This idea has been with me for a while now. I'm glad I finally get to write it down. Here's ficlet #1. Enjoy.

Anime Verse: Takes place between episodes 25-26 When the brother's are bringing Winry to Rush Valley.

Disclaimer:If I owned these characters I wouldn't have to keep repeating myself over and over...

Golden Blue

It wasn't a particularly sunny day, nor was it cloudy. Somewhere along the line Winry decided that the weather wasn't going to make up it's mind. The inside of the train felt stuffy but if she put her hand to the window glass it felt like the inside of an icebox. She was sitting smack dab next to the window, located between it and Al, who also felt a bit cool to the touch.

In the end she felt it was best to keep her jacket on, but roll the sleeves up a little. She froze in the act however when she felt a prickling sensation that made her shiver. Winry turned to see no other than the Fullmetal Alchemist, staring her in the face, and intently at that.

"Something wrong?" she asked, unnerved. His gaze was a lot more scrutinizing than usual. "Ed?"

No response from the alchemist, he didn't even bat an eyelash.

Okay…this was new. "Edward, stop it," She glared back. "You're freaking me out." Winry turned away.

"Cut it out, Brother," Al said in her defense

"Okay, okay. You're no fun." Edward said. "By the way I win this one."

Winry raised an eyebrow at him. Win this one? "Don't tell me that was your idea of a staring contest?" she said tugging at her sleeves successfully now that she wasn't so distracted. "What're you six years old?"

Ed's amused expression became a mingle of annoyance and hurt. "Hey! I had to do something to keep me from going crazy. I'm bored out of my mind!"

"Well whose fault is that?"

She had been sitting across from her the whole train ride and it hadn't occurred to him, that maybe they could have some sort of conversation?

"What do you mean?" Ed's look was pure confusion.

Obviously not. Winry sighed. "Al and I are here too Ed. You know a little conversation never hurt anyone."

"She's right, Ed. You should do your best to talk about something other than alchemy once in a while. You know, like in a social situation."

"Uh okay…so…" Ed trailed off and even the space around him went blank.

A few more seconds passed and he opened his mouth again. "What's the deal with those new radios you can barely get any reception."

Winry side glanced at Al who despite being a suit of armor looked very disappointed in his brother. She sighed. "I think I'll take you up on that staring contest."

"But I thought you wanted to have a serious conversation…" he looked so adorably perplexed that Winry felt her heart beat faster.

"No it's alright. Talking's not much fun anyway."

And so Winry ended up gazing directly into the gold yellow eyes of her childhood friend. Despite the fact that her eyes were getting watery from the "no blinking rule" Ed had made up, she felt like she could stay this way forever. Ed's eye color had always interested her. It wasn't purely yellow, nor was it brown, nor hazel. The closest shade was gold and even then it wasn't completely right.

Even more alluring was the image of her own eyes reflected in his coloring his eyes a different shade. A shade so unique it needed a name.

"Golden blue."

"Huh?"

"It's not exactly green is it?"

Ed blinked. "Uh?"

"Winry wins." Al said, as referee.

"Winry? What are you doing?" Ed was saying.

The mentioned mechanic blushed realizing she was still staring into her friends eyes like she was entranced.

"Nothing," she said turning her gaze to the floor.

"Anyway that wasn't fair," Ed said. "You said some weird stuff and it caught me off guard. Another round. No cheating."

"Sure."

Al raised his left gauntlet. "Whoever goes the longest without laughing, smiling or blinking wins. Looking away is an immediate loss. Okay go."

Winry leaned forward staring intently and yet trying not to let on how much she was enjoying the game. She tried not to blush Ed was close, his nose was about two inches away from her. Even still the only thing that touched her was his gaze.

She tried not to blink as she focused on the contest. As much as she wished otherwise she knew that for now this was the closest she'd ever get to Edward. Even so, she smiled it was a huge improvement than what she was used to.

OoOoOoOo

It was one minute in and already her lips had formed a little smile. Man, she wasn't so good at this staring contest thing. In fact the reason she had won earlier was because she'd cheated by saying all that weird stuff.

"Brother wins." Al said unimpressed by his friends staring skills. "Oh look we're passing over the Frisan river." He turned in his seat, his attention on the outside world

Ed grinned. Then he noticed Winry who was clearing spacing out again. Which was very unlike her. "Hey Win? Winry?"

He waved a flesh hand in front of her face trying to snap her out it. "Hello anyone home?" That was the second time she went all weird on him. Maybe she hadn't gotten enough sleep the night before. They had spent most of the night looking for Al after all.

He leaned in close to her almost touching her nose with his. She was also pink in the face now. "Are you blushing?"

She blinked. "I'm fine." Before he could see he reach for her pocket the cold pain against his head knocked him backwards. "What do you think you're doing? What's the deal with getting so close anyway!"

Ed growled as he rubbed his head. "You didn't have to react so violently! Why were you spacing out anyway?"

This only made her blush more.

"You guys are missing an amazing view," Al interrupted before she could answer.

Ed stared out the window at the crystal blue water below. "Friscan river huh? I've read about it, it's supposed to be the longest river in this part of the country."

"It's also only a few miles from Rush Valley!" Winry squealed back to her old self. "Oh I can't wait till we get there!"

Ed smiled at her quirky enthusiasm. "I don't doubt that. Just be careful you don't fall out the window."

"I'm too tall. I think you're the one that has to worry about that, Ed." Winry teased.

He crossed his arms. "I just hope we get there soon. I'm so bored. You suck at staring contests, Win."

She turned from the window. "Well sorry, if I've been too busy doing more important things to practice my staring skills. And if I'm so boring why don't you try making more alchemy geek friends to talk to."

Ed shook his head and chuckled. He loved teasing her as much as she teased him. It was a habit he'd had since he was seven years old. "Don't tell me you're offended?"

Winry blinked. And then crossed her arms over her chest as if to say, Why wouldn't I be?

He sat back at his seat and stared up at the ceiling wondering why he always managed to say things that got her mad, and how some secret part of him always was looking forward to arguing with her.

"You are not boring Winry and I didn't say you were. I'm always bored when I'm just sitting around, especially on an incessant train ride such as this even if the company is pleasant. And I don't need any other friends."

He froze when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "You know," Winry said. "I'm really happy you brought me along."

Ed blinked. Okay that was out of the blue.

Before he had a coherent thought crossed his mind Al exclaimed. "We're here look!"

Winry jumped up and down. "Whoo! Oh it looks even more amazing than I thought it would be. Look at all those automail stores!"

Ed sighed putting his hands in his pockets. Good thing he had taken a nap earlier he was going to need all his energy if he and Al were going to try to keep Winry from dragging them all over the place. Not that he could avoid that.

He caught the look Winry gave him from her spot near the window. He stared back for a few moments then asked. "What?"

"Nothing." She smiled. "By the way I win this one."

Ed raised an eyebrow at her then conceded. "Okay you got me."

His lips broke into a little smile at the triumphant look on Winry's face. "Geez, you have to be good at everything don't you?"

He said getting up to retrieve his luggage from the overhead compartment all the while trying to hide the blush that had crept on his face for no apparent reason. Okay so maybe he maybe she was cute and he didn't mind her staring so intently at him. Maybe he just wanted an excuse to get close to her without getting close. But Winry didn't need to know that.

A/N: It's a lot of fun to write Alphonse, but I had to remind myself the focus was on the pairing...well hopefully I did it justice. On to project #2!