Once again Ed found himself staring out the window of a train bound for Central. The soft hills raced by at a speed second only to the whir of his thoughts. Al's sudden need to join the State Alchemists still bothered him. Was he worried about money? The funds from his account would hold them over for at least the next two years if they were careful, and it wasn't like Ed would cut him off. No, that couldn't be it. Al could get a job in Resembool or Rush Valley with no problem with his connections. Hell, he could probably get one in Xing if he wanted.

No, money couldn't be the issue, and while he'd said he wanted to help it just didn't sit right with him. It was too sudden and with too many more level-headed choices. Ed hadn't told him that he'd been put on leave rather than retire, had he?

"Brother, would you stop?" Al's tired voice interrupted Ed's inner rant mid-thought.

"Stop what, Al?" Ed crossed his arms scowling out the window as Central Station came into view. He hadn't realized that much time had passed.

"I can see the gears in your head spinning, Ed."

A guilty flush rose up his neck. "I'm allowed to think this is a stupid decision." He muttered, refusing to look at where Al sat across from him.

"I didn't ask you to come, Edward."

At that, Ed snuck a glance at his brother. He'd straightened in his seat, hands clasped politely in his lap despite the hostility in his eyes. He barely caught the twitching eyebrow before returning his gaze to the world outside. They'd made it into the city already. It would only be a few minutes before they could get off. "There's still time to rethink this, Al."

Al's foot slammed into the bench beside his leg. Ed jumped slightly before catching his brother's eyes. "Alright already, I'll fucking drop it."

Al stood, warily eyeing him. "You better. I want your—" Al cut off as the train whistle screamed. He shook his head and squared his shoulders before taking a deep breath. "Are you going to the office with me, Ed?" He began instead of finishing where he left off.

Ed grimaced. He hadn't planned on actually going into the office, at least not then. "Al…I—"

"Don't think I don't know you still haven't officially retired."

Ed froze, not daring to look at him as the sound of Al gathering his things filled the compartment. Fuck.

"Alphonse…" Ed trailed off, still not looking.

"You owe the General an answer, and you know it."

"It's not that easy, Al." He drew a deep breath. "Mustang knows that you're my priority."

Al slammed something hard into his bag. "We have our bodies back."

Ed flinched but said nothing. What could he say to that? That he didn't know who he was without a purpose anymore? Like that wouldn't make him even more of a pathetic fuck up. At least in Resembool, he wouldn't risk Mustang's team, itwould just be him paying for his inevitable mistakes.

"Brother, we could do a lot more good this way and you know it." Al's voice softened. Ed tried to hide the shame he could already feel pulsing in his veins. If Al noticed anything he didn't comment on it. "If you didn't think it was possibleyou would have turned in your watch while we were still on the parade grounds."

"That doesn't mean I wanted you to join up." He whispered softly, finally looking back at Al. The anger he'd heard in his voice was still there in his eyes, but it was mixed with an emotion that Ed couldn't quite read. "But," Ed drew a deep breath, "You were right at Granny's. It is your life, and I'll always be here for you."

Al nodded, a strange bob in his throat, before closing his bag and heaving it over his shoulder.

Ed returned the nod, reaching for his own bag and jacket on the ground in front of him. He hadn't packed much, all he needed to grab was the new leather bag Granny had given him when he'd told her they were leaving. It was just big enough for a few journals and a change or two of clothes.

The uneasy silence continued as they made their way into the bustling platforms. He'd never known Al to be angry this long. It had been a full week of off-and-on outbursts from him. Normally he would have chalked it up to the accelerated rate of puberty—Al had shot up from being the size of a ten-year-old to a sixteen-year-old in just over a year after all—but it felt too…pointed for that. Of course, Ed's mouth certainly made things worse, but what else was new.

Ed shook his head. The questions swirling in his mind could wait til after they spoke to Mustang. At least the walk would give him time to prioritize some of them.

"Oh, hey, Boss! Al! Over here!"

Al's head snapped to look over at Havoc while Ed's whipped to glare at his younger brother. "You didn't." The secretive phone call from the Resembool station made so much sense.

Al ignored him and rushed to the pillar where Havoc was frantically to them. With a groan, Ed followed. There went ordering the chaos that was his brain before facing the team.

Havoc, for his part, threw his arms around Al the moment he was close enough. "Welcome back, Al." He held Al out at arm's length, taking in the drastic change from the emaciated waif Al had been the last time he'd been in Central. "If it wasn't for the hair and the height I'd have confused you for Ed!"

Ed growled, fist twitching as he bit back a retort about the size comment.

Al, on the other hand, laughed. "It's good to see you, congratulations on the promotion Captain!" He threw his arms around Havoc again. This time Ed couldn't help the grin that crept onto his face when Havoc flushed and hugged Al back.

"Thanks, kid." He said with a chuckle before looking at Ed. "How're ya doing, Boss?"

Ed rolled his eyes with a snort. "I'd be better if you didn't still smell like an ashtray."

"Brother!"

Havoc laughed, still hanging onto Al. "Good to have you back, been boring without that mouth of yours."

Ed grinned. "So, Captain, got stuck on babysitting duty?"

Havoc returned Ed's grin, releasing Al so he could throw an arm over Ed's shoulders. "Aw you know, someone had to draw the short stick."

"Aw fuck off, Havoc. I can still kick your ass."

Havoc stepped back from Al, hands raised in surrender. "Don't doubt it, Ed." He held his hand out to Ed, who insteadthrew his arms around him.

"Glad you're okay," Ed whispered softly before pulling away as quickly as he'd grappled the older man. "Are your orders to bring us directly to Central Command, or we getting something to eat first? Train food fucking sucks." He added louder—and whinier—than the first bit.

Face still flushed from the sudden hug, Havoc snorted. "Since when do you follow orders?"

"Never said we're doing it General Bastard's way."

"Brother," Al's voice took on an annoyed edge. "We need to see the General first."

"Fine."

Havoc grinned, eyes darting between the two before throwing his arms over both brothers. "C'mon boys, we'll see if the others wanna go to lunch afterward." He leaned his head closer to Ed's and whispered conspiratorily as they began walking towards the exit. "Then the General can write it off as a work lunch."

Ed's grin was positively feral.