when he had his pants on. "Jeez Ed, knock before you just barge in like that."

'His voice, it doesn't sound mad. And his cheeks, is that...a blush.' Ed thought for a second

"What did you want to ask me?" Al inquired.

"Uh...the book." Ed raised the book to Al's eye level

Al stared, "Okay. What about the book Ed?"

"...When did you get it?" he was still in a bit of a daze.

"A few days ago." Al replied automatically. "is that all?"

"Uh...yeah."

For a while, the two stood there looking into each others eyes. As if they wanted to say something to each other.

"Uh...Okay Ed, good night." Al slowly closed the door, the entire time keeping his eyes on Ed.

"G-goodnight Al." His voice was muffled by the closed door.

"Night." Al repeated. He hadn't left the door.

"A-alright, I...I'm going to sleep now so..."

"Uh, yeah me too."

"So then...I guess I'll..."

"Okay, night brother." Al said quickly

"..." Ed resigned awkwardly from the door and returned to his room.

Al laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. 'I was right. The look in brother's eyes...' That was all Al needed. He knew exactly what the look in Ed's eyes meant. Maybe it was all the years of time he spent with Ed, or just the close connection he had with him, but when Ed had that look in his eyes Al knew. Al knew that whatever Ed was looking at, at that moment, he wanted. And a moment ago, he was looking at Alphonse with those eyes. '...Eye's that were burning like fire.'

In Ed's room, he was just standing against the door, heart pounding. '(Look at you, the mere sight of his bare skin makes you weak.) I won't let it happen. (Won't let what happen? You mean your fantasies! Of course they won't happen, he'd never go along with something like that...no, he wouldn't...but you. You would, your disgusting.) I AM NOT! I'm not gonna let these thoughts get to me, NO MATTER WHAT!'

Ed shut off the light and leapt into bed. "Forget, forget, forget." he repeated to himself.

For a while Edward just lay there, trying to erase the image's of his dreams. Then he remembered something, 'Al was blushing when he opened the door. But I know what Al looks like when he's embarrassed, his cheeks get all puffy and his lips purse. When Al opened the door he didn't look embarrassed, he looked like...like he does when we spar.'

That was the last thought Ed had before he fell asleep that night.

19.

The door slowly swung open, Ed sat up in bed. Al was in the door way. Slowly he padded over to Ed's bed and sat down on the edge.

"A-Al...What are you doing?" Ed whispered. Al was silent for a while, just staring at the floor. "You okay Al?"

"Brother?"

Ed jumped, "Yes Al."

"Why do you stare at me late at night, when I'm sleeping?"

"...", His heart nearly burst.

"Did you know...did you know that I stare at you too sometimes?" Al still kept his eye's on the floor.

"Wh-What?"

"Sometimes, late at night, I wake up from a dream I keep having. Then I come to your room to make sure it was just a dream. The dream is about you brother, I dream about you."

"Al, your not making any sense." Ed was a bit nervous, 'This can't be happening!'

"Do you dream about me too brother? Is that why you come to my room late at night sometimes. Just to make sure it was a dream?"

'No I won't tell him, I CAN'T!', "I don't know what your talking about Alphonse." Ed tried to sound calm, but he couldn't, his heart was racing.

"I have a confession to make Ed. My dreams...well, their not so innocent." Al turned his head to look directly into Ed's eyes, "I want you Ed," His voice was calm and soft, "and I know you want me too, I could tell by the way you looked at me."

"Al, your not making sense!" Ed was panicking now, "You don't know what your talking about! You must've caught whatever sickness I had. Yeah...that's it, your sick and your not thinking clearly."

Al stared at him, unblinking. Then, suddenly, Al began to lean closer. Closer and closer he came to Ed, "NO, AL! This isn't right!" He gasped, as Al's lips connected with his. 'THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! I WON'T LET IT!'

Ed pulled away, "That's enough Al! You don't want this, this is wrong and...and..." He felt like he was going to cry.

Slowly Al climbed onto the bed. He put each of his knees on either side of Ed, doing the same with his hands, so that he was over him, but not on top. Ed lay back as far as he could into the bed.

"No Al...please." His voice was a whisper.

"Don't worry Ed," Al lowered his body so that now he was on top of Ed, his face inches from Ed's. Ed grasped his blankets as hard as he could, shutting his eyes and clenching his teeth. "Brother, don't worry. It'll be all right, trust me." Al lowered his head the last few inches, softly nibbling Ed's lips.

'No, I can't...It's wrong...I...I...I can't help it!', Ed let go of the sheets and lustfully wrapped his arms around his brother.

"Alphonse." He gasped, as he returned Al's kisses.

"Brother." Al gasped in response

'(Edward, what are you doing?), I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. (Sorry for what?) FOR THIS, FOR WHAT I'M DOING. IT'S WRONG! (Your not doing anything wrong.) What?'

Ed pulled away from Alphonse in realization, "Wait a minute."

'(How can you do anything wrong...if your not even awake!)'

Ed's eyes jolted open, and everything was quiet. He was breathing very fast and his heart was pounding but other than that, he was in his room, on his bed. Alone, or so he thought.

As Ed looked around, his eyes found the door way, "Alphonse?"

The figure jumped, startled by Edward's voice, "Uh...yes brother."

"Al...what are you doing?" Ed asked suspiciously.

"Well...I heard strange noises...so I came to see if you were alright."

Ed sat for a moment, 'Am I alright?', "I'm fine Al, don't worry about me...just had a nightmare."

"Oh." Al stood there for a while, fidgeting.

"What's wrong?" Ed asked.

"Well...it's just..." There was a flash out side Ed's window, then he understood.

'That's right, Al's afraid of thunderstorms at night.', "Alright, but just for tonight!"

"Thank you brother!" He said quickly as he jumped into Ed's bed. Al took some time to adjust himself in the cramped bed before bidding his brother a 'Good night' and quickly dozing off.

Ed didn't really care that Al hadn't been afraid of thunderstorms since before his soul was bound to the armor. But then again, he wasn't in the armor anymore.

As Ed lay there, Alphonse pleasantly snuggled up to his side, it dawned on him. His guilt was right.

That night Ed realized he was probably the only person in the world, who liked their own nightmares.