The Same Coin

Her Power Could

"I have to say, Winry, I had higher expectations for my first apple pie," Al said, and Winry could only gape before she pulled herself together and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You're lucky you're still recovering or I'd smack you for that," she warned, and behind her Ed laughed. Al laughed. She laughed, too, wrapping her arms around him.

He felt so frail, but warm. While she'd never had doubts that they'd meant it when they said they would get their bodies back, it was hard to believe the day had finally come. It had been so long since she'd seen Alphonse, it was startling to see how much he looked like Ed. They'd been mere children when this had all begun so many years ago. Winry pressed a kiss to Al's temple.

It was over now. Al had his body back, and Edward had regained his arm. She'd had to perform a surgery to go in and remove pieces of the housing unit that had somehow remained intact even after he had gotten his arm back, and he sat in a chair nearby with his shoulder bandaged now. It was bittersweet. She'd ended up feeling so much resentment for being taken for granted by Ed when it came to his automail, and now that half of it was gone she felt almost sad. He wouldn't be her greatest mechi accomplishment anymore.

"Fortunately for you," she continued, straightening her back, "I won't be baking anything else — and Gracia Hughes said she would bring her own by anyway."

"You're leaving again, aren't you?" Winry glanced over her shoulder at Edward. His features were relaxed, but she saw his hand was balled into a fist. She felt a pang cut through her chest at the question. "I talked to Izumi...She said that you can't use alchemy after all."

"I can't," Winry admitted.

"Then what is it?"

Winry lowered her eyes, and Al glanced between them. She could read the confusion on his face — which meant Edward hadn't told him about what had happened. So Ed expected her to divulge everything in front of someone who didn't understand. Bitterness came with that thought, and it sharpened her senses.

"I learned it across the sea," Winry said, squaring her jaw as she turned to face him. "I have a mentor there. Izumi was teaching me to fight — not alchemy."

"I know that now," Ed admitted. "Izumi told me when everything was over. And I'm sorry, Winry, that you had to learn everything from her — about what was happening with the homunculus and the military. I shouldn't have tried to keep things from you, but I thought if you didn't know then I could keep you safe."

"I don't need you to keep me safe, Ed," Winry frowned. "I have people in my life who have made me strong — who've armed me. I could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you if I wanted."

His eyes dropped.

"Yeah. I heard all about what happened with Sloth, too. I guess I really underestimated you."

Winry said nothing as she strode across the room to him, and flattened her palm on the shoulder she'd done the surgery on. Ed's golden eyes stayed fixated on her face as she healed him, using Nen to manipulate the muscles, tendons, and capillaries back together — the way she'd considered doing while she'd had him on the table, but then decided against once she considered his previous reaction. Now, however, she felt only immense satisfaction as the expression on Edward's face changed to wonder. She could show him the damage her power could do, too...But part of her still wasn't willing to taint the vision he had of her. Not like that.

"I'm leaving Central tonight," Winry said as her hand fell away. Ed was looking at his shoulder with wonder.

"I wish you wouldn't go," Al said, sitting up slightly. "Do you need to leave so soon?"

Winry went to Al's hospital bed and leaned over to embrace him, smiling sadly into his hair. Ed's arm went around her shoulder and he pressed his head against hers. She closed her eyes, not wanting to move. Knowing that she could stay...That they could stay like this for the rest of their lives. Ed couldn't use alchemy anymore — he was but a man now. She could choose to never touch Nen again. She'd already shipped the parts for Hisoka's automail overseas, with instructions for Dr. Hirano on installation in case she never made it back to Tentai after the Promised Day. She and Ed could have a quiet, simple life...if she were willing to forget all that had happened. If she could forget how he'd made her feel for so long. If she pushed all that down and never let it surface again.

She could forgive him.

But she couldn't forget.

Winry reluctantly drew away, and both brothers saddened. Edward didn't look at her.

"There's no place for me here anymore," she whispered. Then she laid her palm on Al's head before turning to Edward and tapping him under his chin with her knuckle. "Be happy for me, Ed."

She didn't look back as she left their room, letting the door quietly snick shut behind her. Down the hall, sitting on a chair outside General Armstrong's room, Captain Buccaneer sat up a little straighter; she had outfitted him with another M19 earlier in the morning, diamond tips and all. He'd asked her to stay as well. Winry gave him a smile from where she stood, then turned to Illumi, leaning against the wall. Waiting.

"How was my grandmother?"

"She's well. She was displeased that you didn't come yourself though," Illumi said. "She gave me crates of equipment to bring back to Tentai with you — to establish an automail business."

"I don't know if home is ready for automail yet." The corner of her lips tugged upward in a small smile, and she nearly laughed. Ready or not, Hisoka was waiting to be the first. And Chrollo was waiting in Yorknew City. Winry shouldered her bag. "It's time to go."