Word Count: 2486
WARNING: Incest, Yaoi. Almei, Elricest, onesided Edwin.
A/N: I am not Winry bashing! I love Winry! I love EdWin too! I'm just looking into her thoughts.
"Fullmetal. Fullmetal. Wake up. Fullmetaaalll."
I felt something poking my side, and opened my eyes groggily to look at an incredibly amused Roy Mustang.
"Jush fahve more minuesh..." I close my eyes again, only to hear a musical laugh from behind me.
"Oh Colonel, is niisan sleeping again? I can't imagine why he'd be so tired though." Al chirps happily, waving to the Colonel.
I shoot up in my seat at the sound of his voice. "Wha I wash awake the whole time.." I hear Mustang and Al's laughter in the background, but I can't even keep my eyes open I'm so sleepy. I lie back down on my desk in a small haze, until I feel a soft tug on my jacket, and a sweet voice in my ear.
"Hey niisan, I'm taking my alchemy test today, remember? Are you gonna come?"
My eyes shoot open at this, and now I'm fully awake. Kinda.
I give him a big smile and a thumbs up. "Of course I am Al!"
He gives me another smile. "Okay let's go! Oh yeah, Mei's taking her test too. She's going first though. Come on, let's go watch her!" He grabs my wrist and pulls me from my seat, dragging me towards the testing grounds.
When we finally arrive, Mei has already been introduced and is about to begin. I cringe as Al waves to her, passing it off as a chill when he questions my strange behavior.
He offers me his coat. What a guy.
A trumpet announces the start of Mei's exam. I zone out, because it's nothing I haven't really seen before. Or felt before. She may be small, but that girl is pretty damn powerful.
A few minutes pass, and I finally snap out of my short nap at the sound of resounding applause. She passed with flying colors, no doubt about it. Even though she is only a temporary state alchemist, she is still required to take the test.
Al shakes my shoulder and tells me it's his turn. I give him a quick pat on the back and send him out onto the field.
I watch as he skips out there and asks Colonel Mustang for something. I still have no idea what he is going to do because he said he wanted it to be a surprise. I don't have any doubts about him passing though. Al is just as skilled of an alchemist as I am. No one really knows that though, because no one ever talks about Al. Only me. Me, me, me. What's so great about me? They offered Al immediate entrance to the military without the need to take the test, but Al declined, saying he needs to be tested like everyone else.
A trumpet announces the start of Al's exam. We make eye contact, and I give him a thumbs up.
He looks at the crowd, gives a half-assed smile, and turns around and starts walking towards the empty suits of armor laying on the ground. I twitch slightly. Those suits are identical to the ones Al was trapped inside for 5 years.
He claps his hand and places them on one of the suits of armor.
Nothing happens.
I stare at Al, who has turned around with a smug smile on his face. All of the sudden, the crowd is gasping and excited murmurs reach my ears at the sight of the suit of armor standing up, clapping it's hands, and placing it upon another suit of armor which stand up after a moment's hesitation. The process repeats, until all of the suits of armor are standing. There had to be at least 50 up there. Al then closes his eyes, and claps his hands on the ground. I watch in awe as the suits of armor start to attack one another. After a few minutes of this amazing display, Al claps his hand once again and the suits all fall dormant again. Al then gestures for someone to come over. A nervous looking soldier walks over and Al smiles and says something that we can't hear, seeing we are at least 40 feet away. He visibly relaxes, and once again Al claps his hands and places them on his chest.
The soldier jerks, and Al's face pales. He quickly regains his composure though, and he slowly backs away from the frozen soldier. All of the sudden, the shoulder jerks, moving backwards with Al.
No fuckin' way.
He's controlling him! He's fucking controlling him!
Al moves hand up, and the soldier follows suit. Al claps his hands and places them on the ground and forms a statue. The soldier does the same. Even though he doesn't practice alchemy, Al's skill is passed through him to the soldier.
Even my jaw drops at this. The crowd goes WILD. I can hear Mei's excited cheering from beside me, and I can't help but join in.
Al places his hands on the soldier's chest again, and the soldier immediately straightens up, then relaxes and exits. Al bows after, then exits the field.
I push past the mob of cheering people, slamming one cheering onlooker into another. After what seems like 15 minutes I break out of the mass of fans and make my way over towards Al. He's currently walking over towards the building, but he's weaving a little bit. Is he ok?
And then he collapses.
I can feel myself running faster now, using every ounce of my strength to get to Al who is currently laying in a heap on the ground.
When I finally reach him, he's barely awake, eyelids fluttering. Honestly, I'm surprised no one else came to him first.
He gives me a weak smile after acknowledging my presence . I pick his torso up and cradle him, looking into his sleepy grey eyes. He looks at me and says,
"I get really weak after I do soul alchemy."
And then he blacked out.
4 weeks have passed since Al's exam. He passed with flying colors, obviously, but he had to stay at home resting for a he gets so tired after his powerful alchemy, the military assigned him a partner.
Fuckin' Mei.
I was pissed. Why the hell was I not Al's partner? No one is going to take better care of him than me. But because of the Fuhrer's plan to reunite Xing and Amestris, I get stuck with sparkles over here.
At least I still see him at home.
I've been slightly excited at the fact that Al and Mei don't go out as much anymore. When they get home from work, they usually part ways till dinner.
But on that note, I don't spend as much time with Al either.
Tomorrow I'm going to go visit Winry, and Mei is going to be returning to Xng for a week. Al has a playdate with Elycia all week, bless his soul. I'm not sure if I'm excited or not. I know she has a crush on me, and this weekend I've decided to let her down easy.
Better late than never, right?
I'm standing at the train station, listening to Al blab on and on about what he wants me to tell Winry. I give him a look, and he quiets down. I asked him if he wanted to come with me, but I think he thinks that I like Winry, so he told me that I should go alone and have some "special time" with Winry.
Ew.
the train whistle blows, signaling my time to leave. I give Al a wave and tell him 'bye before I start to walk away. I'm almost on the train when I hear Al calling me.
"Niisan! Wait!"
i whirl around to come face to face with Al, who has appeared right behind me. He wraps his arms around me in a hug, and I stiffen slightly. He places his head in the crook of my neck and I can feel him smile against it.
"Love you niisan. Come home safe, ok?"
I can't help but feel a little bittersweet after I'm on the train, which is chugging its way out of Central Station.
Sure Al just told me he loves me, but he told me to come home safe. Safe? Shouldn't it have been soon? Does he not want me to return soon? Doe she expect me to stay there and marry Winry or something?
Shit. Angst really IS my shtick.
**Winry POV**
A knock on the door disrupts me from my work.I stand up and look in the mirror on my way downstairs to open the door.
I admire myself, and adjust my top so my chest looks slightly larger. I silently place my wrench in my back pocket, just in case.
I adjust a few more things on my outfit, and the knocking grows louder, more impatient. I check myself one more time, and happy with my appearance I open the door.
"Hey Win, long time no see."
Ed.
He's leaning against the railing in his classic outfit which consists of tight black jeans that leave little to imagine, red and black elevator shoes (though he doesn't need them anymore), a tight black tank top exposing his muscles and shiny automail, and a red jacket clutched in his hand.
I almost step out to hug him, when my mind finally starts again.
"Edward! What did you do to your automail now? I swear if it's broken..." I raise my wrench menacingly.
He gives a sharp laugh and smiles. "Nah, I just came by to visit."
I smile at this notion. He came to visit me! Me! Winry! For no reason!
Then i start thinking, where's Al? Ed hates to go anywhere without Al.
"Hey Ed..? Where's Al?"
He frowns slightly and looks at me, golden eyes boring directly into mine. "He stayed in Central. Dunno why, something about me needing some time."
I give a weak smile. While it's nice Ed's here, I can't help but shake the feeling that Ed only came because Al asked him to.
I put on a good face and invite him inside. He happily obliges and flops down on the couch.
I raise my eyebrow at this and chuckle under my breath. "Make yourself at home." I murmur sarcastically.
He grins, and then sits up. "Whatcha wanna do today Win?
i've got a few days, we can do whatever you like."
I look at him like he turned into an octopus or something. Ed wants my opinion on what WE should do together? I may have to thank Al later, because I don't know what he said to Ed, but whatever it is I'm liking the new Edward.
"Ummmh..." I pause, than my face lights up as I realize what we should do, " Let's go swimming!"
He stand up and gives me a thumbs up. "Alright! As long as I don't have to swim." He then leaves and wanders down the hall to go get changed.
I give myself a mental high-five for thinking of this as an idea. It's kind of a win-win for me. I get to see Ed shirtless, and he get's to see me in my new bikini. Plus, I'm a great swimmer and he sucks, so maybe I can save him. Who knows, he may even need mouth-to-mouth. I chuckle to myself and wander upstairs to get changed.
When I finally get back downstairs, I see Ed laying out on the couch in blue shorts and his black tank on him. I'm wearing my new deep purple bikini under my traditional jumpsuit.
He gives me a goofy smile when he sees me. "Geez Win, dontcha own normal clothes?" I give him a sharp glare, all in good jest though. He lets out a laugh and heads out the door, hollering for me to follow.
We make pleasant conversation on our to the lake, and when we finally arrive, he lets out a long sigh and throws our stuff on the ground. "Come on Win, let's go!" He rips his shirt off, revealing his tanned and toned chest and gleefully skips towards the water.
"I thought you weren't swimming!" I call, slipping out of my jumpsuit. He doesn't even turn around to reply. "Yeah, well, I changed my mind!"
I run over and kick some water at him and he turns around, with a playful smile on his face and stops short.
"Something wrong Ed?" He points to my swimsuit. "That's a bit... er.. revealing, dontcha think Winry?"
I give him a twirl. "What? I think I look pretty cute." Ed tenses up for a second, then looks down. It is silent for a second, the only sound I hear is the waves crashing onto the shore.
"I-I-I'm sorry Win. I can't do this anymore." He chokes out. He looks up at me with a pained expression. "I'm sorry, but I'm in love with someone else."
I can't necessarily say I was expecting this. I stood there with a shocked expression dancing across my features.
Ed drops his head. "I'm so sorry Win.." He sighs. "I really wish it coulda been you but.. I don't know. You don't choose who you love. And I love you win. I really, really do. Just not like that. You're like a sister to me, and I really want you to be happy."
My hands balled into fists, and I glare at Ed. "How long?"
He raises an eyebrow in confusion. "Eh?"
"How long have you been in love with this girl?" He looks away. So he doesn't even have the courtesy to look me in the eyes?
"A-a-a long time." His gaze rests on the water which laps at our calves. "I should go Win. Really. I'm so sorry..."
I just watch as he attempts to run out of the water. The drag of the current trips him and he falls flat on his face in the water.
I laugh.
He turns around and looks at me. "Why are you laughing?"
I sniff and wipe my eyes, my laughter brought tears to my cerulean eyes. "It's a hell of a lot better than crying. Besides, serves you right for leading me on for, oh, I don't know, 10 years?" He gapes at me. I roll my eyes, and put on a brave face. "Get out of here Ed. Just go. I don't wanna see you anymore. Next time, just send Al."
I turn around and wade out into the water till it's up to my chest. I sigh and slip under the water, hoping that when I come up for air, Ed is out of sight, and the water will mask my tears.
(A/N: LOL OOC SORREEEH. Here's something I need to ask you guys. Do you want an Ed angst ending, a happy ending, or a confusing happy/angsty plot-y ending?)
