To Remember

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor ever will, Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters within.


Chapter 3: "Because you need a friend."

The office went silent and Edward von Hohenheim found himself the centre of attention again as they all turned to him. He took a step back from their eyes. They were staring at him with disbelief. He blinked. The earlier looks had been understandable, but he didn't see the reasons for these ones. The smaller man stared at him.

"You don't know what automail is?" Fuery almost squeaked.

Edward shook his head. "No." He looked almost guilty as if he had done something wrong by being unaware of what it was.

"It's a form of steel prosthetic, Major." Falman said carefully.

"Steel? Wouldn't that be heavy?" Edward stared at him. "It wouldn't be too flexible either." Edward frowned as he tried to imagine what steel arms and legs would be like.

"No wonder it felt strange when I shook your hand." Breda said slowly. "You don't have automail."

"But they'd still be able to help," Fuery said as he saw Edward becoming more confused. "I can take you there later, if you'd like. Then you'll see what we mean." He offered.

Edward looked Fuery and saw nothing but kindness in the eyes behind the glasses and he responded to it with a nod and a small smile. He didn't see the looks exchanged by the others as they recognized Kain Fuery's protective streak kick in. Edward von Hohenheim didn't know what he had just let himself in for. It was yet another sign that this young man who looked so familiar was not the one they wished he had been.

Fuery took Edward to his desk and began to go through everything he needed to know. From the files that were neatly stacked on the desk to the basic routines of the office, their voices rose and fell for an hour. Even without watching, Hawkeye could hear what von Hohenheim was feeling just from the tone of that accented voice. Whether he was puzzled or curious or pleased at having learnt something it was there. He had to be the most open person she had ever met. Listening and not seeing him made it easier to feel that it wasn't Edward Elric there. It was only when she looked up and caught sight of that so-familiar face that it became awkward again.

Fuery went back to his own desk and Edward opened the first of the files. The concentration he had shown in the exam became apparent to the office. He worked through file after file without question or complaint. He wrote and he read, he frowned occasionally but he never asked for help. He went through everything and by late afternoon he had it all completed. He smiled with satisfaction as he closed the last file and he looked up, blinking at the activity around him.

"It's time to go home now, Major." Hawkeye said as she met his eyes. Everyone was straightening and tidying their desks, so he did the same. Falman gathered the completed files and placed them in the collection trays. He watched and copied to make sure he was doing it correctly. Fuery showed him where some things went.

"I'll ring around about the automail tomorrow, Major." Fuery said as he closed the filing cabinet. Edward nodded. He was curious but also a bit apprehensive about having anyone come close to his prosthetics. He knew it had to be looked at, the twinges were getting worse, but this was his first day and he didn't mind putting that off until tomorrow.

They began leaving and he followed them out, straightening his jacket and gloves. He wasn't sure what made him turn around and he met the single dark eye of the General who was standing in his office door. Edward felt himself paused for the briefest moment before he blinked and the General was gone.


"Von Hohenheim! Edward!" The call broke though his concentration and he looked up blinking to find Kain Fuery standing in front of him.

"I'm sorry, Sergeant Major. I was …"

"It's ok, Major. I was asking if you wanted to come to the mess with us for lunch."

Edward looked around him. "I didn't realise it was lunchtime. I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and looked at his desk. Since he had appeared at eight this morning he had been working. File after file, folders and papers shifting smoothly. He had missed the glances amongst the others as they had watched him concentrate. He hadn't even stirred when the phones had rung. They had seen it yesterday afternoon and they realised again just how focused he could be. Like the Edward he wasn't, he could concentrate, unlike the other Edward, this one could concentrate on paperwork.

"Falman and I have early lunch this week. We stagger the lunch times so the office is always manned. If you like, you can come with us." Fuery explained patiently and saw Edward nod. "You can finish them off when we get back." He added as he saw Edward glance at the few files left on his desk.

"Yes, if that is acceptable, then yes, I'd like to come to lunch with you."

Fuery smiled and he and Falman waited as Edward closed the file and put his pen neatly to one side before standing up to join them. He was straightening his jacket and gloves as he followed them from the office.

Havoc looked at Breda.

"I wonder if… von Hohenheim likes dogs."


Edward felt comfortable with Fuery and Falman. He could see that they were disturbed by the resemblance as much as everyone else was, but he could also see that they were trying to make him feel welcome. By the time they reached the mess Fuery and Falman had managed to convince him to use their surnames and not their ranks. He could understand their reluctance to call him by his first name so he was content to be on last-name terms with them.

There seemed to be more people here now than there had been at breakfast this morning and they had to wait longer in the queue. Table places were scarcer too but they found a spot near the rear doors.

"Early lunch is usually the busiest at the moment," Falman remarked as they settled in their places. "More people take the earlier roster times when the weather's warm like this."

Edward nodded. That made sense and he watched people continually cycling through the room. The noise level varied, dipping occasionally but never stopping. It was all so normal and no-one stared and he felt himself relaxing.

"I found a few places listed that do automail, von Hohenheim. Did you want to go today or tomorrow?" Fuery asked.

Edward paused as he thought. "Much as I'd like to put it off, I really shouldn't. Today is fine. Thank you."

"If you don't have automail, what do you have, if you don't mind me asking?" Fuery replied, slightly hesitantly.

"My Dad, he built these." He paused, frowning as he tried to find a way to explain it. "They sort of connect to my nerves and muscles rather than just strapped on, like most prosthetics are."

"So it is similar to automail, then." Falman stated and Edward looked at him puzzled.

"How is it similar?"

"Automail is connected to the nerves as well. But not the muscles, if I remember. I believe the surgery is extremely painful and it takes a few years to become fully integrated with it."

"But you said yesterday it was made of steel. How is that even possible?"

"The inner workings aren't steel. They're pneumatics and wiring that use the power of the nerves to make it work. There's two parts to it. A port and a limb."

Edward looked very confused and curious.

"You'll see when we go this afternoon. It'll be easier to show than explain, von Hohenheim." Fuery remarked. "It sounds like your dad would be interested too, if he made yours. You'll be able to tell him all about it though, won't you?"

Edward swallowed slightly. "My dad died a couple of months ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Fuery said, his face sympathetic. "That's a shame. I bet he'd have been proud of you passing the Exams."

"Yes, it was something he always wanted me to do." Edward looked down for a moment and then straightened up, clearing the sorrow from his eyes. "He taught me everything he could about alchemy."

"My mother raised me." Fuery said slowly. "My father died when I was very little. She always wanted me to be in the military because he had been in it."

They both looked at Falman and he stared back. "I joined because it was best suited to my temperament." They blinked at him and then they saw his lips curl slightly. They both laughed and Falman smiled, pleased to have disrupted the melancholic atmosphere.

"Vato!" A female voice called and Edward watched with fascination as the man's cheeks went pink. Fuery grinned and then looked down at his plate as Falman shot a glare at him. Edward looked from one to the other. He saw Falman take a deep breath and then turn to greet the woman who was approaching. Brunette hair lifted out of her eyes as she blew upwards, her glasses glinting slightly as she came closer.

"Schieska. How nice to see you." He said politely, almost stiltedly. Edward looked at Fuery with a confused frown at the sudden change in the grey haired man. Fuery shook his head quickly and mouthed "will tell you later" at him. Edward nodded and turned back to see two wide eyes of forest green staring at him.

"Edward?" The brunette asked in a stunned voice and Falman took her tray and placed it on the table before she dropped it. The young woman came closer and Edward backed away a little bit.

"I think you have me confused with someone else." He said politely, his accent more pronounced. "I am Edward von Hohenheim."

"But…you have your father's name?" She asked, her face pale.

"My father's name was Phillip. Phillip von Hohenheim."

"Schieska, this is not Edward Elric." Falman said gently and she stared from one to the other. Fuery shook his head and the golden eyes looked sympathetically at her, if still a bit wary.

"I'm sorry, it's just you look so much like him." She said as she straightened her glasses and took a deep breath.

"Yes, several people have mentioned it." Von Hohenheim said carefully, as they all shifted to make room for her.

"That must make this all seem very strange to you then I guess." She said as she sat down between him and Falman. "I mean you do look so much like him, although your hair is longer and the way you talk as well, that accent is almost exotic in a way. You're taller too. And you're left handed as well. Is that natural or do you have automail like he did? I have this friend who makes the best automail. Are you working in the General's office? Are you an alchemist…?"

Edward stared wide-eyed at her as she spoke. He had never met anyone like her before. He could see Falman going redder and redder behind her and he was almost positive he could feel Fuery shaking on the other side of him.

"You talk a lot, don't you?" He suddenly asked in a dazed voice. There was a muffled noise from Fuery and he thought he saw Falman shake but he wasn't sure. He was staring at this Schieska person who was staring straight back at him.

"I talk a bit." She said, blinking. "It's a nervous habit and I sometimes get carried away and I can't stop it, but it's not too bad and I can control it."

Edward kept staring. He was confounded by her. If this was controlling it, he would hate to see her out of control.

"The Major joined yesterday, Schieska. He's the newest State Alchemist." Falman said, somehow managing to keep his voice steady. Edward looked at the man with gratitude. He really had no idea how to cope with someone like her. Schieska turned to Falman and Edward took a deep breath of relief.

"So he is working with you then?"

"Yes." Falman nodded.

Edward felt Fuery straightening up and looked at the shorter man. His eyes were suspiciously bright and he was having a hard time keeping the smile from his face. He grinned at Edward.

"Schieska works in Investigations." And then he added softly. "She can be a bit over-enthusiastic at times."

"I met someone from Investigations here yesterday. A Major Delsin."

Schieska turned back to face him. "I know him too. You must be the one he was talking about then. He teases me all the time about being unsuited to the Military and maybe I am, but I've been here over five years now, and I'm going to stay. And you'll do the same, I know. Even if it doesn't suit you either."

Edward looked taken aback at that. "I hadn't planned to leave so soon after joining. And it suits me just fine." He said. "New experiences are always different and unsettling at first but once I've been here a while it will be easier."

"It will, von Hohenheim." Falman said and Edward smiled.

Schieska watched as Fuery began to tell Edward about his first day. The blond man smiled and was sympathetic and appeared completely engrossed in what Fuery was saying. She turned to Falman with a confused look on her face.

"Vato?" She asked softly.

"I know." He replied equally quietly. "But it's not him. We've been watching him yesterday afternoon and all this morning. He may look like Edward, but he behaves nothing like him. He's probably more naïve than Fuery is."

She sighed. "It would have been so nice. I know how much Winry and Al miss him. Al still looks for him."

"I know, Schieska. Perhaps in your next letter to Winry you should mention this. She comes for her visit soon and if she sees him without knowing anything about this, it's going to be very hard for her."

"What about Al?"

"The General's going to let him know before he returns." Falman looked over her shoulder to where Fuery and Edward were still talking. "Don't say too much to anyone else, Schieska. No-one really knows what to do yet."

"I won't." She frowned. "It can't be easy for him either." She mused.

"It's not." Falman said. "Although he's probably coping better than the rest of us are."


Edward von Hohenheim found the afternoon went slower. Once the files were taken care of, he had nothing else to do. Everyone else seemed to have something to keep busy with. Except him.

"Lieutenant-Colonel?" He said hesitantly and she looked up.

"Yes?"

"Is there more for me to do, or is that it?" He asked, feeling a bit guilty for interrupting her.

"You've finished those files?" She stared at him. After seeing how he had concentrated yesterday and this morning she wasn't that surprised that he had finished. It was his apparent willingness to do more that startled her.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Well, there's not really anything specifically for you. I have to go to the range, you can accompany me if you like."

"Yes Ma'am." He smiled. It would be good to be moving around. Sitting down for too long made his left leg twitchy.

"Major, call me Hawkeye, or Sir." She said with a slight twitch of her shoulders as she collected papers neatly into a folder.

"Yes, Ma… Sir." Edward said and straightened the things on his desk. She noticed that he put his pen in the exact same place he had put it in before lunch as she stood up.

Edward got up from his chair and gave his left leg a discreet shake as he moved to follow her. He straightened his jacket and gloves as he moved. "Would you like me to carry them, Sir?" He indicated the folders in her hands as they went through the door.

"No, Major. I can manage these. Thank you." She said with a smile. This Edward was so much more like Alphonse than she had first thought. She watched him from the corner of her eye. His gait was smooth, even with the limp and he was looking around, his eyes wide and curious. She knew what the initial tour was like so he was probably seeing things now he hadn't had time to notice before.

The differences in his character made it hard for her to feel any resentment over the fact that he resembled someone he wasn't. You couldn't resent someone for something they couldn't help. And he couldn't help that he looked like Edward Elric. Fuery had passed around the snippets of information he had discovered at lunchtime and there appeared to be nothing that would indicate he was anyone other than who he said he was. It was just his physical appearance that got to them.

"Do you know how to shoot, Major?" She asked as they neared the range.

"Yes Sir." He said as he looked at the solid squat building.

"You can shoot a few rounds while you wait if you want."

"Thank you, Sir." He smiled and then it disappeared. "I wasn't issued with a firearm, Sir."

"Alchemists aren't, but the range always has some here for those who don't bring their own weapons or want to try something different." She paused. "I assume you shoot left handed?"

"Yes Sir." His pause was minimal. "I can't judge the pressure on the trigger and the recoil can sometimes cause my fingers to loosen on the grip if I try to use my right." He was finding the ease with which they spoke of his missing limbs rubbing off on him. Their matter-of-fact attitude and the fact they never appeared disgusted or affected by it helped.

"I understand. There are several others who shoot left."

He smiled suddenly. "You shoot both," he said.

"Yes, but how did you know that?"

"Calluses on both hands, Sir." And she shifted the files in her arms to look at her hands and the tell tale patches of toughened skin. She frowned and he took a step back.

"I'm sorry Sir. Maybe I shouldn't have said that." He looked worried and when she looked at him, she saw that he was also concerned that he might have hurt her feelings.

"It's ok, Major." She smiled ruefully. He hesitated slightly but she shook her head at him. "I mean it. I have been shooting for a lot of years now, it's only natural that I bear the marks from that." She looked at him. His transparency was almost frightening she thought, and yet he had managed to see something she wasn't sure anyone else had. And he had known her for just over a day.

"Come on, von Hohenheim. Let's find you a gun." She spoke almost cheerfully and she saw the baffled look on his face as she turned into the range.


They were late getting back to the office and the smell of cordite almost preceded them as they entered. Both looked comfortable with each other and Edward was smiling happily as he looked over to Fuery.

"Do we just turn up at this automail place, or do I need to make an appointment?" He asked.

"No, we can just go there. It's nearly time to go anyway. Did you enjoy the range?"

Edward's eyes lit up. "Oh yes. It was great. The alleys are just the right length. Hawkeye has organized some time on the open range tomorrow." Fuery blinked at von Hohenheim's enthusiasm. He had never seen anyone get that excited about shooting, not even Hawkeye. And then he blinked again as he realised von Hohenheim had used Hawkeye's name. He looked at Hawkeye but she was merely smiling slightly as she reordered the files on her desk.

"If you wanted to leave a bit early Fuery, you can." She said as she met his eyes. "Von Hohenheim has finished and you look like you're nearly done."

"I am, Lieutenant-Colonel. These last diagrams aren't needed yet." He looked at von Hohenheim who had come over and was looking at the schematics on his desk. "Did you want to go now?"

Edward shrugged and felt his shoulder twinge. "Yes, if it's alright."

"Then we will." Fuery gathered his things and Edward helped by attaching the drawings to their hangers and sliding them into the rack.

Good night everyone." Fuery said from the door and Edward echoed him.

A chorus of good nights followed them and they disappeared.

"Spill it Hawkeye. What happened at the range?" Havoc asked as soon as they could no longer hear them.

"Why do you think anything happened, Havoc?"

"Because you took over an hour and you called him 'von Hohenheim', he's calling you 'Hawkeye' and you're smiling. Take your pick." He grinned at her.

"He can shoot." She said and they stared at her.

"How do you mean?" Breda asked.

"I mean that he can outshoot every one of you here. He can shoot."

"Not you too?" Falman asked with wide eyes.

"No. But he's pretty damned close." She replied. "I think if he didn't have the right arm he has, he would've been equal."

"That's not possible, Hawkeye. No-one gets that close to you." Havoc protested.

"He couldn't use a two-handed grip for extra stability during a shot, Havoc. I think his arm is worse than he's letting on because it looked like he was going to try a couple of times but he just couldn't get the arm to move properly. Also, his stance is slightly uneven due to the weight of his arm. If he didn't have to compensate for it, we would have had the same score."

"Edward couldn't shoot to save his life." Breda muttered.

"I know. But he had other resources." She paused. "Von Hohenheim says his father taught him to shoot at first and then found someone to teach him properly as he was growing up. His disability meant that he couldn't use hand to hand or any sort of fighting techniques, so he learnt to shoot instead." She looked at them. "It's only his appearance that looks like Edward. He is not Edward."

Roy Mustang stood just inside his door and leant against the wall. He had been listening for awhile and he heard the decisiveness in her voice. He closed his eye. Yesterday afternoon had been hard, listening to them talking and hearing that voice that was and yet wasn't the one he wanted to hear. It was coming from the right face, it was just the wrong sound. He had not expected to be seen as he had watched them… him leave. And the almost startled expression had kept him company through the long night.

Today he had stopped himself from going into the outer office. The accented voice had been easy to hear and he had stopped every time he had heard it. Despite the accent, despite everything he heard them saying and despite even his own almost certainty, he just could not get rid of the small hope that it was Edward Elric out there. That he was back, changed, different, with some form of memory loss.

He sighed. He foresaw another sleepless night ahead. There were some things that even alcohol couldn't ease.


Edward von Hohenheim found himself liking Kain Fuery as they walked down the avenue outside Headquarters. The smaller man seemed completely at ease and never let the resemblance affect him, even though Edward knew that it had to be. He wondered if it was too soon to consider Fuery a friend.

He had enjoyed the time spent at the range and he had a new respect for the Lieutenant-Colonel. She could shoot better than anyone he knew. With either hand. He had watched her shoot with amazement. She never missed a target. It was incredible. He had felt nervous shooting against her and he had been very pleased not to have let himself or his teachers down, by being able to stay within a few shots of her score.

He was feeling relieved that his first full day hadn't been as bad as he thought it could have been. He was slightly nervous about the thought of this automail business though. Only his dad had ever worked on his arm and leg. He knew how to make small repairs to it, but his father had known much, much more. But it was getting worse. The twinges in his shoulder were starting to make it harder for him to move his arm normally. That was the problem with his arm. Once it started to play up, it had a tendency to deteriorate rapidly and then fail completely soon afterwards.

It had been awkward during his teenage years when his arm or his leg would fail him, usually at the worst possible moment. He had found out very early on that people did not like to see or even to know why he limped or couldn't use his right arm properly. He always kept his scars hidden. But now he was going to have let a complete stranger look at them and Edward could feel himself slipping back into that awkward teenage feeling of being different and dreading the reactions to it.

"You ok, von Hohenheim?" Fuery's gentle voice queried.

Edward shook his head. "Yes, no, just nervous, I guess." He said and he looked at the shorter man who smiled back at him.

"You'll be fine." Fuery said. "Besides, the sooner you get it looked at, the better you'll be."

Edward smiled back but the nerves still flitted around and had his left hand tensing slightly.

"And I did say I'd tell you about Vato and Schieska." Fuery said, noting the tension hadn't left his blond companion and sought to distract him.

"Yes." Edward nodded, grateful to have something else to think about.

"A few months ago, we had a small party for…" Al "…a friend of ours and everyone was there. Vato doesn't normally drink much but he did this time and he started following her around. Everyone thought it was very funny and Schieska didn't seem to mind. Well, not until he was sick all over her. That sort of made things awkward. Especially when he couldn't remember any of it the day afterwards."

"He couldn't remember anything?" Edward queried, an eyebrow climbing. "But wasn't Falman almost blushing today?"

"Not a thing." Fuery smiled slightly. "Falman likes her, but he can't bring himself to tell her. He's still embarrassed by what happened back then."

"She didn't seem uncomfortable, Fuery." Edward said in a puzzled tone. "So why is he still embarrassed?"

"Because that's how he is." Fuery smiled. "Being sick on someone you like is bad enough, but not being able to remember it afterwards must be worse."

Edward realised again just how close a group these people were. He was a bit surprised that Fuery was sharing this with him. But Fuery struck him as someone who would always be looking out for something to look after. Had he decided that Edward needed his help? Had Edward von Hohenheim just become a cause? He frowned and he felt a bit hurt that anyone would consider him as someone needing help.

"Von Hohenheim?" Fuery was looking at him with concern.

"Why are you being so friendly, Fuery?" Edward asked and he tensed slightly.

"Because you need a friend." Fuery replied simply.

Edward blinked. "I need a friend?"

"Yes." Fuery stared at the blond and saw the poorly concealed hurt and the complete bafflement in the golden eyes. Edward von Hohenheim was so open, Fuery thought. He had never met any anyone who showed every thought or feeling on his face. It made him wonder what was in the young man's past to have made him this way. Fuery had seen hints that he hadn't had an easy life, and yet he was still so…so innocent.

Fuery watched now as indecision shifted and a cautious acceptance appeared in the golden eyes and he smiled sincerely. He really did want to be a friend. He didn't see the man in front of him as someone needing pity, but some one who was just a bit lost and needed a hand. Fuery had never been a loud, boisterous person. He had a niche and he was comfortable there. He had had lost moments before, he knew what it felt like to be set somewhere without anything reassuring close by.

"I'd like that." Edward's voice was hesitant and almost reluctant. Fuery wondered if he had ever really had a friend before, and he smiled at the blond.

"Come on, let's get you to the mechanic." Fuery said cheerfully and pointed down the street. "It's just up there."

Edward felt as confused as he had when Hawkeye had led him into the range. He had enjoyed that, somehow he didn't think this would be quite so much fun. But he had a friend now. He smiled and nodded testing the words inside. A friend.

That thought kept him smiling until the man in the shop said, "let's have a look then."

"Call me Fic" the man had said when they had entered the small shop and Edward had stared wide-eyed at the limbs that shone on the walls. Legs and arms with plates, without plates, wires and cables. All sizes, all shapes. He was dumbstruck and realised why no-one was that concerned about his missing limbs. There was a whole industry devoted to it.

"My friend is having problems with his arm." Fuery said as he saw Edward was completely dazed by everything.

"Let's have a look then." And Edward turned to face them, his face going pale and he swallowed, his left hand cupping his right elbow.

"I can wait out here, von Hohenheim." Fuery said. Edward nodded slowly, feeling his stomach becoming unsettled.

Fic indicated a small room off the shop and Edward took a deep breath as he walked across to the curtained alcove. Fuery smiled reassuringly at him.

"You'll be fine."

"Thanks." Edward said nervously.

"I take it you've only had one mechanic before then." Fic said as he watched. He recognised the signs. He had been an automail mechanic for nearly thirty years and it was the only thing he had ever wanted to do.

"Yes. My father." Edward paused. "It's not automail I have." He added hesitantly.

Fic's eyes brightened. "I always like new things. Let's get comfortable son, and see what you do have." He ushered Edward into the room and drew the curtain just as Edward shot an anguished look over his shoulder to Fuery, who nearly laughed.

Edward pulled his jacket off and undid his shirt, pulling it down on the right to reveal the large solid prosthetic at his shoulder. He pulled the arm out of the sleeve and kept his shirt covering his left side.He noticed that Fic didn't look at anything but his arm and his shoulder before turning to the shelves next to him.

"It's always hard when you come to a new person the first time," Fic said as he set out a few tools, speaking casually to put the young man in a more relaxed state. "People get attached to their mechanics just as much as they get attached to their prosthetic. Now this is interesting. It goes into your shoulder?" He leant closer to look at the joins.

"Yes." Edward said, feeling a bit of the tension ease as there was nothing but interest and curiousity in the man's eyes.

"Lift your arm, give me your hand. Ahh I see. Now lift it higher. Can you grip? Oh, very interesting. This hurts here? It's connected through this line?" Fic sat back, his eyes wide. "How long have you had this?"

"I had the first one nine years ago. Dad changed them as I grew."

"Them?"

"Yes, my leg as well."

"And it's the same design as your arm?"

"Yes." Ed replied.

"I want to meet your dad, son. This is incredible work." Fic shook his head. "It's like automail and yet it's not. You have muscles connected as well as nerves and it's connected straight into your shoulder joint, not a port like this." And he waved at a shell like object on the bench beside him. "How do you remove it?"

"There's a switching mechanism inside the joint that disconnects everything."

"And reattachment?"

"I believe there's several bundled connections and the arm is pushed back into the joint and relocked back in."

Fic frowned. "The pain levels must be high."

Edward shrugged and felt it twinge. "It's just pain, it always hurts." Ever since they had been attached.

"But it hurts more now?"

"Yes, there's something wrong and it's pulling at the nerves somehow."

Fic looked at Edward's shoulder closely and pushed his screwdriver against several of the wires.

"And you've never had automail?"

"No." Edward shook his head.

"Remarkable." Fic replied. "The scars at the back of your shoulder look just like automail ones."


Author's Note: After two short chapters to make it seem innocent, comes the longer chapter… I really must learn to not waffle so much and try to keep to word or page limits… it is becoming a bad habit to start these small and then grow.

Phillip von Hohenheim is the original name of Philippus Theophrastus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim who then called himself Paracelsus... but you all knew that didn't you?...lol

silken :)