Most people were use to the sudden fits of anger Ed flew into when someone teased him about his youthful looks or his diminutive height before he sprouted to his current 5'5" stature or his automail, but not too many had ever seen him completely loose his temper before. There was only one thing that ever caused him to become quiet and deadly as all color was stripped from his world and that was when someone threatened his little brother.

Like this little toady was doing in the guise of bossing them around to feel better about himself.

“Brother, don’t do anything rash.” Al’s voice filtered through the colorless world as a warm hand fell on his left arm, soaking through the black fabric to remind the Fullmetal Alchemist that he was not alone. Yet, right now, all he wanted to do was transmute his arm into his preferred weapon of a two foot long blade and see how long it took him to carve this toady int little pieces that anyone would have trouble identifying as a human.

“And what’s this?” demanded the toady, scooping up Ed’s pocket watch where it had been lying on the table. “These watches are forbidden on school grounds, plus there’s no way a *child* would have been trusted with a silver pocket watch, so I’m going to turn you both over to the police as thieves!”

“My brother earned that!” Exclaimed Al, his tone offended at the idea of being called a thief.

“Everything they have said is the truth,” announced the calm voice of Colonel Mustang as a strong hand gripped Ed’s shoulder where metal met flesh. “They are truly fifteen and fourteen, and Edward earned that watch when he passed his national test and graduated from a selective school.”

The blond teen watched as a touch of uncertainly flickered through those beady eyes before the toady turned his gaze on the Flame Alchemist who was standing just behind Ed’s shoulder. “And you are?”

“The one who gave him the watch,” replied the colonel in a bored drawl that caused the toady to flinch and Ed felt a predatory smirk stretch across his face.

“I’ll be watching you and your brother,” snarled the toady before dropping the watch back on the table and stalking from the room.

A soft growl came from Xander, an animalistic sound that promised broken bones and bleeding bodies, and Ed found himself snarling in agreement with that picture. Warm soft hands cupped his face and he found himself staring into a pair of warm golden eyes that were filled with unconditional love and concern for him.

“I’m right here, Edward,” soothed Al, and slowly more color began seeping back into Ed’s vision as Al wrapped his arms around his older brother, holding him close as the last of Ed’s anger drained away. A fierce protectiveness swept through Ed, and he slipped his arms around Al, holding him as close as humanly possible.

“No one will ever hurt you again, not if I have anything to say about it,” vowed the blond alchemist before placing a kiss on Al’s forehead. Pulling back, Ed was treated to a delighted smile from his brother before they both turned to look at the rest of the room. “Who was that bastard and why the fuck was he bothering us with threats?”