This chapter is kinda massive compared to the rest. I hope you guys don't mind, I just went off on a writing frenzy and this happened! xD Thanks for all the reviews, alerts and faves once again! They are very appreciated and loved! Enjoy!
I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist and I know I don't really need to post this statement in every chapter, but it's fun to write things after it! You'll never know what I can say next! - If I owned FMA, I would know Japanese and would be able to read the few, but expensive, Japanese books I have and wouldn't just look at the pictures inside them... -_-"
Ch. 9 - Say It
;P
"So, Brother…"
"What?" Ed wasn't paying much attention to him.
"Well, uh, last night…" Al trailed off again, looking down into the bags he was holding.
Those words caught his brother's attention. "Just spit it out, Al."
The younger brother nodded and looked focused, trying to find words for his thoughts. When he did, a smile appeared on his face as he turned to Ed. "Are you and Winry together now?"
The golden eyed older brother nearly dropped the bags of groceries from his hands when he heard the question. He stopped walking and smiled as he looked up to meet golden eyes just like his own. "Y-Yeah."
"Winry, does this mean we're t-together?" he cleared his throat, "Like a, a couple?"
She smiled at his nervousness and placed her head on his shoulder, "Yeah, if you want to."
"Of course I do." He was determined, all embarrassment forgotten for the moment. "I don't wanna keep you waiting any longer," he said, kissing her forehead sweetly and pulling her closer.
She hid her blushing face in his shirt, his warmth calming her racing heart, overflowing with joy. "Thanks, Ed."
"Brother? Ed! EDWARD!"
"What?" he answered, confused.
"You were spacing out, Brother." And Al had an idea why. "Were you thinking about your new girlfriend? Hmm?"
"Shut up, Al." Ed started walking ahead of him, annoyed by his brother's teasing.
Al grinned. "I'm just kidding! I'm actually really happy for both of you."
Ed could see his little brother was being honest, "Thanks, Al."
"No, thank you, Brother." Al was grinning like he had just hit the jackpot, yet Ed was utterly confused.
"Huh? Why?" he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
"Just because." The younger Elric beamed as they approached the familiar yellow house.
Once inside, they helped Pinako put all the groceries away, she then thanked them for running the errand for her and sent them away from the kitchen. The entire time, Ed was more focused on Winry's whereabouts than anything else.
"Um, Granny, where's Winry?" Ed asked, nonchalantly.
"And um, Mei too." Al added, a bit shyly.
Pinako gave them a long look and chuckled. "Don't worry, lover boys," she said with a smirk as Ed and Al blushed a bit, "Winry is in the workshop with a customer and Mei is upstairs reading."
"Oh, okay." Ed turned on his heel and headed to the workshop.
"Thanks, Granny," Al said as he left to find Mei, but stopped as he remembered something. "I gotta talk to you later, okay? It's important and you probably already know, but still. It was a deal."
His granny caught on to what he was saying immediately. "Sure thing, Alphonse. I think I lost this one though," she said with a smile as she placed her pipe on her lips. Al returned the smile and continued on his way upstairs.
Edward knocked on the door first, knowing Winry would be angry if he just barged in during an appointment. "Winry?"
She opened the door almost immediately, allowing a middle aged woman pass through them first on her way out. "Ed, what is it?" the blue eyed girl asked curiously once the customer had left.
He scratched the back of his neck in a nervous gesture after seeing her in her favorite black tube top. "Well, I-I was wondering if you needed a-any, um, help?" He wasn't used to openly offering a helping hand to his attractive automail mechanic girlfriend. It was difficult.
"Oh, sure," she said smiling in a way that made his heartbeat pick up. "I just finished this appointment and the next one isn't until about an hour, so we have time to tidy the place up before they arrive." She took his hand and smiled again, "Come on."
Ed couldn't help but smile too and follow her inside.
After placing things back in order, cleaning up the shop and enjoying some alone time together, Ed and Winry were both in a good mood. Soon their moment was over however, as the next customer arrived and Winry had to get back to work. That didn't mean Ed had to leave though.
The customer's name was Dan, a nineteen-year-old from Dublith who had automail from his left elbow to his hand. Ed had learned earlier that it was from a car accident when he was younger. He had black hair and brown eyes, with lightly tanned skin covered by the white dress shirt he wore. He was alright looking, Ed would admit.
But it wasn't his appearance that began to irritate the golden haired boy. It wasn't even his attitude, he was well-mannered as far as he could tell. It was the way he would look at Winry, the spark of desire in Dan's eyes as he gazed at her. All of her.
That was what had Ed on edge, his temper slowly rising. Who the hell does he think he is! Staring at her like that… he scowled, anger visible in his eyes.
"You're done, Dan," she said, giving her patient one last glance before she turned to Ed. "Well, I'm gonna go get a drink of water, but I'd really appreciate it if you could please start straightening out the workshop," Winry told him, ever so kindly. And after almost twenty minutes of glaring daggers at Dan, Winry's smile was the only thing that calmed him down.
"Sure thing, Win." Ed really didn't mind helping her. She ruffled his hair in response and muttered a thanks as she went into the kitchen. But his smile faded when he was met with a pair of brown eyes, again.
"Hey," he said in a smooth voice. "You're Ed, right?"
"Mmhmm," Ed replied as he turned to the table picking up the tools that the mechanic had left scattered. He didn't want to talk to him, but Dan couldn't seem to get the hint.
"You live here too, don'tcha?" he smiled, although Ed couldn't see because his back was towards the black haired boy. "So, you probably know Winry pretty well, huh?"
"Why does it matter?" he asked, cautiously, still not facing him.
Dan stood up, finally done buttoning his shirt. "Well, I've been after Winry for a while, but every time I ask her out she rejects me," he looked disappointed, but only for a moment, while Ed smiled at the disillusionment in his voice. "Anyway, people in Rush Valley always said that she liked that Fullmetal guy, but I'm not so sure. Do you know?"
Ed debated whether to tell him that those rumors were true and that he was Fullmetal or playing dumb and figuring out what his true intentions were. He chose the latter. "I don't know," he said and shrugged, still focused on cleaning.
"Well, I hope not. I like Winry. I want her and soon, I'll have her. You'll see." Dan smiled confidently while Ed's grip on one of the screwdrivers tightened.
The brown eyed boy dug his hands in his pockets and continued, not aware that Ed's anger was escalating into fury with every word he said, "She's just so hot, man! I mean, that body with those curves! If I could have her for one night I'd be the happiest guy ever!"
That was the last straw. Ed turned around, fists clenched and an intense fury in his golden eyes as they met Dan's. "THAT'S IT!" The golden haired boy grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him into the opposite wall. "I'm gonna kick your ass if you don't shut up about my girlfriend!"
"Y-Your g-girlfriend!" Dan stammered, taken aback by Ed's attack and sudden confession. "Wait, y-you are F-Fullmetal?"
Ed smirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes, only anger. "The one and only, you bastard!"
"B-But you don't have auto-"
"That doesn't mean anything! I'm still one hell of a pissed off Fullmetal Alchemist! And when I'm through with you, you'll wish you never messed with-"
"EDWARD ELRIC, LET GO OF HIM RIGHT NOW!" yelled a very annoyed Winry just as Ed's fist threatened to collide with Dan's jaw. "ED!"
He gave her a hard look and let his fist fall to his side as he let go of the black haired boy's collar. Dan was relieved and grateful to Winry for practically saving his life, since he was sure Edward would've beat him to a pulp.
"Get out of here." Ed's voice was as cold as ice even though it was barely a whisper. Dan understood immediately and avoided the golden eyes that watched him until he was out the door. He ignored Winry's apology as he made his way through in a rush.
Once he was out of the house Ed broke the silence. "You didn't have to apologize to him. He's the one that should've apologized to you." He looked at the ground, still angry but not wanting to meet Winry's disappointed gaze. The tension in the room was suddenly unbearable and, at any given moment, there was sure to be an explosion.
"Ed, you shouldn't have attacked him." She glared at the stubborn Elric, hands on her hips.
"You don't know what he said, Winry! He deserved-"
She cut him off, "Even if he did, that doesn't mean you have to go and start a fight! No matter what he said!"
"It does matter! I was defending you!" He rose his voice in protest. "I couldn't just stand still while he kept talking shit!" He was starting to get annoyed, why couldn't she see his point of view?
"Defending and fighting are different. You could've found another way to deal with him, you didn't need to resort to your fists! You could've talked to him!" She got closer to him and her frustrated stare met his annoyed one. "Why didn't you stop and think about it first!"
He'd had enough. "Because I love you and I hate the fact that another guy was talking about you like that!" he snapped, raising his hands in annoyance.
Winry gasped and her eyes widened as his words reached her, all the trouble completely forgotten for the moment. "Y-you…"
Ed's eyes also widened in realization to what he had just confessed, a slight pink rising on his cheeks. "I-I uh, I…" He cleared his throat, trying to find his voice, "I-I'm gonna go outside." With that he walked in a hurry past a very shocked Winry and went outside to the porch.
He took a seat on one of the steps and released a deep, frustrated breath. I can't believe I said that! What was I thinking! Oh, right, I wasn't… he thought angrily. Me and my big mouth, dammit! He grabbed a small rock by his feet and threw it as far as he could in one swift movement before voicing his last thought, "Dammit."
"Ed?" Winry asked shyly as she opened the door. She walked a few feet until she was standing at the top of the steps.
He focused his golden eyes on the rock in his hand instead of the girl behind him. At the moment, he felt too embarrassed to look at her. "Just leave me alone, woman," he said in a tired and bored tone.
"No, I still have something to say to you." She stared at his back, hoping he could feel it and would turn around.
"Well, I don't wanna hear it right now!" He was beginning to get even more annoyed.
"Well, too bad cause I won't leave 'till I say it!" she said, menacingly as she raised her voice.
"I said I don't wanna hear it right now!" He didn't want to listen to anymore of her nagging on why he had done wrong, blah, blah, blah. So he dropped the rock, covered his ears, closed his eyes and did what anyone else in his situation would've done, "La la la la la! I can't here you! La la la la la!"
His behavior frustrated Winry. A lot. She massaged her temples, trying to calm down and resist the urge of smacking him with her trusty wrench. "Ugh, you are so immature, you Alchemy Freak!"
"LA LA LA LA LA LA!"
Winry shut her eyes in frustration. She debated whether or not to actually say what she had come to say, but decided that she would. Really loudly. Maybe then, Ed would shut up. "WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? I LOVE YOU TOO, YOU IDIOT!"
Ed stopped his obnoxiousness immediately. He removed his hands from his ears, opened his eyes wide and stood up, turning to meet the angry blue eyes looking down at him. The shock of her words very clear on his face. "W-Wait…what? Did you just…" he was at a loss of words. She couldn't have said what he thought she did, right? There was no way. But he had to be sure, "Say… say it, again."
A light blush trickled on her face when she saw his hopeful golden eyes on her. "I'm not gonna repeat it! It's your fault for not listening!" she said determined, her fists at her sides. She wasn't gonna let him off the hook, not like this, no matter how much he made her heart flutter with those eyes of his. To make sure she wouldn't give in, she turned around with a huff and began walking back toward the house.
"Winry!" he called out to her. He couldn't let her leave, not yet. She had to tell him what she'd said, he had to be sure that his mind wasn't playing tricks on him, making him hear things he so desperately wanted to hear. Ed jumped up the steps by twos and stopped Winry by placing his strong arms around her.
"Ed!" she yelled, surprised but angry as she tried to break his hold to no avail. He turned her around in order to lock gazes with her, but she refused, instead using her fists to push him away in an effort to escape. Ed didn't mind though, his heart was racing but her actions made him feel bold as he tried a new approach to resolve the issue.
She turned away when he tried to kiss her, as much as it pained her. No, dammit. He won't get off this easy! I can't let him! She refused to let go of what little frustration and anger she had left.
He tried again, his forehead touching hers. "Win, please? I need to… to hear you say it."
She looked up to meet his pleading eyes, losing herself in them. And as his lips captured hers, her mind went blank, all her plans of punishing him disappeared in an instant.
Once they parted, the golden haired boy gazed at her defeated blue eyes expectantly. "I…" she took a shaky breath, "I love you, Edward." The heat on her cheeks began to rise, the longer he stared at her. "There, you happy now?" she said, trying to sound annoyed as she looked down to avoid his intense gaze.
He gave her a cocky smile when he replied, "Yeah, very happy." His heart was beating with delight and fear. It was his turn to confess, to tell Winry exactly how he felt about her, to show her how much he cared just by saying those three little words. He closed his eyes and hid his face in the crook of her neck before he spoke, breathing her in helped him calm down. "I love you too, Winry," he said, with complete sincerity and made her heart feel like it was going to explode from happiness. She smiled as he looked at her again, a soft gaze in those golden eyes of his. "I love you so much," he said as he dove in for another kiss. She threw her arms around him as their lips met again and all was forgiven.
:3
"I told you, Granny!" Al said excitedly as they watched the couple from the living room window. After hearing all the yelling, Al, Mei and Pinako had come to check on Ed and Winry, curious.
"Alright, alright!" the old woman said, accepting defeat. "I'll pay you later."
"Wait," Mei said, putting the pieces together, "Are you two talking about a bet?"
"Yeah!" they both answered in unison as Mei stared at them disapprovingly.
Al smiled at her, triumphantly. "I won! I bet that Brother would get together with Winry within a week of my return! I knew Ed could do it, he just needed a bit of a push," he laughed, knowingly.
Pinako also smiled, despite being defeated. "I didn't think Edward had it in him. I thought it was gonna take him at least a month before he made a move!" she chuckled and placed her pipe between her lips. "I guess I underestimated your brother eh, Alphonse?"
Mei let out a breath and smiled. "That was wrong, you shouldn't make bets using people, but… How much did you win, Alphonse?"
"1500 cenzs!" he grinned.
"1500 CENZS!" Ed repeated, surprised. "That's it! You couldn't have a little more faith in me and bet more money! Why'd you even make a bet in the first place then!" None of them noticed the couple when they walked in, Al and the rest too immersed in their own little chat.
"Br-Brother!" Al exclaimed, nervous about what the eldest Elric was going to do to him now that he knew. He honestly didn't want to find out and ran, ran as fast as his newly restored body could take him, out the door and onto the old dirt road.
Ed was right behind him in an instant, "ALPHONSE, GET BACK HERE! YOU'VE GOT SOME EXPLAINING TO DO!"
The ladies of the house simply laughed as they watched the brothers in amusement.
A/N - If cenzs are the equivalent of yens -which I think they are- then in dollars, 1500 would be almost $20. lol Not enough money to bet on your older brother according to Ed! Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you review! By the way, I've decided that the next couple chapters will be the last ones. To be honest, I simply wrote this fic on a whim, I wasn't exactly expecting many to read it, but I really thank everyone who has! You guys are awesome, you all motivate me to write and help me improve my writing skills with your reviews! xD
One more thing-actually two more: 1) Should I do an epilogue for this fic, one that takes place a few years later? And if yes, ideas are welcomed!
2) If you have been watching the dubbed version of Brotherhood, there's a new cool part 5 trailer at Amazon . com, I really enjoyed it and maybe some of you will too! x3