17. Memo
"Oh, and Fullmetal," called Mustang as Ed grabbed his coat and headed for the door. "Don't forget this," he said, holding a sheet of paper out, arm drooping lazily (as always).
"The hell is this?" Ed spat, ripping it out of the colonel's hand.
"Just a memo about your evaluation this year," drawled the colonel. "You do have a plan, don't you? I doubt the Fürher will allow you to destroy the parade grounds again."
"You're the one who torched the place, you trigger-happy flamethrower!"
Mustang grinned. "Either way, pick something else, Ed. Maybe you should just show them that you've actually grown this year," he suggested
"YOU BASTARD, WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SMALL HIS SHADOW'S SMALLER THAN AN ANT?"
"Bye, Ed!"
Ed stormed out and slammed the door with his metal hand, prompting a "You break it you buy it, Ed," from a passing Havoc. He hardly noticed and stormed out of headquarters, still only seeing the color red. At some point, he registered the clank of his brother's footsteps following him. Blind, Mustang-induced rage almost made him ignore Winry sitting on the steps out front. She was tinkering with something or other, but looked up as he approached.
"Ed, what's wrong?" she asked, scooping her things up remarkably quickly.
"Bastard Mustang… bastard evaluation… bunch of bastard coated bastards with-"
Winry's laugh derailed his grumbling, and he gave her a questioning sideways look. Al, having never seen his brother shut up so effectively, stopped in his tracks.
"Sorry, it's just that there's this vein in your forehead that throbs when you go on a righteous tirade. It's kinda… cute, in a weird way," she explained.
Ed's jaw went a bit slack. Winry gave him a peck on the cheek, a shy look, and took his hand, dragging him off. The memo fell out of his hand and started drifting away on the wind, forgotten.
A/N: 'Trigger-happy flamethrower' was just too much fun to pass up. Also, thanks again to the reviewers! It puts a smile on my face.