Title: Best of Both Worlds
Artist/Author: S J Smith
Rating: K+
Warnings: N/A, but supposes a happy ending to the manga for many characters.
Word Count: 565
Summary/Teaser: Surely, Ling knows this is a bad idea.
A/N: Thanks to D. M. Evans for the readthrough. Written for the live journal community: fmagiftexchange with the prompt of "Ling".
Disclaimer: All hale Arakawa!
They were arguing.
Again.
Yao Ling had been trained by the best to show no fear in situations like these, in fact, in far more dangerous and treacherous territories. He'd faced creatures his people would consider demons of legend with a sneer and a smile and once shared his body with a monster. He'd faced his elder brothers and sisters, helped wage a war against a battalion of Amestrian soldiers and it was only because of this he could remain standing in this room, arms crossed, a faint smile on his face.
The compatriot to Ling's left, Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, obviously had not had such strict training. His own expression was a peculiar blend of horror and fury, and Ling could hear the noises indicating that Ed was flexing his automail hand into a fist and loosening it, only to tighten it up again.
"Ran Fan will win." Ling stated it confidently. His servant was, after all, the bravest, strongest woman he knew.
On his other side, Alphonse Elric, his soul only recently returned to his body from being trapped inside a suit of armor for many years, shook his head. "You don't know Winry."
"I know she would make a fine bride." Ling shared a secret, sidelong smirk with Alphonse.
Edward, predictably, bristled at the comment. "Leave marriage out of it." He made another fist, this time brandishing his metal arm at Ling then seemed to realize what he was doing. A hint of pride colored his voice. "Winry's stubborn. And she makes amazing automail."
"…whoever made that piece of crap for you was all wrong!" Winry shouted at Ran Fan, using a wrench to indicate Ran Fan's arm. "That arm is too heavy for your build. You can't tell me by the end of the day, you aren't exhausted!"
"And Ran Fan's smart enough to know Winry's right," Alphonse pointed out.
Ling tightened his mouth imperceptibly. Both Edward and Alphonse were correct. Winry's automail was not only superior to Ran Fan's prosthetic limb, the mechanic would not back down from this kind of argument. And Ran Fan would want the best, if for no other reason than she took her duties seriously. Not to mention, a substandard limb would swiftly become useless. Of course, therein lay another problem.
Ling considered. Perhaps not so much a problem as an opportunity. Ran Fan would choose to allow Winry to build her new automail. Ling would 'suggest' that, as Ran Fan would need regular maintenance and crossing the desert each time would be a hardship – for him, as his most trusted advisor (…guardian… lover) would be far too distant from him – Winry should come to Xing and train his people how to build automail. And, of course, that would mean Edward would come with her, because Edward was too jealous (the alchemist would probably say 'protective' if asked and Ling and Alphonse would laugh. Long. And hard) to let her go to Xing by herself. And because Edward and Winry were going, Alphonse would come along, too, which would keep Mei distracted enough that she might not try for the throne.
It really was the very best solution to the current situation. Fortunately, Ling was sure his diplomacy skills were up to the challenge.
And if not, he'd just steal Winry away and leave a note for Edward – and the brothers would follow anyway.