"Kicking the train seat is not going to get us there any faster," Mustang commented to the young man who seemed hell bent on putting a hole through the opposing seat. Mustang watched the young man carefully. Edward didn't seem distressed or sulky – which he was impressed with – but if it wasn't that, what was it?

Roy studied the young man carefully, looking for signs of whatever was bugging the younger man. The only thing he could see that was amiss was the flush of red in Ed's cheeks.

Was…was Ed blushing? It boggled the mind to think about the fact that Ed might have any sort of attraction to anybody.

Roy promptly stopped thinking about that thought and shut his brain off until they arrived at the transfer station. At the transfer station they were to get a sleeper train – a train where they could sleep the night away in a somewhat decent way.

He watched as Ed stretched out all the kinks he had obtained on the train. Roy watched as Edward sauntered up to him. "When does the next train leave?"

Roy pulled his watch from his pocket and glanced at it. "Twenty-two minutes," he replied.

Ed grunted and took off down the platform towards the station building.

Roy clasped his hands behind his back in a typical military posture and waited for Edward to return. To him it felt strange to be out of his military uniform, it was as if it had become a part of him over all these years.

Fifteen minutes later when Ed came trotting back they only had seven minutes to get to the right tracks. Ed was breathless with laughter when they were finally ensconced in their little compartment. "Oh hell," he laughed, "it feels so good to have done that again. Ahh, just like old times."

Roy thought it was remarkable that the young man was grinning so wildly his face could have cracked. He could feel Ed's youthful enthusiasm contaminating him.

"It's getting late, I think I'll turn in now."

"Mmm," Ed agreed. "Good point, we need to be rested for the next few days."

Mustang reached up to the top of the wall and drew down one twin bed then moved down the fall a few feet and drew down a second one. "There we go, all made up and everything. Bedtime it is."

Ed felt his hand brush the floor as he woke from a deep sleep. He blinked a few times fuzzily before lifting his head and looking towards, well, towards where Mustang had been when they'd both nodded off.

Sighing he sat up and scrubbed sleep out of his eyes and dressed before heading to the breakfast car.

In the breakfast car he located his former commanding officer who was reading that day's newspaper and sipping a coffee.

"'Morning." Ed muttered as he sat down at the table with a plate of eggs, toast and crunchy bacon.

"Good morning," the newspaper rustled as Roy set it down and turned his attention to Edward.

"How are you?"

"'m good. You?"

"I slept fine, thanks for asking."

Ed gave him a mysterious little smile but said nothing more and chomped down on his food with eagerness.

As he ate he could feel Mustang's intense stare and it was making him flush with heat. He only hoped that the man hadn't been noticing his reactions to his presence although he didn't hold out much hope, the man was entirely too observant at times even if he pretended not to be.

Later as Ed idly stared out the window his mind began to wander.

The train swayed as it moved around a curve and Ed felt his body jerk and yelped as he righted himself in the seat. Once resettled himself he glanced towards the suit of armor who was shaking.

"Shut up," he muttered at the suit in embarrassment and kicked the leg with irritation.

Al's eyes seemed to gleam more than usual as he leaned forward into his brother's personal space and with a small amount of sweet vindication he whispered, "Something on your mind? Or maybe, someone?"

Ed knew Al was looking for an incriminating reaction but he refused to give any. He couldn't let his little brother upset him – or tease him – he was the big brother! That job was reserved for him!

Al leaned back and shook his head regretfully. "I hoped that something would take your mind off this journey; you could use some relaxation."

"How is thinking about someone the least bit relaxing?"

Al tilted his armored head and stared at his brother as much as he could without a facial expression.

"Have you never –"

"Never what?"

"Felt your heart beat fast? Or your breath come short?"

"Of course I have!"

"So you've liked someone?"

"What does liking someone have to do with anything? I always feel like that when I'm fighting." There was a moment's pause before he continued, "Although sometimes that happens when I go to see Mustang. But that's always because I'm irritated with him."

Al made a snorting sound of laughter but before he could stop it he was full out laughing.

Ed glared. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, Brother! You'll see soon enough!"

And with that Al left the conversation alone never to really bring it up again.

Ed wondered what Al had meant by 'You'll see soon enough'. He never really had understood what his younger brother had meant in the long run until a few weeks ago.

The feeling of his face blushing, the heavy beat of his heart, the little gasps of air necessary to keep even breathing because it felt like he'd just been punched – was this the feeling Al had had when he saw Winry?

If it was the same, if it was the very same what did that mean for him? Al had said it meant – it meant. Ed felt his breath stop for a second.

Oh no.

I'm.

I'm in. In love with him?

Oh hell.