AN: Alright everyone, I am so so sorry that I have been gone for so long. I won't list all the details, but suffice to say I was the opposite of pimp slapped and even fractured some ribs in the process. Thank you everyone for sticking with me while I was gone. There is good news though; after December 18th I am off work until January 2nd! So, I will be focusing on this far more : ) HUGE THANKS TO: Le Confidant, Sokkasm, ZilSepam,midnightstardust, Mikigotagun, Tairulz, RockingCass12, xIcyChanx, FiendedVendetta, Soprana, Lila, Jessica McCulley, evilpika, StoriUrahara,Schisalda, This is where my name would go, fangirl2013, Surius man, StarlitFire, MemoriesOfVoxei, and guest for all of your wonderful and motivating reviews! If not for them I wouldn't even be back at all. Also this chapter is shorter than most, but the next will be longer.
Disclaimer: No rights to FMA!
Waking to the smell of deliciously greasy bacon, Winry allowed herself to breathe in the heavenly scent that was wafting in her direction, as if calling to her personally. Since she hadn't eaten since midday yesterday, she felt her stomach rumble in response to the overwhelmingly appealing meal. Thinking of yesterday, Winry's eyes popped open once she remembered that she was not in her own bed, in her own home. Last night had been a complete mess of unexpected situations; from men asking her to move in with them, to men throwing themselves at her and finally men who came to save the day, she was reeling.
From the moment she heard Edward's voice on the phone when she called, and not Al's, despite being upset, she had felt a thrill of excitement and exhilaration run through her. Just knowing that he was going to see her dressed up, even if she was a little worse for the wear had set her nerves on edge, but in a good way. The weirdest part about Ed being the one who answered the phone was that the instant she heard him, she was no longer anxious about her situation, she knew that he would keep her safe regardless of his previously contradictory words towards her. In fact, he had been completely different through the whole thing than she would have expected; which she previously would've summed up to him giving her a ride home, however he ended up doing much more than that. Between the worry that had been written all over his face when he saw her, his anger over who had hurt her and his gentleness in caring for her afterwards, she was left confusedly grateful. When he brought her out a steaming mug of hot chocolate, she had begun to wonder who the man in front of her was; while he still appeared to be the same handsome professor she was used to staring at, he was acting more like his winsome brother.
After he had meticulously cleaned and treated every cut on her, without ogling her once to both to her relief and disappointment, he had allowed her to use their bathroom and then sleep in his bedroom. In fairness, she had tried to put up an argument to his suggestion, but truthfully less than she should have due to her curiosity over his personal space. She had walked back to the bathroom and sighed in happiness at the size of the bathtub in front of her. Really the whole room was much larger than her own, probably being able to hold two of her own water closets. There were two sinks between lovely, grey stone. The room was furnished properly with little accents, including interesting artwork, that she just knew was all Alphonse. He would pay attention to those little details, where his older brother would more than likely just view it as a necessity and see no reason to decorate the space. Turning the handle to moderately warm water, she closed the drain and looked around for something that would work for bubbles. Looking around, she realized that the source of Ed's intoxicating scent was probably in this very room. She caught her own eyes in the mirror and saw the expression of embarrassed guilt clearly as she chewed her lip in debate over whether to seek out the source or not. She took off the complicated costume carefully so she wouldn't aggravate her ankle further as she decided that she had already had a bad night, so why deprive herself of one small comfort that wouldn't hurt anyone?
Quietly she opened the vanity area, finding nothing but a toothbrush, toothpaste and other general hygiene products, so maybe that was Al's side. Checking the other cabinet, she was just as let down by it's sparse contents, though this side held a more complicated shaving kit, including a straight razor. There was only one man that she knew that was confident enough to use that. Exhaling a defeated puff of air, she glanced at the tub and noted that it was full enough to get in. Grabbing a towel off of the shelves that were next to the left sink, she dipped her toe in the tub, testing the water and then lowered herself in a bit at a time. Reaching back onto the wide ledge that housed many bottles, she took the one closest to her and unscrewed the top to smell the contents, which were heavenly. Here was that uniquely rich scent that she could only attribute to Edward Elric. Spicy, sensual and manly. The best part was that she was going to lather every square inch of herself in the enticing fragrance. As she went about working a foamy lather from the soap and began rubbing it into her skin, she couldn't help but think about where he too washed his magnificent body with the same slippery cleanser. Picturing his wiry muscles and angular form, she had to remember where she was and remind herself that even if he had been a saint that night, that for weeks before this he had acted like an ass.
More than anything she wished she could figure out what went on inside that golden head of his, though she knew that he would fight tooth and nail before allowing her to have a glimpse. Winry wondered what he had thought when she kissed his cheek. Was he angry that she had deigned to touch his glorious personage? Or could he feel the magnetism that she was always so conscious of between them? She had tried to keep her physical contact light since he responded adversely previously. When she had gotten out of her bath, she had dried herself in the fluffy towel that was more like a blanket and looked outside the door, where true to his word, Edward had laid out clothes for her. She never liked to change clothes in the bathroom because of the residual condensation that tended to cling to her, so she quickly towel dried her hair then resecured the towel tightly around her before opening the door to pick up the pile of sweats.
Scooping them up quickly, she winced at the pain associated with the abrupt movement in her ankle as she crossed the hall and entered the room that she thought was his given his directions. Slipping into the room, she flicked on the lights and began looking around his room. Her earlier guesses about who did the decorating in their home were proved correct from the barren space. There were a few pieces of furniture; a dresser, two night stands, a desk and an enormous bed. Books were carelessly scattered on nearly every flat surface, but since he hadn't expected to have her sleeping in his room and given that her own home mirrored this one, she could hardly begrudge him on that. As she got closer to the night stand to see what he was reading, she noticed that the woodwork had small carvings of gargoyles and flames in each piece and she found herself unable to swallow the bubble of laughter that spilled from her lips. Covering her face securely with a nearby pillow, she allowed herself to snort freely at his god awful taste. Surely he had purchased the furniture unknowingly! She just couldn't see him of all people having a taste for the garish pictures embedded neatly in the dark wood.
Rising from the bed, she decided to look around for other quirky objects, though didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed when she didn't come across any tacky snow globes or statues with the beasts. Inspecting the markings on his dresser, she curiously ran her fingers over the handle, debating looking inside at the contents. Even knowing that it was rude wasn't quite enough to quell the innate inquisitiveness that she possessed and without much more deliberation she pulled open the middle drawer nearly losing it before making it back to the pillow in time to muffle her fevered laughter. Ed had gargoyle pajama pants! Acknowledging that sentence was all it took to reenergize the fit of giggles that shook her entire body. Every time she thought she had gotten them out of her system, she would picture him tying the red strings on the atrocious sleepwear and lose it again. After a few minutes, she finally calmed herself and wiped the tears of humor from her eyes. Even if he went back to ignoring her after this at least she would never be able to keep an entirely straight face around him again.
Smiling at the memory of the hilariously horrendous taste that her Professor had, she rose from the bed when her stomach growled loudly. Making her way back into the living area, she was able to appreciate the space more fully in the daylight. Though the room was an open concept, there was still a clear distinction of division due to the breakfast bar that sprawled between the kitchen, dining room and living room. Though the room was clean, it was practically sterile in appearance with the too white walls and lack of window treatments. Al needed to step up his decorating.
Following the smell that had awakened her, her eyes moved to the table which was laid out with an enormous spread of many breakfast foods. There was the bacon that had drawn her initially, chocolate chip pancakes, eggs and toast. However Ed was nowhere to be seen. As she began to enter the kitchen, she was startled when a hand touched her shoulder, eliciting an embarrassing squeal from her mouth. Hearing his laughter, she did her best remember that this man had helped her out last night so she needed to cut him slack, though she was unable to completely wipe the anger that accompanied being frightened from her face.
"A little jumpy this morning, Ms. Rockbell?" His smug grin was practically running off his face. Unfortunately she couldn't concentrate on the irritation she felt once she saw that his hair was loose around his bare shoulders. His honeyed hair seemed to be highlighted by the morning sun coming through the very open windows of the brother's home. Also it was much longer than she had figured it would have been down. Strands brushed his muscular chest and she could almost hear her mouth pop open at the sight before her. Swallowing hard, she tried to focus on anything besides the perfection that was Edward Elric without a shirt and hair gloriously unrestrained.
"Well maybe if you would have indicated in any form that you had entered the room to creep up on me, I wouldn't have been startled." Well that had come out more defensively than she had meant to sound. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "I just mean that I'm not used to staying anywhere besides my own home and was surprised." Seeing his amber eyes study her carefully, she wondered briefly if there was something out of place on her or what was going on in his mind right that second. Following his eyes, she noticed that his eyes darkened visibly and widened when they realized that she was currently braless in his loose fitting t-shirt. Telling herself that her nipples had pebbled because it was cold in the room and not because she had become aroused just at the visual display before her, Winry brazenly returned his steady gaze without nervously covering herself. His eyebrows moved skyward at the show of confidence, and she swore she could feel the heat off of his body as he moved towards her unthinkingly. Reaching a hand bravely in his direction, he seemed to flinch though he allowed the contact to his chest. "Who's jumpy now Elric?" Winry smirked boldly at him even though she could feel her heart thumping rapidly. For once she wasn't daunted by her body's reaction to him because she could clearly feel that his own heart was racing in tandem with her own. Let him try and pretend that he didn't notice her now. His skin was hot beneath her fingertips and she gently scored his skin with her nails. When she heard the sound that was nearly a growl escape his lips, she knew that even though he had claimed disinterest in her, that he was physically drawn to her and that was a start. Feeling the heavy rise and fall to his chest, she was emboldened by the response coming from him and moved to close the distance between them when a voice broke the transfixion between the two blondes and they jumped guiltily apart.
"Good morning Winry! Brother didn't tell me you were awake! How are you feeling this morning?" Smiling brightly at them, Al looked between them as they were both flushed to the bone. Thankfully Alphonse didn't seem like he had seen anything, or if he had he was the perpetual gentleman and was going to say nothing.
"Hey Al! I'm feeling much better thanks to Ed actually. How was your night?" Risking a quick glance in the elder Elric's direction, he had his back turned to them though she could tell how tense he was from the rigid set of his shoulders. Returning her focus to Al, she listened as he gushed over Sheska and her costume and meeting her family. At the mention of family, Winry's mind wandered to their parents. She only knew the bare minimum from talking with Al; their mother had died when they were younger and their father was actively involved in the government. She had no idea which part and had a feeling it was something that she may never really know much about. When he finally wound down some, she realized that they had all drifted to the table and that she now had a full plate in front of her. "I am so happy for you Al! It sounds like you guys are doing so well and I can't think of two people who deserve to be happier." Winry was actually able to feel the afterglow radiate from her friend and for a brief moment she wondered if she would ever experience such a feeling firsthand.
"I really have you to thank, if you wouldn't have talked us both out of our initial worries who knows if we would be here." Beaming directly at her, Al's kind eyes crinkled at the sides and once again she couldn't help but realize how similar the two men in front of her could sometimes be. Ignoring his shorter and neatly styled hair, the brothers really did resemble each other, though their personalities made you easily forget that fact.
"Oh, I think you would have figured it out on your own...eventually." Pausing momentarily, Winry locked eyes with the stubborn man when she continued. "Sometimes it just takes time for people to acknowledge what is in front of them." She had placed her forefinger along her jaw line as she spoke her words discreetly to one of the brother's in particular, but in both of their directions so she didn't call attention to this fact. By Professor Elric's posturing she knew he had understood that she was speaking largely to him. His molten eyes focused on her as he responded.
"You couldn't be more right Winry, for instance the food on the table is in front of us. So let's eat." Figures that he would only worry about stuffing his face. Jackass. Of course he would steer the conversation away when it became difficult for him; granted, they were in the room with his little brother, but still. Hunching her shoulders in frustration, she began eating since she was in fact hungry.
"Brother, speaking of, are you ever going to paint this room? You keep saying you are going to paint over the white, but we have been here for months and it is still this clinic color." Giving a disapproving huff, Al waited patiently for an answer that Edward was clearly trying to come up with.
"I bought the paint, I just haven't had the time to do it yet. Classes have been busy and all." Looking at the normally put together man, she couldn't help but laugh at his youthful appearance while under the scrutiny of his little brother.
"Well what are you doing tomorrow then? I know you don't have any lectures on Sunday." At his cornering of the elder since he apparently knew very well that he didn't have plans, Al grinned cheekily, which was a mirror image of Ed's own trademark expression. In panic at having been called out, her teacher glanced in her direction hopefully for assistance.
"Actually Al, I was going to see what Ms. Rockb- I mean Winry was doing tomorrow." His obvious fumbling made it clear he had had no intention of doing any such thing. However feeling as smug as a cat at the win/win he was offering her, she decided to help him out, even if not quite in the way that he wanted.
"I would be happy to help paint with you tomorrow! Really it's the least I could do with you coming to get me and everything." Exclaiming a bit zealously, Winry could barely contain her laughter at his face when he realized what she had said. An instant scowl etched into his face and the surly look in his eyes radiated outward to blanket them all. Talk about ungrateful!
"Oh, Winry, you are so nice to help brother! Since I'll be with Sheska, that will leave just you two to take care of it. If he was left to his own devices, he would never get it done!" She was starting to think that maybe Alphonse was discreetly pulling strings behind the scenes of their lives.
"No worries about that, it'll be done in record time now." Stating grouchily, Ed had grudgingly accepted his fate and begun telling her when to come over. As he spoke, she wondered if he was more upset about painting or having to paint with her? Rising from the table, he walked to the kitchen to rinse off his dishes and reflexively her ocean blue eyes followed him, greedily stealing another glimpse of his toned shoulders, when she noticed his cheek raise into a smile. Even though he quickly erased any trace of it from his features, it had been too late to hide it from her, and now all she could do was hope that tomorrow would be the day she could finally feel those lips on her own without interruption.
AN: 3/24/2016 I am currently going through and fixing this story chapter by chapter in an attempt to reconnect to it and improve it along the way. Please review if you notice anything that I have missed or just want to tell me what you like/dislike.