"Hey, Psycho, hurry up! We'll miss the train if you don't get your ass here!" Ed yelled at me.
"Just go on without me, I'll catch up in Dublith. I'm going to pay a visit to Hughes to make up for missing Elicia's birthday," I said, packing the last of my things.
"Dammit! I already bought your ticket!"
"I'll pay you back when I get there, Pipsqueak."
Throwing my pack over a shoulder, I headed out for the Hughes home.
#~#~#
Knowing Hughes, he won't be at the office like he should be. He almost never is. No, he'll be at home with his family. Just showing up like this should be fine. He never had a problem with it before.
Ascending the stairs, I pulled the teddy bear I had bought for Elicia from my pack. I hope she likes it, I've never been good at picking gifts. I can't even count how many times I've seen Liz pretend to be enamored with my terrible presents. Expecting an afternoon of pie and glorified war stories, I knocked on the door, my metallic knuckles creating an odd sound as they rapped the wood. Gracia opened the door, dressed in black. That's strange.
"Hi, Gracia. I came by to apologize for missing little Elicia's birthday. I brought her a present too," I said, holding up the bear. Then I saw the look on Gracia's face. "Did something happen?"
Elicia ran to the door, expressing her usual level of excitement. She's dressed in black too. "Daddy?! Are you home?" She asked, then saw me and her face crumbled.
"Elicia, go finish getting ready. Here, take this. Mr. Adams brought it for you," Gracia said, handing her the bear.
"Thank you!" She graciously said, then ran back into the house.
"Gracia, what's going on? You're wearing all black, you look half a second away from tears. And where's Maes?" I asked, still confused. But everything dawned on me the moment she started to explain.
"Maes is... he's... he's dead," she said, tears bursting forth. "He died last night, not long after he left you and the Elrics..."
That hit like a freight train. Maes... dead?... I can't even find words to express myself, and I'm just a friend. Gracia must feel dead inside, I know I did when I lost Liz and Lucy.
"Oh my God... I'm so sorry, I had no idea... no one said anything to me..." I said, trying to find the right words and fighting off my own urge to mourn the fallen soldier. "Why? He never did anything. He never hurt anyone. He was just... he was... a father, a husband, my friend. Why dammit?!"
I lost it, sadness turning to rage, slamming a fist into the brick wall the door was set in. The mortar cracked and fell away under the force of the blow, dusting the steps faintly red. I sighed, regaining my composure.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be acting like this. I'll fix the wall," I sullenly said.
"It's fine. I was just as angry when I found out."
"Can I come in for a minute? I need to change into my uniform. It would be unbecoming of me to go to his funeral in this."
"Of course. Just try to hurry, we only have a little time before it begins."
Fuck. Just... fuck.
#~#~#
Hundreds of us turned out for the funeral. Men and women, young and old, military and civilian, people from every walk of life had come to pay their respects. Hughes touched a lot of people in his life.
I stood with the other soldiers in silence. Even I was in appropriate attire, my dress blues and a black sash across my chest the sign of my loss. I even wore my officer's cap with my raven hair pulled back. It took everything I had to hold myself together. But that won't last long.
The pallbearers set down the coffin, removing his officer's cap and our flag before lowering him into the ground. They started shoveling dirt onto the oaken casket, a dull thump sounding out with each load.
"Mommy, why are they burying Daddy?"
Elicia's tiny voice silenced the world. I could feel everyone tense, trying their best to hold it together. We all failed.
"Stop it! Stop burying Daddy! He's very busy! Stop burying him so he can get to work!" She cried as Gracia tried to silence her, but she continued regardless. That was our breaking point.
I grit my teeth hard, trying with everything I had to stay at attention. My fists clenched tight at my sides, the metal beginning to crush itself. Tears finally streamed forth, hot rivers flowing over my cheeks. A hand came up, covering my weeping eyes from the world, hoping to be able to rein myself in. I wasn't alone; dozens of Maes's closest friends and allies all faced similar pain. Even the Führer himself was trembling with effort to hold himself back. My heart ached just as badly as it did five years ago. I'd take another sword in the gut over this. I'd take a thousand to end this.
"Every time a man puts on this uniform," the Führer said, his booming voice taking over the scene, "he knows he may die in it. Maes Hughes was a friend to many as well as a loving husband and father. He knew the risks of his life and never hesitated for a moment. He was murdered by a monster, and as the leader of this country, I swear they will be found and they will pay for their crime."
You're right. Everything you said is right, old man. But you won't be the one to avenge him. It'll be me and Mustang. I saved their asses, they saved mine, vengeance is the least I owe him. You hear that? Whoever you are, I'm coming for you!
#~#~#
I stood at the cemetery still, looking on to the fresh grave and Mustang as he said his final goodbyes. Those two were really close. They were gonna make it to the top and reform the whole country. Now one's in the ground and the other's in mourning. Knowing Roy, though, I'm sure he'll be hunting the killer down quick enough. I think I already have a lead for him. But I can't stay here any longer. It's tearing me apart. I've never been good with the death of friends. I'm grateful I only know that from one past experience.
I turned away, the cold wind whipping at my wet cheeks. I'm done here. I'll come back to see you again sometime, Maes, but for now I have other matters to attend to. If I don't hurry to the Elrics, they'll get their dumb asses kicked too. I don't need two more funerals to attend. I hope I won't ever have to attend another one.
#~#~#
Waking up on the train, another day beginning. I sat up in my personal cabin, changing into my casual clothes. For the first time since the funeral, I let my hair down. Literally. My ebony locks fell free and obscured my still sullen face. But today is a new day and Maes wouldn't want his friends to waste their lives mourning.
"We are now arriving in Rush Valley, next stop will be Dublith," the conductor said over the PA.
"This is my stop," I said to myself, grabbing my bags and opening the door.
Being met with a sea of bastards that don't give a fuck who you are, I began shoving my way off the train. After many threats of lawsuits and ass-kickings, I made it off. Looking around the desert town it seemed like this would be another very sweaty adventure. It also seemed that blonde girl over there needs a little help.
"Here, let me give you a hand," I said as she struggled with a bigass suitcase.
"Thank you, at least some people still believe in chivalry," she said, turning to face me.
"It's nothing, I just hate seeing people struggle with-" I said, stopping in my tracks.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
No, nothing is wrong. But this girl... she looks just like Lucy. Flowing gold hair, tight and athletic body, kind face and those eyes... the same ultra-rare gold she had.
"No, everything is fine," I said, snapping out of it. I shook my head, looking away for a second. But when I looked again, she still looked exactly the same. "You just really look like this person I knew once."
"Oh, that's weird. I have kinda unique features," she said as I easily hauled the suitcase out of the train.
"Not as unique as you might think. Lucy isn't the only person I know that's laced with gold. There's this midget, I call him Pipsqueak, that I've been traveling around with for a while with the same hair and eyes. His brother too... probably."
"Probably?"
"It's a long story. Here, think you can manage from here?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine," she said, taking her luggage back. "I'm staying in town for a little while, you should come find me some time."
"Sure. I'm Drake, by the way," I said, holding out a hand.
"Jessica. Call me Jess."
She grabbed my hand and shook it firmly. Firmer than most women. What an unusual girl. I'll definitely find her once I'm done helping Ed and Al, and this case I'm working on. But the boys come before the job. Time to find them.
#~#~#
Yeah that didn't happen. Found a bunch of people cheering for an automail arm wrestling contest and have been watching that. Same bigass guy keeps ripping arms off. It's friggin' hilarious!
"You, sir, how about you try?" The fight promoter said, pointing his scrawny hand at me.
"Sure, I could use some extra Cenz. 500 thousand on myself," I said, producing the ridiculous amount of money as I sat at the table.
"You just lost a lot of money, kid," the massive man across from me said.
He stood several inches taller than me with a hulking body. Both arms were replaced with proportionally huge automail replicas. They looked like heavy-duty steel, made to last centuries longer than their owner.
"I'll give you choice: you want to loose your left arm or the right?" I asked, showing that both of my arms were also automail. "I'm kinda ambidextrous, so it doesn't matter much to me."
"I'll trust my crushing right," he said, setting his arm on the table with a heavy thunk.
"I hope you're a lefty," I said, whipping off my jacket to bare my arms. A loud gasp and cheers for my limbs came from the crowd. They always love my arms.
I set my arm on the table, grabbing his hand. My silvery reflective automail, covered with intricate engravings of circles and arrays, was a complete contrast to his; blank and dull gunmetal grey.
"In 3... 2... 1... Go!"
He threw all his might against my arm, but it hardly budged. He pushed harder, sweat breaking out on his forehead. My arm went down just a little more. He looked at me, shock and awe evident on his face. I smiled wide, a toothy grin only a demon can match. One swift motion was all it took. I slammed his arm through the table, shattering it. But it kept going lower and I ended up actually ripping his arm off, as previously predicted. I held the arm up, crushed and maimed by a truly superior model.
"I warned you," I said, tossing the severed arm at him. "I'd like my winnings now."
"You cheated! You had to have! There's no way you could win otherwise!" The promoter said.
"No, my mechanic is just way better than his."
"Bullshit! You-"
"That's enough, give him his money," the now one-armed man said.
"Dammit," the promoter grumbled as he gave me the money.
"At least someone still has a little honor," I said as I took the money.
I grabbed my jacket, though lost it a moment later as I was swarmed by automail engineers. They ripped off clothes and nearly ripped off my limbs. Do these people even know how to ask before doing crazy shit like this?
"Who made this?"
"It's so well crafted!"
"This automail is marvelous!"
"All these alchemic markings, this is truly meant to be the perfect automail."
Just a select few of the many comments I heard. I especially like that last one. Too bad they can never have automail this incredible. It's one-of-a-kind, nothing else even comes close.
"Hey, Psycho! Nice job up there!"
I turned to see Edward, also reduced to his boxers in the middle of the street.
"Hey, Pipsqueak! Sorry it took me a while, there were some things I had to deal with!" I yelled back. No need to tell him now and ruin the trip. It can wait until later.
Wading through the sea of people, I met up with Ed, Al, and Winry. The Elric brothers looked frazzled by their time in this city, but Winry looks happier than I've ever seen her.
"Hi, Drake," Al said, still sounding cheery despite his body language saying otherwise.
"So you guys are still here?"
"Yeah, the train broke down and held us in a crappy little town for a day while it was fixed. We only just got here," Ed explained.
"Well how's sightseeing going?"
"Oh my God! Ed, over here! I need this wrench! And that set of screwdrivers! And that pair of working gloves!" Winry yelled, running back and forth across the street to various shops.
"Freaking exhausting," he replied.
"At least carrying her new gear is less humiliating than carrying mountains of unnecessary girly stuff."
"I guess you're right there. Still puts a huge dent in my savings though."
"Of that I can be sure. Speaking of which, you should go get her," I said, pointing at our addict friend.
"It's the God's Model automail! I never thought I'd see one with my own eyes! I can't believe it, Ed you have to buy it for me! Come on, it's only ten million Cenz!" She said at yet another storefront. "Only" ten million.
"Dammit, that one's not even a right arm!" Ed said, tearing her away.
"My automail is better anyway. I'll let you get a full look at it the next time I get into a huge fight and rip a limb or two off," I said, assisting in his efforts to hold her back.
"How can you say that?! Claiming your automail is better than that!" She furiously said, trying to pull away and steal it.
"Lucy, my old engineer, had a granddad that used to work at God's Studio. He designed their signature model from rough blueprints she drew up when she was a kid. She was truly a freaking genius, a prodigy among prodigies. Her magnum opus was my gear. I guess that's a little self-centered and egotistical, but when it's true..."
"Seriously? Your engineer had connections to God's Studio?" Winry asked.
"Yeah, she did. That's part of the reason why we got the ultra-high-quality materials to make my gear. I'd teach you how to build like she did, but I'm no prodigy. Hell, my work is barely passable."
"Maybe you could just take me to see her?"
"That's not possible," I said, my voice suddenly going rigid.
"Why? Where did she go?"
"Yeah, you never did explain what happened to her," Ed added. Dammit... they're going to make me tell.
"It's kind of a long story. Remember when we fought Cornello and I talked about Truth?"
"Yeah, you said some things you could only know if you went through the Gate."
"Exactly. I did perform Human Transmutation, about five years ago. Lucy was the reason, so was my little sister Liz."
"You did it... for them?"
"They were family, be it by blood or by personal attachment. Family is the most important thing in the world, and I was willing to do anything for family back then. Now there's one thing I'll never do for anyone. It just brings more suffering."
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have pried," Winry said, becoming sullen as she always does when someone else trys to hold back their emotions. She's too empathetic.
"It's history. I made my mistakes and I'm at peace with them. Once the water is spilled, you can never pick it up again. You can replace what is lost, you can clean up the mess, but the mistake will always remain. There is nothing I can do to change the past. But I can still change the future."
"Just what future do you see now?" Ed asked.
"I see us kicking plenty of ass for years to come!" I shouted, returning to my usual attitude.
"Just the answer I'd expect from you, Psycho."
We picked up the shredded remains of our clothes and continued sightseeing in the city, now only half-dressed. Seeing as how we now had most of our gear exposed, we were stopped even more frequently for random people to assault us.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up soon," I said, stopping by a pawnshop.
"We'll meet up near the town center, that sound good?"
"Sure, I'll see you there."
I walked into the shop, hoping to find a nice set of replacement clothes. I'm officially retiring my current outfit. After having worn it for years and repairing it countless times, I'm ready for a change. I'll still carry it around in my pack though. I'm a sentimental person, so I hoard shit I don't even need.
Looking around, I found a pair of barely-used black combat boots, black pants woven from some really strong yet soft material, a light grey shirt seemingly of the same material, and a knee-length hooded white jacket accented with bright crimson in long, sharp spike-like stripes on the front, back, and sleeves. Taking the clothes to the shopkeeper, a second employee came by to help me while the first dealt with someone trying to sell something. A glint of silver caught my eye and I looked over.
"I can't sell this, it's sealed tight. I don't think the gears are even working," the keeper said, handing the silver pocketwatch back to the dark-skinned girl who brought it.
"That'll be 100 thousand seventy Cenz please," the man in front of me said.
I pulled my money from my tattered pocket and payed him, stuffing my new clothes into my pack.
"Excuse me, but that's an interesting watch. Where did you get it?" I asked as I walked up to her.
"Oh, I just... found it," she replied.
"Really? You see, I find that hard to believe. Have any idea why?"
"No..."
"Because," I said, pulling my identical State Alchemist pocketwatch out, "these aren't for sale, and you don't know alchemy."
"Shit."
Before I could move, she launched herself backwards out a window high on the wall. Damn, she knows how to work her body. I followed after her, beginning a rapid chase on the rooftops. She's fast, but not as fast as Alyx. But there's a different problem with her. The sound her feet make when they hit the ground, even through thick soles and leather it's still the unmistakable sound of automail. Both her feet. This could go on a while.
I followed close behind, able to keep up much easier in this little race since I don't have to bob through a thick forest of trees and shrubbery. Passing by the town center. There's Ed and the others. They spotted me, looks of disbelief and annoyance on their faces.
"Psycho, what the hell are you doing?!" Ed yelled.
"Chasing this chick that stole a State Alchemist pocketwatch!" I said, pointing ahead at the girl in front of me.
Ed quickly checked his pockets, then rage spread across his face. "Son of a bitch, that's my watch!" He yelled, transmuting the ground to launch himself up here with me.
"Hey, Al, head her off futher on!" I yelled at the armored child.
He complied, Winry following close behind. We chased the girl further along, throwing alchemy when we could. Ed scored a lucky hit, knocking her into an alley. We followed, jumping down to greet her.
"Looks like you're cornered. You should give up now," Ed said, overly confident in his victory. Bad move, Pipsqueak.
"Not gonna happen, squirt," she said, taking a knee and aiming her other at us. Oh shit, this won't end well.
"Who are you calling an ant so tiny he doesn't need to fear being stepped on because he fits so perfectly between a boot's grooves?!" He yelled, not paying attention as her kneecap opened and fired a freaking grenade at us. I grabbed the idiot, yanking him aside as the grenade flew past and blew apart the wall behind us.
"You're not the only one with a big gun!" I yelled, transmuting a chunk of concrete into more of a rifle clip-like form and smacked it into a slot on my left arm.
I aimed my palm at her as we started running again, the plates making it up shifting to reveal a gun barrel. The chunk of rock turned to bullets, spewing them out my hand like a machine gun. First time I used this little method of attack, so I'm not too accurate. I missed most of the shots, only a few hitting their mark on her legs. This won't work. Luckily, my boots have fallen apart to nothing, so I can use my feet. Sending a wave of alchemic energy, I started guiding her to Al. After following for another thirty seconds, we were outside the city and seconds from enacting our trap.
She stepped into a circle, Al immediately transmuting the ground into an iron birdcage. She stopped, unable to continue, unless she has another grenade in there. Nope, no grenade. Just a carbon fiber blade in her other shin. She swung the deadly weapon, cutting straight through the bars and escaping again. Dammit, I've had enough of you!
I launched myself at her, tackling her to the ground. I put my knee in her back, twisting her arms behind her back. I extended the blade in my shin just enough for her to feel it dig into her skin.
"Now give me the watch, please," I said, an edge in my voice.
"Take it! Just let me go!" She said, squirming beneath me.
"You stole from a State Alchemist. That's a pretty serious offense. Can I really just let you go?"
"No, I have to checkout her automail first!" Winry said, jumping with excitement. "I saw what you did. It was amazing!"
"I guess we have a deal then. We examine your legs or I put a blade through your gut. Trust me, that really hurts."
"I'll comply, just let me up," she said.
And so I did. Luckily, that wasn't a mistake.
#~#~#
"This is really impressive," Winry said, examining the sleek metal legs of the girl we now know as Paninya. "They're way beyond my own designs."
"Don't be so humble, Winry. I don't have the same level of expertise as you, but I know how to gauge automail pretty well. It's better, but not by leaps and bounds. Besides, you were twelve when you made this design. It was bound to have a few flaws," I said, checking her legs myself. And not to sound like a broken record, but mine is legitimately better. I thought I shouldn't rub it in their faces anymore.
"So we're going to just let her go now?" Ed asked, annoyed.
"No! She's going to take us to her automail mechanic!" Winry said without consulting any of us.
"Did I say I would?" Paninya asked.
"Doesn't matter, she'll stalk you back home if you don't take her," I said.
"He isn't lying. When she wanted to know something when we were younger, she never left us alone," Al said.
"Shut up!" She yelled at the boy in the steel, then turned back to Paninya. "Pleeeeease," she begged in the sweetest voice she could muster, which wasn't too sweet to be honest. She's really bad at this.
"Fine," she relented.
"Time to meet the man in the mountains," I said as we set out.
#~#~#
Arriving at the house, we were "greeted" by a gruff old bastard that would be revealed as Dominic, Paninya's mechanic. Further in the house was Ridel, his son, and Satella, his very pregnant daughter-in-law. They were much less gruff, being a contrast of the old bastard. But he did come alive a bit when he inspected our automail.
"The design is very good; strong and durable, it'll probably last longer than him," he said as he checked Ed's limbs, bringing great joy to Winry. "But they are much too heavy. They probably stunted his growth."
"What?! You mean I'm a friggin' chibi-sized munchkin because of my automail?!" He yelled. Oh I'm gonna have fun holding this over his head.
"Let's see what you have," he said, coming over to me. "Cursory glance would say this is a rather standard unit, besides the alchemic markings, but only an idiot relies on that."
"Quite right you are, my good man. Take a closer look and I'm sure something will pop into view," I said, feeling a mischievous grin spread on my lips. He got close, examining my right arm. I let my blade extend, the two-foot spike of razor-sharp carbon fiber sliding out silently at lightning speed. He didn't even flinch. "You're no fun," I pouted as he examined the sword.
"Telescopic blade. I'm guessing this isn't the only one."
"You'd be right."
The blades along my shins extended, along with the one across my left forearm and the spike that extended from the back of the elbow. He ran a finger over one, ever so lightly. Bright scarlet dripped to the floor as his finger was sliced nearly to the bone.
"Damn, I shouldn't have done that," he said, wrapping a cloth around the finger.
"Also, there's a rifle in this arm," I said, waving my left hand. "And a short-range flamethrower in this one," I said, waving the other. "And I have slots for spare knives and small firearms in the legs. Lucy really wanted me to be armed to the teeth. And then a whole hell of a lot more."
"Seems excessive."
"I'm a State Alchemist, and I got my limbs in Ishval. Excessive didn't exist then."
"You look young to have been in Ishval."
"And Mustang doesn't look like he's thirty-four, but he is. The world cannot be judged by looks alone. Alchemy wouldn't even exist if it was."
"I suppose you are right. Regardless, your automail is extremely well crafted. Tell me though, why are you outfitted with cold-weather automail? The carbon levels appear consistent with what Briggs would use."
"Well you can probably guess it from the varied arsenal, but Lucy wanted me prepared for any and every situation. The higher level of carbon makes my gear more resistant to temp extremes, and it adds massively to durability. Also, I have a few implanted things on the inside that have probably saved me more than once. Forgot to mention that earlier."
"You hardly had to mention it. These scars are obviously surgical. Just what did they put in you?"
"Keep in mind I was in Ishval. I got hurt pretty bad when I got augmented. Most of me was crushed, burned or in someway useless. They had to replace my entire ribcage with carbon fiber replications of my bones. I also needed basically the whole of both shoulders replaced and implanted with a steel bar to support the weight of my arms. Beyond that, my pelvis was replaced and my spine was reinforced. That's about it, I think."
"Sounds like you were an experiment. See how much can be replaced before the subject falls apart."
"That was pretty harsh," Ed said.
"But it does sound accurate. At least Lucy made it seem like it was all in my best interest. Funny that it turned out it was."
"I have a question for the girl," he said, turning to Winry, "Why are the designs of his automail so superior to your other model?"
"Because I only made the inferior model," she replied, looking ready to slug him.
"But he's talked about you nonstop."
"No, I haven't. That's Winry, she told you her name when we arrived, you senile old bastard. Lucy was my old mechanic before a few extenuating circumstances made her continued service impossible." Such an eloquent way of saying she had her throat ripped apart and bled to death on me.
"If only she were still in your charge, you wouldn't have to bother me," he said. Harsh.
"Well, Mr. Dominic, I wanted to ask you if I could be your apprentice. So we won't have to bother you anymore," Winry said, taking her opening.
"Not happening."
"Why?!" She asked, immediately crushed.
"I don't take on apprentices."
"Too bad, Winry. I guess well be going now," Ed said, getting up.
Ed, Paninya, and I all winced and rubbed the joints connecting to the housing.
"Something wrong?" Ridel asked.
"Augs like us get pains in our joints when the barometric pressure shifts," Ed said.
"In other words, our gear hurts before it rains. And during the rain. And for some time afterward. It freaking sucks!" I said.
As if on cue, the sky opened up and torrents of rain poured down upon us. I got a bad feeling about this.
#~#~#
Well the bridge is out. And we can't transmute a new one. And Satella has gone into labor. And Dominic went off to get us a doctor. I was right, things just got worse and worse.
"Well I'm obviously of no use in this situation and neither are you," I said to Ed as Winry and Paninya rushed around to try and help deliver. No boys allowed.
"Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"No, I just want to find something to do."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, card game? Five Finger Fillet? Darts?"
I started juggling the various items involved on the aforementioned games, seemingly producing them from nothing.
"I don't know any card games, and I can't imagine either of the other two will end well."
"Five Finger Fillet it is," I said, catching the stiletto and making the other toys disappear. I know a little sleight of hand. Great for bar tricks.
"You weren't even listening, were you?"
"Stab between your fingers, one round at first. When it comes back to you, you go two rounds and it continues until someone loses a finger."
"I'll take that as a no."
"Let's make it even more interesting. Loser has to dye their hair pink for a week."
"Okay, now I'm interested. Can't wait to see Psycho in bubblegum pink."
We sat at the table, beginning our game of boredom. Unfortunately for Ed, I kinda hustled him. I love doing stupid things like this instead of my work.
A few hours and several repairing transmutations later, the game was still on. We're up to a couple hundred per. But we're both really fast, finishing the sets in less than thirty seconds. Soon, we won't be able to transmute this table anymore. I'll have to buy a new one. But it'll be worth it to see the Pink Pipsqueak.
The door opened behind me, smacking my chair and making me pin my hand to the table.
"Shit, I'm glad that's automail," I said, yanking the knife out.
"You lose," Ed said smugly.
"Like hell, I get a do over."
"Nope."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Pipsqueak."
I got up, storing the knife and transmuting my hand back together. I looked behind the door to see Paninya, collapsed on the floor.
"You made me lose my bet. Now get up, quite being so dramatic," I said, nudging her with my boot. She rolled out of the doorway, still not getting up. Seriously?
"Hey, guys. The delivery was a success," Winry said, coming out to see us.
"Then why is she sprawled on the ground like that?" Ed asked.
"She really doesn't like blood," she replied, smiling at the girl's weakness.
"You should bring your new major around next time," Ed said.
"I'm sure she'd love screwing with her," I assured.
#~#~#
Dominic came back with the doctor in tow, confirming that the baby was fine. That makes my and Winry's first delivery, as well as the Elrics' second. Well me and him didn't do much, but still.
Ed was with Al, marveling at the baby. He tried to make life once and nearly died. Satella did it flawlessly. He couldn't help but be fascinated. Winry was with Paninya, talking. What do they have to talk about?
"-to sell it, but it was sealed," Paninya said.
"Sealed? There must be something embarrassing in there," Winry said, hands full of prying tools.
"And what do you think you're doing?" I asked, looming over them and intentionally deepening my voice. They both about jumped out of their skins, whipping around to face me.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Winry insisted, hiding what was undoubtedly Ed's watch behind her back.
"Give it here. Now."
I held out my hand, she hesitated.
"Don't you want to know what's inside?" She asked.
"No." That was a lie. I really want to know too. But if Ed sealed it like that, he really doesn't want to talk about it.
"Too bad, I already got it," she said, pulling it in front and flipping it open. Her face became some strange cross of confusion, sadness and maybe a little horror.
"What is this? It's just a date," Paninya said.
I snatched the watch, shutting it tight in my stronger-than-steel grip.
"Some secrets are never meant to be known."
Simple words that'll likely stick with Winry for her whole life.
I walked to where Ed and Al were fawning over the newborn.
"You're girlfriend needs to learn privacy," I said, tossing the watch at him. He looked confused until the watch opened again.
"Dammit, I should have known they'd do this!" He said, clenching it tight in his steel palm.
"So what's the date for?"
"The day I lost my home. When it was decided I would never turn back."
"Brother, do you mean...?"
"Yeah..."
"Sounds like more deep shit. You two have a habit of living like men thrice your ages."
"Do you have room to talk?"
"No, I don't. Now come on, we have a train to catch."
"Dammit, you're right!"
Ed shot up, running through the house and out the door.
"Sorry, Brother doesn't want to be late," Al said, then turned to run after his shorter sibling.
"He's an idiot," I said as I approached the door, "but you'll love him regardless."
And to the sound of Winry's screams of denial, I ran off with the alchemist brothers, cackling the whole way.
Onward to Dublith. I have a Homunculus to catch.