For Stephanie Brown

[armoured]

He still isn't quite sure how they managed to make it home.

All he knows is that one moment he was standing in the snow, listening to his tablet blare out a warning about being in a 'RESTRICTED ZONE', and the next thing-- he's standing at the bottom of the dirt path in Resembool that leads up to Winry's home. He would have thought this another hallucination, a cruel trick of Norfinbury such as they had dealt with in the past, if it weren't for the person standing next to him who definitely doesn't fit the scene.

"S-Steph--?!"

She looks ridiculous in her thick coat and scarf out here in the summer sun, and he can't stop staring at her. This doesn't seem real, it can't be real.

Can it?

Comments

[spoileralert]

"It's a board with wheels. Pretty much what it sounds like. I'll draw you a picture."

She actually pulls a notebook and pen out of her bag before realizing that this is not the time.

"Uh. Maybe when we get in town, actually. It works better on paved roads."

[armoured]

"You know we have cars, right? And trains! You don't need a board with wheels on it to get around."

Wow, how technologically backwards does she think Amestris is? He might be offended if this wasn't Steph and he literally can't be offended by anything she says. Not when he loves her so much. She's like another member of the family by now.

[spoileralert]

"It's for fun. Like bikes! But cooler. Way, way cooler." She will convert him to the ways of the skater, just you wait.

[armoured]

"O-Oh... I see."

He feels a bit stupid now. Chuckling, he reaches out to drag Steph into a one-armed hug, still shocked as to where they are.

"Maybe a skateboard should come after we get to Central and find the others, huh?"

[spoileralert]

She gives him a squeeze back. It'll be strange, getting used to his body having different rules, but Al is always Al.

"I can live with that. Just don't let me forget to teach you how to do a kickflip."

[armoured]

"Why do I have the feeling that this is going to end in a lot of me falling over and you laughing about it?"

He's not saying that he won't try all the same. He might even consider a bit of embarrassing falling worth it to make her smile.

[spoileralert]

She grins. There is going to be lots of laughing.

"Look on the bright side: you won't break nearly as many bones as most beginners."

[armoured]

"No way, I'm going to wait until I get my body back. It won't be too long now, I'm sure of it, brother and I are so close to finding our answers."

He really hopes that's true, anyway. Especially because getting back here reminds him that all hadn't been going too well, that his blood seal had been failing.

[spoileralert]

"I'll have to sign all your casts. It'll be great."

She absolutely believes that they'll get his body back. After all, they got out of Norfinbury, didn't they?

[armoured]

"HEY! How do you know I'll definitely break bones? Maybe I'll turn out to be a natural at it and you won't get to sign anything."

He will absolutely break bones if he tries skateboarding. No question about it.

[spoileralert]

She laughs, just a touch maniacally.

"Because it's a skateboard. You don't learn to use it without falling a few times, that's just how it works."

[armoured]

"Why am I starting to get the impression that you're looking forward to this just a bit too much?"

He's hurt, Steph. Hurt and betrayed. He thought you were on his side.

[spoileralert]

"It's not like it'll kill you." She shrugs, grinning widely. Yeah, maybe she is enjoying this too much.

"It's always great to teach people new skills."