"Sister! It's time to get up!"
Edeline layed in bed, fully aware of what time it was. She was exhausted, and found she had gotten very little sleep the night before.
"Don't make me come in there and get you," called Alphonse once more. Edeline groaned in protest, but sat herself up. She threw the covers aside, forgetting how cold the mornings had become as of late.
Winter was on it's way. Edeline knew that much.
"Another morning, another rainy day," she muttered staring out the small window above the girl's bed.
It was indeed raining. The constant throbbing of Edeline's automail stumps confirmed that much. She didn't need to look out the window to confirm the observation.
Outside the bedroom door, Alphonse was busy preparing breakfest.
"Edeline, it's time to-" he stopped short of finishing his sentence. The door had began to open slowly, and his sister soon emerged.
"Sorry about that, Al. It took me a little longer to get up than usual," Edeline offered with a tired grin.
Al wasn't blind. He had lived with Edeline long enough to tell when she wasn't telling him something.
"How did you sleep?" Alphonse asked casually, as he watched Edeline from the corner of his eye with concern. She made her way slowly to the couch that held residence in the middle of the apartment, relying on the wall to hold much of her weight.
"I got enough sleep, Al," Edeline replied, relaxing into the couch cushions.
"You don't have to worry about me."
He sighed. He hated to play her hand, but sometimes it was necessary.
"And your arm and leg? How is your automail? I know this rain must be bothering you."
Al stopped what he was doing and turned to face the elder, who had chosen to remain quiet.
"Their fine, they barely hurt. It's just a presistant throbbing is all," Edeline answered her brother at last, but quietly still.
She had began to massage the place in which the artificial limb met her flesh leg, unconsciously. Edeline visibly relaxed, the tension slowly leaving her face.
Fully aware that he would never win the argument, Alphonse compromised:
"If you're going to insist on going to work, at least let me call the office and ask for someone to come and give you a ride-"
"Will you stop bugging me about my automail if I agree with you?" Edeline interupted, sounding somewhat irritated.
"Of course, sister. Now eat your breakfast before it gets cold," Al replied. The excitement in his voice was enough to convey the smile of victory the boy "wore."
"Yeah, whatever. It's nothing to get excited about," Edeline grumbled, while stifling a yawn.
Edeline ate her food, placed her dishes in the sink, and left to their room to get dressed. Alphonse took this opportunity to stand and go to the phone. Dialing the number from memory, he only had to wait now.
"Mustang's office," spoke the recipient of the phone call.
"Colonel, this is Alphonse."
"Oh, good morning Al."
'That's...odd. He almost sounded... disappointed,' Alphonse thought.
"I was wondering if I could ask you a favor," Al questioned.
"Oh? What kind of favor would that be?" Mustang asked in reply, his usual smirk apparent in his voice.
"Well Sir, it's been raining since yesterday, and as you know, sister has a hard time in this weather due to-"
"I'll have one of my men there in fifteen minutes. And Alphonse?" Mustang waited for the armors reply.
"Yes Sir?"
"Never hesitant to call me if the two of you are in trouble. You or Edeline."
Alphonse was surprised; not by the Colonels offer, but the underlying notion itselfs. Mustang had never been so 'obvious' in his helping the Elrics.
Alphonse could see the help over the years in which Mustang gave the two siblings, but it was more behind the scenes.
"Thank you sir, I'll keep that in mind," Alphonse said before saying goodbye, and hung up the phone.
"Was that the colonel just now?" Edeline stood in the doorway way of the bedroom, leaning against its frame. She was now dressed in her usual attire, with only her boots to don.
"Yeah, it was. He said he would send someone to pick you up and that they will be here in fifteen minutes," Alphonse answered his sister's question.
Edeline moved to take a seat back on the couch. Al joined her on the adjoining cushion.
"It was weird, though." Her brothers statement peaked her interest.
"What was?" Edeline encouraged Al to continue, bring her legs together to sit cross-legged. She turned her body to face her brother.
"It's nothing really. The colonel. Told me not to hesitate to call him if me or you ever need anything," Alphonse spoke, taking notice to his sister's unusal eagerness and interest in conversation that morning in particular.
"Is it really that odd? I mean, it's kinda nice-" Edeline caught herself.
"I mean- maybe the bastard isn't as egotistical and self-centered as we thought," the girl stated, a slight red filling her cheeks. Alphonse smiled to himself.
He decided against pointing out her odd response, and decided to leave it be. He would get answers later.
"We should go and wait out front. It should be about time." Edeline stood and made her way to the bedroom suddenly, and emerged carrying her pocket watch.
Alphonse started to comment on this, but was cut off:
"Don't say anything. I just forgot my watch. I was tired when I came in last night. End of story." Edeline attached the chain to her waist and deposited the watch into her pocket.
"Ok, ok. I'll just pester you later after you get off," Al joked. Edeline sighed, but put her boots on and kept on her way through the dorms, and down to the cold reality that was the outside.
(Line*Break)
"Hey chief! Get in and well be on our way." Havoc was sitting in the military issued, bland, vehicle. Edeline waved goodbye to Al and opened the passenger door. Once closed, Havoc pulled out and onto the road.
"It's nice of the colonel to send a ride for you," Havoc commented.
"What of it?" Edeline asked, a bit harshly. Havoc only smirked.
"Nothing, cheif. Nothing at all."
Edeline turned to stare out the window. Watching as the buildings, and people disappeared behind them, she soon found herself lost in thought.
"I like it." Havoc's vague comment brought Edeline back to reality.
"What do you mean," she asked, genuinely befuddled.
"Your hair. It's not in its usual braid. You should wear it down more often," Havoc remarked, a gentle grin on his face.
Edeline turned away again. She hated feeling like this. She knew she was somewhat red in the face.
"It's just down. It's nothing special. I just forgot to braid it this morning," Edeline muttered.
"Well, it suits you," Havoc commented before letting the conversation die.
They soon were in sight of Central Headquarters. Edeline made to grab the hair band on her wrist, but found that it was bare.
'Damn it!' the girl snapped mentally at herself as the car came to a stop. They were at Headquarters.