iv. rivalry
It took him a while, but eventually Alphonse gave up.
"Brother, I don't care what you say, I'm going to marry Winry! She's always liked me better, I'm never mean to her!"
Edward Elric resisted the urge to club his little brother across the head, and ground his teeth together.
"Whatever Al, we'll let Winry decide! And when she picks me, you'd better get ready to lick your wounds!"
Alphonse launched himself upon Edward, and the two rolled through the fields, tugging at each other's hair and clawing at each other's arms and legs, in what was the fierce battle for the affections of Winry.
She had turned them both down in the end, but Alphonse had not given up hope. Even as he got older, a tiny flicker of that past rivalry still lived in that empty armour. He doubted his feelings were of any substance, simply an imprint in his memories of better times when obtaining Winry's affections seemed plausible. It wasn't until he overheard their fervent whispers as she tampered with his leg, that any last traces of that rivalry died out like an alchemic reaction gone wrong.
"… so you would have picked me?"
"Of course Ed. I meant what I said though; about not liking men shorter than me."
"WELL YOU KNOW WHAT WINRY-"
"So it's lucky… that you've got a few inches on me now."
It took him a while, but eventually Alphonse gave up.
Oh Al. I have to go to work now and it's seriously depressing me. I can't write there! Enjoy, and review please :)