IV.- Of Fist Fights And Soothing Words
"So, the number of moles in 1 kilogram of a solvent is called molality," said Edward as he lectured his students, looking at the chemistry book he had on hands. He then turned to the black board and grabbed a piece of chalk and started to write the formulas they had to memorize. "Remember these formulas, guys, so you can do well on the exam next week."
Edward was content with his class; they were performing really well on the tests. It made him proud as a teacher to be able to transmit his knowledge to the young teenagers. They were middle schoolers, so sometimes they were a handful, but Edward had dealt with worse kind of troubles in the past. After stopping homunculi from seizing over the world and escaping the wrath of a mass murdered, this is piece of cake.
After settling down Edward had gotten a job at Alphonse's school as chemistry teacher. Since he was a young man, barely nineteen, he was assigned to twelve year olds that were starting chemistry. They accepted him in the school as teacher after seeing his credit working in physics and rockets and such.
"Professor, any homework for next Monday?" asked one girl, raising her hand.
Edward smiled. "I think I'll give you the weekend off, just memorize the formulas and their applications for next Wednesday's exam."
There was a knock on the classroom's door. "Excuse me, professor Elric?"
Edward looked at the Dean of Discipline of the school looking at him from the door. The blonde young man nodded and looked at his class with a smile. "Well guys, that's all for today. You're dismissed, have a safe trip home."
The class started to leave, and Edward put his book away and grabbed his suitcase. He walked towards the Dean of Discipline with a puzzled look. "Is anything wrong?"
"There's been an incident with your brother. He was in a fist fight, he was victim of bullying. We wanted to keep him with us until you could pick him up, but he decided to go home on his own." Said the man with a look of discomfort. "He's not in trouble, but I think he needs some parental guidance."
Edward nodded, looking worried. "I'll see it through."
Alphonse was lying in his bed, feeling down, placing his hand over his cheek where he had been hit. Stupid kids, if only I could do alchemy I would send them to the other world and back! Why aren't Winry or granny here when I need them?
The door of his room opened, revealing Edward. The older man looked at his younger brother with a comforting smile. "I heard you were in a fist fight, is that true?"
Alphonse looked around, evading the eyes of his older brother. He just nodded.
"Well, I certainly hope you kicked their asses pretty good!" said Edward with a cheerful expression. He was trying to cheer his brother up, but his younger brother was gloomy.
Alphonse just muttered. "I did, but that shouldn't have happened at all."
Edward sat by his side. "What happened? Why don't you tell big brother about it? Maybe it will make you feel better."
Alphonse blushed and looked away. "I…I don't want you to feel embarrassed by me."
Confused, the older man blinked and looked at the young teenager with a puzzled look. "Embarrassed by you? Al, I would never, never, feel embarrassed by you. You're my pride; you make me proud every day. Nothing you do would make me feel disappointed. Did you hear me, Al?"
The younger boy nodded and looked up at his brother, with tears in his eyes. "I started to…suck my thumb…unconsciously…in class. They started to make fun of me. I just blushed and then, before I knew it, I was hitting them."
Edward understood, and placed on hand over his crying brother's forearm. "Al, I don't care that you suck your thumb, I'll never feel embarrassed by you. I tell you again. I love you, ok? It's not you who was wrong, it was them. And if they mess up with you again, they will have to deal with me!"
Alphonse nodded, with a slight smile. "Thanks Brother."
The blond man sat by the bed and started caressing his brother's hair. Alphonse, by instinct, put his thumb in his mouth and started sucking. They looked like father and son.