The Price of Life [Fullmetal Alchemist]

Chapter Thirteen

Opened Eyes

do you ever just cry because fullmetal alchemist

we open our eyes 'cause we are told that we must

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"Edward Elric, what happened to you?!"

Miss Winry Rockbell had entered Edward's hospital room, noisily dropping her toolbox on the tile floor next to her. Her blue eyes were wide as she saw the damage that was put on her friend. Plus, his automail looked wrecked.

She then looked over to the right to see a girl on his bed playing cards with him.

"And oh, who is this?" she asked again, curious.

Edward scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously.

"Um... This is Sonia."

Sonia's dark eyes brightened as she scanned Winry over. She jumped up from the bed and in front of the other girl. Wincing and touching her injured head, she grinned at her.

"Hello! Winry, right? I've heard lots about you. I'm Sonia."

Winry's confused expression faded a bit as she nodded in recognition. "Ah, hi! It's nice to meet you. Ed and Al mentioned you once or twice in Resembool."

Sonia stuck out her hand and Winry shook it in respect.

While she was looking, the mechanic noticed the bandage wrapped around her head, just beneath her bangs.

'What have they been doing lately that's gotten them into so much trouble?'

Sonia could tell by the look on her face that she was worried, so she tried to explain.

"All I've got is a little concussion; nothing too bad. Ed here had-"

"Sonia." The little alchemist cut her off and gave her a look.

'Please don't say anything,' his eyes read. She didn't understand why, but she shut her mouth anyway.

Winry put her hands on her hips and gave Ed a stern look. "Well mister, what got you so hurt?" She had looked over him too, and he had bandages everywhere. They were taken care of delicately, but that didn't mean he wasn't hurt anymore. He adorned hospital clothes similar to the ones Sonia wore as well.

Edward knew she was waiting for an answer. So he turned his head, looked down, and fisted the bed sheets. Quietly, he said, "Well, it's none of your business. Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about it?! What do you mean, 'don't worry about it'?! I'm worried about you all the time! And now you've got someone else hurt!" She pointed over to Sonia.

"I'm sorry," Winry said to her. "Those boys must get you into heaps of trouble. You get so involved that you get hurt too."

"Look Winry, it's none of your concern, alright? So just leave it alone." The tone of Ed's voice made her stop.

"Fine. Whatever. I don't know why I bother to try anymore."

Sonia could feel all the tension in the air radiating from them both, the silence amplifying it to grow stronger and stronger. She bit her lip, trying to think of what to say, but Winry beat her to the punch.

"Ed," her eye twitched, "how come you didn't drink your milk?"

He made a face of abhorrence. "It's disgusting."

Winry flipped. "If you keep using that lame excuse you'll have stunted growth forever!"

"wHO ARE YOU CALLIN' A SHORTY SO LITTLE HE COULD-"