All Wrapped Up
by. Poisoned Scarlet

Summary: "I'm not sure, Full Metal, but it seems we've got one pissed off mechanic on our hands" And to think, it all stemmed back to the very man who was giving him advice on how to win back his childhood friend.

Rating: T, for strong language.

Pairing: Ed/Winry. Roy/Riza.

Authors Note: I always figured Ed would say some pretty tactless things to Winry and she wouldn't forgive him – not immediately,anyways. I mean, it's Ed. Of course he'd do or say something to earn him the girls wrath!

Disclaimer: If I owned Full Metal Alchemist, Ed would be really tall and STILL have a height complex.

Side Note: I don't know if they use Euros in the Full Metal Alchemists world. I have heard of cenzs but I'm not sure if that means coins or bills, but in this fanfiction it will mean bills. It will be equivalent to US dollars, since that's what I'm most familiar with. Converting isn't my forte, anyways.

"That's it!" Ed roared, slamming the front door open and ignoring the way the knob dented the wall as he stomped inside. He used the doors momentum to kick it close and ground his teeth as thoughts of punching his superiors face into oblivion rushed through his head.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Alphonse asked curiously, sneakily hiding the two needles he was using to knit some mittens. He had taken to sewing after Winry had lost a button on one of her shirts. He found the repetitive exercise of weaving quite calming, especially if you had a short-fused brother with a mouth on him.

"That damn bastard, Roy!" Ed growled, clenching his fists into balls. "He won't stop abusing his position as Colonel!"

"Uh," Al said uncertainly. "But, what did he do this time? From what I can see, he hasn't done anything—"

"Not done anything?!" Ed shouted in incredulity. "Hell yeah he hasn't done anything! He keeps sending off to do menial work and he even forced me to do five stacks of his goddamn paperwork!!" His automail hand gripped his tired flesh one, grimacing when the joints in his wrist ached from writing. "Six fucking hours, Al! Six. All morning until now!"

Alphonse wisely decided not to comment as his brother raved and raged, pacing back and forth across the living room and punching his fist into his palm repeatedly; envisioning the arrogant face of Colonel Mustang as he did. Al glanced down at the knitting needles he had hidden in his armored body and absently thought that if his brother was this furious, he probably wouldn't notice if he continued his project....

Suddenly, clanks and clinks from the kitchen brought Alphonse back from his musing. "Oh, brother! Winry's here!"

Edward faltered and paused, turning slowly to his brother. "... What?"

"Winry's here," Al chirped. Perhaps the sunny corn-blonde would be able to calm his brother down. "She dropped by a couple of hours ago before visiting Gracia and Elyisa," he pointed to the kitchen, where more sounds could be heard. "Actually, she barely got in before you did. She's in the kitchen cooking us dinner."

Edward stared at Alphonse for a moment, before going back to pacing and muttering. But not before shouting a weary: "Winry, I'm back!"

The clanking stopped for a moment. "I figured that when I heard you spouting out some nonsense about Colonel Mustang!"

"Nonsense?!" Ed scowled. "That bastard deserves every dirty word I can think of! Hell, that son of a bitch deserves—"

"Ed!" Winry barked, peeking her head out of the kitchen and sending him a look. "Shut up! I didn't come here to hear your whining!"

"Well, who the heck asked you any ways!" Ed retorted petulantly, directing his ire for his superior to the next best thing at the moment: Winry. "My automail isn't broken and every thing's just dandy here in Central! Why the hell are you even here?!"

"Brother," Alphonse said warningly but Ed paid no heed.

Winry looked miffed, slightly hurt even, by Ed's harsh words but she didn't let that keep her down. Ed was angry and she was no stranger to an angry Edward Elric. When he was angry, he said many things. When he was angry, he didn't thoroughly think out his words – the meaning behind them. Nevertheless, the blond mechanic couldn't help the light prickles of hurt edging into her heart.

"Because you never visit us in Resembool!" Winry shouted right back, watching Ed go rigid. "I might be just your mechanic to you, Edward Elric, but to me you're still the boy I knew from my childhood and nothing is going to change that!!" She spun on her heel and stomped back into the kitchen, where Ed winced as he heard a glass crack in the sink.

"Ugh... Winry!" Ed called, walking into the kitchen only to scramble back out just in time to miss the flying glass which flew out the open window and crashed below. "I didn't mean it, alright?" Ed tried to amend, wide eyes staring out the window where he last saw the glass fly. "You don't need to go biting my head off!"

"I'm biting your head off? Ha! If anyone is biting someone's head off, its you!"

"Winry, you know I didn't mean it like that," Edward persisted. He heard the girl snort and his temper flared at the mocking laugh that came next.

"I don't need you to lie to me to know that you really don't want me here, Ed! It's crystal clear to me!"

"You know that's not true!" Ed threw back accusingly, eyes widening when he heard a spoon slam down on wood.

"Oh, please, Ed. Can you make it any more obvious? Its alright, I understand. You're busy, I didn't call, case closed. Just take your problems elsewhere because I don't want to hear your ridiculous whining right now!"

"But I'm not busy!" Ed stressed. "That bastard Colonel just keeps giving me useless work to avoid getting chewed out by his damn Lieutenant!"

"You mean Riza?"

"Yes!"

"Don't talk about her that way then! Riza's a good friend of mine!"

"Ugh, Winry! You're not seeing the point here –"

"I do see the point. Roy is annoying you. I get it!" Winry stepped into his line of vision, a scowl marring her usually gentle features. Edward snorted inwardly, watching her advance to him like a lion to his prey. Winry was never gentle. Definitely not when she owned the surname Rockbell. That basically spelled out disaster.

"Now how about you stop being a child," she snarled, staring dangerously into his equally dangerous eyes, "and handle this situation like a man! You're sixteen, Ed! Act your age and stop throwing tantrums! You're not a little kid anymore!"

Ed scoffed. "This coming from the girl who uses wrenches to beat sense into people?" He ducked just in time to avoid a painful dent in his skull. "See?!"

"Shuddup, Ed!"

"Like hell I will!" Ed threw back, dodging another vicious swing from the girl. "Ugh, this is why I hate it when you come over! All you ever do is whack me in the head with that damn thing!"

"What's that suppose to mean?!" Winry snapped.

"Exactly what it's suppose to mean, idiot!" Ed snarled, eyes flashing dangerously. "Sometimes I think all you're ever good for is fixing up my automail!"

The silence was suffocating.

His gold eyes widened as the meaning of his words sunk in. He could see her features, usually scrunched up with mild annoyance or happiness, became strained with hurt. His mouth went dry when he saw an unusual glimmer in her azure eyes, indicating the beginnings of tears.

"No, Winry, wait, I didn't—"

"It's okay," she whispered, lowering her arm limply by her side. She dropped her wrench, letting it clatter loudly on the linoleum floor. "I get it. I really am just a mechanic to you and I shouldn't expect better. Its okay, Ed, I get it. Really, I-I do."

"Win, no, I didn't mean—"

But she was already striding to the door, avoiding Alphonse's worried eyes, and running out of the apartment. Edward managed to reach the front door before deciding against it and running a hand down his tired face. His automail hand gripped the wrench she had left behind tightly.

Alphonse silently observed his brother, who's eyes had gone heavy with guilt and his once intolerable fury had washed out and replaced with old feelings of shame and self-disgust.

"That was uncalled for, brother," Alphonse said quietly, standing up as his brother continued to gaze silently at the front door. The apartment located near HQ was quite large, homey, and just enough for the two Elric's as they spent their temporary break from the Philosopher's Stone doing nothing more than sleeping or eating.

Or more like forced break, if Ed had any say.

They had been meeting dead ends for the past five weeks and Al had hopefully suggested they take a break to relax their possibly-fried brains. Ed had agreed but with this new development the older Elric deduced that this break was nothing but trouble.

"You went too far this time. You didn't have to say that to her!"

"I know," Ed mumbled, glancing at Al and letting his gaze drop to the twin needles held in his large hands. "Are those knitting needles?"

"Uh, yes?"

"I'm not even going to ask," Edward sighed, trudging down to the hall and entering his temporary bedroom. The room itself lacked any sign of habitation, save for the worn and torn suitcase thrown carelessly by his bedpost, which was popped open and spilling with boxers, t-shirts and stray socks.

He plopped down on his bed and absently touched his automail arm, only to flinch away when his fingers grazed upon the Rockbell logo embellished upon the gleaming metal. It sent waves of guilt and shame through his system, drowning out any other problem aside from the one he ruthlessly started. He glanced at the clock, watching the second hand slug along the roman numerals.

He glanced at his hand, the very limb that had saved him time and time again during his battles, and clenched it tightly.

"Damn it," he breathed, standing up and grabbing his red coat from its place across the bed. When he stepped back outside, Alphonse was standing right by the front door, holding it open and managing to look stern and disappointed even though his face was simply an armor helmet.

"Good," Al nodded. "I don't have to go chase you out of your room then. Go after Winry, brother! You really hurt her when you said that!"

Ed looked away. "Right..."

"Well? What are you waiting for?!" Alphonse shoved his brother out the door, looming over him dangerously. "You are not welcomed back until you have her safe and sound and you two have settled your differences!" The door slammed in the Elric's astonished face.

He had looked everywhere imaginable.

He had checked downtown and the southern wing of Central, which was abundant in all things mechanical. He didn't bother checking the east and west wings of the city, which only held rows and rows of houses and quiet neighborhoods. He had gone to Gracia's house only to find she had not seen the mechanic since she had visited her in the morning.

He had wondered the streets absently, attentive to every mop of blond hair that walked passed him down the busy streets of Central. He had gone to the park as a final desperate measure and did not find her there, either, even when he had asked several people if they had seen a girl with corn-colored hair wearing a black skirt.

His final destination left a bitter taste in his mouth: HQ.

He recalled her yelling that Riza Hawkeye was a good friend of hers. He had half a mind to go directly to the lieutenant herself but backpedaled quickly – if she really had gone with the lieutenant, barging in on them was the last thing he should do if he wanted to get on her good side. Now, Edward was no stranger to having a gun pointed at him but having a professional sniper, who could shoot you down within a mile rage, was a different story.

So he barged into the Colonel's office instead, ignoring the secretary's ruffled squeaks of indignation, and strode up to the head man himself.

He was sitting there in his desk looking high and mighty, neglecting his paperwork once more and instead opting to stare ahead blankly. He was most likely sleeping, as Ed had discovered that the Colonel had a disturbing way of falling asleep with his eyes open. Ed suspected this was how he was able to put off so much paperwork.

Ed slammed his hands on his desk.

Roy jumped, straightened, rose a brow when he caught sight of Edward, and waved off his secretaries rushed apologies without a second thought.

"What's the matter, Full Metal?" Roy asked, eying his subordinates messy come off.

"Has Winry been here?" He asked bluntly.

Roy hummed in thought and nodded. "Yes, she has, why do you ask? She asked for Hawkeye's presence about two hours ago and I have not seen them since... she looked a little on the pale side, should I assume it had something to do with you?"

Ed sat down in the sofa located in the middle of the room and breathed out a sigh of relief. At least he knew she was alright, being in Hawkeye's hands and all. That was a small weight thrown off his chest.

"She's just upset," was the only thing he said.

"Ah, in other words: you said something untactful once again and she ran away because those words happened to hurt her," Roy sighed in disappointment, shaking his head. "Honestly, Full Metal, you really have no way with women."

"It's not like you're any better!" Ed bristled, glowering at him. "How many times have you seen down the barrel of Hawkeye's gun, Colonel?"

Roy wisely stayed quiet but did recall all those wonderful times he had taken his teasing too far and had managed to strike a nerve within the usually unruffled lieutenant. Instead, he said, "Well, the only thing you can do now is let her calm down."

"It's been two hours," Ed replied curtly. "That's enough time, right?"

"Ah, ah, ah," Roy warned. "That is one assumption you should never make regarding women, Full Metal. Here, let me share with you a piece of advice: when they get mad, they get mad, and no amount of time will cease their wrath. The one thing I suggest doing is biding your time and making it up to her." He leaned back on his chair, sending him a cocky grin when Ed only stared. "It has not failed me before and I doubt it'd fail you... though, you are infamous for screwing up the simplest task," Roy added as an afterthought, chuckling when Ed's frown deepened.

"So, what you're saying is that even if she had all the time in world she wouldn't cool off... until I can make it up to her somehow?"

"Basically, yes."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" he spat back, even though he did look contemplative.

"Is it?" Roy leered. "Though, it does depend on what you told her." He waited patiently, an amused half-smile on his face.

Edward held his gaze for a moment before averting his eyes to the couch across from him. He flickered his rich topaz eyes to his right arm, tracing the lines which made up the automail. Her specially designed automail, with a carefully measured mixture of alloys that made it strong enough to withstand the toughest blows yet light enough that it did not weigh him down. The custom automail only he owned; no other patients had the luxury of having this particular design, because she had made it for him. His guilt increased two-fold.

She worked so hard in order to help him accomplish his goal and what does he go saying? The exact wrong thing to say to the second most important person in his life.

"Look, you could keep it to yourself and try handling it on your own, to which you will surely fail, or you could confide in me and I could try and help you out," Roy deadpanned, pivoting his chair from side to side as he patiently waited for the stubborn teenagers answer. "It's your choice."

Ed closed his eyes and clenched his fists. He couldn't believe what he was about to do but Roy had a point: if he tried handling the situation alone, like so many times before, he would only be met with failure. How many times had he infuriated her to the point of tears and failed to regain her favor? And Ed didn't like making the same mistake twice... even though with Winry he always seemed to screw up somehow.

"I told her that all she was ever good for was fixing my automail," he revealed almost inaudibly. However, Roy's trained ears caught the mumble and Edward clenched his jaw when he heard the drawn-out sigh from his superior.

"This one's a tough one," Roy admitted, tapping his forefingers together. "But not irreparable."

"You think so?" Ed asked as casually as possible, albeit the pitch in his voice gave him away.

"Yes." Mustang stood up and glanced at the clock, which signaled it was only going to be five in the evening. His gaze dropped to the piles of paperwork lined up neatly on his desk and flickered back to the glum alchemist that sat a few feet away.

The paperwork could wait, if his plan actually worked.

"Follow me," he instructed, leading the way.

"Oi! Where are we going?" Ed quickly caught up with Mustang, eying him suspiciously. "I thought you said you were gonna' to help me with Winry."

"I am," Roy said shortly.

"Then what are we gonna' do?"

"Not 'we', 'you'," Roy corrected, side-glancing him. "What you said was a very callous and heartless thing to say to someone who has stood by your side for all these years. She would no doubt be furious with you so obviously talking to her is out of her question." Mustang threw open the twin doors that would lead outside the HQ building. "So we must formulate a plan that will counteract your tactless words... or at least giver her a temporary case of amnesia..."

"I don't like the sound of that," Ed said warily.

"Simple code-talk," Mustang dismissed, walking down the concrete steps.

"Uh... so what are we going to do?" Ed asked awkwardly, as they both walked briskly towards Mustang's automobile, which lay parked just outside the HQ building, beyond that gate which permitted access to the humongous structure.

"I'm not sure, Full Metal, but it seems we've got one pissed off mechanic on our hands," Roy coughed, ignoring the elder Elric's spouts of irritation at his lack-of-plan. "What is one thing in the world that a girl like Winry would love beyond anything else?"

"The perfect automail blue print," Ed answered automatically. At Roy's blank stare, he added: "Or anything metal in general."

"Exactly," he smirked.

His superiors plans slowly began to make sense in Edward's abuzz brain and he let a smirk of his own graze his features momentarily. If what Roy was insinuating was that they indulge Winry with every metal tool they could get their hands on then Ed was following on quite clearly. But the devious sparkle in the Colonel's obsidian eyes told Ed otherwise and he decided not to ask – he didn't think he could stomach any more surprises.

"Mustang?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you even helping me?"

"Because if my plan actually works," Roy's smirk widened, as he recalled the amount of paperwork he had let pile up over the weeks. "You will be in my debt." With that said, he floored the gas and Ed was driven back into his seat from the sheer force.

"You conniving bastard!" Ed strangled out, holding onto the glove compartment tightly as the car swerved around a corner with insane speed.

"Oh, you won't be saying that once you've got Ms. Rockbell wrapped around your finger."

"He just doesn't get it!!" Winry shrieked, scribbling furiously on a notepad as Riza calmly took a sip of her tea. "I know he doesn't mean it but how could he just say something like that? He does this all the time and everytime he expects me to forgive him right afterward! He never even apologizes for what he says! He just expects me to drop it! Ugh, and when he does apologize, it's this crap apology that deserves nothing but a roll of the eyes... ugh! Stupid alchemy dork!" She stabbed the pencil into the notepad deeply, Riza noted. She had a good arm.

"Do you let him?" Riza asked, once Winry's furious rant slowly grew less and less intense. Winry's eyes ran over the complex drawings and she nearly bashed her head against the table when she noticed she had been drawing a replica of Ed's automail leg, adding extra bolts, removing some, and overall perfecting the nearly perfect model.

"Pardon?" She scribbled out the leg until it was nothing but a black stain on the paper.

"Do you let him get away with it, I mean?"

Winry blinked. "O-Of course not! I don't let him get away with it! In fact, I do the exact opposite!"

"But from what you've told me I can deduce that you do let him get away with it," Riza took another sip of her tea. "You let your anger blind you in your arguments, however petty they may be, which escalates them into bigger problems. And when he does say something untactful, you don't resist his advances and you end up apologizing to him rather than having him do it himself. You mustn't let your affection for him blind you, Winry, or you will never be able to resolve your arguments."

"A-Affections?" Winry stammered, pink rising on her cheeks.

"You do have feelings for him, right?"

Winry silently played with her pencil, twirling it around in her fingers softly before looking up to the woman. Riza could read the guilt of being caught in her eyes as Winry nodded her head very slightly.

At least she admits it, thought the lieutenant, placing her cup down on the table. "It is of no surprise that Edward has trouble articulating his thoughts when it comes to emotionally charged situations."

"But it wasn't even emotionally charged!" Winry countered. "He was just angry that Colonel Mustang had him finish his paperwork!"

At this, Winry watched as the lieutenant go rigid in her chair before relaxing. The mechanic had seen a spark of fury flare though her eyes before the same kind emotion filled the red-chocolate orbs. Winry could only wonder what type of punishment the devious Colonel would be submitted to eventually.

"I see. But the situation was emotionally charged – he let his anger control him. In an effort to expunge this fury, he directed to towards you."

"So I got most of his anger for the Colonel, huh?" Winry echoed depressingly. Then annoyance spiked her words: "That's not fair at all!"

"You shouldn't be so surprised, it seems that he does this all the time?" Riza smiled when Winry snorted.

"All the time doesn't even cut it! Honestly, he hears the word 'short' or 'bean' or even 'small' and he throws a huge fit about it! You might not even be talking to him but he'll still react to it! And in arguments he gets all flustered and starts pacing! Geez..." Winry's lips curled upward into a soft smile."He'll never learn."

Riza watched the fond smile critically. "You find it endearing." The statement was not meant to be accusing rather it had been said as a fact.

A fact that shocked Winry out of her thoughts.

"What?!" Winry gaped. "No! I don't find it endearing at all! You're wrong, Riza!"

"Are you sure?" Riza continued mercilessly, challenging Winry's adamant gaze with her own.

Winry dropped her eyes and thinned her lips. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt for a few moments before gripping her fabric between her fingers and closing her eyes. She felt her cheeks burn lightly and she knew she had been caught.

Riza smiled in satisfaction. "I was correct."

"But I can't help it!" Winry cried, lifting her head to look at the lieutenant. Black Hayate had curled up beside her feet and she rubbed the top of his head softly as she spoke. "It's just—it's so—ugh! It's so.... cute." She winced as she said this. She had never told this guilty little secret to anyone. "I'm not sure if it's just the fact that I like him a lot that has me like this or just his tantrums in general," she sighed, feeling embarrassed. "Every little thing he does has me on edge. I'm hyper aware of him whenever we're in the same room and even the smallest movement can set me off. It's even worse when he gets angry, because he looks like such a kid," she smiled as she said this, remembering how his gold eyes kindled with emotion and his mouth fell into that well-practiced scowl. "He hasn't changed a bit since we were young... still stubborn, aggressive, Ed..."

Riza smiled kindly and stood up, glancing at the clock which read six in the evening. "Would you like to go for a walk?" Riza gestured to Black Hayate, who wagged his tail in anticipation. "Black Hayate must be feeling suffocated from being in the house all day long."

"Sure," Winry sighed sharply, lifting herself up with difficulty. "Sure."

"Do you have any other objective aside from running me broke?!" Ed yelled furiously, holding three bags-worth of mechanical merchandise in his hands. He glared daggers into Mustang's back as the man continued window shopping distractedly. More often than not, Edward noticed his superiors gaze linger on pocket knives or polished guns.

He suspected Mustang was in a tangle with his own best friend. A certain best friend who was currently accompanying his own best friend.

Damn it, Ed thought, prodding his empty back pocket. Out of cash. "Hey, Mustang! I'm gonna' go make a transaction. I'll be right back."

Roy nodded absently, waving him away. Ed contemplated slamming his fist into his cranium. He decided it wasn't worth it in the end and hobbled off towards the bank that loomed over him. He did not have to wait in line as he usually did since it was late and the majority of Central was at home, resting after a hard days work. He quickly flashed his State Alchemists watch to the lady and asked for as much as he was legally able to carry.

The woman looked shocked but nonetheless made the transaction. Soon his pockets were heavy with bills and he dragged off in the direction he last saw his superior head into: the heavy artillery weapon shop.

Geez, what's up with him? Ed grumbled, readjusting the bags in his hands. And what the hell am I suppose to do with all this crap?! His flesh fingers ached from the plastic handles. He was about to head into the store when a dull glimmer caught his eyes.

Edward turned and stared at the beaten old wrench that was carelessly thrown against the display window. He walked over to it and peered through the glass to observe the worn piece of metal. It was one of those old wrenches from back in the day, Ed could tell, since Winry had once owned one exactly like the one behind the window; only it had been bigger and thicker.

"They don't make them like this anymore!" She had grinned, tapping the worn-out wrench proudly. "This is one of the best wrenches I've ever bought! All the other ones break under pressure or chip. But not this one! Sure it looks old, but it still works as if it were brand new!"

"How may I help you, sir?" a kind voice asked from beside him. "I noticed you've been staring at that wrench for some five minutes now."

"Yeah, in fact I do. Is that wrench on sale, by any chance?" Ed asked, tearing his gaze from it and watching the old sales man smile toothily.

"It's actually just one of the maintenance tools," he admitted, giving him a strange look. "Why would you be interested in buying an old thing like that?"

"Well, a close friend of mine used to own one just like it," Ed said softly, returning his gaze to the wrench. "She had high reviews on it and I was wondering if you knew where to buy one."

"Ah, they're not in production anymore," he replied, smiling apologetically. "Charles Thompson's old work. All the new tools are better equipped to handle heat and pressure nowadays. Built better too."

"Really?" Ed mused. "My friend states otherwise and she's around pressure and heat more hours than is considered healthy," Ed half-smiled, lowering his bags to the floor and tapping a finger at the wrench. "How much would you be willing to sell that to me for?"

The old man blinked. "Well, I suppose a fair twenty would be appropriate."

"Deal!" Ed flashed a grin, digging into his pocket and pulling out a twenty. "Here!" He waited as the old man came back out with the wrench. He still had that funny look on his face but he handed it over nonetheless. Ed felt the heavy weight of the wrench, the texture coarse and durable. He was no mechanic but he had a pretty good idea that this wrench would continue to do it's job for years to come.

"Thanks!"

"No problem!" The old man smiled. "I hope your friend likes it!"

"Oh, I'm sure she will!" Ed picked up his bags after he placed the wrench in his coats inner pocket, where he was sure it would not fall nor get anymore damaged. He waved goodbye to the old man and spied Roy coming out of the artillery store, tucking a brown bag inconspicuously into his coat pocket.

"What you got there, Colonel?" Ed asked once he was in hearing-distance.

"There you are!" Roy scowled, ignoring his question. "Where the heck did you run off to, you brat?"

"I told you, I had to go make a money transaction," he replied tartly. "If you had been paying attention and not off in I'm-better-than-you land, then you would've noticed."

Mustang scoffed and continued ahead. "Do you think you can manage to wrap every one of those tools you bought?"

"What?! I've got enough to supply an army, Colonel, you've gotta' be joking!" Ed gawked, appalled. If he had know he would be wrapping and probably bow-tying these things he wouldn't have let his superior buy so many!

"You can't just give it to her so crudely," Roy snapped. "Most women like things nicely wrapped and in gift bags."

Ed snorted. "Yeah, well, Winry isn't most women."

Mustang sighed in annoyance. "Why must your girlfriend be so difficult?" Roy raised a brow at Ed's squawk of surprise.

"W-What are you talking a-about?!" Ed sputtered, bright red burning his cheeks. "She's not my g-girlfriend! I mean, of course I like her but she's just my childhood friend and I-I've known her since I could crawl do of course I'd be concerned if-if she gets upset! I mean, of course I like her! If I didn't, I wouldn't be out here carrying all this crap! Wait, that came out wron—"

"Wait, she's not your girlfriend?" Roy frowned.

"NO!"

"How dismaying, I thought she was. You two sure fight like a couple," he grinned slyly when Edward only gaped.

Ed looked away, scoffing and trying hard to fight down the blush which burned his cheeks. "Look! There's nothing going on between us, alright? She's just... the last link I have to my old life." He let his gaze follow the dim horizon, which streaked the sky an array of reds and oranges. "That's why she's so important to me. She's probably the only person who actually understands my behavior aside from Al and she will probably the only one brave enough to use a wrench to knock sense into me when I need it the most," he smiled. He could picture her azure eyes lighting with self-righteous anger; how her pouty mouth would form a thin line. "... And I always make her cry." All previous humor fell from his face. "I always say that I'm going to protect her and promise never to make her cry again but... that's the one promise I can't seem to keep."

The wrench in his coat pocket felt heavier than before. "I hate it when she cries. I hate when its me who makes her cry. Jeez, I'm such a jackass..." He set his jaw, gaze downcast.

Roy listened to his monologue with a sense of graveness. The emotions for his mechanic ran deeper than what he had first suspected and this was not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it improved his former plan; raising the success rate by a whooping thirty percent. It didn't matter that they were not a couple – this would only serve as even better black mail material.

His charcoal eyes lingered on the small wrench that bounced inside Ed's coat pocket. If he was right... then his first plan would work out after all.

Roy pointed to the shiny toolbox that gleamed from behind the window and was about to ask Ed to buy it when he felt the back of his neck prickle. He spun on his heel and stared at the two women who walked down the sidewalk side by side, one holding a leash and another clasping her hands behind her back.

"Full Metal, take cover!" Mustang alerted, shoving the confused boy away from view.

"Hey! What's the big deal?! I almost fell—whoa!" Edward felt the bags get lifted away and he gave the Colonel a shocked look as they raced down the strip of stores. "Hey! What's wrong? Why are we—"

"We've got company," Roy murmured under his breath, freezing the elder Elric in place. Ed swiveled around and openly gaped at the two women who were slowly advancing towards them, both too engrossed in their conversation to yet notice them.

"Shit!" Ed swore, eyes wide in horror. "Shit! Shit! What're we gonna' do now, Mustang!?"

Roy was biting his lip. He stared bravely ahead, sweat beading his forehead the closer they came. "We take it like men!"

Ed stared incredulously. "Like hell we will!" He grabbed Roy by the cuff of his neck and shoved him ahead, desperately hoping Hawkeye would not catch sight of them yet.

However, that was simply too much to ask for.

"Ed!?" He heard Winry's call barely reach his ears. He hastened his pace, pushing his superior along, who had no qualms on being treated like a Private at the moment. Anything was better than incurring Riza's wrath for not being in his office completing his paperwork.

"Come on! Move faster, you damn Colonel!" Edward whispered in a rush. He could literally hear their footsteps pick up in pace to follow them.

"Ed? Ed!" He could hear her voice and he only broke into a run, half-dragging Roy in the process.

"Ed...?" The last call made him stop altogether, despite Mustang's nervous questioning look. It sported hurt and confusion, a deadly combination for the elder Elric. He did not need to feel any worse than he already did.

"I thought we weren't taking it as men," Roy muttered, managing to look completely at ease somehow.

"Change of plans," Ed muttered right back, running a hand through his lose locks of hair. His brow furrowed and he touched his thick mane of hair, which flowed liberally behind him. He looked around for the his hair tie and frowned when he saw nothing.

"Ed, what are you doing out here with Colonel Mustang?" Winry asked once they were close enough. He tried to avoid as much eye contact as possible.

"Uh, just picking up some stuff..."

"Which reminds me," Roy pipped suddenly, "I believe these are yours." He transferred the bags, earning a look of disdain from the alchemist.

"Bastard," he breathed, before turning his attention back to the puzzled blond.

"What is all that?" She took a tentative step forward, eying the bags with open curiosity. "Al didn't say anything about picking up tools..." She could recognize a torque wrench when she saw one.

"Ah ha ha ha!" Ed laughed nervously. "These aren't for Al or me! Er – they're for –" his mind raced for excuses, "Fuery!" He blurted.

"Yes, Fuery contacted Full Metal here and asked him to pick up some things for him for his radio," Roy took over swiftly, avoiding Riza's inquisitive gaze. "We were just heading back when you caught our attention."

"Oh." Winry looked mildly disappointed, something which made Ed's stomach knot queasily.

"Sir, why are you not in your office?" Riza cut to the chase, staring imploringly into Roy's anxious eyes. "I recall telling you you were suppose to finish your paperwork and look over some minor reports before the day ended."

"Ah, yes, well," Roy cleared his throat and glanced at Edward, who only smiled smugly.

"Well?" he asked innocently, sniggering when Mustang glared darkly.

"Last time I ever help you, you ungrateful shrimp," Mustang murmured under his breath, smirking when Ed snapped his head up and sent him the most vicious glare he could manage while holding at least fifty pounds of metal.

"What was that, you soggy match!?"

"Who are you calling a soggy match, you pipsqueak?!" Mustang growled.

"Shuddup you useless Colonel!" Ed shot back heatedly.

They bickered for several seconds more, until Riza set her foot down and bid goodbye to Winry, who only nodded and watched as the woman gripped Mustang's upper arm and pull him away from Edward. She nodded curtly at the boy, who looked so smug Winry thought if he smiled any more it would split his face in half.

Mustang looked torn between indignation and self-concern.

"Later, Colonel!" Ed grinned, not bothering with waving since both his arms were occupied. He glanced at Winry and felt his humor die at her melancholic eyes. He offered a nervous smile.

Instead of the shake of the head he anticipated, she only looked away. His smile slowly fell and he glanced back down at the bags in his hand. The merchandise that belonged to her specifically.

What a mess.

"Hey, let's go home before Al gets anymore worried about us."

"I thought you were going to delivery those tools to Sergeant Fuery," Winry reminded, still looking away. Even the way her voice sounded was enough to wrench the young alchemist into confessing the tools were for her, no matter how embarrassed he would be right after. It was better to feel humiliated than guilt-ridden.

"He doesn't need them now," Ed lied anyway, averting his gaze when Winry met his. "I'll just... delivery them tomorrow morning. It's late and he's probably given up on waiting for me. Come on, let's head home." He started forward, aware that she followed a few steps behind him and the only thing she had said was a mere "okay" before falling completely silent.