Start Over
That first night had been a little bit awkward. Winry and Ed were so unsure of how to act around one another. They hadn't spent that much time together since they were young kids.
It was true. When Ed and Al ever came back to Risembool, it was only to fix something. They would get it fixed, and then be on their way. The most time they would spend together was when they first came, and when they left. In some ways, it felt like the most they'd ever said was "Hello", and "Good-bye".
But now, they were staying for good. Winry was overjoyed that they were, but she didn't know how to show it to the boys, particularly Ed.
Al, on the other hand, had no qualms about his happiness at being home. Every morning he would run into the living room, scaring Pinako every time, wearing a big smile on his face. There was never a time when he wasn't asking to go into town, or to go fishing down by the stream.
And of course, he hadn't forgotten about school.
On the seventh day of being there, Al sought out Winry to ask if she could enroll him into the next school year.
He found her sitting at her workbench. She was repairing something for one of the townspeople, a clock it looked like. Al came up to the side of her, watching as she unscrewed something from the clock and set it aside. She didn't look up when he came over, but she asked suddenly,
"Whatcha need, Al?" He jumped slightly, but recovered.
"I was wondering if you could enroll me into school today." His voice barely contained his hope that she would say yes.
Winry sat down her tools, brushing off her hands on her apron. She sighed loudly as she did so. Al thought she was about to say no. She just looked so tired, almost disappointed. He wondered what could be wrong. For a moment, she didn't say any thing, then her face brightened, and she replied,
"Okay, Al. We can head into town this afternoon."
He leaned forward, unbelieving. "Really!" he exclaimed. Without waiting for an answer, he gave her a brief hug before running out of the room, calling out to Ed.
Winry smiled at Al's happiness. She was glad that the little boy was finally getting the opportunity to live a normal life. He'd spent almost all of his childhood inside of a cold, metal armor. Her smile slipped at the thought of everything Al and Ed had gone through.
When they'd left to go and retrieve the Philosopher's Stone, Winry had cried for three days. Her only friends in the entire town had left. She could still remember Ed, young and innocent, shouting on his bed as Pinako fixed onto his numbs the metal that would connect his nerves to the auto mail. He'd barely shed a tear, but Winry had watched from the doorway, cringing every time his shout pierced the night air.
"Oh, Ed…" she whispered, turning once again to her work. Their lives had been so hard. Would they ever recover from their past?
OOO
Al found his brother sitting outside, leaning against a tree trunk not far from the house. The Fullmetal had stopped wearing his leather pants and red jacket, opting for looser, comfortable clothing. When Alphonse approached him, Ed had his arms behind his head, his eyes closed in sleep. He wore a white t-shirt and blue shorts.
Al bent over and poked his brother on the shoulder. "Brother? Wake up. I've got some good news!"
Ed's left eye opened a fraction, drowsily glancing at Al as if he didn't even see him. Then, with a start, his eyes flew open and his arms flailed from behind his head.
"Whoa, Al! You scared the hell out of me!" He shouted, Al's face inches from his own.
Ed's younger brother leaned back a little, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, brother. But I have some great news!" Ed's eyes widened in curiosity.
"What is it, Al?" He asked, pushing himself up into a sitting position.
"Winry is taking me into town today. She's going to enroll me into school!" Al cried, his triumph obvious on his face.
Ed frowned slightly, then a rye smile spread across his face. "Honestly, Al, I will never understand why you want to go to school so badly. But if you want to, then I guess I'm happy for you."
Al nodded. "I know, brother. I just…I want to start over. I really want to." His eyes took on a distant look as he spoke, remembering past times. They hadn't been a waste. Al would never think of his experience in the armor as one. But it was a different life than the one he had planned. And now, he was given a second chance. Ed had been given one as well.
"Brother?" Al asked after a moment. Ed had been looking out over the fields, watching the clouds make shadows on the earth.
Ed didn't look back, but replied, "Yeah?"
"How are you going to start over?"
Now Edward did look back at his brother. He looked as though he'd just considered this option for the first time. Starting over, huh? How could he do that? Ed sat there, considering it.
What was something he'd always wanted to do? Al had never really gone to school before, and so he was getting enrolled for next year. What could Ed do that would help him begin his new life?
Well, he thought, I've had a job. I've been pretty much everywhere in the country. So, traveling is out. I've been chased, knocked about and almost killed. Those were memories he'd rather not relive. So what could he do?
An image, fleeting, swept across his vision. It was Winry, as she'd been as a little girl. Her shoulder length blonde hair, her bright blue eyes, they were so clear in his mind. She had wore that plain white dress, always getting it dirty and messy from playing with them so much. He smiled as the image changed into the Winry he knew today.
Wait, he asked himself. What does this mean? He pushed the image of Winry from his mind. Was it Winry he was getting a second chance with?
"Well?" Ed shook his head, realizing Al was still waiting for an answer.
Ed smirked, ruffling Al's hair. "I'll start over by doing nothing. I've done everything I can. So I'll just sit back and relax." So saying, Ed leaned back against the tree, his hands clasped behind his neck.
Al laughed a little bit at Ed's response. "Okay, brother." He said, though he didn't sound too convinced when he did. Al stood up from his crouched position, dusting off his black pants. "Well, I'm going back inside." With a thoughtful look at his brother's words, Al walked back into the house.
Ed watched him leave. Al didn't believe him, he was sure. And truthfully, he didn't believe himself. He didn't want to sit around and do nothing. In fact lately, he'd been thinking of doing the exact opposite.
It was so strange, living in the house again, being around Winry all the time. He felt so many emotions churning inside him. What should he say, what should he do? He could never think of anything. This made him even more frustrated. Why couldn't he damn well control himself?
When he was part of the government, a "dog", he'd had a purpose. He was on a journey, a mission. And now that he'd completed that mission, he didn't know what to do with himself.
He gazed up into the leaves over his head. Maybe…maybe he could start over. But could Winry possibly be the key to that new beginning?
OOO
Winry and Al walked through the busy streets of Risembool. They'd walked just over a mile to reach the town. Al walked next to Winry, occasionally looking at her as they did.
They'd left the house a little over a half an hour ago. Winry had just finished mending the clock, ready to return it to the owner. Al and she were just about to leave. When they went to walk out of the house, Ed stepped into the hallway.
Al could still remember how both of them had looked. Winry had looked glad to see Ed, and she smiled at him. He could also remember his brother's face. He'd worn a look of confusion at Winry's good attitude, and also a look of caution. He'd given her a small smile, a quick wave, and then he'd disappeared into the kitchen.
The whole trip into town, Winry had worn the same look of disappointment as before. Al knew for certain that it had something to do with Ed. What was happening between them? He wondered. Could it be that they weren't getting along? Al puzzled over this long into the walk, and by now, he was sure what the answer to Winry's sour mood was.
"Winry, are you worried about something?"
Winry looked over toward Alphonse as they walked. She smiled widely, a false grin, and asked with a laugh,
"What are you talking about, Al? I'm not worried about anything."
Al could tell she was lying. "Please, Winry. You can tell me."
She laughed again, only this time it was a sad laugh. "Al, even I can't tell you what I'm feeling right now. I guess…"
She stopped walking and turned to face him completely. He stopped as well. The bustle of the townspeople went on around them. "What is it?" he prompted.
"I feel like, well, with you and your brother back to normal…" She trailed off, casting her eyes down to the ground. "Neither of you…really need me any more." Her bangs hid her eyes, which revealed all of the sadness she'd kept from the Elric brothers.
Al was shocked. He opened his mouth to protest, but Winry held up a hand to shush him.
"And I know it's true. When you and your brother came to Risembool in the past, it was only to fix your auto mail and be on your way. Now, it's like we don't have anything to talk about."
Al knew she wasn't talking about him. She meant Ed. She and Ed had barely said a word to each other since they'd arrived. He worried about this, hoping they wouldn't be so distant with each other. But it was like with each passing day, they grew further and further apart. Hadn't they liked each other once?
"But Winry, Ed and I need you a lot!" Al protested. "You weren't just our technician, you were our friend."
"Oh Al, I am your friend, but…." Winry sighed. "You just don't understand."
Al frowned. He really didn't know what she was going through. And he certainly didn't know what his brother was doing, never talking to Winry or even spending time with her. Al could remember the times when Ed had written her letters at Central, embarrassed when Al saw him writing. He'd cared for her then. Didn't he still?
Winry's face brightened suddenly, as if the bad mood from before had never been there. "Come on, Al. The school isn't far from here. We'll get you signed up, and in two months time, you'll be in school!" Her voice was cheery, and Al decided, that for the moment, he would let the topic drop.
They continued on. Al soon forgot about Winry's sadness when the school building came into view. He smiled widely and gave a little laugh of excitement. Running ahead of the blonde girl, he raced into the schoolyard. In two months, he'd be in school with normal students, with children his own age. He couldn't wait.
"Come on, Winry!" He turned, calling to her. Winry smiled, and hitching the mended clock higher onto her waist, followed the energetic teenager into the building.
AN: Sad, I know. Winry feels unimportant because Ed doesn't talk to her. And Ed feels confused by his emotions and is too unsure to speak to Winry. Al can clearly see they aren't happy without each other. Oh god…love can be so confusing sometimes. Read and Review. &Niiroke&
