Jealousy
Title: Jealousy
Author: miss_auto1621
Pairing: Edward E. & Winry R.
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Theme: 92: Jealousy
Rating: K+ (excuse some language)
Disclaimer: Everyone knows the awzumsauce cow owns the whole enchilada. I just own my ideas, people.
Part of LiveJournal's 101_kisses challenge
Summary: "Are you walking Winry home, Al?" "Why? Does it bother you?" It never occurred to Edward that he'd feel the need to punch his younger brother.
Edward smiled as the school day ended. Another day had passed by and all he had to look forward to was his mother's stew when he and his brother came home. He was a little bitter, however, because the night before he and Al had gotten into an argument that he thought would change the life of his brother and his: who would get to marry her?
It wasn't that they were really crushing on her, but it was a custom to see if your best friend would marry you when you grew up. That was the decision the brothers were trying to make. Winry would marry one of them, no matter what. Edward, being the oldest, knew he was going to win. For once in his life he saw Winry as a prize that determined his future and if Al beat him, that would hurt his pride. That would surely damage his confidence. How would his younger brother marry Winry? Why would Winry consider marrying Alphonse? It was obvious that she would choose him, since he was her age and they were in the same class, whereas Al was younger and was in a different class with other girls his age. However, things didn't go as planned.
Al managed to defeat his older brother, which was no surprise to him, since he always won the fights. Yet Edward expected to win. This was the fight he really wanted to win. But life wasn't fair and he learned that the hard way. His disappointment caused him to skip dinner just because his brother would be in the same room, sitting in the same table, and eating the same thing as him. It was sometimes difficult to have a brother. For one thing, the brawls weren't fair for Edward, and they were treated almost like twins. Except Edward was the leader, a feature he enjoyed as the eldest.
But at the moment, there was tension between Al and him. In the morning, he didn't even want to salute him when they woke up, but had to, by force, because his mother was hearing them. For once, he had to literally swallow his pride. It wasn't easy. He didn't know why he was so angry with Al. It was just a stupid argument. Who cares if he didn't marry Winry and his brother did? He should be happy, shouldn't he? But he wasn't fooling himself. Winry was destined to be his wife, not Al's. Odds were that she wouldn't like Al. A stupid, little argument didn't determine things at all. Al might have won the battle, but he didn't win the war.
That's what Ed wanted to believe throughout the day.
Winry was in his group, so whatever he was supposed to do, so would she. That was an opportunity to be close to her. He'd show her that he would be a better husband than Al. But as the school day concluded and Edward's anticipation began to etch at him, his mind reeled back to what Al had said when he won.
"It doesn't matter if you're older than me. I'm marrying her!"
'Keep dreaming, Al,' Ed thought. But the eight year old could not hold a grudge against his own brother for too long. Unless he did something that pissed him off. What drew the line was Al's smug face when he saw his brother at the front of the school.
"What's with the smile?"
"I saw Winry today," Al said.
Ed rolled his eyes. "So did I."
"Yeah, but she's going to be my wife, remember?"
Ed rolled his eyes again. He sighed, for he knew his brother was going to start annoying him. "So, mom's making stew today. I can't wait."
"I'll come home a while later," Al said taking Edward by surprise.
Winry was walking towards them.
Ed glared at his brother. "Are you walking Winry home, Al?"
Al glared back. "Why? Does it bother you?"
It never occurred to Edward that he'd feel the need to punch his younger brother. Winry always walked home with both of them. As Ed thought about walking by himself, his bitterness increased.
"Are you two ready to go?" Winry asked.
Edward made sure Al saw his smile. "Yep."
"Good. My granny's cooking today. I can't wait for her food!" Winry said as she stretched with hunger.
"Our mom's making stew," Ed showed off with that developing cocky voice.
"Well, it's not every day my granny cooks," Winry countered with the same tone.
"It's not every day my mom makes stew," Ed continued.
"Ed," Al began with a warning voice.
Ed and Winry backed off each other. Then came the usual stuff. Ed and Al talked about the things Winry didn't understand, even if they sometimes were the same topics. Winry discussed her growing love for automail, which made Ed bored and Al tried to look like he cared about the subject. Then, Winry complained about why the boys wouldn't tell her their secrets and started to whine.
"Okay, then, at least tell me what you did last night," she demanded.
Where the hell did Winry ever ask them what they did the night before? Specifically, the night before the day they were in.
"Nothing," Ed lied with a hard voice as he kept walking.
"You liar," Al said before Ed turned to him with angry eyes.
"Al." Now Ed warned him with his voice.
"We were arguing."
"About what?" Winry asked with worry.
"Nothing," Ed repeated.
"About who's going to marry you when we grow up."
Winry blushed. It occurred to Edward that she knew what marriage was. She wasn't ignorant. Hell, all females knew what marriage was as if the subject was implanted in their brain from birth!
"Really?" her voice was shaky. "And you tried to lie about that?"
"It's just a stupid argument," Ed said.
"He says that because I won," Al said, making his brother look very bad.
"You did?" she asked. Ed couldn't determine her tone of voice. Was she relieved about the winner, or was she as disappointed as he was with the results? Would she fall into Al's arms as a congratulatory gesture? What would she do?
"But why would you argue about that?"
Both boys were surprised.
"Because one of us is bound to marry you," Al answered.
"Who said I would?" Winry questioned. Now she was angry and Ed didn't even need to look closely to hear her.
"So, you don't wanna marry us?" Ed asked. He couldn't even determine his tone anymore.
"No!" Her outburst even made Al a little upset.
Aw, but he had won fair and square, hadn't he? His brother, being too proud, didn't want to admit it.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because you're younger than me, Al," Winry said. "The boy I marry has to be a bit older than me, at least a few months."
That was Ed. He knew it! Ed was a bit older than she was, at least by a few months. And Al wasn't. He was younger than she was by a few months.
"What about me?" Ed asked with hope.
"The boy I marry has to be taller than me, too. By at least a few centimeters," she explained.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT!" Ed retorted as Winry put on a poker face.
"You. I won't marry either of you. And an argument can't determine that. So get over it." And with that she turned to leave the boys so they could walk home without her.
The next day, Edward didn't want to face Winry. After their confrontation, he felt uncomfortable, but Winry came close to him as if nothing had happened.
"So are you still mad at us?" Ed asked. He noticed that she pouted and came closer to him. She kissed his cheek.
"No. I can't stay mad at you forever," she said.
That made Ed blush and smile.
"Who's going to walk me home later on if I do?" she asked as she turned to the table where Ed's group sat. His mouth was wide open with incredulity. That evil girl!
His thoughts brought him back to the fairness of the world. That it really wasn't fair. He never expected to actually win the marriage battle against Al years later; he didn't even have to argue with him about it. Winry didn't even argue with him about it. She was left with her mouth open when he pulled out the ring.
