Mystic Design

Chapter 3

The color drained from my cheeks as it all pieced together.

I sat there in my jumbled thoughts. My eyes saw nothing and I heard no one. So many questions swam around. Who had Ed and Al tried to bring back? How much have they seen? How much do they know? Had they met...

"Hey, Leah?" Ed's annoyed voice snapped me out of my trance. He stood in front of me, hands at his hips. "About time I got a reaction out of you. Al was wondering if you wanted anything while he was out." My gaze went to the suit of armor who stood near the door.

"Food would be nice." It was difficult, but I plastered a smile on my face.

I did not know if Al bought my smile or not but he left without a word, leaving me, Ed, and Winry.

I was on the floor in the corner while Ed had the couch and Winry one of the two beds. The room was small but enough for the four of us. We had come to an Inn after Ed saved Paninya. Winry had asked questions earlier about me and had promptly hit Ed on the head when he called me a stupid babysitter, I quickly decided I liked Winry. There had been many conversations but none that I had been truly part of, after witnessing Ed's alchemic skill my mind had been wandering off constantly.

"Why did Mustang send you anyway?" Ed prevented me from spacing out again, his question drawing my attention. The seriousness in his tone told me that I could not avoid this question.

"Because..." I got up from my corner and walked over to the couch, dropping down next to the golden-haired boy. Propping my feet up on the coffee table in front of us I grinned, "I'm a badass." Just because I thought I was unable to avoid it did not mean I would not try, that and Mustang had strictly told me to keep Hughes death a secret from Fullmetal. It hurt to even to even think about Hughes death so not talking about it seemed ideal anyway.

"That's not an answer!" Ed's anger amused me.

"To me it is, it seems like a very truthful answer."

"Badass my foot! I bet you can't even fight." It was a challenge, a challenge I was not able to respond to.

Winry whacked Ed in the head with her wrench. "You are not going to fight while I am here! The last thing I want to see is you wrecking my precious automail!"

I stood up and hugged Winry, rubbing my cheek against hers. "Thank you Winry, Ed is so mean." My dramatic whine escalated as Winry played along and hugged me back cooing in my ear.

"It will be okay; I won't let that mean boy pick on you." Did I mention I liked Winry? Because I did, she played along with my dramatic performances.

Ed lay on the floor, twitching; an immense red lump on his head. "Damnitt...women." His mumble was audible enough for me to pick up snippets.

Letting go of Winry, I crouched down and poked Ed's cheek. His gold eyes turned to me. My breath hitched for a second as I stared into them. They held such fire and determination that for a second I thought I pitied him enough to spare him. Just for a second...

"Take this as a lesson for the future, Edward. Don't mess with women." A wicked grin etched my lips.

I heard the gulp and could not help myself. Falling backwards, I busted out laughing. Winry joined in, but with giggles instead of the hysterical fit my lungs were having.

Swiftly standing up, Ed snatched the front of my poncho. "Damnitt, stop laughing at me!" His lips were in a slight pout, his cheeks were ablaze, and his golden brows were furrowed in anger but his eyes betrayed his true emotion, embarrassment.

My arms snaked around his neck and I pressed my cheek against his. "Awwwww, Edward you're so adowable when you blush." Heat transferred from Ed's cheek to mine.