I walked through the halls of Central Headquarters. I was summoned...again. It wasn't like I wasn't proud to help my country or the military but it was the constant summoning that I hated. If they wanted me in the military as a bounty hunter, or a criminal chaser, then they should just enlist me like I've been trying to for a year. It didn't matter. As long as I was paid for tracking down the the criminals, I didn't care. I was one of the youngest working with the military and very good at my job.

"Come on, Al, let's go!" I heard a voice ahead of me say with angered enthusiasm as he ran down the hallway. What was he in a rush for and who could he have been visiting? His father? No, I've never seen someone with his eyes in the military.

The red coat waved behind him like a tail. His bright, shining blond hair waved by his face, matching the color of his golden eyes. Under the coat, he was wearing all black. Black shirt, black boots, black leather pants with a single braid cascading down his back onto the red. A fashion statement only he could understand. I rolled my eyes toward the end of the hall, trying to ignore the screaming attention grabber.

"Coming, Brother!" called a metallic voice. It caught me off guard and I looked up in confusion. The armor was actually moving! Holy shit!

I couldn't help but to stop walking and stare. No, that couldn't be, I thought as I thought about recent people who've been enlisted, one of them being about my age, the Fullmetal Alchemist. Well, he certainly lives up to his name. He really is in all metal. I forced myself to keep walking toward the office that sent the summons. It wasn't from Major Maes Hughes this time. It was a summons from a colonel, a State Alchemist colonel: Roy Mustang. I knew of him but never met him. His reputation preceded him along with a few rumors I hoped weren't true. A womanizer and an all around guy trying to make it to the top, Roy was the Flame Alchemist. Hm, I wonder if he's used his military name to pick up girls, I thought casually as the boy and the freakish suit of armor came closer to me with no chance of slowing down.

I braced myself as the blond boy hurried toward me, bumping into my arm and causing me to stagger back. This made him slow down to stop and yell at me.

"Ever hear of look both ways?" he snapped at me as I turned to him in a small fit of rage.

"What the hell is your problem? You had the rest of the hall for you and your... play toy!" I didn't care who heard me or if I pissed him off. I wanted him to have some consideration for those he's around. Hell, I was ready to beat it out of him.

"Play toy?" The armor sounded sad.

"What the hell is your problem talking back to a Major!" The blond took out a glittering pocket watch issued to the State Alchemists when they pass their State Alchemy certification.

"You can't be a Major! You're too young for that! I could see the play thing over you!" Fighting fire with fire, my specialty.
I swear, his face turned as red as that gaudy ass coat he was wearing. It had a flamel on the back; it matched the one on the armor's right shoulder.

"DON'T CALL ME TOO SMALL TO WALK THE HALLS AND NOT BE NOTICED!" He yelled, steam spewing from his ears.

So he has a little man complex. Wonderful.

"Like I said anything like it!" I let out a sigh.

"Brother..." the armor said as he touched the blond's shoulder. "Let's leave her alone. She could be a superior's daughter."

Aw, look at that, the armor is the voice of reason. Wait, did he say superior's daughter? HA!

"Pfft, you've got that wrong. I'm somewhat enlisted," I said as I crossed my arms and fought the festering laugh that threatened to escape, causing me to lean against the wall with laughter.

The blond looked to me. "Glad to know I'm not the only one who got roped up in the military at a young age."

"Aw, shut up!" I snapped at him. "It was my choice to join, not yours."

"Brother, come on, Lieutenent Hawkeye says we have to do the paper work on what happened in Hallow's Gorge," the armor said as he leaned closer to the blond.

The blond groaned. "You're right, let's go."

"Yeah, you better listen to the armor," I chided as he walked past me.

I could feel his anger radiate from him. The armor put a hand on his shoulder, trying to cool him down. I wanted to get to the office as soon as possible.

The armor turned to me. "I am sorry about my brother. I hope you can forgive him. His temper gets in the way."

"Thank you," I said as I turned around and started back down the hall, hearing the armor clack against the tile flooring, getting farther and farther away from me.

"You know, brother, you could have at least said sorry," the armor said as he looked to the blond.

"I wasn't going to apologize anymore than what she was," the blond said. There was a cocky aura about him.

I looked back to him, taking a moment to take in the rest of him. I stared at him for a second before going on my way to Colonel Mustang's office. I was already told the office room number and door as I looked straight ahead, trying to get the blond and his "brother" out of my head. I knew the two of them had to be brothers. I saw it in the way they spoke to each other and when the blond looked to him. That much I could deduce. As to why one was in a full suit of armor, I couldn't tell.

I looked to the dark wood with a number on it, signaling that I made it to the Colonel's office. After taking in a deep breath and adjusting my leather riding jacket, I pulled my ponytail out of the collar of my jacket. I closed my eyes and knocked on the door, pulling the back of my jacket down over my gun holster that cradled my gun.

A blonde woman answered the door. She had deep carmel eyes and honey blonde hair that she kept up out of her face. She had a soft smile on her. She was a military woman. I could tell by the hardened, yet soft look in her eyes, aside from the Amestrian blue military uniform.

"Are you lost?" she asked me. "Are you looking for your father?"
That is the second time in ten minutes that someone's assumed I was looking for my father. I don't have a father. He died with my mom. I've lived without him for a long time and I don't plan on finding another.

"No, actually," I said confidently as I pulled out my summons letter and held it up, "I was summoned here by Colonel Roy Mustang."
She glanced at the letter, making sure it was authentic. "You're Mickaela Anderson?"

I nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

She eyed me. Her eyes telling me that she thought I was too young to be contracted to the military like this. I would too if I saw me. "Come in, the colonel's been expecting you."

She opened the door more and stepped out of the way, her holster showing in broad daylight. When I looked to the other side of the room, I saw him. He had jet black hair with matching eyes that reflected his military uniform. The sun lit up his hair from behind. He looked like a womanizer. There was a cocky half-grin on his face as he appeared to ponder over paperwork. Knowing his rep, there was no such thing as doing paperwork to him.

"Colonel," the woman said.

"Hawkeye," he said. His deep voice resonated in the room and in my ears.

I widened my eyes. Hawkeye! She is one hell of a sharp shooter. I'd give anything to learn what she knows about hitting a target's bulleye. Anything to make my shooting more accurate like my fighting ability.

"There is a Mickaela Anderson here. She had a summons from you, sir," she said.

He looked up when he heard my name. Hawkeye stepped out of the way to reveal me. He eyed me over.

"She seems cocky," he said. Was he trying to get a rise out of me? "Are you sure you are Mickaela Anderson?"

"Yes, sir," I said as I walked to the front of his desk and stood straight.

"You are a short one, aren't you?" he asked.

Now if I was that blond boy, he would have freaked. I kept a straight face. Being short never bothered me much.

"Yes, sir," I said with a small sigh. "Sir, permission to speak."

The colonel looked surprised. Does he have to deal with that other blond boy and his suit of armor friend often?

"Permission granted," he said.

"Why was I summoned here, sir? I received your letter. You stated you had an assignment for me?" I tried to sound as innocent as possible. Being nearly seventeen with a record that preceded me since I was thirteen, I had to have some innocence left. After all, I've never killed anyone.

The colonel gave me a half-grin. "I like her better already," he muttered as he stood to me and retrieved a file folder. "This assignment is guarding someone who is an asset to Amestris. He's one of the only people that the citizens like from the military. Unfortunately, he has a temper on him the size of the country itself."

"You're asking me to be a body guard?" I swear, if it's for some brat, I will take it out on the colonel.

"Yes," he said as he turned to the window, looking to the courtyard below him. "He's a State Alchemist with a complicated past. More complicated than most, which requires a top secret clearance." I looked to the colonel from the file with question. "You'll see why when you read his file."

"Why?" I asked as I looked to him.

"You could be the only one that could get through to him without mercy. Or at least that's what your file says." The colonel turned to me with a determined look in his eyes. I tried to match it.

"Who is it?"

"Look in the file and see," he said with a grin.

I looked to the yellowed folder and opened the thick book. In the middle where the paperclips wanted me to look was the State Alchemist's profile. Name, date of birth, military name, height, age, relatives, the works. I scanned it over. Major Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist. I widened my eyes when I saw the name. I glanced at the picture. The idiot blond from earlier who bumped into me. I shot my head up to the colonel, ready to punch his lights out. It was a brat.

"Him? You want me to protect him?" I asked, the frustration growing.

"Of course, you are the best at what you do. I suspect you've met him before," the colonel said. He didn't have to have that prying tone to his voice.

"Yeah," I said, feeling the frustration growing into rage. "We bumped into each other in the hallway."

The colonel chuckled. "He has a small temper on him." I noticed the play on words. I rolled my eyes. "Do you think you can handle him?"

I looked at him, giving him a 'please, this is easy' look. "Yes, sir," I said.

"Do you accept the assignment?"

"Yes, sir," I said as I saluted him.

"Thank you, Captain Anderson," Colonel Mustang said as he saluted back. "Major Elric's office is down the hall, second to last one on the end. Just listen for the runt yelling. I am sure you'll hear it."

"Yes, sir," I said as I quickly saluted him again. "Thank you, sir."

I gathered my folder and started for the door. Hawkeye followed me out. I started reading Major Elric's file as soon as I walked out the door, trying to learn as much as I could about my assignment.

"He really isn't as bad as the colonel makes him out to be," Hawkeye said. I looked from the file to her. She went on. "Edward may have a temper but there is something golden about him."

"His eyes? Hair?"

She chuckled. "Besides that. He does care. I mean, he cared enough about his brother to bring him from the Gate."

I furrowed my eyebrows. Just as she said it, I read it. There was the top secret aspect Mustang was talking about. Elric tried human transmutation, which, in my opinion, was stupid in the first place. I've only dabbled in practical alchemy and I still know it's a taboo to perform human transmutation. The result was Elric lost his left leg. In an attempt to keep his brother, Alphonse's soul ground to earth, he attached it to armor, willingly giving up his right arm. That explains the metallic twinge to his voice and the feeling of emptiness in his armor as he walked.

"I take it Major Elric has automail," I said as I closed his file, having read enough on the idiot to get a good idea on him. I was getting bored with his adventures in Liore or Aquroya.

"Correct," Hawkeye said as she stopped at an office door that had to be Elric's office. "This is Ed's office. He hardly uses it, but the colonel wants him grounded more in Central instead of going on escapades that ends with him visiting the hospital and him filling out more paperwork on collateral damage."

I snickered. "Of course, I get the hard head," I uttered.

Hawkeye knocked on his office door.

"Who is it?"

Instead of answering, Hawkeye opened the door seeing Elric from across the room. "Captain Anderson is here, Ed. Try to keep your patience this time."

"I am the epitome of patience," Elric said as Hawkeye steps away, letting me in.

"Yeah, the epitome of patience," I said, not believing a word of it. "You really proved that earlier today when you ran into me." My voice got sharper near the end. Normally, I would have saluted a Major since it was above my ranking, but Elric was different.
Elric's face was drained of blood. "Who let you in here!"

"Brother!" Alphonse snapped.

"Edward!" Hawkeye's voice sounded motherly.

Elric stopped, hearing Hawkeye's voice. Maybe that was all he needed.

"Colonel Roy Mustang assigned me to you," I said. I was making sure he clung to my every word. "Like it or not, Major Elric," my voice dripped with sarcasm, taunting his military title. Trying to mock him. "I am your babysitter." I gave him a cocky grin.

"Are you kidding me? That bastard sent me a babysitter!" Elric was pissed.

I crossed my arms and smirked at him. I may be shorter than him but I can be more intimidating.

"Apparently you do, or he wouldn't have sent me," I said as cockily as I could.

Elric growled. The armor spoke, "Brother, it can't be that bad, maybe Mustang wants us alive."

"Yeah, so he can look good saying he mentored us when it was all us. All he wants to do is look good," Elric growled again.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, letting the reality of my assignment hit me. My client was an idiot. A mad, somewhat sexy idiot. Aw, shit.

"Shut it, Edward. As long as you breathe, I could care less," I gripped his file and sat in the couch in his office and began to review his file again, leaving him to Hawkeye.

Elric stared at me. "I've got no choice, do I?"

"Nope," I said, popping the 'p'.

Elric must've looked into Hawkeye's eyes because he sighed and said, "Tell the bastard I'm not very happy about a girl being my body guard! Then tell him I hope he dies an ironic death."

I rolled my eyes. "Oi, I better be properly compensated."

"Don't worry, when Ed gets used to you, he'll calm down," Alphonse said. He held out his hand. "I'm Alphonse, Al, his younger brother."

I looked to him and shook his hand. "Mickaela Anderson, Edward's...er...body guard."

Al chuckled. "If you have a remote temper close to this, he's in for a treat. Aren't you a hunter?"

"Yeah, but I am contracted to the military under Fuhrer King Bradley." As much as I hated working under a contract, it was a steady paycheck and I had freedoms as long as those freedoms followed the Elric brothers.

"As I've said before, Ed, if you don't like it, the colonel is in his office," Hawkeye opened his office door. "Good luck to you, Mickaela."

"Thanks, looks like I'll need it," I said as I rolled my eyes to the fuming golden-haired boy.

Elric turned to me. "Listen, you and I need to come to an agreement. You don't hinder me when I go on leads."

"Don't let me stop you," I said without looking up into those strangely sexy, mesmerizing golden eyes that carried so much expression
God, what the fuck am I thinking? I've only known him for as long as I've been in his office and then in the hall. I've only known the pissed off side to him.

"You sound so enthusiastic about being a babysitter," he said, mocking my tone.

"Not really," I said as I looked through his file, learning about nearly everything about him. Even the event of his mother's death, which is the reason why they performed the human transmutation. I looked up to him. "I am not especially fond of babysitting arrogant State Alchemists."
Elric let out a snort. "But you're still a dog of the military."

"Yeah, just like you."

Elric paused. "Yeah, just like me," he said disappointed. He looked to me, scanning me over. I could feel his eyes starting from my deep wheat hair down to my riding jacket, which connected to my dark blue jeans that were tucked into my buckled boots.
I heard Al move. His head moved.

"Call me Ed or Edward. Whatever, just not Major Elric or anything like it, okay?" Ed sounded like he was forced to do it.

"Mickaela," I held out my hand for him to shake, trying not to look at him. "Call me Mick."

"Mick," he repeated with a calmer, almost with a pleased tone.

It made me look up into his eyes. Those expression-filled golden eyes that lured me in from the get go. He gave me a smile. Holy shit, he's hotter with that look! I gave him a half smile back, trying to play it cool. This wasn't going to be just an ordinary assignment I could easily detach myself from. Oh fuck no. This was going to be different and to think it all began with him bumping into me. Damn him!

"So, Mick," his grin widened as he said my name, "do you think you can keep up with me and Al here?"

Oh God I hope so!

here! Yes, my username is after the Elric brothers. No kidding. My sister's name is Allison and while most people call her Alliey, I call her Al. She's four years younger and TALLER than me. We're both blonde. My friends call me the Edward Elric of the family. :) So, onward with the story. I have this on so if you REALLY want to read the chapters I'v got up there, this is the place! I think I have my dA link on my profile place.