Equivalent Exchange

Chapter Summary: Winry's return...

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Chapter 5: Imprisonment

~AL~

24 hours later, Central Train Station, 8:52am

'Winry's train is scheduled to stop at 8:45, so where is she? I hope she isn't looking for Lt. Armstrong...'

"Alphonse!" Winry eyes filled with tears when she recognized the armored body of her childhood friend. There was a large crowd in between them but since Al was so large he wasn't too hard to be seen. His armor was almost a head taller than each and every other person at the station. The big body made it easy for Al to spot Winry as well, she was trying to direct herself towards Al with her large luggage trailing behind.

'How long does she plan to stay?' Al wondered when he saw her suitcase.

"Al." Winry said as she reached him, she looked up at him with watery eyes, "Why don't you visit me more? Or at least call?! Do you know how long it has been Al! Do you know what it is like to only hear your or Ed's voice when something's wrong? Do you have any idea how worried I ALWAYS am about you boys.." Winry cried as she weakly punched Al's armor. Al wasn't expecting this, although he knew he and brother didn't show her as much as the respect she deserved, he never thought she would suddenly blow up in his face... And now of all times. Maybe she's upset but...

"Winry..." Al tried to push Winry's chin upward to make her look up at him, but he only managed to raise her head as her eyes stayed glued to the floor, he didn't have time for this... But she was crying, and it made Al feel even worse than he already did.

"I know Winry, we should keep in contact with you. And I'm sorry we don't.. But, Winry, we need to go, don't you want to see brother?"

"-ow's he?" Winry replied in what was the most mubblyish whisper ever.

"What?" Al said dumbfounded, when he looked down he saw Winry wiping away leftover tears, her eyes slightly swollen and red but otherwise fine.

"I asked, how is Edward."

Al hesitated, and Winry noticed, she decided to fill the silence as it was making her feel uncomfortable,

"What did he do this time? Wreak his arm? Leg? Oh wait, I know he destroyed them both right!?" Winry exclaimed. Al was about to answer except the crowded station was making many people tense as they were stuck inside, and when Al looked for the source of the hold up he realized it was himself. Which made Al uncomfortable as well. He didn't want to answer and explain everything to Winry here. It made him wish he had said more the phone yesterday morning. Al grabbed Winry's luggage from her hand and stormed towards to exit. Not even turning to check if she was following.

"AL! wait." Winry huffed as they headed towards the sidewalk, Winry didn't understand why Al hadn't answered yet. Maybe Ed was worse? Al had said he was doing really good and only acting a little off just yesterday. 'What's going on?' Winry thought.

"Hey Alphonse?" Winry said, but Al didn't stop, he was still ahead of Winry but had slowed his pace when they got outside, and Winry stayed close behind.

"Where's Major Armstrong? He is usually the one who picks me because you never leave Ed's side... And it just so happens every time I get invited to come here is when Ed is in the hospital" Winry remarked. Al couldn't think of a way to answer her. He just kept looking straight and moving forward. After a few minutes of silent walking, Al decided to answer.

"Major Armstrong is in a meeting... with Fuher Bradley."

"What? Is something happening?"

"They want to publicize it... So he gathered all the higher-ups to an emergency meeting, well... Everyone except Ed."

Al suddenly stopped as if remembering something... Mentally slapped himself, 'Why'd he say THAT, he'll have to tell her now, and what will he do when he and Winry get to the hospital wing? Tell her he died?'

While Al was in a self war in his mind, Winry was rubbing her head after running into him. She didn't understand why Al just suddenly stopped! But what did he say, 'except Ed? He lied! Ed was worse! Not even able to get out of the hospital bed... What if he is dieing! That's why Al waited 2 weeks to call! OMG is Ed dead... No, but Al...' Just as Winry was about to bring up a rampage of worried questions for Al, he began to, as if reading her thoughts; he answered.

"Winry. Ed is NOT dead. Not completely at least; not yet... The military say they found the existence of a new human-monster species, the meeting today is to plan what to do with the 'vampire' that have in custody and figure out a way to warn all of Central, as well as the nation about this. Although it will take time, the lower people in the military left last night to go on look out, to find more 'vampires', as the one we have at the moment, is not suitable to experiment on..."

Winry stood in a daze. Where was all this coming from? Has Al gone crazy? Vampires? Vampires are not real, and why he bring up this stupid thing? Al turned to look at her, if he had eyes, they would show all the fear and seriousness he had right now. He realized they were only 2 blocks away from the military now. But suddenly Al didn't want to bring Winry there. He grabbed her arm and started toward his and his brother's dorm, which was located behind the military database.

"AL! What's going on?! Can we just ignore this whole 'vampire' thing? I just want to see Edward."

"No. We can't" Al answered loudly and in a harsh tone. Ataken back Winry's next words were held with anger, she didn't like Al's strange behavior today, and he wasn't giving her the right answers. Maybe her behavior wasn't the best either but Al knows her, he shouldn't lie and then get mad about nonsense!

"Why not?!" Winry shouted as Al picked up his pace, tugging Winry and causing her to trip over her own legs. But he never slowed, and keep strutting to the dorms, along with Winry and her luggage.. Al knew he needed to calm down, his sudden outburst in front of Winry was not helping anything. But he couldn't say and act like nothing was going on.

"Because, Winry, Ed is the one they are calling a monster. Right now he is being watched by at least 10 guards, in the lowest cell of the military prison. Nobody can see him, this is his imprisonment for becoming a vampire. Other than that, right now the military won't tell me anything or let me go near him. In just the last 24 hours, nii-san has become the most feared being in Central."

Thanks for reading!