Disclaimer: I don't own FullMetal Alchemist. Someone else does. Someone . . . else . . . who I will blackmail.
Ahk! Not too much love in the last chapter, lol! Blaznxrapture is not a happy camper, but some of my reviewers understand that the misery will not last forever. But it is in this chapter. Bear with me.
Chapter 18 - Coming Home
People are home, but it's barely like last time. . .
Winry awoke, not as gently, not as beautifully, and not as happy like she used to. Overall, she was a shell of the person she was a while ago. At least she used to have hopes for Edward. Now she had nothing. He wasn't even Ed to her anymore, not even Edward. Now he was nothing, just like she was to him. Absolutely nothing.
She could remember the days where she had spoken to him, asking if the military was worth being away from her, and then he would've said no. But she's completely sure his answer was changed now. He wouldn't care if she had fallen off the face of the earth, it was one less thing on his guilty conscience. Even though, Winry was not one to mope, over the past few days, it was all she had done. She barely ate, she barely slept, she just sat all day, counting the specks in the ceiling. Pinako had done her best to comfort, but now knowing how Winry was when she was terribly upset, she stayed out of it, trying to at least make her eat her food. But today was different from the past depressing and boring days - Today was the day that the Elric brothers would come home.
Pinako understood this, and put Ed and Al's bed in a separate room this time, and she knew this would be the time they were coming home and there would be no Winry to welcome them. Winry barely existed anymore. Now she was just a boring girl who sat in her room, scanning through letters from a certain someone. Everything about her had become dull, her blue eyes seemed gray, her blonde hair no more then straw. She stood up from her bed, and took a shower, relieved at the steam that erupted from the curtains. It took her a while, she'd rather shower then having to face anyone, but eventually, she turned off the water, stepping out and grabbing a towel. She dressed in her jeans and a black tank top, plopping down on her bed as her wet hair started to dampen the pillow.
The pillow was always damp nowadays, whenever Winry found another reason why she wasn't as good as every other girl on the planet. When she heard a car pull up in the driveway, she knew who it was, and she wasn't please. Not even turning around to make sure, she just put her letters under her bed and buried her face in her pillow. No, she wouldn't throw her arms around the brothers today. Today, she would make sure it went normal, like they weren't even here. Anyways, that's what she was used to. Lone, little Winry . . .
When she heard the front door open, someone yelled, ''We're home!'' and she knew instantly it had to be Al, but there wasn't an echo into his voice anymore. Al was finally back to his normal self, but it seemed as if it were an unaffecting, normal everyday thought to Winry. She still didn't even look up from her spot in the pillow. Just because he was normal, doesn't mean she had to stop from being miserable.
There were more sounds coming from the kitchen, probably someone talking, and then there were marching steps up the stairs.
'Please don't open my door, please don't open my door . . .' She repeated over and over to herself. To her luck, the knob on the door turned, and the person who stood in the door wasn't Ed, it wasn't Al, it was Riza.
"Hey Winry!" Hawkeye closed the door behind her, and Winry looked up.
"Riza, what are you doing here?" Even her voice was dull, and obviously the older woman noticed because her smile slightly faded.
"Roy and I decided to come down again, for a while. Even now, we still do need to supervise the Elric brothers." Winry nodded and placed her face in the pillow again, hoping it would smother her. She didn't like half of the Elric brothers. "Winry, I heard what's happened, and I'm sorry . . ." Winry put her hand in the air and waved it off.
"You didn't do anything. You have no need to apologize." Her voice didn't change in tone throughout the whole sentence. It just stayed at the dull volume and voice that it had been. There was silence in the room for a minute, Riza was still trying to think of something that could cheer Winry up.
"Well . . . Pinako said you and I are to share your room, is that fine with you?" Winry nodded.
"Rather you then someone . . . else." Riza looked down at her hands, and was a little nervous as what to say. She didn't want to say anything that led Winry to a complete breakdown, but she wanted to help the girl out.
"What's been happening here while we were gone." Pinako then came in, carrying a mattress.
"Mope, mope, mope. Shower, sleep, mope, mope, mope." She said, almost insulting her young granddaughter, who would've been angry if it hadn't been true.
"Thanks Granny." She mumbled, burying her face even deeper into the pillow. Riza left, and Winry heard another pair of steps coming upstairs.
'Please don't open my door, please . . .' She begged, but she didn't prevail. The knob turned and once again, the door opened. Winry lifted her head up and saw one of the Elrics - Al. He had shaggy, light brown hair, and he was still taller then . . . the other, his eyes were brown, and he was pretty slim for someone who hadn't used their body in years.
"Hello, Winry." His human voice was a little deep, and almost attractive compared to his old, high-pitched squeaky voice. "Heard you were down, so, how do I look?"
"Handsome." She said, her one word answer still staring at the boy she felt she barely knew. He laughed. "And you're not lookin' so bad yourself." For being so young, he sure had a way with words.
"Although, you could use some cheering up, from your dearest childhood friend." Winry stared at him, confused. "So, what can I do to cure you . . . hmm. . ." He started to pretend to be in deep thought.
"How about we go for a walk, and talk about things." Winry peeked her head up a little higher from the pillow, her wet hair still a mess over her face. It had been a while since anyone invited Winry to do something.
"I guess." She said, sitting up on the bed. It would get her out of the house, after all. She grabbed her brush and started to pull it through her blonde hair, Al not taking his eyes off her, but still chatting.
"You didn't come to greet us at the door. That was a first." He said, leaning on the doorway. He was wearing something Winry expected Roy to wear - Khaki pants and a white button up shirt. It wasn't like Winry was dressed well either. After getting the knots out of her hair, she set the brush down.
"I didn't want to see him." She unsuccessfully tried to add venom into her words, but failed. She wasn't evil enough to add venom into her words yet. Al nodded, and Winry followed him out the door. They headed down the wooden staircase, until Winry paused on her steps upon the sights of him. Ed was there, chatting it away at the kitchen table. He didn't notice her, but Roy did. Winry prayed he wouldn't acknowledge her presence, but luck just didn't like her today.
"Hello, Winry." Winry gave him a small nod, and a weak, fake smile, and saw Ed's head turn. She looked away, feeling as if even the smallest encounter made her want to vomit. She definitely did not want to see or talk to him right now, and that just made her hurry faster to the door. Al opened it for her and she stepped out, making room for him. After he walked onto the porch she slammed the door. Then she opened it and slammed it again. It was quite a stress reliever. Just as she reached for the handle for a third time, Al grabbed her and yanked her away from it.
"Winry, cut it out!" He had restrained her by the waist, dragging her back.
"Just one more time Al! Just one more time!" Roy was looking out the window, and both he and Ed were baffled.
"What is her problem today?" Roy asked. Ed shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess she's pretty angry at me."
"I'd be too." Roy said before sitting down. Ed just rested his head in his hand. Staying here for a while was going to be pretty tough, and the tension in the house wasn't even at it's peak yet. Meanwhile, the two teens were still walking outside, Winry trying to subside her anger, Al trying to start a conversation.
"I imagine it's been lonely in the house."
"You have no idea." She grumbled, putting her hands in the pockets of her jeans.
"We missed you while we were gone."
"Correction, you missed me. I missed you too, Al. I just wish I didn't feel so crummy." She said, looking at the ground as they walked.
"Why are you feeling so crummy? Just tell me everything." He said, sitting on a rock near the side of the road. Winry sat next to him, knowing she wanted to avoid this. If she did tell him exactly how she felt, she might sound like an idiot, or even worse, cry.
"You know why." Al nodded.
"Of course I do, but tell me. Tell me exactly why you're mad, exactly why you're sad, and exactly what I can do to make you feel better." She leaned on the rock next to her and started to tell him. After all, he was her friend, she owed him his answer.
"I guess there was no warning to me. No hint that he would end up hurting me, until you, that is. And the fact that it was for another girl hurts even more. It's just so frustrating feeling that he lied to me the whole time, and it's frustrating to know that someone you cared about cares about someone else." The tears that stung were blinked away immediately. She felt like Al was practically a stranger, becoming a little more outgoing, charismatic, and she wouldn't want to show him her weakness.
"I know what you mean." Winry looked up at him from the ground she was sitting on.
"To be lied to?" He shook his head and stood off the rock, getting ready to walk again.
"No, to watch someone you care about care for someone else." Winry stared at him oddly, but he kept on walking. She had to admit, though, telling someone how she felt made her feel better, but it still left her confused. The walk was made short when they saw dark gray storm clouds approaching, and tried to run home. Luckily, by the time they ran through the door into Pinako's, it hadn't started yet. Winry closed the door shut, and just as she reached her hand to the knob to slam it again, Al caught her hand.
"That's going to become a habit." Winry turned around, and was relieved to see Ed missing from the kitchen table. That is until, Pinako called for Dinner and everyone came rushing down. Pinako, had once again, taken great precautions in the seating arrangements, everyone was sitting next to someone who could restrain the other. Winry was to the right of Hawkeye, who was to the right of Mustang, who was to the right of Pinako, who was to the right of Ed, who was to the right of Al, who was to the right of Winry. Also, the potato salad was closest to Winry. She was sure nothing bad would happen tonight.
Pinako took her seat at the head of the table, and watched as people politely filled their plates with food, starting on casual dinner conversation. Mostly, she noticed Winry hadn't looked up once unless it was to get her food, which she barely picked at. Edward was staring at her, contemplating amends, but it just didn't seem possible.
'Don't talk Ed. . .don't ruin my dinner table.' Pinako said to herself, but Edward spoke anyways.
"So, Winry. How've things been?" She didn't respond. Smart girl.
"Ignoring me?" He asked. She gave a tiny nod, and went back to eating. Edward too took another bite. Asking again, "You don't want to say anything at all?"
"You shouldn't talk with your mouth full." She said, her eyes burning into his. He blushed and gulped the food down. Obviously she did say something . . . And for the rest of the days here, anything she said wasn't going to be polite.
"Gee, don't pounce on me for it." He said, recalling the night Roy had made his biggest mistake. He looked over to see Mustang blushing. Pinako twitched. Dinner conversation. The inevitable fight starter. But thank the lords, Winry stayed silent, eating her food, but she felt Ed's glare on her.
"It's impolite to stare, too. You just have a lack of manners, Al, you should teach him some." Ed looked at her.
"And what manners do I lack?" He said, mocking politeness, and putting his head in his hands.
"One, elbows off the table. Two, napkin in your lap. Three, you chew with your mouth open. The list goes on and on . . ." She said. He blushed and took his elbows off the table. Were these things that he always did, but she hadn't noticed before?
"Children . . ." Pinako started, but that didn't stop Ed from arguing back.
"Well, Winry, you didn't seem to mind these things a while back." She promised herself she wouldn't attack him. Nope, she wouldn't hit him.
"Well, Edward, you were rather polite before. Obviously, you don't remember that it's disrespectful to Pinako to be rude in her house. But then again, you never really cared about the feelings of people in this house. . ." she said, while Pinako rushed into the kitchen to get a pan.
"Winry, wouldn't you rather talk about this outside, instead of the dinner table?" Winry shook her head and stood from her seat.
"No, that's fine, I think I'll be leaving now." She went over to the stairs, but Ed grabbed her wrist. Inside her head, she was thinking 'How dare he. . .'
"I think it's better if we talk." She stepped on his foot, making him let go.
"I don't think that's possible." She said before running upstairs to her room, and slamming the door. Then she slammed it again. . . and again . . . and again. When it stopped, there was a dead silence in the downstairs. Pinako's hand on her pan twitched. She smacked Ed.
"WHAT -smack- WERE -smack- YOU -smack- THINKING? -smack- YOU -smack- KNOW -smack- SHE -smack- DOESN'T -smack- WANT -smack- TO -smack- TALK -smack- TO -smack- YOU!" When she was done, she gave him a few more smacks before returning her trusty plan to it's rightful place. Ed had a huge lump on his head, but he sat down like a wounded puppy.
The next few days of the Pinako house went almost the same - Slamming doors at the sight of Ed, and Al found that the need to comfort Winry wasn't necessary. In fact, she acted like she was completely fine - Like Ed never existed.
"Winry, I have a question for you." Al asked, on one of their daily walks. Winry just nodded, looking ahead.
"Shoot." He looked at the ground, obviously nervous.
"Are you over Edward?" Winry of course, automatically lied about that as if it were a reflex.
"Yes I am. I guess it was just a little crush." She flashed him a fake smile, that he mistook for a real one. She turned to him. "Can I ask you a question?"
He looked thoughtfully and smiled. "I guess it's only fair. Go ahead." She paused for a moment.
"It's been bugging me since you guys first left. What was really wrong with you? I mean, you were upset." His smile disappeared, and was replaced with a blush, and Winry got a hint of what was going on.
"Well, it really sounds stupid. . ."
'Wait.' Her mind whispered.
". . . and I tried to hide it. . ."
'I get it. . .' Her mind said a little louder.
". . .but over the past few days. . ."
'Oh god. . .'
". . .I've been feeling it again. . ."
'Save me!' Her mind screamed, but her facial expression stayed the same.
". . .And Winry, I wanted to know. . ."
'Why did I have to lie!'
". . .If you'd. . .be my girlfriend." He looked at the ground again, blushing like mad.
'NO NO NO!' Her mind screamed. But, logic was telling her otherwise. I mean, why not? He helped her when she was down, cheered her when she was sad, why would she say no?
"Well?" He asked, her, his brown eyes trying to read her. They had failed, because he only understood the words that came out of her mouth.
"Of course, Al." She said, he hugged her and grinned. She decided to ask him.
"So you were upset . . . because you were jealous?" He sheepishly nodded.
"I knew you had feelings for Ed, so I hid mine. But when you guys started ya know, dating. . . I snapped."
They continued their walk, Al dominating the conversation, but inside, once again, Winry was crumbling. She didn't know if this was the right thing - In fact she was sure it wasn't, but if it would help her get over Ed, fine. She had to give Al a chance.
Like she had been for the past week, she plastered on a fake smile. It was sad, when she realized she hadn't had a genuine one in a real, long time.
-Avoids thrown objects- - ignore's the "Boo you suck!" coming from reviewers - ACK! I'm sorry! REALLY! Next chapter is going to be a heartbreaker, I can see it all now. . .I would like to apologize to the reviewers for putting them through the misery of the past two chapters.
Eirca - It's the right thing for now, but soon, things will probably be right until I screw them up again.
winryrockbell2 - Thank you for not being angry, you're one of the few! Thank you very very much for reviewing, you've been a great reviewer since I started writing.
Anicka - Ah, don't cry! He'll not do really mean things in the next chapter, okay? lol.
SavannahX - I've read a few EdXRose too, and they're appealing, but you're right. Ed is a dumb meanie.
Blaznxrapture - Er, guess this isn't a good time to point out you weren't the first reviewer in the last chapter? I'm very very very very very very very very very very sorry that I caused you much pain and misery, but if you kill me, you'll never see Ed and Winry together again, lol. Please don't hate me anymore!
Demon Lord Sesshomaru - Blaznxrapture is gonna be very angry at you for reviewing first hehe! Thank you very much for reviewing!
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