[en!fic] FMA – Winry/Sciezska – PG-13 | The Very Best

[malurette]

Title: The Very Best
Author: malurette
Fandom: FullMetal Alchemist, 1st anime
Characters/Pairing: Scieszka & Winry Rockbell
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Arakawa’s

Prompt: «Librarian / Archivist» for ladiesbingo
Spoilers: post 2003 series
Author’s note: translation of an old fic written for kinkenstock / ESL author with uncertain grasp on vocabulary and no beta-reader to check them out – if you want to suggest some improvements please do!
Word count: ~700

***
A great epic narrating the fates of libraries would say that after the fire that burned Central's First Branch to the ground, it was rebuilt bigger, more beautiful and better stocked than it was before. But that would be a lie. It took a lot of time and negociation to obtain funding from the government, and the new building is actually smaller than the old one was. It took even more time and efforts to recollect the lost books, and not all of them were reclaimed anyway, some were lost forever, and fellow libraries were reluctant to part with any of their own books to send in to refurnish the shelves over there.
Still, since the library war rebiult, they put Scieszka back in. And this, was a net betterment. When the curator learnt just what miracles his former employee's tremendous memory could whip out for the army's archives, he moved heaven and earth to get her back.
For Winry too, Scieszka's position at the Newest Central Branch was a damn lucky stroke. This library was full of treasures and wonders: tomes upon volumes upon encyclopediae in mechanics, medicine, physiology, and so, so much more! but it was off limits for the public eye. Edward and his silver watch could get her in easy peasy and let her pore over anything she wanted and even borrow whatever she didn't have time to read just yet. Alas, Ed never thought she'd like to and never suggested she went with him, and she never got to ask him directly in time. Now that he's disappeared without a trace...
Sciezska however thought of it immediately. When she learned that Winry was coming back to Central, she suggested she came over to her workplace to say hello, hinting at all the marvels available there on top of just seeing her. Scieszka could always find a pretext to get Winry in, or at the very least with a book title to look for and even just a field of study to work with, get any and every relevant books she'll need.
Thankfully, nobody said anything at all about this visit. The Inner Sanctum of Books opened for the young mechanist. A marvelous expanse of knowlegde at the ready, beginning with what her favourite librarian had readied especially for her in advance.
"You're the best," Winry gushed.
Scieszka fidgeted with her glasses, trying to hide her blush.
"It is my job to help readers find the books that suit best their needs."
But the official terms did not cover the fact that a very pleased reader might lovingly kiss her as a thank-you for her services. Scieszka laughed. If everyone did thus...
"Oh goodness no, Winry cried out: I sure hope that you won't let just anybody else kiss you?"
Scieszka gestured for her to quiet down, because it was getting both rather embarrassing and unproffessional: "Oh please not so loud, we're still in a library, remember?"
"Sorry, Winry whispered. But, say?"
"Of course I don't!"
"Good, good. I'm just so pleased to see you again."
"Yes, it's been quite a long time..."
"Way too long."
They shared a look that spoke volumes. Too bad the place wasn't suited for the kind of welcome back they truly wanted. What with keeping silent in the library... Scieszka meant for this date here as a way of getting reacquainted, and only later if everything went well, they would look for more... elsewhere.
Now, she could barely wait for this shift to be over and to be allowed to take Winry home!