(A/N) So, I finished my AU FMA fanfic, and I'm returning to this one. The first chapter in this story actually got a surprisingly positive response. Something like twenty five people have this on alert which is kind of exciting. That my story can gain such popularity with just one chapter, I mean. I'm going to try hard on this, because I'm aiming for something a little different than other EdWin fanfics. I'm trying to avoid the whole teen angst angle I've used in ninety five percent of my fanfictions... Wish me luck!
Disclaimer: If I owned Fullmetal Alchemist, Ed would have taken off his shirt in several more episodes... Roy too... together... in the same scene...
She had once again dreamt of him. The feelings these dreams gave were both warm and comforting. The thrill of being able to see him again, caused her thoughts to be solely focused on him. Soon enough, however, the cruel thing we know as reality would awaken her. The spectacular emotions would subside, being replaced with an antagonizing loneliness.
Winry sighed, squinting her eyes at the painfully bright light seeping through the window. She peered at the clock on her dresser, and groaned at the time it read.
It was merely six in the morning and she already felt awful. She tossed and turned, trying to fall back asleep, even if it would only be for an hour or so. She wanted to return to the dream world. She wanted to grasp that feeling again. Though she didn't get the chance.
The phone rang blaring loud, sending chills down her spine. She slid her sheets down to her waist and sat up, reaching for the phone.
"Hello?" She didn't bother with the cheerful, business tone this early in the morning, it was clearly a personal call.
"Winry?" the voice on the other line asked.
She whispered into the phone, "Edward..." her voice was barely audible.
There was an irritated sigh, revealing that the call was from Colonel Roy Mustang, which caused Winry's heart to sink. "I was going to ask how you're doing..." he paused, "but I suppose that answers everything."
Realizing how foolish she was being, Winry mentally kicked herself and then replied, "Why so early in the morning?"
"I wanted to know if you'd have breakfast with me this morning, before I head over to work." he stated.
"That's fine," she spoke slowly, "but why?"
"There are some things that I need to discuss with you." he said in a rather militaristic voice.
"Alright..." she agreed and they set the time and place at which to meet.
When she arrived at the cafe, Roy was already settled down at a table, glaring into a newspaper. It caused Winry to wonder, when was the last time she'd paid attention to the world around her? Sadly enough she couldn't remember.
She took a seat and the colonel folded his paper and set it down carefully as the waitress approached them.
"Have whatever you want, I'll pay for it." he said looking over his menu.
Winry accepted his gracious offer and they placed their orders. When the waitress had left Winry looked curiously at the colonel, why had they come here?
"I've told you before about my oath... that I will not to take orders I find unreasonable." Roy's serious tone was almost too much to bear.
Winry thought for a moment and nodded.
"A few years ago," he continued, "I received completely unreasonable command."
The oath he took, was after being forced to execute her parents. She understood that perfectly, yet still didn't know why he was telling her about this.
"The command was given to me.." he paused, almost hesitating to speak, "by Fullmetal."
Winry stiffened at the word 'Fullmetal'. Any mention of Edward put her on edge, and this was no exception. She remained silent, staring at the man sitting across the table.
"He told me to protect you," he shifted in his seat, "a completely ridiculous command. 'Why do I need to protect her?' I wanted to ask, but there was no time." he spoke solemnly.
"So that's why..." she whispered, only loud enough for her own ears to detect.
"At the time, I was simply an enlisted man, and Edward outranked me." He looked up into the sky, "Yet that's not the reason I obeyed him."
"It's because... you're friends..." Winry offered.
Roy laughed a bit, "Friends is stretching it, but... I did respect him." His gaze went back to Winry, "I still do."
After several moments of silence as they both longingly thought of Ed, Winry couldn't take it anymore. "So why... why are you telling me this?"
Mustang cleared his throat and adjusted himself, the Lieutenant and I, are both being transferred to Eastern headquarters... again." he mumbled the last part.
"Oh..." she said sadly. Roy and Riza were the closest things she had to friends, and now they were leaving too.
"I must fulfill my promise," Roy's expression change slightly, "but how is up to you."
"What?" she was thoroughly confused. "What are you..."
"You'll figure it out eventually," he said casually, "where's our waitress?" he muttered, annoyed.
"Roy!" Winry slammed her fist down on the table, "I demand an explanation."
Ignoring her, he asked, "I don't have time to wait for this, do want me to pay for your food before I leave?"
"I don't want your money," she stood up as did he, "I want you to tell me what you're going on about." she spoke fiercely.
"Either I find someone else to look after you," he turned and started walking away in the direction of HQ, "or we drag his ass back here so he can protect you himself."
It seemed like an eternity that she stood there, watching the figure of the colonel disappear beyond the horizon. Her eyes were fixated on him, her hair viciously blowing in the wind, but her mind was somewhere else. What Roy said, did he mean it?
He was going to help her, bring Edward back. No more dreaming, he would become a reality once again.
She scribbled down more and more things on the papers she'd been slaving over all that day. All of them had been smudged as she'd written them in a hurry between customers. Each stated the same thing, her thoughts.
The worst part about the dreams, was the fact that they weren't just a fantasy. They were dreams that could very well become reality someday, but I wasn't sure. That was the most painful thing, tainting my hoped and dreams. My doubt.
She crumpled the papers in her hand and threw them into her lit fireplace. The fire consumed the substance, the way Ed had consumed her heart. The colors flashed sparkles in her eyes, glowing with determination. She had cast away the thoughts she had written down, and would no longer hold on to them.
She was going to be with Edward, no matter what the cost, she would set things right. The things Ed had told her years before, finally made sense, and continued to feed the blazing, passionate, fire in her soul. Determination now replaced her doubt; her hope had been renewed.
(A/N) Wow, that was different. At least I haven't doomed this fanfiction to a three chapter fate as I have done to many, many stories. Anyway, did you like it? I got a nice number of reviews from the first chapter and I'm hoping to get an equal amount for the second. Every review counts! I'm thinking I know the direction this story will head in, but as usual, I'm not sure. Guess I'll just have to wing it huh?