Fic - Strands of Nightmare
Strands of Nightmares
Author - Cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition. I don’t make a profit
Rating - PG-13
Pairing - Ed/Winry, Roy/Riza, Al/various
Time Line - manga based, future fic, based heavily on the dark future Riza predicted should Roy attain his goals. Spoilers for manga beyond #38.
Summary - It should have been a time of great happiness but fate is rarely kind
Warning- Apparent character death
Author’s Note - Thanks to Mjules for the beta. This was written as a holiday gift for evil_little_dog for Yule 2006 Hope you enjoy
Chapter One
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Al wondered how it all had gone to hell. He had always imagined getting his body back as a joyous occasion and it was for a brief period of time. Even the fact that Ed didn’t get back his limbs hadn’t dampened Al’s joy nor Edward’s.
However, it hadn’t taken things long to go horribly wrong. When the parliamentary soldiers came, Al had wanted to fight them but Roy and Ed stopped him. Ed explained to Al all the frightening things Riza had confided in him, things that were now coming to pass.
Things happened so quickly that Al felt like he were trapped in the strands of an ugly nightmare. The Parliament formed. The army shifted to their control. State Alchemists were disbanded and those old enough to have been in Ishbal were arrested. Mustang had made Ed resign before it all started. Al knew Ed was safe enough even without that step. He wouldn’t face what Armstrong and Mustang did, having been a mere boy during Ishbal.
Armstrong was eventually cleared of charges based on his insubordination during Ishbal. Mustang, on the other hand, was going to be the public display of retribution and justice to soothe the Ishbalans.
Al had thrown up for two days when he heard the news. Ed denied crying but Al didn’t believe him. Whatever else, they both knew Mustang was a good man and that he had fought for this new country even though he knew the price to be paid. After the emotional pain faded, the brothers got angry. When they went to see Mustang in the stockade, they found their angry ideas fit his.
“It’s too beautiful a day for this.” Armstrong’s deep voice rumbled in Al’s ear, shaking him from his miserable memories.
He glanced up at the disgraced alchemist. Tears stood in Armstrong’s big blue eyes. Al had to force his gaze away before he lost control. “No day is good for this,” Al said caustically, fixing his gaze on Hawkeye who stood just a head of them on the grassy rise. Al didn’t want to get any closer to the proceedings than this. He felt so weak that he wasn’t sure he could do what he needed to.
“Al! Al! There you are. I never thought I’d find you in this mess. What’s wrong with these people? Who would camp out for days to see this?” A feminine voice asked, each word a nugget of pain.
Al whipped around, his pony tail slapping him in the face. That was Winry’s voice but that couldn’t be. She could not be here but she was. “What are you doing here? Why did you come?” He took a step back as she vaulted into his arms. Al hugged her tightly. “You shouldn’t have come.” He didn’t want Winry exposed to what he knew was coming. It was too horrible a thing for her.
“They can’t kill him,” she gasped against his neck.
Al ran a hand down her back, her hair soft against his hands. “Go back to your hotel, Winry. Get on the train and get out of here,” he mumbled into her hair. “You shouldn’t see this.”
“I had to be here for you and Ed.” Winry pulled away from, wiping tears from her face. “Where’s Ed?”
His heart ached. Al looked back at Armstrong who shook his head. There was no time to get rid of Winry now. “He’s with Mr. Mustang. They allowed him one friend to make the walk with him. They probably felt safer with Ed where they could see him.”
“He’ll be up there...when...” Winry shuddered, brushing a hand over her eyes, then spotted Hawkeye’s back. “Someone should be with Miss Hawkeye. She shouldn’t be alone for this.” Winry’s voice was so small and lost Al didn’t know how to handle it.
His eyes flicked over to Hawkeye who stood alone, her coat wrapped tightly around her. It looked out of place, since the day was barely cool enough to warrant it. “Stay with me, Winry,” he whispered, knowing he couldn’t let her get near Riza.
She nodded, trying to tuck into him. Al didn’t hold her. He needed his hands free and the guilt over denying her that comfort tore at him. Al couldn’t stop his shaking as Roy was led out and onto the platform. Al was surprised by the serene look on the alchemist’s face; if the crowd wanted fear, they’d be disappointed. Ed’s expression, on the other hand, was barely leashed rage. He turned his golden glare out on the crowd who had come to see the executions, another public gesture; an overture to the Ishbalans of whom Al noticed only a handful of in the crowd. Maybe they had had enough of blood, he mused. One man’s death couldn’t fix all that had been taken from them. It just added to the toll.
Hearing Winry sniffling, Al patted her back, wishing she hadn’t felt compelled to be with him and his brother on this day. Ed and Roy seemed to be looking straight at him. There was so little time left. With one smooth move, Riza tossed off her coat, revealing a rifle. She had the weapon shouldered and had drawn a bead before Al could register it was happening. The rifle cracked and Roy dropped like a stone.
The crowd screamed and people started darting all over. Ed and Falman dove for Roy. Before the crowd could surge back towards Riza - the guards too far away to be of any use since they had been stationed near the platform - she dropped the rifle and pulled her pistol. Al watched her press the muzzle between her breasts. Winry screamed ‘no!’ in his ear but Al didn’t let it distract him. When he saw Riza’s finger tighten on the trigger, Al’s palms met. He winced as the gun roared and Riza fell. Winry raced forward but Al caught her, pulling her away from all the blood pooling around Riza.
“Don’t look, Winry. Don’t look,” he said, trying to shield her.
“Let me try to help her, Al!” She struggled against him. Winry was used to blood but Al knew how fond she was of Riza even if she didn’t know her well. He didn’t want her to see this.
“It’s too late Miss Rockbell,” Armstrong said, scooping Riza up in his massive arms. He whirled and ran like a bull, the crowd parting in front of him.
Al knew Armstrong could handle things from here. He put his arms around Winry, feeling her tears soaking into his shirt. Over her shoulder, he could see Falman and Breda carrying Mustang’s body away from the platform, Ed making a spearhead through the crowd, roughly if he had to, while Fuery brought up the rear. There was already an ambulance waiting near the platform, assigned to transport the body when the execution was over. Seeing Armstrong reaching it, Al knew that it would transport two bodies. He tugged Winry along, the crowd getting dangerous.
She paused at the pool of blood, the smell of gun powder still in the air. “This wasn’t right, Al. The new government was supposed to make things better. How is this better?”
“I don’t know,” he replied flatly. As far as he was concerned, the parliament should have done more to protect its former soldiers. Mustang hadn’t wanted to do the things he had been commanded to do. “I’m taking you back to our hotel room. It’s too dangerous out here.”
Winry didn’t protest. Al got her home without incident and let her cry herself to sleep on Ed’s bed. He crumpled up on his, shaking so hard it hurt. Time stretched, seeming impossibly long before Ed came home. His face was swollen on one side where someone had most likely hit him during the confusion after Riza had shot Roy. Ed looked like he had aged twenty years. He stopped, seeing Winry there. His pupils dilated and his nostrils flared as a quake hit him.
“What the hell?”
“She arrived just as it all started. I tried to get her to go but...” Al ran a hand through his hair. “We should tell her.”
Ed shook his head sitting on the bed next to Winry. “You know we can’t. It’s not safe, not yet. Damn it.”
At the loud curse, Winry woke up. “Oh...Ed....there’s blood on you.” She reached, not for the bruise on his face, but the spatter of Mustang’s blood on his shirt. “Are they...”
Ed nodded. “Dr. Knox pronounced them both dead. They’re in his care now,” he said, gentling his tone.
Al thought about what that meant. It had been a lucky thing to have Knox as Central’s coroner. “I’m sorry you had to be here for this Winry.”
“Why did you come?” Ed asked, too weary to be angry with her.
She hugged him. “I didn’t want you to be alone with this.”
Ed just held her for a moment. No one said anything more. What was there to say?
* * *
“Ed, Al, wake up!” Winry’s distressed voice cut through the brothers’ slumber. Al sat up in time to see Ed’s hand fumbling for Winry on the mattress and finding only cool empty space. She had shared the bed with him all night, albeit platonically and Al suspected that would have been the case even if he wasn’t lying on the second bed in their hotel room. No one was feeling romantic. Any hopes Al had had that his brother would finally admit to his feelings for Winry had fizzled in the chaotic aftermath of the war. Maybe now that it was all over...
“What’s wrong?” Al asked.
Winry tossed the newspaper onto the bed with Ed and pointed at the head line. “Someone stole Mr. Mustang and Miss Hawkeye’s bodies. Who would do such a thing?” she asked horrified and the brothers tried to muster up surprised expressions. “Why isn’t someone doing something?”
“I’m sure they are,” Ed said soothingly as he sat up on the bed.
“What if they’re doing terrible things to the bodies? It’s not fair,” Winry sobbed, tears trickling down her face. Ed held out his arms to her.
“Winry, it might not have been their enemies who took them.” It hurt Al to see Winry this upset. He had to do something for her.
“Who else would?” she asked, folding up against Ed.
“It could be Mustang’s men,” Ed said, rubbing her back. “So no one would mess with the body in retaliation.”
“I’m betting Ed’s right, Winry,” Al interjected, thankful for Ed’s quick intellect and his ability to pick up on Al’s thoughts. “If it was anything else, they’d want to make a statement with the bodies and we’d already know what happened to them.”
Winry wiped her eyes. “I hope you’re right.” She took a deep breath. “What now?”
“We go home,” Ed said and she looked at him in shock. “Mustang’s men are getting together tonight for a private ceremony. Al and I will take you and then we’ll go home to Resembool. I don’t know what we’ll do then but Al and I deserve a rest.” Ed waved his brother over.
Al sat on the bed with them, putting his arms around Winry and Ed. “We’ve already spoken to Granny. We’ll stay with you for a while until we find a place to live. I know it looks terrible now but life will get better.”
“It didn’t solve anything,” Winry whispered, still thinking on the execution. She shifted in the brothers’ arms. “You are too thin, Al. You stay with us until you’re better at the very least.”
Al smiled gently. All that time beyond the gate had taken a toll. His body was smaller than it should be and painfully thin. He still tired out easily. It was a small price to pay for all he and his brother had done. “I’d like that Winry. I want to go home,” Al said and didn’t need to be told that’s what they all wanted. He knew that within twenty four hours home was where they all would be and maybe then things would get better. He only wished he were free to tell Winry everything.
Chapter Two
A year had passed and Al wished he could say it had gone easily. He and Ed had a new, small home in Resembool, trying to adjust while the world around them changed. Amestris had settled down. Alliances had been made with the remains of the Ishbalans, the Drachamians. There was a tentative alliance with the Emperor Greed-Ling who was still fighting battles in his country, which was in chaos now with Ling’s father dead. The Amestrian parliament often consulted with Al and Ed over how to handle Ling since they knew about homunculi -the existence of which had become too obvious during the final days of Bradley’s reign - and because they were friends with Ling. It hadn’t seemed right to kill their friend because of what he had become since Ling seemed to be able to wrestle down Greed when he needed to.
For their part, the brothers did alchemic jobs around their home town but mostly rested back on the nest egg from Ed’s former State stipend. They deserved the rest, to get back a slice of their stolen youth. Al wanted the time just to get used to being flesh and catching up on all the sensations he had missed. For a while, he contemplated the risks of getting fat versus the wonderful oral sensations he was enjoying.
But it wasn’t all relaxation and fun. There was an undercurrent of anger coursing between him, Ed and Winry, anger over the death of Riza and Roy. Al knew both he and Ed had been surprised at just how angry Winry was. It went deeper than her witnessing the suicide pact. Winry might not have known Riza all that well but she felt a kinship to her. Al understood it eventually even if his brother didn’t. Winry and Riza were very much alike, strong, smart women. They were in love with the same sort of man and they took care of him. Riza had had Roy’s back. Winry kept Ed going. Riza would have and did die for Roy and Al knew Winry would for Ed and maybe even him. He hated that Winry hurt so much and there was nothing he could do to help.
No, it wasn’t safe for him or Ed to help until now. He had better go check to see if Ed had packed a suit in addition to his usual black on black ensemble. Sometimes he wondered if Ed were color blind and stuck to black for safety’s sake. Armstrong had indicated that a suit would be necessary. When Al got to his brother’s room, Ed was draped over the bed, fast asleep. His brother had blamed his napping on his body supporting Al’s body on the other side of the Gate. Al didn’t doubt that was true but neither did he doubt that Ed was addicted to the nap. His brother could sleep like the dead.
“I like how you pack, brother,” Al said sardonically, lounging against the door frame.
Ed woke up with a snort. He glared at Al with bleary eyes. “I’m packed.” Ed dragged his flesh hand over his eyes.
“Your suit, too?”
“Yes, Mom.” Ed jerked a thumb at the black - surprise, surprise - suit folded neatly in the suitcase. “I even fixed it up to make it nicer.”
Al peered closely and saw the buttons now bore scary draconian faces. He dreaded to know what the cuff links and tie tack might look like. His brother’s tastes and artistic talent were a little unnerving. “Has Winry seen the improvements?”
Ed shook his head. “No. Why?”
“Just thought you might show her. She is coming with us. This is as much for her as for us. Besides, you know how she feels about you. She’s most likely going to be the one with you when you wear that suit.” Al sat next to his brother on the bed.
Ed turned his face away. “I know.”
”What’s the problem? I know it used to be about me and not having a body but I’m back now. You don’t have to feel guilty any more,” Al said quietly, trying to pick through the guilt. He wished his brother could just move past whatever his problem was.
“But you care about Winry, too.” Ed said that to the wall.
“And so I do,” Al replied, wondering if this was the time to tell Ed that he had a girl he saw occasionally whenever she made the trip back to Amestris and had even slept with her. Not to mention there was another woman he noticed more and more very time he walked into her tea house. He suspected Ed was still a virgin, waiting fruitlessly for things that weren’t going to happen, making sacrifices he didn’t need to. “But like a sister, Ed. Even if I wanted her, Winry loves you. I know that. I want that. You deserve it.”
A hidden smile peeked from the corners of Ed’s mouth. “Thanks, Al.”
Al decided to omit his affair since Ed seemed mollified now and he would only question Al non-stop the entire trip if he knew. “Come on, let’s go get Winry. We have to be at the train station in an hour.”
“I’m ready,” Ed said then gave Al a look that said he wished that were true. Al understood. When Winry learned of what they had hidden from her for a year, it could get ugly. The brothers couldn’t help but be nervous.
XXX
“It’s really pretty here,” Winry said, looking at the mountains in the background as she stood on the train platform. The mountains were far enough away to break the cold in the winter but close enough to be picturesque. She already knew what lay on the other side of the Briggs Mountain; a country that barely had any reason to trust Amestris. “Why did Gracia move up here though? It’s so far from Central…or I guess that’s reason enough.”
“It really is,” Al said.
Winry turned her face into the warm summer breeze, smelling the cleanness of pine. Her eyes widened, seeing someone coming toward them, hobbling on crutches but walking none-the-less. “Mr. Havoc! I didn’t know you were here.”
Havoc smiled as he approached them. “There’s a healing alchemist here, Mr. Liu. He’s got me back on my feet. It’s a slow process but hey, I’m actually walking.”
“That’s great!” Winry beamed at him. “You were expecting us, weren’t you? The brothers have decided to keep this whole trip one big mystery.” She shot them a look. “All I know is Mr. Armstrong is here and that there is going to be a party.”
“Indeed there is. Come on, the car’s this way,” Havoc said, spinning around on his crutches expertly.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about Havoc,” Winry hissed at the brothers. “You said we were here for Elicia’s birthday. We better not be here so we can chat with some healing alchemist.”
Ed raised his hands, nearly dropping the luggage. “We are here for the party but Al and I will be talking to Mr. Liu.”
“I meet with him whenever I come north,” Al said, placatingly. “I don’t come just to meet with the Xing entourage when they make it here.” Slippery Rock was at the confluence of three major rivers and Winry knew Al had come here often to meet with Mr. Fu and Ran Fan, who came often with shipments from Xing. Al met with them as a favor to the new Parliament since he had been friends with Ling and Ran Fan and he was more diplomatic than Ed. “Besides, Winry, you’ll like Mr. Liu.”
Ed snorted, carting the luggage off the platform as he followed Havoc towards the gleaming black car. “No, she won’t.”
“And he does have a very neat shop,” Al continued, ignoring his brother. “I know you and Granny look for things to help your patients with the pain and nausea. He probably has ideas.”
“It’s not like you’ll be chained to our side, if you don’t want to stick around with Liu,” Ed said, not really seeing Winry’s problem with this.
“Though that could be fun.” Havoc leered, opening the trunk of the car.
Ed and Winry wore matching blushes as Ed and Al stowed the luggage.
“Are you even safe to drive?” Ed grumbled, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“I can do it just fine, Chief.” Havoc slid his crutches into the trunk. Holding onto the car for support, he hobbled around to the side door and opened it for Winry before getting behind the wheel. He immediately lit up a cigarette once his hands were free.
“I think your recovery is nothing short of amazing. I know nervous connections well and really, Mr. Liu must be very good,” Winry said, getting into the car.
“Not that he’d ever admit it. He studied other types of alchemy before this but he’s pretty confident all the nerves are hooked up and with work, I might not even need the crutches,” Havoc said brightly as he started the car then his face fell. “Of course now that the congress has put an auxiliary base here under Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong’s command, Mr. Liu put him in control of my rehab. He’s insane!”
“Mr. Armstrong is a nice man,” Winry protested with a smile. “But I can see your point.” She looked out the window of the car as Havoc drove, taking in the snow-capped mountains in the distance. It was simply beautiful here. She could see why Mrs. Hughes would want to settle in such a place. It was probably a much better environment to raise Elicia, away from the painful memories Central held.
Havoc drove up to a small inn, far older than Winry was expecting. White plaster, cracked in a few places exposing stone beneath, bright red shutters with green cross-hatching between all the little panes of glass gave the Black Swan Inn character. Winry loved the wraparound porch and matching balcony.
“Mrs. Hughes owns this now?” Winry asked in shock.
“Along with Mrs. Liu,” Ed replied. “Gracia does the baking for the restaurant portion.”
“And I tend bar,” Havoc said. “It’s more work than I would have expected but it’s a lot of fun. I get to talk to everyone. There are a lot of lovely ladies here.” Havoc winked in the rear view mirror for the brothers’ sake.
Ed snorted but wisely refrained from pointing out how badly Havoc usually did with women. Al took it as a sign of growing maturity on Ed’s part. Havoc parked and the brothers unpacked the trunk, lugging the suitcases in, Ed grumbling about Winry’s tendency to over pack.
A bellhop didn’t exist in a little inn like the Black Swan but there was a maid and she showed the brothers and Winry upstairs, each getting their own room. She informed them that both Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Liu were out at the market and were not expected back any time soon.
“Let’s go get some tea,” Al suggested, thinking that Xue-Li Liu would be in her shop wearing silk. He spared a moment to mentally picture it, nearly sending a rush of blood south. He realized Ed was staring at him and he added, “It’s been a long trip and I’d love to relax.”
“That would be nice,” Winry said.
Al led the way down the block to the brightly painted house, glacial cool blue with stark white ginger breading. The tea house was empty except for one long haired man, his hair caught back in a thick, raven braid that dangled to mid-back, and tied off with a band of red silk. His scarlet silk jacket embroidered with yellow flames and dragons twisting up over his shoulders could have been stolen right off Ling from the looks of it. Even knowing the older man’s secrets, Al was hard pressed to see the man Qiang Liu had been.
“Alphonse!” Xue-Li cried, spotting him. The petite twenty year old caught him in an enthusiastic hug, crushing him to her silk clad chest. All he could think was ‘so soft.’ She let him go and said more sedately. “Hello, Edward.” Her coal black eyes flickered over to Winry and she smiled. “Are you the Winry the boys are always talking about?”
Winry smiled, her eyes fixed on Xue-Li’s dress patterned with cherry blossoms. ‘They talk about me?”
“Always,” Xue-Li assured her. “I’m Xue-Li,” she added with a bow, her hair in a multitude of beaded plaits slithering over her shoulder. “Pleased to meet you. Have a seat and take a look at the menu if you’d like.”
“We’re going to sit with your brother,” Ed said, jerking a thumb at the man with the braid.
“Sure. Qiang, look who’s here.” Xue-Li waved a hand at the brothers.
“I’m sure they heard all the way to the mountains that Ed and Al are back as loud as you are, sister,” The braided hair man said.
She eyed him sourly. “Though I can’t imagine why they would want to ruin their tea sitting with you, sour- puss.”
Al pulled out a chair at Qiang’s table for Winry, knowing Ed would never think to do it. “This is Winry Rockbell.”
“And this must be the alchemist you were telling me about,” Winry said, sounding slightly defeated as she sat down.
“This is him. I’d say you’ll like meeting him but no one ever does,” Ed said and the man muttered something in Xingese. Al snickered and Ed looked at him quizzically.
“Xue-Li has been teaching me Xing. You don’t want to know what body part you’ve just been invited to kiss,” Al explained.
Ed flashed the evil eye at Qiang. “I can guess.”
Qiang got up and bowed to Winry. “I’m pleased to see you. You can safely ignore Edward. He wouldn’t know what class is so it confounds and upsets him. Please do have a look at the menu. My sister imports her teas directly from our home province and beyond. Most of it you can’t find here in Amestris.” Qiang handed her a menu as he settled back down and her eyes lingered on the tattoo on the back of his right hand, a dragon encircling a lotus blossom with petals of flame.
Winry smiled at him, liking the soft deep cadence of his accent, so much like the one she associated with Ling and Ran Fan. She glanced at the menu and was at a loss. She didn’t know this many teas even existed. “I wouldn’t know what to get. What do you recommend Mr. Liu?”
“I’ve order the smoked tea. There is plenty in a pot. How about, for a nice contrast, the green tea with cherry blossoms and rose petals? I think you’ll like it.” At Winry’s nod, Qiang got up. “I’ll go tell my sister while you decide if you’d like any sweets.” He looked at Winry who was smiling. “Yes?”
“Just thinking. The way Ed and Al talked about you, I thought you were going to be an old man but you’re not old at all.” Winry flushed when she realized how that sounded. “I’m sorry. That sounded a lot more inappropriate than I meant.”
Qiang laughed. “It’s all right. I’ll get even with them later,” he said then went back to the kitchen.
Winry watched him walk, admiring the way the black silk pants clung to him.
“Winry?” Ed huffed, noticing her wandering eyes. “You’re staring holes.”
“He’s an attractive man,” she said, not looking away.
“He’s a newlywed!” Ed barked, his voice gruff, but Al wasn’t sure Winry was listening. He was almost amused. That would teach his brother to ignore her for too long. Winry’s gaze found something new to look at once Qiang was out of sight. Her eyes settled on all the jars of tea and the tea pots and cups that lined the walls.
“Those are so pretty,” she said.
“They’re all for sale,” Al informed her. “Xue-Li gets them from Xing.”
“I should see how much they are. Granny would like one.” Winry got up and went to inspect the pots.
“How can she think that bastard is good looking?” Ed hissed at his brother.
“He’s not exactly ugly, Ed,” Al pointed out. “And it’s not like she knows you’re interested in her, so why not look around?”
“Al!” Ed growled at him like an irritated stray.
“What?” Al batted innocent eyes at him.
Ed’s fists clenched. “How do you warrant a hug from Xue-Li?” he changed the subject.
“She likes me,” Al said simply as Qiang returned.
“What’s Ed looking so pissed about this time?” he asked, sitting down.
“Your sister hugging me,” Al said, figuring that was safer than saying, ‘Winry checked out your butt.’
Qiang’s eyes narrowed, giving him an evil cat look. “Yes, this is one disturbing affair you’re conducting.”
“Affair!” Ed sputtered as Al went redder than Qiang’s jacket.
Winry came back over with a quizzical look on her face. “Now what, Ed?”
“There is no affair!” Al assured everyone as Winry sat down.
“Uh-huh.” Qiang’s eyes hardened as Xue-Li reappeared carrying one tray followed by a young girl with icy blond hair carrying another.
“Xue-Li, tell your brother there is no affair,” Al demanded plaintively.
“Between who? Me and you?” Xue-Li glared at her brother as she put the tea pot and cups down on the table. “He has some imagination. Alphonse has yet to ask me on a proper date.” She gestured to the young girl who was putting down the other tea set. “Tell Ilona if you want anything else. And Qiang.” She whacked her brother on the head with the bamboo tray. “Behave. And Al, I’m waiting on that date,” Xue-Li added, swishing back toward the kitchen.
“I think I like your sister.” Ed snorted.
“See how you like her long term,” Qiang replied, rubbing his head. A small smile played over his lips. “Alphonse, I withdraw my objections to you dating my sister. You’re more than nice enough.”
“Thanks,” Al muttered, still mortified. He stared at the blue tea pot as if contemplating his chances of crawling inside.
“Just make sure I’m there when you tell Edward I’ll be a brother-in-law.” The smile went full bloom.
Ed went pale. “Don’t you even think about dating her, Al!”
“Edward!” Winry snapped then turned to Qiang. “I’d apologize and tell you he’s not always like this, Qiang, but you already know him.”
“Quite well,” Qiang said affably, ignoring the fact that Al looked like he wanted to slide under the table and hide. “Which tea would you like to try, Winry?”
“One smells like potpourri and the other like beef tea,” she said, taking a deep breath in, savoring it. “The potpourri one, that’s the one with cherries and roses right?”
“Yes.” He poured her the tea while the brothers helped themselves to his smoked tea.
“So good, so different,” Winry purred, sipping her tea.
“It’s a tasty tea,” Qiang said. “I saw you looking at the tea pots.”
“I love the one that looks like a dragon,” Winry said. “I was thinking about getting it for Granny but I’m not sure I could give it up.”
“Dragons have a very prominent place in our culture,” Qiang said, running a finger over the back of his tattooed hand.
“Ling never really told me much about that,” Winry said. “But I’d like to hear it.”
Over tea and the exceedingly sweet ‘treasure pudding’ of rice, dates, cherries and lotus seeds that Xue-Li brought out when she rejoined them, Qiang told Winry some Xing history. His sister filled in some more until customers came into the shop.
“I should get to my shop,” Qiang said, finally.
“Ed and Al wanted me to see it. I’m an automail mechanic. They suggested you might have some things for pain that I might like to try with my patients,” Winry said, still flirting a bit with Qiang. Al wondered if she was just trying to make Ed jealous. It was working like a charm. He wasn’t sure how his brother restrained himself throughout tea.
“By all means.” Qiang beckoned for them to follow as he padded down the side walk in those thin black shoes like Ling used to wear. Winry always wondered how they didn’t just fall apart, they looked so delicate. Qiang’s shop had a large store front window filled with candles, incense cones and jars of things she couldn’t quite identify. The labels were in both Amestrian and Xingese. It was a crowded little shop on the inside and smelled earthy but not unpleasant. He left the ‘out to lunch’ sign on the door and turned to the brothers. “You haven’t told her, have you?”
“Told me what?” Winry looked at Ed suspiciously. “They’ve been acting weird about this whole trip. All I know was I’m here for a birthday party for a little girl. Her parents are friends of ours. I’m not sure why that’s making them so weird. What did you not tell me?”
“We didn’t know how,” Al said uncomfortably.
“Still don’t.” Ed said so softly and contritely that Winry didn’t know how to act. “And for the longest time, we couldn’t say anything.”
Qiang rolled his shoulders. “Well, I guess this was a good acid test for it. You don’t recognize me, do you, Winry?”
“Why should I? I’ve just met you,” she replied, puzzled.
“Picture him minus my hairstyle,” Ed said, rolling his eyes.
“And in blue,” Al put in.
Winry peered at Qiang, not sure what she was going to see. In the back of her mind, a voice gave warning but she didn’t listen to it until Qiang put his thumb against his forefingers and smirked. A quiver spread throughout her body and Winry felt like she had been filled up with ice. “But…I saw you die.”
“You saw what I wanted people to see,” Qiang replied then his dark eyes went melancholy. “And I’m sorry you had to see it. That wasn’t part of the plan.”
Winry whipped around to face the brothers, the trembling picking up strength. “You knew.” She accused.
“We couldn’t tell, not until we were sure no one was trying to prove they didn’t die,” Ed said weakly.
“We hated lying to you,” Al added, his legs feeling weak. He despised everything about this deception.
Winry picked up a tin can off a shelf and hurled it at Ed, slamming it off his head with deadly accuracy. Ed sat down hard and Winry took off, banging her way out the door. She raced in the direction of the hotel.
Qiang picked up the tin along with a few packets that had spilled out. “Hmm, nailed you with an aphrodisiac. Somehow that’s apropos.” He glanced at the brothers. “I suggest you go after her.” The man who used to be Roy Mustang went over and flipped the sign to ‘open,’ returned the tin to the shelf then gave the Elrics a final warning look and a shove toward the door to send them on their way.
on to chapter three
Author - Cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, all characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa et al, Square Enix and funimition. I don’t make a profit
Rating - PG-13
Pairing - Ed/Winry, Roy/Riza, Al/various
Time Line - manga based, future fic, based heavily on the dark future Riza predicted should Roy attain his goals. Spoilers for manga beyond #38.
Summary - It should have been a time of great happiness but fate is rarely kind
Warning- Apparent character death
Author’s Note - Thanks to Mjules for the beta. This was written as a holiday gift for evil_little_dog for Yule 2006 Hope you enjoy
Chapter One
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Al wondered how it all had gone to hell. He had always imagined getting his body back as a joyous occasion and it was for a brief period of time. Even the fact that Ed didn’t get back his limbs hadn’t dampened Al’s joy nor Edward’s.
However, it hadn’t taken things long to go horribly wrong. When the parliamentary soldiers came, Al had wanted to fight them but Roy and Ed stopped him. Ed explained to Al all the frightening things Riza had confided in him, things that were now coming to pass.
Things happened so quickly that Al felt like he were trapped in the strands of an ugly nightmare. The Parliament formed. The army shifted to their control. State Alchemists were disbanded and those old enough to have been in Ishbal were arrested. Mustang had made Ed resign before it all started. Al knew Ed was safe enough even without that step. He wouldn’t face what Armstrong and Mustang did, having been a mere boy during Ishbal.
Armstrong was eventually cleared of charges based on his insubordination during Ishbal. Mustang, on the other hand, was going to be the public display of retribution and justice to soothe the Ishbalans.
Al had thrown up for two days when he heard the news. Ed denied crying but Al didn’t believe him. Whatever else, they both knew Mustang was a good man and that he had fought for this new country even though he knew the price to be paid. After the emotional pain faded, the brothers got angry. When they went to see Mustang in the stockade, they found their angry ideas fit his.
“It’s too beautiful a day for this.” Armstrong’s deep voice rumbled in Al’s ear, shaking him from his miserable memories.
He glanced up at the disgraced alchemist. Tears stood in Armstrong’s big blue eyes. Al had to force his gaze away before he lost control. “No day is good for this,” Al said caustically, fixing his gaze on Hawkeye who stood just a head of them on the grassy rise. Al didn’t want to get any closer to the proceedings than this. He felt so weak that he wasn’t sure he could do what he needed to.
“Al! Al! There you are. I never thought I’d find you in this mess. What’s wrong with these people? Who would camp out for days to see this?” A feminine voice asked, each word a nugget of pain.
Al whipped around, his pony tail slapping him in the face. That was Winry’s voice but that couldn’t be. She could not be here but she was. “What are you doing here? Why did you come?” He took a step back as she vaulted into his arms. Al hugged her tightly. “You shouldn’t have come.” He didn’t want Winry exposed to what he knew was coming. It was too horrible a thing for her.
“They can’t kill him,” she gasped against his neck.
Al ran a hand down her back, her hair soft against his hands. “Go back to your hotel, Winry. Get on the train and get out of here,” he mumbled into her hair. “You shouldn’t see this.”
“I had to be here for you and Ed.” Winry pulled away from, wiping tears from her face. “Where’s Ed?”
His heart ached. Al looked back at Armstrong who shook his head. There was no time to get rid of Winry now. “He’s with Mr. Mustang. They allowed him one friend to make the walk with him. They probably felt safer with Ed where they could see him.”
“He’ll be up there...when...” Winry shuddered, brushing a hand over her eyes, then spotted Hawkeye’s back. “Someone should be with Miss Hawkeye. She shouldn’t be alone for this.” Winry’s voice was so small and lost Al didn’t know how to handle it.
His eyes flicked over to Hawkeye who stood alone, her coat wrapped tightly around her. It looked out of place, since the day was barely cool enough to warrant it. “Stay with me, Winry,” he whispered, knowing he couldn’t let her get near Riza.
She nodded, trying to tuck into him. Al didn’t hold her. He needed his hands free and the guilt over denying her that comfort tore at him. Al couldn’t stop his shaking as Roy was led out and onto the platform. Al was surprised by the serene look on the alchemist’s face; if the crowd wanted fear, they’d be disappointed. Ed’s expression, on the other hand, was barely leashed rage. He turned his golden glare out on the crowd who had come to see the executions, another public gesture; an overture to the Ishbalans of whom Al noticed only a handful of in the crowd. Maybe they had had enough of blood, he mused. One man’s death couldn’t fix all that had been taken from them. It just added to the toll.
Hearing Winry sniffling, Al patted her back, wishing she hadn’t felt compelled to be with him and his brother on this day. Ed and Roy seemed to be looking straight at him. There was so little time left. With one smooth move, Riza tossed off her coat, revealing a rifle. She had the weapon shouldered and had drawn a bead before Al could register it was happening. The rifle cracked and Roy dropped like a stone.
The crowd screamed and people started darting all over. Ed and Falman dove for Roy. Before the crowd could surge back towards Riza - the guards too far away to be of any use since they had been stationed near the platform - she dropped the rifle and pulled her pistol. Al watched her press the muzzle between her breasts. Winry screamed ‘no!’ in his ear but Al didn’t let it distract him. When he saw Riza’s finger tighten on the trigger, Al’s palms met. He winced as the gun roared and Riza fell. Winry raced forward but Al caught her, pulling her away from all the blood pooling around Riza.
“Don’t look, Winry. Don’t look,” he said, trying to shield her.
“Let me try to help her, Al!” She struggled against him. Winry was used to blood but Al knew how fond she was of Riza even if she didn’t know her well. He didn’t want her to see this.
“It’s too late Miss Rockbell,” Armstrong said, scooping Riza up in his massive arms. He whirled and ran like a bull, the crowd parting in front of him.
Al knew Armstrong could handle things from here. He put his arms around Winry, feeling her tears soaking into his shirt. Over her shoulder, he could see Falman and Breda carrying Mustang’s body away from the platform, Ed making a spearhead through the crowd, roughly if he had to, while Fuery brought up the rear. There was already an ambulance waiting near the platform, assigned to transport the body when the execution was over. Seeing Armstrong reaching it, Al knew that it would transport two bodies. He tugged Winry along, the crowd getting dangerous.
She paused at the pool of blood, the smell of gun powder still in the air. “This wasn’t right, Al. The new government was supposed to make things better. How is this better?”
“I don’t know,” he replied flatly. As far as he was concerned, the parliament should have done more to protect its former soldiers. Mustang hadn’t wanted to do the things he had been commanded to do. “I’m taking you back to our hotel room. It’s too dangerous out here.”
Winry didn’t protest. Al got her home without incident and let her cry herself to sleep on Ed’s bed. He crumpled up on his, shaking so hard it hurt. Time stretched, seeming impossibly long before Ed came home. His face was swollen on one side where someone had most likely hit him during the confusion after Riza had shot Roy. Ed looked like he had aged twenty years. He stopped, seeing Winry there. His pupils dilated and his nostrils flared as a quake hit him.
“What the hell?”
“She arrived just as it all started. I tried to get her to go but...” Al ran a hand through his hair. “We should tell her.”
Ed shook his head sitting on the bed next to Winry. “You know we can’t. It’s not safe, not yet. Damn it.”
At the loud curse, Winry woke up. “Oh...Ed....there’s blood on you.” She reached, not for the bruise on his face, but the spatter of Mustang’s blood on his shirt. “Are they...”
Ed nodded. “Dr. Knox pronounced them both dead. They’re in his care now,” he said, gentling his tone.
Al thought about what that meant. It had been a lucky thing to have Knox as Central’s coroner. “I’m sorry you had to be here for this Winry.”
“Why did you come?” Ed asked, too weary to be angry with her.
She hugged him. “I didn’t want you to be alone with this.”
Ed just held her for a moment. No one said anything more. What was there to say?
* * *
“Ed, Al, wake up!” Winry’s distressed voice cut through the brothers’ slumber. Al sat up in time to see Ed’s hand fumbling for Winry on the mattress and finding only cool empty space. She had shared the bed with him all night, albeit platonically and Al suspected that would have been the case even if he wasn’t lying on the second bed in their hotel room. No one was feeling romantic. Any hopes Al had had that his brother would finally admit to his feelings for Winry had fizzled in the chaotic aftermath of the war. Maybe now that it was all over...
“What’s wrong?” Al asked.
Winry tossed the newspaper onto the bed with Ed and pointed at the head line. “Someone stole Mr. Mustang and Miss Hawkeye’s bodies. Who would do such a thing?” she asked horrified and the brothers tried to muster up surprised expressions. “Why isn’t someone doing something?”
“I’m sure they are,” Ed said soothingly as he sat up on the bed.
“What if they’re doing terrible things to the bodies? It’s not fair,” Winry sobbed, tears trickling down her face. Ed held out his arms to her.
“Winry, it might not have been their enemies who took them.” It hurt Al to see Winry this upset. He had to do something for her.
“Who else would?” she asked, folding up against Ed.
“It could be Mustang’s men,” Ed said, rubbing her back. “So no one would mess with the body in retaliation.”
“I’m betting Ed’s right, Winry,” Al interjected, thankful for Ed’s quick intellect and his ability to pick up on Al’s thoughts. “If it was anything else, they’d want to make a statement with the bodies and we’d already know what happened to them.”
Winry wiped her eyes. “I hope you’re right.” She took a deep breath. “What now?”
“We go home,” Ed said and she looked at him in shock. “Mustang’s men are getting together tonight for a private ceremony. Al and I will take you and then we’ll go home to Resembool. I don’t know what we’ll do then but Al and I deserve a rest.” Ed waved his brother over.
Al sat on the bed with them, putting his arms around Winry and Ed. “We’ve already spoken to Granny. We’ll stay with you for a while until we find a place to live. I know it looks terrible now but life will get better.”
“It didn’t solve anything,” Winry whispered, still thinking on the execution. She shifted in the brothers’ arms. “You are too thin, Al. You stay with us until you’re better at the very least.”
Al smiled gently. All that time beyond the gate had taken a toll. His body was smaller than it should be and painfully thin. He still tired out easily. It was a small price to pay for all he and his brother had done. “I’d like that Winry. I want to go home,” Al said and didn’t need to be told that’s what they all wanted. He knew that within twenty four hours home was where they all would be and maybe then things would get better. He only wished he were free to tell Winry everything.
Chapter Two
A year had passed and Al wished he could say it had gone easily. He and Ed had a new, small home in Resembool, trying to adjust while the world around them changed. Amestris had settled down. Alliances had been made with the remains of the Ishbalans, the Drachamians. There was a tentative alliance with the Emperor Greed-Ling who was still fighting battles in his country, which was in chaos now with Ling’s father dead. The Amestrian parliament often consulted with Al and Ed over how to handle Ling since they knew about homunculi -the existence of which had become too obvious during the final days of Bradley’s reign - and because they were friends with Ling. It hadn’t seemed right to kill their friend because of what he had become since Ling seemed to be able to wrestle down Greed when he needed to.
For their part, the brothers did alchemic jobs around their home town but mostly rested back on the nest egg from Ed’s former State stipend. They deserved the rest, to get back a slice of their stolen youth. Al wanted the time just to get used to being flesh and catching up on all the sensations he had missed. For a while, he contemplated the risks of getting fat versus the wonderful oral sensations he was enjoying.
But it wasn’t all relaxation and fun. There was an undercurrent of anger coursing between him, Ed and Winry, anger over the death of Riza and Roy. Al knew both he and Ed had been surprised at just how angry Winry was. It went deeper than her witnessing the suicide pact. Winry might not have known Riza all that well but she felt a kinship to her. Al understood it eventually even if his brother didn’t. Winry and Riza were very much alike, strong, smart women. They were in love with the same sort of man and they took care of him. Riza had had Roy’s back. Winry kept Ed going. Riza would have and did die for Roy and Al knew Winry would for Ed and maybe even him. He hated that Winry hurt so much and there was nothing he could do to help.
No, it wasn’t safe for him or Ed to help until now. He had better go check to see if Ed had packed a suit in addition to his usual black on black ensemble. Sometimes he wondered if Ed were color blind and stuck to black for safety’s sake. Armstrong had indicated that a suit would be necessary. When Al got to his brother’s room, Ed was draped over the bed, fast asleep. His brother had blamed his napping on his body supporting Al’s body on the other side of the Gate. Al didn’t doubt that was true but neither did he doubt that Ed was addicted to the nap. His brother could sleep like the dead.
“I like how you pack, brother,” Al said sardonically, lounging against the door frame.
Ed woke up with a snort. He glared at Al with bleary eyes. “I’m packed.” Ed dragged his flesh hand over his eyes.
“Your suit, too?”
“Yes, Mom.” Ed jerked a thumb at the black - surprise, surprise - suit folded neatly in the suitcase. “I even fixed it up to make it nicer.”
Al peered closely and saw the buttons now bore scary draconian faces. He dreaded to know what the cuff links and tie tack might look like. His brother’s tastes and artistic talent were a little unnerving. “Has Winry seen the improvements?”
Ed shook his head. “No. Why?”
“Just thought you might show her. She is coming with us. This is as much for her as for us. Besides, you know how she feels about you. She’s most likely going to be the one with you when you wear that suit.” Al sat next to his brother on the bed.
Ed turned his face away. “I know.”
”What’s the problem? I know it used to be about me and not having a body but I’m back now. You don’t have to feel guilty any more,” Al said quietly, trying to pick through the guilt. He wished his brother could just move past whatever his problem was.
“But you care about Winry, too.” Ed said that to the wall.
“And so I do,” Al replied, wondering if this was the time to tell Ed that he had a girl he saw occasionally whenever she made the trip back to Amestris and had even slept with her. Not to mention there was another woman he noticed more and more very time he walked into her tea house. He suspected Ed was still a virgin, waiting fruitlessly for things that weren’t going to happen, making sacrifices he didn’t need to. “But like a sister, Ed. Even if I wanted her, Winry loves you. I know that. I want that. You deserve it.”
A hidden smile peeked from the corners of Ed’s mouth. “Thanks, Al.”
Al decided to omit his affair since Ed seemed mollified now and he would only question Al non-stop the entire trip if he knew. “Come on, let’s go get Winry. We have to be at the train station in an hour.”
“I’m ready,” Ed said then gave Al a look that said he wished that were true. Al understood. When Winry learned of what they had hidden from her for a year, it could get ugly. The brothers couldn’t help but be nervous.
XXX
“It’s really pretty here,” Winry said, looking at the mountains in the background as she stood on the train platform. The mountains were far enough away to break the cold in the winter but close enough to be picturesque. She already knew what lay on the other side of the Briggs Mountain; a country that barely had any reason to trust Amestris. “Why did Gracia move up here though? It’s so far from Central…or I guess that’s reason enough.”
“It really is,” Al said.
Winry turned her face into the warm summer breeze, smelling the cleanness of pine. Her eyes widened, seeing someone coming toward them, hobbling on crutches but walking none-the-less. “Mr. Havoc! I didn’t know you were here.”
Havoc smiled as he approached them. “There’s a healing alchemist here, Mr. Liu. He’s got me back on my feet. It’s a slow process but hey, I’m actually walking.”
“That’s great!” Winry beamed at him. “You were expecting us, weren’t you? The brothers have decided to keep this whole trip one big mystery.” She shot them a look. “All I know is Mr. Armstrong is here and that there is going to be a party.”
“Indeed there is. Come on, the car’s this way,” Havoc said, spinning around on his crutches expertly.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about Havoc,” Winry hissed at the brothers. “You said we were here for Elicia’s birthday. We better not be here so we can chat with some healing alchemist.”
Ed raised his hands, nearly dropping the luggage. “We are here for the party but Al and I will be talking to Mr. Liu.”
“I meet with him whenever I come north,” Al said, placatingly. “I don’t come just to meet with the Xing entourage when they make it here.” Slippery Rock was at the confluence of three major rivers and Winry knew Al had come here often to meet with Mr. Fu and Ran Fan, who came often with shipments from Xing. Al met with them as a favor to the new Parliament since he had been friends with Ling and Ran Fan and he was more diplomatic than Ed. “Besides, Winry, you’ll like Mr. Liu.”
Ed snorted, carting the luggage off the platform as he followed Havoc towards the gleaming black car. “No, she won’t.”
“And he does have a very neat shop,” Al continued, ignoring his brother. “I know you and Granny look for things to help your patients with the pain and nausea. He probably has ideas.”
“It’s not like you’ll be chained to our side, if you don’t want to stick around with Liu,” Ed said, not really seeing Winry’s problem with this.
“Though that could be fun.” Havoc leered, opening the trunk of the car.
Ed and Winry wore matching blushes as Ed and Al stowed the luggage.
“Are you even safe to drive?” Ed grumbled, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“I can do it just fine, Chief.” Havoc slid his crutches into the trunk. Holding onto the car for support, he hobbled around to the side door and opened it for Winry before getting behind the wheel. He immediately lit up a cigarette once his hands were free.
“I think your recovery is nothing short of amazing. I know nervous connections well and really, Mr. Liu must be very good,” Winry said, getting into the car.
“Not that he’d ever admit it. He studied other types of alchemy before this but he’s pretty confident all the nerves are hooked up and with work, I might not even need the crutches,” Havoc said brightly as he started the car then his face fell. “Of course now that the congress has put an auxiliary base here under Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong’s command, Mr. Liu put him in control of my rehab. He’s insane!”
“Mr. Armstrong is a nice man,” Winry protested with a smile. “But I can see your point.” She looked out the window of the car as Havoc drove, taking in the snow-capped mountains in the distance. It was simply beautiful here. She could see why Mrs. Hughes would want to settle in such a place. It was probably a much better environment to raise Elicia, away from the painful memories Central held.
Havoc drove up to a small inn, far older than Winry was expecting. White plaster, cracked in a few places exposing stone beneath, bright red shutters with green cross-hatching between all the little panes of glass gave the Black Swan Inn character. Winry loved the wraparound porch and matching balcony.
“Mrs. Hughes owns this now?” Winry asked in shock.
“Along with Mrs. Liu,” Ed replied. “Gracia does the baking for the restaurant portion.”
“And I tend bar,” Havoc said. “It’s more work than I would have expected but it’s a lot of fun. I get to talk to everyone. There are a lot of lovely ladies here.” Havoc winked in the rear view mirror for the brothers’ sake.
Ed snorted but wisely refrained from pointing out how badly Havoc usually did with women. Al took it as a sign of growing maturity on Ed’s part. Havoc parked and the brothers unpacked the trunk, lugging the suitcases in, Ed grumbling about Winry’s tendency to over pack.
A bellhop didn’t exist in a little inn like the Black Swan but there was a maid and she showed the brothers and Winry upstairs, each getting their own room. She informed them that both Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Liu were out at the market and were not expected back any time soon.
“Let’s go get some tea,” Al suggested, thinking that Xue-Li Liu would be in her shop wearing silk. He spared a moment to mentally picture it, nearly sending a rush of blood south. He realized Ed was staring at him and he added, “It’s been a long trip and I’d love to relax.”
“That would be nice,” Winry said.
Al led the way down the block to the brightly painted house, glacial cool blue with stark white ginger breading. The tea house was empty except for one long haired man, his hair caught back in a thick, raven braid that dangled to mid-back, and tied off with a band of red silk. His scarlet silk jacket embroidered with yellow flames and dragons twisting up over his shoulders could have been stolen right off Ling from the looks of it. Even knowing the older man’s secrets, Al was hard pressed to see the man Qiang Liu had been.
“Alphonse!” Xue-Li cried, spotting him. The petite twenty year old caught him in an enthusiastic hug, crushing him to her silk clad chest. All he could think was ‘so soft.’ She let him go and said more sedately. “Hello, Edward.” Her coal black eyes flickered over to Winry and she smiled. “Are you the Winry the boys are always talking about?”
Winry smiled, her eyes fixed on Xue-Li’s dress patterned with cherry blossoms. ‘They talk about me?”
“Always,” Xue-Li assured her. “I’m Xue-Li,” she added with a bow, her hair in a multitude of beaded plaits slithering over her shoulder. “Pleased to meet you. Have a seat and take a look at the menu if you’d like.”
“We’re going to sit with your brother,” Ed said, jerking a thumb at the man with the braid.
“Sure. Qiang, look who’s here.” Xue-Li waved a hand at the brothers.
“I’m sure they heard all the way to the mountains that Ed and Al are back as loud as you are, sister,” The braided hair man said.
She eyed him sourly. “Though I can’t imagine why they would want to ruin their tea sitting with you, sour- puss.”
Al pulled out a chair at Qiang’s table for Winry, knowing Ed would never think to do it. “This is Winry Rockbell.”
“And this must be the alchemist you were telling me about,” Winry said, sounding slightly defeated as she sat down.
“This is him. I’d say you’ll like meeting him but no one ever does,” Ed said and the man muttered something in Xingese. Al snickered and Ed looked at him quizzically.
“Xue-Li has been teaching me Xing. You don’t want to know what body part you’ve just been invited to kiss,” Al explained.
Ed flashed the evil eye at Qiang. “I can guess.”
Qiang got up and bowed to Winry. “I’m pleased to see you. You can safely ignore Edward. He wouldn’t know what class is so it confounds and upsets him. Please do have a look at the menu. My sister imports her teas directly from our home province and beyond. Most of it you can’t find here in Amestris.” Qiang handed her a menu as he settled back down and her eyes lingered on the tattoo on the back of his right hand, a dragon encircling a lotus blossom with petals of flame.
Winry smiled at him, liking the soft deep cadence of his accent, so much like the one she associated with Ling and Ran Fan. She glanced at the menu and was at a loss. She didn’t know this many teas even existed. “I wouldn’t know what to get. What do you recommend Mr. Liu?”
“I’ve order the smoked tea. There is plenty in a pot. How about, for a nice contrast, the green tea with cherry blossoms and rose petals? I think you’ll like it.” At Winry’s nod, Qiang got up. “I’ll go tell my sister while you decide if you’d like any sweets.” He looked at Winry who was smiling. “Yes?”
“Just thinking. The way Ed and Al talked about you, I thought you were going to be an old man but you’re not old at all.” Winry flushed when she realized how that sounded. “I’m sorry. That sounded a lot more inappropriate than I meant.”
Qiang laughed. “It’s all right. I’ll get even with them later,” he said then went back to the kitchen.
Winry watched him walk, admiring the way the black silk pants clung to him.
“Winry?” Ed huffed, noticing her wandering eyes. “You’re staring holes.”
“He’s an attractive man,” she said, not looking away.
“He’s a newlywed!” Ed barked, his voice gruff, but Al wasn’t sure Winry was listening. He was almost amused. That would teach his brother to ignore her for too long. Winry’s gaze found something new to look at once Qiang was out of sight. Her eyes settled on all the jars of tea and the tea pots and cups that lined the walls.
“Those are so pretty,” she said.
“They’re all for sale,” Al informed her. “Xue-Li gets them from Xing.”
“I should see how much they are. Granny would like one.” Winry got up and went to inspect the pots.
“How can she think that bastard is good looking?” Ed hissed at his brother.
“He’s not exactly ugly, Ed,” Al pointed out. “And it’s not like she knows you’re interested in her, so why not look around?”
“Al!” Ed growled at him like an irritated stray.
“What?” Al batted innocent eyes at him.
Ed’s fists clenched. “How do you warrant a hug from Xue-Li?” he changed the subject.
“She likes me,” Al said simply as Qiang returned.
“What’s Ed looking so pissed about this time?” he asked, sitting down.
“Your sister hugging me,” Al said, figuring that was safer than saying, ‘Winry checked out your butt.’
Qiang’s eyes narrowed, giving him an evil cat look. “Yes, this is one disturbing affair you’re conducting.”
“Affair!” Ed sputtered as Al went redder than Qiang’s jacket.
Winry came back over with a quizzical look on her face. “Now what, Ed?”
“There is no affair!” Al assured everyone as Winry sat down.
“Uh-huh.” Qiang’s eyes hardened as Xue-Li reappeared carrying one tray followed by a young girl with icy blond hair carrying another.
“Xue-Li, tell your brother there is no affair,” Al demanded plaintively.
“Between who? Me and you?” Xue-Li glared at her brother as she put the tea pot and cups down on the table. “He has some imagination. Alphonse has yet to ask me on a proper date.” She gestured to the young girl who was putting down the other tea set. “Tell Ilona if you want anything else. And Qiang.” She whacked her brother on the head with the bamboo tray. “Behave. And Al, I’m waiting on that date,” Xue-Li added, swishing back toward the kitchen.
“I think I like your sister.” Ed snorted.
“See how you like her long term,” Qiang replied, rubbing his head. A small smile played over his lips. “Alphonse, I withdraw my objections to you dating my sister. You’re more than nice enough.”
“Thanks,” Al muttered, still mortified. He stared at the blue tea pot as if contemplating his chances of crawling inside.
“Just make sure I’m there when you tell Edward I’ll be a brother-in-law.” The smile went full bloom.
Ed went pale. “Don’t you even think about dating her, Al!”
“Edward!” Winry snapped then turned to Qiang. “I’d apologize and tell you he’s not always like this, Qiang, but you already know him.”
“Quite well,” Qiang said affably, ignoring the fact that Al looked like he wanted to slide under the table and hide. “Which tea would you like to try, Winry?”
“One smells like potpourri and the other like beef tea,” she said, taking a deep breath in, savoring it. “The potpourri one, that’s the one with cherries and roses right?”
“Yes.” He poured her the tea while the brothers helped themselves to his smoked tea.
“So good, so different,” Winry purred, sipping her tea.
“It’s a tasty tea,” Qiang said. “I saw you looking at the tea pots.”
“I love the one that looks like a dragon,” Winry said. “I was thinking about getting it for Granny but I’m not sure I could give it up.”
“Dragons have a very prominent place in our culture,” Qiang said, running a finger over the back of his tattooed hand.
“Ling never really told me much about that,” Winry said. “But I’d like to hear it.”
Over tea and the exceedingly sweet ‘treasure pudding’ of rice, dates, cherries and lotus seeds that Xue-Li brought out when she rejoined them, Qiang told Winry some Xing history. His sister filled in some more until customers came into the shop.
“I should get to my shop,” Qiang said, finally.
“Ed and Al wanted me to see it. I’m an automail mechanic. They suggested you might have some things for pain that I might like to try with my patients,” Winry said, still flirting a bit with Qiang. Al wondered if she was just trying to make Ed jealous. It was working like a charm. He wasn’t sure how his brother restrained himself throughout tea.
“By all means.” Qiang beckoned for them to follow as he padded down the side walk in those thin black shoes like Ling used to wear. Winry always wondered how they didn’t just fall apart, they looked so delicate. Qiang’s shop had a large store front window filled with candles, incense cones and jars of things she couldn’t quite identify. The labels were in both Amestrian and Xingese. It was a crowded little shop on the inside and smelled earthy but not unpleasant. He left the ‘out to lunch’ sign on the door and turned to the brothers. “You haven’t told her, have you?”
“Told me what?” Winry looked at Ed suspiciously. “They’ve been acting weird about this whole trip. All I know was I’m here for a birthday party for a little girl. Her parents are friends of ours. I’m not sure why that’s making them so weird. What did you not tell me?”
“We didn’t know how,” Al said uncomfortably.
“Still don’t.” Ed said so softly and contritely that Winry didn’t know how to act. “And for the longest time, we couldn’t say anything.”
Qiang rolled his shoulders. “Well, I guess this was a good acid test for it. You don’t recognize me, do you, Winry?”
“Why should I? I’ve just met you,” she replied, puzzled.
“Picture him minus my hairstyle,” Ed said, rolling his eyes.
“And in blue,” Al put in.
Winry peered at Qiang, not sure what she was going to see. In the back of her mind, a voice gave warning but she didn’t listen to it until Qiang put his thumb against his forefingers and smirked. A quiver spread throughout her body and Winry felt like she had been filled up with ice. “But…I saw you die.”
“You saw what I wanted people to see,” Qiang replied then his dark eyes went melancholy. “And I’m sorry you had to see it. That wasn’t part of the plan.”
Winry whipped around to face the brothers, the trembling picking up strength. “You knew.” She accused.
“We couldn’t tell, not until we were sure no one was trying to prove they didn’t die,” Ed said weakly.
“We hated lying to you,” Al added, his legs feeling weak. He despised everything about this deception.
Winry picked up a tin can off a shelf and hurled it at Ed, slamming it off his head with deadly accuracy. Ed sat down hard and Winry took off, banging her way out the door. She raced in the direction of the hotel.
Qiang picked up the tin along with a few packets that had spilled out. “Hmm, nailed you with an aphrodisiac. Somehow that’s apropos.” He glanced at the brothers. “I suggest you go after her.” The man who used to be Roy Mustang went over and flipped the sign to ‘open,’ returned the tin to the shelf then gave the Elrics a final warning look and a shove toward the door to send them on their way.
on to chapter three