Kenara had grabbed a few cushions for Ed to lean on, and was currently in the kitchen making some spiced tea she had brought.
"I figured your leg was still numb, so I decided to drop by and fix it if I could. I also needed to get your measurements." She said. "Milk or cream?"
"Just sugar. Don't you guys have my last measurements from Pinako?"
"Well, yeah, but we use our own units, and I like doing it myself. Besides, when was the last time you saw Pinako?"
"About three months ago."
"Well, you probably grew since then. You also have a lot to make up for."
Twitch.
"ARE YOU SAYING I'M SHORT!"
"I never said that. Do you honestly think I would make fun of you?" She held her right hand to her mouth in mock horror, and handed him his mug of tea.
He gave her a sidelong glance as he sipped, and then started to cough instantly.
"Jeez, can't even keep your tea down."
After his coughing fit, they sat in silence for a while.
"So, I heard you drop by the school every once in a while."
"Yeah, your point?"
"Just wondering why, if you don't get taught there."
Kenara smiled. "I'm an old friend of Riza's from grade school. Happy?"
"Mhm. Then why do you talk to Mustang?"
"Cause he's a carbon-based life-form that seems to like to hang around Riza's office a lot in his spare time."
"Ah…"
"You do know about Winry and Al, right?"
"What?" He gave her a queer look. "Huh?"
"Oh, nothing, you'll figure out sooner or later." Finishing her glass of tea, she placed it on the linoleum next to her.
"Mind if I try to start up your leg again?"
Ed shook his head. "Be my guest."
After Ed took off his sock and rolled up his pant leg, Kenara pulled out a compact wrench and screwdriver kit.
"You carry your tools around with you?" He asked, eyebrow raised.
"Well, I've also been caught off guard before without it, so I carry it everywhere now."
"When?" He asked, and she shook her head.
"It's a boring story."
"I'm bored out of my skull. You can't be any more boring."
She took a deep breath. "A few years ago, when I first got my auto-mail license, I went to a restaurant with a close friend. Some guy with an auto-mail arm was sitting at another table. Halfway through dinner, it started to collapse on him. It was a cheaper model, and thus carried a crap load of risks with it. All I could do without my tools was sit there and watch as he screamed for the pain to end." She finished with a tired smile.
"That must have been horrible."
"It could have been worse. A doctor came a little while later, but the guy refused to use auto-mail for the rest of his life, and soon had a deathly fear of it."
"Having a fear of a metal limb?"
"I think that if your nerves were being crumpled and crushed into tiny bits, you'd be a little scared too. I think the oddest thing is, that he was a highly regarded general of the military. He had taken bullets for his country and done a whole ton of other stuff, and now, if he sees an auto-mail limb, he freaks out."
Ed didn't ask any more questions after that, and Kenara didn't say anymore, and silence seemed to enclose the room in a thick blanket.
"This may hurt just a little." She put one more nerve into place, and Ed squeezed his eyes shut in pain.
"You could have given me more advance notice you know." He growled.
"Actually, then your nerves may have tensed up, and it would have hurt a whole hell of a lot more." She said. "Wiggle your toes."
Ed did, and then stood up, flexing his muscles.
"It feels so good to stand up again!"
"I bet." Kenara smiled. "Well, I'll probably see you tomorrow."
"What?"
"I've got a few errands to run around the school."
"Oh, well, then see you later." Ed waved as Kenny walked back out the door, stepped into her beat up black truck, and drove off.
- - - - - - - -
((Yes, I know it's shorter, but I swear, I'll update when I get back from the marathon I'm going to run. Luffles, Kityo))