I'm trying to come up with a title for this series... Help is appreciated. That way I can have it in front of the oneshot title so people know what it is.
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Written By - Stripe
Written By - Stripe
Resembool. His hometown. Where his childhood memories were. Where he could find the remains of the only house he’d ever lived in.
Why was he dreading going back?
Edward shifted his position on the train, finding he had more room in his seat than he had originally believed. As he glanced to the person sitting across from him, the alchemist knew why he was dreading this trip. The person wasn’t the usually smiling face of his younger brother. It wasn’t even the empty suit of armor that had served as his brother’s body for five years. No, Al was gone. Forever.
The young man formerly known as the Fullmetal Alchemist opened his mouth widely as he pretended to yawn. It was simply an act, meant to hide the tears forming at the corners of his eyes. The only way Edward had wanted to come back to Resembool was with Al by his side, so Winry could see that he had fulfilled his promises. All of his promises. However, he didn’t have the choice over whether or not to go back. There was simply nowhere else in Amestris left to go. He had no money - once again, he would be forced to rely on the kindness of the Rockbell household.
The train let out a long high-pitched whistle as it reached the station in Resembool. A few of the people on the train picked up their bags, preparing to leave the train as quickly as possible. Edward simply pushed himself up in his seat, having no bags of his own to gather. In fact, he didn’t have any belongings at all apart from the clothes on his back. The Gate didn’t exactly give him time to pack. Riza Hawkeye, the one replacing his brother's usual spot across from him, had nothing as well. She obviously didn’t plan to stay here long. It was simply her duty to make sure he got back safely, nothing furthur than that. Not military duty - Edward was no longer part of that. It had been Riza's personal choice to come with him. He was touched, but it did make him feel a little helpless somehow.
It was no time at all before the train had stopped and the people had filtered off. Edward sat in his seat as long as he could without the train taking him to the next stop. As happy as he was to be back, he was also a little scared. Winry wouldn’t be happy with the condition of his automail. He hadn't been taking very good care of it - couldn't take very good care of it. Automail wasn't a common item where he'd been. Maybe she would throw a wrench at him, throwing angry insults and curses along with it.
Actually, the wrench was the least of Edward’s worries.
Finally Riza stood up, signaling he should do so as well. Much to the young man’s relief and discomfort, Resembool had hardly changed at all. The same man, though quite a bit older, still issued greetings to the people arriving, and called out departing trains for those who were leaving. He didn’t recognize the blonde alchemist, but it was probably just as well.
The normally short walk to the Rockbell Automail Shop seemed much longer than usual. Each step was a different memory; a game of tag, another lost fight, a small scrape. Whenever he thought the stoic woman next to him wasn’t looking, Ed would bring a hand up to brush away a few stray tears. Since when was he such a crybaby anyways? Winry wouldn't want to see him like this. He didn't want her to see him like this.
After an eternity, which was in actuality only five minutes, the Rockbell’s home came into view. Edward could tell Riza was looking at him to judge his reaction. He wasn't sure how he should be reacting. He was about to go back to his wrench-wielding mechanic whom he hadn't seen for three years. And he didn't even have Alphonse to back him up. It was troubling. Before he could collect himself, Lt. Col. Riza Hawkeye knocked on the door of the Rockbell home. A woman's voice came through the door, muffled through the thick wood.
Ed felt his heart pound inside his chest. That was really Winry. His childhood friend, his mechanic, all the same, someone he thought he’d never see again. And she was on the other side of that door.
It almost felt as if time slowed down, just for this moment. One million thoughts raced through Edward's mind. Would she be angry? Would she yell at him? Would she even recognize him?
Would she ask where Alphonse was? Would she hate him for leaving her behind?
The door creaked open, revealing a Winry much the same as Edward remembered seeing three years ago. She wore a falsely cheery expression typical of Winry, and opened her mouth to speak. "Hello. How can I help y-" The young woman cut her sentence short as a wave of recognition flooded through her face. For a moment, she just stood there, a shocked expression on her face. She managed to choke out "Edward?" as her expression changed to one of great relief. However, as her eyes flicked to Riza, the spot where Al should have been standing, her face fell.
She knew.
A small, sad smile spread across Winry's face a few moments later as she stepped forward, wrapping Edward in a loose embrace. He noticed, almost absent-mindedly, that they were now the same height. It didn't really matter anymore.
"Welcome back, Edward."
And in that single moment, Ed knew that there was really no place in the world he'd rather be than right here.
Home.
