Chapter Two

Pompeii

And if you close your eyes

Does it almost feel like nothing's changed at all?

The first thing I notice, before anything else, is the height.

"Unbelievable," I mutter to myself.

"Hey, Winry," Alphonse says as his characteristically wide smile lights up his face. He looks much healthier than when I last saw him; his face less gaunt, his skin less pale. His golden-brown eyes are open and bright, and his hair, which matches the shade of those eyes perfectly, has a slight wave to it.

"Didja miss us?"

"Miss you?" My voice is incredulous. "Miss you?"

I see tackling them to the front walk with a bear hug as a perfectly acceptable answer. We go down as a threesome, and it's just like old times–

"Watch it, Winry," Edward growls from beneath me, speaking for the first time.

I prop myself up on my elbows as Alphonse begins to laugh, but I have eyes for only his older brother. Edward looks up at me with eyes a shade lighter than his brother's and a slight grimace that reminds me all too much of the past.

"Sorry," I whisper. I roll away and onto the hard-packed dirt of the front path, not really caring about the state of my shirt. Now we're lying side-by-side, staring up at the blinding sun. The illusion of our original feelings of camaraderie seems shattered.

I try to lighten up the mood. "It's nice to see you too, Ed," I say, only half-sarcastically.

Alphonse laughs even more. "This just isn't your day, Brother. First you get hit in the head with Den's chew toy, and then a beautiful girl knocks you flat on the ground–"

"Ugh," Ed and I groan simultaneously. I look over at him and try out a smile. It seems to work; his mouth curves upward ever so slightly. He sits up carefully and flexes his right arm, the long sleeve of his red t-shirt successfully covering his prosthetic limb. I'll always know it's there, no matter how hard he tries to deny it.

After all, I helped Granny make it.

There's an awkward silence, but I don't think Al notices it. He's too busy sniffing the air. "I think I smell apple pie," he says suddenly. Den barks, seemingly confirming it.

He's up in a flash. "Last one gets the smallest slice!"

Ed's eyes narrow. "Hey, wait–"

It's too late; his younger brother, along with Den, has vanished inside the house.

He sighs and stands up, absentmindedly dusting off his pair of faded jeans. He offers me his left arm without quite looking at me. "C'mon."

I slowly take his hand, trying to ignore the blush that's threatening to creep across my face and up the back of my neck.

"Thanks," I say after he pulls me to my feet.

"No problem." He drops my hand like a hot coal.

He hesitates for a moment after that, and I'm surprised to see his cheeks turning the same color as his shirt. "Look, Winry, I… er, it is really nice to see you again. Thanks for letting us stay with you."

He sounds so weirdly formal, so unlike the Ed that I know. I lightly punch him on the arm – his good arm. "Hey, chill out. Let's go eat some apple pie."

He smiles at me now, for real. "Did you notice that I'm taller than you now?"

That's the moment when I know that things are going to be okay. I decide that I need to beat him into the house, so I begin to run for the door. "Remember what Al said?" I holler over my shoulder. "Last one gets the smallest slice!"

In a second, he's on my heels. "So you did notice!"

"I hope Granny makes you drink milk!"

That night, much to Ed's consternation and Granny's amusement, the principal of Resembool County High comes by. Roy Mustang isn't exactly an old family friend, but I honestly think Granny likes having him over because he keeps Ed in check so well. Accompanying him is Vice Principal Riza Hawkeye, who's pretty much his closet girlfriend, save for the fact that the whole town knows, and her shiba inu, Black Hayate, whom Den has always been pretty uncertain about. The two dogs sniff at each other; Hayate decides to remain sitting primly at Riza's ankles, while Den opts for her plush doggy bed sitting in the corner of the living room.

Roy wastes no time getting down to business. "Hughes sent over your luggage," he says briskly as he hands Ed and Al two suitcases. "He said to call him up if you or Alphonse forgot to pack anything."

Al nods quickly. "Yes, sir!" He takes the bags in his hands and stumbles awkwardly towards the staircase.

"I'd like to talk to Edward alone for a few minutes, if that's alright with everyone," continues the principal.

This seems to both please and bother Granny. "Mr. Mustang, with all due respect–"

"Pinako," he interrupts lightly, but there seems to be a hint of warning in his deep voice. "Please."

"It's okay, Granny," Ed says cheekily, giving her a thumbs-up. "He doesn't scare me."

Hayate growls.

Roy rolls his eyes. "Let's get this over with, Elric." He practically drags him into the dining room and shuts the swinging door with an intimidating finality.

Riza sighs audibly. "What children." She sits down on the couch, which faces the brick fireplace and the TV. I choose a place next to her. I've always really admired Riza. She's always so cool and collected, and never lets her temper get the best of her, which is unfortunately one of my biggest faults.

Al returns and flops into the overstuffed wing-backed chair that sits rather regally in the corner, next to the carved wooden bookcase. According to Granny, my dad had built it as a teenager in order to impress my mom, who was an avid reader. Building bookshelves hadn't captured his interest for long, but I know that Mom had for the rest of his life.

Riza coughs quietly, and I look up from my hands, clasped tightly together in my lap. She looks at me with chocolate-brown eyes that are much warmer and kinder than most people would suspect.

"How has your summer been, Winry?" she asks.

"Alright, Ms. Hawkeye."

"Getting ready for college applications?"

I nod, which is a lie, because I still haven't started my essay. But the vice principal doesn't need to know that.

Al grunts, his chin resting on his chest as he sags into the armchair. Despite his politeness and proper attitude, his posture's always been deplorable, just like his brother's. "Maybe you should knock some sense into my brother, Winry. He has no idea what he's doing."

Riza sniffs. "It's true. We received his academic records from Central, and apparently, he has yet to take the SATs."

Granny returns with a tray loaded with iced water and the remnants of the apple pie. Riza thanks her and takes a glass; so do I. Al opts for another slice of pie. "That boy will be the end of all of us, I swear. He's eighteen years-old, and he still won't drink his milk."

I'm getting ready for bed, but I can hear the two arguing about something or other on the other side of the walls. They'll be sharing the guest bedroom throughout their stay, and I'm kinda worried about Al's safety.

I want to turn out the lights and bury myself under the covers, but their voices are too loud. I'm about to knock on the wall that separates us and demand that they shut their pieholes, but then I hear Ed say–

"He just thinks we might be in danger. 'Might' being the operative word. Calm down, Al. It'll be fine."

Danger? For about a fourth of a second, I feel guilty about listening in, but I decide to press my ear to the wall anyway.

"But Brother–"

"He's just an old coot. Him and Hughes. They're feeding off of each other. They're making mountains out of molehills! We have nothing to worry about."

"Okay…" Al sounds just as skeptical as I feel, because to me, it sounds like Ed's too busy trying to convince himself instead of his brother. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"No one will, little bro. I promise."

I wait a few seconds more, but they've finished talking, and my ear's beginning to hurt in the many places where it's pierced. I frown and go to turn off the light.

It's too hot in my room to be beneath even the sheets, and I find myself tossing and turning.

Why would Principal Mustang and Mr. Hughes think that Ed and Al are in danger? Who would be endangering them? Who could get hurt?

What's going on?