"Alphonse-sama" a small sleepy voice arose from his side. "Are you awake?"
"Shh, Mei, you mustn't wake the others..."
"But, Alphonse..Can't you sleep?"No, I can't sleep. Not at all."
"Not at all? Not ever?"
"No. Never, not with this body at least." His voice feel flatly.
"Oh, that must be awful!" She sounded so horrified. "I feel foolish now for not thinking about that."
"Don't worry about it." He sighed"
"Are you cold then?"
No. I can't feel either.
"Nothing?" She curled her body around his arm.
"No. Nothing." He tried desperately to remember what it was like to be hugged by Winry, she would do it often, Come crying to him when Ed had been mean to her. She'd cry in his arms until Ed came, spurred by Pinako or his mother to apologize.
"But, he " he said softly. I can imagine what it's like.H
"Hm." She had already begun to drift to sleep.
"Heh. Sometimes I just don't understand you." He looked at the scratches on his metal palms, then to the warm fragile girl clinging to his side. She had a bloody bandage on her forehead. Something about only using her powers to help others. Her face was pink where it hit the cold metal.
I will get my body back. I want to be able to spread warmth. I'm sure she's warm and soft, I just wish I could return some comfort.
Despite the chilling touch of his arm, she was fast asleep. snoring softly.
His cold gaze fell on the other warm body near him, Winry. She looked chilly too. She was twitching fitfully. Every now and then she'd murmurer, "Edward, Ed, please- please come back..."
He thought carefully how to remedy the situation without waking either of them. Then he thought, if she must be used to the cold of his armour, so, he took her in his hands as gently as possible, rolling her over the peak of his chest while shifting to make room next to Winry. The two girls seemed Undoubtedly to get along fine, they shouldn't mind sharing heat. He couldn't feel offended or sad. They had tried to bring him comfort even when it was impossible. Even when he had no warmth to give. They were always offering him an embrace.
Please brother. Where ever you are, I hope you find something.
He would look at Mei, she was so independent, so strong. She took on the burdens of the ones she loved without complaint. She sacrificed her well-being for others constantly. She reminded him of Brother that way. Those kind of people needed someone to care for them. To ignore their complaints and break through. To heal them.
Ed had Winry. Someday, they would only need each other. They were meant for one another. He had known this since he was a child. But that knowledge couldn't break down his desire to be the one to wipe away her tears.
He had loved Winry, but the feelings were easy to ignore when only birthed in thought.
Disturbed by Winry's movements, Mei, despite his efforts, found comfort in the chill of his armour. His thoughts returned. Mei didn't have anyone. She never talked about her family with affection. Only duty. She was the princess, but had no royal guard like Ling. She was alone.
Maybe he could be the one to break through and put her back together, even when he was so broken himself.
"Alphonse..." Winry murmured. Shocking him to attention. "I'm...sorry."