I don't own FMA

MangaVerse, set between chapter 39 & 40, so of course spoilers for those chapters.

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click, churr, fwoosh, kachink
click, churr, fwoosh, kachink

“Stop, before you burn the place down,” the nurse admonishes, looking away from the tube she’s inserting morphine into to give me what she thinks in a scowl.

I want to tell her she’s talking to the wrong patient—the only thing I’d ever lit on fire was a cigarette—but it would come out wrong. I’m already on edge and talking might push me over. She’s cute with that half smile—I don’t want to turn it into a real scowl.

I give her a weak smile, and flip the lighter open again.

Now she manages a half scowl, clucking her tongue at me as I snap the lighter closed.

Finished with Boss, she pushes the cart around the room.

click, kachink
click, kachink

I’ve almost got the sound matched with the rhythm of her swaying hips.

I wonder if the doctors ever find the nurses’ uniform as distracting as patients do, not noticing that she’s reaching for my lighter until her fingers touch mine.

They bought a car to come see me graduate, I almost call bullshit when Mom tells me. Dad’s so tightfisted, but Mom never lies.

Somehow, I end up at home on my week of leave.

“C’mere, Boy,” Dad calls from the porch.

I glance over at Mom, and she nods in encouragement.

“Yeah?” I ask from behind the screen door. He was pissed when I enlisted, wanted me to take over the family business.

“Out here,” he indicates.

I duck through the door frame. This house has been too small for me for too long.

He holds out a cigar to me as I slowly lower myself into Mom’s wicker chair, afraid it’ll break.

“You know, I’m proud of you,” he tells me, passing a lighter.

I stare at it a moment…it’s the one I always used to filch when taking my breaks at the store. He’d never said anything, but must’ve known from the start.

“Thanks,” I offer, handing the lighter back, but he shakes his head.

“It’s my good luck charm, but with the war you’ll need luck more’n me.”

“No,” I snap, shoving her back.

I don’t even notice where I’m touching her, but she does. Going scarlet, she steps back and collides with the I.V. pole.

It careens to the ground in slow motion. There’s a pull on the needle in my wrist as the crash of breaking glass assaults my ears.

The nurse curses and Boss stirs.

The lighter falls to my lap.

Its luck was all used up, and now I’ll have to tell him it's quits for me.

The nurse was about to release her next slew of curses on me, but I must have looked pathetic, because she sighed and went to get help.

“Stupid lighter,” I mutter, forcing myself not to pick it back up, but I need something to hang on to, so I give in.

click, churr, fwoosh, kachink
click, churr, fwoosh, kachink

-:-:-:-

A.N. - I don't write first person often, really it was more of an experiment in exploring Havoc. Written for fma fic contest's prompt "talisman" with some help from lj's cornerofmadness on a medical question. Thanks for reading!

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