The Same Coin

Bait

"Hisoka Morow," Dr. Hirano whispered, staring up at him with awe and fear before averting her eyes to her feet. She gave a deep bow. "My apologies, I hadn't meant—"

"I don't care," Hisoka cut her off, his eyes lingering on Winry. "You'll come with me now, mink."

"Please, no!" Dr. Hirano practically flung herself in front of Winry. "If either of us has offended, I will speak with the management to resolve the transgression. There's no need for this."

"It's fine." Winry sighed, puffing up her bangs while she stepped around the doctor. "We're acquaintances."

"Y-You are?"

"Acquaintances?" He clicked his tongue. "We were together almost every night for a year, and you call me a mere acquaintance?"

The doctor turned to her, jaw dropped, and Winry's head fell back in irritation. She reached for Hisoka's wrist, intending to pull him away from Dr. Hirano, but he caught her off-guard when he stepped in close and wrapped his hand around Winry's throat, slamming her against the wall. She almost used Nen. It was her first instinct, and she almost released it without realizing. Instead she reached her arm over both of his, then swept down, breaking his hold on her throat. Then she slammed her elbow up into his face.

He only frowned.

"This way," he said before locking a hand on her shoulder and steering her in the direction he wanted her to go. Hisoka waved mockingly at Dr. Hirano over his shoulder.

"Winry!"

"I'm fine. I'll meet you in the office," Winry called back.

"No, she won't. Winry's done for the day," he said as he pulled her around a corner.

"What is wrong with you?" she snapped, ducking to escape his grasp.

"What is wrong with you?" Hisoka countered as he leveled his palm flat against her back to continue propelling her forward. "Why aren't you using Nen?"

"Technically I am."

"Yes, you've mastered Zetsu. Did the Boss teach you that?"

"No," she bristled.

They were at the door to his suite, and Hisoka unlocked and opened it in one swift motion. A firm nudge sent her stumbling inside, and she heard the lock click behind them.

"Hmh. So why are you suppressing your Nen? You were getting so proficient back in Dublith..."

"Nen ruined my life!" she snapped, whirling around to face him. Months of silenced hurt, loss, and anger flooded out of her as she punched him square in the chest. Hisoka barely budged. "You took my job from me! I was used as a hostage at the northern border. Then I had to deal with that psychotic serial killer again—" Hisoka feigned a demure reaction, and she stood on the tips of her toes to hit him upside the head. "Not you, you insufferable—" Her lips pursed into a tight rosebud of rage. "You insufferable clown."

"Me?" he gasped, touching his fingertips to his chest in faux shock.

"And then Ed saw me use Nen, and he acted as though I used dark magic! Him, an alchemist! I had to leave my home — again — and I can't go back! Why the hell would I want to use Nen?!"

Winry's hand clenched, and she wanted to hit him again, when she realized he hadn't retaliated at all.

"What's wrong with you?" she snapped.

"You've disappointed me," Hisoka said with a shrug. "You're refusing to use Nen when your potential was so great..." He crossed his arms over his chest. "...But you showed him Nen — he could have only seen something if you had developed a Hatsu." Winry's scowl deepened as he perked up. "What was it?"

"I'm not telling you anything!"

"You might as well. You can't get away from me now that you've made yourself a part of Heavens Arena." He gestured at her clothing; she was dressed in the whites of a medic, but her shirt still bore the emblem of Heavens Arena all the same. "You think anyone here would refuse me if I wanted to find you?"

"Chrollo would."

She heard his teeth clench, but a moment later his features softened into a semblance of relaxation.

"Then you would be giving me exactly the opportunity I've been looking for to fight him," Hisoka shrugged. "Tell me about this Hatsu you developed."

"Why have you returned to Heavens Arena?" she countered.

Hisoka rolled his eyes. "You never change," he drawled. "There's a boy here from the Hunter Exams who I want to keep an eye on." He raised his hand to his eye, forming a circle with his pointer and thumb as he looked through it at her. "Although I suppose I can keep an eye on you while I'm here as well. And I passed this time — thank you for asking."

"I really didn't care to know."

"While you're here, I could teach you a new ability." His hand lowered from his face and his fingers spread open in her direction, in offering. A finger twitched, beckoning her to come close. And she felt the draw. The memory of the adrenaline of training with him came back in a rush — standing in Izumi's yard, bathed in moonlight, while he coaxed her through trial after trial. It warmed her inside. Winry's fingers curled.

"I don't want to learn anything," she whispered.

"Are you sure?" Hisoka closed his hand into a fist, then opened it again. There was a card standing upright between his third and fourth fingers. He gave the slightest flick of his wrist and the card went careening across the room, embedding itself in the wall behind her. "I could teach you how to use Shu to do this." His eyes lowered before rising to meet her gaze again. Teasing. "It would be easy for you."

"Don't you have to fight while you're here?" she asked, averting her gaze as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I suppose I do. While I was in Amestris, I had to sign up for fights to no show for, and another while I was completing the Hunters Exam. I really don't have the loss to spare." He shrugged. "I've been told that Kastro thinks he's ready to try again."

"You'd be wasting your time. He isn't ready," she said.

"And you are?" Hisoka asked, raising a brow. Winry blushed. "I think you're just jealous."

"You're trying to provoke me, but I refuse. I'm not going to take the bait."

There was a knock on the door, and Hisoka sighed.

"Looks like my fun is over for the time being. Go find your doctor and finish your rounds — and don't bother trying to run away, I'd only find you, whether Chrollo helped you or not. If you could even find him."

Winry rolled her eyes and followed him to the door, grateful for the interruption. As they reached it, though, he turned and touched a finger beneath her chin. Then he unleashed his Ren upon her.

She felt herself go weak in the knees, and Winry threw out a hand to steady herself against the wall under the onslaught. She moaned. She could feel her aura unleashing itself, wrapping itself around her to cushion the forcefulness. Her head fell back and she exhaled with a shudder of relief.

"The drawback of Zetsu," she heard Hisoka whispering, "is that your sensitivity to someone else's aura is amplified."

"Hisoka."

His Ren faded, and Winry's eyelids fluttered open. Machi was standing in the open doorway, arms crossed, staring at him.

"You're early," Hisoka complained.

Winry was nauseous but defiant as she pushed herself away from the wall. She could feel her aura surrounding her body — that familiar mineral oil sensation. Anger flashed as she realized this had been Hisoka's goal. Winry crossed to him, closing the distance between them, and slapped him so hard she clenched her teeth.

Hisoka's head lolled to one side, and he smiled at her. Her blood instantly chilled.

"I want to know about your Hatsu, Winry," he whispered as she stormed out the door.