Chapter Two

Jered was prompt if not a bit rumpled each morning he came in for the rest of the week. He and Winry got along splendidly, and they were often found laughing together or collaborating over a piece of automail. The best part, at least in Mr. Garfiel's opinion, was that Jered was an extremely fast learner and was quick to put his new skills to work.

The week flew by and before you knew it, it was Friday and it was getting near closing time, despite the piles of work left to do and the last few customers still lingering at the counter with Mr. Garfiel or in the chairs up front. Jered was helping one of the men in the chair, oil can in hand as he lubricated the knee joints and flexed the man's automail leg. The man sighed as the joint that had seized eased and flexed.

A darker skinned girl, short dark hair tied back, black tank top exposing an automail arm that started at the shoulder and baggy camouflage cargo pants walked in. Mr. Garfiel looked up from the customer he had been helping, noticed the girl and promptly averted his attention back to the customer. Jered noticed this odd behavior and went to approach the young woman, but she confidently strode past him, to the back counter where Winry was sitting at yet another work bench behind the back counter. Winry had her back to the customer and was focused on the foot she was working on. She leaned against the countertop and rapped her metal knuckles against the counter, catching the mechanics attention.

"Paninya!" She put down her tools and met the girl at the counter.

"We're still on for tonight, right?"

"Of course. We're almost done here." Winry indicated the last two customers, each being helped by either Mr. Garfiel or Jered.

Paninya seemed to notice Jered for the first time. "Who's the cute guy?"

"Hmm?" Winry looked away from her friend to follow her stare. "Jered?" She grinned at Paninya and elbowed her playfully, whispering, "You think he's cute?!"

Paninya looked flustered and blushed a bit. "Shut up." She muttered.

"I could invite him to the bar with us if you want." Winry continued to tease, but that had gone from a joke to a good idea once she said it aloud. Before Paninya had an opportunity to object, Winry called out again. "Hey, Jered! Come here!"

Jered was wiping off his greasy hands on a rag after helping his customer, but quickly approached the counter with a friendly smile. "What's up?"

"Got any plans after work?" She asked with a bright smile

Jered seemed a bit surprised. "Uh… no."

"Great! Want to come to the bar with us tonight?" She flashed him another brilliant smile.

"Umm… alright." He said, still looking a bit bewildered.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Winry said, clapping her hands in excitement. "This is my friend Paninya. Pan, this is Jered."

Paninya held out her automail hand for Jered to shake. "Nice to meet you."

"You as well." He shook her hand and gave the ladies a charming smile, green eyes flashing. "So, a bar, huh?"

Jered only had one beer after it became apparent that the girls didn't plan on slowing down anytime soon. The bar had been boisterous and busy and the three of them sat at the bar as the girls matched each other shot for shot.

Several men attempted to hit on the tipsy, giggling women and Jered was ready to step in, but the girls were used to this and had a routine. They would try to blow off the men, but the more persistent ones got their legs swept out from under them by Paninya or a nice right hook from her. Winry threatened a few with her ever present wrench that was tucked into her waistband, liberally swinging it at a man that had grabbed her rear, knocking him flat on his back, blood pouring from his nose.

Jered had come to find the girls antics highly entertaining and as the night wound down and tabs were paid, Jered offered to walk them home. They agreed, but linked arms and led the way as they stumbled down the street together, and when one would trip, the other would catch her before she had a chance to hit the ground. Being the responsible one, Jered did reach out and gently steer the girls back onto the sidewalk when they came dangerously close to falling into the street.

Their little trio slowly made their way through the streets before eventually making it to Dominic's automail shop where Paninya had a room above the shop.

"Bye Pan!" Winry threw her arms around her friend and Paninya patted her heavily on the back.

"Night." She pulled back and aimed a sloppy salute in Jered's direction. "See ya later."

Winry swayed on her feet, waiting for Paninya to fish the keys from her pocket, drop them and then eventually wiggle the key into the lock before finally opening the front door. She turned and gave one last lazy wave before closing the door behind her. Winry turned to face Jered with a big smile.

He gallantly offered her his arm in an overdone flourish and Winry giggled as she threaded her arm through his and they started off in the direction of Winry's apartment. Winry found herself leaning heavily on Jered as the alcohol dulled her senses and altered her equilibrium. She stumbled several times, Jered catching and correcting her until the fifth time where he stopped and before Winry realized what he was doing he swept her legs out from under her and easily hoisted her up in his arms, resuming the walk at a much faster pace now that he wasn't being slowed down by her drunken stumbling.

"Woah!" Winry cried, looking startled and Jered just grinned down at her.

"Sorry." He chuckled. "I just figured this would be faster."

Winry tilted her head back, which made her head spin and the stars in the sky dance. "Wow… hehehe…." She said in awe that dissolved into giggles.

Jered glanced down at her and just chuckled to himself, shaking his head. At the next intersection, Jered paused and glanced down at the young woman sprawled in his arms, still lost stargazing. He jostled her slightly to get her attention.

"Hey Winry…"

She pulled her gaze from the swimming stars and blinked at Jered, trying to bring him into focus. The brown fuzziness clarified into his tousled brown locks, then his startling green eyes came into focus and then she watched his mouth, surrounded by rough stubble as he spoke again.

"Which way is your apartment?" He asked slowly, his mouth stretching into an amused smile as she blinked at him again, registering his question and then slowly looking around at the surrounding buildings.

"Umm…" She mumbled, chewing her bottom lip, and scrunching her nose in the most adorable fashion as she concentrated. "That way." She said, pointing to the left. They continued in this manner, Jered having to get her attention at each intersection as she started to drift off, leaning her head on his chest as he easily carried her through the streets. After a block and a half of this, Winry sleepily instructed Jered to stop outside a small apartment complex.

"This one?" Jered asked, just to be sure. Her response was a sleepy nod. He approached the door and hesitated.

"Put me down." She murmured. With great care, Jered placed her on her feet and made sure she was steady as Winry dug in the pocket of her skirt for her keys and after a couple misses, was able to open the door.

Jered poked his head in and looked around curiously. "Which one is yours?"

Winry inhaled the cool night air, trying to clear her head, preparing for the climb. "Second floor, first door on the left."

"Ah!" She let out a startled yelp as she was swept off her feet once again. Her reaction got a chuckle in reply as Jered set off again. He easily navigated them both up the stairs and stopped outside the first door on the left. "Open the door." Jered urged.

"Put me down." Winry mumbled.

Jered adjusted her in his grip but didn't put her down. "Nope. Just open the door," he lowered her closer to the lock. "You still have the keys in your hand." He reminded her gently.

Winry glanced down at her hands still clutching her keys from earlier. "Oh." She fiddled with the lock until the door swung in. Jered stepped through the doorway and Winry flipped on the light. They were in a small hallway with a door on either side, a bathroom on the right with the door open and just beyond was a kitchen and a living room.

"Nice place." Jered said glancing around. "Which one is your room?"

"That one." Winry said, pointing at the door on the left and as he approached, she opened the door. Jered placed her gently on her bed and got to work untying her boots. Winry made halfhearted attempts to shoo him away, insisting she could do it herself. He ignored her and pulled the blankets up once he was done.

"Do you have any aspirin?"

Her eyes had closed, and she waved lazily in the air as she mumbled, "Bathroom."

It was a few minutes before he appeared by her bedside with a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water from the kitchen. He put both on her bedside table.

"Alright Winry," he said softly, and she cracked open blue eyes to look at him. "There's water next to your bed, take the aspirin in the morning." He started to leave the room, but he turned in the doorway. "I'll see you later Winry."

"Thanks Jered." Was her mumbled reply before he turned off the lights and let himself out.