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Chapter 7: Plucking Her Petals
Ed sighed gustily, leaning back in his chair, with his eyes half-closed and a satiated smile on his face. "That was good."
Nodding in agreement, Winry almost wished she was wearing a belt she could loosen. The food had been better than good, it had been amazing. No wonder Anne had liked this restaurant. Winry thought she could eat here every night, if there was a way they could afford it. The meal was pretty expensive, after all – well, a lot more expensive than she'd expected. In fact, Winry was surprised Ed agreed to stay after getting a look at the prices. He'd even waved off her offer of paying for her meal, giving her a sidelong grin and reminding her he'd asked her to join him for dinner. Winry was tempted to ask who he was and what he'd done with Edward Elric but decided against it. She'd already blown up at Ed once and started a fight – and Ed, in turn, started one with Mr. Huebner. That was enough for one day, especially without Al around to remind them that they were too old for this sort of thing.
Winry squirmed a little at that idea. It really wasn't arguing, was it? But if it wasn't, she didn't know what to call it. Flirting came to mind but Winry wasn't sure it was that at all. It really was the way she and Ed talked to each other. Not all the time, obviously, but it always seemed that if she didn't half-yell something at him, he didn't hear it. Mr. Garfiel had told her once a whisper caught the attention more but Winry was afraid if she spoke softly, Ed would never pay attention. He certainly didn't hear anything when his nose was in a book and Winry hated to think she took second place to a stupid alchemy text.
Immediately, she felt bad thinking that. Ed needed the information the books had to help him find a way to get Al his body back. That was the reason for their journey; why they'd burned down their house and left Rezembool behind. And she'd promised Ed she'd help him – help them – any way she could, even if it was just to get better at making Ed's automail. Ed seemed to appreciate that, at least.
"You're too quiet."
Winry blinked, startled out of her thoughts by Ed's voice. "Just thinking." She glanced across the table at him, noting his concerned scowl was in place. "Nothing bad."
"I don't know how you can think at all." Ed groaned, patting his stomach. "All I want to do now is sleep."
Not saying anything about how much Ed had eaten – he'd ordered appetizers, the meal came with a salad and three side dishes, not to mention Ed had insisted on trying her food and her dessert – Winry dabbed her napkin against her mouth. "We should probably go for a walk to help us digest this meal."
Giving her a plaintive whine, Ed slumped a little deeper into his chair. "A walk?"
"Better than napping." Winry dropped her napkin back in her lap. "Besides, it's a pretty night, isn't it?" She nodded at the window and the night outside of it. The moon was close to full and the streetlights held a warm glow. It would be a nice night for a stroll.
"Eegh."
Winry shot him a look that made Ed scowl back. Obviously, the idea of parading around town wasn't appealing to him but Winry didn't just want to go back to the hotel and…do what? Watch while he hurried off to his bedroom to sleep? That wouldn't be much fun. Of course, if they did everything fun now, what would they do for the rest of the time they were supposed to be here? She guessed that maybe they could leave the city after all; go somewhere else. Ed and Al were used to going everywhere and, to an extent, Winry had grown accustomed to it as well. But it would be nice to explore Conway without feeling rushed. "Just a little walk?"
"We're gonna walk back to the hotel." Ed's face screwed into a pout. "Isn't that far enough?"
"But we've already walked that way. Don't you want to explore?"
Whining, Edward flopped his elbows on the table, folding his arms in front of him. "Winry, I'm tired."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "You're such a slug."
"I promise." His chair slid back until Ed could rest his cheek on his forearms, peeping out of his shaggy bangs at her. "Tomorrow, I'll go on a long walk with you. 'Til we both get blisters and Al has to carry us back to the hotel."
The image made her giggle, bringing an answering grin to Ed's face. "All right." Winry picked up her drink, sipping at it in an attempt to keep from laughing.
Snorting, Edward pushed upright in his chair, hands falling into his lap. He nodded at the waiter who brought over the bill in a leather folder, accepting it and opening it. Winry was surprised he didn't flinch, just wrote something down, signing his name. The little smirk made her mouth purse in response but when Ed stood up, Winry followed his lead. They walked out of the restaurant together, that smirk turning into a wicked grin as they pushed through the doors.
"What is it? What did you do?" Winry socked his arm for emphasis.
"Ow! Dammit, woman, stop being so violent." Edward gnashed his teeth at her, reminding her of a little bulldog. Not that Winry would tell him that, drawing back her fist, ready to hit him again. "All right! Don't hit." His sneer firmly back in place, Ed tossed his hand back at the restaurant. "I signed Colonel Bastard's name to the tab. Left a hefty tip, too."
Winry rolled her eyes. "You're a brat, Ed."
He whistled a sharp little note, giving her a sly glance. "Eh." Ed's shoulders rose in a shrug as he tucked his hands in his pockets. "He's the one who sent me here, he should pay for a little of it."
"That meal wasn't 'a little'." Winry couldn't hide her smile and Ed noticed it, his grin broadening.
He nudged her arm with his elbow. "It is a little. Trust me."
"Don't tell me you've done this before." Stopping on the sidewalk, Winry planted her hands on her hips. "Edward. That's…mean!"
Ed's snicker wasn't at all reassuring. "It's funny, Winry. You can see that, right? The bastard sends me places, I charge him for my food." At her look, he rolled his eyes, his mouth skewing sideways. "Not all the time. Just once in a while. Hey, it's not like he doesn't take advantage of me, too."
"I probably don't want to know." Winry let out a sigh through her teeth, taking the few steps necessary to return to Ed's side.
"You sure? Some of them are good stories." He twisted his body so he was tipping a grin up at her.
Winry rolled her eyes. "I'd just bet."
Ed continued to cajole her about the tales he could tell as they walked back to the hotel. Winry almost thought she should let him – Ed offering up stories wasn't exactly a regular occurrence – but she decided it might be a good idea to have Al around, too, to corroborate. "You don't believe me?" He seemed almost hurt at the idea.
"You are known to lie, Ed." Tipping her nose up slightly, her smug expression was marred by the giggle escaping her mouth.
Ed bared his teeth. "Stretching the truth and I only do that when absolutely necessary – hey." Brows furrowing, he studied the man at the corner, beckoning at them.
"What do you think he wants?" Winry couldn't help but notice his furtive air, the way the man was glancing over his shoulder, looking around him nervously.
"Wait here." Ed touched her arm above her elbow, stiffening when she made a rude noise. "Winry, would you just do what I say for once?"
"Edward, I can take care of myself." She just managed not to fold her arms.
"Fine." He huffed, glaring at her. "But be careful, okay?" Something in his expression changed, far too fleeting for Winry to be able to read it. "And stay close." He hesitated, a weird, hopeful little grin crossing his face. "You wouldn't have one of your wrenches on you, would you?"
"We're on a," Winry hesitated before saying the word 'date'. Was it a date? Did Ed want it to be? Was he just thinking that he wanted food and Al wasn't around, so it'd just be him and her going out? "I don't have a wrench," she finished, sounding a little awkward.
"Damn." Lips thinning, Ed raised his hand to show the man that he'd been noticed. "I mean it, Winry. Stay behind me, okay? And if something weird happens – get the hell out of here."
Winry fell in behind Ed as he walked toward the man. His hands weren't shoved into his pockets, his steps were slow and even. Winry tried to match him, wishing she had figured a way to bring a wrench with her. The solid weight would feel good in her palm right about now.
The man smiled in relief as they approached. "I'm so glad I found you." He continued glancing around him though, giving lie to his words. "Before…well, you know."
"No, we don't know." Ed stopped a good ways back from the man; his feet spread slightly, his hands making loose fists. "What are you talking about?"
"Your friend? That tall fellow?" The man hunched his shoulders. "He frightens me."
"Alphonse?" Well, he was scary looking, Winry would agree to that, but anyone who knew Al would've…all right, he could be imposing.
"The one looking for his girlfriend." The man stood on his toes, peering past them. His paranoia was infectious and Winry glanced back the way she and Edward had come, not seeing anything. "He's," the man swallowed, "dangerous. You should be very careful around him."
Ed shot Winry a look that obviously meant, 'see?' "Why?"
"His girlfriend." The man sighed heavily. "I…I can take you to her. Where she is, I mean. If you want to go?" Sidling sideways, he glanced down the narrow street. "I have a car waiting."
Winry lay her hand on Ed's arm when he glared at the man, obviously not willing to move from where he stood. If they could find Anne, wouldn't it be for the best? "Ed, maybe we should go with him."
Ed didn't turn away from the man as he said, "I don't want you to come with us."
The man shifted his weight onto his toes again. "Maybe…she should come." He wet his lips. "The girl…she's scared. Might be best to have another girl."
She took a step forward, only to have Ed block her from moving any closer. "Ed!"
He hissed at her, his eyes molten hot. "Why don't you go get the police?"
"Whatever you decide." The man gave the impression of running though he stood still. "But we need to go now." His voice pitched higher as he spoke. "I don't know how much longer he'll keep her there!"
With a growl, Ed cut his eyes to Winry. "Go on, get the police. I'll go with this guy." As she started to turn away, Edward caught her wrist. "Be careful."
"Mm." Winry bobbed her head, hating that she missed the feel of Ed's hand on her arm as soon as he let her go. That touch made her feel a little less anxious. Taking a few steps away, she glanced around, wondering if she could find an officer patrolling the area. What if she couldn't? Did she remember seeing a telephone booth? What if something happened to Ed? Spinning back around, she grabbed his pigtail, making him screech in pain. "I'm going with you."
"Winry!" Ed jerked free, losing strands of hair in the process. "Don't be an idiot. This could be dangerous. I'm not letting you - "
He never got to finish his sentence from the heavy stick crashing down on his head. With a grunt, Ed dropped to his knees, his expression stunned. Winry felt as if she'd been turned to stone as the man slammed the stick against Ed's shoulders, beating him down onto the alley floor. When Ed tried to rise, his limbs twitching, gathering themselves for the effort, the stick swung down again, cutting through the air with a whistle. Winry could smell the blood, felt her stomach twist and her mouth run with salt water. Lips parting to scream, fingers curling into claws, she froze as the cudgel spun her way. Blood and a few strands of golden hair marred the end of it.
"Don't make a sound," the man panted, "not a word. Or I'll kill him right now."
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