She met Darik before Ed and Al went on a trip for the second time. Months after the events in Central City and the brothers' return home, she learned of some rebuilding and restoration plans Mustang was making in the Ishval region. Apparently, he, Scar and Armstrong agreed to an amnesty and in return help to raise the town again with the people who still remained in the place.

However, the surprise was that Mustang published a recruitment of volunteers who offer to help in the reconstruction. Among the tasks they needed was that of doctors and nurses willing to help some inhabitants of the desert, or the elderly and children who needed special attention. She couldn't go as a doctor because she required a degree that she didn't have, but she sensed that they wouldn't make it a problem if she proposed as a nurse or assistant. One of her jobs at automail mechanics is surgery and recovering patients after it. Recovery, in addition to medicines, also involves emotional support in a complicated process such as a new prosthesis.

And if that wasn't necessary, she felt the almost compelling need to go back to the place where her parents died helping other people. It was like a reunion with her past. She told Pinako, and she did not hesitate to accept her request, Winry told her that it would not be for long, just long enough to help most of the first-timers in town. The Elric brothers didn't object either, perhaps the only thing Winry could notice was that she saw a certain annoyance in Ed, but she didn't give it any importance.

When she arrived in Ishval it was something new for her, everything was full of people willing to help everyone. She was assigned to a group of nurses who would be in charge of assisting the elderly and injured who arrived from all over the country. It was not a difficult task but she surprisingly took up a good part of the day since there were several Ishvalans. Her day-to-day consisted of serving the new immigrants, having lunch, continuing to serve them, and then sleeping in her individual tent. The only time available to rest and talk was at lunch, but most of the volunteers were older than her.

It was a day when she stayed up very late arranging the tent and other things after a hard day. Each volunteer had been assigned a day to clean the tents where the newcomers were staying, that day she remembered that it was her turn. It was around 10 at night, she was engrossed in cleaning the place when they spoke to her from behind her.

"Sorry, but I thought it was my turn to clean up," she turned around. He was a young man who looked no more than 30, corpulent but not exaggerated like Armstrong, dark-skinned due to his ancestry that she was unaware of at the time, tattoos that stood out on his biceps and went down his back, and his height, almost two heads apart that she realized just by seeing him through the entrance of the tent.

When she turned around and listened to him, the spotlight turned on, it was true. It was her turn the next day.

"My God, excuse me, I didn't know" she said embarrassed as she looked at the broom. "But don't worry, I can clean today."

He stared at her and shook his head. "I would not like someone like you to carry the responsibilities that they gave me." Winry was about to reply but she saw him pick up another broom and sweep the opposite corner of the room.

They were cleaning for about five minutes when he broke the ice. "Seriously, you can go to bed, I'll finish this." She turns to him and watched as she continues to sweep.

"The truth is I would like to stay, I have some things on my mind and I would like to clear them up a bit if you don't mind" She looked down, that day her insecurities returned to her mind that made her steal hours of sleep from time to time. She thought the cleaning session was going to separate her from that but it wasn't working.

Hearing her this time it was he who stopped sweeping and looked at her while she continued cleaning. "I think I understand you" he said as he resumed the cleaning but slower. "I can't sleep either because of my mind that betrays me every night."

She sensed that she wasn't the only one with problems on her mind. "My mom taught me how to clean whenever she couldn't concentrate or rest, she told me it was like a useful hobby." she tried to make friendly conversation while remembering the times her mother was with her and taught her some housework.

"Your mother was very wise," he replied. "Sometimes it's good to give them a call, they can be the best therapists."

She stopped short and looked down, as a reaction he did too when he saw that she had changed her face. "S-She died. Both really." There was an awkward silence.

"I am sorry. I didn't know" he apologized. Both continued cleaning what little dirt was left of the tent. After 15 minutes he broke the ice.

"My parents also died. In fact, they were in the war 7 years ago" he opened up as he put the broom away with the other cleaning utensils. Winry looked at him almost instantly. "Surely you already noticed, but I am descended from Ishvalans. My father was from here and my mother was from Amestris, but she always told me that she belonged here more."

He had taken the box of cleaning utensils and began to order them, she just stared at him. "When the bombing started, they voluntarily joined the army, they had no experience but there was no way out at that time," he said with a sad and melancholy voice.

"They died in an infirmary, after being attacked by an Ishvalan." She looked at him incredulously. "I don't understand" she mentioned to him in a low voice. And that's when he revealed something that made Winry's skin crawl.

"They were being treated by two Amestrian doctors. I don't know why, but the reports said that they treated all the casualties on the battlefield no matter who they were."

She paled. She dropped the broom as she continued to stare at him. He in a hurry stood up. "Are you OK?".

Scar. The call. Grandma Pinako with the phone in her hand. She seeing how her grandmother listened to what that device told her. The military at the door giving her condolences. Ed and Al visiting her with her mother. Everything went through her head like lightning. She fell to the ground on her knees and covering her mouth to the inevitable crying. He immediately came over to help her.

He directed her to the table and they sat down. She kept her hand on her mouth and crying. He couldn't help but ask again if she was okay.

After seconds she looked at him. "It was them, it was mom and dad" and she cried again while he timidly hugged her by her shoulders.

They stayed like that for another 5 minutes when she calmed down a bit and wiped away her tears.

"My parents were the doctors. They decided to save everyone. And who killed them was also in that room." Winry looked at him with broken sadness.

He was looking at her with the greatest surprise on his face. "Your parents? Did your parents save mine? She nodded. "Urey and Sarah Rockbell. The only ones from the medical team who stayed on the front line". And she shed a few more tears.

They returned to the funereal silence. And for the third time that night, he broke the silence.

"Thank you. I know you're her daughter, but thanks anyway." She looks at him with more disbelief. "They were the only ones who didn't care that my father was an enemy." And she can't stand it anymore, it was another time when she broke down crying, but this time he hugged her and they comforted each other.

It was from that night that Winry and Darik began to hang out more in the camp. Past events made her find an emotional connection that allowed her to express herself even when she was just getting to know him.

At lunch, in their break time and on days off they spent it talking about their lives, what they did and the memories that connected them with their parents. In a few days their friendship became natural, reaching the point where Winry felt a degree of trust that usually is not obtained without years of being friends.

That was when he told her a bit of his story. After the war and the death of his parents, he decided to travel all over Amestris looking for part-time jobs to support his life. She learned that he was a waiter in a restaurant in Central City, a bricklayer in Dublith, and even a bartender in South City.

"Did you really serve in a bar? I don't believe you." Winry said half laughing as she carried a box with groceries and food. He gently took it from her hands to pick it up. "Really" he laughed "Why don't you believe me?"

"I don't know, I can't imagine you in a bar. You seem like someone serious" she said as they walked through the camp.

"You'd be surprised how sociable I can be. I can even boast that I dated several Amestrians from Central City" she laughed again. If she was honest, she could admit that he knew how to talk to people and women, he listened to everything she told him and didn't make faces out of boredom or annoyance. Perhaps it was too much to ask, but it was something that she did not see with any man with whom she spoke.

"You are a nomad looking for new prey" she tried to follow the joke. The truth is that she finds it strange that a person can be with several people sporadically.

Darik looked at her. "Can be. I can't spend my life depressed, fast pleasures are my antidote to keep traveling."

Then she remembered, there was little time left before she returned to Resembool. She had planned to return in a few days but she had pushed it aside in her mind.

"You're leaving soon aren't you?" he said as if he had read her mind. She nodded.

"And you? Will you stay in the camp or go somewhere else?" she answered. He kept a doubtful face as he arranged the box of groceries in the tent. "I don't know, I don't mind staying here, but I'm a volunteer and they don't pay me. I need to find another job if I don't want to starve" he said laughing but also with some concern.

The mechanic nodded. "You're going back to the city to work as a bartender" this time she said it without the intention of making a joke.

"No, the truth is a bit far and I want to do something else." He said he sitting on the box. "Although I can't really be too demanding either, this new government and the refugees have turned the streets upside down to find something good"

Winry understood his concern, and as if it were a light bulb that he had just turned on, an idea came to her. "And why don't you come to Rush Valley?" she told him almost hastily.

"Rush Valley? Where do they sell automails?"

"Yes," she said.

"But I don't know how to do automails" he said, a little lamenting. She laughed a bit. "You don't need to know how to make them. You said you worked as a caretaker. In the town they ask a lot of assistants for the mechanics, buy materials, deliver the orders, or even clean the workshops. Assistants are in high demand but there are not many people willing to do it"

"If it's about salary, I have no problem. I always accommodate myself." He said thinking about the first problem they can do to him.

She smiled. "I can call Garfiel to get in touch with you. I don't think he's looking for a helper for us, but he sure knows someone who needs it."

Thank you was the word Winry heard the most from him. The blonde felt good about herself helping a homeless person and that had been good to her. She always showed empathy with the homeless, and it was not difficult for her to know that he had to go through something like this on more than one occasion.

The day of farewell everyone was outside euphoric and getting on the trucks that would take them back to Amestris. She was at the side of the bus waiting for the line when he surprise her from behind.

"Hey, weren't you going to say goodbye earlier?" He said. The mechanic was lost in her thoughts when he interrupted her.

It seemed that he understood because he was in a hurry to tell him something about her. "Guess what? Your boss called me, Mr. Garfiel." She told Winry. "He want me to work with you," he finished with a smile on his face.

The mechanic did nothing but smile genuinely as well. She hug him almost instantly.

"That's great, you already have a place to stay and money. And the best thing is that you work with me" she said sincerely. Deep down she was grateful not to break contact with Darik, since during the time of the camp she showed him a company and friendship that she had longed for a long time.

"I will be your faithful assistant, boss" he said in a funny way. She laughed in response. The bus driver made the call that he was going to leave. All the passengers began to board, while she said goodbye.

"Then I'll see you there. I'll take two weeks before I go to Rush Valley. You know, my friends are going on a trip soon and I want to say goodbye to them" she said thinking of Edward and his imminent departure. It was also at that moment that she realized that the time I was in that camp she didn't think about Ed anymore, her worries had temporarily disappeared. Though sure after thinking about this, they would come back to her mind.

"Yes, I know, your friends. I would like to meet them" and with that they both kissed each other on the cheek and said goodbye. Winry got on the bus and began her journey back to Resembool.


Now it was different. Customers came out more smiling than usual. The orders were being filled so quickly that it scared Garfiel instead of cheering him up. His mechanics had been doing her job so well for a few days that there was no longer any need for him to work himself.

From that night, Winry began to devote all her time to the automail that she had to design. All of Ed's thoughts blurred as she assumed a truth that she still didn't like. But that made her more productive and do what she wanted for a long time.

The blonde was giving the final adjustments to the mechanical arm of a client who had come for her monthly inspection. She was grateful that there were people who remembered that automail needed to be inspected.

"And there it goes. That would be all for today Liam. Your arm is in perfect condition," Winry said, letting go of his arm.

"Perfect Winry, always saving my life" said her male client with a playful tone. "Can you pass me my shirt?"

The mechanic grabbed the garment on the table and handed it to him. "I already told you that it is not necessary to take it off, your connections are in your elbow"

He replied at the same time that he slowly and unnecessarily pulled on his shirt revealing his bare chest. "Well, you know, it's always hot here"

The mechanic sensed the double meaning but she decided to ignore it. It was the third time that she had made a pass at him that same day, and count the last week. They weren't just customers, but also mechanics from other workshops, or vendors. She was not aware that her return to work had made her more cheerful and her clients and townspeople had noticed.

She was gathering up the work tools assuming that Liam was going to leave. But he just stood there, like he was thinking or trying to do something.

"Something happens?" she said trying not to be rude.

"Yes," he said, "Winry, you're someone pretty cute. The best in town. And the truth is that I would like to know you a little more. What do you think if we go out one day? Weekend?"

The blonde blushed a little, it wasn't the first time she had been invited out of it either. But she knew it would be yet another one she would reject. She was getting ready to give her typical apology that she made to all the boys, when she suddenly heard the door of the workshop.

"Sorry. But Miss Rockbell is indisposed this week. There are a lot of orders for this month and we don't have a break" said her assistant. Darik had a serious face.

The mechanic looked at him with disbelief and some bitterness. That wasn't true. The orders had already finished. They were approaching the spring season where periodically is when fewer automail requests are made per year. He knew it, so Winry perfectly assumed that he was lying on purpose.

"Oh I understand. Well ,doesn't matter. Thanks for everything" said Liam and quickly waved goodbye as he hurriedly and nervously left the workshop.

She waited for her to close the door and walk away from the workshop to talk. "What was that?"

He looked. "What?"

"You know it. We have no more orders. Why did you lie to him?"

The blonde's assistant was silent for a moment. "I don't know. You seemed uncomfortable when he invited you. And since you've already rejected other guys, I thought I'd better give him a convincing excuse."

The mechanic rolled her eyes as she continued collecting materials from the workbench. "I don't want to make excuses. I just tell them I don't want to go out because I really don't want to go out with anyone."

She was telling the truth. The blonde couldn't deny that there were handsome, strong or tall boys in the town who had courted her on more than one occasion. But she felt enough attraction to even share a dinner with one. They all behaved strangely towards her, as if they were faking a personality. Winry felt that she couldn't talk about her problems with any of them, or confide her secrets to them like a couple would. The men of the town seemed very shallow in that respect. And she noticed.

Everyone except him. Ever since she met him in Ishval she had always been very sensitive to her conversations. He had been empathetic and friendly enough so that in a short time she would have already told him about her problems that he lived day by day in the workshop. Perhaps working together all day has helped to strengthen that bond of friendship that had been forged. And the best thing, Winry thought, was that he hadn't shown any insinuation of wanting to ask her out. Which made her calmer.

"That's crap!" A shout sounded from outside the workshop.

They both turned in unison upon hearing the scream.

Paninya, the blonde's best friend in Rush Valley had just walked into the middle of the conversation. She used to visit her on some evenings when she was free from her job as a carpenter.

"What's crap?"

"You can't turn down every man who asks you out just because the alchemist dwarf hasn't shown any signs of life" said the brunette with a somewhat annoyed tone as she sat down next to them.

Winry collected herself in her seat. "He is no longer an alchemist, and it is not because of him. I already turned the page"

Paninya rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure."

But this time Darik spoke. "It's true Pan. I advised Winry to stop thinking about him and she has started to do so. That's why she works better now."

The mechanic's friend looks at him in astonishment and then directs her gaze to the mechanic. Her face went from sarcasm and fake anger to shock.

"That is true? You don't want anything with the pipsqueak anymore?"

The blonde smiled a little at the nickname her friend said of him. "I don't think so… I don't know. I just know that if I keep thinking about him, sooner or later I'm going to be fired for not doing things right" she said with a lot of snub.

Her friend and her assistant looked at each other after what she said. The three of them had become very intimate and these conversations had become habitual. Although almost always the topic of discussion was Winry's love problems.

Despite that, Paninya's face relaxed and she gave a half smile. "It's about time you forgot about him, Win. He was hurting you and he wasn't even here."

The mechanic looks at her with distaste "I didn't forget about him. I just have other things to occupy my mind."

"Yes of course what you say" said Paninya but the blonde kept looking at her with annoyance. "OK sorry. But you know I don't like him very much. I mean if he is a good boy but I don't like what he did to you in the last year at all."

Paninya stopped and looked around. "Don't you two have any more customers?"

"Spring is coming, and by this time not so many automails come." He said

Paninya looked at him. "Yes, I already realized. I think this workshop is the only one that works lately. I see the others empty, I think they prefer to come here".

It was true that Garfiel's workshop had stolen some customers from the competition since Winry arrived. Rumors of a female mechanic circulated so fast that it was even necessary to make reservations in advance if you wanted to find some time to be checked.

They fell silent, and this time it was Darik who spoke.

"And Pan, what are you doing here? Did you finish your work early?

The brunette looked as if she remembered something. "No, but today I will leave early and that is why I came. How about going out to have fun at night? It's Friday and we haven't done it in a while."

"It's fine with me." He said.

But the mechanic were not in the same mood. "I do not know. I don't really want to go out."

"Come on Win. I already asked my boss for permission, Garfiel is going to say yes. Please."

"But-"

Paninya put on a more serious face. "It's because of him right?"

Winry looked at her as if she was challenging her. She knew it was a trap but she still didn't want to appear weak in front of her friend.

"OK, I will go. But a few drinks no more."

Paninya celebrated. "Ok guys, I'm coming tonight and we're leaving together." And with that the brunette left the workshop and went to her work.

They both waited for her friend to come out and be in the street to look at each other.

"She's right Win, you can't stay stuck in here all day. You don't even go out in the sun." Darik said with a look of concern.

The blonde was silent. She had never been one of the girls who went out partying every weekend. The only times she had gone out at night had been in Rush Valley with Paninya, and it would have been very few times due to the mechanic's denial of her work.

Paninya thought it was strange because she wasn't excited about partying like other girls, but perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that Winry was raised in a village, where clubs or bars don't abound, and where customs are more demure. Unlike in the city, where it seemed to be the norm every night.

Similarly, the few times she went out with Paninya it was just for a couple of drinks and little else. She wasn't too fascinated by the idea of being constantly surrounded by men trying to talk to her. She always found it uncomfortable and that it was neither the place nor the most correct way to court. In that aspect she was quite traditional.

But she thought it over as she continued the last chores and jobs in the workshop during the afternoon. Her friends just wanted her to have fun, they were the most considerate because they saw how she had spent the last few weeks. Winry felt that she should reciprocate their concern, so she ended up accepting the offer.

The mechanic had the rare hope that Garfiel wouldn't let her out. That there was an urgent request to attend at the last minute, or that a new prototype had to be designed. For good or bad luck, he gladly accepted.

"Of course I let you out dear." Her mentor said with a beaming smile.

"Really? Isn't there something I have to do?"

Garfiel laughed. "Why? To keep you locked up another night? Not my dear. In addition, winter is over, we do not have any urgent orders."

Winry shrugged. She resigned herself to some excuse. And her mentor seemed to pick up on her thoughts.

"Come out, you need it. I'll feel bad if you don't and I'll start crying."

Under the unusual threat, Winry put away her work tools, went upstairs to her room, and stepped into the shower. On leaving she decided what clothes she was going to wear. Her clothing repertoire was not as large as other wardrobes, but she did like to distinguish herself according to the occasion.

When she decided what to wear, a modest blouse and skirt, she fixed her hair and went down to the workshop. The door was open and Darik was waiting for her.

When he saw her, she could notice a certain movement on his part, she couldn't tell.

"You look- good," her assistant said with a smile.

"Thank you" was what she replied.

"Pan is waiting for us there." And both left the workshop.

The road was not very long. Rush Valley was characterized by being a small town even when it appeared to be large. Mainly due to the landscape of mountains that gave height to the town.

After walking less than ten minutes and talking about pleasant topics, they both arrived at the bar. The only one in the place and where the young people spent the weekend. As soon as they entered they saw her friend raise her hand for them to go to her table.

It didn't last even 10 seconds inside the premises for a person to get in his way. "Hi Winry, I didn't know you were coming today" he told her what she recognized as one of the town's mechanics, who had already asked her for an appointment before her and she cared so little that she didn't even remember his name. He paced her pace as he made his way to her table.

"Sorry, I came with a friend" was the most polite thing she could think of to get her to leave her, which worked. Once they both reached the table, Paninya looked at her with a laughing face.

"Not one day do the mechanics leave you alone, right?" said the brunette

"Mechanics, customers, even salespeople," Darik said acidly as he sat down.

"Forget it" said the blonde. Her friend was about to complain when the waiter steeled them.

"What do you want?"

"Whiskey," Winry said almost instantly.

"For the three of us," Darik continued as the waiter left.

"What's up? Has Mr. Garfiel already given you a vacation?"

"Still, but I'm sure he will because there are no customers to attend to" replied Darik.

The mechanic snorted. "You complain as if you made the plans and the pieces"

"Good, but sweeping and buying materials is also tiring"

Winry smiled. "That's right, sorry, you don't hate me for giving you a tired job right?"

"I would never hate you" he replied. Winry blushed.

Paninya stared at him. "Hey Darik, is it true that you worked as a bartender before?"

"Yes, of course, but not for long. In South City people are kind of boring and the bars don't stop very full."

"Tell him that you also worked as a bricklayer" said Winry

"Really?" her friend said

"Yes," he said, scratching his head nervously, "I stayed there longer, the pay was good."

"Then you could help me by fixing houses. It's more tiring but we don't work all week." Paninya replied. "Besides, they pay you better than being her assistant" she joked as she looked at Winry, who gave her a pouty look.

"If I could I would pay you more, but it is Mr. Garfiel who decides" she apologized to Darik

He smiled "Easy, I don't care now. I like working with you" he said as he looked at her and Paninya looked at them again.

"Here you are" said the waiter as he placed the whiskey and glasses on the table.

"The party is getting started." Paninya exclaimed

"Pan, don't scare me like the other day" said her friend

"What happened?" asked him

"Nothing, Winry is exaggerating." the brunette said as she poured herself a glass.

"Exaggerated? You disappeared to wake up at a stranger's house. And me worrying that something happened to you."

"It was Davon, and he is not a stranger. He is very handsome. " Said half blushing

"So you both are dating" said Darik

"Nope, I don't like him as a boyfriend. I went with him because he was handsome and moved well."

"Pan!" Winry said as she poured herself a glass.

"Dancing, god how dramatic." She said and took the first sip of it. "Besides, you rejected him so you can't complain."

"Because he harassed me, luckily he went with you."

"Anyway, today I want to find another handsome boy, but I don't see anyone." Paninya said that she did a quick survey of the place with her gaze.

"Like no one? Me too?" Darik joked with a reproachful face.

Winry burst out laughing, and Pan with an embarrassed face laughed too. "Sorry, sorry, but I'm not counting you."

"And why not?"

"Because it's not me you want to dance with." Pan exclaimed with a wry tone.

"Winry!" a voice was heard nearby. The three looked to the right and saw someone approaching the table.

"Liam! What are you doing here?"

"No, what are you doing here? You told me you would be busy working today." said the boy.

"Ah, you were the one in the morning, right?" Paninya said. "The one whose arm was repaired by Win."

"Yes, that's me." he said "Well?"

"Oh yes, that." the blonde said nervously. "They canceled the orders at the last minute, that's why I'm free."

"Oh well, thankfully that was it. I thought you lied to me." Liam replied.

"She would be unable to do it, what's more, she told me that she was sorry because she did want to be with you." Her friend said, who immediately received Winry's glare. What she didn't know is that she also received it from Darik.

"Really?!"

Suddenly the song that was playing in the place changed to one with a swing tone. The response was that some couples started going to the dance floor and those who were standing stayed.

After seeing the reaction of the people, Liam addressed the blonde with some embarrassment.

"Winry, since you're free, don't you want to dance?" he told her boldly.

The mechanic widened her eyes at the proposal, and as the morning was interrupted in her response.

"Excuse me, but she is accompanied." Darik said putting his hand between her and the boy standing in front of the table.

Liam did nothing more than look at him with a scowling face but with a certain resignation on his face, as if he had realized something. After he left, Winry looked back at him.

"Why do you always speak for me? I can manage myself?"

"I know you can, but that guy kept eating you up with his eyes. Your soft words weren't going to make it go away." Darik said as he followed the boy with his gaze.

"And what do you have? Are you the one who doesn't want anything with anyone? Wake up!" Pan said as she took another glass.

"Hey and why did I say that I wanted to be with him? Winry reproached her

"I just wanted to help you"

"Well you're not doing it"

Paninya set down her third empty glass on the table with force. "Look, I just want to have fun, and you being an anti-boy magnet isn't helping me. So, what do you think if we go dancing and take the opportunity to see the view?"

"You go if you want" she said taking her drink.

"Pan is right, come on Win." Darik said as he stood up from the table and took her hand. The blonde didn't know how to react to her friend who invited her to dance. Paninya on the other hand, also got up from her seat and took her other missing hand.

"At least for today don't be a spoilsport!"


A few hours had passed and the trio of friends were on the dance floor dancing to the sound of the song. Winry was looser and more stacked than she had been earlier in the evening, probably from the alcohol, but she wasn't drunk. Something that however could not be said of Pan.

"Whoah! ´ucking lov this song"

"You say that with all the songs!" said the blonde laughing

"Shut up!" the brunette replied in the same tone when the song had just ended. "Oh, come on"

"Let's go to the table." Darik said as he led them both.

Once they sat down, Paninya tried to pour herself another glass, but she realized that the bottle had run out. "Damn"

"Leave it alone Pan"

"But I want to" she said with a pout

"Don't worry, I'm going for another one. Wait." Darik said as he got up from her seat and went to the bar to get another bottle.

The moment she walked away, Pan, not so surreptitiously but enough so that he didn't notice her, stared at his ass obscenely from her seat. Winry, who saw her, hit her lightly on the arm.

"Hey!"

"What?! Let me enjoy the view"

"I did not know that you liked him."

After that, Pan turns to where her friend is. "He is handsome and tall. I would eat him but he is interested in another"

"Really? Who?"

Her friend rolls her eyes and makes an exaggerated sigh. "Oh my God. Do I really have to spell it for you?!"

"Would you help me because until now I don't know"

Pan brings the glass to his mouth and drinks the little liquor that was inside it. "Girl, I don't know what's wrong with you, you look like a mancatcher and you're not even interested in being one, I think you're a lesbian and you like me."

"Don't talk nonsense Pan"

"I don't know what else to believe. Either that or you're too blind."

"What are you talking about?"

"You didn't even notice who is looking at you now" with that Paninya surreptitiously directed her gaze in another direction of the table. Winry did the same and saw Liam, dancing with what looked like another girl, but his gaze was directed at her table. The moment they made eye contact, he stopped looking at her and focused on his mate.

"And he's not the only one." Her friend said as she looked in another direction. The blonde saw that there were three other boys who were looking at her in a not-so-disguised way either on the dance floor or at their tables. Winry could recognize that one of them had already asked her to dance that same night.

"Yes, that boy asked me to dance."

"And don't doubt that the other two will." "Now they're probably really hating Darik."

"Why?"

"Because they will believe that he is your boyfriend"

Winry looked at her with surprised eyes. "What!?" "Why would they think that?"

"If they see you dancing with him all the time, anyone would think the same."

"But I'm not with him. And you are here too."

Paninya pauses as she looks at her glass funny. Winry stifled a bit of laughter, but then she looks up and sees her.

"Do you like Darik?"

The blonde returned her gaze. "Da-Darik, of course not. We are co-workers, nothing more."

"That's not what people say..."

"And what do they say?"

"Well, you know, you live together, all day, with a lot of heat... Oh come on"

"No, I don't know what you mean. We are roommates who work together, I don't see the problem."

Paninya rolled her eyes again. "You really don't think he's handsome? You told me you like tall men."

Winry blushed at the comment and pretended to take a sip from her empty glass. "I mean, he's tall and manly, but that's all."

"Why? Because he is dark?

"What?! No!"

"Because your best friend is too huh."

"It's not that."

"Then?" Paninya said desperately. Winry was silent looking at her hands unable to answer. Her friend recomposed herself in her seat and shaking her head.

"I understand, he is not pipsqueak"

"No, Ed has nothing to do here." She said she trying to sound convincing.

"Win please forget it, he's not here."

The blonde looked at her but she fell silent again. She looked at the bar to see where her friend was or if he already came with the drink. Upon a quick inspection she saw him, but he was sitting down, apparently talking to what looked like a woman behind the counter who was one of the drink servers.

Paninya turned to see what her friend was looking at and observed the same thing. "You see, even she notices him and takes advantage. You are lucky that there are few women in the town."

"I already told you I don't like him. He can talk to whoever he wants."

"At least tell me you saw him naked."

"Come on Pan, really?"

"Yes, you only have one bathroom, at least once you should have crossed it, and he with you too."

Winry looked at her but after a few seconds she lifted the corner of her mouth a little and smiled. Pan saw her and laughed knowingly.

"You have! I knew it!"

"I had saw him a few times only, and with the towel on. Only that."

"But you saw him without a shirt. He has muscles? Tattoos?"

This time Winry was the one who rolled her eyes. "Yes, and yes"

"Cool. You got lucky." Her friend said as she turned around and looked at Darik again.

"We are friends."

"I don't think so. He wants something more."

"Pan.."

"Look, how about you try it tonight. If you don't like him or you can't forget about the dwarf, you forget him."

"Huh?! No, I'm not going to try anything."

"Stop being so puritanical. A one-nighter is not bad from time to time."

"Pan, please." Said the blonde already a little annoyed.

"No Winry, you listen to me" Pan said with the most serious tone that the mechanics heard in the night. It seemed as if the effect of the alcohol had worn off. "Enough of shutting you down every time I encourage you to go with a guy. All the time you make excuses that you don't even believe yourself." "It costs you nothing to forget about him for one night, just one. Later you can cry in your bed all you want."

The blonde looked at her with surprised eyes, it was the first of hers to see in a long time that her friend spoke to her with total seriousness about love.

"And what better company than Darik." Her friend finished.

Winry processed everything her friend said. Maybe she was being unfair to her friends. She always avoided any conversation that went beyond flirting because she felt that she was betraying someone. A boy she believed made a promise to, the same boy she waited for a long time.

"Alright. I'll try."

"Yes!. I'm proud of you." Pan said.

Suddenly her friend returned to inspect the place, as if she was looking for someone in particular. Once she found it, she smiled and turned to her.

"You don't mind me getting close to Liam do you?"

"Liam? I guess not." "Wait, you like him?"

"No, but he is kinda cute. I say this to leave you alone with Darik."

"WHAT?! Now?! But Pan-"

"What are you two talking about?" Darik interrupted them with a couple of full glasses as he returned to the table. Both girls turned in surprise and made room for him to sit down.

"Nothing, girl stuff." Winry said instantly.

"Sorry guys, but I think I'm going to talk to Liam. He's been giving me looks for a while now and I think he wants to talk to me." Paninya said in a funny way.

"With you? It won't be with Winry?"

"No, and if he's with her then I'll tell him she don't want anything with him, at least I'll make things clear to him." With that Paninya put down the glass and got up from her seat, adjusting her clothes.

"You really will go with him" said him.

"Yes, and don't wait for me. I managed to get back," she said giving Winry a quick look, as if she was giving her a signal. "Well, bye, guys. See you."

And without a chance to give them both a goodbye, Paninya walked from the table to the other end of the place and addressed the boy in question. It didn't last long for both of them to start talking pleasantly.

"And…she left us." Darik said.

"So it seems..." replied Winry, who was thinking how to get back at her friend tomorrow.