Work Text:
Someone take these dreams away
That point me to another day
A duel of personalities
That stretch all true realities
That keep calling me
They keep calling me
Keep on calling me
They keep calling me
- Dead Souls, Joy Division
He figures Ed isn’t as loud in his sleep as before.
Ed used to have recurrent nightmares. Al remembers them well.
Nowadays, his older brother sleeps peacefully. Unfortunately, Al knows the reason why. All those bottles in Ed’s bedroom…
Al doesn’t know how to talk to him about it. He knows it’s not an easy conversation to have, not when the Elric brothers have to focus more on the war and the people the government has been persecuting.
Now that Al has restored his memories, he’s no longer dreaming of this world, dreaming of the day he could reunite with Ed.
Alphonse now has nightmares.
His brother probably has no idea.
And it’s not like Al wants to disturb him. Not now that Edward actually sleeps without waking up in horror.
The younger Elric is sitting on the cold floor, sometimes analyzing the entirety of Ed’s room beyond the bottles of scotch. He sees his brother’s previous prosthetics, which are not as resistant as Winry’s looking from there… Many, many books, reading glasses on the table, Ed’s one loyal, oversized coat.
You might even see the picture of Ed’s previous roommate on his desk.
Al sighs.
He’s relatively close to the bed, but he’s not too glued. Mostly because he doesn’t want to wake Ed.
Al doesn’t want to go back to his room, either.
He needs to hear another living being.
Because Al can’t always feel himself.
So, Ed’s nonsensical, quiet sleepy noises comfort him. His big brother might be dreaming of home.
… if anything, he seems to be annoyed at Al.
“Al, you little…” Ed grumbles.
The younger boy can’t help smirking.
“Al…”
Ed turns around, slowly opening his eyes. Al raises an eyebrow, wondering if he’s waking up.
Well, the former’s jolt answers that question.
“ACK! What the heck?!” Ed exclaims. He calms down a little more when he realizes who’s there. “Al?”
“Um… hi, Brother.”
“Ugh, don’t scare me like that!”
“Sorry.”
Ed’s grumpiness softens at Al’s low voice. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Then why were you watching me sleep like a total creep?”
“I don’t know, Brother! I just… like doing it. I’m sorry.”
Pause. “You couldn’t sleep?”
Al shrugs.
Ed sighs. “Just- Just get off the floor, it’s freezing tonight.”
He’s freeing some space in his bed for Al, who shyly joins him.
“How are you not wearing socks?” Ed notices, shocked. “You’re cold like ice!”
The hands touching Al’s face only now has him realize how cold he really is. Even Ed’s automail is warmer than him, and that’s saying something.
Ed’s left hand is holding one of Al’s, trying to warm it up.
“How long have you been here?” The older Elric questions.
Forever. “... not sure.”
Al doesn’t really look at him.
“You have a lot in your mind?” Ed guesses. Most specifically pointing at Al’s restored memories.
The other frowns a little instead of saying anything.
“... You didn’t want to be alone?”
Al clenches his free hand in a fist.
“It’s okay, Al.”
“I didn’t want to wake you, Brother.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I just want you to be safe.”
“I want you to be safe, too.”
Of course.
“I… I come here when I can’t sleep. Because at least I know you’re safe.” The bottles of scotch are judging Al from somewhere he can’t see. “It’s… home, I guess.”
“Oh, Al… come here.”
He lets Ed wrap his arms around him under the heavy blankets. Al shivers now that his brother hugs him, which might feel like the old days.
Ed is so, so, so warm.
“You can tell me when you can’t sleep.”
“I’m not a little kid anymore.” Liar.
“You’re not an armor anymore.”
Al’s brown eyes tear up.
He finally returns the hug, crying in Ed’s chest.
“... Sometimes it doesn’t feel like that,” Al whispers.
“I know.”
Ed squeezes him more, as if trying to protect Al from the cold, from the Gate, from everything else.
“I’m just glad I can hold my little brother,” the former says, relieved even if pained.
‘Little’ doesn’t sound too bad.
Al was always bigger and taller than everyone else… but now he isn’t.
It’s just odd having the mind of an older boy when he’s stuck in a younger body.
And yet his big brother loves him just the same.
“Me too,” Al replies.
Ed kisses his forehead and keeps him close and warm.
He really is home.
Different.
But… home.
Home is really wherever Ed is.
He hopes Ed won’t have to drink to sleep well, and that Al won’t lose sleep as often anymore.
Maybe one day.