What Ring?

[ishte]

Written for: FMA Gift Exchange 2009
Title: What Ring?
Artist/Author: ishte
Rating: G... really it's pretty tame hahah...
Warnings: No real spoilers... maybe a little for Chasing the Trail
Word Count: 1,031
Summary/Teaser: “Edward might have exaggerated his need to have help shopping.”
A/N: This is Chasing the Trail universe which is Animé 01 + CoS with Mangaverse peppered in where Ed says it fits.
Disclaimer: I claim ownership of nothing here. Just playing with someone else's toys.
Prompt: "Rings" whether they be round or metaphoric



“Ed…” Winry rolled her eyes at him. “Why are we here?”

“I already told you, Winry. I gotta get a new pair of cuff links for the bastard general’s stupid party. I have to be dressed right or it’ll give him too much ammo.”

“Well get them already,” the blond girl’s voice sharpened. “I’m hungry, and we also need to get over to the parts store before they close too.”

Now it was Edward’s turn to roll his eyes. “I told you I need your help picking them out. You made me take the last ones back because you didn’t like them, and then I had to get Mrs. Hughes find me the right kind because you took off. We’ll go to the hardware store in a minute machine freak.”

“That’s because they looked like something you made, alchemy geek!”

“Transmuting gold is illegal,” Edward retorted even though he knew that only applied to transmuting gold out of other things, not making one gold thing out of another. The truth was he hadn’t made those dragon cuff links. He’d found them in a Xingese artisan shop here in central and paid a pretty penny for them too. He hadn’t taken them back either, but he also knew he’d never get away with wearing them to Mustang’s holiday party no matter how badass they were.

“Right like that would stop you!”

The man behind the jewelry counter cleared his throat not so discretely. The noise made Edward’s wolf grin turn sheepish, and Winry’s eyes gleam in triumph as Edward stumbled through his explanation of what he needed. He was acutely conscious that she was letting him flounder along having not the slightest clue what he really ought to be looking at as the man brought out several boring looking pairs of links. He was only paying half attention to them. His attention was drawn to Winry as she fingered a teardrop cut amethyst pendant on display. As much as she might pretend indifference, now that they were adults, Edward was quickly learning that Winry was still a girl, and she still liked pretty things. He was also learning that he liked pretty things on her. His eyes met those of the man across the counter with a quick cant towards Winry and the pendant.

The man, an expert in his trade, nodded his understanding and after a quick scan of the case in front of him, pulled out two pairs of gold cuff links set with stones. “Perhaps these would suit better?”

Winry turned her attention to Edward’s intended purchase now, her critical eye examining the design of one pair and then the other.

The counter man put another box on the counter in front of her with one hand while the other hand was discretely pointing out to Edward that the necklace Winry had been admiring was part of a set. The earrings a perfect complement to her eyes. The last piece… Edward glanced sidelong at Winry, but she was still deciding between two of the three pairs of cuff links. He pointed at two of the pieces, making a little circle with his finger. The man nodded his understanding and pointed to the earrings as well. Edward nodded but hooked his finger at himself. Another nod, and then Edward’s attention was back on Winry as she set down one of the boxes.

“I think these other ones are too busy, Ed, but I like these. The setting is classy, and gold suits you better than silver.”

“But purple?” Edward “Look,” He pointed in the case at the same setting in ruby. “I like these better.”

“I’m not buying that red dress Ed! I don’t care how ‘badass’ you think I’ll look in it.

Edward rolled his eyes and sighed. “Okay okay. I’ll get these.” He plucked the box out of her hand. Seeing her eyes wander to the jeweler as he moved around behind the counter, he quickly drew her attention back to him by half screaming, “Winry! These are almost twenty thousands cens!”

“Oh, but you want to pay twice as much for the ruby ones?”

“Yah, but–”

“They don’t match my gown, Ed!” Winry snatched the box out of his hand and handed it to the man behind the counter.

“Yah, but–

The lighthearted argument continued until the jeweler deftly interrupted. “Here, we are, sir.”

Though the bag was small, Winry seemed to be eying it suspiciously as Edward signed the chit for it.

“I got the purple ones!” Edward told her in mock exasperation. “Really. I trust your judgment, Winry.”

He got a soft snort and an eye roll and Edward barely managed to pull the bag back before she made a snatch at it.

“Edward!”

“I didn’t get the red ones,” he told her desperately. “I swear I didn’t.”

Winry’s eyes narrowed and he knew he would have to do something to appease her.

“Fine,” he huffed reaching into the little bag. “I got you something too.” He thrust the earring box at her and watched her eyebrows go up. Good, he thought. Weren’t expecting that were you?

Winry opened the box and drew her breath in. “Oh…” it was hardly more than an exhalation.

“I thought they’d look nice with your dress.”

“They’re perfect, Ed,” Winry pulled the two teardrops out of the card and handed the box back to him.

When Edward saw that the salesman had added four little amethyst studs to the card in the box, he decided this store was going to be getting repeat business from him. Even if he hadn't asked for them, they were perfect. When the man had produced a mirror for Winry before she even knew she wanted it, Edward realized what a master this the man was at his craft. Winry’s distraction with the earrings gave him time to slip the smallest box out of the bag and into his pocket. She could have the earrings now. Maybe it would be better that way. If he gave them to her the night of the ball, it might be inconvenient for her. If she discovered anything else in the bag, he could live with that, but the ring… Winry would have to wait for that until Edward was ready to present it.