A Living Memory
Chapter 1
This is my first story so be nice! Disclaimer: I own nothing of Fullmetal Alchemist and I am earning no profit from this story!
She stood nervously, fidgeting occasionally with the worn strap of her old brown satchel. The note clutched tightly in her trembling hands.
"State your name and reason for requesting entrance." A man in a blue military uniform commanded staring down at her with narrowed eyes.
"I-um I'm P-Patricia D-Darwin s-sir. I've been requested b-by Mr. Mustang." She stuttered out, nervously brushing the stray strands of light brown hair behind her ear. His eyes remained narrowed and he didn't look as if he would let her in.
"I um have a note sir!" Trisha exclaimed, shoving the note into his gloved hands. The man nodded, reading the note and furrowing his brows when he was finished. He glanced down at her, studying her up and down; taking in her big grey-green eyes and her trembling knees. Could this small fragile looking girl really be the one Mustang had informed him about?
"Right, follow me Miss Darwin, Colonel Mustang has been waiting for you." He told her, turning abruptly and leaving her to stumble after him. Trisha followed after the soldier with shaky legs, her heart beat echoing loudly in her ears. Why had Colonel Mustang requested she see him? What had she done? She couldn't remember doing anything illegal!
"Here we are." The man stated, cutting off her inner freak-out moment. She gave a strained smile and watched as he walked away, leaving her to stare apprehensively at the door to Mustang's office.
"Okay Trisha you can do this, you haven't done anything wrong, just go in there and face him like a man!" she whispered to herself tensing her shoulders and preparing to burst through the door.
"Ah who am I kidding? I'm not a man I'm a girl, a weak little girl who's won't survive in jail!" she wailed, sinking to her knees and clutching her messy hair tightly.
"I'm too young to die!" she cried dramatically feeling tears beginning to form.
"Um are you okay?" a tentative voice asked, echoing strangely and startling her into a standing position.
"Oh heh heh yah I'm fine, absolutely fine!" She stated, giving a nervous chuckle and trying to pretend like she hadn't been caught talking to herself. She turned to get a good look at the person who probably now thought she was crazy and the nervous smile froze on her face. There standing right in front of her was a giant suit of armor.
"Eeeeeeek!" she shrieked, jumping back and adopting an awkward fighting stance.
"Stay back I know kung fu!" she warned, shaking a tiny fist in the armor's face. The armor just stared at her, the silence dragging on, turning severely awkward. After seeing that the armor wasn't preparing to attack her, Trisha warily lowered her fists and stared suspiciously into the armors glowing red eyes…wait a minute, glowing red eyes? Trisha scrambled back, bumping into someone behind her and falling clumsily to the ground. The armor started, coming out of whatever daze it had been in.
"Are you okay?" it asked, its voice higher and sweeter than Trisha was expecting. How could something dangerous have that gentle of a voice?
"Y-yeah." She stuttered out calming down and feeling awful for freaking out about something that obviously wasn't going to hurt her. She grabbed its outstretched hand and let herself be pulled gently to her feet.
"S-sorry about that, you kind of startled me." She mumbled, staring down at the ground intensely and trying to ignore the rising blush making its way to her cheeks.
"Yeah whatever, just move out of the way so we can get yelled at by Colonel Bastard." A rude voice snapped, definitely not belonging to the gentle suit of armor. Trisha whipped around pausing in shock as she was met with the most beautiful pair of eyes she had ever seen. They were an intense shade of golden and smoldered with fiery determination. She took in the rest of his face and noticed with a considerable amount of awe how handsome he was. His messy golden hair, a shade lighter than his breathtaking eyes, was bound in a messy braid and his tan skin almost seemed to glow in the fluorescent lights.
"Are you deaf, I said move!" he snarled his eyes flaring with impatience.
"Brother, don't be rude!" the armor exclaimed, its voice tinged with exasperation. The blonde boy frowned.
"But Al, how can you still be nice to her with the way she acted towards you!" he exclaimed his voice containing both disbelief and anger. The armor or Al as Trisha now realized his name was, sighed.
"She didn't mean it Ed, anyways she already apologized." Ed. So this blonde god's name was Ed. Trisha almost let a dreamy smile slip onto her face, it fit him. Ed opened his mouth, clearly intending to argue further when the door creaked open.
"Ah boys I see you have finally arrived." A sly voice drawled out, and
Trisha tensed up, all thoughts of the handsome Ed flying from her mind.
"Mr. Mustang sir!" Trisha exclaimed, whirling around and facing him with a shaky salute. Mustang's dark eyes turned to her, softening slightly at the sight of her trembling form.
"Miss Darwin, I'm glad you managed to make it." He muttered, sending a warm smile in her direction. She nodded, sending a nervous smile his way.
"So, why have you um called me sir?" she questioned her meek voice squeaking slightly. She winced a little, inwardly cursing herself for sounding so frightened.
"Ah yes, sit down, sit down, I have much to discuss with you. You too Elrics, this involves you." Mustang said, gesturing for them to all sit on the sofa in front of his desk. Trisha hurriedly did as she was asked, perching on the end of the cushion and folding her hands tightly in her lap. Ed was more defiant.
"Stop making small talk and just tell us why we're here already!" Ed snapped, folding his arms across his chest and waiting impatiently for an answer.
"Alright Fullmetal, calm down I was getting to that." Mustang told him, sending a smug grin his way.
"Now Ms. Darwin, it has been brought to my attention that you are very skilled in first aid treatment." Mustang said, staring at Trisha with a softer look than the one he had given Ed. Trisha nodded vigorously, an excited smile spreading onto her face as she was given the opportunity to speak about her passion.
"Yes sir! I've just finished my training; Baba says I can be a full certified nurse as soon as I turn eighteen!" Trisha exclaimed sending Mustang a happy smile, forgetting why she was so worried about coming here. Mustang gave her a victorious grin.
"Excellent! Would you consider being a traveling nurse for Fullmetal? No matter how much I tell him to stay out of trouble he always seems to find a way to get injured." Mustang drawled sending a smirk Ed's way.
"I would be honor-" Trisha started, only to be interrupted by Ed's loud yell.
"What!" he screamed, his face turning an interesting shade of red, "There's no way I'm taking that weak girl on our quest, she'll be more trouble than she's worth!" Ed snarled, pointing to Trisha without glancing her way.
"Now now brother, I'm sure she would be very helpful." Al piped up, placing a supporting hand on Trisha's thin shoulder. She sent him an appreciative smile in return. Ed whipped his head around to stare at Al in disbelief.
"What! Al, you can't seriously be considering this?" Ed exclaimed looking at Al as if he had lost his mind. Al nodded, his voice turning determined.
"Yes Brother, she seems really nice, and Mustang is right, you are always getting hurt. We should give her a chance." The whole way through his little speech Trisha found herself feeling guiltier. Al was such a nice person…err armor and she had treated him like he was a monster. Ed and Al glared at each other and Trisha couldn't tell who was going to win this battle of wills.
"Fine!" Ed sighed, throwing his hands up in defeat and glaring at the wall grumpily. Trisha smiled a huge happy one that took up half her face.
"Oh thank you, thank you so much! I promise I won't cause any trouble!" Trisha exclaimed, giving Al a huge happy hug.
"Oh by the way, my name's Trisha, and I'm pleased to meet you!" she told him, shaking his hand vigorously. Al and Ed froze, turning to stare at her with wide pain filled eyes.
"T-Trisha?" Al choked out, his voice sounding shaky and small. Trisha nodded, giving him a sweet smile.
"Well my full name is Patricia Darwin but I prefer to be called Trisha." She said watching curiously as Ed's form began shaking. Slowly he turned to her, his golden eyes burning with such hatred that Trisha stumbled back a step.
"You will never take her place." He snarled his voice low but much more frightening than if he had yelled at her. Trisha's eyes widened and she found than she couldn't control the tears that were welling in her eyes; what had she done that had made him hate her so much? With that, Ed whirled around, yanking the door open and stalking out furiously, slamming the door behind him. The silence rang loudly in the room.
"…Right, moving on, Miss Darwin, would it be acceptable to start your new job today?" Mustang asked, startling Trisha out of her teary wonderings.
"Yes sir, I just need to run by my house to get a few things and say bye to Baba." She told him blinking back the tears threatening to fall.
"I'll go with you!" Al piped up, cutting Mustang's reply off. He quickly grabbed her tiny hand and sped out the door.
"You don't have to go with me Al." Trisha told him, smiling up at his towering frame. Al smiled back…well as best as a suit of armor could smile.
"It's no problem Patricia, you're going to be traveling with my brother and I, so I might as well get to know you better." Al replied, his gentle voice back to its previous warmth. Trisha frowned, only her Baba ever called her Patricia and that was only when she was in trouble. Then again whatever floated Al's boat. Trisha drug all down the street, never once letting go of Al's gloved hand. She pointed out her favorite shops along the way and they had a deep conversation about kittens, and Trisha found herself completely relaxing in Al's presence. That was rare for her, she was usually uptight and skittish…much like a bird or a chipmunk; it was strange for her to feel so at ease with someone she just met, not even considering the fact that his elder brother despised her for reasons beyond her knowledge. They stumbled down the street, Trisha leaning on Al's arm as she laughed.
"Little bird is that you?" Her grandmother's voice called, making Trisha start and realize with amazement that they were already at her apartment; she hadn't even noticed.
"Yeah Baba, its Me." She called back, running up the steps and gesturing for Al to follow. Trisha's grandmother came into view, accepting Trisha's hug and turning to acknowledge Al.
"Why hello there, who might you be?" Ilene asked, sending a smile Al's way.
"Alphonse Elric ma'am." Al politely replied, nodding his head in greeting. Ilene froze, smile turning to a frown.
"Elric huh? You wouldn't happen to be related to Trisha Elric by any chance?" she asked watching as Alphonse froze in shock and then hesitantly nodded his head. Ilene's eyes softened and she looked at Al as if she was seeing him for the first time. "I knew you're mother my boy, such a sweet thing she was." She told him, a gentle smile softening her wrinkled face.
"Really?" Al asked voice sounding bright and excited; his excitement was contagious causing Trisha to smile along with him.
Baba nodded, "Oh yes, I used to watch her when she was a little girl, such a dear that one, always helping me with cooking and cleaning, I could tell right away that she was going to make a wonderful mother." Al nodded along with Baba's explanation, red eyes seeming to sparkle in the lamplight.
"Oh yes Mother was the best mom we could have ever asked for!" Al told her excitedly, causing Trisha to giggle at his enthusiasm. Her laughter brought their attention to her.
"Oh I almost forgot!" Trisha exclaimed, "Mr. Mustang gave me a new job Baba, I'm the new traveling medic for Al's brother Ed!" She squealed, hopping in excited circles. Ilene smiled resting a hand on Trisha's thin shoulder.
"That's great little bird, now when are you starting?" she asked her, eyes glowing with fond pride as she stared down into Trisha's big grey-green eyes.
"Tomorrow!" Trisha declared proudly, completely missing the widening of her Baba's eyes.
"Tomorrow? Oh dear I have to get you packed up, oh and of course we'll have to find that fat cat of yours he shall be going along with you, and let's not forget you need to restock your medical bag!" Ilene exclaimed rushing out the door in order start packing a bag for Trisha. "You start lunch Trisha your friend is staying correct?" Ilene called down the stairs.
"Yes Baba Al is staying." Trisha yelled back, turning and rushing into the kitchen to start lunch. She glanced over her shoulder realizing she had forgotten Al in all her excitement and motioned him into the kitchen.
"Your um Baba seems really kind." Al commented, happily peeling potatoes while Trisha busied herself with chopping carrots. Trisha nodded, an adoring smile lighting her face.
"Baba's the best Grandma I could ever ask for!" she told Al, moving on to cooking the meat for the stew.
"You're not going to be needing any food are you Al? I mean, Armors can't eat!" Trisha giggled. Al froze turning to stare at Trisha in horror.
"H-how did you k-know I'm just a-armor?" Al stammered. Trisha sent him a strange look.
"Really Alphonse I'm not stupid! People don't have eyes like that and when you walk I hear you're hollow; what I want to know is how you're moving!" she told him turning to give Al a look of wonder. He shifted uncomfortably.
"I'll tell you later." He told her, not meeting her twinkling gaze. She had just found out he was a bodiless suite of armor why wasn't she screaming and fleeing in terror?
Trisha frowned, "Alright, but promise me you'll tell me eventually." She demanded tiny hands on her hips. Al brought his gaze back to her and simply stared for a few quiet seconds.
"Alright promise." He whispered, letting the resolve leak into his voice. Patricia Darwin was truly and angel sent from heaven, and he promised himself he would tell her everything; after all, you shouldn't lie to angels. Her answering smile was more than enough proof