A Fool's Question

Although he had been a celebrated war hero in the three years since the Promised Day, Edward Elric was still delegated the task of sweeping the front stoop when he visited Curtis Meats.

"This is stupid," Ed grumbled, using the old broom to chase a particularly stubborn clump of dirt away from the step.

"Is it?" Izumi Curtis opened the front door, startling Edward into dropping the broom.

"Yes," he insisted, picking up the cleaning utensil. "And don't go disguising this as some sort of lesson in patience and boredom or whatever."

"I wouldn't dream of it. Besides, I don't teach anyone lessons anymore, or must I remind you once again that you have been expelled?"

Edward brushed his sweaty bangs away from his eyes. Dublith summers were notoriously scorching, and he was thankful to only have one automail limb in the terrible heat.

"Alright, come in," Izumi said, a smile gracing her face. "I know you've just arrived, I'm sorry to send you off to chores so quickly, but our shop has been absolutely overrun these days. We're thinking of hiring someone else to work with us. Sig, Mason and myself are surprisingly not enough. C'mon. I made coffee."

Edward snorted. It was just like Izumi to wait until the absolute last minute for asking for help. Sometimes it unnerved him just how alike they were.

She pushed open the door and he followed, propping the broom against the wall. They passed through the kitchen where Sig and Mason were slicing bloody slabs of beef. Mason was chattering on about a pretty girl he had seen at the market that morning, while Sig listened with an amused expression. They both looked up from their work when Edward and Izumi entered the room.

"My darling," Izumi said to Sig. Her husband dropped his knife and pulled her into a deep kiss. Edward and Mason shared a look, half of embarrassment and half of affection for the couple. They had become quite familiar with that look in the years they had known each other. Ed couldn't help but think of Winry's lips on his own, and he smiled nervously.

Izumi drew away from Sig and led Ed to the small living room where she had set out two steaming cups and a plate of cookies. Edward slumped down on a chair, sipping from his chipped blue mug. The coffee was strong and sweet, with no milk, of course. She knew. She always knew.

His former teacher drank from her own cup. She took no sugar, milk nor cream, choosing to drink her coffee black and bitter.

"So, Edward," Izumi set her mug on the coffee table and crossed her legs on the couch. "What brings you South? I'd thought you'd be out West for longer than a year."

"Oh, I'm definitely going back," Ed looked down, not wanting to meet her eyes. "I'll stay here for a week, maybe."

"And take the long route and pass through Rush Valley on your way back?" Izumi teased. Her smile faded when she saw how hard Ed was staring at the floor. "Okay. I'll bite. What's wrong, Elric?"

"It's just…" Ed had wanted to talk to her for a long time, but his words were freezing in his mouth. "Back before the Promised Day, I got hurt. Real bad. I got skewered by a pole. I, uh, used alchemy to get it out, but—"

"But it took some years off your life."

Edward's head shot up. "Al told you." It was not a question.

Izumi smiled softly. "Yes. Are you afraid of death, Edward?"

"No!" He said quickly. Izumi raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "I'm not thinking about me this time, I swear. I'm thinking of her."

"Winry Rockbell."

"Yeah," upon hearing the girl's name, the corners of Ed's mouth twitched up with a quick smile. "I love her. I could never say it as a kid, but now she knows. I'm going to marry her, y'know. Not this year. She needs to finish her apprenticeship and I'm not ready to go home just yet. Maybe next year."

Izumi gazed lovingly at her boy who was staring determinedly at his own hands. She couldn't call him a boy any longer, not really, for he had been a man for quite a while.

"I'm scared of dying when she needs me."

Izumi let out a low chuckle. "So you came to me."

Ed looked at her tentatively. "I don't want to offend you, Te— Izumi. But…"

She bit back a sad smile; he was flushed and was avoiding her eyes once again. "But I know more about approaching death than you do. You're an idiot."

"I know. Why this time?"

"You're not going to be dying anytime soon. God knows you've cheated death enough times, you'll probably die in your sleep when your 105," she took a sip of her coffee and grimaced, for it had turned very cold. "As for me, it could be two years, or it could be two decades."

Ed leaned forward. "Doesn't it bother you? Doesn't it bother him? Not knowing is the worst."

"It really isn't," Izumi glanced toward the kitchen where she could hear Sig and Mason laughing. "Sig loves me and I love him. Why would we waste time worrying how much time we have left, when we have each other now?"

Ed nodded. "I really am an idiot, aren't I?"

"It took you long enough to realize," Izumi laughed. "You'll stay with us for the week?"

"Of course. Someone needs to sweep the stoop."

"I'll fix your room up," Izumi rose to her feet and picked up the coffee cups. "And, Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't forget to stop by Rush Valley on your way back West."

Ed leaned against the doorway, watching as Izumi entered the kitchen. She stood on her tiptoes, placing a sweet kiss on Sig's lips. Mason said something that Edward couldn't hear, but Izumi gave him a good-natured punch on the arm. It would probably bruise. Ed grinned.

"Yeah," he said to no one. "I'll definitely be going to Rush Valley."