No nsfw this chapter.
Edward watched as the attacker took hold of his right arm. A loud ringing was replaced with the crash of metal expanding and breaking apart. He felt his body lighten as he fell to the ground, the remains of his automail flying through the air, hitting the ground, scraping his face. He tried to back away, tried to get up and run. His right cheek hit the ground with a splash. Alphonse was screaming. The rain no longer falling on him as a figure loomed overhead with an outstretched arm. A gunshot.
Edward's eyes flew open to total darkness. His chest was on fire and his stomach lurched into his throat. He took sharp shallow breaths one after the other, able to hear nothing but the rapid pounding of his heart in his ears. His entire body was throbbing with the panicked rhythm. I can't breathe. He rolled onto his side, gripping at his bangs with his hand and panting violently. What's going on? Searing pain in his chest. My lungs are melting. His rapid heartbeat quickened even more, his breath became more shallow, fluttering in and out of his tired lungs at an alarming rate.
When the bedroom door opened his vision blurred, his pupils refusing to adjust to the sudden light spilling in from the hallway. He did not feel Winry sit down next to him on the bed. He could not hear her calling his name, asking what was wrong. He didn't feel the mattress shifting under her weight as she laid down next to him, trying to get a look at him. He did, however, feel the warm skin of her palm gently land on his face. His hand fell from his hairline, wide eyes darting up to look at the figure laying next to him. His vision cleared to the full view of Winry's pale, extremely concerned face. Almost immediately, his heart rate began to slow and his breathing became less labored. The pain in his chest dissolved with every breath he took in. His hand found it's way to hers and pressed her palm firmly against his cheek. He closed his eyes and took long, deep breaths; the heat of Winry's skin against his pulling him back to Earth. The shaking in his lungs slowed and eventually came to a stop. He opened his eyes again to the relieved look on his friend's face.
"Edward?"
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
He took another deep breath.
"Yeah."
"You wanna talk about it?"
Instinctively, the corners of his mouth turned downwards. He shook his head slightly, leaning in to press his forehead to hers. The contact kept him grounded to reality; having her so close to him was a comfort he didn't quite know how to explain. "Can you...stay here for a bit?" He asked sheepishly. He was expecting her to say no, that she had to get back to work on his arm if he wanted to leave on time. Instead, she pulled her thumb across his cheek, moving it back and forth against his skin. He could feel his face flush; each nerve she grazed shot to life with a spark. She smiled.
"Yeah, I can stay for a little while."
