Edit: December 2017.
Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray-Man or Full Metal Alchemist.
KEY:
"Neah talking"
"Thoughts"
Flashbacks
Another language
Radio conversations
"Normal talking"
Chapter 4
She was walking down the street, red tool bag strapped to her back. Black skirt and jacket over a light yellow shirt, multiple earrings on her ears. With long blonde hair tied in a high ponytail, and blue eyes looking at each side before crossing the street, Winry Rockbell made her to Central City Military Headquarters.
It had been a couple of weeks since she had seen her childhood friends, the Elric Brothers. When both idiots had gotten once again in trouble, and Edward had his automail destroyed for the thousandth time in almost five years. Honestly, she couldn't understand how that Alchemy Freak wouldn't take good care of her master piece. Sometimes it felt as if Edward thought they grew on trees, or something along those lines. Maybe she should leave him without an arm for a long time, so he could learn to appreciate her efforts.
It had also been a couple of weeks since Brigadier General Maes Hughes had been shot to death, and left to bleed on a phone booth.
She had cried when she heard the news from the Elric Brothers. The man had been a cheerful and amicable guy, letting her stay in his home so she wouldn't have to book a room on a hotel. She felt welcome and blessed when she ate dinner with him, his wife Gracia, and his little and cute daughter Elicia. She felt a pang of sadness for the little girl that would have to grow without her dear father, just like she had to when her parents died in the war.
Maes Hughes had been one the best persons she ever had the pleasure of meeting, and he deserved better. She dearly hoped he was resting in peace, waiting patiently for the day that Gracia and Elicia would finally reunite with him.
Her thoughts were cut off, when she was finally in front of the familiar beige building. The same one that had the Amestrian military banner proudly displayed in the front, and she had been visiting in the past years from time to time. Sighing, she started to make her way up to the stairs.
"I really hope Alphonse and Edward are in Colonel Mustang's office. I don't want to go and look for them around this place."
She was calmly walking through the pristine hallways of the building, mentally preparing the list of things she had to check on Edward's automail, when she heard a couple of soldiers talking in hush tones.
"Hey, Lionel, have you heard anything from the kid that was injured?"
"You mean the one the rookie that didn't check the safety and shot himself in the foot?"
"Honestly, the look like old ladies gossiping." the automail mechanic rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"No, not him. The one that the Flame Alchemist and his team took to the hospital."
Winry froze, her heart beginning to beat faster.
"Oh, yes the one that turned out to be like 15 years old, and had the wicked arm. Ulysses said he was still in the hospital."
She felt the panic started to rise on her chest, as her breathing became labored.
"Poor kid, I really hope he gets better. That was a lot of blood."
She didn't thought twice about it, and she just took off running towards the exit of the building. All the time the image of her longtime friend in her mind, while she repeated like mantra, the same phrase over and over again.
"Lord, not Edward and Alphonse, please. Not them, anyone but them."
…o0o…
Having just finished his conversation with Supervisor Komui Lee, Allen Walker felt calmer than he had been in the past few days. He wasn't in trouble with Central, as Link had been kind enough of covering for him, and help to get him out of the country was on the way. Doctor Dohrn told him he was healing perfectly well, and that soon they will get the stitches off from his leg. He was now free from the sling on his arm, and from using the cane to move around.
Things were starting to look good, Allen thought with a smile. And then winced, as a soon as the thought crossed his mind.
"I just jinx myself, didn't I?"
"Pretty much, yes. Don't forget there are still no signs from Timcanpy."
"Oh, crap. I forgot about him. Maybe if I leave a sandwich by the window he will come."
"Allen, I don't think that would work."
"What if I leave one of those really big ones he like to eat?"
"Perhaps, he really likes those. Wait, what am I saying? Just… don't worry, Timcanpy will find you, okay? Maybe he stayed back at the Ark."
"Maybe, but I still worry about him." he said as he finished fastening the white bandage over his left arm, leaving only the tattoos on his shoulder into view. He hobbled his way to the coffee table, careful not to put too much weight on his injured leg. He didn't want to give the Doctor an excuse to keep him longer on the hospital.
He finally reached and took the clothes the Elric Brothers got him the other day. A simple white long-sleeved shirt, black pants and a pair of black socks. They felt strange, but at least he had his boots, cleaned and sitting next to the legs of the very same table. He had really hoped that they had given him a pair of gloves as well, but that hadn't been the case. He felt inclined to ask for a pair, but he was pretty sure Edward would glare at him if he even opened his mouth, especially after he had seen how much it cost him to get Allen something to eat.
The eldest Elric Brother was a sharp individual, had to be as he was part of the military at such a young age, after all. Allen and Neah were certain that the golden-haired boy with the red coat didn't believe anything the white-haired teen said. He wondered on whether or not the short Amestrian would get along with certain Japanese Exorcist as both of them had tempers and a tendency to give nicknames to other people. Then again, they would probably just attack one another.
Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Hawkeye didn't as well, but at least they were less subtle and didn't make Allen as nervous as Edward did. The only one that seemed to be actually believed he was amnesiac and scared was Alphonse Elric. While it helped his case a great deal, Allen wasn't going to take advantage of the kind soul that was the boy in the silver armor. He reminded the young Exorcist of some of his friends from back home, always willing to help others, or give them a smile just in greeting.
"And speaking of the Armor-Boy, do you really believe that story about it being part of his Alchemy training?"
"No, he feels different. Similar to the Akuma, but not quite so."
"Does your arm twitch when you are near him?"
"No, my eye does. But not in the way when Akuma are near."
"Hm, that is strange. And speaking about strange, as well, have you seen the way Edward walks? How he favors his right leg?"
"Neah, that is creepy. Are you some kind of stalker or something?"
"Hey, I have to do something to pass the time, when you are ignoring me."
"I don't ignore you. I happen to have a life."
"That is rude, you should respect your Uncle Neah, young man." he pictured the dark-haired man crossing his eyes and pouting like a petulant child. He rolled his eyes in exasperation and started to change into his new clothes.
"Neah, stop acting like a baby."
"You have to admit it's weird."
"Sure, it is weird. So what? What are we going to do about it?"
"We could pester them until they tell us everything."
Allen rolled his eyes and took the shirt. "No, we are going to leave them alone. Everyone has their secrets, Neah."
The 14th Noah was about to respond, when they were rudely interrupted by a scream outside the door.
"Edward! Alphonse!"
With the shirt's buttons left undone, Allen looked in shock as the door was suddenly kicked open with enough force for it to crash violently on the wall to the side. Not three seconds passed by as a blonde teenager with a red bag over her shoulder came running inside.
"Ed, are you alright?! What happened?!" she screamed and stopped right in front of him.
Grey eyes met blue ones. Both blinked. Once. Twice.
Silence filled the room as none of the two teenagers moved an inch from where they were standing. Not quite understanding the situation they found themselves in. Allen had no idea who the girl was, or why she had suddenly decided to enter his room in a hurry.
"Ehm, may I help you, Miss?" he asked, traces of shock still on his voice.
The girl blinked at him with those beautiful sapphire blue eyes, as if she was trying to understand the question. He blinked back, confused as to where he had once seen a similar pair of blue eyes. He gathered it must have been a long time ago, perhaps during his travels with Mana? Or was it during his training with his Master?
"What the actual fuck is going on here?!" a voice screamed in shock at the door and both teenagers broke eye-contact to stare at the source of the voice.
"Brother, don't use that language. It's not appropriate use it in a place like this."
"You are worrying about what is appropriate instead of this situation here?! Are you kidding me, Alphonse?!" The smallest figure on the door, golden hair tied in a braid with a red coat over black clothing, spoke angrily while pointing to white-haired and the blonde.
Both Allen and the girl blinked in confusion and stared at the eldest Elric Brother glaring daggers at them, while the youngest tried to calm him down. The Exorcist saw the multiple emotions that passed over the girl's face.
First it was recognition followed by relief and then happiness in the form a smile. Then he saw how the smile erased from her face, and changed into a frown of confusion. The girl turned to look at him, and then at the brothers again and then back at him and suddenly her face let into view horror as the situation finally dawned on her.
The girl turned a deep scarlet, before bowing a good 90 degrees and yelling at the top of her lungs:
"I'M SO SORRY!"
Then proceeded to ran towards the door. Allen and Alphonse could only stare dumbfound as she snatched Edward's hand on the way and dragged him away from the room and probably out of the building. A couple of awkward seconds passed between the armor and the boy with an open shirt, before the Amestrian boy took the handle and closed the door before quickly saying:
"Sorry about that, Allen. Be right back!"
Allen blinked a couple of times; trying to process the series of events that hat just happened before his eyes.
"What just happened?"
"…I have no idea."
...o0o...
"Hey, Winry, stop!" the golden-haired alchemist tried desperately to make his childhood friend stop running and explain why in the world she was standing in Allen Walker's room.
"Does Winry know him or something?" Then he scowled when he remember the scene they had stumbled into. Allen with his shirt open and both staring at each other's eyes.
"Brother! Winry, wait!" he heard the voice of Alphonse Elric calling from behind them. He turned his head to catch the tall figure of his brother running after them, avoiding patients, visitors and medical staff.
"Winry, stop running! We are going to crash!" he cried out, when he saw a nurse coming at them with a tray of medicines. He closed his eyes, preparing himself for the impact, but it never came. Opening his eyes, he saw how the nurse had managed to dodged them without letting the tray fall. However she was left standing with eyes widened in fear at their sudden appearance.
"Sorry about that Miss." He heard Alphonse tell her.
"Seriously, Winry! We could hurt someone!" that seemed to do the trick, and the blonde girl slowed down.
She gradually stopped, but didn't let go off her friend's hand, nor turned to look at him.
"Um Winry?" he asked nervously.
"Winry, are you alright?" his brother asked worriedly when the armor finally caught up to them.
He blushed when the Rockbell girl suddenly turned around and hugged him and his brother, face buried between their shoulders. The Elric Brothers slowly hugger her back, still not understanding the behavior of their longtime friend.
"I was so worried about you both." she finally spoke. "I came to check on your automail, and I was in Central Headquarters when I heard a couple of soldiers saying something some kid that got injured."
"You mean the one that shot himself?" Edward asked confused.
Winry straightened up and glared at him. "No, you idiot. Some kid that lost a lot of blood and Colonel Mustang took to the hospital."
"Oh, you mean Allen. He was the guy with the white hair you just met." Alphonse answered in understanding.
"I figured as much." She said letting go off her friends, and hugging herself. "They never said anything about his hair, just that he was around 15. I thought it was you guys. I thought that maybe Scar was back, or you had done something stupid again. And I just came running."
"O-oh, ehm, sorry." The young alchemist passed a hand through his golden hair in embarrassment.
"We are very sorry for worrying you, Winry." Alphonse lowered his face.
"It's okay, I'm happy you are both alright." She said with a smile.
"How did you manage to get his room number, anyway? I mean, did you ask the receptionist for our names or something like that?"
The blonde mechanic chuckled. "No, I just asked her what room was the boy that Colonel Mustang bought for treatment. I think she was trying to tell me something, but I just went running ahead. I didn't bother knocking, I just opened the door, and well…" she blushed.
"You met Allen." Alphonse finished for her.
"Yes. Oh dear, I had never been so embarrassed in my life." She covered her face with her hands.
"Um, Winry, I'm sure that Allen won't mind. I mean, it was an honest mistake. Right, Brother?" Alphonse tried to cheer her up.
"S-sure, yeah. I mean he is not that bad, and well, you, didn't know and everything. So…"
Edward was so busy babbling, trying to make the young mechanic feel better, that he didn't notice the glare she was sending his way. It was already too late as he had no time to dodge the silver wrench going straight for his head.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" Ed yelled back. After years of getting the same abuse from the blonde, his recovery time from every hit was getting shorter.
"BECAUSE YOU ARE AN IDIOT! You are always doing something stupid, and making me worry. So now every time I hear some little kid is injured I think it's you!"
"Little kid?! Who are you calling so small that he can be mistaken for an embryo?!"
"You, you big baby! You are always whining about everything."
"I don't whine, Automail-Obsessed!"
"Yes you do, Alchemy-Freak!"
Alphonse looked around him in embarrassment as his friend and brother fought like little kids and attracted the attention of everyone passing by. Checking the clock on the wall he found that it was getting late to get Allen and go to their meeting with Colonel Mustang.
He really hoped that the black-haired Alchemist wasn't already waiting for them on his office.
…o0o…
Allen Walker sat patiently in the bed of his room, waiting for the Elric Brothers to return and take him to meet Colonel Roy Mustang for yet another set of questions regarding his situation. Sighing, he lay down, his eyes staring at the white ceiling.
"I wonder how long I can keep up with this lie. Pretending to be amnesiac was a mistake."
"You can tell them you are starting to remember some things."
"As if that would work. I should have just told them half of the truth from the start. That I work at the church in England, and I was in an accident, and I don't remember how I got here. It would have been more believable."
"You wanted to avoid interrogation and imprisonment."
"Well, I am being interrogated. Imprisonment is just the next step when I don't tell them what they want to hear."
"And what is it that they want to hear, dear Nephew?"
"The truth."
"I think that more than the truth, they are expecting you to tell them that you are a spy from another country."
"Well, if they find proves that I am indeed lying… then it won't be long until they label me a spy and send me to prison."
For that, Neah had no answer. Sighing, Allen continued to stare at the ceiling, letting his thoughts wander back to the blonde girl entering his room some time ago.
He had seen her somewhere, he was sure of it. The same blonde lemon hair tied in that high ponytail. Those round blue eyes staring at him, trying to understand things around them. Maybe if he knew her name, he would remember where he had seen that girl.
A knock on the door broke his musings.
"Who is it?" he called as he sat up.
"It's Alphonse, may we come in?" came the muffled voice from the boy in the armor.
"Sure, it's open Al." Allen said and stood up to meet the Elric Brothers. When the door was opened, he looked in surprise that the blonde girl from before was with them.
"Hello Allen." Alphonse spoke first. Said boy smiled at them.
"Good morning." He said and his eyes locked at the blonde curiously. The girl blushed at the attention the white-haired teen was directing at her.
"Oh, this is Winry Rockbell." Alphonse presented her. "She is a friend from a back home, she came to visit us."
Winry took a step to the front with an embarrassed. "Hello, I am very, very sorry about earlier. I heard about someone being injured and I thought it was Edward or Alphonse."
Allen walked over them with a small smile. "It is alright, no harm done. We all make mistakes."
He took her hand and bow slightly. With a kind smile he said, "My name is Allen Walker, pleasure to meet you Miss Rockbell."
"N-nice to meet you too." she said as an intense blush covered her entire face. "Y-You can call me Winry. There is no need to be so formal."
Letting go of her hand, he smiled at her. "As you wish, Miss Winry."
The girl went redder, and didn't answer. They heard someone clear his throat, and turned to look at a glaring Edward Elric.
"Let's go, Colonel Bastard is waiting for us." He practically spat the words and left the room fuming.
Allen said nothing and started to follow the eldest Elric. Alphonse behind him, with Winry as well, much to the surprise of the white-haired teen.
"Oh. You are coming as well, Miss Winry?" he slowed down so he could walk next to her.
She cleared her throat before answering. "Yes, I brought some things from home for Alphonse and Edward. I'll meet with them after Colonel Mustang finish talking with you three."
"Oh, I see. That is very nice of you to come all the way from your home to visit your friends."
Winry giggled in a way the Elric brothers hadn't heard before. "It's no trouble at all. I don't see them much, and Edward rarely calls. So, I like coming here so I can check on them."
"That's very kind, they are lucky to have you."
"I keep telling them that, but Edward is too much for an idiot to admit it." She said glaring at the golden-haired boy walking in front of them. The only answer Edward gave her was a scowl and then turned back to the front.
"Honestly, that idiot." She muttered on her breath.
"He is angry you stole his girl."
"I didn't steal anyone. I'm just making a conversation."
"Keep telling yourself that, spending so much time with Cross was enough for some of his antics to stick with you."
"What antics?"
"Charming beautiful girls." Allen mentally rolled his eyes.
They reached the front door of the hospital and left the white building. A shiny black car was waiting for them, the man with grey hair from Colonel Mustang's team sitting behind the wheel.
Edward opened the door and went inside. The other three stopped and Allen turned to look at the girl with a smile.
"Ladies first, Miss Winry." He extended his hand to her and helped the blushing girl into the car.
He followed her inside. With much difficulty, Alphonse in his huge armor entered the car and sat in the seat, facing the seat where the other three were sitting in. Edward nodded to Warrant Officer Vato Falman, and the car started its way to Central Headquarters.
Silence filled the car as each teenager were focused on their own thoughts.
Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist and Alchemy prodigy was glaring daggers at the window. Thinking of different ways to murder certain white-haired teen for acting the way he had with his childhood friend and automail mechanic.
"Who does he think he is? Acting so nice and gentlemanly with Winry."
Winry Rockbell, Automail Mechanic and apprentice to the great Dominic LeCoulte was staring at the floor trying hard to remember where she had once seen the boy Allen Walker, before. She was good at remembering all of her and Granny's clients, and she was sure he was not of them.
"Maybe he used to live in Risembool and left when were very little. He is about our age after all."
Alphonse Elric was secretly wondering if his brother would ever have the courage to confess to their friend. Winry wasn't going to wait forever for Edward to tell her something, and if someone nicer appeared on her life and she fell in love with that person, he had no doubt his brother would explode. Jut like he had at the way Allen talked and acted with the blonde mechanic.
"Does Winry like Allen? What if Allen likes her too? Oh no, Brother you better hurry, I'll be cheering for you. Don't give up, Ed!"
As for Allen Walker, Exorcist and Host of the 14th Noah's Memories, he was ponderng on how to proceed with the lies he had been telling the Amestrian soldiers. They didn't believe him, that he was sure of, and now that he was about to be discharged from the hospital… well they were probably going to press him more.
"I should just tell them the truth, Neah. Perhaps they won't get as mad if I tell them that I was scare they would think I was a spy and kill me."
"I don't think they would had kill you… perhaps try to violently persuade you tell them everything you know, most likely."
He felt the car stopped and Allen gulped in nervousness. He was really dreading the meeting with the black-haired Colonel. Perhaps meeting with the Colonel wasn't exactly what made him nervous, more precisely was the blonde woman with the gun that stood as said Colonel's second-in-command.
The four teenagers left the car and started to make their way to the stairs of the yellowish building, with the green banner on the front. They hadn't reached yet the stairs when a squeaking sound was heard around them.
Allen felt the familiar jab on his left eye, and all the blood drained from his body.
"I-impossible." He murmured and quickly turned around to look at the main street. He could already hear the souls in pain calling for him to set them free. Distantly, civilians started to scream in panic.
"What is happening?!" he heard a soldier yell, as many others made their way out of the building. All of them carrying guns, preparing to defend the people from their country.
"Get inside and stay away from the windows. Tell the soldiers to get people away from the streets and don't call attention to themselves." He said, his voice leaving no room for arguments and started to make his way across the street.
"What?!"
"Hey, Allen stop!" He felt a hand grab him by the shoulder and turn him around.
He heard the gasps from everyone as his eye was exposed for everyone to see. Black sclera with red circles, two cogwheels spinning around, one big one covering the eye and a smaller one on top of the other.
"Your eye." Winry whispered in fear, never seen something like that in her life.
There was an explosion and everyone jumped in fright, no one understood the situation happening on their city.
"Get inside and stay away from the windows." He repeated one more time and turned around.
"Hey, wait a minute, kid! What is going on?!" Falman asked taking out his gun, preparing to fight whatever enemy was coming their way.
"Akuma." Was the answer he got from the white-haired teen.