maskormenacelogs | I'll Stand Up With You Forever [Closed]

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I'll Stand Up With You Forever [Closed]

WHO: Edward Elric

braided_icarus and Winry Rockbell

hands4healing
WHERE: Heropa # 35
WHEN: Sunday afternoon, post Fanport Convention, 2015
WHAT: Are they or aren't they? (i.e., Ed and Winry discuss their relationship.)
WARNINGS: Teenage angst and Ed's version of romance? Maybe? Will edit as necessary.

It had been a long weekend, working at the convention at the StarkTech table, as well as dancing at the rave (what a weird name for a dance party...but it had been a weird dance party, too), and attending various panels. Winry had some requests to build real armor for some people, and that made her happy, though she would've preferred getting requests for actual automail.

At any rate, she was happy to be home. And to get out of Ed's clothes. His coat was heavy. How did he wear it all the time?

"I'm home," she called as she entered the house, hearing Zoey's single bark and smiling when she saw her dog charging her. "Hi, Zoey." She leans down, accepting the quick lick of her cheek. "I hope you were good this weekend!"

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Of course Ed had known about the convention. He just wasn't particularly in the mood for crowds so had opted to stay at home. And noticed his coat missing, but he's not about to focus on that. Not when he has other things he wants to talk to her about now she is back home when he's been fumbling over this all day in his head on how to do this.

"Yeah. She's been fine. And before you ask, yeah, I took her for a walk this morning."

The main thing he wants to talk about is also the hardest part to actually get out. So he just tries to start slower.

"Can you come here in my room?" He asks from the doorway, and not just to grab his coat back.

Winry slipped out of the long red coat, letting out a gust of air. She draped his coat over her arm. "How do you wear all this? It's so heavy." Before Ed had a chance to answer, she asked, "Do I need my tool kit? You didn't break anything, did you?"

Winry figured he'd done something stupid, maybe bent a finger or jammed a gear in his arm.

"It's not that heavy. I guess I'm just used to it." He rubbed at the back of his head for a moment before shaking his head in answer.

"No. No repairs or anything. I just...wanted to talk to you about something, is all."

The sooner the better, before he changes his mind about this like he probably already has at least five time previously before she finally got back home. He lets her sort herself out and change if necessary first, taking his clothes from her once she is ready and leading her to sit next to him on the bed.

No repairs? Winry wondered just what Ed wanted to talk to her about. She didn't need to change much, just get out of both of Ed's coats. The t-shirt and pants were hers, the boots, too. Her curiosity on the rise, Winry let Ed sit her on his bed.

"What is it?"

Maybe he wanted to move out of Florida. She wouldn't blame him. His automail arm had to bother him in the heat and humidity.

Ed takes back the coat and jacket, setting them on the back of his chair for the time being, more focused on Winry as she sits down next to him. He's always felt this wasn't something he could have. That he should have a chance at or even consider. At least, not until Al was able to have this opportunity to be with someone as well. But he no longer has that excuse, not really, when they know it works out and his brother does regain his body once more.

Between Wally and his teasing, the date they ended up on together over Valentines (let alone winning. Somehow), he can't entirely ignore or deny his feelings any longer when it's evidently rather obvious in spite of himself. He's both conflicted and serious at the same time, and it's not about the heat, though that annoys him, it's more bearable than the desert. He shifts, taking a deep breath before starting.

"Winry, I know I'm...not the best with this stuff but. I don't know. I've been thinking and I guess by now I can't keep making excuses. I--I like you."

Well, obviously, given they're childhood friends but in light of recent events it's probably not hard to figure what he's really stumbling to say here. Even this much is possibly more direct than Winry could have hoped for from him, when he'd previously all but shut down and started spouting the periodic table when confronted with his affections for the mechanic. Just ignore how he's all but tensed up waiting for a response and his face going red in realization of what he just said. Aloud.

Winry hadn't expected this. Oh, well, that wasn't exactly true - she thought, maybe, one day. When they were back home, after Al had his body back, she and Ed might have a talk about something like this. This, though, and now?

She blinked a few times. Her mouth opened and closed. And she finally spoke.

"Of course you like me, you dummy! I'm likable!"

All right, that might've been the wrong way to say it...

"I don't mean--I mean I love you, idiot!"

Yes, this is happening. Possibly sooner with certain circumstances helping him realize and admit his feelings earlier than he might have preferred, but now he's acknowledging his affections for her he can't really keep denying it and making excuses. And he always has liked her. Just been too childish while growing up to really show it and then too distracted and stubborn to really admit it with everything else going on back home.

But now there's no taking back what was said. What he finally admits to aloud to her after others teasing him for ages and what is so obvious to everyone else.

"You what?"

No, really, Ed. Winry stared at him, confused.

No, she really had heard what Ed said. And he was yelling - which is definitely what she expected, if he'd ever decided to tell her his feelings. Because he was Ed, and his emotions usually came out at the top of his lungs.

And Winry wasn't sure for a few seconds how to react. Her face heated up and she snapped her jaw shut.

By now its likely their roomies were used to his volume, or they would request alternate housing. Regardless, that doesn't stop him admitting his feelings in typical Edward fashion. Loudly and obnoxiously.

But it seems like about the last thing she anticipated this talk being about, to say the least from Winry's staring and silence outside of what he's sure isn't questioning what he just said but more for some kind of explanation perhaps. And he's not sure how to explain it if that is what she means. So he just sits there staring and flustered himself.

"I....I said I love you, dammit!"

Winry chewed air for a few seconds before blurting out, "Took you long enough!"

Wait, that probably wasn't what she should've said. She took a breath and reached over, taking Ed's hand. His flesh hand, but it wouldn't have mattered to her. She saw him as whole, in spite of how he saw himself. Giving his hand a squeeze, Winry scooted closer. Searching his face - his red face. And she knew hers had to be just as red.

"Dummy." And her voice was a little choked. "I love you, too."

Initially he's almost confused and incredulous at the 'took you long enough', about to stammer in protest before she takes his hand and scoots closer to him. There's part of him that's surprised at all this and another that isn't, when she also confesses. It's like they've always known but just never actually admitted it. For various reasons. Really, this won't change much overall perhaps given they both tended to share their affections through actions more than words. Or in Ed's case, words that weren't quite so direct in their meaning, like his promise to make her cry of happiness next time. Besides, Kimblee and the rest all already knew, or at least suspected. Have already tried to use her to keep him in line in the past, so they know she's important to him regardless of whether he actually admits his feelings for her are deeper than just as friends. He calms a little when she squeezes at his hand, face paling more from the pink tinge at his cheeks, his nose.

He just manages a weak smile, leaning in a little to press his lips to her forehead.

Trust Ed to give her a kiss on the forehead. Winry laughed, short and shaky, and grabbed the front of his shirt when he started to pull back. Because she wasn't going to say their first kiss was on her forehead.

So she leaned close, and kissed him on the mouth, holding onto his shirt so he couldn't pull away.

He's flustered, about to ask what might be so amusing but he doesn't get the chance before she grabs to his shirt and pulls him to her, her lips claiming his as he attempts to keep his balance, his free hand clutching to the blankets and bed for support at the unexpected movement.

It takes him by surprise, but not unpleasantly so and it only takes a few seconds before he adjusts, returning the kiss in turn. Even if it might be a bit awkward and chaste given the inexperience with such attentions. His free hand eventually shifting from the bed to her cheek and hair. It's both calming and nerve-wrecking to register this happening. But it is and all he can do is try enjoy the moment for what it is. Their first proper kiss. It might seem crazy given everything going on, but at the same time, that is part of just why he finally admitted his feelings as well. His hand runs through her hair before he pulls back slightly given her hold on his shirt, and he gives a small smile.

Winry smiled back. A little shyly, which seemed dumb, considering how long they've known each other, and everything they'd been through together. She let go of Ed's shirt, letting her hand fall back down to rest on her knee.

"Um." It shouldn't be awkward, either, but it kind of was. "Do you want...to get something to eat somewhere?"

The fact they've known each other for forever is the reason this really isn't much of a surprise, considering. There's still some uncertainty, some new-ness about this next step, beyond friendship, but they have time to adjust. There's no rush, at least not here. He's not sure just how shortened his lifespan got after attempting medicinal alchemy on his injury at the mines, but either way, he's not going to push anything when this is as new to him as it is for her.

"Sure. If you want." If nothing else, food is always a decent fallback with Ed. Which Winry is well aware of given his appetite, even if he never seems to show evidence of being such a big eater. Plus, if he's eating she can then properly question him on all this if she wants.

"Great! Let me get changed into something else, and you figure out where you want to go." Because that would keep Ed busy for a little bit while she went and screamed into her pillow, and petted Zoey, and tried to wrap her head around this whole idea.

Hey, even if it was something she'd hoped for, Winry was at least a little practical when it came to dealing with Ed. She'd always thought, if anything were to happen, it would be some time in the future, after Ed and Al came home, after they had a chance to adjust to having their bodies back.

Entering her room, Zoey at her heels, Winry did grab a pillow off the bed and scream into it. After that, she danced around the room, pulling off the tank top and kicking off her pants. Zoey danced with her, a doggy grin on her face.

Winry pulled a dress out of the closet, a pale blue one, and slipped it on over her head. With a quick brush of her hair, she checked herself in the mirror. She looked the same, she thought, but her eyes sparkled more. Winry chose a pair of sandals and admonished Zoey to go lie down and be good, leaving her dog in the bedroom with a bone to chew, and went out to join Ed.

Ed gives a nod, and lets her head out to her own room while they both get ready, Ed considering a change of clothes to something at least a little more formal than his pants and tanktop, changing to a button down shirt and keeping his hair tied back into a ponytail, messing with the hair tie a little before finally managing to tie the end. He tries to focus on this, getting ready rather than really thinking much on the implication of what just happened between them. It's still not sinking in so much as it should but probably will later tonight when he heads to bed and wonders if this counts as a date.

He is ready and out in the kitchen getting a drink as he goes over a few ideas of local restaurants in his head. When she enters, his attention focuses to her as he finishes his water and asks her of a couple, one closer though another is a bit farther but cheaper.

"Which one?"

Winry considered. "Let's save our money." She'd spent some at the convention, after all, and was feelng it. "Oh! I bought something for you!" Reaching into her messenger bag, Winry pulled out a keychain. The fob dangling from it was a little Alphonse figurine.

She had a few other things, too, a red t-shirt with the flamel on it, and the drawing Dorian had done of her, and some other things, but she'd share them with Ed later.

"I thought you'd like it," she said, handing him the key chain.

"You want to see what we have here then?" It's not a bug deal if she prefers to stay in, he just thought she seemed to be the one keen on going out. His head tilts, not anticipating she might have returned from the convention with gifts.

Let alone something of Al. A reminder. He takes it from her when she hands it over, half curious as he gets a better look at it.

"They did a decent job of it. I guess they can't be expected to know what he really looks like since he was still with the armor when he was here. But...thanks, Winry."

"No, let's go out." Winry smiles at Ed's reaction. "I thought you'd like it...I bought some other things but I'll show you when we get back."

With an admonition to Zoey to be good and watch the house, Winry took Ed's hand to lead him to the door. It was a common enough thing for Ed to take her hand to keep her close when they were out in crowds. She rarely reached for his. Tonight was different.

"Okay. Sure."

It's almost bittersweet, in a way. To have that little something of Al here when his brother is gone. Of course, they spent some time apart in preparation for the Promised Day but for Ed, it's still been ages. Even longer, given Heropa as well. He's still not entirely used to it, being without that clanking armor. But he has no choice but to keep going all the same. He tries, anyway. Reaching and letting her take his hand as she leads him outside in the direction of the shops and out of the more residential areas. His cheeks may be slightly flushed as he initially stumbles as a result, not so used to being the one being led like this.

Winry hadn't wanted to make Ed feel bad. When she spotted the keyring with Al as a fob, it startled her first, and then made her smile, that he'd made an impression on someone. Besides, little Al was kind of cute.

She didn't really notice Ed's embarrassment at the stumble, because her automatic thought was about his automail leg, even if he didn't have it any more. Glancing sidelong at him, she decided he was all right. "Are you all right?"

"Hm? Oh. Yeah. I'm fine. Just more used to leading then having someone lead me. It's not the auto-mail, after Noi was able to help, at least."

Just still and probably always would take some adjusting to, given how used to the extra weight he is, how much stronger auto-mail is in comparison. But he keeps going, righting himself quick and easily enough to step in time with her as she leads the way.

"So what did you want to get for dinner? Isn't there some pizza or Italian place around here somewhere?"

"Italian is good." Winry liked the tangy spicy flavor of tomato sauce, couple with cheese. The walk outside was good, too; being in the fresh air rather than inside the convention center. She gave Ed's hand a squeeze.

"I saw both Mr. Mustang and Miss Riza at the convention."

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