[The arguments are easier. Ed has learned more than once what his absence does to Winry, and there's no small amount of guilt connected to it. His goal isn't to be a burden on those waiting, and he rather childishly wishes they would trust him enough not to worry. It's hypocritical as he would worry if the situation was reversed, but he can't stop his mission. Al deserves to have a human body, and it's Ed responsibility to make sure that happens.

He's making no progress. As much as he wishes he were, Al is still a suit of armor. Admittedly, he hardly reports any news to Winry at all, but the less she knows about the military, the better. Safer. No one ever accused Ed of being selfless.

Like the mature adult he always is, he sighs at the automail explanation. Yeah, he gets it, there's a lot that goes into it. He respects it, he does, even if he never shows it. Without it, fighting would be impossible, moving normally would be impossible. Despite the constant complaining, he's proud to have her as a mechanic. Admittedly, their relationship is part of the reason he comes back, but nostalgia wouldn't be enough if she couldn't make automail that would hold up in the fights.

Before he can make any comments about being an automail otaku, the situation changes, and it approaches dangerous territory, territory that would make Winry sad.

Still sitting straighter than he normally managed, he points his thumb at himself and smiles, his lips stretching across his face and teeth showing.] I won. The automail's pretty busted up, but so's the other guy. It's nothing you can't fix so I didn't go too far.

[So, he was okay. So, there's no reason to worry or be sad.]