Cardinal Sin (1) : Rebirth of the Fullmetal Alchemist

9 - Roommates

Ed returned the next day to Phil and Frederick's house, though he was unsure whether he'd still be welcome after what he'd said the night before, which had caused Philemon to get sick. However, Frederick opened the door at once for him and threw at Ed an offer before even saying good morning.

"Do you want to move in with us?"

"Huh?"

"Just while you're studying the shifting arsenal. It would be easier for you, I'm sure. You wouldn't have to pay for your hotel room, either. Also, I think Phil secretly likes having someone else around when we're studying."

Ed shrugged. He didn't particularly care where he was staying, and also the confirmation that Winry truly did want to marry him was the only big thing on his mind.

"Sure."

Phil and Frederick made a big deal about the move. They were far more invested in it than Ed was. While he watched the shifting arsenal (which was presently a riffle) in the basement, they first pulled out a new, foldable bed from a closet Ed didn't know existed. Then, they fussed and eventually got around to rearranging everything in the bedroom so the three beds were in a neat line, separated by two-night tables on the back wall of the room, Ed's being the one in the middle. They insisted on giving him yet another tour of the property, though he knew everything about it already. At lunch, they forced Ed (which he was extremely unhappy about) to walk all the way back to his hotel, retrieve his things and check out of his room.

"Here you can put your clothes in the closet," Phil instructed. "I've sacrificed about twenty hangers for you—I hope it's enough—and we bought this little dresser from one of our neighbours."

Ed gestured at the single suitcase he'd brought with him to the west. "I literally have one suitcase, that's it. One. And the majority of the space is taken up by books."

Apparently, Phil didn't get why this should be an issue.

Later, Phil tried to show him what he would find in all the drawers, but Ed was too ticked off to care and escaped with the pretext he needed to use the bathroom.

They had dinner and later on retreated to the bedroom when it got late. Both crashed onto their beds and fell into conversation while Ed went into the bathroom and washed up. He came out in the pyjama shorts, rubbing his hair with his towel when there was a sharp cry.

Alarmingly, Ed moved the towel out of the way to see what the reason for the shout was.

On their separate ends of the room, Phil and Frederick each wore an expression of shock so identical it seemed as though they'd planned and practiced it, staring wide-eyed at Ed.

"What's going on?" Fullmetal demanded.

"Your—Your leg!"

Ed had seen this reaction so many times that he knew they meant his automail leg. He went to his bed, slumped into it and said, "Yes, I have automail for a leg. It's useful for kicking ass. My arm used to be automail, too, but I got it back."

"You—How in the heck do you get an arm back?" Frederick blurted out, leaning onto the night table that separated their beds.

"It's a long story," said Fullmetal, not particularly inclined to explain pretty much his entire life's story to people he'd met a week ago. "I'll tell you another time."

Phil and Frederick exchanged glances from their respective beds over Ed, who had, by now, laid back into his pillow. For a moment there was silence, in which the other two young men marvelled over Ed's automail leg inconspicuously.

Then, Phil said, "Oh, by the way, Ed, a mailman came by while you were in the bathroom. You've got a letter—here."

Ed sat up. He took the letter handed to him by Phil, looked it over and exclaimed, "It's from Al!"