Okay this is the second chapter to "After the losses"; it's going to focus more on Riza and RanFan this time.

Warning: spoilers for chapter 102

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist

RanFan sighed as she leaned against the blank wall, another twitch in her shoulder told her she had to get her arm repaired before it completely fell apart. It wasn't that the damage was extensive but because it was so close to her shoulder, where skin met metal.

They were at the Central temporary command where remaining members of the Amestrian military where trying to regain order. In the room she was sitting outside of, her Prince, colonel Roy Mustang and a female General where yelling about something, she stayed in the hallway.

She didn't really know what to do, her grandfather was dead, her prince didn't have complete control of his own soul, and her arm felt like it was going to fall off. Going back to Xing wasn't an option at the moment, she couldn't return without the prince, and she knew that crossing the desert with auto mail was practically suicide, hell it was suicide to cross it the first time.

As these and a million other thoughts crossed her mind, a physical and emotionally exhausted Riza Hawkeye turned into the hallway, sighed and slumped to the floor.

Not wanting to disturb the already frazzled women, RanFan tried to leave without being noticed, but her malfunctioning automail betrayed her, making a clearly audible "CLANG" as it swung limply from her shoulder.

The women looked up, hand already going to a handgun; out of instinct RanFan drew here kunai.

Both looked at each other for a second, both with weapons drawn and ready to kill each other. The staring continued for five seconds before both burst out laughing, it wasn't a happy laugh, it was more like hysteria that had been building up for years and it was the bitter-sweet sound of having survived the worst of battle.

"I'm sorry about that" said RanFan as her knees gave out and she sunk to the floor.

"It's fine; it was my fault anyway, just attacking like that. If it makes you feel better the gun wasn't loaded, I used up all the bullets earlier."

"I wouldn't be much in a fight either with my arm messed up" said RanFan as she wondered why she was telling this woman of her weakness.

"Heh, why when we can't fight, why is it that the word attack the first thing we think of"

"If we knew that then life wouldn't feel as muddled as it is."

They stayed silent for a few minutes, both staring at the floor on which they sat, admiring the simple white tiles with the simple black lines.

"Why did you fight this battle, why did you rush headfirst into this hell?"One of them asked as they turned their gaze towards the blank ceiling.

"Because, I had to follow someone I had sworn to protect." The other replied as they too admired the other responded as they also looked up at the white ceiling.

"That's reason enough."