The Same Coin

Dust and Splinters

Winry let Miles and his soldiers lead the way up the creaking stairs, her fingers digging into the bannister as the steps under her feet trembled with every blow above them. Dust and splinters rained down on their heads, and Winry put a hand up to keep the debris from getting in her eyes.

They reached a landing where the sound of fighting was more pronounced. Winry nimbly stepped around the Briggs soldiers, throwing her arm outward to keep them behind her as she advanced cautiously down the hall to an open door at the far end.

"You offer your arm to me?" she heard Scar saying, and the sound of his voice made her skin crawl. "Then I'll take it!"

No! Not her automail! Winry's steps quickened, her breathing shallow.

"I hate to tell you, but my arm isn't steel anymore! Don't make this difficult!"

The floor quaked underfoot as Winry reached the doorway, and she saw everything at once. Scar launching himself at Ed, his hands outstretched.

"Don't hurt them!"

Winry flung herself between the two, arms crossed and projecting her Ren at Scar as with all the force and malice she could muster. Scar's eyes found her immediately and the form of his attack faltered under her wrath, careening himself away from her. Ed and Al didn't miss the opportunity, landing a kick on Scar's chest that sent him careening back against a protruding, jagged piece of floor. Al pressed his hands against the stone floor, and his alchemy made the stone wrap itself around Scar's arm.

"What are you doing here, you idiot!" Ed shouted at her as he turned on her, his eyes gleaming with rage.

Winry's hand clenched into a fist, eyes narrowing, but Miles' hand fell on her shoulder as she began to advance.

"That's close enough."

"You brought her here, Major?" Ed asked incredulously.

Miles put his other hand on her other shoulder, and swiftly turned her around and steered her away before she could say another word. Not quickly enough to prevent her from seeing the bizarre creatures lying on the floor, unconscious. What were those?! Winry wrenched her head around to keep her eyes on Scar instead — his free arm was wounded. She could help him if she wanted to.

"Young girl," she heard Scar call from behind her. "You have every right to pass judgement on me."

Her footsteps paused, but then she let Miles remove her from the room without further protest.

She would get her chance soon. Kimblee would make sure of it.

"I still want to beat you blood and drag you down to the Rockbell family grave to pay your respects," Ed snarled.

"Copy — Major Miles here. We captured Scar. We're holding him in Area D. Inform Kimblee," she heard Miles saying. Then, to Scar, "Whatever the circumstances are between us, I cannot let you go. You must accept judgment."

Suddenly Dr. Marcoh and May came around the corner. Winry's eyes widened as she saw them, but she didn't try to stop them as they passed by to join the others in the room with Scar — and began explaining what she'd already told Miles about how Scar was needed. Winry let her gaze wander to a shattered window nearby. The sky was darkening as the afternoon grew late, and the air itself was growing strained. She wasn't familiar with northern weather, but she'd be a fool to think it looked like it was going to do anything except snow.

"Alright. I think it might be best if we took you back to Fort Briggs to hide you from senior military staff," she heard Miles saying.

"Hold on, what are you saying? You mean we're bringing that monster with us?" Ed snapped. "Just hand him over to Kimblee!"

On that she and Ed agreed upon at least.

"I heard they're using the Rockbell girl as a hostage against you," Miles added.

Winry showed herself back into the room then, arms crossed over her chest. She hadn't proven to be much of a hostage; Ed hadn't made his decision to cooperate with Kimblee based on threats against her, he'd made it for the sake of the Philosopher's Stone.

"If we act now we can disgrace Kimblee and find someplace to hide her where they can't touch her."

Her head snapped around to Miles, her mouth already opening to tell her that she had no intentions of consenting to anything to do with that plan, but a Briggs soldier she hadn't realized was behind her suddenly covered her nose and mouth with a cloth. Winry gasped, but only succeeded in inhaling more of the fumes. Her knees went out from under her and the last thing she saw was Ed reaching out—