Wayward Son

Chapter 5

It was getting cold.

The sun hung low in the endless sky, an immense orb of golden yellow painting the sky brilliant orange and tinting the clouds bright pink. There was a light breeze blowing around in short bursts of varying strength. Really it was a beautiful evening.

This was something even Edward had to admit. The view was breath-taking.

But that didn't stop him from shivering slightly as the wind blew through his bangs and washed around his face.

You just didn't get stuff like this in Amestris. Given the choice, Edward considered, he could happily stay in a place like this for the rest of his life.

If only...

He looked down at his right hand. The mere sight of it, even with the glove on, was like a red hot poker being thrust down his throat. Not only did it hurt, but it made him feel sick somewhere further down than his stomach.

He had to hold onto it. Hell, he just plain had to hold on. He knew he would find a way home eventually. He had to. There were too many people relying on him.

Maybe he just needed a little reminder of what he was fighting for...

"Hey there, Edward."

Edward quickly pulled his sleeve up to cover his wrist and looked round to see who it was, discovering the only girl in the entire group approaching him. Her name was... Piper. Yeah, that was it. Probably the only halfway normal name in this whole place.

"Are you enjoying the view?" she asked, and stood next to him, leaning against the railing.

"Actually, yeah," Edward confessed, turning back to the colourful display. "I wish I'd brought a camera or something – we don't get stuff like this back home. What about you? Did Flyboy send you to come talk to me?"

"You do know what his name is, don't you?" Piper said, slightly annoyed.

"Duh," said Edward. "It just feels kinda weird saying it."

"Well, maybe we think your name's weird," she pointed out. "Still doesn't stop us from saying it, does it?"

It was clear the alchemist didn't know how to reply to this, so he just frowned at her as meanly as he could, but all that did was make her giggle so he gave up.

He didn't much want to look at her anyway. She was reminding him of somebody he knew.

Way too much.

"So what do you think of the Condor?" she asked. "She's old, I know, but she's faithful, and really she's been through too much for us to lose her. Though I've lost count of all the times that has almost happened."

"She's, uh, pretty cool," said Edward, noting that it felt horrifyingly weird to refer to a collection of pipes, plating and who knows what else as a 'she'. "Rather impressive. For a flying machine, that is."

"Flying machine?" Piper repeated, and she laughed again. "Isn't that a bit of a general term? It could mean anything! It could mean-"

"Look, we don't have technology like this in Amestris, alright?" Edward said defensively. "So this is all pretty damn new to me."

"Don't have..." Piper was now confused. "But then, how did you even get here?"

"Stowed away," Edward said hurriedly. "I stowed away on a ship, alright?"

Piper raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"I'm not making this up, I swear," Edward insisted, raising his hands defensively and backing away. "Please don't pull on my hair again! And definitely don't throw any wrenches at me!"