Draped in Wires
by. Poisoned Scarlet
Theme 002: Break Away
He dropped his suitcase on the floor on the porch, inhaling the countryside air with a beaming smile. Beside him, the Xingese woman mumbled to herself; trying to tie a stubborn button of fabric through the loop on her neck.
"You need any help with that, Mei?" Alphonse asked wryly, as she tried but failed to button the collar of her oriental shirt.
"If you would be so kind," she grumbled, giving up and looking up at him frustratingly. Alphonse laughed, turning to her and grabbing her collar, fixing it and buttoning in the fabric properly; overlooking the sudden pink hue that had taken over her cheeks at his close contact.
"There!" he chirped.
"Well, if it isn't Alphonse," a raspy voice came, startling the two young adults from their comfortable silence. "We've been expecting you and your trouble making brother!" she smiled. "And just who might this be?" Pinako eyed Mei Chang, who stiffed under her scrutinizing gaze and bowed, respectfully saying: "It is nice to meet you. I am Mei of the Chang clan!"
Al scratched the back of his head sheepishly at the suggestive grin he received from Pinako. "Granny, this is Mei. She helped us during the Promised Day and she's currently teaching me Alkahestry. Mei, this is Pinako Rockbell – technically my grandmother," he added cheekily, earning a wagging pipe in his direction.
"Technically?" Pinako snorted. "I am your grandmother, you little snot! I practically raised the three of you! I should be considered your mother," she huffed out, turning on her heel and tossing over her shoulder: "Come inside, make yourselves at home while I go get Winry!"
"It is so peaceful here," Mei commented, gazing at the interior of the house curiously. The house was nothing like her own, which had been severely upgraded due to her sudden rise in status in Xing. Her half-brother had made sure to attain the best silks and best furniture for his younger half-sister and she was eternally grateful but she did not mind the simplistic lifestyle – in fact, she'd say she liked it better than the hectic, dizzying, days spent in Xing.
The countryside seemed to suit her just fine as Alphonse motioned her upstairs, explaining a few things to her such as where she would sleep for the summer and stressing that if she felt uncomfortable at any given time, she should come talk it over with him as he did not want to make her feel like a stranger.
"I think I will fit in here just fine, Alphonse-sama," Mei smiled happily, causing the boy to go pink around the cheeks.
"That's great," he smiled right back, letting his bags fall on the floor. "Brother should be on his way by now so I'll bunk with him like we used to do when we were younger."
Mei shifted uncomfortably.
"You'll sleep in the guest room next door to us!" Al informed, taking her own luggage next door. "Winry's room is right across the hall from you and the bathroom is next to her room – you can't miss it, the door's always open when no ones inside," he assured when he noticed the nervous glint in her eyes.
"Mmhmm," she mumbled. Her eyes caught a picture frame hung on the wall and she neared it quietly, while Al dropped her bags beside the guest bed. "Was that you when you were a child, Alphonse-sama?"
"Huh?" Al came up beside her, looking at the frame she was gazing at. "Oh, yeah, that's me, Ed, and Winry and granny."
"You were so little," she giggled, then looked at a six year old Ed. "And he was so small!"
"Don't let him hear you say that, Mei," Alphonse warned playfully. "He'll pick a fight with you!"
"It does not really matter to me," Mei cheekily said, saying coyly: "You'll be there to protect me, will you not, Alphonse-sama?"
Al seemed to have grown up, unlike his embarrassment-prone older brother, as he allowed a smirk to tug his face. Winry grinned as she stood by the staircase and watched the two flirt none-too-subtly.
"So this is where the two love-birds have been!" Winry beamed at Al's scowl, so similar to his brothers yet holding a more softened edge. "How have you two been? It's been nearly a whole year since I last saw you, Al, and it's been much too long, Mei!" Winry strode forward, enveloping them into tight hugs and laughing when the heat on Al's face had yet to recede from her teasing.
"How have you been, Miss Winry?" Mei asked politely.
"Call me Winry, Mei, no need to be so stiff!" she grinned, adding slyly: "We're practically family!"
Mei took the comment lightly but Alphonse narrowed his eyes, sending Winry a look that spoke volumes of the revenge he would extract upon his older brothers arrival.
Winry just rolled her eyes at him, walking them back downstairs where the trio spoke of fond memories and laughed at others.
A/N: I don't have a set schedule for each chapter in this particular collection. I'll just update randomly, so I suppose you should be vigilant as I might update tomorrow. Who knows? XD
The collection will focus around Ed and Al but I promise there will be much awkward situtations, pure hilarity, and sickening romance between our star couple, Ed and Winry! And if some of you are wondering about the strange title for this collection... It's a snippet of a song I was hearing before I even thought about writing it. It was inspirational, I have to admit.
Review!
Scarlett.