The Same Coin

The Same Coin (Part I)

She didn't believe her eyes at first, although she knew exactly who she was seeing. If she hadn't seen him after the fight, however, she almost certainly wouldn't have recognized him. She had never suspected Hisoka of being capable of blending in, he didn't strike her as a personality who would be able to do so. Yet he had gotten close. His hair was down again, and his face still bare. Upon closer inspection now, Winry saw that he was a bit too built for the uniform he wore — it had almost certainly been stolen. Hisoka leaned back against the door, giving her her distance.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, stepping so that the table was between them, too.

"I suppose this is sooner than you'd expected to see me back," Hisoka's voice drawled, and Winry dug her nails into her palms. "To be fair, it's also sooner than I expected to be here, too."

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought it might be amusing to see you in your natural environment."

"This is hardly it."

"Well, I see why you're so particular about that little weapon you carry. I hadn't expected you to be such a quick draw." Her eyes widened. He had been stalking her. He'd been someplace, just watching what happened between her and Scar. "After that display, I may continue to maintain my habit of disarming you on sight."

"One day you'll do that and I'll die when I'm not able to protect myself."

"I've already told you that you won't need that anymore once I'm through with you."

Winry turned up her nose. "I don't appreciate you implying that you intend to be in that much contact with me, or that you presume I consent to be around you at all."

"It would be a waste of ability if you declined to learn more about Nen. You already taught yourself Gyo at the match, after all. I take it that alchemy doesn't come naturally to you — but I predict Nen does."

"Where did you steal the uniform from?"

"One of the soldiers in the alley. You checked their vitals then continued on your way, and didn't so much as look twice at them."

"Did you kill them?"

"No. Though I imagine he won't be very pleased when he wakes up without it. Would you have been unhappy if I had killed him?" Winry began to respond, but he held up a finger to pause her.

"Consider your response carefully first."

"...That is completely different," she hissed, quickly realizing what he was driving at. "That Ishvalan was not an innocent bystander! He killed my mother and father!"

"I've heard about these Ishvalans since arriving here. It seems to me that they were innocent bystanders at the beginning. Your country is fond of war." Winry stammered, flustered, but he waved a hand to dismiss whatever else she might say. "I won't judge bloodshed. Which brings me to why I'm here, I wanted to ask you while it's...fresh."

His lips curved upward, and Winry nearly shuddered under his gaze. She would have if she didn't think he would enjoy the reaction.

"I already complimented that you're a quick draw, but you hesitated to pull the trigger. Why?"

"I don't really want to talk about that."

"But I love idle chat."

Hisoka left the door to sit down in a chair at the table, swallowing most of the distance Winry had put between them. He sat with his legs crossed at the knee, folding his hands under his chin. The pose was disconcerting to see him — or even anyone — do while wearing a military uniform. The soldiers were strict and rigid, and his mannerisms were entirely to the contrary.