They saw their first falling stars out in the hills of Risembool. Sprawled in the grass. This constant wave of shimmering light. Pricked thoughts in the young alchemist's mind.
There are so many comets. They all shine so brightly, then they're gone. Gone forever, you never see them again. Like people. But, there just has to be a way-
Winry began to doze off next him. Her head lolling into his chest.
"Winry-"
Everyone dies. Someday I'll die. Al too, granny, everyone. Winry...Winry'll... too.
And I'm powerless. powerless to ever stop it.
Al was already asleep on his other side, but Winry began to twitch fitfully.
"No- no don't go- Mommy, daddy! Come back!"
They're not coming back Win'.
Her tiny fists clenched over his chest. Grabbing hold of his shirt.
"Cry all you want, but nothing's gonna happen unless you get up and move." He placed a hand on her head, apprehensively. Her sobs continued softly. Face softly illuminated.
"Edward...Alphonse." It was a small surprise to hear their names uttered in tears. He examined her face. Curious. He looked back over at Al to confirm that he was too, asleep.
"Winry? You alright?" He shifted onto his side and looked upon her with concern. She never cried about them. This was new to him.
Then she began to toss fitfully. A nightmare. Just as the magnificent show of stars fled from their sight.
"No...please. Not them too. They can't be dead."
"Winry." He began to lightly shake her. "Hey wake up!" His shaking intensified. "Wake up you dummy!"
Her eyes shot open and her wrench collided with his skull.
"Idiot!"
He rubbed his head in irritation. "Hey! I was only trying to help!" He yelled.
"How is insulting me helping?"
"It woke you up didn't it?"
"Guys? Why are you arguing?" Alphonse moaned.
"This crazy gear head is unreasonable!" He huffed, crossing his arms and staring begrudgingly at the dark sky. "Come on. Let's go home. The show's over." Ed stood up and began to walk back down the hill. Hands in his pockets.
"Ed! Wait!" Winry scuttled down the hill after him. Latching onto his arm.
"Winry! Wha-"
"Don't leave me alone! I'm scared!"
"Me too!" Al squeaked. Screeching after them.
"Augh! Grow up you two!"
But her grip on his arm only tightened. "Stop being such a meanie!" She kept herself plastered to his side, with Al hanging by the sleeve of her dress all the way back to Ed and Al's house.
"Now let go! Winry!" He shook his slightly tingling arm as hard as he could.
"Come on! Don't make me walk home aloneee!" She clung on.
"Come on brother!" Al said trying to calm them. "She's scared!"
"So what! It's not my problem" He continued to flap his arm around, until she started to wimper. Small round tears plopped to the ground.
"You're so mean Ed! I hate you!" She angrily, senselessly barged away into the flawlessly dark night. Her cries disappearing quickly.
"Winry!" Ed called after her! "You stupid crybaby!"
"Ed! Stop being so mean." Al scolded his brother.
"Shut up Al!" Ed didn't even deliberate long. He knew she wouldn't make it home. "Just go incide. I'll be back soon." He set off, sprinting off into the darkness.
"Ed!" Al's voice faded behind him. His footsteps falling hard. Splitting through the thick sound of his heavy breath.
"Winry? Winry! Where are you? I didn't mean it?" The black returned nothing. Only seeming to mock and taunt him with small rounded girl-like shapes under every tree.
"Winry-" A small sound. A terrified shudder. Floating from within the sealed shadows.
"Go away!" Her blotchy voice traveled just far enough to his ears.
"Winry!" He ran towards the sound. Tripping painfully on a root, skidding face first to her curled form. "Oww... Ung." He rubbed his head as he clambered back to his feet. "Win?" His eyes were wide. Taking in the trembles. "I'm-" He shut his lips tight and stuck out his hand. "Come on. Let's go." Her eyes looked up. Waters drying for a moment. She took his hand with a grunt, and returned to her position clasped around his arm. "Come on. Let's get you home."
"But..." Her voice wavered. "I don't want to go home."
"What? Why?"
"Granny...will scold me, and I keep having nightmares. About mom and dad."
"Win-" And about him and Alphonse apparently.
"Can-can I please- stay at your house?" She was timid. It had been a few years since she had even been over to their house.
"No."
"Why not?" Her grip tightened as her voice grew shrill.
"There's no room for you anyway!" What with the preparations for his mother's resurrection.
"What are you talking about? What about the couch! Or your mom's bed!"
"Shut up! I'm taking you home." He wrenched his arm from her grip. Taking a few steps foreword.
"Ed..." With a look at her face, he stuck his hand out, begrudgingly.
"Stop being a baby! I'm taking you home!" She took his hand, and he marched off down the hill. Searching for familiarity in the shadows, until he found the yellow silhouette.
"But, Ed-" She was still drowned in fear. He couldn't stand that.
"Winry. You can't depend on other people so much. You never know when they might not be there anymore."
"But! You're here right now! That's all that matters! " He looked at her, eyes wide. Surpised by her outburst. "Ed! I know people die, but you need to learn to value people while they're still here. I can see. You're still thinking about you're mom. You miss her. But she's dead. She's not coming back!"
"Shut up!" He raged, dropping her hand.
"No! Not until you listen! I'm still here! We're still here! You have all of us! Granny and Alphonse and all the people in this town! Why can't you see that!"
"God Winry. You just don't know when to shut up!" He began to walk away.
"No! Don't go! I wont let you! Not again!" She ran after him and grabbed him into her arms. Latching onto his back.
"Win! Get off me! You're so annoying!"
"No! I want you to stay! You need to stay! I don't want you to go back to that shadow-"
"What the hell do you want from me?"
"Just, stay. Just don't ever go away."