Winry's eyes snapped open. Her first instinct was to push herself up and off the couch, but she worried that would put Buccaneer on the defense. Already she knew he was; his entire body had gone rigid beside her. The situation didn't need to be exacerbated by panic. What was Buccaneer thinking for this strange man to walk into her home, wearing heels with a tear and a star painted under each eye, as though he belonged.

"This is Hisoka, my...friend," she said, turning her head to Buccaneer slightly so that their eyes met. Had she ever referred to him as a friend before? Winry looked back to Hisoka, and her stomach twisted into a knot as the corners of Hisoka's lips curled upward in a smile that she knew at his core was cruel.

"Friends?" he repeated back, a quiet scoff on its heels. "You're too generous."

"Silly me," Winry breathed and bit the inside of her cheek. "Have a seat."

Something ached inside her chest, in that same place she'd been struck with pain when Edward had levied his accusations at her; You just don't know when to shut up, do you. Except in a way this hurt more. By the time Ed had unleashed his anger at her, she had already resolved most of her feelings toward him. With Hisoka, however, she knew that her silent revelation that she did, in fact, consider him a friend was merely the tip of the iceberg. But, unlike with Ed, she wasn't willing to let Hisoka bear witness to her tears.

"I'm afraid I'm here for business, not pleasure," he lamented as he held up his hand for her to see the unnatural angles of his fingers.

Anger pulsed through her. It was more familiar than her grief, and it was sweet relief in the face of pain. Anger sharpened her senses and took command. Winry didn't try to beat it back. Instead she let it take her, filling her lungs like sea water, bitter and dark.

"What did you do," she snarled, launching herself to her feet and out of Buccaneer's warmth.

"What I was hired for."

"Finding an exorcist didn't need to involve ruining my automail."

For only a moment his eyes narrowed and she saw the realization arrive at its destination about what it meant for her to know that much. She grabbed his arm and pulled it toward her, bending to survey the damage, then glared at him again.

"Take it off."

Hisoka's expression was too cheeky for his own good as he slid his other hand over the injured fingers, removing the top layer of Texture Surprise. She could see the glittering of metal from underneath around the joints of the fingers; he had covered the damage with another layer to conceal his automail.

"This layer, too."

She could feel Buccaneer's eyes on them, watching. Would he realize this was Nen at work? Hisoka's hand glided down his arm, exposing his automail for her to see. The joints of the fingers were in even worse condition than she had suspected, and her head fell back in frustration, biting the inside of her cheek.

His smirk grew. She wanted to hit him and the bastard knew it. If Buccaneer wasn't here she might have, but her instincts said Hisoka would have retaliated against her even more strongly with an audience to watch. And, for all that Buccaneer had proven himself to be, he would be no match again Hisoka who had both Nen and alchemy.

"How many days to fix it?" Hisoka asked, his eyes straying to Buccaneer pointedly.

"In one, maybe two."

"I think you can do it in one," Buccaneer said with confidence that would have warmed her otherwise, and he laid a hand on her shoulder. She hadn't heard him leave his seat. "I'll be calling a car to take me to the airport tomorrow early tomorrow."

Her hand clenched into a fist. Tomorrow. Damn. Damn Hisoka to Hell.

"I haven't set up the patient quarters upstairs yet, but I can lay the mattress out for you at least."

"That won't be necessary. I don't intend to stay the night."

"In that case you can come back tomorrow morning and I'll start work then." She gestured down the hallway. "I'll see you out."

Winry struggled to quell her rage as she followed Hisoka to the door. She could feel her arms and legs trembling from its strength, still keeping the pain from his insult and dismissal at bay while she chided herself in the silence. She was a fool for ever convincing herself that Hisoka was a person capable of accepting friendship, never mind returning it. Whatever weakness had allowed her to let that misconception fill her head would need to be quashed before it led to a far more dire mistake.

"Did Chrollo or the Troupe tell you what happened?" he asked, pausing at the door.

Instead she shouldered past him to wrap her hand around the knob, beginning to turn it. Hisoka swiftly blocked her way and put his weight against the the door to keep her from opening it, crossing his arms over his chest. Winry pursed her lips together, tilting her head back to glare at him.

"Chrollo did."

"Here?"

"No. You wasted the element of surprise though. He'll be ready for you next time."

"Chrollo has already agreed to fight me," Hisoka replied. He stared down his nose at her, smiling darkly and radiating satisfaction.

"What are the terms?"

"We will fight at Heavens Arena in four weeks, in a battle to the death." His amber eyes narrowed. "You doubt me."

She hadn't even realized the expression on her face that had given her away. but in the years she had known Hisoka he had not demonstrated himself to be careless. He was a cruel and calculating, patient. But he hadn't shown to be prone to folly. Chrollo had been right; for the opportunity to fight him, Hisoka would sacrifice his every advantage.

He will be so primed to fight me by that point that he will agree to whatever terms I lay in place. It will not be advantageous for him.

"Even with alchemy," she whispered, "I don't know that you can defeat him if you fight him on his chosen ground."

He flashed her his teeth when he spoke next. There was no more toying, playful amusement on his face. He was angry. She'd struck him with an insult of the highest charge.

"With all you have seen," he hissed, advancing on her, "you doubt me. I saved your life, taught you Nen, armed you."

Winry backed away but in two steps felt the cool wall on her spine, preventing further retreat. Flight was not an option. She dug her heels in and raised her chin. She could feel Hisoka's bloodlust tiptoeing over her skin like pinpricks. His rage made his voice grow quieter.

"I delivered the Ishvalan terrorist to you."

"You look just like him now," Winry whispered. "A dead man walking."

Hisoka snatched her by the neck, wrapping both his hands around her throat with crushing pressure and lifting her in the air. Flight wasn't an option. Winry grabbed each arm in a hand, remembering Ed.

You can't imagine what you've done.

Hisoka's automail arm suddenly dropped away, hanging limp and useless at his side. The resounding crack of bone filled her ears and Hisoka's other hand released her, dropping her to the ground. Winry landed in a crouch, but didn't waste her momentum as she lunged upward, returning the gesture of taking his throat in her hands. She could feel her Nen as she had felt his, crackling and lashing in its electricity. His blood wet her palms.

"I don't want to see you die," she gasped, blinking to clear her eyes and realizing only then there were tears. His eyes gleamed, filled with lust, as he looked down at her while blood trickled down onto his chest.

"Because you are my friend?" Hisoka taunted.

Winry recoiled and he shook her off, then touched his throat with curiosity, exploring the shallow wound. His chest rose and fell heavily. She bit her lip and took a step away from him, but raised her chin in defiance.

"You'd be wasting your time," Winry whispered, tasting the bitterness and sting in her familiar words. "You aren't ready."

She heard a hammer cock back, and Winry shoved her way in front of Hisoka, arms extended.

"Don't shoot," she gasped.

Buccaneer raised the barrel instead, aiming for Hisoka's head. She knew Hisoka was smiling, and she could only imagine what the sight must look like; the eccentric magician covered in blood with that salacious grin.

"You said you were leaving," the Captain said, unwavering. "Right."

Hisoka exhaled a hiss of breath. He was excited. Winry grabbed the knob to pull the door open, but Hisoka's foot was still wedging it shut and the blood on her hands made her fingers slip off fruitlessly. She felt the weight of his hand on her shoulder. Winry glanced up. His eyes were locked with Buccaneer's.

"I'll be back tomorrow," Hisoka announced.

He opened the door and the darkness encompassed him, swallowing him whole. Winry slammed the door behind him and locked it. She wiped her hands on her pants. Buccaneer tucked his revolver away. It would've been useless against Hisoka anyway. Buccaneer, who had no alchemy and had no Nen, was but cannon fodder on this side of the sea. It was safer for him to leave. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, grimacing.

"I can stay longer."

"I'm not afraid of him," she lied, offering him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "I don't lose sleep over Hisoka the Magician."