FMA: Gilded (Quit)
Seventeenth chapter of Gilded! First chapter/explanation of this fic is here, with links to later parts.
Title: Gilded
Prompt: Quit
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/Brotherhood)
Word Count: 500.
Rating: G
Summary: In which the military sends a letter to the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Warnings: SPOILERS through to the end of the manga/Brotherhood. I've been advised by evil_little_dog to warn for "incessant cuteness" as well. :)
Author's Notes: This was first posted, in slightly different form, as my entry to prompt 84, "leash", in fma_fic_contest.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist and all associated characters, settings, etc., belong to Hiromu Arakawa-san. The only profit I make from this work of fiction is my own satisfaction and, possibly, the enjoyment of others.
At first, Winry couldn’t believe what she was seeing. But the official military seal on the envelope was unmistakable, and she knew what it meant. This harmless-looking letter was going to end the peaceful dream her family had lived for the past few months. Ed was still a State Alchemist - still a dog of the military - and it seemed they had left him off his leash long enough.
For a moment, she thought madly; maybe she could throw it away - burn it - pretend it had never come - but, no. They would just send another letter, or perhaps actual soldiers to fetch the Fullmetal Alchemist. In Amestris, the military always got what it wanted eventually. Maybe quicker would be better - like ripping off a bandage, one quick pain and then it was over.
Apparently she had been silent and still too long. “Hey, Winry, what’s that?” came a voice over her shoulder, and then the mail was being plucked from her motionless hands. Winry turned in time to see Ed’s frown as he dropped the post on the floor - all but the envelope with the formal stamp and his name.
“Brother!” Al scolded, bending to retrieve the rest of the mail. Ed ignored him as he ripped open his letter, examining its contents quickly and mutely. Al glanced at Winry, wondering what his brother’s silence and her somber mood meant, but she didn’t meet his eyes. Still not speaking, Ed folded the letter back up, and suddenly Winry couldn’t take it any longer.
“Well? When are you leaving again?”
The words had been loud in her head but the question came out soft, almost a whisper. Al’s eyes widened, his distress plain as he stared at Ed’s blank face, but his brother merely handed the letter to Winry. “Read it.”
Her hands weren’t trembling as she unfolded it, even though she thought they should have been. Unwillingly, she scanned the words written on it, then gasped, reading them again. “This - this is an acceptance of your resignation!” Winry shouted, looking back up and brandishing the letter at him.
The carefully schooled expression dropped from Ed’s face, leaving behind only smugness. “Yep,” he said cheerfully to the two shocked faces confronting him. “I quit.”
“But-!”
“I’m not an alchemist anymore.” He shrugged, left hand going to his right shoulder. “Or fullmetal.” Then he grinned. “Now all I owe the military is a pocketwatch.”
Al returned Ed’s smile, clearly relieved, but Winry thought she could feel steam coming out of her ears. “I can’t believe I was actually worried about you!” she exclaimed, nearly shrieking. The letter waved wildly in the air.
Ed’s grin collapsed in sudden panic. Shaking his head, Al stepped forward to hug Winry, stilling her violent movements. “We’re not going anywhere,” he said softly. Then Ed’s arms were wrapping around both of them as he nodded agreement.
Still fierce, Winry mumbled, “You’d better not.” But she let herself relax in the arms of her boys, content at last.
TBC ( Part 18 - Record)
Title: Gilded
Prompt: Quit
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/Brotherhood)
Word Count: 500.
Rating: G
Summary: In which the military sends a letter to the Fullmetal Alchemist.
Warnings: SPOILERS through to the end of the manga/Brotherhood. I've been advised by evil_little_dog to warn for "incessant cuteness" as well. :)
Author's Notes: This was first posted, in slightly different form, as my entry to prompt 84, "leash", in fma_fic_contest.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist and all associated characters, settings, etc., belong to Hiromu Arakawa-san. The only profit I make from this work of fiction is my own satisfaction and, possibly, the enjoyment of others.
At first, Winry couldn’t believe what she was seeing. But the official military seal on the envelope was unmistakable, and she knew what it meant. This harmless-looking letter was going to end the peaceful dream her family had lived for the past few months. Ed was still a State Alchemist - still a dog of the military - and it seemed they had left him off his leash long enough.
For a moment, she thought madly; maybe she could throw it away - burn it - pretend it had never come - but, no. They would just send another letter, or perhaps actual soldiers to fetch the Fullmetal Alchemist. In Amestris, the military always got what it wanted eventually. Maybe quicker would be better - like ripping off a bandage, one quick pain and then it was over.
Apparently she had been silent and still too long. “Hey, Winry, what’s that?” came a voice over her shoulder, and then the mail was being plucked from her motionless hands. Winry turned in time to see Ed’s frown as he dropped the post on the floor - all but the envelope with the formal stamp and his name.
“Brother!” Al scolded, bending to retrieve the rest of the mail. Ed ignored him as he ripped open his letter, examining its contents quickly and mutely. Al glanced at Winry, wondering what his brother’s silence and her somber mood meant, but she didn’t meet his eyes. Still not speaking, Ed folded the letter back up, and suddenly Winry couldn’t take it any longer.
“Well? When are you leaving again?”
The words had been loud in her head but the question came out soft, almost a whisper. Al’s eyes widened, his distress plain as he stared at Ed’s blank face, but his brother merely handed the letter to Winry. “Read it.”
Her hands weren’t trembling as she unfolded it, even though she thought they should have been. Unwillingly, she scanned the words written on it, then gasped, reading them again. “This - this is an acceptance of your resignation!” Winry shouted, looking back up and brandishing the letter at him.
The carefully schooled expression dropped from Ed’s face, leaving behind only smugness. “Yep,” he said cheerfully to the two shocked faces confronting him. “I quit.”
“But-!”
“I’m not an alchemist anymore.” He shrugged, left hand going to his right shoulder. “Or fullmetal.” Then he grinned. “Now all I owe the military is a pocketwatch.”
Al returned Ed’s smile, clearly relieved, but Winry thought she could feel steam coming out of her ears. “I can’t believe I was actually worried about you!” she exclaimed, nearly shrieking. The letter waved wildly in the air.
Ed’s grin collapsed in sudden panic. Shaking his head, Al stepped forward to hug Winry, stilling her violent movements. “We’re not going anywhere,” he said softly. Then Ed’s arms were wrapping around both of them as he nodded agreement.
Still fierce, Winry mumbled, “You’d better not.” But she let herself relax in the arms of her boys, content at last.
TBC ( Part 18 - Record)