A/N: This might be a follow-up to "Selfish egotism," I'm not really sure. It fits, but I think this Ed is too mature to be the same Ed who literally threw the bird at Mustang. But then again, it's Winry's POV, and she's having a hard time not putting him on a pedestal, even when she's mad at him.

It's the benefit of claiming different continuities, and half-denying that anything is connected; I can write my Ed fifty different ways if I want to and still claim he's "in character." Also, same "the story hadn't ended yet when I wrote this" disclaimer applies.

55. Diffused reflection

The Elrics were home; Winry was pissed; all was normal on the Risembool front. Per his usual, Ed had come home in pieces.

Winry sat by the river after she'd finished the job, not unlike Al sometimes did, scolding herself for thinking Ed would change post-Promised Day. Al had a real body (and Winry scolded Ed for making his little brother act as his crutch all the way home), but Ed hadn't had time to get his own limbs. He'd retained his popularity among the people, so he'd become instrumental in establishing the new governing system; who would have thought that hot-headed little (she could already hear the rant) Fullmetal would be mediating between Flame and Major General Armstrong? Winry knew all the details, heard Ed whine endlessly about his job, but she'd heard it all before and knew what it really meant: Ed loved every minute of it.

Winry threw a stone across the surface of the river. It skipped a few times before plopping beneath the liquidy horizon. She knew Ed was happy, but it still hurt to see him grab a single slice of that apple pie, and only on his way out the door. So much for keeping it warm.

More than anything, she knew his choice pretty much settled things on her end. Ed wasn't going to be coming back for her. She skipped another stone and absently thought about how the ripples always ran away from the rock.

From somewhere to her left, a larger stone flew into the river with a huge splash. Winry looked over her shoulder to see the alchemist of the hour crouched there, looking around for more stones. "You were always way better at skipping stones than me and Al," he said as he examined a flat one.

"I thought you were leaving tonight," she replied.

"Nah, I want as much time away from the military-sanctioned screaming match as possible," he told her, and he tried another rock- plop.

Winry sighed and hugged her knees to her chest, sitting right at the water-line. She heard Ed curse about rocks, then the clap of hands, and a perfectly shaped rock flew right over her shoulder, skipping five times before sinking. Ed sat down right next to her, but Winry found herself too emotionally drained to blush.

"Win, are you mad at me or something?" he asked, still looking straight ahead. Winry turned her head and glared at him. Ed threw his hands up defensively. "Besides the arm, I know you're pissed about that," he clarified.

"Why does it matter?" she huffed, and turned back to the river. "You're leaving on the first train tomorrow, you'll blow back into town in pieces in a few months. Me being mad never changes anything." She rested her chin on her knees and watched the ripples of the current.

"So you are mad about something else?"

"Shut up, shorty."

"Hey! I'm taller than you now."

Winry didn't reply, merely glaring out at the river. Ed groaned and briefly rested his forehead on his palm. "I'm serious, Winry. What's wrong?" he asked, his arm coming around her shoulders, which she promptly shrugged off.

"I told you, it changes nothing, so there's no point," she said stiffly. "You'll still leave and only show up again when you need a mechanic."

"Wait, that's it, isn't it. You're pissed I'm leaving." He wasn't asking. "I told you already, I want as long away from Central as possible. Armstrong and Mustang drive me nuts separately; together, I think they might actually put me in a straight jacket."

"So why are you still there?" Winry finally exploded. "You said you'd be back after it was all over, and you're not. Just admit you're not coming home so I can get on with my life!" she shouted, arms flailing as she yelled.

Ed caught her arms and brought them back to the ground. Leaning over her slightly, he enveloped her lips in his own. Angry as she was, Winry still found herself kissing him back. Ed pulled away a moment later. "I am coming home for you, Winry," he said, and she finally listened. "I don't know what kind of diffused reflection of reality you're looking at, but if Mustang and Armstrong haven't killed each other without me this week, I'm only going back for my stuff."

A little embarrassed, Winry averted her eyes. The smile stayed, and she leaned into his shoulder.