Inextricable
Chapter Six: Coffee Break

by Jennifer A. Ford (CanaryNoir)
rating: PG-13 for minimal swearing
genre: Post-series; divergent future (from episode 27); romance, drama
canon: Anime
pairings: Ed+Winry
summary: Ed tries to figure out what to do with his life after succeeding in restoring Al to his own body; Winry is struggling with the big "what next?" question, too.

Author's note: Since I've had some questions on this, I'll explain further the milieu for this story. I haven't seen the entire series (I'm current with what's shown on Adult Swim) nor do I know what happens in the movie (though, of course, I have some idea based on tripping over spoilers here and there).

As I state in the description, this story takes place in a divergent future from episode 27, but you'll notice I do use incidents that take place after that episode, though I often am changing their meaning. Anything that happens after episode 27 that I do reference is my own interpretation/timeline/Alternate Universe spin on things. As for the setting, it does technically take place "after the movie" but I have my own ideas for that entire portion of the story; it may seem similar to the canon at this point, but I'm pretty much making it all up to suit myself.So, if someone who dies after episode 27 is alive in my story, or vice versa, that's just the way my universe works.

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How did it get to be the weekend already? Edward wondered as he dragged himself out of bed, blinking at the sunlight blazing through his tiny dorm room's window. Books were stacked all over the place, scrawled notes pinned into the wall in an almost decorative randomness. There were several mostly-drunk cups of coffee sitting amongst the clutter, too, and some odd, crumb-laden plates. He blinked, again, at his own disarray as if someone else's ransacking had caused it, then reached for his pocket watch to squint at the time.

A muttered oath accompanied his scramble up from the bed. He grabbed his gear and half-ran for the showers. It was late enough in the morning that no one else was there, so he didn't feel the usual self-consciousness over his exposed automail.

Feeling much more awake, but still pressed for time, he hurried back to his room and got dressed. He noticed a rip on the sleeve of his black jacket and clapped his hands almost without noticing, fixing and cleaning his clothes in one flash. He paused for a long moment after he'd done this and stared at his now-pristine black outfit. Huh. Haven't done that in awhile.

He'd maintained his wardrobe via alchemy for years while traveling far and wide with Alphonse. It had been the easiest way to do things, and had been the main reason he always wore the same thing. Easier to have the one pattern to transmute. But after so long away — and so long having to do things not just the non-alchemic way but the hard way — the simplest, most everyday acts of alchemy still sometimes brought him up short.

Shaking himself free of the memories, he dressed quickly, feeling pressed for time, and reached for his red coat before remembering where he was going. Incognito, then. He caught up the plain, navy blue coat he wore when trying to stay anonymous, pulled his damp hair back into a ponytail rather than his usual braid, and glared at the reading glasses he'd reluctantly purchased just after Al's departure, following his little brother's urging to have his eyes examined. He'd been squinting a lot. But if I wear them, I should be even less recognizable.

He picked them up and tucked them into his front pocket. He'd put them on once he was off the base. No need to invite new reasons for Mustang to make fun of him.

There was just enough time to catch the street car to the station, and when he arrived there, just enough time to buy a coffee and roll before he had to board the train for Hoyle.

The glasses seemed to do the trick; no one whispered or pointed or muttered his title. I'll have to be sure to keep these a secret when I'm on duty, Ed thought, rather pleased that his desire for the ability to go unnoticed when off-duty dovetailed so neatly with his vanity.

The trip didn't take long, and within two hours, he'd reached the university town. As he stepped down from the train onto the unfamiliar platform, he found himself looking for a large suit of armor. Shit. How long am I going to do that? He spotted Alphonse almost at once and walked to meet him.

Alphonse looked tired but his face lit when he saw Ed, even though he, too, seemed not to have been looking for the face he found. "You did need glasses, Niisan!" he exclaimed, all-too pleased to have been right.

"Yeah, I guess so. Old age is catching up with me," Ed retorted. Al snorted and caught his brother's arm, half-dragging him toward the station entrance.

"I found this great café where we can meet. It's nice and quiet. I go there and study sometimes since it's way off-campus. No one else from my classes seems to know about it," Al said, his words tumbling out so fast it was as if he'd been saving them up just for Ed.

It's only been three weeks, and already it's his life..., Ed thought. He supposed the same was true for him. He'd settled into his new role almost more smoothly than he would ever have thought possible. Thinking back to how much he'd hated being in the military when he'd been a teenager, he wondered why it didn't bother him very much anymore. Is it because I've lived through worse? Is it because Hawkeye's my commander now? Or is it because I know I'm good at it?

They caught up quickly, each hitting only the surface of what was going on in their lives. Al loved his studies — nothing could be more obvious to Ed — but Ed's attempts at lightness were just as obvious to Al.

"So what's really going on, Niisan?" he asked after they'd finished eating and were each on their fourth cup of coffee.

Al knew about Winry and her plans — she'd written him a couple of days before — but Ed hadn't discussed his case, yet. Before, Al would have been right in the thick of the investigation with him, and he missed having his brother's insight and expertise to rely on. It had made things easier, to always have a fellow alchemist with whom he could discuss ideas and theories — and who saw things from a different perspective.

He didn't want to keep dragging Alphonse into murky military business, but this case would resonate with Al, he knew, just as it did with him. And maybe he would think of something that would help.

Taking a deep breath, Ed launched into the story of his case. Al listened intently, nodding, asking a few questions here and there, but mostly taking it all in. When Ed reached the latest all-nighter session he and his team had spent, reviewing everything, he noticed Al was grinning.

"Niisan, just think how proud the Lieutenant Colonel would be."

A crooked grin cracked Ed's face, and he shook his head. "I'll be snapping pictures like an idiot, next, and letting my beard grow all scruffy." They both laughed at that. Neither of them had too much facial hair to deal with, in spite of the fact that their father had sported a full beard.

"I think you're on the right track," Al said, shifting into collaboration-mode. "Someone seems to be trying to continue Gran and Tucker's work."

"I keep asking myself if I'm sure they're both dead," Ed muttered. "It just seems so insane that this would come up now, after all this time. Just when I'm back."

"It's a coincidence, Niisan," Al assured him, frowning. "That's all. But their research got spread around after Lab 5 was destroyed. Anyone could have picked it up and started working on it."

"That's the trouble. It could be anyone!"

Al was silent for a few moments, thoughtful. "No, it couldn't be just anyone. It would almost have to be an alchemist with ties to the military."

"Al, you're under arrest," Ed dead-panned.

Al rolled his eyes and snickered. "I'm trying to help! Would you stay focused, please?"

"Could it be a homunculus?" Ed asked after they were both quiet, again, for a bit.

"I don't think so," Al said. "I think we took care of that problem, at least until someone else screws up. Besides, you know only a couple of them could do alchemy, and even then, it was weird."

Ed nodded. "I wish I could find a thread to pull on that actually unraveled something. Everything I find out just makes the picture more confused."

"Maybe Martel would know something," Al suggested. "She might remember names from when Gran was still alive."

Startled, Ed looked at his brother through narrowed eyes. "Do you know where she is?" he demanded.

Al didn't flinch under his brother's disapproving glare. "Yes," he admitted. "We write. I can ask her to contact you, if you'd like."

Ed toyed with the idea of freaking out and screaming at his brother for maintaining a connection with someone who'd helped kidnap him, but their alliances during those years had been strange and confused. He thought about Scar and Greed and let his outrage melt away. "Yeah, that'd be a help, Al. Thanks."

Martel was one of the few truly successful human chimeras Ed had ever seen. The rest of Greed's team had been killed, and Tucker's own transmuted form had been a hideous botch, but Martel's had seemed near-perfect; almost elegant. Whoever had performed that bit of alchemy had known what they were doing.

They both seemed to silently agree to end this part of their conversation and turn to the personal, and they discussed Winry's plan to open her own business in Central.

"It's going to make my life a hell of a lot easier, that's for sure," Ed said, grinning. "No more worries about running all the way to Rizembool to get a bolt tightened."

The stricken look on Al's face surprised Ed, and he frowned. What the hell did I say?

"I'm sorry, Niisan," Al whispered. "You restored me, just like you promised, but I didn't restore you."

"Al! It was never that important to me," Ed insisted. "Restoring you was what was important. An arm and leg? Small price to pay, considering what we did, and what happened to you. I can live with it, really."

"But your automail is so... I know you're in pain a lot of the time." Al's expression was miserable, and he looked ten years younger and about to cry.

"Don't let Winry hear you say that," Ed teased. "It isn't so bad. It only hurts sometimes. Weather changes, or if I have to take it off. When I was away... I told you what it was like there, didn't I?"

"They didn't have automail," Al whispered.

"I was useless," Ed said, his voice low and angry. "I couldn't do anything that needed two arms and two legs. People didn't always see me as even human. With automail, I have a real life. I mean, I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist! You can't imagine how..." Ed's voice trialed off into silence. "I owe Winry and Pinako so much; they have no idea. Without them, I'd be a burden on everyone. My life now... it's a gift."

Al bit his lip but didn't bring up the matter again. The server came by and refilled their cups, and Al asked for the bill. Ed resisted looking at his watch. His voice had been very quiet when he'd mentioned his title, but bringing out the watch could attract someone's notice, and he didn't want to out himself as a State Alchemist on his very first visit to Hoyle.

Too soon, they were standing outside the train station stalling their goodbyes. "Next week, then?" Ed said, trying to keep the mood light.

"Yeah. I'll meet you at the café, though, if that's okay. I have a big exam to study for, so I need every spare second."

"Sure. No problem. Need anything from Central?"

Al listed a few of their books he'd like to review, and Ed scribbled down the titles in his notebook and promised to bring them.

Neither of them seemed to know how to end this day, and when the first warning blare sounded from the distant platform, they both jumped, startled that they'd frittered away so much time.

Ed didn't know if he should hug Al, but Al knew, and he caught his older brother in an embrace. "I miss you, Niisan," he said, pulling away. "We have a break in a few weeks, and I'll come to Central to see you."

"Okay. Great."

"Niisan," Al began, delaying their parting once more. Ed had been half-turned to go to his train.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to tell Winry?"

"Tell her what?" Ed asked, frowning. "About the automail?"

"No, not that," Al said. "Though I think she'd like to hear it. I just want to know, are you going to tell Winry that you're in love with her?"

The final warning sounded, and Al interrupted himself and ordered, "Go! There isn't another train for Central for hours if you miss this one."

Ed gaped at Al, stunned by the question and by Al's clear awareness that such a feeling even existed. He'd thought it buried too deeply inside of him for anyone to see.

"Go!" Al insisted, and Ed, head shaking in exasperation, turned and ran.