"Al, come on, let's hurry, I gotta get Winry back." Ed sounded a little monotone when he said that.
"Of course brother." He watched Ed get up from his knees.
"Now we just gotta find that abandoned factory..." He looked around for a moment hoping to see one right out of the blue.
"I think we are gonna have to get out of this alleyway if you wanna find that factory..." Al made him look like an idiot.
"Right.." They both walked out of the alleyway and made their way to the center of Central. "Shit... I forgot how big Central is!" Ed yelled as loud as he could.
"Don't worry, we have until midnight to be there, it's only 11 am, we can find it by then." Al said calmly but quickly responded.
"But think of the things that they could do to her! They could hurt her or even do sexual things to her! I don't want Winry to go through that type of stuff... It's my responsibility to save or help the ones I love and care about..." Alphonse's eyes widened a little but frowned and looked at the ground.
"I know... I know how much you want to save her, I even know how much you love her... We'll get her back brother... I promise.." He turned away from Ed.
"Al... you knew that I loved her..?" He looked at him with a shocked but saddened look.
"Uh-huh... Not to seem nosey but when I came in the room you guys were... sleeping together... I know we used to do that when we were younger but.. you guys were all close together and whatnot. So I kinda figured that you guys were in love.."
"You saw that? Well I guess there's no hiding it now." Ed stood still for a moment and thought. "W-wait... I think I know where they might have her..."
"Really? Where?" Al was impressed with his brother's quick thinking.
"Near... where laboratory five used to be..." He muttered
"It can't be... We gotta get over there.."
"But, that's on the other side of the town! It could take hours to get there!" Ed just had to say that out loud.
"Only a few... Let's go." Al said certain they were to get there. The Elric's set off to the abandoned factory.
At The Factory...
The tall white man stood over the one and only, Winry Rockbell, who was tied up in chains and was against a pole. She slowly started to wake up when she noticed this man above her.
"W-where am I...? Who are you?" She slightly yelled.
"Just at a small factory, nothing that important." The man replied with a smirk on his face. He walked around Winry eyeing her for about a minute before grabbing her arms and leaning close to her neck. "Man, you are irresistible.. Your scent is just... delicious..." She tried fighting back but couldn't.
"G-get away from me!" She screamed.
"But I can't help myself..." He softly said as he gently placed his lips on her neck. He even kept them there for a few minutes. Winry's eyes just shut tightly and her body froze still.
"P-please, stop..." She begged him but it didn't work.
"Now why would I do that?" He just laughed at her as he placed his hand on her soft cheek.
"If you don't he'll kick your ass!" She yelled at him in response.
"Oh, you mean Edward...?" He chuckled at the thought of him. "As I recalled he was in the hospital, and very badly injured. I bet he can barely stand or even walk!"
"You don't know him that well then! He's the strongest guy I know and no matter what condition he's in, he would do anything to save the ones he loves and cares about!"
"Sure sweetie, we'll just see about that." With that, the man kissed her and walked away. Her body just froze and didn't move.
"Ed will... I know, he can..." Those were the last words she muttered before staying quiet for the next few hours until the man returned again. As for Ed and Al, they were getting close to being there.
"So have you got the serum ready yet?" The tall man asked his deciple.
"Of course boss, it's right here." The shorter man passed him the needle, then walked away.
"What is that?" Winry yelled in question.
"Just something that will make you calm down more.." He smirked as he got closer to her and tied a rubber band around her arm to show her veins.
"Please! Don't do this! Get away from me!" She yelled before she felt a tiny prick in her arm. Her pupils quickly reacted with the serum, they got larger and the color in her gorgeous blue eyes faded. He just laughed at her.
"Not so angry now are you? Maybe now I can get what I desire." She barely moved.
What's going on,why can't I move? Or even speak? The man slowly removed her top and shorts which reviled a bunch of bruises and cuts from her trying to fight, plus her bra and panties.
"Look at you, all bruised up..." He shook his head slowly. "Oh well, guess everyone can't get full perfection can they?" He took his hand and placed it upon her soft cheek and leaned in to kiss her. She was unresponsive with his actions. The man got closer to her, so close that they're bodies were touching each others. "Still, you're a really attractive young lady.. No wonder that one named Edward loves you so much."
Even he knew that Edward loved me? How did people find out about this... A few minutes passed until the door suddenly opened. Standing there was Edward and Alphonse. It took a minute for Ed's eyes to focus since it was so dark, then, he saw her, the one he loved, all hurt and with that vile man upon her.
"What did you do to her?" He screamed as he ran towards him.
"Take another step and I'll shoot her." The man said calmly as he placed his hand on a gun. Ed froze in his tracks.
"You wouldn't..." He said, really pissed off.
"Oh the contrary, I actually would. It would be a shame to kill such an attractive woman but if it must end like so then I will. Now what are you willing to give in return for her hmmm?" Ed stood there looking quite dapper but pretty injured as he clenched his fists. Then he heard a quiet whisper.
"E-Ed..." His eyes widened when he heard her angelic voice. Soon, Al walked by his brother's side and spoke.
"Me." He said sounding quite serious. His older brother just quickly turned to him and responded.
"Are you out of your mind Al? You just got your body back and I don't want to lose you!"
"Brother, just trust me, I know how much you love Winry, you said you would do anything to get her back right?"
"Yes but... I didn't mean anything like this!" He yelled.
"You can't choose what I do, it's my life, let me do what I want!"
"But Al!"
"But nothing!" Al yelled at his brother. Ed was in shock, he never expected to hear his brother yell at him in this type of circumstance.
"You heard your brother Ed, him for Winry."
"D-Don't do it... Please.. Leave me..." Winry muttered.
"I'm not fucking leaving you Winry! Not again! Not now... I'll find a way!" The man laughed.
"You just won't give them up will you?"
"I love them... They're my only family.. I could never live without them... But, if you selfish bastard do anything to take them away, you'll just be digging your own grave!"
"Someone has some anger issues..." After that Al walked over to Winry and the guy.
"Alphonse! You idiot!" Ed yelled.
"I'm sorry brother..." He gave a soft smile. He quickly clapped his hands together when he had the chance too and had the ground engulf him when he hit his hands on the floor. "Okay I think we're good brother." Ed nodded his head as he ran over to Winry. He got her out of the chains and held her close.
"It's alright Winry... I'm here now.. No one else is going to hurt you..." He griped her arms a little tighter, he also felt like yelling but right now wasn't the time too. Winry managed to put her arms around him, she was weak but was at least able to do that much. She's not even standing up on her own, Ed's just holding her up. "Don't worry, we'll get you back to our place then we'll get you home... I promise.." He whispered softly in her ear before taking off his jacket carefully without dropping her and putting it on her. Ed then picked Winry up and held her bridal style. Al picked up her clothes, then the three of them made they're way out of the factory and went to the apartment. Al nicely opened up the door and closed it for them once they got inside. They all went to Ed's room and he placed her on his bed. "Al, go get some disinfectant spray, bandages and a warm washcloth, with just a little soap, not to much."
"Alright brother." He nodded before walking out of the room and heading towards the bathroom. While he was in there he put her clothes that he still had in a hamper for dirty clothes. He came back a few minutes later with everything Ed asked for. "Here ya go."
"Thanks Al." Ed smiled softly as he picked up the washcloth first. He gently washed all the dirt, dry blood and bruises, Winry's skin was at least cleaner than before. As he put it down next to him Winry placed her hand on top of his but didn't look at him. He looked at her and noticed tears starting to form in her eyes. Ed then hugged her tightly and she buried her face in his shirt. "It's okay.." He told her.
"I'm sorry..." She muttered as tears slowly made their way down her cheek.
"Sorry for what...?" He asked.
"For getting caught in that mess... I only wanted to..." She continued to cry.
"Wanted to what...?" He rubbed her back slowly to help calm her down.
"I just wanted to protect you and Al..." She gripped his shirt tightly.
"Protect us...?" Ed smiled softly. "Winry... You don't have to protect us..."
"If I can't then who -is- going to protect you guys? You know I love you both very much, I don't wanna lose you two... especially you Ed.." Tears still came down her eyes which were starting to get color back. He held her close and kissed the top of her head.
"Your not gonna lose us... I'll always be by your side forever... And... As long as we have you we'll always be safe.." Winry looked up at him with small smile. Her eyes were almost their normal beautiful blue color. Ed leaned in close and kissed her soft delicate lips gently. When he started to pull away, she quickly kissed him back to hopefully make the kiss last longer, which it did. She pulled away then hugged him tightly. "So you don't have to worry about us.." She nodded slowly in agreement even though she would disagree with that. "Let's finish getting you all clean and bandaged up." Winry just nodded again, so then Ed grabbed the disinfectant spray and sprayed it on all of her cuts. She closed her eyes slightly at times since it stung at moments. Next he grabbed some bandages and put them on the most noticeable cuts. Once he finished he kissed her forehead and smiled sweetly. "All done.." He told her.
"T-Thank you..." She said quietly.
"Your welcome." He replied.
"Ed...?" She asked to break the awkward silence.
"Yeah Winry?"
"Thank you... for saving me... tell Al I said thank you also... and.. I swore if you didn't come in at that time he would have... raped me..." Winry started to cry again so Ed hugged her and she hugged him.
"Shhhh..." He took his left hand and placed one of his fingers lightly on her mouth. "I would have never let that happen... Now let's get you another pair of my clothes okay?"
"Alright.." She stood up slowly, while Ed had his right arm around her to help her stand, then they both walked over to his closet. He pulled a clean top, pants and socks for her to wear, then he handed them to her.
"Can you get dressed on your own or do you want me to help?" He nicely asked her,
"I can do it..." She replied.
"You sure...?"
"Yeah..."
"Okay then... I'll be waiting in the kitchen for you then." He carefully took his arm away from her and walked out of the room and headed towards the kitchen.
"When did he get so generous and loving..." She smiled slightly. "It's a side I've never seen from him before. Maybe he's just getting soft..." She giggled quietly at the idea as she got dressed. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Ed was fixing pancakes for everyone, he could cook them perfectly, just, they were a little bit of a challenge for him.
"Pancakes are such a bitch to make..." He glared evilly at them on the skillet. Al walked into the kitchen and noticed his brother making food. He laughed.
"Making pancakes again?" He asked in such an adorable but sarcastic voice. Ed just sighed.
"Yeah... I swear that they fucking hate me..." He said back to his younger brother as he took them off the skillet and placed three pancakes on each plate.
"But they are delicious... Which is pretty unusual since you can't even really cook." He smiled brightly and chuckled at his own comment.
"Oh shut up Al!" He yelled. Winry walked out of Ed's room and into the kitchen to notice them going at it again which she hasn't seen in ages. She smiled softly at the two of them.
"Just like good old times right?" She asked the two of them. They both looked over at her and smiled innocently. Ed kinda laughed.
"I guess so.. And I made pancakes.. You do like them right...?" He blushed a little.
"Of course I do!" She chimed as she nearly glomped him.
"That's good.." Ed smiled sweetly towards her as he placed her down in a chair that was next to his. After he walked to the refrigerator and opened it up. "What would you guys like to drink?"
"Milk!" Both Al and Winry said in perfect harmony. He just glared at them as he pulled out the milk for them and some apple juice for himself.
"You guys are trying to kill me..." He took off the cap to the milk carton and poured them each a glass.
"No, we're just trying to grow... You know, if you drank milk you wouldn't have been short most of your teenage life?" Winry said with a small smirk on her face.
"I'm not short!" He yelled. "Aren't I taller than you now?"
"Well yeah... by like... what, three inches?"
"Oh just be quiet..." He muttered as he put the cap back on to the milk and took off the cap to the apple juice. He poured himself a glass of it then put the two drinks back in the fridge. He sat down in the chair next to Winry. They all finished eating around the same time.
"That was really good Ed! Thank you."
"Your welcome Winry.." Al stood up out of his seat and yawned after they said that.
"Brother, I'm gonna head for bed.
"Alright Al. See you in the morning.." He waved to them as he went into his room, closed the door and soon fell asleep as he got into bed. Ed put his focus back onto Winry. "Ummm... I was wondering if I could take you shopping tomorrow for some new clothes since you don't have any here and its been awhile since we last went shopping together..." He asked her while blushing softly.
"Ed... you don't have to do that..." She replied back to him.
"I insist though. I don't mind at all and I have plenty of money that Al and I don't need for anything."
"Okay. We'll go then." They both smiled brightly at each other, he then remembered that the annual dance was coming up for state alchemists and soldiers.
A perfect chance for me to ask Winry on a date... And for her to wear a dress, just gotta think of a way to get her to buy one. "Come on, let's get you to bed." He said as he picked her up out of her seat. She blushed darkly and nodded. Ed carried her back to his room and placed her on the bed. "I'll be right in the living room if you need me alright?" With him saying that, she swiftly grabbed his hand.
"Can you stay here with me... Please?" He looked at her and she had the most adorable look on her face, a look that he couldn't say no to.
"Okay." He smiled sweetly as he got in bed with her and turned of the lamp that was next to him on the nightstand. Winry nuzzled against him and held onto him to make sure he didn't leave. He blushed madly as he wrapped his arms around her small yet beautiful body. "I'll be here when you wake up, I promise." With that she gave out a small little noise and fell asleep in his arms for a second time in her life. Soon enough, Ed fell asleep too with his chin on top of her head and her face gently placed against his shirt.
