The Richards

Meeting the Richards

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Golden eyes gazed upon a simple house. The sky had darken since he began his search for the secretive civilian. Edward checked the windows. A curtain was covering the inner corridors, great, that meant that he could not simply peek inside of the house to see if he live there. With a quick sweep of the front of it, Edward realized that the house did not have any numbers on the front. Very interesting and suspicious. A satisfied grin ran across his face. He think he found him.

The alchemist march up to the front door. An urge swept over him to finish his search so he could focus on other issues. He should be in a library or a lab researching and studying new alchemical strategies to help his brother. Instead, he is tracking down a chef that gave him the cold shoulder yesterday. Has he gone crazy? It is not like him to obsess, okay, it IS like him to obsess over an unanswered question. But, this is a new low. Stalking a random citizen like this. It is absurd. Some 'hero of the people' he is. Still, he could not afford to lose any concentration on this small matter. It is just one person.

Edward breathed in hard while he form a fist. Then, he pounded the door three times. He wanted to get this over with. There was an eerily silence. It was not that late. Someone has to be up. No, he did not do all of this for nothing. Low, muffled sounds came from behind the door. Edward did his best to keep a straight face and step back. This is going to be a strange confrontation.

The door swung open to reveal a tall, young man that appear to be in his mid-twenties. Edward swallowed a rant as he watch the man glaze over his head. It gave him a chance to look at him. Suddenly, he remember why he track this guy down. The guy looks JUST LIKE HIM. Gold hair. Gold eyes. Even his hairstyle look similar to his own. If his hair had a long braid, he could pass as the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Edward fume at that thought. What the fuck is going on here? Who the fuck is this? The blond man glance down to meet Edward's glare. He instantly made a startled face. Now, Edward is fighting the urge to laugh at the stranger. This is supposed to be serious, dammit. The blond man stood there stagger and contemplating what he is going to say. It is written all over his face.

"Brother?"

Another voice came from the dark house. Edward studied the man's reaction. His face whiten and his eyes widen as he suck in air. "You have a brother?" The alchemist's curiosity peaking. A quick nod was his answer.

"Brother, who is it?" The voice is closing in.

A figure appeared behind the first person. Light gold hair peeked around the shoulder of the older brother. His eyes were a warmer shade of gold then his hair. The unknown person seems to be shorter, but he had to look down to see Edward. When he finally saw their uninvited guest, his jaw fell open. His brother had to close his jaw for him and it snap him out of his state of shock.

The younger brother jabbed his brother's arm. "Brother, don't be rude, invite him in,"

Are all younger brothers like that? Edward thought to himself. Wait, did he just compare him to Alphonse?

"S-sorry. My brother does not have good people skills." Another comparison. "You're the Fullmetal Alchemist, right? Please come in." The younger brother nervously gestured his hands inside.

Fullmetal glances at the older brother who was lost in thought. He gave a polite smile and thank you as he entered the house. Something is strange about their house. There is a three simple couches in the front room, a small kitchen to the left and a doorway that should lead to the bedrooms. No pictures, personal belongings, or anything that would indicate people live here. It almost looks like an empty military dorm.

"Uh, Edward?"

Edward snapped out of his thoughts and faced the nervous brothers. "What are you doing here?"

Good question. It is unusual for military personnel to stop by a random civilian's house. They probably fear the worst; judging by their expressions. Thankfully, Edward had a ready excuse. He crossed his arms as he started his lie, "I am here on official military mission to investigate suspicious behavior."

Edward used a stern tone when he said that. He could not tell them that he tracked the older brother to this address, because of his cooking and he looks just like him.

The two brothers shared a questionable look before they both sighed. "Suspicious behavior?" They repeated his words like they knew he had lied.

The alchemist's arms tightened as he frowned. Something is going on here and he is there to find out. He glared at them to get his point across. "Yes. What are your names?"

Edward doubled blinked as he studied their reactions. They look like young kids that was just caught doing something that they were not supposed to do. That's odd. Why can he picture them as kids?

The older brother spook up. "I'm Eric Richard and this is my younger brother, Nicholas Richard."

That was a lie. That statement sounded like it was rehearsed. There was a hint of hesitance in his voice. Edward narrowed his eyes. They did not need to lie about their names. They're obviously not hard criminals. Another theory crossed Edward's mind. He tried to dismiss it. It was ridiculous, childish to consider and utterly impossible, but it explained everything. For the first in his life Edward questioned his own sanity.

Eric and Nicholas plopped on one of the couches. They knew what was about to happen and they were prepared for it. Edward remained standing as he began his interrogation.

"Who are you? "

"We told you."

"When did you come here?"

"We moved here a few months ago."

"Why are you here?"

"We moved for work."

"Where did you come from?"

"A neighboring city."

"Why did you come here?"

"We're on vacation."

Vacation? Vacation from what? He just saw Eric at a job yesterday. That does not make any sense. This does not make any sense. Both of them had gold eyes. Only his family had gold eyes. They could be lost relatives; sounds more plausible then the first theory. No, that's not it.

"Mind if I look around?" Edward did not give them a chance to respond to that. He turned swiftly and strutted away. The two watched the red and gold retreating figure. When he disappeared into the hallway and out of earshot, Eric asked, "Where's Sara?"

Fullmetal thought over the answers that those two gave. It was obviously a set up. The two took turns answering the questions without any clarity from the other and their response was too quick. The answers did not give any specifics of their background. That interrogation was pointless; continuing it would have been a waste of time. Time for another approach.

The hallway was as empty as the front of the house. Honestly, how did two guys live here for several months? He opened the first door in the hall. It revealed a room with two beds and a closet, that's it. Wait, there is a window. He closed the bedroom door and checked the hallway's entrance; no one was there. Usually people watch him when he is searching their house. These guys are weird. Edward dashed past one door that was slightly opened. That was only a bathroom, besides the closed door is more interesting.

He was not sure what he would find in there, hopefully something that answered the questions that was forming rapidly in his head. The fifteen-year-old was not expecting to see the bare back of a young, blonde woman. She immediately became aware of an unknown presence and shot Edward an intense glare over her shoulder. The alchemist's eyes darted to the floor in embarrassment and shame, he stuttered an apology, and closed the door. Any other female in his life would scold and beat him for pulling a stunt like that. He did not mean to; it was truly an accident. Fear rose in the young teenager when he heard his name being called.

When Fullmetal bowed his head, he did not notice the woman's glare evaporated when she saw him. She had a bewildered look on her face when she noticed Edward. Somehow she lost her voice and could not introduce herself. It was only after the young alchemist left when she realized that she was topless. The blonde woman cursed herself for taking too long to dress and started to frantically search for something, anything, to cover herself. She hoped she did not miss her chance to meet the Fullmetal Alchemist. Maybe calling him will help.

Screeching Edward's name only made him panic. He backed away from the bedroom door, swiveled and bolted towards the nearest exit. Edward would have made it out the hallway if Eric have not been running towards the hall's doorway. The two stopped in middash and took a step back; nearly mirroring each other.

The woman in the back called for Edward's name. Did he just respond to... The sounds of rapid footsteps from behind startled him and he could not finish that thought. He had another matter to address. Edward cautiously turn to look at woman he peeped on by accident. He could not tell if the wide grin on her face was kindly or menacing.

"Edward," she lowly muttered through her grin.

Edward made have his pride, but he know when to admit defeat. He through his hands up in defensively and tried to explain himself. The unnamed woman gave a puzzled look before stopping him, "Don't apologize. I'm not mad at you. I never could be mad at you."

She paused take a good look at Edward. Her grin grew wide, her arms crossed on her chest and she started to jump up and down cheerfully. A loud squeal escaped her. Edward stood there feeling a little helpless. There was no escaping a crazed fangirl.

"Was that Sara?" Nicholas's voice cut through the awkward atmosphere.

"Yeah," Eric answered slowly. "Edward, this is my little sister."

After Sara glared at the two blondes, she turned her attention to the shorter one. He had his hands up for self defense; guess he did not believe that she already forgave him. Curiosity sweeped over her as she focused on Fullmetal's right hand. The sleeve hung down revealing a dark gray wrist.

"Uh, Edward, shouldn't you be busy... doing something else?"

Edward noticed her sudden deflation. He followed her gaze to his right arm and let his arms fall to his side. Edward's absurd theory is verifying itself every second he spends with the Richards. Edward sighed as he wondered how explain this one to the office or Alphonse or himself.

"You're right," Edward faced the front door and marched towards it. Half through the living room, he glanced back at the Richards once more. All three was watching him with blank, frozen faces. Edward frowned in response and pointed a finger at them, "And I am not done investing here, I will be back."

The three blondes did not move or blink. Fullmetal did not wait for a farewell and he doubt he will get one. The Richards watched the door for a few minutes to make sure Edward was gone.

"Did he just say you were right?" Nicholas is usually the first to speak up.

"I know. It's weird." Sara responded quickly and was happy that they were thinking the same thing.

"Sure, that's weird." Typical of the eldest brother, he is only one who was analyzing the seriousness of their situation.

Sara rolled her eyes. "Look, we knew this could happen. There's nothing we can do now. Just don't admit to anything."

"He used to be so short."

The two older siblings faced Nicholas. He was obviously not paying attention. To anything.

"Don't say that around him, Nick." Sara warned. She did not want to offend Fullmetal in any way. He is too adorable.

"I'm going to bed," Eric announced and headed to his bedroom.

"Not a bad idea." Sara agreed. Nick yawned too, that was intense.