NOIR: Riza and Winry
Noir. The name which is derived from ancient past. Two maidens who reign over death. Black hands over green fields… Please, protect our peace.
A/N: Hello again. There are so many Royai fics on my account and there is hardly any EdWin in them. So this fic is mainly EdWin, with great support of Royai.
A few words of introduction. Have you watched anime "Noir"? If not, don't worry. It's not required by any means to understand the plot of the fic (though the anime is great and I suggest you watch it anyway). So for those who don't know, "Noir" is about two assassins, Mireille and Kirika. They team up and start working as Noir, killing for money, fighting with mysterious organization Les Soldats and finding out about Kirika's lost memories and her past.
My friend has always said that she loved Riza and Winry together. This gave me the idea for this fanfic. The chapters are going to be named after the episodes of "Noir". Don't worry, the plot is going to be different. We're dealing with a different anime and different world in here, after all.
I'll try my best to write this fic. So please tell me if you like the idea or not.
Update: Reviewed and updated with slightly better grammar and spelling. No major changes to the content.
Chapter One: The Maidens with Black Hands
"Hey, Winry! We've come to visit you!"
"I can't believe my own eyes! You never drop in… Unless…" she shot him a menacing glare, but Ed didn't give in to it.
"No, I have not broken my automail and I do mean no," he replied, somewhat offended. "We were just passing by on our way to Central and we thought we could visit you."
Winry didn't know how to react. Eventually she decided to smile, but there were some suspicions hidden underneath that lovely face. If there was absolutely no business for the brothers to come to Resembool…well, that would be the first time to be so.
"You don't believe me?"
"No. But I guess it doesn't matter for the time being. I'm glad you're home," she flashed him a sweet smile.
Ed frowned a bit, being suspicious of that reaction. But he gave no comment. He just lowered his gaze to the ground for a moment, but soon he shook his head slightly and gave his friend a half-smile.
"I hope there's something really tasty for dinner!"
The dinner passed in a kind of awkward atmosphere. Winry regarded the boys with suspicion and wanted to know why they had suddenly came by. The Elrics were talking with her and her granny as if nothing was out of the ordinary, but Winry could tell there was something else going through their minds. She just didn't know what that was yet; needless to say, that didn't mean she wouldn't.
Her grandma asked her to wash the dishes, so she stayed in the kitchen, while the brothers went to their temporary room.
"What the hell is wrong?" Winry murmured under her breath, a washing cloth in her hand. "I swear it's not normal: the fact that they actually dropped in, their behavior… I know them, I can immediately tell when something's wrong…"
She finished with the dishes and went to the Elrics' room. She was just about to enter when she heard their agitated voices. She stopped right behind the door and simply began eavesdropping.
"That's why I want you to stay here," she heard Ed's concerned voice.
"I'm going with you, nii-san. We've always been together in this mess, remember?"
"They only want State Alchemists. I can't put your life to danger."
"So you want me to stay in Resembool and wait for any piece of information about you? I can't do that! Just look at Winry; now I really know why she is so upset when we don't call her on a regular basis."
This was getting more and more interesting. But still… what the hell were they talking about?
"Just think what she would feel like if you just suddenly went and died somewhere in Central."
Now she got scared for real. What was going on? She knew they'd probably never tell her anything, but damn, if it was their lives that was at stake…
"I know why you came here. You wanted to say goodbye."
"No, I didn't!" Eds strong voice echoed in the room. "I won't die! I can't die before we fulfill our promise! But… just in case…"
There was short silence before he continued: "If I were to die, I just wanted to visit this place once more. This is where we grew up. I wanted to see the landscapes, to talk to granny… And Winry… I wanted to see her one last time."
"You're talking bullshit," said Al firmly. "I've known you all my life and you have never been keen on losing. Why would be now? You mentioned that neither of us can die yet. So why would you think this would happen now? Only the weak give up, and I'd never thought I'd see you becoming weak. When have you changed so much? It's not like you to surrender."
"I'm not going to surrender!" Ed sounded pissed off. "And I'm not weak. But you know for yourself what the situation is. It's the Homunculi we're dealing with here! And we're alchemists, but still, our alchemy could not be sufficient to defeat them. And if we don't defeat them, it means that sooner or later they'll do it to us."
"So that's why you're planning on dying."
"You're stupid, Al. I'm not planning to die and I don't want to! I just take such a possibility into consideration, that's all. Is it wrong to be realistic?"
"Of course not. But you sound as if you were already prepared to die."
"I'm not, and believe me, I don't want to die. I just need to consider all the scenarios. Besides, we don't know much about what's going on. We can be ambushed any time now."
Outside the door Winry was frozen. She was slightly shaking with fear. It sounded pretty serious… Sure as hell the brothers would never ever tell her anything. However, she needed information.
Whom should she turn to then?
The next three days were quite tense. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, while they were completely distraught on the inside. Winry, now that she knew the boys had a secret, was in the process of devising a plan. When she heard their conversation, she was just terrified and anxious. On the following day, however, her mind was clear. She knew who could help her, who could possess some info on the matter and, most of all, who would consider her 'worthy enough' of sharing it with. And when she thought of this particular someone, an idea hit her mind. This someone… could tell her even more. Could teach her what she needed to learn.
She thought it over in the evening. She sat in her room alone. Her only company was the photograph of her parents, facing her directly. She gazed at it and sighed.
"I don't know if I'm doing the right thing," she whispered, hugging her knees. It wasn't that the decision was an easy one. "But I need to so something for them. I can't bear sitting here idly while they are in danger. It could be the last time I'll ever see them. I can't let that happen. Hope you understand."
She looked outside the window. The stars twinkled at her, as if trying to cheer her up. She managed a weak smile. Then she remembered the time she encountered Scar. She remembered what it felt like to point a gun at that man, who killed her parents. She remembered what Ed told her at that time…
"No," she shook her own doubts away. "This is to protect them. It can't be wrong, now can it? Is it wrong to stand up for those you love?"
She still had second thoughts, but she knew she had to make it through. It could prove worthy at the end…or at least she would be able to actually act for the first time in her life instead of waiting for the information on the Elric brothers. Her eyes shone with determination. The decision had been made.
That's why when the brothers were to leave a few days later, Winry suddenly announced:
"I'm going with you."
"What?" Ed was baffled. "Why?"
"I need to buy some automail parts," she lied with a sweet smile. "And since you two are going to Central, I'll go along with you."
Ed eyed her suspiciously. He looked as if he was about to oppose, but unexpectedly he shrugged and stated: "Guess it's ok."
"Great! I'm already almost packed, so I just need to go upstairs and make last preparations. Don't you dare go without me," she threatened.
"Why would you think we'd do that? Geez…"
Winry entered her room. She had indeed packed all the things she needed: clothes, a toothbrush, some of her automail work… She caught a stray glance of the photograph standing on her desk. Her hand stroked it gently as she picked up her bag.
"I'm sorry, mum, dad," she whispered. "But from now on, I'm starting a new life."
She took her automail case in the other hand and without looking back, she exited her room.
"She came with you? What the hell for?"
"How could I know? She said she needed to buy some automail parts in Central. I couldn't refuse. What could I have said to her to make her stay anyway? She's too stubborn."
"I'm sure you could've thought of something," Mustang eyed him angrily. "You wanted her to come. Its kind of understandable, but I'm sure you also know that she might be in danger if she stays in here for too long! She's your relative, isn't she?"
"She's a friend."
"A close one, right?"
"Pretty much," Ed had an ever so slight blush on his cheeks.
"That's why they could target her as well. You know how dangerous it is in here now, don't you? You realize that your bringing her with you to Central causes hazard to her life?"
"I haven't done anything wrong!" yelled Ed, now really pissed off. "What do you all want from me? First Al, now you! Get the hell off my case! I know you're scared of them getting your people, but don't take your anxiety out on me!"
Roy rubbed his eyes. He looked exhausted. "You realize it's quite serious, don't you?"
"I do. But if I were to die, Al would be devastated," added Ed, lifting his head. "That's why I need to make it through. And though I don't like it, I suggest you do the same."
The Flame Alchemist smirked, which was rare those days. "Cocky as ever, aren't you?"
"Same goes for you, you walking petard."
Knock, knock.
Riza brought her head up as she finished pouring water to Black Hayate's bowl.
"Oh, it must be Winry," she smiled and stood up to let the guest in. Earlier that day Winry had come to her and asked her if she could visit her in the evening. Riza didn't know what the girl was up to, but something was certainly wrong, though Winry didn't want to admit it. She immediately agreed to meet her. Maybe she could be of some help.
"Hello, miss Riza," Winry smiled at her, but there was a hint of insincerity in her face. The same one that made Riza worried a few hours earlier.
"Hello. Come in."
As tea is the best liquid uniting women all over the world, soon they sat down, each with her own mug of tasty green tea.
Winry stared at her mug for a little while, then she gazed up at the lieutenant. "I'll get right down to business, miss Riza. I've overheard a conversation between Ed and Al. I know something is going on, involving the State Alchemists."
"Oh," Riza sighed heavily. "So you've found out about that stuff…"
"Please tell me what's going on."
"And if I do, what will you do with the information?"
"I'll rethink my decision…because there is one more favor I have to ask of you, miss Riza."
"Which is?"
"Please, first tell me everything you know."
Riza hesitated for a moment, then warned her: "All the information is confidential. This must not leave this room."
"I understand," she nodded seriously.
Riza paused once more, then marked: "I'm only telling you this because you could get involved as well. Also, I know you're worried about Ed and Al. But if I could, I'd rather save you from hearing it."
"Is it so terrible?"
"Well, we don't know much. Actually, the main reason it's so dangerous is that we know the Homunculi are up to something, but we have little clue what that could be. Last week the colonel managed to intercept a letter concerning the plan. He read it alone though; I have no idea what that was about. He seemed disappointed that it was a very unclear message, but still it was some clue. But he only said that something serious was in the air and that was all he shared with us," she sighed again. "I know he's hiding something from us, I can tell that. But when I rubbed it into his face he just shook me off."
"So what exactly do you know?"
"We know that the Homunculi are involved. We know that all State Alchemists are in danger. We've also discovered that there is a large group of people formed into and organization called 'Les Soldats', but we still have no idea what they are for. And it's only our observation, but the colonel seems really distracted. He's worried to no limits, but he won't tell us anything!" she looked angry. "He knows we'll always be there for him, that we'll always help him, still he hides the truth from us. How can we help him if we don't know what to do?"
"But if he's so worried, it means that the problem is really serious…"
"Exactly. I'm sure he'll need help, but he wants to handle everything himself."
"Ed and Al also didn't seem well off…" Winry dropped her gaze. "But I didn't even ask, they would hide it from me anyway…"
"They all are distraught. That's because they don't know much except for the fact that we all could be unexpectedly attacked any minute. This makes them nervous, it's understandable."
Winry dwelled on the thought for a moment. Then she looked up at the woman. "If this is the case, then I guess it can't be helped. Thank you for telling me all this. Now… could you do one more thing for me?"
"What is it?"
"Please teach me how to use a gun. Make me your apprentice."
These words lingered in silence for a while. Finally Riza repeated:
"How to use a gun?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because… because I need to protect them. To protect Ed and Al. I can't lose them…"
"You have no idea what it is like," said Riza seriously.
"I know it's tough to shoot at somebody. I've experienced that firsthand. But for the sake of Ed and Al, I'll do anything. I've always been left behind, miss Riza. It has been unbearable. Now, when I heard that they could die within a blink of an eye, I got really scared. I didn't know whom to ask for advice, and then… then I thought of you. You are my only hope, miss Riza. I'm not an alchemist, so I can't do much, but… but you… You told me that there is one person you needed to protect. That is the reason you joined the army, right?"
"Right," she conceded quietly. She could clearly understand the girl's feelings. But this was no reason to get her involved into the world she'd been entwined with for so many years herself: the world of killing.
"You're not an alchemist yourself, but there still much you can do for the colonel. Why can't I become Ed and Al's guardian, just like you are the colonel's?"
"It's not that simple, you know," she shook her head. "I've done terrible things, I've seen hell, I've killed a great many people. Are you prepared for this?"
Winry clenched her fists under the table. "I am," she said firmly. "I know your hands are covered with blood. But I'm not afraid to become the same if it's for the sake of my friends."
"You don't know what you are talking about."
"Maybe I don't. But I know that I want to protect them. To so something for them. To finally become useful. Ed said that killing other people doesn't suit me," she recalled, wincing at the memory, "but I just… I just don't see any other way to protect them. And I think that if what Ed said is right, if my hands are really there for saving others, then I think that it is important to be able to protect the ones close to you. Of course, not only them, but you have to start somewhere. I can't do anything for anyone the way I am; I can only sit and wait. I want to be able to help," she finished fiercely.
Riza looked at her and suddenly she saw the same determined face she once gazed at in the mirror. That girl was so much like her…
"I don't know if you can handle a gun," she resorted to quite a stupid reason.
"I'm a mechanic," Winry reminded her with a small smile. She saw through her intentions right away. "I think I can grasp the idea quite quickly."
They gazed into each other's eyes. Finally Riza said:
"Ok, I'll help you. But remember that you can always quit."
"I won't. I promise you that."
"I still don't like the idea."
"Thank you anyway, miss Riza."
When they parted, Riza leaned against the doorframe, watching the girl disappear behind the corner of the corridor.
"She's just a kid, she doesn't even understand what she's letting herself into…" she thought. "She's going to be just like me…" She recalled her feelings during the Ishbal war. But she was unable to talk Winry out of this. The girl was too determined. Riza knew that kind of determination. Only a woman fearing for her beloved ones possessed such strength. She also realized that the girl was going to give her everything to reach her goal. It's just a pity that the path she was about to take was a tough and dark one.
Winry was sitting in her room, fiddling with an automail. She wasn't going to neglect her work. She intended to send her granny the repaired automails by post and get the messed ones the same way. She took a small oil container. But since her thoughts were wandering on something completely different, she suddenly spilled the liquid all over her workplace.
"Shit!"
She swiftly grabbed a cloth and started cleaning the mess. Fortunately there wasn't much oil to get poured out.
Winry looked at her hands black from the oil.
"It's so easy to get your hands dirty…" she whispered. From now on, her hands would be 'dirty' in some other sense. The comparison hit her with full strength. But she wasn't going to hold back, right?
She suddenly wondered if getting her hands stained with human blood was one day going to become as easy as getting them dirty with an automail oil…
"We'll both have our hands covered with blood. But with those hands we can protect the wellbeing of those important to us. That's what really matters."
Winry clenched her fists. She couldn't wait to begin her training.
A/N: The first chapter completed. How did you like it?
The next chapter: "Our Daily Bread."
