Lying Lips

AN: Spoilers for chapter 108! Or, you can just take it as a futurefic. Whatever you prefer! (Just as a note, the Olivia mentioned is a made-up character. Not to be mistaken with Major General Olivier Armstrong in any way.)

Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist is not mine, and never will be. ): I do, however, own the three random people mentioned below.

"Have you heard about that Elric boy?"

Edward paused at the sound of his surname and turned, staring quizzically at a pair of elderly ladies. He didn't know the lady who'd spoken, but the other one – he recognized her. She'd been an old friend of granny Pinako's, and had even helped the family arrange her funeral.

"Of course," Mrs. Pendle replied gravely, "I've seen the boy around. Always was at Pinako's house as a child. Why, what's happened?"

Realizing that it would look odd if he was eavesdropping so blatantly – although he was pretty sure that half of the marketplace was doing the same, that woman was so loud – he ducked behind a fruit stall and offered a rueful grin at the middle-aged man tending it. The fruit seller winked and bit into an apple.

"Have you heard about what he's doing?" the other woman continued, sounding positively scandalized. "He's following right after his father! I should have known that foreign blood would incite such things. Oh, if only those girls had been smart enough to just ignore them…"

"Get on with it, Olivia," Mrs. Pendle interrupted harshly. "Ed's a good boy, he wouldn't do anything wrong."

Edward smiled wryly to himself. He appreciated Mrs. Pendle sticking up for him, but he wasn't really a boy anymore, was he? Almost a father… excitement burned in the pit of his stomach, but he managed to keep his focus on the conversation.

"He's living with the Rockbell girl," Olivia hissed under her breath, somehow managing to make sure that the entire marketplace heard. "In the same house. I see them in the mornings sometimes, wandering outside together, hand and hand. And she's expecting! It's just like Van Hohenheim all over again, you mark my words."

Edward did not feel a surge of anger because of the mention of his father – he'd made his peace with Hohenheim's grave. No, he felt angered because he was pretty sure what this Olivia woman was getting at.

Mrs. Pendle hesitated. "Come now, Olivia," she spoke cautiously, "they just haven't gotten around to registering their name in the family register yet. I heard that they had a quiet little ceremony in the outskirts of Central, not too long ago."

"It's deceitful and it's sinful, that's what it is," Olivia plowed on, catching the trailing ends of her shawl and flipping them over one shoulder. "And I'd hate to see young Winry get hurt by that rascal."

Mrs. Pendle let out a sigh. "Olivia," she spoke wearily, "please don't tell me that you're still biased against those boys? It was fifteen years ago, my dear!"

"This has nothing to do with that!" Olivia snapped. "But mark my words, Fiona; I knew that boy would be a bad one from that day on!"

"Olivia," Mrs. Pendle replied, sounding amused, "they turned your clay figures into flowerpots. I thought they looked far more tasteful."

Edward heard a loud 'hmmph!' from Olivia as the two old women sailed away. He rubbed his forehead harshly, wondering whether to laugh or to swear.

"You can't stop those old mouths from gossiping," the fruit seller commented. "I suggest you get back home to your girl and forget all about this."

Edward got up from behind the fruit stall and nodded, sticking his hands into his pockets as he strolled away. The man was right. He couldn't stop them. But honestly, no one in Resembool seemed to have any sense anymore.

When he told Winry the story, she laughed till tears ran down her face. "Oh!" she sighed, wiping at her cheeks, "but they need something to chatter about, Ed. You just happen to be the best target." She offered him a sly smile. "What with your short temper and all."

He rolled his eyes. "Win," he replied in a long-suffering tone, "I got over that years ago."

She prodded him in the shoulder. "Only one."

He shrugged. "Whatever. But I just didn't know how to react." Edward paused, glancing down at the slender golden band that encircled his ring finger.

"I mean, how do I tell them that you just refused to accept my last name?"

AN: A silly bit of nonsense, since I totally see Winry staying a Rockbell for the rest of her life. Maybe she'll bend a little and become Rockbell-Elric, if Ed's lucky. :P I became rather fond of Olivia during this short piece. I might use her again someday!

692 words.