Fic: Just Our Luck

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Just Our Luck
S J Smith

Fandom:  Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing:  Edward Elric/Winry Rockbell
Prompt:  Luck

Disclaimer:  Hiromu Arakawa Owns All.  (I just play in the sandbox.)

Rating:  Teen

Summary:  Al knows it's a good thing she's their friend. 

* * *

Al knew they were going to be in for it.  All the things Winry ordered that they not do, they were doing again – showing up unannounced, with Ed’s automail trashed, in the middle of the night.  Not to mention, Brother was feverish and in pain, and had insisted on the long train ride to Rush Valley before going to Central City to make his report.  Once they arrived at the Rush Valley station, Al had cadged a man with a horse cart to haul them to Winry’s place.  It wasn’t like he could carry his brother anymore and Ed was in no shape to walk.  Hell, he was barely conscious; shivering and sweating, lines etched deep in the face he pressed into Al’s shoulder.  Little whines escaped him when the automail crackled in feedback and he’d clutch at his shoulder in misery.

“Almost there, Brother.”  Al kept his own arm around Ed’s shoulders, rubbing the sweat off his face with his own sleeve.   He’d tried to take the automail off only to find out that the bolt that kept it in place had been sheared off in the fight.  Alchemy might’ve worked but Ed nixed that idea – bad enough he’d be in trouble with Winry, he wasn’t going to compound it by any attempts to transmute her artistry.  “So you’d rather be in agony?” Alphonse had asked, glaring at his brother until Ed had nodded sheepishly.  Now, Al wished he’d forced his brother to listen to reason.

“…ngg…good,” Ed mumbled, digging his head into Al’s shoulder.  He shivered again and Al pulled him a little closer. 

“Not much longer,” he said, shooting a glance down the road.  He could just make out the sign over the shop and felt a relief akin to a taut wire being cut inside his body. 

The man with the cart was kind enough to help haul Edward up to the door of the shop, holding him upright while Al pounded on the door.  Ed mumbled, “Where’s Winry?” in between the knocks. He tottered up beside Al, slamming his palm against the door.  “Winry?”

“She’ll be here, Ed,” Al said, looping an arm around his brother’s waist.  He despaired of the door ever opening when finally, a light flashed on inside the building.  Al could just hear someone walking up to the door.  The clicking sounds of someone unbolting the locks could be heard and the door swung open.  “Hey,” Alphonse said, smiling in relief at the sight of Winry’s face.

“What are you doing here?  Do you have any idea what time it is?”  Winry glared at them.  “Did you break something again, Ed?” 

“Uh, huh.”  Ed grabbed for his shoulder, his face twisting.   

Winry’s expression changed abruptly, like snow melting in a spring run off, and she reached out for Ed.  He sagged into her arms, his head dropping to her shoulder and Winry grunted a little under his weight.  “What happened?” she barked the question at Al, who winced in automatic reaction.

“Got inna fight,” Ed mumbled as Winry maneuvered him inside the building, “trashed my arm.  Sorry.” 

After waving his thanks at the horse cart driver, Alphonse followed them inside, closing the door behind him.  “I wanted to take his arm off, Winry, but Brother’s too stubborn.”

Winry clicked her tongue in annoyance, helping Ed out of his jacket.  Sitting him down, she ran her hand over Ed’s shoulder, her brow furrowing as she realized what was wrong.  “You can’t get it off.”  Edward grunted, his shoulders hunching up.  Winry caught a look at his face.  “And the wiring’s damaged, dammit, Al, he’s in a lot of pain.”  Winry darted out of the room, fury fairly crackling in her wake. 

“I’m in trouble,” Ed whined, slumping in his chair, appearing smaller than he really was.

“Don’t worry, Brother.  Winry will fix it.”   Alphonse knew it to be true; that Winry would take care of Ed’s problems; take care of his brother, take care of him.  Al didn’t necessarily believe in gods or luck but someone, he thought, definitely knew that he and Ed would need Winry in their lives. 

* * *