Monday, April 18, 2005

More fic
Here we go.

*******

In the doorway stood a tall, handsome looking man. His glasses couldn’t hide his tender eyes. His hair was tied back but his fringe fell about his face.
‘Father? Why are you here?’
She could have guessed they were related and she was ever so relieved it hadn’t been her own father.
‘This girl cannot stay here.’
Winrys heart skipped a beat. This man was going to turn her in.
‘You were spotted carrying her here. Neither of you are safe. This man is dangerous Edward.’
‘Well where are we to go?’
‘You must come with me. Can you walk?’
She looked up at him. She was too scared of her father to say no. Her leg hurt, but when Al appeared with coats she was already on her feet. Everything was going so fast around her, yet what choice did she have.
Out into the world she followed them. They were in an area of Munich she had never come across before. The houses were small in comparison to what she was used to, but they were still beautiful. Her father would never approve of her admiring such a ‘poor’ area. He prided himself on his wealth and the wealth of his son in laws. She had for a fleeting moment feared that Ed was a suitor sent to kidnap her. It may have seemed a ridiculous idea to some, but she knew her father. Now she had taken in her surroundings it became apparent that her fear was not so.
Or was it? Her father was an incredibly clever and devious man. She was letting him down as a daughter, bringing shame upon the family. He may have got these men to gain her trust and they were now taking her back to him.
Well no more, she was too smart for them. Turning around she bolted in the opposite direction. She could here them call her name but she would not be swayed. She knew the fire in Eds eyes was something to be suspicious of. If he hadn’t been there maybe they would still have her.
‘Winry!’ a bark rang out.
She froze. Stood yards in front of her was the most terrifying site. More gorilla then man, her brutal father stood before her. His fists were clenched tight but his face remained emotionless. Underneath he would be seething. She had not outsmarted them after all. She pointed her head toward the floor as they came running up behind her.
‘Thank-you for taking care of my daughter. She has not been herself recently, most awfully behaved.’

Ed went to say something but his father stopped him.
‘You are quite welcome Dedrick. She almost gave me the slip there.’
Dedrick gave an evil smirk, ‘She will not be doing this again. Can I still count on your appearance next week?’
Hohenheim lowered his voice to a growl. ‘Yes of course you can.’
Dedrick gave a small nod and then barked the command for his daughter to follow. She did just that, but not before turning and giving Edward the most hateful look he had ever seen. It cut right into his very being. She walked away, shoulders slumped and trembling slightly. He didn’t want to think of what was going to happen to her.
‘Why?’ Al asked after they had gone, ‘Why did you let him take her away?’
Ed turned to his father wanting to know just the same thing. Anger was growing inside of him.
‘That man is mad. He wishes for control and perfection in everything. Unfortunately he is vital to our research as he is providing funds.’
‘So that’s why it’s okay just to let Winry be beaten?!’ Ed screamed.
His father looked at him with the calm he always held. ‘It isn’t Winry remember Edward. I can see what you are thinking when you look at her, but you are safer out of it.’
‘How can you say that…?’
‘Edward!’ he snapped, breaking his calm demeanour, ‘Just hold it in. At least until next week.’
Al and Ed exchanged glances.
‘Why Hohenheim?’ Al asked, ‘What’s next week?’

She lay on her bed not moving. Her eye was swollen, but not so much that it wouldn’t clear up by next week. He could calculate his abuse very well.
Her heart was the most painful part of her. Why had she been so stupid? They were too good to be true. She hated Edward most of all, but there was something in his eyes that spoke to her inner most self.
She stifled a scream before crying herself to sleep. She could not escape, he returned to her in her dreams.

The week past with very little commotion. Winry did not feel like rebelling for a while. Her eye had gone down as predicted but inside she was still bleeding.
Her sisters had visited her to mock her. They had never tried to disobey father and she was stupid for doing so. They were all married by her age to some noble gentleman. She wanted to scream at them that they were nothing. All they were needed for was to be a prize on the side of their husband, to reproduce, to be nothing for the rest of their lives.
She wanted to be somebody but with such an oppressive father she had little choice. She dreamt of a world where she could be who she wanted, wear what she wanted, do what she wanted.
She also dreamt of him still.
She hated him all the same. He had almost gained her trust with his handsome face and caring touch. Her father had picked a good one this time.
The maid entered holding a dress in her arms. She had forgotten tonight was the party. A social event for only the most respectable ladies and gentlemen. It was usually just a show of wealth and power among the higher classes. How she despised them all. She was washed and bathed by the other maids as if she were a babe in arms still. Mostly she let them do it, that’s what they were paid for, but other days she preferred to be left alone secretly wishing for the water to envelope her.
‘Tonight I will find you a husband,’ her father snapped at her as she entered the room. ‘The greatest men in Europe will be here tonight. If they have wives themselves, they will have sons for me to look toward. Either way, my girl, consider this the last day of your obnoxious behaviour. You will behave for your husband.’
Her soul was weakened, ‘Yes Master.’

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