Chapter 2- Ache
Winry wrapped Edward's shivering body in a fresh, warm blanket, handing him a hot chocolate.
She had one for herself aswell, and was dressed in a new nightgown and a thick, black robe. She sat
down beside him. She watched him softly blow to cool the stifling drink before taking a sip. His gentle
sigh served as a compliment and a thanks.
They sat quietly, neither of them crying. They've both cried their eyes dry by now, but the pain was still
there…more so in Edward. The stone had been unstable, unbeknownst to his knowledge, and the
transmutation, unsuccessful…and the rebound, painful. He had been cut up pretty bad.
Ringing through Edwards mind right now were Alphonse's final words, "I'll see you on the other side,
Ed!" before he had been sucked into oblivion.
Edward sniffed, but could not find strength enough to shed another tear. He was exhausted after having
walked the distance he did and crying away the rest of his energy. After hearing of his first and second
attempt at human transmutation, the military had stripped him of his position and kicked him out into
the road. He only had the money to take himself to a small town near Resembool, and was forced to
walk the remaining distance, which took him from morning to night to achieve.
He sipped at his hot drink again before placing it down on the coffee table and holding the blanket
tighter around him. Winry took liberty to reach out and run her fingers softly through his bangs and, to
her surprise, he leaned his forehead against her palm. He was begging for comfort…just by his
actions…he needed affection to ease his pain in his melancholy state...He was like a child…
She rubbed his back, "Ed, you need sleep. Come on, I'll take you up to your room." He said nothing as
she slipped the blanket from his shoulders and lifted him from the couch, supporting his weight all the
way up to her grandmothers old room, where she sat him down on the bed. He was weary and wanted
nothing more now than to just fall back and sleep, but Winry made him sit up just a little while longer as
she took off his boots for him, almost slid his torn up shirt right off his shoulders, and undid his belt for
him. She'd taken care of him this way before, so it wasn't very new to her…and yet her hands were shaking like mad…
Beneath his bandages, she could feel his strong abs brushing against her hands with each breath he
took. She had to close her eyes until she was able to slide his belt from its loops and toss it aside. As soon as the belt was gone, he let himself fall backwards onto the pillow. He was out without missing a beat.
Winry's hand took hold of his metal one, warm now after holding the hot cup in his hand, and watched
him for a while as he slept on peacefully. His hair was still a mess, splayed out over the white pillow like
a golden ocean. In the moonlight, he looked so beautiful…
All Winry wanted was to lie there beside him and comfort him even in his sleep, but she too needed rest
and retreated into her own room. She kept both doors open, just in case he may need her.
She had to be there for him at all times now. The poor boy was on the edge of losing his will to live. She
was all he had, so she HAD to be by his side at all times until his loss was overcome and his old strength
returned…however long that may take. Nonetheless she was more than willing.
Winry rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned widely as she sat up in bed. She looked down at her clock. It was noon.
Damn, she thought to herself, Slept the day away. She glanced out into her balcony, surprised to see
Edward, awake and leaning over the railing of the balcony, staring out into the clear afternoon skies. He
had been awake for a time now, she could tell. Evidence of a shower was clear in the way his hair
shimmered with water and the new clothes he was wearing; A pair of his normal black pants and a
white, long-sleeved, button down shirt she had never seen before…but it looked so charming on him.
She stood from the bed and made her way towards him, standing beside him, but he didn't look at her.
His gaze was fixed on the distance.
He didn't look as sad and broken as he did yesterday. In fact, he looked as though he were at peace with everything around him.
"It just keeps going doesn't it…" He finally says in a soft voice, "Life, I mean…Even when you stop to
think, 'it's over', and the world just goes on as if nothing had occurred…" Winry followed his gaze,
staring out in the same direction she had the night before. She had nothing she could think of to add to his statement.
"Hey Win?"
She looked back at him.
"Would you come walking with me?"
"Aren't you tired of walking?"
He shook his head, "I'll be fine. I've rested enough."
"okay, I'll go with you then. Will you give me time to get ready first?"
"Take your time. I'm in no rush…"
Winry nodded and headed towards the bathroom, stopping at the doorway of her room to look back at Edward, with his elbows on the railing and his face in his hands.
Poor Ed…she thought, He's really trying so hard to recover quickly…