Chapter 1: Problem Child
"I'll take her." Alphonse Elric said, laying a file down on Furhur Mustang's desk. "Everyone's always saying that I need someone with me to watch my back, and her particular alchemy would make her prefect for Investigations."
Roy Mustang looked across the desk at the younger Elric, hands folded over his paperwork. He glanced at the name on the folder and almost sighed aloud. Ishtar, Izabel, Major. The only alchemist who had caused Mustang more trouble was Fullmetal. Though Alphonse was certainly giving them both a run for their money…
"She's an Ishbalan." Mustang pointed out.
"She's a State Alchemist." Al corrected. "If you didn't think she could do the job, you would never have let her become certified. And I want her for my partner. I doubt people are lining up to show her the ropes after what she did to that Lieutenant."
Mustang grumbled something decidedly uncomplimentary about all Elrics under his breath. "Request granted, Major Elric. I'll have someone fetch her-"
"No need, sir." Al said as he stood, lighting a cigarette. "I already know where she'll be." He grinned as he tossed off a salute. "I did my research."
He sat under the cherry tree and watched the petals fall, a curl of blue smoke drifting from the cigarette dangling from his lips. They were so pretty… like snow without the cold.
The jingle of jewelry broke Al out of his revelry, and his gray eyes snapped towards the source of the sound.
She was small and slight of build and dark in the way Ishbalans tended to be. Her long black hair was pulled back in a thick braid that ended in a polished steel ball, which caused it to swing like a pendulum. Her nose was long and slightly crooked, as if it had been broken then allowed to heal wrong. Her jaw was too strong for beauty, and she was scowling as if the whole world displeased her, and needed to change right now.
'She might be pretty if she would smile.' Al thought.
Her one real beauty was in the way she moved like every step was part of a dance. She was graceful. The only people Al could think of who matched her grace in movement were his brother Edward and his teacher Izumi.
And the lady had proven herself just as dangerous as either of those august personages. The Lieutenant who had insulted her would have the scars for the rest of his life.
"Hello, Izabel Ishtar." Al murmured to himself, getting to his feet.
The last bells of the school day rang out, and the young inmates made good their escape in a great wave, many crashing upon the familiar shores of familial embrace. One small, dark child caught Al's eye as he darted around his classmates and ran to Major Ishtar. He clutched her waist and buried his head in her skirt, clinging to her like a drowning man to a life preserver.
'Ishtar, Abraham.' Al thought, remembering the file on the Ishbalan major. 'Younger brother. Five years old. I wonder if he likes cats.'
The Ishtars were leaving. He would have to make his move now.
Al left his spot by the tree, tucking the orders from Mustang under his arm, and approached the two Ishbalans. "Major Ishtar?"
The young woman stopped and turned her expression tense and wary. "Yes…" her red eyes scanned Al, taking in his long, lean frame draped by the blue uniform, and the watch pinned to his breast pocket. "Major?"
"Major Alphonse Elric, ma'am. I have orders for you from Furher Mustang." He held out the orders. Izabel took them carefully from his hand as Abraham peeked up at him from behind his sister.
As the Ishbalan major read the transfer orders, Al knelt down so his head was level with Abe's and smiled. "Hi. I'm Al. What's your name?"
Abe looked up at his sister for approval. She nodded absently, flipping a page. "I'm Abraham Ishtar," the boy said shyly. "It is very nice to meet you sir." His accent wasn't nearly as pronounced as his sister's.
"It's nice to meet you too, Abraham. How do you like school?"
The boy's face clouded over. "It is very nice," he lied.
"Mm. You know what you should do if someone's picking on you?" Al asked.
"Tell the teacher." Abe said despondently.
Al shook his head. "Nope. What you do is knock them down and bang their head against the floor a couple of times."
Abe's eyes widened, and Al heard Izabel inhale sharply. "The Holy Book forbids the use of violence." Abe said in a scandalized voice. "We would never use violence against anyone." He looked up at his sister and said something in Ishbalan. Al looked up into her face from his crouched position, gray eyes dancing with merriment. She was biting her lower lip, and her expression was one of mingled annoyance and panic.
"Ishbala forgives… those who are truly sorry for what they do." She said, running her fingers through Abe's hair. "Let's go, akushla."
"Go? Where?" Abe asked as Al stretched back to his full height.
"It seems Our Beloved Leader has finally found a place for me."