Okay, so a little story popped into my head, a Fullmetal Fanfic, hope you like it.
Welcome Home
She tapped her fingers on the cold metal screw on the wooden bench, waiting to hear the tracks rumble from the nine o'clock train. The station was beginning to fill up as the time grew near. She's been waiting since the afternoon, and now the sun was nearly covered by the far away mountains in the north. She couldn't help but smile. Winry Rockbell always waited.
The train approached fifteen minutes behind schedule, screeching to a halt right in front of her. Winry got up abruptly and took a breath. The train blew out its steam, filling the crisp night air with warm, white, dust. It made it harder to see the people vacating the train. She could only spot a shape, but it was enough for her. The rustling hair, the suitcase, and the slight mechanical limp, probably only visible to her eyes, startled her. It's been more than once that they'd come home all beaten up, his automail torn to pieces, and she was afraid he hadn't lost his old habits.
As he approached, the more characteristic features started to become prominent: his dirty blond hair, just a shade darker than her own, his pony tail swinging in the wind, and his golden eyes gleamed with happiness and excitement to be home. His expression, though, showed more of a bored and tired look. Knowing him, how his expression was always a mask for something deeper that he was to scared or embarrassed to let out, Winry dismissed it.
Her hand automatically shot up to wave, "Welcome home!"
Edward Elric peered in her direction, yawned, and walked towards her. "Yeah," he said lazily, "I'm home. Can we sit?"
Before hearing Winry's reply, Ed was already past her and heading towards the bench on the far side of the station. Winry rolled her eyes and followed.
"Sure."
"So," said the former Fullmetal Alchemist, not even bothering to look back, "Is Al back yet?"
"No, his train's supposed to get in tomorrow, you can rest a bit before then," Winry informed him as they plopped down onto the bench. Ed stretched out his legs in front of him and leaned deep onto the bench, creating a tripping hazard for anyone who might have walked by. Winry knew better than to even try to get him to care. "You seem tired," she stated.
"Of course I'm tired, a four day train ride from the far side of Drachma isn't fun at all. And besides, I had that three day train ride before that too. I haven't been on solid land for a while," he yawned again, his face then contorting into a tired scowl.
Reaching into his jacket pocket, Ed produced a small violet box, and set it on the bench in between them. Still maintaining his previous look, he slumped back onto the bench, looking straight forward.
Winry stared at the box, then laughed and picked it up, "Another set of earrings? If I remember correctly, someone told me it was stupid to punch holes in my ears just to accommodated these."
"There not earrings," Ed mumbled.
Winry's laugh died in her throat, and she looked down at the box, "Oh, I see."
It was almost like someone else was forcing it on her, she didn't even realize she was crying until a small teardrop darkened the edge of the box. She could feel Ed's expression soften and look at her. She could almost feel his sad smile, "What are you crying for, Winry?"
She sniffed and tried to wipe her face clear, "You kept your promise," she whispered.
"What promise?"
"The one where you said you won't make me cry unless it's tears of pure joy. And you kept your promise," she looked at him, "You make me stronger, Ed. You make me keep all my promises because you always keep all of yours."
Winry managed a smile, "So? Is this a promise?"
Edward scowled and faced forward again, "Wow, Winry, when did you get so sincere."
"I've always been sincere!"
Ed got up suddenly, taking his suitcase, he walked past Winry and towards the exit of the train station. Most of the people were already gone, anxious to get home to loved ones from a long journey. The final bit of steam escaped the front of the train, and the light in the ticket booth was already dim, so it was hard to make out his eyes under the shadow of his hair. Ed stopped at the side of the bench, "You're an idiot. Of course it's a promise."
Winry smiled, "Then I'll accept it."
At this, Ed turned, surprised. It was Winry's turn to get up this time, and she moved to stand beside him, both of them facing the iron gates. "And besides," she said, and started to walk in front of him, "I already said I was going to give you 85% of my life, right?"
Ed quickened his steps to catch up, and as he did, he burst into laughter. "85%?" he asked rather loudly in the tranquil air of the vacant road away from the train station, "How can you ever calculate 85% of someone's life?!"
"I'm good with numbers!" Winry yelled back. As they walked, their voiced continued to get louder, and the residence of Resemble smiled when they heard them. Ed was home, they thought.
"Oh yeah? If you're so good with numbers, then how come my automail leg is three centimeters shorter than my real one?"
"I didn't know you were still growing!!"
"Hey, don't sound so surprised! 21 isn't beyond the age of possibility! Why didn't you accommodate it to growing!??"
"I didn't know you'd be gone for three years! In my experience, you would've broke it before you could grow at all! You do remember that I was taller than you until we were fifteen!"
"DON'T BRING THAT UP!! And how long did you think it'll take to travel ACROSS THE WEST!?? A week??"
"You're an idiot! You could've told me!"
"No, you're the idiot!!"
"No, you are!!"
"Damn it, Winry, are you ever going to give me some peace and quiet!"
"That's not my fault, you started it!"
