Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Seasons ❯ Winter: Care-full ( Chapter 3 )

Warnings and Disclaimers: Any and all characters from the anime Fullmetal Alchemist do not belong to me. I only torture them for some stories. There may be some teenage content in the story but it is very limited. This story is set after the movie which means there are some spoilers and if you have no idea what any of this may be about, then don't come crying to me please. It's not my fault, I warned you *sheepish grin*.

 

 

 

Seasons

Winter: Care-full

Chapter 3

 

By: RomanceFanFicLover

 

 

 

“…but Granny!” Winry's whining permeated through Ed's door and he lazily listened to the conversation.

 

 

“No buts Winry! Hurry up, shoo!” Pinako's slightly amused order held no ill-will but was still used with force.

 

 

“Granny! I want to work on automail, not take care of Ed.” Ed's eyes narrowed and he trained his ears on the door so that he wouldn't miss a word. “He can take care of himself, and I doubt he even wants my company. Also, he needs to rest! With me there, we'll only argue and I don't know if I'll hit him with my wrench again. Old habits die hard…” Winry finished with a nervous laugh.

 

 

“Go.”

 

 

Ed heard Winry sigh in surrender as the soft padding of her socked feet got closer to his door. Ed couldn't take his eyes from the door. Why would she not want to care for him? And he wasn't that argumentative. He continued his moping without noticing the new addition to the room making its way to his side.

 

 

“What's wrong, Ed?” When Winry didn't receive a reply she poked his flesh shoulder. “Ed?” Still no response, his eyes remained on the open doorway moodily. “Oh Shrimp Boy!”

 

 

Ed blinked and turned to Winry with an annoyed glare. “WHO ARE YOU CALLING A TINY ORGANISM OF THE SEA THAT IS BULLIED BY BIGGER FISH?”

 

 

Winry giggled merrily and ruffled Ed's hair. “Just checking if you're okay. How's your head?”

 

 

“I don't know.” Ed grumbled angrily. “Winry?”

 

 

“Hmm?” She looked up from her current task of gathering the bowl of cold water and the cloths that her grandmother had left behind.

 

 

“Why don't you want to care for me?” When Winry looked at him a little surprised, he rushed to explain what he meant, “Not that I want you to or anything, but, I wasn't eavesdropping it's just that- Well I, I kind of heard your conversation and….” Ed took a large gulp of air and was about to continue when his stomach decided it needed to be noticed. Re-thinking his statement for a moment, Ed finally continued. “Could you at least take care of my automail and get me something to eat?”

 

 

Winry grinned and hurried out of the room after nodding an affirmative.

 

 

Ed sat there waiting for his food as he calmed himself. His heart and mind swam with emotions. He felt angry, and disappointed, but happy and comforted all at the same time. The worst part was, he had no idea why.

 

 

“Here. Granny heated it up for you.”

 

 

Ed looked down at the food in surprise, he hadn't even noticed Winry come in. “T-Thanks.”

 

 

Winry sat down on a chair across the room and picked up an automail catalogue that lay on the table beside it. She flipped through the pages absently and looked up every now and then to see Ed struggling to eat with his left hand.

 

 

“Need help?”

 

 

Ed flushed noticeably and was about to yell at her for thinking he couldn't even eat properly until he realized that he hadn't even had a single spoonful successfully reach his mouth in the 2 minutes he had been trying. By now he should be half-way finished!

 

 

“Uh…Yeah...” As though it was an afterthought Ed added on a strangled “…please.” before setting the shaking fork back onto the tray that rested on his lap.

 

 

As Winry fed him the first bite, Ed felt his face burning with a blush and his throat clenched nervously. `This is ridiculous, it's just Winry, and I need to eat.'

 

 

“Um Winr-” Just as Ed moved his head to speak, Winry brought more rice towards his mouth but his nose intervened between the two and the soy sauce covered rice ended up on his nose and shirt. Muttering random curses under his breath, Ed reached for the cloth that lay between him and Winry.

 

 

Winry struggled not to laugh and reached for the cloth that lay between her and Ed.

 

 

Their hands landed on top of each other, Winry's on the bottom.

 

 

“Soft…” Ed mumbled the word under his breath.

 

 

“Warm...” Winry whispered the word over her shoulder as she coughed lightly in order to cover the sound and pulled the cloth up from the bed and let Ed's hand slip off of hers.

 

 

“Sorry, I'll clean it for you, take off your shirt.” For some reason, Winry's soft demand seemed different to Ed. His face heated up and he felt like his cheeks were steaming,

 

 

“N-no it's okay. I'll clean it. Can you uh…” He coughed lightly to clear his suddenly strained throat, “can you um, get me another shirt?” Winry nodded her response and headed out the door as Ed wiped off some of the outstanding pieces of rice before peeling off his soy-soaked shirt.

 

 

Ed tossed it to the ground and proceeded to wipe the sauce off his nose and chest.

 

 

Winry walked in and had to smother her gasp with a fake sneeze. Somewhere in the back of her mind she always remembered Ed as the slightly chubby boy. It was always a shock to see the lean muscles that he hid under his shirt.

 

 

She cleared her throat lightly to get his attention. He looked up at her expectantly. “Your shirts are in the wash and I couldn't find one that was already cleaned.” For some reason, part of her was glad that she couldn't find a shirt.

 

 

“Oh well, that's alright. But I think I can manage my food on my own now.” Ed attempted to pick up the fork again but it clattered back onto the tray. Thankfully, before he had to embarrass himself by asking for help, Winry had made her way over to his side to feed him again.

 

 

“I feel like a baby…” Ed muttered in-between mouthfuls.

 

 

Winry grinned and patted Ed on the head, “Babies are cuter.”

 

 

“Oh, so I'm not cute then?” Ed asked the question before it had even fully registered in his mind. He hadn't meant to say it, but he had to admit that he was at least a little curious about her possible answer.

 

 

“Well you're short.”

 

 

“WHAT?! WHO ARE YOU CALLING…?” As Ed headed into another one of his hysterics, Winry mentally patted herself on the back for avoiding the question successfully.

 

 

Ed stopped his ranting and glanced at Winry, she had a smug smile on her face. Dammit, she avoided the question. Ed didn't want to seem persistent but dammit all to hell he needed to know!

 

 

“So then I'm…” Ed took a deep shaky breath, trying to calm his self-directed anger, “…short. But not cute?” He grinned evilly; if he could admit that he was…short…then she could at least tell him this.

 

 

“Maybe in a midget's opinion.” [A/N: No offence to any dwarves, midgets, short people or anything!] Winry tried not to look at Ed as she started to get up, signaling the end of the conversation.

 

 

Ed grabbed her wrist quickly and looked her in the eye before bravely saying, “But what about in a mechanic's opinion?”

 

 

Winry tried to dodge the question again, “I'm not sure, Ed. Maybe to the big muscular mechanics you'd be a cute boy toy.” She saw Ed visibly pale and she hoped his streak of bravery would end soon.

 

 

“Then, what about a…” Ed took a shallow breath, trying to calm his racing heart. Why was he continuing? This was torture! She obviously didn't want to answer. Maybe she thought he was incredibly ugly. Ed's grip on her wrist tightened slightly before he let go.

 

 

Winry raced towards the door but was stopped by Ed's voice. “What did you say?” She turned slightly so she could see his face. Ed looked really nervous, like what he said could end his life.

 

 

“W-What about in the opinion of a-a be-….a beautiful girl mechanic?” Ed thought he was going to faint before he heard her answer. He felt like ice was running through his veins, butterflies were break dancing in his stomach and his skin was on fire.

 

 

Winry stood motionless, frozen by shock. `Does Ed mean…does he mean me?' Winry reveled in the thought and decided to push a little. “Well I don't know any beautiful girl mechanics.” She saw Ed look up at her and for a second she thought he looked at her as though he was pleading her to stop. She blinked and looked at Ed again, this time she saw solid determination and playfulness in his gaze.

 

 

“You're right, I don't know any either.” Winry felt her stomach sink a little and her hopes shattered. She pushed back the tears that were threatening to surface and was once again about to head out the door when Ed's voice reached her ears again.

 

 

“I know a gorgeous one.” Butterflies erupted in Winry's stomach; thousand of butterflies. She jogged out the room and into the washroom, quickly locking the door behind her. Bringing her hands to her face, Winry's face broke out into a grin and she fought from shouting out loud.

 

 

Winry looked up suddenly and realized that she still hadn't answered Ed's question. He ended up being the one to say his opinion. The urge to shout increased and Winry grabbed a towel to smother her joyous laughter.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

 

“Winnrryyyy!” Ed's desperate cry was heard from downstairs.

 

 

“My dear, I believe your patient wants you again.” Pinako blew a few rings of smoke with her pipe before turning back to the task of preparing dinner.

 

 

Al snickered behind his alchemy book but decided to run when he heard Winry pick up her wrench.

 

 

Winry sighed and headed up the stairs towards Ed's room. Keeping up her annoyed mask as she reached the second floor, Winry stopped in front of Ed's door and finally allowed her smile to break onto her face before she replaced it with concern. She opened the door and tried to hide her laughter behind her hand as she was greeted with an amusing sight.

 

 

Ed was attempting to balance his weight on one leg and make it across the room without falling and hitting his head. His dizziness wasn't helping, but he really needed to go pee! Ed looked up at Winry pathetically as his leg shook, his injury still not fully healed.

 

 

Winry slipped Ed's arm over her shoulder as she helped him move slowly towards the door before she realized she had no idea where he wanted her to take him. “Ed? Where did you want to go?” Suddenly anger bled into her mind as she exclaimed, “Anyways, you're supposed to be resting! Listen for once so you can get better!” She noticed Ed's slightly blushing face and decided to stop further scolding.

 

 

“I…um, I need to use the washroom.”

 

 

“Need help with that too?”

 

 

“What?!” The shock fell onto Ed's face like a thick blanket and Winry couldn't help but laugh out loud.

 

 

Winry waited outside the washroom as Ed did his business. She heard the toilet flush and found herself saying, “Don't forget to wash your hands.” His angered outburst was accompanied by her gentle smile.

 

 

“Winry?”

 

 

“Need help again?” She said it in a jokingly-annoyed way and expected him to have another outburst but was surprised when he answered with an affirmative. “What do you need help with?”

 

 

“I want to take a shower but I don't know if I can make it down the stairs and stay upright while I'm bathing.” Ed refused to look Winry in the eyes as he said this. He was going to die of embarrassment by the time he got better. He just knew he was.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

Ed took back his statement from earlier that day; he almost died about 5 minutes ago. Ed sat in his room as Winry sat behind him, drying his hair with a towel and combing it out. The memory crept up on Ed before he could stop it.

 

 

Ed stood underneath the water with his one arm holding onto the wall for support as Winry washed his hair. It felt really good with her nails scratching his scalp and easing out the knots in his hair. He sighed into the rush of water; he could stay like that forever.

 

 

“Done!” Winry exclaimed and stepped back to grab a sponge.

 

 

“Why are you getting the sponge?” Ed almost hit himself for his own stupidity. A shower was obviously not just for washing your hair. “I-I can do the rest I think.” Ed pushed himself off the wall and reached for the sponge when the ground suddenly seemed to be getting closer.

 

 

Winry caught him as he was about to fall but the slippery grass made her own feet unstable and he fell on top of her.

 

“Ow, ow, ow…” Ed mumbled into Winry's hair, seemingly not noticing that the reason her hair was there was because she was under him.

 

 

Giggling erupted from under Ed and he started to shake with the body beneath him. Ed was abruptly informed by his body of exactly what was happening. His nerves tingled as he felt her wet skin on his own and he began to realize what happened. Before he knew it, he was laughing as well.

 

 

“Brother!” Ed and Winry's heads turned in unison to look at Al's slightly shocked and amused stare. “If you guys wanted to be alone, you could've at least told me and Auntie!” Before they had a chance to react, Al had hurried back into the house laughing merrily and calling for Pinako telling her that they should leave the house before they heard things they weren't supposed to.

 

 

Ed felt his face burning as the memory faded. He wondered how Winry felt about it. It must be a little worse for her; he doubted that she wanted that to happen.

 

 

“I'm sorry...about what happened. I didn't mean to fall on you or embarrass you.” Ed couldn't believe himself. He must have changed so much during his time across the gate. He was apologizing! And on his own will too. This didn't seem to faze Winry though.

 

 

“It's alright; I'm the one who slipped.” She laughed at the memory. “And Al knows that you don't care for me that way.”

 

 

“Says who?” Ed let the words slip from his mouth before he could stop himself. What was he saying? He didn't care for Winry that way. Disgusted by his own thoughts, Ed quickly recovered, “I mean, who said that there was a storm tonight?”

 

 

“There's a storm tonight?” Ed smirked in satisfaction; that got her mind off of the topic.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

Ed hadn't even known there was really going to be a storm that night, but before he knew it the winds were howling and snow pounded against the windows, walls, and doors.

 

Earlier that evening, Pinako had called and said that she and Al had gone out to the grocery store right before the storm started; Ed and Winry were alone for the night and possibly the next few days.

 

 

Part of Ed was annoyed and part of him was overjoyed. Ed didn't know which part was the one he should abide by and ended up looking at the mirror with an annoyed smile that reached his eyes.

 

 

“I'm going crazy.” Ed decided as he stared at the bathroom mirror.

 

 

“Damn right you are if you're talking to yourself in the bathroom. Hurry up.” Winry's amused but strained voice came from the other side of the door.

 

Ed slowly opened the door and hopped out in front of Winry. She was quite obviously scared of the storm, but she tried very hard to hide it. They headed back to Ed's room and wound their way through the automail parts and tools that lay on the floor, towards the bed. Once Ed got comfortably settled in the bed, he turned to Winry.

 

 

“Thanks for taking care of me today. If you ever need anything, I'm there to help.” Ed smiled weakly as exhaustion took over. “G'night Win…” Ed was about to fall asleep when the roaring of the wind increased a few octaves and a loud thud sounded from above them.

 

 

Winry yelped in fright and ran to Ed's side. “Ed? Are you awake.”

 

 

“Hell yes, what was that?” Ed looked around frantically before stilling his head; a headache was coming back again. His head cleared but throbbed slightly and his ears were greeted with soft whimpering from the girl beside him. `Shit, I forgot she doesn't like storms.' Ed reached his hand out to Winry.

 

 

Winry looked up at Ed's outstretched hand in wonder. “Come here.” She gasped softly at the gentle command. `Is Ed trying to comfort me?' That idea seemed unworldly, but that didn't say much seeing as Ed himself was unworldly now. She wanted so badly to lay there next to him and have him protect her from any fear of storms or anything of the like. At the same time another part of her scolded her for thinking such things, Ed needed to rest, and anyways he didn't care for her that way.

 

 

Ed watched as Winry seemed to think over his offer carefully. It was starting to annoy him. Ed reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her to the edge of the bed. “Sit.” He ordered. She obeyed.

 

 

“We can talk until the storm dies down.” He whispered to her softly as she grabbed his single hand between her own. She leaned onto his shoulder and nodded her head.

 

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

Winry crept into her bed at around 1:00 a.m. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out cold; it seemed as though caring for Ed took as much out of her as it did for Ed.

 

 

Ed lay awake for a few moments, in his own room, thinking. They had talked about the past and about Al and Pinako. He hadn't even realized how late it had gotten. They had talked for three hours and the storm had died down half way through the second hour.

 

 

Ed smiled lightly, but the gesture turned into a grimace as the pounding in his head insisted that he get some rest. With a loud yawn, Ed slid down into his sheets and drifted off to sleep easily.

 

..+..------------------------------..+..

 

 

A/N: For some reason that chapter took me a while to write. I'll try to write better next time! =| For now you have to put up with this chapter. Sorry guys.

 

Xoxoxox!