The Same Coin

Who Is He

"I think," Hisoka began, glancing at her sideways from the corner of his eye, "Izumi and I shall get along fine."

They had reached the address that the telephone operator had given Winry, and she found herself staring up at a white storefront that had seen better days. 'MEAT' was written on its signage, with the silhouettes of animals beneath. It was a butcher shop. Winry rolled her eyes at Hisoka. He simply gestured for her to go first.

She'd met Izumi only once, when Izumi had come to her grandmother's house to tell them that she was taking the boys. It had been years ago, and her grandmother had shooed her out of the room for that conversation. She hadn't been around Izumi enough to forge an opinion of the woman.

Winry climbed the steps, where she was greeted by an 'Open' sign that hung with a green cactus leaf wreath. She didn't hear Hisoka's steps following her, but she knew he was still close. After taking a moment to straighten her overalls and smooth her hair, she knocked.

Inside she could hear footsteps thump closer, then closer still, until the door opened for her. A tall, brawny man with a thick, dark beard and black eyes stared down at her. He wore a white apron that was stained with fresh blood. Winry vaguely remembered him — it was Izumi's husband.

"Hello," she said, giving a slight bow. "I'm Winry Rockbell, a friend of Ed and Al's. I'd like to speak to Izumi, please."

His gaze left Winry to settle on Hisoka behind her. "And who's this?"

"This...is a friend of mine," she answered, not knowing how else to define Hisoka's role to her, although friendship felt far too generous of a label. The man grunted.

"You'll have to lie better than that to Izumi," he rumbled, then stepped to the side. He didn't look away from Hisoka as the magician entered behind her, then Winry heard the door close.

"Who is it, Sig?" a woman's voice called from next room down the hall — Izumi.

"It's the Rockbell girl."

"The Rockbell—" Izumi stepped into the hallway a half second later, and she was exactly as Winry remembered her. Tall and slender, with her black hair wound into braids that she kept back in a ponytail. Her eyes were dark like Sig's. "You're Pinako's granddaughter."

"Yes, hello. I'm sorry to intrude."

"No intrusion. Come in." Izumi's gaze leveled on Hisoka, and Winry read the immediate distrust. The door only opened for Hisoka because she was with him. She took comfort in that — right now, he needed her. That was the best guarantee for her safety that she could ask for.

Izumi and Sig led them past the business side of the building, to the very back where they lived. Their sitting room was plain but quaint, and Izumi sat in an armchair while Sig removed his bloodstained apron and leaned himself against the wall. That left the couch for Winry...and Hisoka. She reluctantly seated herself on one side, leaving plenty of room for him. But, to her relief, he perched himself on the arm with as much distance between them as possible.

"I haven't seen you since you were a girl," Izumi murmured. "Hm. You were smaller than Ed back then but not anymore. What can I do for you?"

"I know you taught Ed...alchemy," she said. Then she blushed, feeling guilty for how she'd said the word. Like it was dirty, or shameful. Izumi's brows furrowed together — she'd noticed it too, then. "This is Hisoka." She gestured to him on the couch. "He's interested in learning alchemy, too."

"Why the Hell would I do that?" Izumi snarled, cracking her knuckles.

"Hisoka is very capable—"

"I don't care about your vote of confidence."

Except it was Izumi and Hisoka speaking the words together. Izumi's eyes narrowed on him.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"I am Winry's teacher," Hisoka said placidly. "We don't have alchemy where I'm from, but we have an...equivalent—" His smile was toying. "—of which, I am a master. I am willing to trade secrets with you."

"I'm not interested in your—"

Sig suddenly launched off his feet, slamming against the ceiling before ricocheting off to hit the wall.

"Honey!"

"Hisoka, don't!"

Izumi was swinging for Hisoka, but Winry reached him first. She dove in front of him, arms crossed in front of her to take the blow the way Ed and Al did whenever she watched them spar. Her eyes shut tight and, out of a moment of desperation, she concentrated on her aura. Ten...It is the most basic line of defense.

The blow sent her tumbling backward into Hisoka's arms, and she gasped aloud as they shot to the safety of other side of the room — the way she had on the airship. He'd used bungee gum and she didn't need Gyo to know that now. Izumi whirled around to face them as Winry pushed herself out of Hisoka's embrace.

"What was that?" Izumi demanded, then she turned her face away to cough into a white kerchief. It came away from her mouth dotted red.

"You're sick—"

Winry began to step in Izumi's direction, not sure what she could do to help but only thinking that maybe she could help at all. But Hisoka took her by the hand and, with a simple twirl — as though they were dancing — she was standing behind him. He stood facing the alchemist and her husband, who was getting back to his feet now, with no fear or apprehension. For the briefest of moments, Winry almost fooled herself into seeing him as a powerful, unassailable protector instead of as a monster ensuring his investment.

"That," Hisoka said, "was my alchemy equivalent. Winry is still new, but as you can see she is a quick learner. That blow should've broken her arms, I'm sure you know that."

Izumi and Sig stood side by side, shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed over their chests. They were a perfect pairing. They merely glanced at one another and it was as though they had held a full conversation in that one look.

"And in return for teaching me this...you want to learn alchemy," Izumi said, and Hisoka smiled.

"Yes."

Izumi turned to Winry, then looked to her husband. "Out of here. Both of you."

Winry bowed and stepped outside the door with Sig close behind. Sig leaned against the wall opposite of her, staring at her from beneath his thick eyebrows.

"Where did you find that character?" he asked gruffly. "You seem like a nice girl. Him? Not so much."

"Across the sea," Winry whispered.

"So who is he?"

Her head turned toward the doorway as she caught bits and pieces of what Izumi and Hisoka were saying. They were polar opposites — she was fierce and aggressive when she spoke, while his responses were almost musical.

"What are you after?" she demanded.

"An advantage," was Hisoka's calm response. "Many people can do what I do where I'm from. I want to do what they cannot."

"What else do you want from this?"

"What else is there to gain? I saw your protégé at work in Central City when he was chasing down that serial killer. It was impressive. More than sufficient."

"Some people want to learn alchemy because they think it holds the secret to immortality."

Winry heard Hisoka chuckle. Except he sounded genuinely amused.

"Fighting isn't worth doing without the risk of death."

It was Izumi's turn to chuckle.

"So who is he?" Sig asked again.

Winry lowered her eyes. "Like I said, he's a friend."