Chapter Ten: Monsters
It was a quarter to 12 and Ed and Al were waiting in Mustang's office. Ed couldn't sit still so Mustang and Al watched as he danced around anxiously.
"Where is she? We're gonna be late," Ed whined.
"Relax brother. We've got a little more than an hour," Al said.
"Why are you so surprised? She never gets up on time and barely makes everything else," Mustang said sounding amused. Ed turned on him and glared.
"I'm glad you find this so funny. I'm gonna kill her if…" Ed began.
"Kill who?" Toby's voice cut him off. Ed swung around to yell at her and staggered backward as though he'd been hit with a ton of bricks. Mustang made a small sputtering sound at her. Neither one had ever seen her in anything other than her blue military uniform or her sports bar and sweat pants, but today she was wearing civilian clothes.
She had a tight black half-tee on under a black leather jacket that was unzipped. The shirt was just long enough that it covered her auto-mail. Her pants were tight hip huggers that flared at the bottom covering the tops of her black and white high-tops. Enough skin showed between her shirt and pants that they could see the straps of her blood red thong. Her hair was up in a pony-tail as usual, and a thick bronze chain was wrapped around her neck twice. On a thin silver chain below it hung an ornate silver auk. She wore black eye liner and charcoal gray eye shadow causing her bright green eyes to stand out even more. Through her ears were studs with black and silver spiked balls on them, and at least two dozen silver bangles adorned her left wrist. The silver from her auto-mail, bracelets, and auk stood out brilliantly against all the black she wore along with her pale skin. They could see some of the scars on her stomach but she still looked amazing.
Over all she looked older and much hotter that way. Ed thought that she looked like same gothic rockstar. She smiled at them hesitantly.
"You two okay?" she asked.
"You…you look….amazing," Mustang said.
"Thank you. Sorry I was late Ed. I kinda over slept," she said turning to him. He just nodded and kept staring at her.
"Brother," Al said trying not to laugh. Ed looked at him well trying to keep his eyes on Toby at the same time.
"Huh?" he asked.
"We have to go," Al said.
"Oh…right," Ed said shaking his head, "Let's go." Toby laughed and nodded.
"See you Mustang," she said as she turned to leave. Just before her hand touched the doorknob the door flew open. Havoc stepped in with a cigarette in his mouth and files under his arm. He stopped and stared at Toby.
"Lieutenant Cornel?" he asked staring at her.
"Yes and no smoking," she said as she plucked the cigarette from his lips. She took a drag and smiled at him, "Thanks," she said and with that she left with Ed and Al behind her. Havoc stared after her.
"How old is she again?" he asked.
"19. Why?" Mustang asked.
"If only she was a year older she'd be in my limit," Havoc said. Mustang was torn between humor and annoyance at Havoc's comment.
"Yes, she is a prime example of why I was all female officers to wear tiny mini-skirts," Mustang said deciding to ignore his comment for the most part. Havoc nodded.
"I'd be happy with skin tight pants," he said. Mustang cleared his throat.
"Did you have something I needed to sign or did you just show up to oggal the Lieutenant Cornel?" he asked. Havoc shook his head.
"Oh right well.." he began.
0O0
The train ride to Resenbul was nice. Al found that he really liked Toby. She reminded him of Ed in a weird way. And by the time the train pulled into the station Al felt like he'd known her forever. They walked to Winry's in a good mood. Ed laughed at all of Toby's jokes and Al smiled at the sight of Ed smiling. They reached the door and Ed knocked. Winry answer the door and let out a cry of welcome.
"Hey Ed," she cried as she launched herself onto him. He hugged her back and she let go and looked at Toby.
"Oh hello Toby," she said smiling. Toby waved.
"Yo," she said. Just then Pinako came to the door.
"Hello boys. Finally decided to come and see us huh?" she asked puffing on her pipe.
"Ya, we figured you earned it," Ed joked. Pinako looked past Ed and smiled when she saw Toby.
"Tobias good to see you again. Well, come in all of you," Pinako said. The three of them followed her into the kitchen. Winry, Toby, Ed, and Pinako sat at the table and Al stood behind his brother.
"So how are you?" Winry asked.
"Good," Al told her.
"Fine," Ed said.
"Aces," Toby added.
"Still in the military?" Pinako asked. Toby and Ed nodded solemnly.
"How could you guys work for those monsters? Look at what they did in Lior. I heard it was a slaughter. And what those alchemist did. Those people must be soulless monsters to do that," Winry said. Ed and Toby listened to her with strait faces well Al stood behind them shaking his head frantically and waving his hands. Winry didn't notice him but Pinako did.
"…did you know that they killed women and children as well. Heartless demons…" Winry was saying.
"Winry!" Pinako said sharply causing the blond haired girl to look at her. Toby got up and refused to look at Pinako or Winry.
"I've got to go for a walk," she muttered as she turned to leave.
"I'll go with you," Ed said as he too got up. Wirny watched in confusion as the two of them left. As soon as the front door closed Al slammed his hand into his forehead. Winry looked at him.
"What?' she asked.
"Winry Ed and Toby were two of the alchemists in Lior. They're here because their auto-mail is messed up from the war," Al told her. Winry looked horrified.
"Oh my god," she said covering her mouth.
"I figured," Pinako said sadly.
"The other two were Cornel Mustang the man who came here after Mom died. And Major Armstrong the one who brought Ed and I back after Ed got his arm blown off," Al told her.
"Oh my god I've got to apologize," Winry said as she jumped up.
"Leave them be Winry. You'll only make it worse even if you don't mean to," Pinako said.
"But…" Winry began.
"Wirny you know brother he'll come back when he's ready," Al said. Winry sat back down and stared at the table top. The three of them stood in silence wondering what damage Winry's words had done.
0O0
Ed and Toby walked in silence. They made their way out of the house and down to the stream. Tear streamed silently down their faces. When they got to the stream Toby collapsed on the bank and pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms on them. She buried her face in them and silent sobs wracked her shoulder. Ed sat down next to her and cried into his hands. They sat thinking about all they'd done and what Winry had said. She had been right they were soulless monsters. They'd killed innocent people. It didn't matter that it was on orders. Finally Ed spoke.
"She's right," he said.
"I know," Toby said with out lifting her head up.
"I wonder if that's how most people see us?" Ed asked miserably.
"Does it matter? That's the way your family sees you. I can't imagine how much that hurts Ed. I'm sorry," she said, her voice muffled by her arms.
"You're right. It doesn't matter. I'm a monster," he said as he buried his head in his hands again and sobbed.
"I'm so sorry Ed," Toby said again.
"For what?" he asked.
"Forcing you to go to Lior. I tried to convince the Fuhrer that he didn't need to sent more alchemist in but failed," she said.
"It's okay at least you tried," he muttered through his hands. She just shrugged and started sobbing again. The two of them sat crying for a long time. Twilight settled over them and they still didn't move. They just sat crying. Every now and then one of them would look up to see how late it was but they never moved. Finally midnight came and Ed looked up at the stars.
"We should go back," he muttered.
"Go ahead," she muttered. He looked at her and reached out and touched her shoulder. She flinched causing him to pull his hand back.
"Toby?" he said.
"It's fine Ed. Go ahead I'll be in in a while," she said without looking at him. He stared at her for a moment longer before he got up and went back. The house was dark and he went strait to his room. Al was waiting for him.
"Brother?" he asked.
"It's fine Al. I'm tired," he lied. He laid down on his bed and closed his eyes. Ed lay there with his eyes closed until morning never sleeping.