Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. I haven't owned it for the last 13 chapters. . .I won't own it for the rest of them either.
Chapter 14 - The third-wheel
Not everyone takes the news so well.
Winry and Edward were sitting on the patio bench, staring at the stars and talking. She was leaning on his shoulder, snuggled into a sweatshirt for warmth. It had been a day since Roy had told her, but she still couldn't look into his eye without hurting, so she only relief she found was talking to Ed. All was going fine, until the subject of Ed's departure.
"Winry, you know I can't stay here much longer. . ." She frowned and nodded. He had a little more then a week left. Eleven days to be exact, and Winry wasn't intending on spending any minute of those alone.
"I know Ed, I know." The idea had been stuck on her head ever since Roy had came, and it was becoming more and more apparent that she'd have to let go of him. "Will you write to me?" She looked up to him with hopeful blue eyes, and he smiled.
"Of course, as long as you'll write back." He didn't even have to intend it as a question, he knew that she would, and he knew he'd write almost everyday so she would be busy responding. "How long will you be gone?" Ed shrugged his shoulders.
"As long as Roy will make me work." Winry smiled to herself, knowing that wouldn't be much of a problem. Roy still owed her, and she'd make sure he'd pay her back. "I don't want to leave, but I'll be back, even if Roy doesn't let me."
"Promise?"
"I promise." With the simple words, he kissed Winry on the forehead, and smiled with it's effect. Even such a simple kiss sent electricity running down her spine with such an excitement it made her shiver. He stood up and went into the house, leaving Winry to think on her own. She couldn't stand the thought of being outside on such a cold night, she went inside for a quick cup of tea with Pinako. Come to think of it, she hadn't told Pinako anything about Edward and what had been happening, it was time to fill the woman in. When she sat down on the oak chair, Pinako was already prepared with a small cup for each of them, looking expectant for a piece of what was going on.
"Winry, you haven't told me much lately. How've things been?" It would hurt to tell Pinako that finally, she was together with Ed, and hear the taunting 'I told you so!' but, she knew it was inevitable.
"Me and Ed. . .we're sort of. . ." Pinako clasped her hands together.
". . .Dating?" The old woman finished the sentence, waiting for Winry's reply. Winry had never really called it dating, after all they hadn't been anywhere, but she thought of them as together. . .companions rather, but Winry still nodded. Pinako laughed.
"I told you so! And you thought sleeping in the same room with him was bad!" She was laughing, almost hysterically, but Winry just set her head in her hands and groaned. She'd never hear the end of it. "Does Al know?"
Pinako had ceased the hoarse giggling for a moment to ask. Winry had never really thought about how Al felt about it. . . or anyone for that matter. She really didn't know if Al would be excited, or kind of disturbed, but she just assumed Ed would have told him. "No. . .not really. . .do you think he'd be upset or something?" Pinako sat for a moment before putting thought into her answer.
"It might be a little strange for him, after all, you are one of his childhood friends. Perhaps it would be like being. . .the third wheel to him." Winry shrugged. She knew very well Ed would never go anywhere without Al tagging along, and it would be impossible for him to be treated like the third wheel.
"Maybe I should tell him?" Pinako nodded and Winry huffed, getting up to go upstairs where she assumed Al would be. As expected he was sitting down in the bedroom, most likely bored out of his mind. She took a seat next to him, just like she had when he told her about his plan to make Ed quit.
"Hey, Al." He didn't look up, but he knew she was there next to him.
"Ed joined the military again."
'So much for greetings. . .' Winry told herself. She sighed at the subject again, irritated that Al was still lingering on it. She couldn't believe that he didn't understand his brother's want and goal, that it was all for Al and he didn't appreciate it.
"I know. . .He has good intentions, Al." This perhaps wasn't the best time to tell Al that she was. . .well, dating his brother.
"I can't believe it Winry, you want him to go!?" Al emphasized the word "go" in an exasperated voice. Winry shook her head and looked at the ground.
"Of course I don't, Al, but why do you want to stay so much? It'd be so great to be out, moving around in the world, getting to see new things. Settling down means the same, repetitive routine that I deal with everyday. It's kind of fun . . .When you guys come back, you always have stories to tell me about the places you see."
"I want to stay because. . .I hate being away from home, if you know what I mean? I want a place to call home, something that's mine."
"Home's where the heart is, Al." Al just kept his stare at the floor and folded his hands together. "I want my home to be here, then." Winry stayed silent. She wanted to tell him so badly about her and Ed, not only to change the subject, but to finally get it out, but would he even understand? Things had been changing with him, and it wasn't only his goals and aspirations.
"If you're trying to spit out that you and Ed are together, he already told me." Winry looked up, relieved and surprised. She should've known better, those two were inseparable. "It just gives me more reason to question why you want us to go."
She never wanted them to go, but she didn't want to be the one that kept them back. They needed to travel, and she was used to being the support, the home that they came home to when they were tired. She wasn't used to them wanting to stay cooped up for once.
"Winry. . .have you ever thought of coming with us?" She stared for a moment. She could go with them, but that was out of the question. It'd be dangerous, they'd have to take care of her, and she'd be holding them back again.
"Al, I couldn't. I have a life here, the automail business, Pinako. I can't leave this place." Al stood up and flung his metal arms up in the air.
"Why not? Pinako can take care of herself and the automail business! If you really liked Ed that much, you wouldn't have a problem." Winry was at a loss for words. True, it was a great opportunity to see the world for once, and she wouldn't have to worry Ed leaving, but there was no way she could leave the house in Resembool, it wasn't her lifestyle.
"I do love Ed but. . ." Al didn't let her finish the sentence before he left the room, pushing his brother who attempted to enter out of the way.
"Al, what's your problem?" But Al just ran down the hallway, his metal armor echoing against the floors. Winry heard him start down the stairs and his voice call back out to them.
"Nothing! You two just have a great time while it lasts!" She waited a minute before hearing the kitchen door slam, leaving her and Edward confused.
"Winry. . .what happened just now?" Winry was still staring out into space, with no idea what had been going on. She stood up from the wooden ground blinking once or twice.
"I have no clue." But she still explained the whole situation, while Ed sat there patiently trying to piece things together. It must have been something relevant to being "the third-wheel" or left out, right? It was certainly deeper then the simple refusal of Winry tagging along. Ed nodded, barely believing his brother's outburst himself. Winry comfortably leaned on his shoulder, confused.
"I guess not everyone feels the same way about us, Win." Winry nodded.
"I know what you mean." It'd be rough around Al, but Winry wasn't even close to thinking about giving up because of that. Al would learn in time, and if he didn't she would take that risk. Because the truth was she loved Ed, and she wasn't going to let go. Even though he was going away for awhile, she'd still hold on, and if that made Al hate her so be it. She was disappointed, she thought he'd understand.
After a few more minutes of talking, and a kiss goodnight, both teens crawled into their beds, and fell asleep, with a departure and brother occupying their minds.
The next morning, Winry woke up alone in the bedroom with just a small bit of light seeping through the curtains. Ed's bed was unmade, and Winry predicted in middle of the night, Ed was worried about Al and left in a hurry. There wasn't a sound in the house she noticed as she dressed in the black tube top and red bandana. She hadn't paid attention to the automail in the basement for a bit, and now was the perfect time to start up again. Sighing, she marched down the stairs into the dark basement while upstairs, Riza was waking up.
She sat up in the simple bed and yawned. It had been a break for her not waking up at six and starting to work. Her only mission for now was to make sure Ed didn't get in trouble and that he came back safely, and it was by far the best mission she'd been on, like a paid vacation. There were ten days left, and she had already become attached to such a leisurely life. . .
When Riza reached for a hair-tie, her hand retreated for a moment, remembering what Roy had said, and reached for the hairbrush instead. She too liked the way the golden brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, it made her look less 'uptight.' Looking over her shoulder, Roy was still sleeping with his raven black hair a complete mess, covering his eyes. He was much less serious looking as he slept.
Following the same routine she had been for the past few weeks, she walked down the stairs and made coffee for Roy and Pinako to wake up to. It was a few minutes later until the old woman walked down the stairs, dressed in the plain green dress and white apron.
"Riza, I told you time and time again, you don't have to wake up so early. While you're here, jsut take some time off, I've been handling this household for a while." Riza took a seat at the kitchen table and nodded, but both women knew that tomorrow Riza would be up at the sun doing the same thing. She couldn't help it, she liked the idea of this routine, waking up early and taking care of others. . .perhaps in the future a man by the name of Roy. Shaking her romantic imagination out of her head, she turned to see the man himself marching down the stairs, and like everyday, heading for the coffee.
Roy took a seat, next to Riza, which she didn't mind. He picked up the morning paper, and scoffed at all the news about the military being idiots, and there was always an article about that. Riza just rolled her eyes at Mustang's neglect at greetings.
"Well, good morning to you too." She said out of no where, making Roy look up and take another sip.
"Good morning." He said cheerfully, attempting to imitate an excited child. One thing about this man was that he never grew up. He did, however, continue the conversation. "We're leaving in ten days,"
"I know. How can you sound eager to leave?" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Feeling useless, I guess." Mustang knew the real reason was that he wanted to get away from Winry, he didn't want to face her for another. . . say thirteen years? Pinako, on the other hand, didn't want any one of them to leave, she was getting used to so many guests, and she loved having company. Winry wasn't young anymore, and now Pinako had the chance to take care of everyone again. "Vacation" at the Pinako house was almost over, and there was still a mystery left.
What was up with Al?
Darn, what is up with these people with coffee? It's just their alibi when nothing big is happening, or for a conversation to take place. What else do you have to do in Pinako's house?
I know, not of my best writing potential, but when I write Ed's leaving, I have so many plans to make it wonderfully. . .wonderful. This chapter was setting things up for further chapters.
Thank you to my reviewers
Eirica - Thanks, yes that's all that matters )
Anicka - Yes, poor Roy. I know he kind of seems like the bad guy in the story, but all in all he will be forgiven )
SavannahX - Yes, when I learned Roy did that, I threw many objects at the screen, lol.
BlueberryTart - Yeah, that actually was a pretty long review, lol. I'll keep my mouth shut next time a twist is coming ) And I was about to say something, but I'm shutting the mouth, lol.
BlaznXrapture - The next chapter will be so fluffy even I will lose myself in fluffy fluff fluffs. I'm also planning on it being the longest of the chapters )
