Title: Lies of Storms

Author: S J Smith

Rating: Teen

Summary: Sometimes, even familiar sounds lie.

Disclaimer: Arakawa absolutely owns all.

Note: I have written two ficlets in this universe. I don't know if I will write more or not.

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It sounded like thunder.

If he closed his eyes, squeezing them tightly shut, he could imagine it was thunder. The sparking lights, the rumble, the way the ground shook – it could be a close lightning strike.

But the other sounds – the screams, the gunfire – proved it a lie.

Gritting his teeth, Edward opened his eyes, peering over the banked earth of the foxhole. He could see blue uniforms, stained black with blood. Reddened earth beneath those bodies. The stink of cordite and baked flesh filled the air. He swallowed hard to keep from puking.

He'd made a promise to come home safe. To come home alive. The same one he'd always made. If the sound was just the thunder, he could imagine being home, in bed with Winry, curled up with her.

Another explosion rocked the earth works, sending dirt into his face. Ed spat it out, rubbing his eyes to clear them.

Too bad it wasn't thunder, and he wasn't an alchemist any more.

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