Warnings and Disclaimers: Any and all characters from the anime or manga Fullmetal Alchemist do not belong to me. I only torture them for some stories. There may be some teenage content in the story but it is very limited. This story is set after the movie which means there are some spoilers and if you have no idea what any of this may be about, then don't come crying to me please. It's not my fault, I warned you -:sheepish grin:-.
Seasons
Autumn: Secrets
Chapter 16
By: RomanceFanFicLover
Lucky enough for Ed, Winry had relented to his constant whining and protesting and quickly divulged him with her real answer. Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
'Yes.'
"Yes!"
"Ed?"
"Yeah! Ha! In your face, Al! Mwuahaha! You can't beat the Fullmetal Alchemist! It's I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E! What does that spell, Winry?"
"Ed…"
"I said, what does that spell, Winry?"
"Impossible…"
"Exactly!"
"Brother…"
"Ed…"
Winry and Al exchanged nervous glances as Ed continued to dance around the poker table they had set up. Sighing in defeat, Al pushed his chair away from the table and headed outside.
"Where are you going, Al! I want to beat you again! Come back here! That's it-!"
"Edward Elric, sit down right now!" Winry shouted at him. She watched in satisfaction as he nervously skittered over to his seat and looked up at her with large, innocent eyes. "Don't give me that look."
Dropping his mask of innocence, Edward cursed softly and scowled at the cards sprawled out on the table. He watched her from the corner of his eye and when she turned around he stuck his tongue out at her playfully.
"I can see you."
Screaming in shock, Edward jumped out of his seat and pointed at the back of her head. "Y-You…you MONSTER!"
"Edward, don't be stupid, I'm in front of the hall mirror."
"Oh…Well it's time for a walk!" The blonde alchemist shouted as he bounded out the front door, completely forgetting the boots that were still tucked away neatly beside the door.
"What's wrong with the midget?" Winry turned at the sound of her grandmother's voice.
"I'm not sure; he's been really weird lately." She glanced back at the door and lowered the eyebrows she hadn't known were raised. "But extremely weird today…"
"Maybe he's just nervous." Winry's ear twitched as she surrendered to her curiosity and gave Pinako a gesture to continue. "Well, the first day of the festival is tomorrow and-"
"Tomorrow?" The lemon-blonde girl asked, pushing away from the mirror to stare at her grandmother.
"Yes, tomorrow; the market day. It starts awfully early, about 9:00, I believe. I hope you can finish that arm you've been working on by then, Winry. Winry?" Pinako grinded her teeth against the pipe that situated itself between her wrinkled lips and huffed angrily. "Fine then, don't listen to the kind elderly woman who-"
"Granny!" Winry whined as she slumped to the floor with a loud thud. "I don't know what to wear...!"
"So? You have a closet full of clothes, go look." Pinako pointed out as she collected the cards and returned them to the deck.
"It isn't that simple…"
Slamming the deck on cards onto the table, Pinako rounded on her granddaughter. "Winry don't be ridiculous!" All these crazy teens were starting to rub her the wrong way; they were being so ridiculously immature.
"I'm sorry…" Winry muttered as she sighed and pulled out a chair for herself. "I just want to look perfect so I know we'll both have a good time."
"He'll have a good time in your company even if you're wearing a sack of potatoes." Pinako chuckled lightly but stopped at the pleading look in the blue eyes in front of her. "No, it's true. He would! You should try today just in case."
"Granny!"
"I'm joking, sweetheart. Hmm…What to wear? Well, there's always your usual outfit, I mean, it is just the market day. Ed probably won't be getting dressed up, he probably wouldn't even think of it!"
The teenage mechanic smiled ruefully and looked up at Pinako. With a small laugh she got up from the table. "Yeah…you're right Granny. Thanks!" She called over her shoulder as she hurried up the stairs in excitement.
Pinako sighed happily and planted herself in a comfortable chair. "Peace and qui-!"
"AUNTIE PINAKO!" Al catapulted through the door, slamming it against the wall and stomping into the house, leaving dirty footprints across the floor.
Pinako removed her glasses and began cleaning them on her apron. "Yes, Al…?" Her voice was slightly strained as she contained herself from whacking the boy over the head with a blowtorch.
'But it isn't his fault.' Pinako reassured herself, calming her flexed muscles.
"Auntie!" Al whined in an unusually high-toned voice. "I don't know what to wear to the first day of the festival." He whispered his silent plea in a rushed breath of air.
"Just wear your normal clothes." The old woman stated as though it were as plain as a white piece of paper. At the suspicious glare from her ward, she decided to elaborate. "It's just the first day of the market; where every goes into town and they have carts and booths set up for fresh farmer's products and some nice clothes, jewelry-"
"So it's like a market?"
"That would be why it's called the Market Day, yes, Al."
"Oh, okay. Bye Auntie!" Al shouted as he hurried up the stairs as well.
"Finally…Peace and qui-!"
"Auntie! I don't know what to wear to impress Winryy!"
Pinako slumped in defeat, replacing her glasses on her nose with her fingertips as she massaged roughly. "Why, oh, why did all of you guys have to die? They're your kids!" She muttered spitefully at the air as Ed continued to rant.
Grabbing a pen and paper, Pinako began to write furiously. Ed stopped shotuing to peek over her shoulder to see what she was doing, but quickly retreated as she slashed at him viciously with her pen.
After a few moments she threw down the pen and marched into the workroom, slamming the door behind her. Ed sat down and looked at the paper.
'TOMORROW IS JUST THE MARKET DAY THERE IS NO NEED TO PULL OUT DRESSES AND TUXEDOS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT COLOUR TO WEAR JUST PICK ONE YOU LIKE. DO NOT, AND I REPEAT, DO NOT COME TO "AUNTIE PINAKO" OR "GRANNY" FOR ANY FASHION HELP OR SHE WILL HAND YOU A POTATO SACK.'
Putting down the semi-threatening note, Ed carefully stood up from the table and stormed out the back door.
"Geez, what's up her ass?"
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Pinako raised an eyebrow in amusement; surprisingly enough the three teenagers actually listened to her reasoning.
Al sported tan shorts, a blue button up and a white undershirt underneath. Sandals adorned his feet and he marched out of the house happily, pulling his brother behind him.
"Relax, Al! I'm coming!" As soon as the younger Elric let go of his arm, Ed trudged out the door in his black pants and black tank top. Winry had previously convinced him that it would be hard enough to stand the heat in even just the pants and the tank top, let alone the jacket that matched.
"Wait up!" Wearing her old black shirt and pale-green tank top, Winry bounced out the door after them. Turning around to wave at her grandmother she kneeled down to pet Den affectionately. "Don't worry, Den. I'll bring something back for you too."
"I might come along later but you don't have to look out for me, alright?" When the three teens nodded an affirmative she broke out into a wide grin and waved at them. "Now shoo! Go have fun!"
The short trip to the town wasn't very eventful and as soon as they met up with Nelly, she and Al parted ways with Ed and Winry.
Currently Ed wasn't exactly sure what was so great about the first day of the festival. All he could see were a bunch of wooden booths and baskets of fresh farm products.
Glancing over at the happy girl on his arm Ed sighed in surrender. But, she liked it, so why couldn't he?
"Ed! Look at these!" Expecting to see shining bolts and screw, Ed leaned over her shoulder. "Aren't they beautiful?"
Edward gaped at the flashing jewelry in front of him. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies…hell, even diamonds; all laid out in front of their eyes, twinkling in the morning sun.
Turning from the sparkling gems, to the expectant girl and back at the gems, Ed shook his head in disbelief and yanked his arm from the girl's.
"You," he paused, drawing in a deep breath, and continued, "are not Winry Rockbell." With that said he promptly turned around and took a step forward before a familiar voice stopped him.
"You're just going to leave such a pretty young girl here?" Johnathon grinned impishly at Ed's back as he swung back around and grabbed Winry's arm.
"Even is you aren't Winry you're coming with me and away from him!" Ed hissed as he tugged the girl along with him.
Winry made an exasperated noise and jumped out of the way of a woman who was in her path. "Ed, stop being stupid, you know it's me! And stop dragging me!" Throwing her arm down, Ed glared at her. "Oh come on Ed!"
"Prove you're Winry."
"First tell me why you're dead set against the fact that I am Winry."
"Because Winry doesn't like jewelry, she likes mechanical things." Ed stated, matter-of-factly.
"That is ridiculous. I'm female; of course I like some jewelry." At the unconvinced look on Ed's face, she continued sulkily. "I just like mechanical things more."
Ed held his glare for a few more seconds before releasing it and turning his back on her. "Fine! Where do you want to go then?"
Happiness renewed, Winry skipped to his side and linked arms with him. "There's a really nice mechanical booth they have here, oh and then there's also the bookstore that has a sale today…"
Her list of places to go continued and Ed nodded periodically to show he was paying attention. By the time they had completed her list, it was well past one o'clock and neither of them had had lunch yet.
As proof of that, Ed's stomach rumbled dangerously and he glanced at Winry sheepishly. Nodding her head in understanding she lead him to the food area of the make-shift market.
"They have sweets over there and drinks over there." Pointing at a pink booth and then a green booth, Winry continued. "On that side of the street there's mainly fancy and spicy foods, but the other side has less expensive and simpler foods. Where do you want to go?"
At the lack of response, Winry turned to the spot Ed had been previously occupying. A blonde eyebrow twitched in annoyance and Winry spun around to face the street.
Sure enough a black-clad blonde boy was darting in between the booths, a teetering pile of food situated on a large plate in the grasp of his right arm.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Winry grabbed a smaller plate than the one her childhood friend was brandishing, and went to her one of her favorite booths.
Once she had accumulated a fair size of different foods, Winry returned to the middle of the street where an annoyed alchemist stood tapping his foot impatiently.
"Don't just run off like that, Win!" Winry fought from dropping the plate in shock and opted for simply staring at him in disbelief. "Come on, I saw Al and Nelly go grab a bench, we can eat with them."
Fork in his mouth and plates in his hands, Ed strode into the group of benches and people. When they had found Al and Nelly they had immediately turned around, faces red with blushes.
"W-What are they doing!" Ed gasped as he righted the tilting plates in his hands.
"P.D.O.A." Winry said in amazement before glancing over her shoulder again.
"Don't look at them!" Ed insisted as he nudged Winry forward with his elbow. "Let's eat in one of the fields."
"Fields?"
"Just go!"
When they got out of town and settled onto a grassy hill, Winry turned to Ed. "Why a field?"
"Fields are nice." Ed managed to gargle out as he devoured the tremendous pile of food he had accumulated.
Winry had just gotten through half of her single plate when Ed burped loudly and collapsed onto the grass.
"Too much for you?" She commented playfully as she took another bite of the lemon chicken on her plate.
With another burp, Ed answered. "Nope. It was delicious!" He pouted slightly and continued. "But it was a little cold."
Swallowing her bite, Winry giggled softly. "What do you expect? You went on a three minute walk out of town to this place." She gestured to the open expanse of grass and turned back to him. "Of course it would have cooled down!"
Unsatisfied by her answer, Ed flopped back down into the grass and kicked off his boots. Folding his arms behind his head, he closed his eyes and inhaled the fresh breeze that floated by.
"I love being here in Risembool." Winry sighed as the breeze flirted with her hair, sending some strands dancing in it's wake.
"Yeah, me too." Winry tried her best to ignore the slightly sad tone in Ed's voice. Ed, taking note of her reaction, rolled onto his side and propped his head up with one hand to look at her. "Would you ever leave Risembool?"
Surprised by his question, Winry put down her fork. "I'm not sure. If it was only for a few years, like for an apprentice job or something, maybe."
A thoughtful look took over Ed's features and he rolled onto his back again. "It's nice here, though."
Winry glanced down at the remains of her food before putting the plastic plate down beside her and joining Ed in the grass. "Mmhmm…" She murmured as a sudden wave of fatigue washed over her.
"It's good weather for the market today, don't you think?"
Winry's eyes popped open. Ed, talking about the weather? She must be already asleep. This was surely a dream…right?
"Y-Yes…" Winry stuttered out nervously, looking up at him in amazement.
Brows furrowed, Ed turned his head to look at her. "What's wrong?"
Winry immediately sobered and closed her eyes again, looking away. "Nothing." After thinking for a moment, Winry decided she had nothing to lose by pressing on. "Is there anything wrong with you?"
She didn't miss the hesitation before he had answered with a quiet "no" and immediately took interest in it.
"Are you sure?"
He didn't answer.
He still wasn't answering.
He- was that a snore?
Just in case, Winry tried. "Ed your fake snoring sucks."
"Shut up." She grinned inwardly; for a genius he sure was stupid. "I was trying to sleep but you wouldn't stop staring at me."
"Well I asked you a question."
"Well I didn't hear it."
"Liar."
"You're the liar; you didn't ask me a question you just like staring at me."
"No! Don't change the subject you liar!"
"Oh, are you admitting to something?"
"Argh! See you're changing the subject! Just admit that you're a liar, you…you…LIAR!"
And this was how Al found his two childhood friends that evening. He couldn't believe they had missed almost four hours of the market to just lie there in the grass and yell at each other.
There was a strained silence between the two after Al had finally gotten them to shut up. He wasn't quite sure what was worse, the thick silence or the thin curses that were flying over his head previously.
He caught another one of Winry's murderous glares from the corner of his eye. As always they were directed at his brother, but this time they seemed to hold suspicion and maybe even a hint of sadness.
Swallowing the exhausted groan, Al fought from strangling his brother right there on the spot. How could he screw things up again?
No, he difinitely should have let them keep arguing, the silence was getting to him and if he didn't act soon Edward would wind up dead. Whether it be at his hands or Winry's wasn't the point.
"So why were you guys fighting anyways?" Yeah, real smooth. As if that would start a good conversation.
"Edward was lying to me, he's hiding something." Winry sniffed in distaste and hurried her steps.
Al could almost feel his brother's unease and slowed his steps to match Ed's. Once Winry was a out of ear-shot Ed spoke up.
"I have to tell you something important tonight."
Al cocked an eyebrow in response but only nodded. This was apparently very serious; something that he couldn't or didn't want to share with Winry had to be serious.
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A/N: Four more chapters to go! It's getting closer and closer to drawing to a close. Reviews are always welcomed and ideas would be fun to toss around and may be used for the last few chapters.
Xoxoxoxo!