D3 Chapter Four

Dimension 3
(Edward was told something that makes him question everything, but where can he find the answers?)
Sequel of “Living in the Mirror”

Chapter Four: Phone Calls

Edward had put his shirt back on and was standing close to where Al was sitting. “Guess it’s just you and me, now, Al,” Edward said. He reached to put his hand on Al’s shoulder, but Al jerked away. “Huh...?”

“Please don’t touch me,” Al said.

Edward blinked. “Uh... okay...”

“So, uh, what are your plans?” Al asked to change the subject.

Edward sat on the bed with a sigh. He put a hand over his face and locked his fingers in his hair. “To tell you the truth, I have no idea. Coming here was just the first thought that entered my mind. I thought I could find out something by coming to this ‘3’, as Jonston called it, and by talking to your brother. But, no one here knows about that formula, the person in question is dead, and Ed won’t even consider the possibility. Maybe I should just go back to my dimension, ask Mom...”

“But the homunculi are after you and you’re hurt,” Al said. “At least wait until brother comes back,” he pleaded.

“Okay, I guess it won’t hurt to wait a little while...” Edward said and looked at Al. “But, don’t let me keep you from anything. I’ll be fine here by myself.”

“Well...”

“I won’t let anyone see me. - I know you two don’t want anyone to know you’re here. I saw Ed with that disguise when I first got here. Don’t worry, I’ll just get some food and then I won’t even leave the room. You don’t have to babysit me,” Ed said and smiled.

Al nodded, then watched Edward leave to get something to eat. Al then noticed the phone that was in the hallway.

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Edward studied the menu. “Hmm...” He pointed at one of the items. “And this one...”

“How many people are you going to feed, kid?”

“Oh, just me,” Edward said with an embarrassed smile. “I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast yesterday.”

“Sure you can pay the bill?” the guy asked.

“Of course!” Edward said and took out his billfold. “Um... Or maybe you can scratch off a few of those things...” he said as he looked at the bills he had left.

“Thought so...” the man said as he crossed out the things Edward said to. The man cursed under his breath as his arm jerked, causing a long graphite line on his note, which Edward noticed.

“Do you have automail?” Edward asked. The man had gloves on so it wasn’t noticeable.

“Yeah, and it’s been a pain in the butt recently. I’m getting to where I can hardly cook anymore. I need to have it checked out, but I’ve been short on time.”

“Can I take a look?”

“Sure. You're a mechanic?” he asked as he took off his glove and rolled up his sleeve.

“Nah. I just know one,” Edward said as he moved the man’s arm to test the joints. “I think you just need some oil. The joints are a little stiff. But, I’d check in with your mechanic, just in case.”

“Hmm... Now that you mention it, I think he did say something during my last checkup about keeping it oiled.”

After eating, Edward complimented the man on a delicious meal and headed back to the hotel room. He paused in the hall, though, noticing the phone not far from the room. He had started wondering if the other Ed’s automail had held up after he tried replacing a screw while he was in Xenotime.

After a few rings, he heard, “Rockbell’s Automail-”

“Hey, Winry, I-”

“This is only a recording, but if you need to make an appointment, leave your name and number and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”

Edward waited a second or two to make sure she didn’t have more to say. “So, is this another of your inventions? Um... There’s something I want to ask you, but I need to tell you something first, and I’m not sure you’ll believe me.”

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Winry came into the house after stepping out for just a moment, and paused as she heard someone’s voice. “Hmm?”

“And when we tried activating the formula to send him back to his dimension, it backfired-”

“Ed...?” she wondered. Her eyes widened. “Ed wait! I don’t have a way to record the calls yet!” she yelled as she ran to the phone.

“We switched bodies, and I was in this dimension. It was then that I realized a scre-”

“Hello?! Ed?!”

“Hi, Winry. Um... Is this another recording?”

“Why are you calling? What happened?!”

“Nothing. I just... wanted to know if anything happened... to Ed’s arm in the past few months. When I was here several months ago, well, I think I misplaced a screw. I tried to replace it, though-”

After a few seconds of being confused, Edward’s words from before she answered the phone came to mind - and she was still confused. But, she realized she may have solved that mystery about the screw. “You tried to replace my screw...?” she asked in monotone.

“I’m sorry! It’ll never happen again! I-”

“I’m so glad!”

“Huh?” Ed asked. ‘Why does she sound so relieved?’

“That screw probably saved his life! I forgot to put the screw in when I replaced his automail, and when he called me from the hospital-”

“He was in the hospital?!” Edward asked.

“It was only minor injuries, and then when he showed me the screw and said it popped out, I couldn’t believe it.” Winry’s voice lost the relieved tone. “But it wouldn’t have popped out if you had realigned the arm before putting it in. I had to replace some parts that got scratched up from that.”

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Edward was about to say something into the phone when Al ran out of the hotel room.

“I left a note telling where I’m going - please don’t go anywhere until Brother returns!” Al said quickly and left.

“O... kay...” Edward said.

Edward didn’t notice Winry asking, “Can you tell me again who you are and why you sound like Ed...?”