"That's a really strange story, but I've heard weirder." Duo shrugged as Edward finished up his story about how Alphonse is truly as suit of armor that has no occupant inside.
"You really don't care about the fact that we did forbidden alchemy?" Alphonse asked, still a little too surprised by Duo's reaction to believe it.
"I just learned what alchemy was not two days ago, so I didn't think you'd expect me to be surprised."
The three of them had stayed in the room all day and it made Duo start to get fidgety. He had decided that today he would get out of this hospital bed and start his training again. Duo had been bed-ridden for four days now and he was tired of the same blank walls.
"Edward, is there somewhere outside where us three can hang out without any interruptions?" Duo asked hopefully.
Ed and Al exchanged glances, and then stared at Duo.
"You just got a bullet in your leg not too long ago. Don't you think it's a little too early to try walking around?" Al asked as he saw Duo already peering out the window for the place he desired.
"No, this is the longest amount of time I've ever stayed down before from one measly bullet wound."
"What do you mean measly?" Ed asked as Duo got out of the bed and began testing his leg's strength.
"I've been trained for quite a few years to do this kind of stuff. It really isn't anything new to me."
Duo tried to balance on his one injured leg and had success for a few seconds before the pain was to unbearable to continue. Then he hopped around a bit before finally grinning and started taking a few careful steps.
Ed knew from just being around Duo for those few days, that even if he told him no; Duo would get up and leave anyway. So, he opened the door for Duo and allowed him to walk out first.
He followed Duo and watched him and was amazed as a limp slowly started to disappear altogether. Soon, Duo was walking with a limp that was barely even noticeable.
Ed and Al both observed him as he made his way to the exit.
"How did your leg heal so fast? It's inhuman the way you're already walking."
"Truth was, in my time there is such a thing called genetic altering and that's what apparently happened to me. I can't really remember when though…" Duo stopped to ponder on the subject for a minute, but then decided to keep going.
"What's genetic altering?" Al asked as it seemed the subject sparked his curiosity.
"It's when a person is able to manually change your DNA to how ever you or they want. It's actually pretty common where I come from."
The two brothers seemed to have a different scenario in mind; they probably thought that it was like opening up a person and playing with the DNA like a bunch of tinker toys. Duo wasn't going to be the one to confuse them anymore than he already had though, and let them think whatever they wanted to about the altering.
"Are there any kids around here?" Duo asked when he felt the sudden urge to play basketball.
"Usually some kids go play in the main square." Edward couldn't figure out Duo.
Why would he want to be around kids? Did he just enjoy their company? Or did he have something else in mind for them? Ed shook his head as if that would make the thought go away, but now it would remain until he got an answer.
He had always thought that Duo wearing a priest collar and leatheror whatever that fabric was; did look like an odd combination. Not to mention the long braid didn't help in proving Duo wasn't some weirdo pervert.
He decided best to leave the question for another time when they suddenly came out into the bright sunshine.
Duo stretched his arms over his head as if he had just woken up; either that, or he was just glad to be out of the stuffy hospital room.
"Do you guys know what basketball is?" Duo asked with a hopeful expression.
Al looked at Ed and cocked his head in a confused sort of way before looking back at Duo.
"We've never heard of basketball."
"Oh…" Duo looked crestfallen, but then cheered up quickly. "Do you guys play any kinds of ball games?"
Ed looked astonished that Duo would ask to play a child's game.
"Yes we do but-"
Duo cut him off when a few kids came into view and were kicking a ball of theirs around. Duo started running towards the kids with a big grin and shouting at them to ask if he could join in.
The kids seemed just as surprised as Ed and Al were, but they let him play too. They watched for a moment before Edward got a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hey Al, when was the last time we ever kicked a ball around?"
"Many years ago brother."
"Why don't we join in?"
"I don't see why not."
The two brothers ran to join in and was greeted by a laughing Duo.