A few days later, the Hawkeye manor stood deserted. Major Elric had buried the monstrosity behind the house, and the children had packed up their essentials. They took a tense train ride into Central, and pretty soon were in front of a narrow shop called Rockbell Automail and Medicine.
"Winry, I've brought customers!" Major Elric called as he stepped through the door.
"Ed?" a woman yelled from somewhere within the shop. "Is that you? Why do you never call before you come over?"
The woman emerged from a back room, wiping a greasy wrench with a cloth that did not seem to be doing much good. She was strongly built, corded muscle wrapping around her arms and shoulders. She wore a black crop top and a jumpsuit rolled down around her waist, and her blonde hair was pulled into a messy ponytail. She was covered in machine oil and sweat.
"You look like you've been having fun," Elric said wryly.
"I just got a new model," she said, eyes fairly lighting up with excitement. "But who are your friends?"
"This is Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye. Roy, Riza, this is Winry Rockbell."
"Pleased to meet you," Winry said, extending her hand to Roy first. He shrank back, covering the loose sleeve that hung from his right shoulder. Winry pulled her hand back with a tight smile. "I apologize." She turned and looked up at Riza, who was able to shake hands.
"Are you his guardian?" Winry asked.
"What? No, I'm, we're the same age," Riza stammered.
Winry looked to the major, raising her eyebrows. He shook his head, and so Winry returned her focus to the extraordinary children in front of her. "Well then, how about you come in and make yourselves comfortable, and I'll get Mr. Self Important State Alchemist out of your hair."
"Hey!"
"So?" Winry said as soon as she pulled Ed into the kitchen.
"So what?"
"You know so what," she said, frowning at him. "What happened to those two? I thought you were going out looking for a skilled alchemist to recruit, not a kid."
Ed rubbed his head before answering. "The boy's a talented alchemist; the rumors were about him. He tried a human transmutation on Bert Hawkeye, and when the girl got caught in the rebound, he brought her soul back and sealed it to that mechanical thing."
"Are you serious?" Winry released Ed's lapel. "He can't be more than ten."
"Eleven, actually," Ed said. "They both are."
Winry gave a low whistle. "So is Mustang gonna get automail, then?"
"I don't know, but I did tell him it's an option."
"So why'd you bring them to me?" Winry asked.
"Al's out of town, researching something in East City. I would have had them stay with him, otherwise-"
"Oh, so you call your brother to see if he's home but not me. I see how it is."
"Winry! Come on, I knew you'd be here. You have customers to think about."
She grinned and punched Ed's shoulder. "I'm messing with you. It's fine, they can help me out around the shop."
"Thanks Winry, you're the best."
"I know, I know," she said. The grin faded from her face. "So how are you doing? Is the leg working properly."
Ed waved one hand carelessly. "I'm fine. Deal with the kids first; I can wait."
Winry sighed heavily. "Fine. If you say so."
Winry returned with a simple meal for Roy, who had settled into an overstuffed sofa in the waiting room. Riza sat next to him, managing to be tentative despite her size and lack of facial muscles.
"So," Winry said brightly. "Have either of you two been to Central before?"
Riza shook her head.
"I've been," Roy said. "My aunt lives here."
"Really? Why didn't Ed take you straight to her, then?" Winry asked.
"I uh, I forgot to tell him," Roy said, staring at his feet.
Winry watched him for a few seconds and decided not to ask. She sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Look, I was trying to make you guys comfortable, but we can just talk about the elephant in the room now if you'd like," she said, grinning sheepishly.
"Which elephant?" Roy said wryly.
"Your arm," Winry said. "There's nothing I can do about your eye, but I can make you an automail arm if you want it." When Roy didn't answer, she continued. "You don't have to decide right away, but I just want you to know that you have that option."
"I know," he said. "Major Elric told me before we came here. I think- yes, I'll get a new arm." He looked up and met Winry's eyes squarely. "Please Ms. Rockbell, can you do that?"
Winry smiled broadly. "Absolutely."
After a discussion about preliminary arm measurements and price estimates, the rest of the evening passed more comfortably. Winry went upstairs to set up beds for her guests, and they retired gratefully. Riza, however, still couldn't find sleep, and lay awake, listening to the chatter of a big city night. Eventually, she realized that she was hearing actual chatter. Chatter, and the clinking of metal parts that could only be automail. She glanced at the clock; it was very late.
As quietly as she could, Riza snuck out of her room and down the hallway to the stairs. From there, it was much easier to hear, and she settled down to listen.
"Ed, you should have let me look at you sooner." Winry sounded exasperated; not quite energetic enough to be truly annoyed, but she was not pleased.
"I didn't want to worry you," the major said. "I've given you enough to think about, and it's really not so bad."
"Not so bad? Not so bad? Your automail is cutting off your circulation and you say it's not so bad?"
"Winry, quiet!"
"Don't you tell me to be quiet Edward Elric," she scolded, but in a whisper. "You just sit still and let me take a look at you."
There was a pause, punctuated by metallic creaks and occasional murmurs.
"Damnit Ed," Winry sighed. "You're too old to-"
"Hey now, I'm only 26, you know."
"I don't mean you're old old, but your body's stopped growing, and it's hard for you to adjust to having metal parts. You have to be careful."
"I am careful! It's just…" he trailed off, unable to come up with a good excuse.
Winry sighed, and Riza could imagine her shaking her head. "I don't know what the top brass thinks you should be doing after everything you did, but you were supposed to take three years for full recovery. It's only been a year and a half."
"I know how long it's been, and I'm fine. I just caught a blow wrong-"
"Oh, so you've been fighting! Fighting on new automail, that's just great-"
"Winry, please. I can't just drop out of everything because of a few- grah!"
"Sorry, one of the nerves wasn't connected properly," Winry said, almost smugly.
"Geez, would you warn me next time?"
"There shouldn't be a next time, Ed. You tell them that you're off the front lines, doctor's orders."
"But I can't-"
"You will tell them, or I will tell them for you," Winry threatened. "I was in Ishval with you; they know I'm a skilled doctor."
There was another silence, this one heavy and motionless.
"Can we… not talk about this?" the major said slowly. "Please, just tune me up."
"Yeah, alright. Sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I'll try to be more careful."
"Good."
Riza had heard too much. She crept gingerly back to her room, flinching as she clanked with each step.
Ed and Winry paused, every nerve buzzing, at the sounds floating down the stairs. After a second, Winry sighed.
"Damn. She probably heard all that, didn't she?"
Ed slumped. "Probably."
