Beauty and the Alchemist

"You don't understand! I'm nothing more than a monster, a metal freak! Who could loved someone like me?" he asked in anger, eyes piercing her own. Gently, Winry placed a palm to his cheek, feeling the sudden heat rush to his face. "I could."

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, and I don't own the idea of "Beauty and the Beast," but I wish I did.

Chapter 11: Splinters, Secrets, and Soon

"Damn it!"

Winry inspected her index finger, poking and prodding at the flesh. Splinters; she absolutely despised them. They always caught one by surprise, penetrating the skin when it is least expected. Winry knew better than to take her gloves off. It was a moment of weakness; her fingers were growing tired of the rough leather rubbing against her skin. The wooden work table proved to no longer be trustworthy. The second she let her guard down, it punctured her. She pouted and pinched some more, squinting her eyes in order to focus on the little criminal. The sight was becoming more and more uncomely. As time went on, her endeavors to remove it produced no fruitful results. Heaving a sigh, Winry laid her head down, admitting utter defeat.

I'm so exhausted.

The mechanic had spent the last three days in the realm of her new workshop constructing her latest piece. The base was finished; certainly a sight to behold. If someone were to take it apart, Winry's sweat and tears—perhaps even blood—would flow out onto the floor before them. She was working herself to the bone. It was very likely that once the automail was finished, she would be nothing but a skeleton.

She picked a stray screw across the table and fiddled with it, rolling the metal between her fingers lazily.

The door creaked. She already knew who had crept inside her workshop, curious to see the progress of the piece. Alphonse always knocked before entering. The youngest Elric was proficient in the art of manners. His elder brother, not so much.

Edward hovered behind her, hands buried into pockets as he surveyed the automail arm.

"How's it goin?" He asked, blowing air right after.

He's moving his bangs out of his face.

Winry chuckled. She had been there so long that things were beginning to become routine. The mechanic, strangely, did not detest such the creeping in of familiarity. It made her comfortable.

"What's so funny?" Edward prodded again, leaning closer to her resting form. She could feel his chest above her shoulder, his eyes piercing down on her small frame. Originally, such posture intimidated Winry, but she had grown used to Edward's mannerisms.

"Nothing," she said with a smirk.

Edward huffed. "Looks like you're doing nothing."

Winry's head snapped up, the smile wiped completely off her face. "I'm taking a break. Not that you would know, but this requires a lot of stamina." She gestured to the base, showcasing her talent before him. "You have no idea how many days it's going to take to perfect just the mechanics."

"A lot more than necessary, if you keep napping."

"I wasn't napping." Winry turned from him, fiddling with her finger. "I have a splinter."

"A splinter?" Edward cocked his head.

"Yes, and I know, it's just a splinter, but working with one is awful."

Edward did not reply. He left the blonde in her workshop, alone to deal with the little stake in her finger.

Much help he was.

As Winry continued to pick at her little wound, Edward returned, needle in hand. He pulled up a stool next to her and sat down, his hand open and waiting for hers.

"Let me see your hand."

Winry was hesitant at first. Whenever she touched Edward, or was touched by him, her body felt like a machine that was missing screws. It stopped working properly; uncontrollable. Her breath would hitch, her heart would beat two speeds too fast, her knees became weak and unresponsive. Luckily, she was sitting down, so she complied with his order. His hand was warm, rough at the fingertips but softer towards the palm. It cradled hers gently.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Winry asked.

Edward squinted down at her fingers. "My mother used to do this to Al and I all the time. It can't be that hard."

The alchemist pinched the invaded finger, trying to locate the splinter. Upon discovering the little intruder, he poked the finger, pushing the needle under the skin. Winry flinched.

"Keep still."

"I am."

Edward poked more. Winry shook again.

"Winry."

"I wouldn't move so much if you would just hurry." She spat.

He groaned and pushed the needle under the skin, pulling up a small patch along with the splinter.

"I can get it from here," she said, picking out the small shard of wood. Winry put her finger in her mouth. "Thank you," she mumbled.

Ed nodded in her direction, leaning back.

"I should start the wiring in a few days, nothing too tricky to do. Circuits are easy."

"I don't know much about automail," he said. "I just wear it." His eyes stared down at his open metal palm, a sight that was incredibly normal for him.

Winry offered a gentle smile. "There's a lot to understand."

"So I assumed, you gearheads must have plenty stored up here." He tapped his head, right above an arched brow.

"We do. I've been working with automail since I was a kid, but there's still so much I don't know." She looked down at her finger. Its redness had faded some, leaving her with a rosy tip.

"How much do you want to know?"

"Everything."

It was quiet, nothing to be heard but their breathing. Winry's felt Ed's gaze on her, and when she looked up, he glanced away.

"Al and I want to know more about alchemy. Maybe not everything, but enough for things to go back to the way they were before."

Winry reached out to him, placing a delicate hand on his shoulder. He didn't shrug her off. He accepted her gesture, as though she was not only trying to heal him physically.

"You know," she began. "I could teach you a few maintenance techniques before I leave. It'd help you in the long run."

Edward didn't say anything. Instead, he placed his hand over hers, grasping it gently. He moved it back to her lap, and stood.

She watched him walk away. Her heartbeat echoed, the sound almost as loud as his footsteps ricocheting off the floor.

Winry's eyes fell down to her legs. They cradled her hands. She smoothed her apron and turned back to her work table, pulling back on her gloves. She stopped though, taking a moment to stare at the one he had touched. The hand looked the same as before, nothing out of the ordinary. But why? Why did she feel like he had just reworked each and every little detail of her palm?

What was he doing to her?

Winry picked up her glove and thrust her hand into it quickly, trying to shake the feeling of him.

Do I like him?

No, there's no way I could like him.

But if I do, can I?

No, I can't.

But his eyes.

Are always angry.

Well, not all the time.

Sometimes he smiles, and it's handsome.

But then he's got issues.

He's been through so much though.

Winry get ahold of yourself.

She dropped her wrench and groaned. Fingers flew to her head, massaging her aching temple. Her mind was not on what it should be. It was flooded with images of Edward Elric; not focused on the task at hand. She needed a break; a walk, a run, anything that would take far away from him.

Winry untied her apron and discarded it on her seat; the white flag of her surrender for the day. She shut the large doors behind her and started down the long hall. How many times had she walked this path? Too many. She already knew exactly how many footsteps it took her to get from her bedroom to her workspace, also the number if she decided to stray from it and go to the bathroom.

So the base is complete, I should get started on shaping the supportive plates, the outer casing as well.

"Winry!"

Alphonse's presence was a loud one. His jogged up to her excitedly, suit rattling. He placed a hand over his chest, as if to steady his heart.

Winry cocked her head knowingly. "Hiding something, Alphonse?"

The metal man placed a gloved finger to his lips, glancing both ways. His brother would not be pleased.

"He just left here, no need to worry. Now, what is it?"

Al opened his chest plate, revealing a small rabbit. "She was all alone Winry. I couldn't just leave her on the street."

Two black, beady eyes peered out of him. The rabbit was white. She possessed a pink nose that sniffed wildly.

"I'm sure you couldn't." Winry smiled, using two fingers to smooth the fur behind the critter's ears.

"I thought I could let her go in the garden. She'd be more comfortable there."

"I think so too. Shall we?"

Winry shut the front of his suit, slowly. "She's quite peaceful."

"Yes, she is. I think she knows I'm not going to hurt her. I'm keeping her in my suit for her own good."

Winry walked beside him, pondering the statement.

Keeping her there for her own good?

"I suppose you are, but she could've found her way back to the forest on her own."

Alphonse shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe, but I could make her journey a little easier."

"Of course," Winry said.

Mine has gotten, somewhat easier.

"What brings you out of your workshop?"

The mechanic pulled herself out of her thoughts. "Oh, just needed a break. I've been working nonstop these past few days."

The rabbit hopped inside of Alphonse, rattling him a bit. "We're almost there," he whispered to her. "We should go to town! I bet that will clear your head." Once again, the rabbit shuffled, as though in agreement with what he said.

"Well, I was meaning to ask you about going to Rush Valley. I need a few more things anyways. It'd be a day trip. It's not that far from my village, so I assume it's even closer to here."

"Of course! We can go to Rush Valley. I'd have to tell brother, but he won't mind it. You're still technically working."

Winry smiled ear to ear.

Finally!

The pair left the comfort of the Elric manner and were met with the windy chills of autumn. The leaves curled up on the ground, reds and oranges swept away by a powerful gust. Winry shielded her face. The air tickled the hairs on the back of her neck, creating a shiver that danced all the way down her spine. Alphonse opened himself up and pulled out the little creature. Gently, he placed her on the ground.

"Here you go. You can stay here as long as you like, just don't let my brother see you."

The rabbit's ears perked ever so slightly, as if it did understand what it was being told. Alphonse used a finger to smooth a tuft of fur on its back.

"The season is changing," Winry stated. "It'll be winter before we know it." She hugged herself, trying to contain all the warmth that was suddenly escaping her body. The thought of her grandmother came to mind. She remembered how Pinako was not very fond of the cold. Her Gran enjoyed the summer. The elderly woman adored the feel of the sun, and any time when she could perform work that was undisturbed by weather conditions.

I'll be home to you soon Gran.

Winry watched the rabbit hop, to and fro, all over the estate. And then, in the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the woods. Alphonse sighed beside her.

"They never do stay long."

Winry hugged her frame tighter. "No, I guess not."

Soon.

A/N: It only took me, what, a few months to spit that out. I'm sorry for the wait, but I'm home for the summer. I wasn't ready to give up on this story just yet. Enjoy.