No, come to think of it, I didn't miss you at all.

The words cut Edward deep as he thought about them. Did he really mean them? He had said the words himself, he knew it. Still, there was something that bugged him about it. Had he really said them? He couldn't imagine what had come over him. He'd spent the better part of the past three years trying to get back to Amestris, and the only thing he'd managed to do so far was cause trouble, as always.

He sighed, rolling off of his bed and walking over to place the book he'd been reading back on the shelf. It was no use trying to read right now. No matter what he did, his mind drifted back to the words he'd exchanged with his one-time superior, Roy Mustang, who had just recently been reinstated to his former rank of colonel.

That was good for Ed, since "Bastard Brigadier General" didn't seem to have the same kind of ring as "Bastard Colonel." He smirked as that thought crossed his mind. Though it irritated the dark-haired man to be called that, and Edward knew that fact very well, he'd probably never get sick of calling him as such. Even if he did get around to telling the colonel how he really felt.

I didn't miss you at all…

What a lie, and he knew it. There hadn't been a day that had gone by that Edward hadn't thought of the man in some way or another…his eyes, his hair, the way his usual smirk turned more into an actual smile for some reason Ed didn't know…it was always when the dark-haired man thought no one was looking…

"DAMNIT!" Ed shrieked, tapping his finger hard on his forehead as some sort of weak reprimanding for thinking that way yet again.

He scratched his head, still cursing himself for being so careless. "One of these days I'm going to be thinking like that when I'm supposed to be doing something important, and then I'll probably be killed or run into something, or drink milk, or--"

"Talk to yourself like a crazy person without knowing someone's watching?" came a voice from the doorway.

"Ahhh!" Ed shouted again, half-lunging in the opposite direction from the origin of the voice, which incidentally, was right into the bookcase. He spun around, ready to attack whoever had surprised him, only to meet the laughing eyes of his younger brother.

"Damnit, Al, how many times do I have to tell you to knock!" he spat, rubbing his shoulder that had gone first into the bookcase.

Al's brow furrowed, his hazel eyes narrowing just slightly as the corners of his small mouth turned downward into a frown. "Brother, you never told me to knock. Besides, we share the same room!"

Edward sighed in defeat. His brother was right, and his frustration had allowed him to act rashly. He knew he'd probably sounded meaner than he'd meant to, but he wasn't ready to admit something so secret just yet. If anyone found out…

"Brother?" Al's quiet voice brought Ed back to reality. He glanced back over at Al, noting that he looked distressed for some reason. Had he been that harsh?

"Yeah?" he asked, trying to soften his voice to show his brother he hadn't meant anything when he'd yelled.

Al's frown only deepened, much to Edward's chagrin. The younger sibling looked at the floor and began to shift his weight from one foot to the other. "Um…you've…I mean, I don't want to seem prying or anything, because it's been so long since I've seen you, but…"

Ed smiled. He hadn't realized how much he'd been used to his brother's previous metal body. Watching the younger blond squirm made him want to laugh. Had he always been like this? Was it just the lack of a flesh physical form to observe that allowed Ed to ignore the subtlety of his brother's reactions?

"Alphonse, whatever you gotta say, just say it," he coaxed gently.

The younger looked up at him. "Promise you won't get mad?"

Edward cocked an eyebrow. "Mad? Why would I get mad, Al? Whatever it is that's got you so nervous can't be that bad."

Al shrugged slightly, visibly calming but still feeling nervous inside. "Well, it's just that it's been so long since we've been together, and I didn't know if things were still like before, you know…since I got my body back and all…"

The elder blond smiled and walked over to his brother, throwing his flesh arm around his shoulders. "Listen, nothing's different. Well, not nothing, but you know what I mean. Everything's the same as it was. We're still brothers, and you can ask me anything you want. I promise I won't get mad."

The younger alchemist smiled and nodded to say he understood. "Well, it's just that you seem to get lost inside your thoughts quite a bit lately, and I was just wondering what it is that has you staring off into space?"

Edward's eyes widened, partially from surprise that his brother would think he'd be mad about that, and partially because he was embarrassed the younger alchemist had noticed. Was it that obvious, or was Al just perceptive?

"Uh…well…it's just…," he stammered, trying to think of a viable excuse to fend off his brother's suspicions, if only long enough to figure out how to come out and actually say it himself in a way that didn't sound…odd.

Al sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Brother, you don't have to lie. I know everything."

Ed swallowed hard. Everything?