Chapter 3

"Mrs. Hughes, thanks for everything. But I have to go."

"Why, is something wrong?" Gracias asked with concern.

"Everything is fine. It's just," Winry hesitated. She definitely did not want to tell Gracias about what happened last night. She tried to act as calm as possible. "It's granny. I called home, and found out she's not well. She needs my help with the automail shop."

Gracias did not see through her lies. "Oh, I understand then. When will you be leaving?"

"This afternoon."

"Okay then, why don't you stay for lunch? I'll make us some stew."

"Thank you very much, Mrs. Hughes."

Gracias was just so kind, so kind that Winry felt guilty about leaving. But if she was smart, she should've. If she stayed longer, who knows if Roy would pop up somewhere and do God-knows-what to her. He really scared her last night. She had heard about Roy's womanizing ways, not just from Ed, but from the soldiers around the Central Headquarter. She did not really believe what Roy said to her. However, Roy's action did freak her out. The best thing for her to do was to return to Resembool, stay away from Roy and pretend nothing happened.

After a wonderful appetite at the Hughes, with her things packed, Winry headed to the train station. Gracias offered a ride for her, but Winry declined. She felt it was too much from Gracias. She gave her a million thanks and went on her way.

---x---x---

When Roy arrived to the headquarter, wherever he went, people—soldiers, secretaries, his superiors—gave him the stares or glances of admiration and awe. He knew why, but he acted as if he knew nothing. Finally, when he found the Fuhrer standing in front of him by his office, everyone around him applauded, including the Fuhrer himself.

"Well done, Colonel Mustang," the Fuhrer said with a smile of satisfaction.

"May I know what this is about, sir?" Roy asked.

"You don't need to act like that, colonel. There is no outsider here. Major Armstrong told us everything." Fuhrer looked at Armstrong, the Iron Arm Alchemist.

"It is me who told the Fuhrer, sir," Armstrong said to Roy. "Miss Rockbell told me what she saw at Mrs. Hughes' party. She would not make up something like that. And Mrs. Hughes herself confirmed it."

"Your charity really bring a good reputation for the military," Fury said. "I'm so touched!"

"Colonel always does the best thing!" Breda added.

"Well, I just want to do whatever is the best for the military," Roy said.

"Well, nicely done," the Fuhrer couldn't stop smiling. "Colonel, I need to have a word with you." He eyes glanced at his office. Roy went to his office with him.

After the Fuhrer told his subordinates to leave and closed the door, he smirked and looked at Roy. "So, how did the thing go?"

Roy knew what he was talking about. "Everything is going well. But, it will take time."

"Take time? I thought you have the talent to allure girls to bed within a night!"

"She's not like other girls. I'm not just going to get laid with her, I'm going to make her give in, willingly."

"Whatever you say, colonel. But don't take too long. I don't want to you to show me the evidence in a few years. Better sooner, or later."

"I assure you, sir. It will be sooner."

"You are just so confident with this, colonel. Why are you so sure that she will give in?"

"Because I can see it in her eyes. She wants it."

"You see it in her eyes?" Fuhrer's eyes narrowed.

"Yes sir."

"All right then, nothing more. You are dismissed."

"Sir!" Roy saluted and left his office.

"You are not going to worry about the fullmetal boy?" a dark shadow merged in the back. It was a dark woman in a black dress with long black hair.

"It's nothing for you to worry about, Lust," the Fuhrer smirked.

"Don't you think things would be easier to get rid of him? Sooner the better."

"You'll see. Soon, I will see the fuel between fullmetal and the flame. The two will get rid of each other while we just sit in the back and watch."

The Fuhrer turned around and looked at Lust. "I want you and Gluttony to keep out of Fullmetal's way. Don't hurt him nor cause him any trouble. I want him come back safely as one piece."

"I don't understand, Pride. What are you up to?"

The Fuhrer left up the patch that covered his right eye, revealing the mark of Homunculus. "You'll see. It will be quite entertaining."

---x---x---

Roy sat comfortably in his chair and looking at the paperwork in front of him. But his heart was not in it. All he could think about was what happened last night with Winry. The scene when Winry ran away from him flashed in his mind over and over. The way she ran, the way she reacted, it was so attractive. Roy quietly laughed to himself. Young women, they believe in everything a man tells them.

That was plan A, to get her attention. It went well. So what's plan B? Plan B would get her to feel attracted to him. But how? As Roy was scratching his head, Havoc entered.

"Good day, sir! It seems like you really got yourself popular at the headquarter!"

"Cut it out. How was your night with Therese?" Roy tried to change the subject. He did not really care about the civilians. He was not intended to get any attention from the military. All he wanted was to be noticed by Winry.

"Therese was great! She was amazing! She was a goddess! She was…" Havoc babbled on and on. Roy pretended to listen. But it truly annoyed him. In fact, it was even more annoying that Hughes bragging about his daughter.

"Glad you had a good time," Roy interrupted him. "Got anything important?"

"Nothing much," Havoc replied. Then he thought about something. "Sir, I just saw Miss Rockbell."

"You did? How was she?"

"She looked as if she was in a hurry. She had a luggage. I take that she is on her way to the train—"

Roy immediately jumped up to his feet. Grabbing his coat, he looked sternly at Havoc.

"I just remembered, I have something important to do. Tell Hawkeye that I won't be back for a few hours."

Before Havoc said anything else, Roy told him, "Do not follow me. If anyone intends to follow me, tell that person not to. If anyone needs me for what-so-ever, tell that person I'll will not be available today."

Having that said, Roy left the building. He took a car and told the driver to drive him to the train station, fast.

So the girl is trying to escape. Well, not quick enough.

---x---x---

Just as Winry thought she could leave Central City, never come back and leave the memory of last night behind, she ran into the last person she wanted to see—Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang. He was standing right there in her way, as if he was blocking her from leaving. He also looked like he had been waiting for her.

Winry stopped, then thought better of it, she ignored Roy and tried to get on the train. But Roy caught her hand.

"Are you leaving? Where are you going?" he asked with concern.

"I'm going back to Resembool," Winry responded coolly.

"This soon?"

"Ed and Al are gone to their mission. There is no need for me to stay here."

"Of course there is the need for you to stay here," Roy paused for a second. "I need you to stay here."

"No." That was Winry's respond. "Let me go, please." Now she really wished she had her wrench.

"Please stay."

"I said no. Let me go, or I'll scream."

Roy released her hand, but he was still blocking her. "Why do you resent me?" he asked, hurt.

"I'm not resenting you. I really have to go, colonel," Winry said as nice as possible. "My grandmother needs me. I have a shop to run."

"Is it because of me? Was I a little too blunt last night?"

Now he brought up the real issue. "If you insist that I tell you the truth, then yes. You freak me out. Now, please get out of my way."

"Can't you accept my feelings?" he asked, almost begging.

"No, I can't accept your feelings, because I don't think you have any feelings to begin with."

"You think I'm just playing with you? Give me a reason. Tell me why I don't have true feelings for you."

As the two were arguing, the station announced that the train to Resembool is departing. Winry really had to go.

"I don't have time. I have to go, Colonel Mustang. Please, get out of my way!" Winry was almost furious.

"Can I write to you then?"

"No!" With that Winry shoved Roy aside. But Roy grabbed her arm and pressed his lips against her cheeks. Without a word, Winry broke away from him and hopped on the train. When the door was closed and train began to move, she felt relieved. Finally she got away from him. He loves her? Yeah right. He only gave her the creeps. A skirtchaser like him have no love for anyone. Perhaps it was her beauty that attracted. Maybe he was scheming something. Whatever the cause, he has no true love. When Winry looked out of the window, she found Roy still standing there, looking at her. As the train traveled further and further away from him, Roy's figure became smaller. But he was still there. That jerk just don't give up.

Roy did remain standing there, until the whole train was out of his sight. She might deny it now, but soon, she will give in. So far for plan B. Now he had more work to do: write.

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