(The Next Day)

**Ed P.O.V**

        Al and I were back in the library, digging through the Tuckers’ research. Nicole had been called out to the hospital last night in the middle of dinner, and she still hadn’t come back. I was starting to think we wouldn’t be getting another lesson today. Not that I minded—my head still felt foggy from yesterday.
        I rubbed my eyes, flipping through my notes. Normally, I could pick things up fast, but this stuff, chi, Dragon’s Pulse, other people’s energy, it all felt like I was reading a puzzle in the wrong language.
        A little girl’s laughter rang out, cutting through the silence. I shoved the papers aside and got to my feet. Rounding a corner, I froze. Al was parading around with Nina perched high on his shoulders, her giggles echoing through the shelves as he bounced her up and down.
        I crossed my arms, scowling. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be reading!” I barked, jabbing a finger at him.
        “Uh… Nina looked like she wanted to play…” Al said sheepishly.
        My temper spiked. “Well, in case you forgot, we didn’t come here to play horsy...”
        Before I could finish, a huge shadow swallowed me whole. I barely had time to yelp before a mountain of white fur tackled me flat on my back.
        “Alexander says he wants to play too!” Nina laughed.
        Pinned, I growled into the dog’s fur. “Oh, that’s what you want, huh? You’ve bested me twice already, dog…” I shoved Alexander off and staggered to my feet, rage blazing. “Playtime is over. I WILL NOT LOSE THIS TIME! I, EDWARD ELRIC, WILL USE MY POWERS TO VANQUISH YOU, YOU MANGY MUTT!”
        Nina squealed. Al gave the closest thing to a chuckle a suit of armor could manage. I took off after that blasted dog.

~~~***~~~***~~~

**Nicole P.O.V**

        I dragged my feet along the road back to the house, every step heavier than the last. My body felt like it was moving on autopilot—muscle memory carrying me forward while my mind buzzed, detached and hollow.
        Last night, half a street collapsed into the sewers. Pavement cracked open like paper, and the people caught in it came pouring into the hospital. So many broken bodies. So many voices crying out. Some didn’t cry at all.
        They gave me the critical cases, of course. Shattered spines. Punctured lungs. Arteries bleeding out faster than anyone could stitch. I love what I do. I really do. Saving limbs, easing pain, dragging people back from the edge when no one else can. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the recognition, too. The way a patient’s family looks at me with relief. The nods, the gratitude, the respect. Even walking down the street, when someone I helped months ago stops me just to say thank you… It makes me feel like the weight is worth it.
        But once the last patient was stable, the paperwork filed, the last IV drip adjusted, the buzz that kept me moving burned out. Now I was just empty.
        Topping the hill, I spotted a black military car idling out front. The passenger door opened, and a lanky man stepped out, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. He spotted me right away, lifting a hand in salute.
        I managed a tired smile and returned it. “What brings you here, Havoc?”        
        He lit up with a grin to match his lighter’s flame. “Picking up the Elric brothers. You just getting back?”
        “Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Street collapse last night. A mess. So many injured, I lost count. I did what I could to cut down casualties and clear beds.”        
        “Good thing you were there.” He exhaled a curl of smoke, easygoing as ever. “Bet you saved a lot of lives. Hopefully, you’ll get a decent night’s rest for once."
        His saying that made me feel warm inside.
        "Hey chiefs, your ride has arrived!" Havoc exclaimed as we walked into the house and quickly found Ed stuck under the dog.
        "What are you up to down there, Ed?" Havoc asked as we walked into the library, my father joining us not long after.
        "You know... Let's just say I'm taking a long break from today's research..." he muttered from under the dog.
        "After all that, you must be dog-tired,” my father quipped from the doorway. The room broke into laughter as Ed scowled like he’d just swallowed a lemon.
       “Why don’t you boys come back tomorrow?” Father added.
        “You’re really going to come again?” Nina asked excitedly.
        “Yeah, we’ll play some more tomorrow, okay, Nina?” Al promised.
        “Okay!”
        “We’ll make up for today’s lesson tomorrow, yeah?” I laughed, reaching down to scoop her up.
        The three of them, Ed, Al, Nina, looked at me with these sad little faces like I’d just broken their hearts. I rolled my eyes and smirked. “Fine. I’ll keep it quick tomorrow, so there’s more time for play. Happy?”
        Their grins returned, and just like that, the moment was whole again.
        We all walked out together. I hung back with Nina in my arms as the brothers waved one last time before climbing into the car. I turned toward the door, but Father’s voice stopped me.
        “Oh, Mr. Tucker, I almost forgot.” Havoc flicked ash from his cigarette. “Got a message for you from the Colonel. He says, ‘Don’t forget Assessment Day is coming soon.’”
        Father’s expression chilled. “Yes… assure him I know.”
        Havoc’s eyes flicked to me. “Same goes for you, Miss Tucker. Your Assessment’s coming up, too.”
        I nodded. He left with a casual salute, but the air felt heavier once the car rolled down the street. The three of us slipped back inside.
        In the dining room, I set Nina down and went to help with the table while Father finished dinner. By the time we sat, silence had already settled; our usual rhythm. I didn’t mind. My body was so tired, I could’ve fallen asleep face-first in my plate.
        “Daddy, Sissy?” Nina broke the quiet, eyes bouncing between us. “What’s Assessment Day?”
        My fork paused halfway to my mouth. Father and I exchanged a look before he sighed.
        “Every year,” he said carefully, “State Alchemists must submit their research findings to the military to keep their certification and funding. If they do well, then they keep their jobs.” His eyes lowered to his plate. “Last year, I didn’t do well. This year, I’ll need to prove myself… or else." His voice roughened. “We can’t go back to the way things were. I won’t put us through that again."
        Nina hopped down, placing her tiny hand over his. “Don’t worry, Daddy. You’ll do great this year! And if they don’t like your research, Alexander and I will growl at them until they change their minds!” She puffed up proudly, then added, “And maybe Sissy can help too! Since she has an Assessment Day coming!”
        Father chuckled, hugging her close. For a moment, he looked almost… soft. “Maybe. We’ll see. As long as she’s not too busy for us.” His gaze flicked at me, sharp beneath the smile.
        I bit the inside of my cheek and gathered the empty plates, carrying them to the sink. The weight of his words stuck in my chest. I was nearly out the door when a small hand wrapped around mine.
        “Sissy! Will you read to me? Please, please, pleeease? I know you’re sleepy, but I promise I’ll choose a short one!” Nina begged, blue eyes wide and shimmering with hope.
        Her look alone gave me a second wind. I couldn’t help but laugh. “You sure you want a story? Didn’t big brother Ed and little brother Al wear you out today?”
        “I am tired,” she admitted, tugging me toward her room. “But I’ve been having so much fun with them! It’s nice having people to play with when you and Daddy are busy working. But… I want to spend time with you, too, Sissy!”
        That one stung. My chest tightened, guilt slipping in under my ribs. The truth was ugly: I never knew when I’d be called away, or how long I’d be gone. Sometimes Central kept me close. Other times, disaster zones or battlefields swallowed me for weeks; months.
        Nina darted to her shelf, plucking out a book with both hands, and scrambled into bed. She tucked herself beneath the covers, all grins and sleepy eyes, while Alexander lumbered up behind her, flopping down with a huff. I pulled up a chair, took the book from her, and flipped to the page she’d marked. The words blurred for a moment. I was so, so tired, but I steadied my voice and began to read.

                                                                                                                ~~~***~~~***~~~

        I closed the book and set it on the table beside her bed. After tucking Nina in a little tighter and giving Alexander a few head scratches, I slipped out, shutting the door softly behind me. The only thing left in my head was my bed, calling me like a siren’s song.
        “Nicole.”
        The voice slithered out of the darkness just as I stepped into the hall. I sighed, already moving toward my room.
        “Don’t walk away from me like you own the goddamn place!” my father barked, louder this time.
        “I’m walking away because whatever you have to say doesn’t belong in front of Nina,” I muttered, turning to face him. “And I’m not acting like I own the place. I’ve been awake for almost twenty-eight hours, and I need sleep in case I get called out again. Central’s falling apart, people are getting hurt, dying...”
        “It makes me sad that you’re always ‘too busy’ and ‘too tired’ for your family,” he cut in, voice dripping with self-pity. “This house is a mess. Your sister misses you constantly. The least you could do is be here.”
        I scoffed. “Maybe the able-bodied adult who stays home all day experimenting on animals could pick up the house. Or, wild thought: we could hire a maid. You know we can afford it.”
        “Don’t talk back to me!” His face reddened, his voice climbing. “You think you’re grown because you joined the military? Because you’re showing up your old man? You should be thanking me! If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be alive. I risked my life for you!” He leaned in, spittle flecking my cheek.
        The stench of alcohol hit me. My stomach turned, anger climbing my chest.
        “You’re the reason your mother left,” he spat. “The debt, the sickness: you drained us dry! Even with my military allowance, you nearly ruined us. And then I finally cured you, but the day she found out, she called it inhuman. She was afraid of me. She left me with you and your sister! And twelve years later, you run off instead of staying with the family who actually needs you!”
        My nails bit deep into my palms. The lump in my throat ached as I forced the words out, “Don’t twist this. I know why Mom left. I joined the military to get Nina away from you.”
        His face contorted. Then his hand was on my throat, fast and crushing. Air tore from my lungs as my fingers clawed at his arm.
        “You’ll never be rid of me,” he growled, eyes wild. “I’ll always be part of you. Part of Nina. And when Assessment Day comes, I’ll blow them all away. I’ll finally crawl out of the shadow you cast the day you betrayed me.”
        Then he released me. I staggered back, choking, and he disappeared into the dark.
        I gulped air and fled to my room, slamming the lock home. My neck throbbed as I stripped off my uniform with shaky hands. In the mirror, a dark handprint stained my throat. My nails still left faint bloody crescents in my palms.
        He’s lashed out before, but never like this. Never his hands on me. I should’ve fought back, transmuted a weapon, something. I told Ed and Al to stay calm under pressure, and when it came down to it, I froze.
        I sighed hard, forcing down the tears. I wouldn’t freeze next time. I swore it.
Closing my eyes, I collapsed onto the bed, asleep before my head met the pillow.

~~~***~~~***~~~

        The sunlight woke me before I wanted it to. A faint glow crept in through the curtains, dragging me back into the world when all I wanted was to sink deeper into the mattress. My body ached like I’d been beaten, even though the mirror last night had sworn otherwise.
        I rolled out of bed with a groan, padding barefoot across the room. My reflection met me again: smooth skin, no handprint, no crescent wounds. I had healed it all away. To anyone else, I looked perfectly fine. But I could still feel his grip, phantom pressure closing around my throat.
        The morning carried on as if nothing had happened. Nina bounced into the kitchen still in her nightgown, hair sticking out in every direction, with Alexander trotting faithfully behind her. Father was already at the table, scribbling notes between bites of toast, his face as blank as if the night before had never existed.
        I slid into the seat beside Nina, my uniform crisp, my smile practiced. "Sleep well, bug?" I asked, fixing her hair.
        She giggled, already halfway through her cereal. "Mhm! I dreamed about playing with Big Brother Ed and little brother Al again!"
        "Sounds like a good dream," I said lightly, pouring myself coffee. My voice didn’t even tremble. Years of practice made sure of that.        
        If Father remembered anything, he didn’t show it. He mumbled something about Assessment Day and kept his eyes on his papers. I kept mine on Nina, because if I didn’t, I’d risk remembering how his hand had closed around my throat just hours before. The mirror had told me I was unmarked. My healing had erased every trace. But the phantom ache remained, coiled like a brand beneath my skin.
        So I smiled, for Nina’s sake. I joked, I teased, I pretended. And no one would ever know.