The Same Coin

Permission

Trigger Warning: Extreme graphic violence

Winry felt her knees going weak beneath her, but Hisoka's arm kept her on her feet. He was whispering in her ear, coaxing her through her shock.

"Look. What you desire most is in front of you, yours to take. Don't be afraid — feel past fear. Feel deeper than that. Feel what you want. Take it."

She sucked in a shaky breath and held it, letting it fortify her. This was what she'd wanted. Her reaction was merely the depth of her surprise; she hadn't been prepared. But that didn't make her want it any less. Here, with it in front of her, she longed for it all the more. Winry's fingers curled, the way they did whenever she was faced with something she desired. Her heart was still racing, but for a different reason now. She felt Hisoka's lips curve in a smile against her hair and he dropped his arms from around her.

Scar stared up at her from inside the crate, his red eyes blazing with defiance. There was a strip of cloth wrapped around his mouth to secure a gag. He was naked from the waist up although she could immediately tell he'd lost some of his muscle density. Both of his arms were bandaged from wrist to shoulder. There were iron loops bore into the crate that shackles ran through to restrict his movement.

"How?" Winry asked breathlessly.

"When Illumi went to visit your grandmother, I had him run a side errand. And you don't need to fear this man's retaliation — Illumi flayed his tattooed skin. He can't perform alchemy anymore."

"I thought he died?"

"Illumi said the woman from Briggs was smuggling him."

"How did Illumi catch Scar with his guard down though?" she asked, then waved her question away with one hand. Winry dropped to her knees untied the cloth around his face. Scar spat out the gag, glaring up at her. "How were you captured?"

"They disguised themselves as the General," Scar snarled, "using dark magic."

His voice was hoarse and dry. Winry wondered when the last time was he'd had something to drink. It'd been a three week journey from Amestris to Heavens Arena — how had Scar even survived? Hisoka answered, as though reading her mind.

"I told Illumi to take good care of him. He didn't want to eat or drink, or take antibiotics, but Illumi has ways of making people be compliant."

"Why would you do this?" Winry glanced up at Hisoka. He was still smiling. "Why?"

"Because you wanted it," he offered simply, extending his hands in front of him, palms facing upward. "You need it. The alchemist kept limiting you, shaming you into behaving how he wanted." She met his amber eyes. His gaze was steady, unwavering in his calm. "I'm bored by this mask you wear for him."

"Don't do it, girl," Scar growled beside her. "I see you've had no part in this until now. Do not make me your enemy."

"The alchemist is gone," Hisoka cajoled. "Amestris is behind you. You've been restrained by fear of judgement. I will neither judge nor restraint you."

"Release me and you'll be no worse for it. I'll handle this backbiter on both our behalves, Rockbell girl."

Winry turned, focusing her aura entirely in her arm before backhanding Scar. His head snapped to the side, and his eyes darkened with rage as blood dripped from his nose. She heard Hisoka breathe a sigh of ecstasy.

"I don't need you to do anything on my behalf," Winry whispered, her hands quaking. She clenched them into fists to steady them and she faced him fully, squatting low. His gaze was cold and remorseless.