A/N: Hey everyone, apologies for not updating in a while, there's a whole epidemic of colds and flus circulating around here and I think I just recovered from my last high fever . Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

ANSWERS TO REVIEWS:

Kaoruca: haha I'll take that as a compliment ^^ Thanks for liking my one shots so far, your reviews made my day :3

Panic: Panic! (hugs) Aw, man and I thought the ground swallowed you up! :) haha Gotta admit I missed you (I'm still wondering where some of the others are) but I'm glad you're still alive after all ;) Don't worry, I understand life getting in the way, I'm pretty busy too. Wow, attorney-in-training huh? Very impressive, you have my full respect. My mother studied law, when she showed me her old books she used to study from…well…I can only imagine the amounts of headache one has to endure to memorize everything and categorize that knowledge (I know my head would explode) ^^ haha As always, thanks for your lovely reviews my friend :3

Prompt: Set during the events of the night before the Promised Day, but with Lena in it as a twist! I added my own idea into how it would go! Requested by: (guest) FMA4Ever.

Unspoken Flattery

"Oh, man, she's a peach," Greed grinned saucily as the fuming man made his way silently downstairs, stopping to stand in front of the smirking Homunculus, "Sounds like she wants everything, my kinda girl,"

Ed frowned and turned back to Greed, "That kinda want is dangerous, it's not how reality works," he stared down at his automail arm and his frown deepened.

"You may want to bring back someone you've lost, you may want money, maybe you want women or you might want to protect the world. It's all common things people want. Greed may not be good, but it's not so bad either." Greed watched the blond go down the stairs, a hard look in his eyes, but he wasn't done talking just yet, "You humans think greed is just for money and power, but everyone wants something they don't have,"

Greed smiled when Edward faltered, stopping mid-step at the bottom of the stairs, letting Greed's words sink in for the duration of a minute before he continued walking.

Greed heard the front door open and close and he sighed, smiling reverently. He said what needed to be said, what the kid did with his words was up to him.

"What did you tell him?" his eyes widened when he spotted Lena leaning against the stairwell at the bottom of the stairs, glaring up at him suspiciously before slowly ascending them.

He listened to her approaching footsteps, lips set into a thin line, "Nothing, just the truth,"

Lena frowned and instead of stopping by his side like the Homunculus expected, the warrior continued walking instead, going up to presumably talk to Winry, "I don't think sugar coated words are gonna be a big help here,"

The brunette turned her head just so, a haughty look in her eyes when they narrowed at him, "Now who said I would sugar coat them?"

Greed frowned in confusion, arms still crossed.

Lena resumed walking again when it seemed like her reluctant ally wouldn't speak again, but then he did and she stopped in her tracks, "Hey,"

Greed shifted on his position against the wall when she partly turned her body around to look at him, he looked away, "You can always go to Xing or in any other country to escape the Transmutation Circle. So why are you sticking along for the big fight?" he finally turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

He didn't understand this woman.

She had tried killing him on multiple occasions, he sometimes suspected she still did, and she defended him from a mob when he had been injured. Her actions sometimes didn't match with her words, saying she hated him when she still helped him or joked with him.

Women. Enigmas.

She remained silent for a long time, but when she did finally speak, she sounded surprisingly calm, "I told you, didn't I? Ed and the others are my friends. And…this is my home too, I won't let it get destroyed just because some crazy old man thinks he can rule the world. No offense," she pointedly looked at him and Greed laughed.

"Crazy old man, huh? Didn't know you think that about me," he smirked, but his tone didn't quite match his words.

Lena stared at the wall, smiling slightly, "Well, let's just say I think a little more about you than just being a crazy old power-hungry guy," she giggled and Greed chuckled.

"Maybe I think a little more about you than just being a stubborn woman with fancy kicks and punches," he grinned, all sharp teeth.

A mischievous smile was on her face, "Do I want to know?"

"Oh, I think you'll be flattered," his grin widened.

Lena smirked when he asked, "Do I want to know what you think of me?"

She paused for a moment, licking her lips in thought, Greed's eyes absentmindedly following the movement, before shooting back up to her eyes when she spoke again, smiling widely, "Oh, I think you'll be flattered,"

For a long moment, none of them said anything, until they both released amused chuckles.

With a look of understanding, Greed watched her ascend the few remaining steps towards Winry's room, knocking softly and waiting.

When the mechanic's voice curtly issued her permission, Lena disappeared behind the now closed door, greeting the mechanic fondly, and Greed was left alone to his thoughts again.

"Well, I sure know what you think of her!" Ling's teasing voice rang out loudly through his mind, outmatching any and all souls he had in him.

Greed cringed, growling lowly under his breath, "Yeah, well nobody asked you!"

The stupid prince cackled loudly, "We won't know until we switch! I'm sure Lena is interested to know how toned you think her legs are!"

Greed swore he would kill the prince for his obnoxious laughter, "Shut the hell up! There's nothing wrong with admiring a fighter's physical traits! And besides, I'm a guy, I look," he crossed his arms uncomfortably tight, frowning.

Ling laughed again, "Oh you do more than just look Greed!"

Greed swore softly under his breath, "That was different! I grabbed her because Gluttony tossed her at me like a rag doll! What was I supposed to do? Stare and wave while she crashed into me?" now he was getting angry.

"With your hand on her butt!"

Greed felt himself fluster uncharacteristically, "Watch it prince! My hand slipped I told you that!"

Ling stuck his tongue out at the enraged Homunculus, "Oh yeah? That's the oldest excuse in the book! As if I would believe something like that!"

Lena and Winry both listened to Greed's seemingly one-sided conversation, with the Homunculus increasingly growing more irritated by the second.

"What's his problem?" Winry's arched eyebrow shot to her hairline.

Lena sighed with a hand on her hip, "Probably Ling messing with him again," she rolled her eyes, "Ahem, anyway," her voice softened, stance considerably more relaxed when not confronting the man outside, "How are you holding up with everything?"

She wasn't entirely sure how to go about this what with Ed storming out on her, but she would somehow coax Winry to talk.

The blonde sighed, packing away her tools, "Fine, I guess." Another great sigh, the wrench she held in her hand was now on the desk, "Ed just-ugh!" she shook her head, throwing her hands up over her head.

"…Is just being Ed?" she grinned sheepishly.

Winry looked at her and smiled, "Y-yeah…" her shoulders slumped and she moved toward the bed, Lena sat down next to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, waiting patiently for her to say something, "He's doubting himself, Lena."

The martial artist chuckled, "I don't think it's really that, at least in the way you think." She tried to choose her words carefully to not make her more upset, "I mean…the weight of the world rests on his shoulders basically, talk about pressure, huh?" she grinned, "He's just scared something will go wrong, it's understandable when you think about who we've got to deal with," she sighed.

"Can you tell me…what that Father guy is like? I heard he looks like Hohenheim," Winry's questioning, sad eyes were fixed upon Lena's.

The alchemist frowned, "Yeah…well, a crazier, more evil version of him anyway. He's the creator of the Homunculi, he uh, he separated his emotions into the "sins" to make himself more powerful, since he thought without "weak" human emotions he would become something like the 'perfect being' who can even rival God in power." Lena fell quiet, thinking over what next to say, "He's a very powerful foe, I don't blame Ed for feeling the way he does, but I understand you too. You hate seeing him with doubt, especially for his usually determined self,"

Winry nodded, "Ed's always done everything he put his mind to, just like he never faltered once to do everything he could to bring their bodies back. It's just…scary seeing him like this,"

Lena sighed, "I get that." Both women fell silent, thinking over each-others words, before Lena began again, "Still…he needs all the support he can get. None of us know if we will survive the Promised Day or not or who will. He's behaving like an idiot because he doesn't know how else to show his feelings, you know that better than anyone." Winry snorted but silently agreed.

Then, Lena stood up, "Well, I'm gonna go see what that damn Homunculus is up to, I still don't trust him, even if Ling is still in there," she scoffed, going for the door.

She froze when Winry suddenly spoke up in a teasing voice, "Really? I got the impression that you guys warmed up to each-other,"

Lena stiffened, "Whatever gave you that idea? I can barely stand the guy!"

Winry giggled, "I hear you guys bickering from time to time, it actually reminds me a bit of Ed and I," she smiled sadly, "I long since accepted what I feel for him, maybe it's time you did too?" she grinned.

Lena flushed uncomfortably, turning the knob and opening the door, spying Greed no longer in the hallway, "Tch, I barely know the guy, besides he looks like trouble, so I wouldn't count on anything happening at all. Besides, he's a Homunculus…I.. doubt he would be capable of any such feelings," she shrugged half-heartedly, clearing her throat, "Right, good night Winry, try to rest," she smiled at her friend.

Winry returned the smile, "Thanks Lena, you too."

With that, the brunette closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath.

That went well.

She stretched, slowly walking down the stairs.

At least Greed was gone.

She stopped mid-step, thinking back to the words she caught him saying to Ed before the blond walked off.

You humans think greed is just for money and power, but everyone wants something they don't have.

A small smile stretched over her lips and her hand went to rub at the back of her neck.

She supposed they could agree on one thing, after all.

That's all for now! Thanks for reading! :)