The Same Coin

As The Boss

Chrollo sat on the bench in the changing room, and now that she saw him she wasn't sure how she hadn't noticed him first. The immensity of his presence swallowed every free inch she hadn't already claimed for herself. He had come as she last saw him; with his black hair slicked back, and the cross tattoo on his forehead exposed. He wore his dark purple trench coat. The white fur collar lining it was as a pristine as she remembered. He wasn't shirtless beneath it this time, however. He'd donned a black shirt with white bands that crossed.

She remembered, the first time she'd seen him like this, thinking that it was as though he had taken a mask off. Winry was aware that he'd come to her without his mask intentionally now, too. He hadn't come to her as just Chrollo Lucilfer.

He'd come to her as the Boss.

"Machi said you had a message for me," Winry said once she overcame her surprise.

"I do. I hadn't been sure if you had ever intended to return, but it pleases me you have. I've heard that you've begun to explore your Nen abilities." His voice was still that gentle lilt, deceptive in its ability to command. "Is that true?"

"Yes," she admitted.

"We haven't had many opportunities to have frank conversations in the past, Winry. I'm afraid you haven't been able to know me — and my friends — as well as I would have preferred."

"This seems like an odd place to have made the time for."

"I'm here on personal business, and prefer to keep my presence unknown to most." His gray eyes were deceptively soft as they watched one another. "Do I have your assurances on that matter?"

Hisoka, Winry realized. Chrollo was referring to Hisoka. He'd come to Heavens Arena to watch Hisoka's first match against Kastro, and now he'd returned to watch them fight again.

Another puzzle piece fell into place. Granted, she knew Hisoka better now that she had a year ago — that night when he'd come to her on her balcony, the first time he'd shared that deviant smile — but how the piece brought the picture together made her straighten her back.

It'd never been about her. What Hisoka lusted for as he lived every day were worthwhile opponents. He considered her capable of becoming one, but he knew Chrollo was deserving.

That was why he gave her those items from the auction, because she'd ensured Chrollo's life on the airship.

That was why he followed Chrollo's commands — to get close to him, to fight him.

That's why he wanted to learn alchemy. For the advantage when they finally fought.

"What do you want?" she'd demanded the day they met.

"Just don't go hitting him with that little wrench too many times. Leave some of him for me."

This had been about Chrollo all along.

"Are you going to kill Hisoka?" Winry asked quietly. One corner of his lip turned upward in an amused, demure smile before he shook his head 'no'. "What is Hisoka to you?"

"Hisoka is Number Four."

"And Machi?"

"Number Three."

"Nobunaga?"

Number One."

"What are you?"

"I am the Head," Chrollo answered, dark eyes finding hers and not letting her go, "of the Spider. Together, however, we are the Phantom Troupe. Gen'ei Ryodan."

"And what do you do?"

"We steal, and we kill whenever necessary — without hesitation. We are wanted persons by the law, but we are our own law — no one can stop us."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you have a skillset that would benefit me, Winry, if you consent to be of assistance when I need you."

He might kill her if she refused, or force her to help anyway. But the threat wasn't so weighty as it once might have been. Not because she didn't fear the consequences of refusing, no...but because she didn't want to refuse. Winry lowered herself onto one knee beside him and offered him her hand.

"I'll help you," she whispered.

His eyes found hers. There wasn't a single emotion visible for her to read — not pleasure or satisfaction, or doubt. Chrollo's gaze was cold, but soft as his smooth palm covered hers. She thought of Briggs.

"Even if it meant that blood needed to be spilled?"

Winry considered this before answering. Was she capable of that? It wasn't something she'd done — she'd come to terms with her desire to kill Scar, and the reasons behind it. But could she kill without discrimination at someone's command? Could she make her heart feel so cold?

Ed would never know.

"Yes," Winry exhaled.

"Meet us in Yorknew City on September 1st," Chrollo commanded. "Machi will be your point of contact if you have questions."

Chrollo rose to his feet, and Winry realized she'd forgotten how tall he was. How he towered over her. He extended a hand to help her up.

"I would like you to give Machi a demonstration of your progress in Nen before then." Winry blushed. "There are only ever thirteen Spiders but, should something ever happen, I prefer to know who my options are. But I would need you to be strong — proficient. I need to know what you're capable of."

She let Chrollo pull her so she stood again.

"For us, the survival of the Spider is more important than the survival of the head, or any of the individual limbs," he said. "Though we go to one another's aid whenever we are needed. Loyalty to one over the other, however, should be limited. I'll ask you this once and I demand your honest answer, as I gave to you. What is Hisoka to you?"

Her stomach clenched as she wondered how much Chrollo was aware of. Did he know Hisoka had been in Amestris? That Hisoka had been training her? If she lied he would know, and he would kill her.

"Do you trust me?"

"Hmh. No, mink. I do not...You are a onesome little thing. A wild card — difficult to predict. I have yet to decide whether that is a quality I enjoy about you. So no, I do not trust you. I likely never will. And it's best if you don't trust me in return."

She was never to forget that.

"Sometimes a teacher," she answered at last. "But never someone I will put my faith in."

Chrollo nodded and put a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I don't consider Judas to be a traitor."

She watched as he opened the door to the narrow changing room and left, not glancing back. Leaving her to wonder what he had meant.