Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist does not belong to me.

Author's Note: I have to torment Al a bit more, it's really is fun, you should try it.

Rated for violence lime and lemon.

Chapter five

Equivalent Exchange

"Smoke bombs" Ed explained. "Weren't expecting me?"

"Why? No offense but you're the last person I would expect to help Al."

"Who says I'm helping him?"

"What?"

Ed was coming closer as he spoke.

"I thought about it for a long time and finally came to a decision. I want you Al and if you don't comply then I'm going to make sure that no one else ever does."

"You have to know the answer."

"I thought so."

Ed leveled the gun at his head. And fired.

"Al!" Heiderich pushed Al out of the way.

He stood in front of Al.

"There's an idea." Ed speculated, turning the gun to Heiderich. "I don't care if either of you live so if you don't do what I say I'll shoot him. And you," He said to Heiderich. "If you try anything it'll be Al that pays."

Alphonse had never seen Heiderich this angry.

Ed grinned sadistically at his little brother. "Come here."

Al walked over to stand in front of Ed. Touching Heiderich's arm reasuringly as he passed by.

Ed didn't shift the gun from its position on Heiderich.

"I wouldn't do anything, are you willing to take the chance I'll miss?"

He saw the last light of confrontation leave Al's eyes.

Ed grabbed Al's arm with his free hand.

He kissed him. Making sure not to lower the gun. When he was done he hit Al hard enough to send him to the ground.

Heiderich started forward.

Ed shot in front of his feet. Effectively stopping him.

"Remember. Right now the only thing keeping the two of you alive is how happy I am."

Al stood back up.

"This time respond." Ed kissed him again. "Good. Was that so hard?"

He took Al's hand and placed it against his chest, sliding it down.

Al stiffened.

A man walked out from one of the streets.

"It would be hard to do what I want to do and still keep the gun steady so this nice man is going to help in return for my alchemic services."

Ed passed the gun to the nameless man, who held it level with Heiderich's chest. He moved so he wasn't too close to Ed and Al.

"Now Al, undo your shirt."

Right now? In front of Heiderich? He couldn't do that...

Al shook his head and Ed hit him again. Al felt dizzy.

"Then you won't mind if we shoot him?"

Tears streamed down Al's cheeks. He complied reluctantly as if hoping that something would save him if only he had more time.

"Al..." Heiderich's soft voice was clear in the silence.

Alphonse glanced over at him and knew that Heiderich would forgive whatever happened.

Ed pushed the shirt off as soon as if was undone.

He slid his hands over Al's smooth skin.

"Don't forget to respond, last time was a bit bland. I want you to do for me what you do for him." He tilted his head to the blond.

Ed stripped his own shirt off and ordered Al to finish getting undressed and lay down.

Al bit his quavering lip.

Ed had the audacity to smile at Heiderich before kneeling between Al's legs.

He coaxed Al into wrapping his legs around his waist.

Al was shaking from trying not to cry. He placed his hands on Ed's shoulders, nervous and unsure.

Ed nibbled Al's lips, kissing him and exploring with his mouth, prolonging the anticipation.

Al wanted it over with.

After what seemed like an eternity Ed entered him. He wasn't gentile.

Al whimpered.

Ed devoured his mouth. He repeated the command for Al to respond.

And Al did. He wished that he didn't have to, he wished Ed would let him sink into oblivion, distance himself. Or that the shot Ed had aimed at his head hadn't missed.

Al didn't have the luxury to let his mental defenses work. He was aware of every painful moment.

Ed shuttered with release. Finally parting.

Al rolled away, gathering his close to himself

"Anything to say little brother?"

Al's glare said exactly how he felt.

Ed laughed.

"Oh and did I say you could move?"

Al looked surprised.

"Didn't you think I might want more?"

More? Al mouthed.

"Just for that look I think I will."

Al sobbed when Ed roughly pushed him back down.

Al turned his head away and closed his eyes, blocking out the image of his older brother.

He could feel his will slowly draining away, leaving him empty.

Al began to sob uncontrollably.

This time Ed got dressed when he finished.

"There, was that really so bad?"

Al stared blackly to the side.

Ed walked over to the other man as Al hastily pulled his clothes back on.

Ed left. The other man followed, only taking the gun off of Heiderich when he had reached the road.

He had gone through all that trouble for this? Did Ed hate him that much?

As soon as they left Heiderich ran and gathered Al to him.

Tears sparkled on his lashes.

Al turned away and coughed, then was ill.

Heiderich rubbed his back.

Al wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Have to find somewhere safe. He signed.

"Al. I should have done something..." He was still rubbing Al's back in slow comforting circles.

You would have been shot! Do you think I did that because I wanted to? If the only one to get hurt was me then I would have gladly taken the bullet instead! I didn't want you getting hurt! If you had done something they would have killed you and it would have been pointless.

Heiderich was silent. He looked guilty.

We have to find somewhere safe to go. He repeated.

"Can you stand?" He asked pulling him up.

Al nodded, steadying himself.

They started towards the edge of the circle when they heard an all too familiar voice.

"Did you think you could get away that easy?"

Al turned towards the voice, fed up.

Heiderich stopped him from attacking the three alchemists.

"Pointless remember?" He murmured.

Al wondered if things would ever let up.

He knew that as soon as they got what they wanted out of him they wouldn't need Heiderich anymore. If he didn't do what they wanted they would kill him to make a point.

Al walked just far enough away that Heiderich wouldn't be able to stop him.

I'll be there soon. He signed then clapped his hands together and placed them on one of the lines of the circle.

"Al!"

Pink light surrounded him and he disappeared.

Al knew he would be alright. His illness would act as the loophole price, if it worked Heiderich should appear on the other side, healthy.

"Hey!" He heard the feminine voice shout. Shots fired.

Al clapped his hands together again.

Pain exploded in his back and he was laying face first in the center of the circle.

What they didn't know was that he had planed that to happen, he needed to be near death too.

Al woke up slowly. Heiderich lay beside him.

For a frightened second Al thought something had gone wrong but then Heiderich woke up to.

"Where?"

Al looked around. It was the same circle he and Ed had used when trying to get his body back.

Welcome to my world. He grinned.

"So it worked? There aren't going to be anymore people after us? We're safe?"

Well if Winry has a wrench in her hand duck. Winry! No one here knows I'm back to normal, and I've been gone all that time. They must be worried.

If Al still had any of the stone left in him it would have been used up.

XXX

It didn't take them long to get to Central. Al explained that from here they could take the train home.

Alphonse seemed nervous. The train wasn't going there for three days.

"Do you want me to phone for you?" Heiderich asked, watching him pace back and forth in the small inn room.

Al nodded vigorously.

Heiderich held the received and Al dialed.

"Hi is this Winry Rockbell? I'm with Alphonse right now."

He held the phone away from his ear and she shouted. He understood something about not calling sooner and how dare he not call in person, going and making someone else do it.

When she had calmed he finished what he was saying. "There are some things you should know." He explained that Al had gotten his body back but had lost his voice. He also explained that Al had only recently gotten his memory back. He answered her questions and reassure her that Al was alright now.

After the call Al had seemed relived.

There's somewhere we have to go tonight. He hadn't gone to see Mustang yet.

Ed had left his watch when he left and Al had kept it in case it turned out to be useful.

XXX

They stood on the steps of the state building. Armstrong was passing by.

Al got Heiderich to get his attention.

Al held out the watch to him.

"Why that's Edward watch!"

Al signed and Heiderich translated.

You probably don't recognize me. The last time we met I was a lot taller.

"Alphonse?" Al was amazed that Armstrong had guessed so quickly. He was gathered into a bear hug. "We had begun to worry something had happened to you!"

Heiderich could tell that Al would have been laughing if he could.

"And who's your friend?"

Heiderich introduced himself.

"Any friend of an Elric's is a friend of mine!" He shook Heiderich's hand vigorously. "I'm Lt. Alex Louise Armstrong." He flexed his arm and went on about his muscles. Then asked if he had ever witnessed the artistic alchemy passed on through generations of Armstrong.

Al just shrugged and smiled.

"Uhhm, Al wanted to see the colonel."

"Of course! How careless of me! Right this way! I'll make sure no one bothers you." He marched them to Mustangs office.

Heiderich couldn't help but think that he would be a good mach with the percky nurse.

Armstrong rapped on the door and announced in his dramatic voice. "Alphonse Elric is here to see you sir!"

"Send him in."

"Good luck." He winked as they entered.

Mustang took one look at Al and said "What did you boys do?"

Al told him everything (through Heiderich), except what happened with Ed. Just saying that his brother had been changed and he didn't know where he was right now.

XXX

Finally the train pulled to a slow screeching stop. Winry and Pinako waited for him.

"Al!" She cried, hugging him. "You're not a little kid anymore. I don't understand, where's Ed? The two of you are never far from each other."

Al went ashen.

"Has something happened to him?"

Heiderich was talking to Pinako so Al took out the note pad. You know that you have to give something up to use the gate right? I think that it took part of him. He seemed normal at first but then things changed. He Al stopped writing. Not sure how to continue.

Winry snatched the note from him.

"He what Al?"

"Ed hurt him." Heiderich said. Realizing what they were discussing.

"What! Ed would never do that! Are you sure it wasn't an accident?"

Al's hand went to his thought. If Ed hadn't told about him then this would never have happened. He took his hand away quickly, hoping she didn't notice.

He took the pad back. Without a doubt.

"I'm sorry Al..." She knew how much Al had lost. More so then if something had happened to Ed.

They went back to the house and Pinako made dinner getting Al to help her.

Winry had the goal of figuring out more about this mysterious person that had shown up with Al.

"Why does Al trust you so much?" She asked bluntly.

"After he forgot everything he stayed with me. We lived together pretty well since he went missing."

"Alright then. But you came all this way with him and haven't complained once. Why not let him go? He can write what he needs to say."

"I love him."

"Oh. Ohhh." Winry blinked. "Does he know?"

"Yes."

"And he feels the same?"

"Yes."

She thought of the fact that they had been living together for that long, most of the time alone. "OK! You guys have to keep the door open at night!"

Heiderich laughed. "So did I pass your test?"

"I guess." She said slyly looking at him from the corner of her eye.

XXX

Heiderich lay on his back, lounging on the bed. Al sat beside him a pensive look on his face.

They had been staying here for quite some time. Al said it like his own home. He didn't have one of his own but Winry was like a sister to him.

Will you miss your home?

"It was a place where I lived. It was never really home."

Al looked confused. Then where's your home? You have to have one somewhere.

"I do. It's wherever you are." He pulled Al on top of him and kissed him.

Winry's voice came from downstairs. "You two had better not be doing anything!"

Al blushed and sat back up, giving Heiderich a 'later for sure' look.

Al thought of something. You came thought the gate, I wonder if you can do alchemy.

"One of us doing it is enough!"

I bet you'd love studying it.

"Study?" This had gotten his attention.

Winry poked he head in the door suspiciously. "Didn't I say you couldn't be on the bed at the same time?"

"We sleep in the same bed anyway."

"Only because there isn't anymore rooms." Was her reply as she left.

"There's an idea." Heiderich pulled Al back down.

"OK! That's it! OUTSIDE!" She reprimanded, back in the door again.

"Ok." Heiderich grabbed Al's hand and they started out.

"I didn't say do anything outside!" She smiled to herself. She didn't think she had ever seen Al this happy. Not since they where children.

XXX

Heiderich was outlined by the moonlight as they made quiet, gentile love.

They were sure that Winry had to know if they were sleeping in the same bed it was bound to happen.

Al didn't bother trying to say anything at night because Heiderich wouldn't be able to see.

It didn't matter, there was nothing to say that they both didn't already know.

When Winry had complained about her suspicions to her grandmother Pinako had just shook her head and said. "To be young."

Al moved so that Heiderich had better access.

Things seemed so perfect. Al had started teaching Heiderich about Alchemy and had shown him some books. The blond had said that study and practice were two different things. He wasn't so sure about actually doing it.

Al had made it his goal to get Heiderich to try at least once.

Everything was moving along well.

Heiderich wasn't sick anymore and had reminded Al that Cavanagh had said to have a doctor check him from time to time to see if he was recovering. Al didn't feel like there was anything wrong with him, it wasn't like he couldn't communicate at all.

Heiderich cared about Al wether he could talk or not but he wished he could hear him moan again, hear his sweet voice turn husky. The little things he had taken for granted. Even just to wake up and hear Al say 'Good morning'.

What he had was more then enough.

Being able to touch him, to see Al's brown eyes filled with love, see him smile. These were things that sound couldn't effect. The thought of any of that changing made speech seem trivial.

Al gasped when Heiderich released himself inside of him.

It was clear it took everything Heiderich had not to make a sound.

Heiderich quickly kissed him before settling down. His lips brushing Al's neck.

"I love you."

Sometime later they got dressed again, Winry had a habit of walking in without knocking in the morning.

Heiderich held Al close. "I was thinking. Maybe we could get a place of our own."

Al liked the idea. A home that was both of theirs, equally.

Somewhere that they could spend the rest of their lives, that they could make love as loud as they wanted.

Was this equivalent exchange?

After everything he had been through, not just recently but through out his life, was he finally going to be allowed to live normally? To be happy?

XXX

Winry let herself in, about to loudly announce that it was time to wake up.

She saw that they were cuddled together. Al had his palm against Heiderich's chest, his face beside it.

They looked adorable.

She had come to learn that Heiderich didn't wear a shirt to bed. He had told her that if it bothered her then she should learn to nock.

Of course then she wouldn't get to see him shirtless.

She took in the difference between the two. Heiderich was attractive. He had the sort of muscles that girls loved. Not to much but not skinny either. There was nothing harsh about him though. He was strong and sweet at the same time. His eyes where something you could get lost in for hours if you wanted to.

Then there was Al. He had a soft, almost feminine body. He could easily be mistaken for a girl. He had the sort of cuteness that you wanted to touch. As a girl she could safely say that he was just as attractive. Not every girl wanted someone strong. She had to admit that every time she saw him she got the urge to touch him and see if his skin was as soft as it looked.

If they were free she would have gladly settled with either.

She shook her head, mentally beating away the thoughts with her mental wrench.

She got closer, bending over so her hair almost brushed Al's hand. "WAKE UP.!!!" She grinned as they started awake, Al rolling over and falling of the bed.

"Don't do that!" Heiderich groaned.

He checked over the side of the bed to make sure Alphonse was ok.

Al eventually managed to get into a sitting position. He yawned and waived happily at her.

"He doesn't seem to mind." She said in self defense.

Mind what? Al looked around. Why am I on the floor?

"Because you fell off the bed."

Al gave him a look and Winry giggled

She slipped out of the room before Al guessed that it was her fault.

XXX

After much complaint and begging not to from Winry, Heiderich and Al had finally found a new home.

It wasn't far so she could come and visit any time she wanted.

It had one bedroom with a bathroom in it, another bathroom downstairs, a kitchen and diningroom, a drawing room, and most importantly; a cozy study with a huge fireplace.

The Rockbells had loaned them some money to go towards payment and Al had a fair amount of money he had saved up from all the traveling he and his brother had done and from the paychecks the state had given them. Ed had given him something along the lines of an alowance.

Heiderich got a job to work toward paying Pinako back and Alphonse repaired things with alchemy.

XXX

Al walked in. Heiderich was on the phone, his feet on the desk.

"Saturday? Yes. Thank you, so much."

He disconnected.

What was that about?

"Remember? I told you that you need to see a doctor."

But the doctor here is away, who were you talking to?

"The colonel from Central. He agreed to have the state doctor have a look at you.

Saturday? Is a train leaving before then?

"The doctor is coming here, colonel Mustang said he wanted to come see how you are too. I think he wants an excuse to get out of there for a bit."

Saturday came and so did Dr. Hollel, Mustang and Sciezka

As it turned out both the Dr and Sciezka knew sign language. The doctor because of his profession and Sciezka because she had a identic memory and read every book that crossed her path.

The doctor had mad everyone wait in the drawing room and he examined Al in the study.

He checked the marks on Al's back, tisking.

Lowering the shirt he undid the top three buttons.

He examined the scar and probed. He made Al opened his mouth and shone a mini flashlight in.

Heiderich got up when the doctor came out.

They went across the room to speak in private. Mustang and Sciezka straining to overhear.

"I can do surgery to make it so that it doesn't pain him anymore but I'm afraid that he'll never get his voice back. Maybe if something had been done right away there would have been some chance."

"He never said it still hurt ."

"Do you want me to do the surgery or not?"

"As long as he's ok with it."

The doctor disappeared back into the room, he didn't come back out for several hours.

Heiderich would walk to the door, pause with his hand on the knob then turn away.

When the doctor finished he was greeted by three worried and curious people.

"He's fine, everything went well. I gave him some sedatives so he may seem groggy."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, yes. Of course."

He held a hand out, stopping Mustang and Sciezka. "One at a time."

Al had a bandage on his neck and was sitting on the rugs in front of the fire.

"Shouldn't you be laying down?"

Al stared at him blankly.

What? His movements were unsure.

Heiderich sat next to him. "I asked if you should be laying down."

Ok Al curled up, resting his head on Heiderich's lap.

Why does- He sopped and made a face.

"Why does what?"

What?

Heiderich sighed. Al could act so confused, or confusing, when he was tired. "Go to sleep."

Ok.

Heiderich watched the flames dance in the fireplace.

He felt a tug of his sleeve.

"Mmm?"

I love you.

"I love you too."

Good.

Al finally went to sleep.

XXX

Mustang then Sciezka visited Al when he woke up. He was more coherent by that time.

Sciezka stayed to visit with Winry. Mustang and the doctor left but not before Mustang let Al know why he came.

Mustang offered to 'unofficially' keep Al on the payroll. He could be the states representative in Resinbool. He would basically help people out that needed it, he wouldn't have to charge people to fix things any more because the state would pay him. He would also be in charge of making sure that alchemic law was not broken and also teaching alchemy to anyone with promise.

He agreed.

XXX

Heiderich watched Al, three children varying in age sat infront of him

He marveled at how easily Al communicated with the kids, for the most part they understood what he wanted to get across and if they didn't he would write it down.

For the first time he found himself wondering about kids.

Would Al regret that they would never be able to have any that were their own? Al had never said anything and he seemed content but they were young. What if the thought occurred to Al like it had to him?

After the lesson was over and they were alone again Heiderich decided to ask.

Not particularly. Not right now. I like children but it's different when they're yours, ask me again in a few years and I'm sure I will but you don't have to worry about it. I love you and I'm happy with the two of us. Besides, we could always adopt.

Heiderich wondered about the years to come.

The one thing he knew for certain was that he loved Alphonse and never wanted to let him go.

He held Al close. Showing him exactly how he felt.

Heat clashed and they knew they would never tire of each other, would never stop finding out new things about one another.

They made love infront of the fireplace, books and childish writings scattered around them.

Not everything would always be perfect but who wanted perfection anyway?

They had each other.

I changed the sorry no extera chapter to a ohh look, an extera story. -.- Don't ask how that happened. I'm already working on a bunch of other stuff so Don't expect it to be done right away. That is if you made it through this one and havn't run away. .

I hope you all liked my fanfic. Don't forget to comment!