Pairing: Al/Winry, hinted Ed+Winry
Notes: Post FMA, assumes restored Al. Blame the project me and a friend are working on. XD Also, thanks to DevilsDevotion (from LJ) and Anime Monster for betaing. I haven't updated this because the last thing I wrote (Last Kiss) ended up becoming a ficlet and not a drabble so I posted it up seperately.
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
It had taken Ed a lot of coaxing, but he was finally able to convince Al to go up to Winry and finally tell her. She was leaning over a work table, tweaking a few parts of an automail limb she was working on, when Al approached. He carried a wrapped box under his arm, blushing lightly as he cleared his throat. Maybe he should come back later, when she wasn't busy...?
Al began to edge away, when Winry turned around at the movement. Too late, he would have to go through with this. Al took a deep breath as Winry's eyes landed on the box he held.
"Al, what's the box for? Is it the new parts I ordered?"
He shook his head, handing the object to her. "Actually, it's something I picked up for you in Central. Found it in an import shop and thought you might like it."
Al waited nervously as Winry unwrapped the box carefully, clearly confused. She pushed away the wrapping revealing a carved, wooden rectangular box. Her fingers brushed the clasp as she opened it cautiously. Music filled the room as soon as the lid was lifted up. Winry stared at it in amazement as she examined the inside with a craftsman's experienced eye.
"Al, this is amazing... How'd they accomplish something like this?" Her gaze moved from the music box to Al. "Did the shopkeeper tell you anything about it?"
He shook his head. "He only knew that it came from Xing." Al felt that leaving out all the searching and haggling for the gift would be best. The store owner felt that since it was an import from a far away country and that it was rare that it had to be worth a mint. Al's flushed, panicky face didn't exactly help out in getting a lower price.
Winry nodded, closing the box and listening to the fading echo of music. A smile quickly appeared on her face and Al mimicked it nervously when she faced him. Winry calmly set the box down on her work bench before wrapping her arms around Al's neck and pulling him into a light embrace.
"Thanks, Al, this means a lot to me."
"Ah, I'm glad you like it Winry..."
Winry pulled away, glancing around behind Al, noticing that someone was missing. "Eh? Al, where's Ed?"
Al looked a bit shocked at the sudden topic change. "Ed? Oh, I think he's outside..."
She smiled, moving her hands to grab a few tools. "I need to go perform a bit of maintence. Thanks again for the music box!" Winry smiled brightly before hurrying outside to find Ed, leaving Al to stand around slightly dazed.
Ed shifted into a more comfortable position as Winry poked around inside his automail. He continuously threw glances at Winry, until she finally became fed up with it.
"Ed, will you sit still or tell me what's wrong?"
Ed settled down, somewhat nervously. "So, did Al give you that box yet?"
Winry watched him for a moment before replying, "Yeah, he did. Why?"
"Oh no reason..." Ed fidgeted a bit more before continuing, "Just that it took a while before he was able to find it. And the shopkeeper kept trying to up the price..."
She paused for a moment, milling over the information. She then set down the tools on the table next to Ed, before walking out of the room calmly to find Al.
Al sat at the dining room table, his arms folded on the surface and his head resting on top of them. He was staring through the doorway at Winry's workbench where the music box lay. He was still musing with ways he could tell Winry how he felt when she walked in and took a seat next to him.
"Hey Al..."
Al left his head. "H-hey Winry..."
They sat in silence for a moment, Al fiddling with the edge of the table cloth and Winry staring at it.
"Al, if you want we could go out to eat somewhere. I've got some time right now..."
Al looked up, surprise written out on his face. "Really?"
Winry smiled brightly, grabbing Al's wrist as she stood. "C'mon! Let's get going before it gets too late!"
Al allowed himself to be dragged and wondered briefly if they built any restaurants in Rizenbul since he and Ed had last been here.
