Envy followed them out, standing in the door way as Ed carried Ruby back to the hotel. His tears were drowned as rain began to fall.
"Hurry up," he murmured. "The monsoon's here."
Ed ran through the rain that pounded down upon them like a wall of water. Inches of it already flooded the streets, making it hard to run. Ruby opened her eyes, carefully placing her head on Ed's chest. Ed looked down and smiled at her, breathing heavily as the rain seemed to slowly begin to drown them. Ed slipped, falling into the flooded street. He stood up, helping Ruby to her feet and placing his arm around her shoulder to steady her as they ran. Ruby could see the lights of the hotel through the rain then slowly the shape of the building became clear.
"We're almost there," Ed panted. A few moments later they were sprawled out on the porch of the hotel, sides heaving from their run. Ruby sat up.
"Are you okay?" She asked. Ed pulled himself into a sitting position.
"Aside from my braid coming undone, I'm fine." He replied. Al stepped out onto the porch.
"Hurry up inside, there are blankets and hot cocoa waiting for you." Al said. He helped them to their feet, making sure they got inside alright. They sat down in chairs with blankets wrapped warmly around them, eagerly drinking the cocoa.
By morning the rain had stopped, leaving the streets flooded with two feet of water. Ruby was feeling better now that she was safe in a place she recognized. Ed yawned as he woke up from his place beside Al. They'd all slept down in the lobby because the roof had a leak up where the rooms were. The hotel owner, who called himself Stan, came in from going across the street to get something for them all to eat.
"Ed, can I braid your hair after breakfast?" Ruby asked. Ed sighed.
"I never understood what your fascination with braids was. Yeah, I guess so." He seemed a bit amused, most likely remembering something from their childhood.
"Hold still!" Ruby said. She was sitting behind Edward, trying to braid his hair- if he would stop squirming. Ruby wrapped her arms around him, placing her head on his shoulder. "If you don't want me to braid it, just say so and do it yourself,"
"Thank you," he replied. Ruby smirked.
"Besides," she pulled away, handing Ed the hair-tie. "You don't look like the French braid type, anyway." Ed stood up.
"You were gonna give me a French braid! I should've known not to trust you! What were you thinking!" Ruby burst out laughing at Ed's outburst.
"You can't take a joke, can you? Were you always so funny?" Ruby's laughing turned to coughing and soon the comedy was over.
"Anyway, we need to get to the train station soon. But first," Ed sat down by Ruby. "You need a disguise. How did you hide your Ouroborus before?" Ruby seemed confused.
"What's an Ouroborus?" She asked.
"The red mark under your eye, it's called an Ouroborus." Ruby understood that.
"I used this makeup stuff." She answered. "I still have some with me."
"Good. Now, we'll need to do something about your hair, too." Ruby sighed.
"I don't suppose I could just put it up?" She asked. Ed shook his head.
"Going to have to cut it." He said. He transmuted his arm into a blade. "Don't worry; I've done this to myself tons of times."
"I still can't believe how nice my hair turned out!" Ruby squealed. She hugged Ed tight, her excitement overwhelming her as they stepped into the train.
"If you don't stop it I'm gonna choke!" Ed gasped. Ruby let go, taking her seat next to his. She looked out the window, watching as the train began to move. She turned around, looking at Ed.
"You're sure it's safe?" She asked. Ed nodded.
"Yeah, I'm sure; I've ridden on trains before. It's actually kinda fun." Ruby coughed, leaning back in her seat. "You should try and rest. It'll be a few hours before we get to Central." Ruby rested her head on Edward's shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispered, "for taking such good care of me." Ed put his arm around her.
"You just rest." Ruby fell asleep a few minutes later, her arms draped around Ed's shoulders.
When Ruby woke up she was laying in Edward's lap. She looked up to see Edward asleep. She laid her head back down, wariness making her uneasy.