An Alchemist's Envy

Chapter 6: Train of Emotions

"So, Lindsey..." Edward folded his arms behind his head and leaned back against the train seat next to me, "Why did you run off before?"

"Eh?" I looked over at him from the map I was reading. We had finally made it out of Liore before the riots could start and hopped on the next train outta there.

"Before, when you ran off. What happened?"

"O-oh, uh... I thought I saw someone I knew." I finally managed to say.

"Really? Was it them?" Alphonse asked.

I sighed and leaned back, "No... Anyway, why are we going to East City? Isn't Roy in Central?"

"He was only there for a conference, his post is in East City." Alphonse stated.

"But... He had a room there..." I mumbled.

"A room?"

"Er, nothing." I waved it off, "Anyway, does Roy know about your search?"

"Yes," Alphonse nodded, "Colonel Mustang has known from the very beginning. He wants us to report back when ever a lead runs cold, which sadly happens a lot."

"And then he sends us off on yet another pointless mission." Edward grumbled. I nudged him with my elbow.

"Hey, I was one of those 'pointless missions', remember?"

"How could I forget?"

"Don't start anything, brother..."

"If he does, I'll be sure to finish it!" I teased by poking his cheek. Ed swatted my hand away with a flustered expression.

"Why are you so weird? And why do you keep calling that hot head by his first name?"

"H-he told me to." I stuttered.

"That just adds to your weirdness..."

"Brother..." Alphonse hissed.

"Hey, Ed..." I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Hm?" Ed called, his eyes fixated on something happening down the aisle of the train.

"Could I see your arm?" I was sitting by the window this time, and since Ed had taken off his cloak, which he apparently had an extra of, his right arm was fully exposed and I couldn't seem to keep my eyes off it. I haven't really seen automail up close before, so I was rather intrigued. He looked surprised by my sudden request but nodded.

"Sure." He held out his arm to me. I smiled and ran my fingers softly over the shining metal, examining its structure.

"This is really amazing... You're engineer is seriously talented."

"Yeah, she's amazing." Ed smiled.

I raised my eyebrow at him mischievously, "She?"

Edward's face instantly flushed a crimson red as he pulled his arm away from me. "Sh-she's just a friend! A childhood friend who just happened to be an automail engineer!" He babbled.

"I see." I giggled with Alphonse, "I'd like to meet her one day."

"She lives in our hometown in Resembool." Alphonse said, "We actually haven't been back there in a while, have we, brother?"

"So?" Edward's face still had a hint of red to it. I laughed and patted his head. He swatted my hand away again which caused me to laugh harder. After I settled my laughter, I noticed that Ed was looking at me strange. Stranger than normal, any way.

"Is there something on my face?" I asked jokingly, catching his attention.

"Actually, it's your arm..." Ed said softly, his eyes falling on my left arm. "Does it hurt at all? I can't tell how bad it is, since you're wearing that jacket..."