Chapter Two
Al had tuned out Ed for hours now. He was well practiced, after all. Ed had been mumbling about Major Armstrong all day. If Winry had been trying to make Ed jealous - as Al suspected she had - she succeeded all too well. While Al found this to be amusing, his brother was driving him nuts.
Being locked up in the library with Ed working hadn't helped, nor had Selena's input. If Ed had upset Selena the day before, she showed no signs of it. She was even more sweet and helpful to Ed, and Al still thought it was all an act. Much to Selena's obvious chagrin, Ed was preoccupied with something other than her. As she worked carrying books to and from the brothers' table, she made much ado about being warm and divested herself of her little fuchsia jacket to reveal a soft white top that showed just a hint of forbidden bra lace. Al didn't think Ed even looked and eventually Selena found other things to do especially after catching Ed scrawling Winry's name on the margins of his notes without being aware he was doing it. That's when Ed noticed Selena, after his help had dried up. Al just kept his mouth shut, figuratively speaking.
Finally Al mentioned it was getting late and that Ed might want to think about eating. It was a sure sign of his brother's distraction that he had forgotten about food. Al shooed him out of the library. Let Ed go plan what he was going to do to the Strongarm Alchemist over dinner. At least with Ed's mouth full, Al wouldn't have to hear about it. He wisely didn't remind Ed it had taken the two of them to take down Major Armstrong and all the major really had to do was sit on Ed. He'd crush his brother.
As luck would have it – laughingly, Al decided - Major Armstrong and Lieutenant Havoc were with Colonel Mustang just a few blocks a head of them. They had been looking greedily into a bakery window at the half price leftovers from the morning prominently on display. From the sly look on the colonel's face, Al knew they had been spotted.
"Alphonse, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is looking for you," Mustang said.
"I know, sir. I was helping Edward. I can go find the Lieutenant Colonel now," Al replied, side stepping a few workmen who were putting up a holiday banner.
"He'll be at your office in an hour, Boss," Havoc said helpfully, lighting his cigarette.
"Oh good. You can talk to him there, Alphonse," Mustang said then added under his breath, "While I go out the window."
"So, Edward, find a date yet?" Havoc smirked around his cigarette.
"Not yet," Ed grated out, glaring at Armstrong. The older alchemist just looked puzzled as to why anyone would be giving him looks hotter than Mustang's alchemy.
Al hoped his brother wouldn't do anything rash then he spotted further trouble heading their way. He tapped Ed on the shoulder. "Winry's coming."
Ed looked down the street where Winry was heading their way with Lieutenant Hawkeye. Al noticed Havoc and Mustang taking a step back. Both women looked a little tired. Winry's coveralls were grease stained. Winry spared a little wave at Armstrong and Ed shook as if hit by his own private earthquake. Winry seemed to sense Ed's distress and beamed her best smile at the Strongarm Alchemist, who seemed somehow baffled by her attention. Al was torn between being mad at Winry for tormenting his brother and thinking maybe it would do Ed some good to stop taking people for granted. Al often wondered if Ed realized just how much people let them both get away with, like letting Al stay in the military barracks or just how much abuse Mustang willingly took. Imagine if Basque Gran had been Ed's commanding officer. Ed might think Mustang was a real bastard and maybe he was, but as far as Al was concerned the older alchemist was more than fair to them.
"Hello, Winry," Al said, determined to be sunny. "Are you done with that project yet? We're getting to see nothing of you."
"Almost, Al. We have the snow machine running and the punch fountain, too, and now we're working on a revolving dance floor for one section of the ball room," Winry said, stopping by Armstrong's side. Hawkeye took up safer residence near Havoc and Mustang.
"That ought to be fun," Al said, always amazed at how inventive Winry was.
"Why do you care, Al? They won't invite you," Ed said, grating out each word.
"Too bad, at least then we'd have the more pleasant brother to celebrate with," Winry said, her eyes narrowing at Ed. "Find a date yet, Ed?" she added, sweeter than a molehill of sugar.
"You should remedy that, Edward Elric," Armstrong rumbled. "These events are always even more enjoyable with fine company."
"Well, you should know," Ed snarled, his hands clenching, bone and metal popping. "How could you?" He whipped around to face Winry. "And how could you? He's so..."
"Brother," Al hissed in warning.
"Why not?" Winry got down in Ed's face. "Maybe I wanted to be seen with someone who wanted to be with me. I thought it would be nice to go to the ball with someone whose feet can actually touch the floor when he's sitting down to dinner."
"Ouch." Mustang winced, taking a few more steps back. Havoc and Hawkeye had already evacuated to a safer distance.
"Brother," Al said again, taking Ed's shoulder, feeling one of those private earthquakes shaking his brother again. He jumped back when fraternal limbs started flailing.
"Who are you calling so short he needs a booster chair just to reach his plate?"
"You, Bean!" Winry shot back, patting Ed's head.
"B-but you want to go with him," Ed managed to grate out, ducking away from her hand.
"What's so wrong with liking broad shoulders, all those rippling muscles...that height," Winry let that last word roll off her tongue.
Ed's cheeks mottled as he whipped back to Armstrong who still wore a confused look. His moustache twitched like a nervous caterpillar. "How could you ask Winry to the ball? She's too young for you!"
"I did no such thing, Edward," Armstrong protested, light dawning in his expressive eyes.
"I think Winry was trying to make a point, Brother," Al said, placatingly, catching hold of Ed's coat just in case he needed to dangle his brother until he calmed down.
"Do I sense a female plot afoot?" Mustang asked in an aside to Hawkeye.
"Not so much a plot as a ploy, sir," she replied, a pleased expression on her face. "It worked."
"The Major isn't taking you to the ball?" Ed asked, his shoulders slumping as he pulled free of Al. "But why..."
"Got your attention finally, didn't it?" Winry crossed her arms over her chest.
"This was just...Winry," Ed sputtered, stunned. "If you want to go to the ball that bad, fine, we'll go."
"Edward Elric!" Armstrong roared. "That is not how you ask a lady to accompany you to a dance. You need to be soft and romantic. You bring flowers and take her hand as you get down on your knees and ask." Armstrong demonstrated, dropping to one knee and with a flourish captured Winry's hand before the mortified girl could escape.
Ed groaned as the other officers snickered. Winry gave him a look, her hand lingering in Armstrong's as she saw the effect it had. Ed scowled. "I'm not doing that in public."
"Fine." Winry spun on her heel and started down the sidewalk.
Ed heaved a huge sigh then took off after her. "Winry!" He dragged out her name like a prayer. She still didn't stop. Ed had to run and grabbed her hand, pulling her to a stop. "I'm sorry."
"Do you even know why you're sorry, Ed or are you just saying it because the others are laughing at you?" Hurt shone in her big eyes.
"I'm saying it because...I know I've been a jerk about this whole ball thing. I didn't mean for you to get caught in the crossfire, Winry." Ed turned his face so she couldn't read his expression. "I just...I have trouble enjoying things when Al gets excluded."
Turning his chin back with a finger, she smiled softly at him. "I understand that, Ed. But you could be nicer to your friends about it. I bet you were even snapping at poor Al over this."
Ed hung his head. "You can't understand, Winry, the guilt..."
"I do understand, Ed. If I possessed your abilities, don't think I wouldn't have tried to bring back my parents," she said softly. "You're my oldest friend, Ed. And sometimes it hurts when you look right past me like I'm not even there."
Ed swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, Winry. I know I get too caught up in stuff but the only thing that matters is fixing Al."
"I know but it's okay to slow down a little, Ed, and not be quite so serious. I don't think Al would begrudge you a little fun," she said softly.
Ed looked away again. "I know." He cleared his throat. "I really don't want to get on my knees with Mustang and Havoc looking at me."
Winry smiled. "I don't think that will be necessary but you need to do better than 'fine we'll go'," she said in a bad imitation of his voice.
"Winry, I couldn't imagine anyone I'd rather go to the ball with. You saying yes to going with me would be the best thing that's happened to me in a while," he said, honestly not quite meeting her eyes.
"Now, that's a little better. I would love to go with you," Winry said, her smile softening. "Now I have to go fine a dress and shoes and your dress uniform is blue, right?"
Ed made a face. "Yes, I forgot about that dress uniform already. It doesn't fit. A dress?"
She crossed her arms over her chest. "You think I'm going in my work overalls?"
"Didn't you bring a dress?"
"Of course not. I didn't know I'd be going to a fancy dress ball," Winry replied tartly. "And you get that uniform tailored. I'm not going with you if you show up looking like a kid in Daddy's suit."
Ed sighed. "Whatever you need, put it on my account."
Winry kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Ed. I'd better get started."
Ed touched his cheek where the warmth of her lips lingered, watching her bounce down the street. He was a little too bemused to move for a few moments and by the time he was, Winry had collected Lieutenant Hawkeye and they were gone. Ed tried to keep the stupid smile off his face because he knew the older officers, with the exception of Armstrong, would be merciless.
"Uh, sorry, Major. It was a misunderstanding," Ed said, not quite looking at Armstrong.
The major's heavy hand fell on his shoulder. Ed was surprised the automail didn't cave. "Your brother explained it, Edward."
Ed's eyes widened. "Explained what, Al?"
"That Winry was trying to make you jealous and that it worked too well," Al replied in such a tone that Ed could have sworn his brother was smiling.
"Have you figured out how to talk to a lady now, Fullmetal?" There was no doubting Mustang was laughing at him.
Ed scowled. "I can talk to a lady just fine."
Mustang and Havoc snorted in unison. Armstrong's big hand patted Ed's shoulder again, nearly crushing him to the sidewalk.
"Good, Edward Elric, then you'll be able to sweep her off her feet on the dance floor," Armstrong said, waltzing in a demonstrative circle.
"The revolving dance floor," Havoc put in, drawing a circle in the air with the end of his cigarette.
"Oh damn!" Ed spat. "I'm a dead man."
"What is it, Brother?"
"I can't dance!" Ed wailed.
"Yes, you are a dead man, Fullmetal." Mustang smirked. "Girls like to dance."
"It can't be as bad as all that, can it, Brother?" Al said, hopefully.
"Al, have you ever seen me even try to dance?" Ed asked, resignation on his face. Winry would kill him.
"Edward Elric, you are an agile, acrobatic young man. You can learn to dance," Armstrong said. "I can show you the dance steps handed down the Armstrong line for generations." Armstrong swept Havoc up and gave Ed a quick demonstration of a few Armstrong steps, oblivious to Havoc's frantically flailing limbs.
"Uh..." Ed shot Mustang a panicked look.
"Why don't you save those moves, Major," Mustang said. "Fullmetal's too short to partner up with anyone from the Armstrong line, even if it is just for a few dance lessons. Well, maybe Katryn but she wouldn't have him."
Ed opened his mouth to protest, eyed up where his face would be against Armstrong if he was trying to dance then said. "Good point, sir."
"Don't worry, Edward. We'll find someone who can teach you to dance," Mustang promised with a wave as Armstrong and Havoc followed him down the street.
"I'm so dead," Ed sighed.
"Brother, did Winry kiss you?" Al asked so slyly Ed thought he must have been taking lessons from the Colonel.
He smiled widely, touching his cheek. "Yeah." He smiled widely, touching his cheek, then his face fell. "And when she finds out I can't dance..."
"Then you'd better learn to dance, Brother, and fast."