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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:33:50 GMT -5
Winry laughed. "Not the best Ed, there's always room for improvement...but thanks." She smiled, her cheeks reddening slightly, not that she would let him see. Compliments were always better when they came from Edward, even if they were rare. And the fact that he was worried about her, well...it made her smile too. She spun her chair around so she was facing him, getting a good look at him finally. The last time she'd seen him was back when he had seen her ALMOST change, and thank god she'd noticed him. He didn't seem much different though, he looked tired and weary but he still looked like Ed. TheirEd.
"Do you want something to eat now? I know the journey here was long, and probably not the easiest thing." She really didn't have to wait for his answer, Ed never refused food when it was offered. Tossing aside her gloves, Winry got up and stretched. "I'll be right back." She said, exiting the room. A few minutes later she was back with a plate of food and something for him to drink.
Greed laughed. "It's okay little girl, I'm not a rapist, I'm Greed. It's cool though, I'll wait until Ling gets laid then I'll steal his body again. Toodles." He blew a kiss in her direction and dissapeared, laughing as he did.
"Damn.." Ling muttered. He looked at her, embarassed. "Sorry, he likes to take over some times. Just ignore everything he says." He said, staring ahead, annoyed.
Haha, that was awesome. I think I'll scare her again some time.
Fuck you...Ling replied. He looked at Ran Fan, an apologetic expression crossing his face. "Sorry.." He repeated. "I was distracted, he took it as a chance to take control. I guess I didn't mention that, apparently immortality comes with an annoying side kick. This one happens to be known as Greed. If that ever happens again, just ignore it. He won't hurt you."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:34:22 GMT -5
Ed said up and smiled when she left. That always made him feel better, he was getting food. Winry was a really good cook, and to be honest he was starving and would move likely want more. He had a fake leg so he could get around. Stretching his arms over his head, he smirked at her.
"Thanks Winry." He said, smirking and picking up a fork, starting to scarf down as much food as he could. He smiled and was still eating as much as he could. Looking up at her, he tilted his head to the side, watching her closely. "Hey?" He asked. "This is good, who made it, you?"
Ran Fan opened her mouth for a second and she felt his breath when he blew her a kiss. It didn't smell like the huge amount of food he'd eaten. It was almost minty. Only a few words registered in her mind, making her body shake slightly - she wasn't afriad, but rather, in shock. Blinking, she heard Ling's voice. His real voice. This brought her to her senses, making her blink a few times.
"W-what..?" She asked, looking up into Ling's eyes and was revealed to see they were really his. She didn't like Greed, and she never wanted to see that side of Ling again. It wasn't anything like Ling, and was it really worth it to have someone named greed inside of him?
The one that tried to kill her was Wrath, so... Greed was the same was him.
Ling was the same was him.
Her body shook and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly, shaking slightly. "I'm sorry..." She muttered, her eyes closing tight for a moment to stop herself from doing anything too stupid. When she broke the hug seconds later, she bent over, bowing to him and sighed, her hair falling over her shoulders - both real and fake. "I was too much of a distraction to you... It's my fault, Ling-sama..." She went back to being formal with him. She never should have stopped, but she was just so happy to see him, to feel him and know he was real. That it wasn't a dream.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:34:48 GMT -5
Winry smiled. "Thanks. I made half of it. Ran Fan made the rice, I made the chicken." She said, setting down his drink on the table before plopping down on the couch next to him. His leg wouldn't take too long to finish and she could work on it through the night, she would much rather sit and talk to him for awhile. Her hand reached up to touch her earrings, a habit she'd picked up on when she was younger. She hadn't seen her earrings since she'd given them to Ed to hold. It was slightly ironic since he was the one who had bought them for her in the first place.
Something that had surprised was the fact that they hadn't argued yet, it was usually the first thing that happened whenever he came to get his automail tuned up. Then again..he always walked in with broken automail so that was probably the reason. At least this time he hadn't fucked it up as bad, it was just a little worn down, but that happened with automail regardless how well you treated it. It was nothing terrible though, it actually looked to be in pretty good shape, which made her wonder how the hell he'd managed to pull that off. "It's a little surprising that you didn't mess up my automail. It's a talent of yours, next to Alchemy of course."
Ling glanced over at the grave, sighing slightly. He got up and held out his hand, helping her up. "Let's go back in, I don't think I can stay here much longer. It'll make me feel better if we just leave. When we go back to Xing, we'll make him the best grave site, and he'll be honored." He smiled slightly and walked off with her, making his way back tot he building. He had to wait and let her lead because he hadn't really memorized the way they came. "Were you here all along or did you stay somewhere else before this? And how'd you end up here?" He asked looking at her.
"I got some details but not much, just that after Winry was almost captured you two met up. Riza didn't give me much information besides that." He said, curiously. He wanted to know what had happened to her before he met up with her. He kew that Fu had died recently and the way she talked about it must have meant they were near the battle areas.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:34:58 GMT -5
Ed nodded, still wolfing down all the food in front of him. He was starving, and his uneven legs only made him hungrier, craving more and more food than the average person. He shifted slightly to continue eating. Looking up at her when she faced him, he left the fork in his mouth before pulling it out. "It's good." He said with a smirk. "And with how much Ling ate from take out, I didn't think Ran Fan COULD cook." He said flatly, leaning back, his amber eyes resting on her as she sat close to him.
Seeing her touch her ears, his eyes widened. "Oh." Getting up, he walked a little out of sync, used to his own leg rather than this temporary one. Grabbing his jacket, he pulled out a small jewelry box and walked over to her. He smiled and opened it. Inside was the earring she gave him and he tossed her another one. "I got you another pair..." He muttered, sitting down, his eyes down at his food, starting to eat once more.
"I figured... you could use another pair... as thanks for the automail and in rush valley..."
Ran fan nodded and walked off with him. She stayed with him close, not wanting to be far from him now that they were together finally. She wanted and needed this. "I... was starting to think I'd forget how to speak Xingese..." She muttered, looking up at him with a smile and a small laugh. It wasn't meant to be negative - she meant it, but without speaking or hearing it in so long, even though she was born speaking it... it just... seemed strange. As they two walked it was silent. Just the sound of the incoming storm and their foot steps. It was a strange and uncomfortable silence she'd never experienced before.
"We weren't here the entire time." Her answer was honestly. "I stayed with Winry after she made my arm and I protected her because it's sort of the only thing I'm good at." She looked over at him. The military wanted her talents and had her make a few things for them, but they weren't full like mine. Half an arm here, a hand, part of a leg. They were fairly simple. And, when they threatened her, I took her away." She bit her lip.
"We met up with Riza and she took us somewhere else for protection. We met Mei-chan and Alphonse there. We stayed together with grandfather, and when we came around this area, a few miles in the direction of Ox-Tiger we were attacked. He fought there and we fled here. I brought him with me, forcing him to let me carry him, but he died not long after. As much as he wanted to die on the battle field and was stubborn, I refused to leave him like how you refused to leave me."
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:35:09 GMT -5
Winry blinked, raising an eyebrow. "You kept them? I thought you'd lose them because they're so small." She said before smiling. The holes in her ears might have closed up but she could just redo them. She looked up, surprised. He bought her more? "Wow, thanks..." There must have been some reason. All of them except the first pair were given to her because he messed up in some way and thought he could lower the amount of times she hit him. It worked for the most part and she wore all of them. Two hoops in each, and two studs in the right above the hoops.
Opening the box, she was surprised to find that these were a little more extravagant than the others. Hell, there were DIAMONDS on these. Winry looked at him suspiciously. "You must have messed up big time...What'd you do?" She asked, getting up, ready to read for her wrench so she could clobber him when she found out exactly what the hell she did. Grabbing his automail arm, she began to examine it closely for anything that seemed out of the ordinary.
Ling nodded, listening to her. "It's good that all of you were together, it would have been difficult to track down everyone." He smiled at her. "Hopefully this war will be over soon, then we can go back to Xing. Amestris is so different.." He said looking ahead. "Everything, even the trees. They don't have Cherry Blossoms here and the buildings are so different too. It doesn't feel like home." He shook his head, looking over at her. "I miss everything about Xing." He did, he really did. Ling couldn't wait to get back to his country. There was just...a different atmosphere in Xing. Everything was peaceful, it was amazing.
He was homesick and he hated it.
But even though he was, he wasn't going to leave Amestris just yet. No. He had to wait this out. He had to.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:39:31 GMT -5
Ed turned his head to the side angrily, looking away from her. "Why do I have to do something wrong to get you something nice?!" he asked frustratedly. "I can't believe you think I screwed up do bad that I'd buy you off..." He muttered, picking up his drink and gulping it down. He'd finished eating, and was hungry, but he didn't want to walk somewhere in his underwear.
Looking up at the ceiling, he sighed, looking over at her. "Do you want me to put them back in for you?" he asked, moving a little closer to her. He seemed unsure about something. "You are... ok right?" He asked nervously. "Nothing... happened to you when you were in the military...? No one hurt you or anything?"
Ran fan sighed. "I miss it too..." She said honestly. "I miss being able to sleep under the trees and wake up the the sweet smell." As they watched, she stretched her arms over her head. Her arm was hurting, but she'd never admit that. It was something inside the automail, so she only assumed that she broke one of her connections within the metal casing. She was fine though, it hurt but it felt like a splinter, so it was nothing she wouldn't get over.
"Ling-sama..." She muttered. "I want you to know that I'll do anything to protect you, and you'll be emperor forever..."
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:39:59 GMT -5
Winry hit him on the shoulder. "Because you've done it before and I know you Edward." She waved her wrench in front of his nose. "So be it, but if somethings going on I will find out, and then I'm going to beat the crap out of you." She looked at the earrings again, admiring them. They were pretty, which made her wonder when the hell Ed had developed a eye for jewelry. She looked at him again when he started talking, shrugging her shoulders.
A lot of the men in the military were disgusting. If they had wives, they weren't near them and so that was their excuse for their wandering eyes and hands. It wasn't a surprise when Winry had heard of one of the women that worked near her were raped. The soldier had been warned to be gentle next time. Gentle. That was it. It made her slightly glad that the soldiers that supervised their area only stared, occasionally touched, but never went as far as forced sex.
"I'm fine Ed, don't worry. I like to consider myself pretty lucky." She smiled at him before handing him the earrings and pushing her hair back so he had a clear view of her ear. "Just don't rip out my ear okay?" She teased.
Ling nodded. "Yeah, I'd take the scent of flowers over rotting bodies any day." He smirked at her before looking up toward the sky. "Emperor forever huh? If I'm the one that's able to take to care of Xing the best then I don't think I'd really mind that...Imagine all the food that comes with being emperor." He laughed and looked over at her. He watched her. She seemed different, sad almost.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, his head tilting to the side so he could get a better view of her face. Was she just upset over her grandfathers death or was it something more? Had Greed upset her...? That bastard! He was going to have a man to soul talk with him later, stupid...He frowned and looked ahead, his hands in his pockets.
Somehow he had the feeling Ran Fan didn't like Greed - not the guy but the fact that he was inside Ling. Maybe she didn't want him to be immortal?
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:40:34 GMT -5
Ed sighed slightly. He hadn't done anything really, not that he didn't think he'd have to apologize. He got them as collateral in case he broke one of my limbs. All the same, he was glad he got them for her. She didn't have ones like this, and he would have just transmuted them if making diamonds wasn't illegal. It was a form of money so... yeah... Sorta like gold.
Ed sighed when she said he was ok. It was a deep sigh of relief and he took the earrings from her. Adjusting them slightly, he slid them into her ear in the same order they were in, except the bottom ones he replaced with the ones he got her. He made sure they were secure and moved her hair from her face, sitting beside her. "If any of them hurt you... you can tell me." He added, telling her that he wanted to hurt them.
Ran Fan smiled. "Yeah, me too." She looked up at him and sighed. "I know you can do well. You live for those around you." She smiled. "You saved my life and not because you had to, you wanted to. You said that a King lives for his people, right. If you'd do something like that for me, just imagine the good you can do. Not just for those in our country, but those in others." She smiled sweetly. She hadn't mentioned that she'd die long before he would. That however, hurt her a lot.
She would die...
Knowing that he'd live without her and would continue to live hurt her more than her arm, but it's what he wanted, and she knew it was what was best for Xing. He was doing this because he was strong, adn the best choice for the leader. She'd do anything for him to be happy.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:41:17 GMT -5
Winry shook her head. "No they don't hurt, thanks." She said, smiling at him. She glanced toward the open window and at the darkening sky. It was warm during the day but once the night started to come it cooled a good amount. She herself felt slightly chilly so she knew Ed, who was clad in nothing but his boxers was probably cold. She shut the window and sat back down at her work table, zipping up her suit, figuring she could go back to work on his leg. "Tell me if you get tired, I'll show you to your room. If you want to stay with me a little longer I can get you a blanket if you're cold." She said, looking at him, pulling her hair over her shoulder so it wasn't draped over her work and in her way.
She could have sat and talked to him for hours but she knew he hated not having a leg so she wanted to hurry up and finish. This project wouldn't take all night but even if it had, she didn't mind. She had done it before, through multiple nights in a row. She could always just sleep it off later.
Ling watched her, his mouth still set in a frown. He couldn't figure her out, and what was wrong. She kept the sad exterior thought she must have thought she was covering it up, but Ling was no idiot. He could definitely see she wasn't herself. Even with her mask on, Ling could figure out whether she was annoyed or happy or excited. No one else could, but he sure as hell could. So he knew something wasn't right, just by the way she looked. "Don't ignore my question Ran Fan, what's wrong?" He asked.
He wasn't sure if it was him or...
Maybe she didn't want him to become the emperor? He sighed slightly. Maybe she thought he'd ditch or something, especially now that he didn't need a body guard because of Greed. "You know I'd never just leave you Ran Fan. You may be a body guard, but we are friends and I don't abandon friends."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:41:33 GMT -5
Ed shrugged. "Whatever, I'm not cold." He said, shrugging his shoulders, closing his eyes, laying down and closing his eyes. He was comfortable and could wait for her to finish with his leg before getting dressed. He was comfortable being around her like this, he had been in boxers for most of his life around her. Glancing up at the ceiling, he stared at the moving ceiling fan.
"Winry?" He asked, not looking over at her. "I... I've been thinking." He said, pausing for a moment. "During this whole thing, I'm going to protect you, and I want you to be there beside me, and I want to make sure you're ok with that."
Her head jerked up suddenly and she stopped walking. Her legs stopped moving and she stood there for a moment. "I hate how you can do that..." She rubbed her real elbow with her automail. A sigh escaped her lips and she looked up at him. "I have no right to make it seem like I can ask you for things, Ling-sama, and I never intend to make it a priority to make you do what I want. You're someone that can lead our country and keep what your father started... Ling-sama... I..." She trailed off and slowed down.
Sighing once more, she looked down at the ground. "What you said is only half true. Nothing is wrong. I just think too much. I can feel the darkness inside of you and it makes me wonder if anyone else will notice and..." She stopped. "I'm sorry..." She muttered. "I shouldn't be lecturing you, and I have no right to---" she stopped speaking and walked by him, making it clear that she didn't want to make herself feel any worse.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:42:11 GMT -5
Winry smirked. "Does that mean you'll stop keeping things from me?" She asked raising an eyebrow. He was talking weird, was he this worried about the war? She didn't know, but it made her feel significant and she liked it. When she peeked back at him an expression she rarely saw covered his face like the a blanket of fresh snow - tranquility. She thought it suited him well, but it was something she rarely saw. It reminded her of little Ed when they were eight, back when their only problem was getting lost in the fields of Risembool, when they lived for the fresh squeezed lemonade on the Rockbell's porch during those unusually hot summer days. It seemed like a dream now, like something her mind had made up to comfort her during the nights when they were out, possibly fighting for their lives.
Smiling, she looked down at her work bench. "There has never been a time where I refused to stand beside you. You and Al are my best friends."
Ling sighed. "You're too hard on yourself. It's not your fault Greed is here, he's here because I want him there. I want immortality and you couldn't have saved me from something that I crossed raging sandstorms and unbearable heat for. My country is important to me, I'm willing to give up my body for it, even if that means not being able to die." He looked at her, smiling. "So stop worrying. I'm alive aren't I? I came back and found you. I hate seeing you down so it'd make me feel better if you cheered up. Like a welcome back present." He smiled at her, stepping into the house.
The house was warmer, it was the first time in ages that Ling had actually invited the warmth. It was cool outside so the heat felt nice. All they needed to do was crack a window and they'd have the perfect temperature. Not too cold, not too hot.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:42:20 GMT -5
Ed didn't seen phased when she asked if he'd stop keeping things from her. That's all she really wanted, and it was the only thing he could never give her. He hated that he couldn't but it wasn't like he could really change it. He wished he could, and he shifted to get more comfortable on the couch. He smiled slightly his lips turned upward in a grin as he closed his eyes slowly and started to doze off.
"I didn't think there every would be... winry." his hand rested on his stomach and he started to fall into a light sleep.
Ran Fan shook her head. "No! I'm not being too hard on myself! I'm right to feel guilty! I'm your body guard and not only did you save me and lose the only livelihood I had, but at the same time you went off and completed your mission without me!" She pulled away from him, and it was clear what was really bothering her.
"You didn't need me then and you don't need me now! You're a shield, you said that and it doesn't seem like you even need me to be around you anymore! I hate feeling like you should just give me away and that I'm not good enough to be of any assistance anymore! I want to be helpful to you Ling-sama, but I'm not anymore! I'm weak and I hate myself for it! I'm useless to you! If you wanted to you could get married when we get back to Xing and become emperor, and..." She sat down in one of the seats. "It doesn't even matter..."
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:42:37 GMT -5
Winry got up and fetched a blanket, draping it over him and gently pulling out his hair tie so it wasn't digging into the back of his head. "Good night Ed." She muttered smiling at him before going back to her desk. She continued her work on his leg, determined to finish it within a few hours. She shut off the main light so it wasn't in his face and turned on her desk light instead.
Ling stared at her, shocked. What the hell? "Do you honestly think so lowly of me? That I'm going to just 'give you away' and that you're not 'useful anymore'?" He asked, slightly annoyed, something he rarely got. "Gee thanks. The last time I checked Ran Fan you weren't just a body guard. Yeah I don't need one anymore but who the hell said I don't need a friend? If you think that all you can do for me is take care of me then maybe you should look at it from a different angle - like mine." He wasn't yelling at her, it was in a more confused tone, he didn't know what had come over her so suddenly. Did she NOT want him here? "I'm tired, I've been traveling and fighting people all day long. I wanted to come to a smiling you, instead you're upset. Sorry, it's probably my fault anyway."
He walked toward the stairs. "I'll see you in the morning.."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 22:43:06 GMT -5
Alphonse went into the room Mei was in and pet one of the kittens softly. Seeing them all curl together in a small bed he's transmuted for them, as they start to fall asleep. He rubbed xiao mei's head softly, sighing slightly. He looked over at her and smiled, or at least.... he thought he was.
Ran Fan's eyes widened. She was scared now, she never meant to yell at him and she didn't mean to insult him. "No please!" she grabbed his wrist, shaking her head. "No... Ling-sama, I..." She closed her eyes tightly. "I didn't mean to start a fight, I missed you and knowing that you don't need me around..." She stopped. "Grandfather told me to do whatever I can to protect you... Now that I can't, I feel like I'm letting him down. I'd never serve anyone else and I'd never want to, I want to be with you and I want to do anything to separate us..."
She was shaking slightly, and looked away. "I could never not be around you, I almost went insane without you..."
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 22:43:22 GMT -5
Mei smiled back at him. Even though he wasn't actually smiling, she could feel he was on the inside. His soul was smiling. She looked down, watching as Xiao Mei snuggled up with the kittens. The neighbors had allowed them to stay the night here because Al liked them so much. Getting up, she yawned. "It's been a long day."
Ling sighed. "It's okay. I'm not mad, I don't get mad easily. Just don't worry about it okay. And I missed you too." He smiled at her, before he gently tugged his hand away from hers. "I want to stay and talk..but I think I'll fall over any minute. We'll continue in the morning, I'm too afraid Iw on't be able to remember anything if I stay up any longer." He laughed.
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