A/N: Left late and got in late yesterday, as predicted, and looking forward to a three-day week at work. It's holiday seasons that I miss the college schedule.
This is mostly Brotherhood/Manga-verse. I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I wrote these before the manga ended, so most of the post-series stuff is a combination of guesswork and AU.
28. Love triangle
The Promised Day had come and gone with no news on Ed- well, to be fair, no personal word from him, since his name was all over the radio and papers. The Fullmetal Alchemist Missing, Fullmetal Alchemist Reveals Corruption in Military, Fullmetal Alchemist Dethrones Fürher, Fullmetal Alchemist Discovers Deep-Seeded Plot to Destroy Country, Who is Strange Child with Fullmetal and Where is His Brother, Is There a Special Girl in This Hero's Life… the list went on, but this last headline always made Winry change the station or crumple the paper.
After news reached her and Granny in Xing, Winry returned to her old job in Rush Valley. Garfiel and her old customers were thrilled, though also awfully put out when she wouldn't tell them anything about her adventures with the now-even-more-famous Fullmetal Alchemist.
"Win, come on, you saw more action than the rest of us will see in this lifetime. At least let me live it vicariously!" Guy begged as she tinkered in his arm.
"Nothing to tell," she monotoned. She knew the extra force she used on her current tool didn't support her story, but thinking about Ed and why he hadn't come to see her yet (that pie wouldn't eat itself) put her in a sour mood.
"Sheesh, did he dump you or something?"
Winry almost dropped her tool into the arm. "We've never been a couple," she said.
Guy made a derogatory "Pft!" noise. "Then go out with me," he said.
"Not interested, Guy," she replied, a slight smile playing on her lips. Winry reclosed his arm and set down her screwdriver. "You're all set, you can pay back at the-"
Guy grabbed her right forearm with his newly repaired arm, which effectively cut her off. "He's not coming, Winry," Guy said. "If he's done with his obligations and he hasn't come for you yet, he isn't coming. The sooner you accept it, the better, so why don't you just come out to dinner with me?"
Smack.
"You forget I hit just as hard with my left hand," Winry retorted as she yanked her right hand back. "I don't date customers, and I don't date head-cases with one track minds. Pay your bill, and get the hell out."
Guy didn't need telling twice, and he was smart enough to not to mention that Ed was both a customer and a head case. Winry slammed the door behind him and sank down to the floor next to the doorway. He might be acting like a creep, but it didn't change the fact that he was right. The chance that Ed would come diminished as each day passed, and she'd be stuck in triangles until she accepted it and tried to move on. Maybe he had been leading her on so she'd do what he said and leave the country (maybe he just wanted her away from him…)
"Hey, Winry! We're-"
Winry looked up as the door flew open and none other than Edward Elric flew into her workshop.