Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Journey Within ❯ It's Not Supposed To Be Like This ( Chapter 6 )

~I do not own our favorite pint-sized alchemist or any of his friends, but I certainly wished that I did. That way, I wouldn't have to put up any disclaimers.

~And remember; reviews are loved, criticism is welcome, flames are not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Journey Within

Chapter 6- It's Not Supposed To Be Like This

 

 

 

As dawn broke, Ed could feel his conscious push through the haziness of sleep. Lazily, he let one golden eye peer at the rising sun, and with a frown regarded the birds chirping away rather loudly outside the front room window.

 

`Maybe if I pretend it's not morning, I don't have to get up.'

 

He let his eye slid shut as he snuggled closer to the warmth that seemed to encompass him like a human blanket.

 

`Yep, it's definitely too early, and I am too comfortable.'

 

Winry stirred in her sleep, and in a half-awake stupor, reached blindly for the blankets that had slipped off the couch during the night. Securing them around them, she burrowed into Ed's side, a small smile on her angelic face. It was then he was struck with the fact that Ed realized the blanket that had been keeping him warm wasn't exactly a blanket.

 

`Wait a second…oh holy fuck…'

 

He could feel his heart stop in his chest as he realized his predicament. There was Winry, his feisty best friend and automail mechanic, in an oversized t-shirt curled up against his side and he was only wearing boxers; never mind the fact that his morning hard on was a mere inches from her soft, creamy thighs.

 

`Shit, just be cool Ed, be cool…'

 

Slowly, he peeped his eyes open to look at the serene face of his best friend asleep on his chest.

 

`Just be cool…no one has to blow their load right now…'

 

He bit his lower lip as he gently tried to slip out of her grasp.

 

`I have to get out of here, she's gonna be so pissed if she wakes up with me after how I've treated her, never mind that I'm half naked with a hard on at full staff, ready to…'

 

He shook his heads to clear his remaining thoughts. Gently taking his hands in his, he attempted to remove them from his body. Repressing a chuckle at her sleepy attempts to keep him where he was, he gave up after a few seconds and settled back onto the couch.

 

`Eh, not like I was really trying, anyways.'

 

Smoothing an errant strand of hair away from her face with his left hand, he brought her closer to him with his right. As the soft morning light began to filter in the window, it seemed to give her golden locks a surreal glow.

 

`Just be cool; don't wake her with a rousing round of sex. Just get her off of you so you can finally show her the damn house.'

 

With a groggy moan, Winry finally opened her eyes, only to make out the blurry vision of her best automail customer.

 

“Ed?”

 

Before he could stop himself, the word vomit came pouring out.

 

“Get the fuck off of me.” `Oh fucking shit! That's definitely not what I wanted to say.'

 

Ed winced as he waited for her inevitable backlash of curses and punches. Squeezing his eyes shut, he held his breath. `Damn, great way to start the morning. Score: Ed 0, stupidity 1,875.' But it never came. Hiding his surprise Ed watched as Winry started to peel herself off of him with as much dignity as she could muster, and never letting her eyes meet his. But it was the low tone in which she replied to him that really sent chills down his spine.

 

“Good morning to you, too.”

 

Her look of complete indifference appeared unmoving to the casual observer, but inside Winry could feel her heart breaking all over again. `Well, I knew I could only pretend for that one night. Guess it's back to the same old same old. ' Pushing the blankets off of her middle, she moved to sit up. In a moment of panic, Ed grabbed her wrists, and mustered all the courage he could manage.

 

“Winry, wait; I didn't mean it like that.”

 

Looking more annoyed than anything, Winry still tried moving away from his grasp, only to discover that Ed's grip with his real hand was just about as strong as with his automail hand.

 

“Ed, just let me go.”

 

“No.”

 

The look of shock that passed over both of their faces was clearly evident in the early morning sunlight streaming in from the front room windows.

 

“Come on Ed, just let go.”

 

“No.”

 

Ed wished for a split second that he had complied with her request, because when Winry finally turned her gaze on him he could feel his heart breaking into a million pieces. Big blue eyes, brimming with tears, were filled to capacity with hurt and defeat. With an exasperated sigh, Winry began to struggle against him, but the more she tried to get lose the more Ed knew what letting go would mean.

 

`I won't just be letting her go now'

 

“Edward, let go!”

 

`I'll be letting her go forever.'

 

As she continued to try and squirm out of his hold, Winry's legs become tangled in the blankets and Ed's legs just as she managed to free one hand from Ed's grasp. The added momentum from her free arm flailing caused her to lose her balance, and Winry felt herself begin to fall. Squeezing her eyes shut, she braced for the unforgiving impact of the hardwood floor.

 

“I'm not letting go. Not now, not ever.”

 

The soft voice that enveloped the room was a stark contrast to the strong arms were now wrapped around her, pulling her back into his embrace, and Winry felt a blush start to creep up her neck.

 

`No, it isn't supposed to be like this.'

 

Nervously, she stole a glance and Ed.

 

`I'm supposed to let you go…'

 

 

Looking everywhere but his eyes, Winry let her gaze roam over his well defined, but not bulky chest and stomach, over the hardened muscles of his left arm and automail of his right, and down to the hem of his boxers. Letting out a whoosh of air, she gasped deeply.

 

`Oh boy. Girl, just breath, don't forget to breath!'

 

The gentle ticks of the ever-present grandfather clock marked the seconds as they continued to look everywhere but each other. Ed could feel the pressure in his throat; it was so constricting he felt like he could hardly breathe. But he had to do this. Taking a deep breath, he gently took a finger and lifted her chin to meet his. And yet her eyes still wouldn't meet his.

 

“Winry?”

 

No response.

 

“ Winry, please look at me.”

 

Cerulean pools tentively looked up to his golden ones, as Ed silently cursed himself for causing her so much pain.

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

He could see the doubt flash across her face, but the next instant she was leaning into his arms, and placing her cheek against his bare metal shoulder. But in doing so, she missed the surprise and disbelief that shone through Ed's eyes. She knew that he wasn't just apologizing for his rude morning behavior. No, Winry knew that this apology covered the last few months.

 

“I know, Ed. I know.”

 

A few more seconds ticked gently by, and Ed took another chance by letting his arms slide around her waist, and pulled her even closer to him. Winry sighed, and relaxed into his embrace. Looking at the metal arm that encompassed the petite form in his lap, Ed shuddered.

 

`I don't deserve her.'

 

“Ed, are you ok?”

 

Feeling the tears starting to prick at his eyes, he sniffed.

 

`Always thinking of others over yourself, eh Winry? I was just a complete asshole and already you've forgiven me and are ready to comfort me…shit.'

 

The tears had begun to fall, and he couldn't stop them. Ever so quietly, they built up until great wracking sobs were convulsing his whole body. Pressing her to his chest, all of the pain of the last few years came tumbling out in great hiccupping breaths.

 

“God Winry, I am so sorry.”

 

`Oh my beautiful, strong Ed…this must be so hard for you.'

 

Wrapping her arms around him even tighter, she felt his tears slick her bangs and trail down her face.

 

`You don't ever have to tell me what you've been through. But I'm here for you.'

 

And she just held him and let him cry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later that morning, Winry lay propped up on her side next to Ed on the couch, who had fallen into a fitful sleep after his early morning confession to her. Gently stroking his hair, she leaned down and gently placed a kiss on his forehead.

 

`We will get though this, Edward Elric.'

 

Ed began to stir, and she looked away.

 

`We have to.'

 

Slowly sitting up, a red-eyed Ed rubbed at his face.

 

“How long have I been asleep?”

 

Glancing at the clock, Winry paused to think about it before answering him.

 

“About 2 hours.”

 

“Shit.”

 

Swinging his legs over the side of the couch, the faint sounds of breakfast being made in the kitchen could be heard. Feeling Winry scoot over to the edge of the couch next to him, a small hand gently came to rest on his flesh one.

 

Ed gave it a light squeeze, and let it fall from his as he stood up. “We should go get dressed.”

 

Winry felt her shoulders slump as the realization hit her that he wanted to forget about what had happened that morning between them. She silently shook her head in agreement, and suddenly found the fringe on the blanket to be absolutely fascinating.

 

“We need to get dressed because I want to show you something.”

 

Offering her his real hand to help her stand, up she couldn't hide the shock that flittered across her face as Ed leaned in and placed a feather light kiss to her temple.

 

“That was in payment for earlier.”

 

Stretching his arms over his head to conceal the light blush that tinted his cheeks, Ed made his way upstairs, as Winry stood in the middle of the front room, eyes wide in disbelief. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Winry followed Ed upstairs to change, her brow crinkled in confusion.

 

`What the hell is going on here?'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much love,

The Cerulean Alchemist