Draped in Wires
by. Poisoned Scarlet

Theme 035: Tangled

"Stupid hag...damn Winry for choosing favorites...fuckin' paint...damn sun..." Edward muttered acerbically under his breath, in his hand a paint brush and in the other a bucket of white paint. He traced the Rockbell Automail sign carefully, all the while cursing out the things that were currently grating on his nerves like nothing else.

"...fuckin' hot...damn the weather... why the hell do they need such a huge sign?... what the hells the matter with the damn sun?" Ed shouted, feeling a migraine approach. "It's hot!"

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious, bone head!" Winry rolled her eyes when all she receive was a caustic glare. She handed him a cold glass of water and he drank it down like nothing, shoving the glass back into her hands and once again going back to painting the sign. "...You missed a—!"

"Don't," Ed snapped, "even go there, Winry. I'm not in the mood. Don't you have some patient to attend? I'd get to it if I were you." He dipped the brush into the bucket, dabbing the tip of it on the edge to get rid of the excess before repeating the dull cycle over again.

"What's got you so cranky today?" Winry grumbled, kneeling down beside him. "You've been cursing at everything all morning! Did you stub your toe on the chair again?"

Edward breathed in a controlled breath. "No. I didn't... and that only happened once!" He went back to painting.

"Did you skip breakfast?"

"You were there, remember?"

Winry scowled. She huffed, standing up and sending him her own disgruntled look. "You don't have to be so snippy, you know! I was only trying to help!"

"Well, you're not being helpful at all, are you?" was his short retort. "Go back inside. I need time to clear my head..."

"Ed, did something between you and granny?" Winry worriedly asked. "Edward?"

"No." He pointed the brush directly to the front door without turning to her. "Just go."

Winry pursed her lips. "Fine. But just so you know, you're not allowed in my room tonight!" She spun on her heel and stomped into the house, making sure to slam the door behind her. Edward returned his eyes to the Rockbell sign and allowed a weary sigh to escape his lips.

"You're twenty two, what'cha gonna' do now pipsqueak?"

"What're you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, son, it does you no justice. If you're planning on providing for my granddaughter, just how do you plan on doin' it?"

"I really have no idea what you're talking—!"

"Edward, playing stupid doesn't become you!"

"Look, you old hag, I've got this figured out, okay? You have nothing to worry about—!"

"I've got every single right to worry about you two! Edward, lets be blunt: you've lost your alchemy and you're basically useless around the house – that much is obvious."

"Hey! What do you mean by useless? I've been doing house work for the past week because you two are either too busy or too lazy to do it yourselves!"

"So, what, you're going to be some kind of hired maid? The lord knows you'd make a god-awful one and that's not nearly enough money to support Winry and whatever children you both decide to have! Hell, it could barely support YOU."

"What's your point, Pinako?"

"My point is that you better be finding yourself a job that can support you and at least two others or else you can kiss that dream of marrying my granddaughter goodbye."

Edward clenched his jaw and shoved the paint brush into the bucket roughly. He sank back on his hindquarters, locking his fingers together over his knees as he studied the freshly-painted Rockbell Automail sign silently.

It was quite obvious what the old woman had meaning to tell him.

She refused to allow him to live off of the income Winry produced and his own pride refused to submit to some sort of subservient job that involved domesticated chores such as cooking or cleaning.

Nor did he think he could handle the knowledge that Winry was the main beneficiary in the family.

There was only one real option left.

He needed to get a job.

Fast.