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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:11:55 GMT -5
Winry laughed and got up and started clearing the table of plates. "Yeah, yeah whatever." She said, dropping them gently in the sink and starting to wash them. "You'll get it back, I'm pretty sure he just wants to play with you." She looked at him and smiled. "They seem to like you." She reached over for some dish soap and poured it onto the sponge, scrubbing the dishes clean of food.
"That's because he's the one closest to their height." Ling interjected. "AH!" He let out, falling out of the chair when something hit him. "Wow asshole, that hurt." He said, rubbing his cheek.
"Hey, you better have not thrown a plate because I'll throw something at YOU." Winry warned, glancing toward the wrench that sat on the counter top. "Something metal and shiny."
Mei sighed. "I'll help." She put Xiao Mei down and started carrying some of the plates to Winry, placing them on the counter.
Ling got up and stretched. Most of the kittens had left the room, following the one that had snatched Ed's glove. "Maybe they're going to go tear it up. I would stop them, but you're a terrible friend.." He said narrowing his already narrow eyes. "Anyhow, Hey Ran Fan you wanna go do something? I'm bored."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:12:16 GMT -5
Ed groaned, pushing the chair back as he stood up. Putting his hands in his pocket, he walked out of the room after the kittens. They were all gathered together on the couch pulling at his gloves. Laughing, he sat down and pulled it away from them. Clapping his hands together, he fixed the glove and then transmuted part of the carpet into a string. He picked it up and moved it, letting the kittens chase it over the couch.
Alphonse watched Mei and started to put things away. He put the syrup in the fridge alone with the butter. Grabbing a towel, he started to dry the dishes and put them away.
Ran Fan looked at him and sighed. Her eyes rested on Winry warningly, as if saying that if she attempted to hurt Ling - that the wrench would have to go through her first. Now that Ling was here, Ran Fan's tie was to him. She would still protect Winry if she needed it, but she'd pick the young master over anyone else. Looking over at Ling again, she got up. "Oh! That reminds me. I got something for you." Taking him by the hand, she jobbed up the sitars with him.
Going into her room, she let go of his hand and dropped down on her knees when she reached the bed. Reaching under it, she pulled something out. Holding up a sheathed sword, she smiled. "I remember you lost yours, so I got you a new one." She said, pulling it out to show him. The blade wasn't completely straight - it moved to the side at almost a 90 degree angle, then went down once more. The blade was gold, and it was embedded with precious stones. Flipping it and catching the blade with her automail, she held the handle out towards him.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:14:42 GMT -5
Winry looked at her, pointing behind her at Ed. "No need to get protective, my threat was directed toward Ed." She said, finishing washing what was in her hand. She put it up to dry and then washed off her hands, drying them on a kitchen towel. "So did you get back?" She asked, walking into the room and smiling. "Aw, see I told you they like you." She said, looking at the kittens who were trying to climb up his pant leg to get to the string. She sat down next to him and started petting one of the kittens.
Ling widened his eyes. "You got this for me?" he asked, in shock. It was amazing and seemed to be even better than his last one - and he loved his old sword like hell. "Thanks." He grinned and pulled her in for a hug, squishing her against him. Putting her back down on the ground and continued to examine the sword. His eyes were open and scanning over the fine details, the gold and the gemstones were perfectly crafted. "Where the hell did you get this? Did you rob a bank Ran Fan?" He asked, looking at her.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:14:57 GMT -5
Edward chuckled slightly, watching them. The classic Ed smile, teeth bared was displayed on his face. He seemed truly pleased, and his eyes rested on one of the small kittens. When Winry entered the room, he shrugged. "Whatever. I just would rather them play with this than my gloves." He said, throwing the string across the room. Four of the kittens jumped off the couch and ran over, grabbing the string. One of the small kittens grabbed it in it's mouth, running across the room with it. The other chased the frantically moving object instinctively, jumping on their brother.
Ran Fan smiled when he saw it. The look on his face made it worth it. "I did." Feeling his arms, she gasped. He held her tightly against him, and she knew that this was against all protocol. He was normally affectionate, but he very rarely touched her like this. It was so intimate and person. Such contact was always discourage and reprimanded between the two of them. As he released her, a displeased feeling flooded her. Why did she want the contact to continue?
"It's probably better if you don't ask me where or how I got it." She said honestly, smiling at him. "It's a gift. You don't have to know." She sat down on the edge of her bed, which was still unmade from him sleeping in it the night before. "I knew that you'd need something that showed that you were emperor when you finally became it." The same sweet smile crossed her face.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:15:10 GMT -5
Winry's focused on the cats, watching as they darted around. She looked back at Ed. "True." She smiled and leaned back, sighing slightly. Her back hurt from sitting up all night. She hadn't laid down at all yet, but she didn't plan on doing so. The day wasn't for sleeping, there was too much stuff to be done. It was better to wait until night and get a good nights sleep, otherwise she'd sleep too much and be up throughout the night again.
She laughed slightly. "They look like you and Al." She said, watching the orange cat pounce on a gray one and the two started to wrestle, biting each others ears.
Ling sighed. "well I guess it's best not to ask then." He said shrugging and smirking at her. "Thanks. But you shouldn't risk getting in trouble for me. I could have just found another one." He smirked. "But thanks." He repeated, "It's really nice, I'll keep it forever." He looked back down at it, his eyes skimming over the details again. How the hell could she get something like this..? It seemed really fancy and REALLY expensive. He almost didn't want to know, ALMOST. He figured he wouldn't bug her about it now though, he would enjoy hsi present.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:18:42 GMT -5
Ed moved on the couch so he was much closer to her. leaning towards her, he put his hand on her shoulder, rubbing it slightly. He could tell she was in pain. Smirking, he looked at her. "You're stiff and tired, huh?" He asked. He didn't need the answer, he could tell by looking at her. The way that she shifted. It just made it so obvious. He was unaware of how he could tell that she was uncomfortable. "I guess they sorta do." he said with a small grin as he watched the two brothers fight over the small string.
Ran Fan smiled at him. "Since when do I not get into trouble for you?" She teased. Shifting her weight so she was sitting on her knees, she leaned forward, moving his hair from his eyes. Even though they weren't always open, it still comforted her to see his face. Leaning back on her legs, she sighed slightly. "It wasn't a huge deal, I promise. I didn't steal it." She said seriously. Her eyes rested on his face and she couldn't help but smile seeing him study the blade. He rarely did anything like this, so she knew that he really liked it. He wasn't just saying that, which made her so much more comfortable.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:18:58 GMT -5
Winry nodded. "Yeah, it's just my back, no big deal." She said, feeling his hand on her shoulder. It made her cheeks darken just slightly, which was weird because she'd always been comfortable around him, she still was just that..there was this small awkward feeling now that she knew how she felt about him. She just hadn't imagined liking Ed that way. Not because he was unattractive or something like that, but because he was her best friend. She was pretty sure those types of things were off limits with best friends, and she would much rather keep him as a friend than ruin their relationship completely. And well, Ed wasn't that type of guy. Romance and stuff weren't his thing. Especially not when he was trying to get his and his brothers body's back to normal. She didn't want to distract him.
Ling swung it through the air slightly, testing it out. The handle was good and he could get a good grip on it, which was great because he didn't want it flying out of his hand in the middle of a battle. "I bet I could win the war with this thing, wipe out the entire military and the homunculi." He joked, laughing slightly. "Thanks again." He smiled at her, his teeth showing. "I'll put it with my things so no one can steal it." He said. It was covered in gold and gemstones, there was no way someone wouldn't want to take it and sell it off, especially in times like these, when people were all over the streets with no where to go, leaving behind their own children to survive.
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:19:15 GMT -5
Edward looked at her and sighed. "You should take a nap. I'll wake you up after a few hours. I know you probably have stuff to do, but you sleeping is way more important. That and you might have to redo it if you're tired. Not that you ever to anything half-ass." he said with a sweet smile. Looking at the kittens as they ran around, he sighed. "Are you goingt o stay here?" His voice was slightly low. "I don't want to stay here for too long. I have the feeling it will be easier for us to be hunted or something if we're in one place. They'll find us. I don't... want to leave you alone..."
Ran Fan smiled as he tested it. Somehow, she felt way better than she thought she would. He seemed so pleased, and despite what was inside of him, she was no different than he was before. It made her feel relieved to see him. To know that she didn't fail badly enough for it to cost him his life or anything of a similar sort. "Young master?" She asked, watching him. "No matter what that thing gave you the ability to do, please don't go out and do something that can get you hurt." Her voice was strong and firm, but her eyes seemed to show that she was still worried. She'd die for him without question to though, but his life mattered much more than hers did.
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:19:40 GMT -5
Winry shook her head. "I don't want to sleep, I don't like wasting the day." She said, looking over at him. With a sigh, she spoke up again. "That's true, but this is one of the few places free of the military right? Is it really a good idea to leave?" She asked, her blue eyes watching him intently. "And I want you to put you and your brother first, don't worry too much about me." She smiled at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'll follow you if you want me to, but I don't want to become a distraction or a burden." She didn't want to become another obstacle in his path.
Ling put the sword down in his lap, sitting crossed legged in front of her. "You should know by now that those are usually the situations I get stuck in." He laughed slightly. "Don't worry, with Greed around I can't die easily. Bullets can't hurt me, neither can swords, or anything other human made weapon." He smirked at her and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "I'm going to make sure you're okay, I've been trying to find out where you were the whole time I was gone. And now that I found you, I'll make sure no one huts you."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:19:44 GMT -5
Ed thought over what she said and sighed slightly, letting her lean into him. All he did was look away, a light pink color twinged on his cheeks. He didn't put his arm around her or anything; he just sat there. "Winry... I want you to be safe. You're the only family I have besides Al. I want him to get his body back, but not if it costs someone like you your life. This is possible because of you. I want you to be safe, and I know that my arm and leg will get broken again. I need you beside me. You're safe here; but what if that doesn't last? What if something happens and the homunculus take over this place too?"
Ran Fan didn't look at all pleased with his response. "You do know that I'm supposed to protect you, right? I can take care of myself. I don't need your protection, nor do I feel like I have to have it to remain living." Her voice was neutral, and it didn't sound like she was attacking him. It was just strange to have him say things like that. He was never like that before. Sure, he cared about her... He cared about all his people, but since what happened between King Bradly and Gluttony, not to mention the time they spent apart - did that have something to do with it? Looking into his eyes, she looked away when he was he was looking for her. "All I did was look for you. The day I got my surgery, after I woke up and the anesthetic wore off, I took off to find you. I was out for three days, and when I came back without you, grandfather and Winry were less than pleased for multiple reasons." A smile crossed her face. "I've missed speaking in Xingese though... You're the only person that I'm used to speaking it with now. I rarely speak to Mei, and when I do, we always speak Amestrian."
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:20:19 GMT -5
Winry glanced up at him, a little relieved that he hadn't pushed her away. "Yeah but...can we really risk it?" She wasn't exactly sure what to do. Could they really leave? Especially when every other place was under the military's control. "It's up to you." She said quietly. Ed would know what to do, he always did. It was best if she just listened to him. "But we don't have to leave yet right?" She asked, lifting her head slightly though still keeping it on his shoulder. It was slightly cool, considering it was his automail arm and not his fleshed one. It didn't matter, because it was still him nonetheless.
Ling looked at her. "I don't care." He said, bluntly. "I already told you this Ran Fan, I'm not going to let you get yourself killed. Just because you're supposed to be my body guard doesn't mean I CAN'T protect you either. I like to think of it as a mutual thing, you watch my back and I watch yours. I said that people without their king are nothing, but a king without his people is the same - this the same thing." He sighed slightly. "I'm not going to let you tell me that I can't keep you safe, because I'm pretty sure you know that I don't take orders very well." He looked at the ground and then back at her, sighing and then giving her a smile. "Listen, I haven't seen you in ages. I would much rather we talk about something else. Something that doesn't involve fighting, that's all I've seen for awhile now."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:20:30 GMT -5
"I haven't decided..." He said uncertainly. Somehow, without Al, and without someone who just seemed to know what he was thinking, he'd gotten used to talking more about what he wanted and what needed to happen. With Ling, he didn't have too much of a choice. Ling loved to talk, eat, and bother him. The most prominent of these annoyances was when they had to share a bunk bed while traveling. Guess who didn't sleep for two days because Ling wanted to talk and be obnoxious really early in the morning? Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair.
"Winry, I want... I need you to be safe. I want you to stay, but I want you to come with me. I can't really trust anyone else to protect you, I want to be there to do it, but I don't want to put you in danger by taking you with me... I can't decide if your safer with or away from me... and..." He sighed, leaning forward, making her move away fro his shoulder. Resting his arms on his knees, he stared down at the floor. "that really frustrates me.."
Ran Fan went to argue with him, but her eyes widened and she looked away from him. It wasn't her palce to argue with him, and arguing with Winry and Mei like she'd been doing for over a year was starting to leak into a territory where it didn't belong. Her place was to watch him, to protect him, and to make sure that he didn't pass out and get arrested and wasn't hungry. Since they met, he'd been stronger than she was, but she was willing to throw her life at his feet. Why was he so resistance to let her do this for him? It was her purpose in life. Her family was a subordinate of his - and that was the nice way to put it.
Reality set in in saying that her family belonged to his. Slavery didn't really exist in Xing, and the protection of her family onto his lead his to flourish to the numbers over 500,000. Her family on the other hand died in a war from a few years back. Her mother died when giving birth to her, her father having died in battle. Fuu was the only family she had left... It was strange to imagine, but the small family she did have left where all men, and none of them accepted her. Jealousy and their hatred for her being able to serve Ling-sama and them being unable and therefore deemed unfit to do so.
Then, she started laughing. "I've been doing more fighting than anything else, Ling-sama." She sighed and looked over at him. Smiling, she nodded. "I shouldn't object to what you're ordering me, but this isn't the same thing at all. A king lives for his people, but the loss of one of them if it preserve his country is in his best interest. If I die protecting you, I'm only one of your people. The other one's will make up for it by living on, and being prosperous under you once you become emperor."
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:20:53 GMT -5
Winry sighed and pulled her legs up onto the couch, folding them off to the side. "I don't mind staying behind," She shrugged. "As much as I want to be able to help you, I know that if I go along I'll just be a problem. At least here I can be of some use, making automail for people. If it were up to me, I'd want both of your boys to stay too - at least until the war settled down. Then you could continue your journey, but I don't know how long this is going to last and...I don't know. I don't know what I want anymore...Just, let's not think about it for now. Just for today, you need to relax. You're stressing yourself out and it's not good for you." She said, putting a hand on his back. "Think about brighter things, like what you and Al will do when you get your bodies back."
Ling looked at her. "It's when you say things like that Ran Fan...you don't understand the way I feel about this situation. You don't understand that it's not about the people as a whole, it's about everyone - everyone's well being. Even yours. Even if you're just a single person, you're important to me. You're probably one of the MOST important." He sighed slightly and leaned his head onto his hand. "Sometimes it makes me wonder if you only see us prince and body guard, and not friends. To tell you the truth, it's a little painful. I always thought of you as a friend..I still do."
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Post by Fateful on Jan 8, 2010 23:21:15 GMT -5
Edward looked over at her, and smiled. "Thanks, Winry." He said, leaning back, looking at her. There was a pause as he stared at her. Just now, he realized that her coming or staying was her choice, not his. She was better off here. In terms of safety and the well being of everyone else. "And if my automail breaks, I'll be able to get it fixed in a safe place." He laughed slightly and paused for a moment. Along silence overtook them. He stretched his arms above his head and put one of them on the back of the couch behind her. "How... many people are here?" He asked, looking down other. "If you had to guess?"
Ran Fan felt something inside her break. Her eyes scrunched, showing that what he said hurt her. Even though his words weren't physically painful, she felt a physical pain inside her chest. It made her wish she had her mask to hide the expression on her face. Letting out a long sigh, her fingers slid across his, pulling his hand forward. Running her fingertips gently over his orobourus tattoo. The gesture was absent minded, but it made her feel strange once again inside. "Ling-sama..." She muttered, knowing how much he hated it when she called him that rather than his name.
"We are friends, and I'll do anything to for you, but, you shouldn't be willing to throw away your life for mine. Our relationship has always been a two way exchange, but I feel as if as of late, you've been spending more time taking care of me than I have for you. I've done nothing but be a burden to you. You've had to save my life and carry me around. I've been training and got over the surgery in three months. It took Ed a year..." She looked up at him. "It was strange at first, but I'm starting to get used to being able to move it but not feeling anything from it. I can't feel pain unless i screw it up, but... I can feel some contact but... not enough." Her real hand was the only one in contact with his skin, her automail resting in her lap.
Roy rolled over hearing movement near him. Rolling over, the fleeting heat from the mattress made his eyes open. Tiredly, he glanced around the room. "Come back to bed..." He whined, running his hand over his face, feeling the hair on his chin and face that needed to be shaved. Making a face, which was distorted from his tiredness, he looked at the blonde who was standing a good distance from him. Her hair was wet, trailed down her back, body wrapped in a robe. "It's too early to be up. It's.." TUrning to see the clock, he was surprised to see it was almost 11. Sighing, he rolled over and pushing himself out of the bed, a lot of effort going into the gesture. Yawning, he walked over to her.
A scar on the right side of his abdomen was still present from his battle and forced medical attention after Lust's attack. His arms wrapped around her waist and he rested his chin on her shoulder. Normally, the two where unaffectionate, especially with the situation. However, they were alone. When they were here, they were safe. It was that simple. Normally when he called her lieutenant, they were around others. "How long where you going to let me sleep?" He asked, kissing her neck. He could smell the body wash and shampoo, still fresh on her warm skin. "Mm..." He muttered, kissing her again. For some reason, she seemed resistant to his attention. "Riza?"
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Post by belated valentine on Jan 8, 2010 23:22:17 GMT -5
Winry thought for a moment. "Well, to begin with there weren't very many people. But then everyone realized that the Resistance had this place taken care and people started sneaking in. It's still not a very big place though, I would guess around 1,500-2,000." She said, looking over at him. "Why, what do you have in mind?" She asked curious as to why he would need to know. She settled into the couch, feeling his arm behind her.
Ling sighed. "It doesn't matter who's protecting who anymore." He said getting up, staring out the window, his arms crossed. "We have bigger things to worry about, and honestly - as long as we're both alive I don't think anything else matters. It doesn't matter who saved who." He leaned against the wall next to the window, looking towards the floor with his nearly closed eyes. "WE've been apart for more than a year, there's no way you can blame yourself for not being around to keep me safe, it's not like you were with me. And I don't see why I'm not allowed to do anything for you."
Riza sighed, pushing his face away slightly. "I told you to shave that. It's not a pleasant feeling kissing a cactus." She said, pointing at the scuff on his chin. She smiled slightly and handed him a cup of coffee. "Well, I don't think it would have been a good idea for you to sleep the day away, especially when you have work to do. You told me to wake you early and I tried but you wouldn't budge so I let you sleep a little longer." She said, taking a sip of her own coffee, leaning back against the counter in the kitchen. Her hair was down, revealing it's true length. "Hurry along and get ready, you have that meeting today and I'm not going to let you miss this one."
There was a sudden knock on the door, following by someone shouting. Riza opened it and Havoc poured in, literally. He was panting and he almost fell over when the door opened. "Roy..battle...west.." He stopped to breath, wiping sweat off his forehead. "We..won. Reole..is ours. Aghh, I need to sit down." He said, letting himself in, sitting down on the couch. "I hate being the fucking messenger..." He pulled out a cigarette and lighter out of his pocket.
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