Edward was always tense, even after getting the tweaks of Al's restoration fixed. It was like Edward was so accostomed to stress and unease that he forgot how to relax. It bothered Al immensely.

Even when Edward was asleep, even when there weren't any nightmares, Edward would still have a thin layer of that tension and restlessness. It would have been inexistant to anyone who didnt knew Edward as well as Al did.

Edward had been leisurely reading a book in their bedroom when Al came in from helping Winry with moving some heavy materials for her automail shop. Edward's hair was in disarray and he was only wearing the towel he used after his shower. When Al questioned the attire, Edward explained that his clothes were drying.

Alphonse had let Edward continue his reading, and he retrieved the brush from the bathroom. Seeing his brother's hair with so many threats of tangles gave him the irresistable urge to fix it.

Edward complained at first, fussing about how he could do it himself and how the brush was tugging on his hair painfully. Alphonse did the most logical thing and ignored him. After some gentle coaxing and a few kisses on the back of Edward's neck, the older brother gave in and decided to make the best of the situation.

Alphonse could feel the tension letting up as Edward began to relax and welcome the attention. Alphonse was sure that if Edward had been born a cat, he would be purring. It pleased him very much that not only was he permitted to see Edward so relaxed, but he was the cause of it.

What started as a helpful gesture of fixing Edward's hair somehow became more. Alphonse pushed the satin hair over Edward's right shoulder and set the brush down on the table. He didn't let Edward have the chance to resume his usual composure before Al began to kiss Edward's left shoulder; they were gentle, feather-light kisses, but they were just sensual enough for a soft sigh to escape Edward's lips.

The kisses were followed by the gentle pressure of Alphonse's fingers. He worked to release some of the tension from Edward's tired muscles. Al's fingers rubbed away some aches that Edward didn't even realize that he had. After his shoulders, Al shifted to the middle, then lower back. By the end of the massage, Edward had so fully melted into relaxation that even his face resumed it's natural age. The tension lines fading and leaving smooth flesh in its stead.

Alphonse was repayed only with Edward's smile and relaxed composure. Alphonse felt that it was more than an equivalent exchange to see some of that unnecessary strain and stress that had been plaguing his brother for so long finally flutter off into the atmosphere. Al thought that it was good to know that he could help remind Edward what it was like to be worry free.