"Can I see yours? Yours seem bigger than mine. Is size a determining factor in function or is it an aesthetic consideration only?" Ed turned back to the mirror. "It's really strange to see them on me. How is the automail going to affect them? The supporting muscle goes all the way to the collar bone doesn't it?" Ed's fingers were pressing into the soft flesh above his right breast searching for the underlying muscles.
Winry took a few deep breaths and then went to stand by Ed. "Yours are smaller than mine. And yes, all breasts feel much the same. They peak not 'bumple', like that due to temperature changes, excitement and touch. No, size has nothing to do with function. And no, you may not look at mine. They aren't something you show to all and sundry."
"Then why are you looking at mine?" Ed asked reasonably then clutched at the tank top she threw at him.
"Put that on and come downstairs." Winry snapped and hurried from the room, her face still red. Ed laughed softly and slipped the top on before following her.
Al looked curiously between them when Ed appeared and Winry sniffed at him. Ed shrugged and smirked slightly before smiling easily at his brother. Now that Ed was in the tank top it was obvious to all of them that he had become female. Where once had a stood a teenaged boy a bit small for his age, now there was a properly proportioned young woman. Gone were the masculine lines of broad shoulders to strong waist. Now slender shoulders tapered to a slim waist. His neck appeared longer now it was no longer hidden by his collared shirt. His tanned skin had softened to a pale gold. His new chest with its soft curves merely enhanced the overall image. With his hair tailing down his back all he needed was a skirt to be the epitome of womanhood.
And Al, ever the supportive brother, told him so.
Ed did not react favourably and Al was subsequently barred from this and all further preparatory sessions.
Pinako and Winry spent the rest of the day and all night making and wiring the new port. Every connection, every link was tested and tested again. Smaller and more delicate appearing to match his new physical shape it would still have the strength of the steel it was constructed from. Neither Pinako or Winry were under the assumption that just because Edward was now female that his automail would be treated any more carefully than it ever had been before. The Rockbell name was based on their dedication and care to every piece of automail they designed and installed. Even if Ed had not been the intended recipient, they still would have taken the same care and attention to detail as they were doing. Perhaps because it was for Edward, they spent a few extra hours making doubly sure that this port was absolutely perfect.
Ed and Al waited as patiently as they could. Neither was particularly looking forward to tomorrow. They made coffee and soup for the 'girls' as they worked and then kept themselves occupied at the other end of the house for the rest of the night. They didn't get much sleep and they lay on their beds and spoke occasionally as the long hours passed.
"Have you told Winry you resigned?"
"No. I never told anyone. I just sent the letter in. I didn't know what would happen when…"
"It's ok, Al. You know she's going to be pleased. She's always hated the military." Al could hear the smile in Ed's voice through the dark.
"Will you call Hawkeye back, Al?"
"Not yet." Al sighed. "It'll be about my resignation and Winry already told them I wasn't due here for a month, so they won't be expecting to hear from me yet." And hopefully not about that other matter, he thought.
"They'll want to see you, you know. They're not going to accept that letter without actually seeing you."
Al sighed. "Yeah, I know." I just don't want to leave here yet he didn't say.
"I bet Hawkeye is still keeping Mustang in line." Ed smirked. Al was getting more and more used to the lighter tones of Ed's voice even though his turn of phrase was pure Edward. "I can't believe that bastard's a Brigadier-General now."
But it seemed that morning had come all too soon when the knock at their bedroom door called Ed down for the attachment of his new port.
Al sat outside the surgery as he had done all those years ago. This time however he knew exactly what was happening behind that closed door. This time his hands were locked so tightly together they had turned white. This time when he heard the heavy clinking of metal and the shaking of the trolleys as Ed's body violently reacted to the stimulus of each connection made he didn't open the door.
And this time, like last time, Edward Elric refused to let one sound of the agony that consumed him escape the confines of his thrashing body. To do so would be to cause his brother hurt on a far greater scale than anything Ed was feeling right now.
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