Yes! I am alive! This should have been in chapter one, but A) I was too lazy to type it then and B) My story plan changed suddenly and it didnt fit as chapter two.
Since I keep forgetting about this...
DISCLAIMER: I do not own FMA... sniff
Chapter One Continued
Alphonse sat at the table, a mug of coffee steaming in front of him. Winry was pacing backwards and forwards, turning a large wrench around in her hands. Edward lent against the window frame, brow furrowed in thought and a wary eye on Winry's wrench.
'How long have you been with the Resistance?' Al's quiet voice broke the heavy silence of the room.
Ed looked away from the wrench and turned stare blindly out the window. 'Ever since the accident,' his voice was unusually quiet.
Winry stopped pacing sat down next to Al, struggling to keep her tears at bay. Al looked at his brother with concern. While comments on the growth stunting effects of automail were usually made jokingly, no one ever talked about how Ed had lost his limbs.
'Ed, if Al is drafted, you will be to,' Winry quickly changed the subject.
'But those soldiers at Aunt Pinako's would have recognised you,' Al pointed out, more worried over Ed predicament then his own.
'They only know me as the Fullmetal alchemist, a wanted criminal, not as Edward Elric.'
Al frowned 'I thought only State Alchemists got a second name,'
'They do, but the media caught wind that some high-ranking Resistance members used to be state alchemists. Those of us that are in the public eye get 'named'' Ed sighed 'I'm on wanted posters all over Central, if the State link you and me Al, you're both going to be in danger,'
Al smiled sadly 'Brother, we've been conscripted, we will be in danger anyway,'
'Trust me Al, if they find out that you're the brother of a Resistance member, dying on the battlefield would be a blessing,'
'If Winry and I don't go, they'll come looking for us. With you we can just say that you've wandered off again, that its your usual routine. The whole village can back it up,'
Ed felt a pang of guilt, 'I'm sorry-' Ed started to say, I didn't want to be like him, couldn't follow.
Al shook his head and smiled, knowing full well what his brother was going to say. 'You come back brother, everytime,' Ed smiled gratefully.
'What about Granny?!' Winry asked, horrified that she'd only just remembered.
Ed jumped onto the subject change 'Don't worry, she has a friend in Rush Valley she hasn't seen in years who she is going to visit,'
'Rush Valley?!' Winry shrieked 'That's not fair!'
'Aunt Pinako's part of the Resistance too, isn't she,' Al stated.
Ed nodded.
'Cant say I'm surprised,' Al commented wryly, 'She hates the military. Remember when that Colonel Mustang guy came? She almost strangled him on the spot!'
All three snickered at the memory.
Ed watched the train pull out. He wished that Al and Winry didn't have to go. The State had no right dragging them into yet another of their messes. He squished the guilt that was worming its way into his stomach, if he wasn't in the Resistance, they wouldn't be in so much danger.
Though he knew it was foolish, Ed lingered as the train pulled out of sight. A large number of military personnel were combing the country side for him, under the personal command of Colonel Maes Hughes. Investigations. The man was said to have a solid head on his shoulders and a nose made for sticking in other peoples business.
Ed snorted in amusement, ignoring the worry that was started to dance with the guilt, the brass must be getting twitchy.
With a final thought for Al, Winry and Pinako, Ed turned east, he was needed elsewhere.
