Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist except Trey.
Trey opened her eyes, and they were back in the house. She was lying on the living room couch, and Havoc was on the couch across from her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Oh, you're up."
Trey saw Winry looking at her. She was wearing a large sweatshirt and the usual bandana in her hair was gone. She looked tired. Trey sort of lifted her head in a combined gesture of a greeting.
"Doesn't the pain hurt you"
"What pain"
"Your arm."
Trey looked down at her right arm. She held it up and clenched the metal fingers tightly into a fist. She replied grimly, "Nothing hurts when pain's all you've felt." Winry believed her, even though it was just a depressing saying, Winry still could compare when Ed yelled when his arm was getting reconnected to his nerves; Trey didn't move once. She just didn't feel it as if she felt it so many times, she became immune to physical pain forever. Trey woke Havoc up, and soon the rest of the motley crew came bumbling down the stairs for a hearty breakfast. It was a cold breakfast though. The blizzard was rampaging on like the fierce wrath of a large force. Trey seemed relaxed up to this point. They talked casual at the table.
"Old man Thompson cleared his house a year ago"
"So then that guy's hill is free of his rubbish heap he called a building"
"Edward"
"Sorry, Winry, but you said so yourself that hill was perfect for sledding except that trash"
"I didn't say anything like that"
"Oh, shut up"
"Brother, don't start"
"Stay out of this Al."
Ed had rose from his seat with a big grin on his face as he continued to argue pointlessly back and forth with his brother and Winry. Pinako rolled her eyes. Havoc seemed pretty confused, and Trey was taken back with all the arguing. Much to everyone's relief, breakfast was over, and the kids minus Trey ran off to sled. Havoc helped Pinako clear the table.
"Ma'am, you raised some pretty good kids."
Havoc was sincere. Pinako only nodded in agreement as if to say, "You bet your bottom I did!" Havoc waved good-bye as he and Trey left to go outside. Havoc lighted another cigarette in his mouth.
"Why do you smoke those death sticks, chief?"
Havoc pulled the cigarette out and exhaled.
"I need something solid to rely on when I don't know what to do"
"When did you start"
"The... Ishbal thing."
Trey sighed. Havoc put his arm around Trey and said seriously, "But don't think that's a weakness on this chief. Jean Havoc, too strong!" He softly pushed Trey's head like an older brother would do to his sibling. They walked to where the hill was, and they saw the trio of childhood friends sledding to their heart's content. They were enjoying themselves, and Trey smiled at their play. Her hands were tingling with excitement, but she jammed them in her pockets. The more they watched, the more they listened.
"Winry! You can't just knock people with snowballs"
"You shouldn't be talking, tiny"
"Hey, who you calling so short he can"
"Brother, she didn't say anything like that"
"Listen to your bigger brother, Ed"
"Why you little"
"Watch your language, brother!"
It went on and on like that with Winry teasing Ed of his height, Ed yelling at the top of his lungs all kinds of words, and Alphonse trying to calm his brother down. It was actually amusing to watch. Havoc let the cigarette dangle from the side of his mouth. Finally, he dragged the Elric brothers out from their fun and into the train station. Winry was sad to see them go as always. Until...
"You have Ed's pocket watch!"
Ed looked up sharply.
"She has my what?"
He felt his pocket briefly, and, finding the chain, sighed. Trey pulled out the national alchemist's pocket watch and handed it over to Winry without a moment's hesitation. Winry's eyes glittered and beamed as she examined it. Tears were even from falling from her eyes and drool hung from her lips.
"The exterior, the smooth metal with the alchemist's icon on the front, the Roman numbers, the clockwork, it's all so very delicate and beautiful!"
Winry had momentarily lost her mind. Ed groaned.
"It's all very fascinating, Winry, but we have a train to catch and"
"No! Let me take this apart and put it back together again. Oh, I know I can do it"
"Winry, stop acting like that. It's not my pocket watch!"
Winry stopped, realizing sadly that it wasn't Ed's pocket watch. It was a stranger's. Trey chuckled. She said, "Just keep it. I don't need it." Heads turned. Ed replied matter-of-factly, "That pocket watch enhances your abilities and allows you to perform alchemy without transmutation circles." Winry nodded slowly. She held out her hand reluctantly to return the treasured item. Trey shook her head and showed the palm of her non-automail hand.
"I got another back in Central"
"You sure?"
Winry's voice was filled with disbelief yet a bit of hope. Trey answered, "Yeah," with a flick of her wrist. Edward was speechless, and Havoc was stunned as they followed her to the train. They seated themselves, Havoc and Trey, Ed and Al. Winry stood by the train station, the pocket watch gleamed in the sun. Ed waved with a big grin. Winry grinned back and yelled after them, "Take care of yourselves!" Trey smiled a little. As the train left the station, Ed turned his head back to face Trey.
"That was really nice of you."
Trey said nothing.
"But... now you can't do alchemy without it"
"Don't underestimate my alchemy, Full Metal."
Ed looked at her and saw the same smug, sarcastic look Mustang had given him every time of his life.
"Full Metal? You sound like that bastard Mustang."
Havoc jerked up suddenly, but Trey held him down fast.
"Yeah? Me and Mustang think alike"
"You and Mustang think I'm short, huh"
"It goes without saying, my brother."
Ed didn't even hesitate when he yelled, "Who you calling so short that you he can drown in the shallow end of a lake?" His younger brother sighed as he held a struggling Ed back. When he had finally calmed down, Ed found the nerve to question the ice alchemist.
"So, why do you have that automail arm anyway?"
Trey looked out the window. She didn't speak for a moment.
"An accident."
Ed didn't ask any more questions after that peculiar answer. Ed understood that everybody has their own reasons, including himself and his brother. Ed didn't explain his situation either; Trey never asked. It was a long ride back to Central, but neither of the pairs were suitable for conversations with strangers. Except Havoc and Ed. Al was in his own dreamland in his giant armor suit. When they entered the Central train station, Ed and Al tumbled out morbidly. Ed disliked his superior officer, Mustang, and he wasn't all too happy to see him. Havoc led Trey out.
"So, chief, any missions after this?"
Havoc replied, "Why? You tired of the desk job already?" Trey grinned a little and said, "Naw, how can anyone be tired of that?" It was the late afternoon, and the four trudged in the snow. When they entered the military building, Havoc dragged Ed into Mustang's office. Al disappeared somewhere, and Havoc and Trey waited outside. They weren't exactly eavesdropping intentionally, but who could tell?
"So, Edward... didn't find the philosopher's stone"
"Hey, shut up, Mustang. If you think it was so easy, why don't you try and do it"
"That's not my job, Full Metal. That's yours. Weren't you ever the risky to suggest it in the first place"
"That's not the point, Colonel"
"Why don't I give you another mission"
"Why are you being so sarcastic? Finding the stone is what we agreed on"
"Lower your voice, Edward. You don't want people to find out, do you?"
Ed let out a frustrated yell. Trey asked Havoc, "What's up with this kid?" Havoc replied grimly, "He and his brother tried to bring their mother back from the grave. A human transmutation had never been a success before. Ed gave up his leg and arm to attach his brother's soul into that armor." He pointed to Al who was a few feet away with his back turned.
"There's nothing inside that thing."
Trey shook her head with her arms crossed against her chest.
"They're just stupid kids... man, why do they got to go through that kind of life"
"It takes all kinds to make the world go round"
"I'd take the square world if these troubles go away."
Havoc put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She put her head down. He said assurance, "It's me and you against the world, Trey."
"That's a bit cliche, don't you think, my brother"
"Not at all, my sister."
They shared a smile. Ed stomped out of Mustang's office, looking peeved and furious. Mustang beckoned with a nod of the head for the two officers to come in. Hawkeye stood dutifully beside him. They sat down comfortably. Mustang had a smug look on his face.
"On Edward's own part, he failed miserably. But on yours, I say well done"
"It was a rookie mission, Colonel. You don't trust me?"
Trey's words came as a surprise. Mustang looked up blandly.
"Full Metal is quite the wild child. Handling him and doing a good job of it, why... you can conquer the world!"
Mustang was too full of sarcasm to give a straight answer. Havoc looked timid as he said, "With all due respect, Colonel, we did what you asked." Mustang replied, "That's true. With your... experience as the ice alchemist, I'd say you excel without even trying."
"The past is my business, but the future is yours."
Trey spoke a little coldly. Mustang sighed and said, "I'll give you the advanced missions when they come. Now, leave." Havoc stood up sharply and saluted. Trey gave a sloppy salute using two fingers instead of her hand. Havoc dragged her away before she could do anything else. Hawkeye asked Mustang, "Sir, are you sure she isn't needed there?" Mustang turned serious.
"I vow to keep her promise. I will not let succumb to the dogs of the military like us, serving this government so humbly without even a thought of looking back with regrets."