Oc story. EdxOc. Yep, I went there. I know, I know, how cliché, but I hope to make this good. So yeah. Also, I tried to make my story as different as possible, because I get pissed when everything is the same. I have spent ages thinking over the logic and reasoning in this, and it should be explained as the story progresses. If you have any Q's, leave a review or PM me, and I'll answer (hopefully).
ALSO, I've named the chapters after a song, and I'll put the artists name next to it. They won't be random though, they will be a suitable name for the chapter.
Well, this A/N is already far longer than I care to have it. Enjoy, I guess.
Chapter 1: Home (Gabrielle Aplin)
Roy Mustang rapped his knuckles across the wooden door of the automail engineer's home in Resembool. He heard the creak of floorboards, and he looked down to see Riza Hawkeye's goddaughter slowly edging further and further behind him, swallowing visibly.
She's very shy with new people," Mustang remembered Riza telling him when he was first introduced to the eleven year old. She had been hiding behind Riza, much like how she was hiding behind him at the moment.
Riza noticed this, and frowned gently at her. "What's wrong? You did want to come, didn't you?"
"Yes…" she whispered, although she had gone very pale.
Just then, the door opened to reveal a short elderly lady with spectacles balanced on her nose.
"Yes?"
Mustang pushed the door open wider and stormed right in.
"Hey, what is this!"
Though momentarily forgotten, Mustang still had the image of what the Elric brothers had done freshly imprinted into his mind, making him seethe with rage.
Noticing his dark mood, the already shy eleven year old stumbled back a few steps until she was now shielded from any upcoming wrath behind Riza, who also was walking into the house with the signature military stride, but not without giving her a comforting smile.
"It's okay, Claudia."
The old lady - Pinako Rockbell – was still barking at Mustang, clearly unimpressed.
"You have no reason to come barging in here!"
If Mustang was affected by her words, he didn't show it. His line of sight then landed on two figures; a blond boy in a wheelchair missing two of his limbs, and a tall suit of armour, standing just behind him.
Claudia stifled a gasp, and her hand flew up to her mouth. She knew it had been bad, but not this bad. The boy in the wheelchair, Edward, she presumed, had his head bowed, but she could see how dimmed his eyes were. It was like something had died inside him.
Mustang grabbed his shirt and pulled him right up into the air.
"We went to your house; we saw the floor. What was that? What did you do!"
She couldn't…he was being too harsh. She ran forward and grabbed his spare arm.
"No, don't… please, leave them alone."
Mustang glared at Claudia coldly. "There was a reason I didn't let you into the basement. Do you know what I saw there?"
The question was rhetorical, but she had to physically bite down on her tongue to stop herself from answering, and slowly let go of his wrist. Yes.
Ed's face was crumpling, and the suit of armour, Alphonse, put his big metal hand on Mustang's shoulder.
"We-we didn't mean it. We made a mistake….we're sorry…we're sorry…we're sorry…"
The armour started trembling slightly, and Claudia was pretty sure that if armour could cry, it would have big, fat tears rolling down his helmet.
Mustang looked at the armour with sudden realisation. "Are you…?"
-OMGALINEBREAKOMGALINEBREAKOMGALINEBREAKOMGALINEBR-
Claudia held a cup of warm, milky tea and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Despite it being hard and wooden, it wasn't the source of her discomfort. She felt like she was intruding on something she shouldn't have, but Mustang had asked her to stay. Riza was sitting on the couch in the other room, and she was pretty sure Winry was talking to her now.
Mustang was sat back in his chair, arms crossed and a stern look on his face.
"This is a surprise to say the least. I'd heard reports of a brilliant alchemist living in this town, so I came to check them out. The last thing I expected to find was a boy skilled enough to attempt human transmutation," He paused for a second, glancing up at Al. "Or advanced enough to bond a soul to a suit of armour."
He paused again, this time directing his speech to Pinako. "I'd say he's more than qualified to become a State Alchemist."
Claudia listened as Mustang explained what it meant to be a State Alchemist, but soon her mind drifted as it always did, and she started gazing around the Rockbell residence.
It was far bigger than she thought it would be, and much brighter too, filled with the usual furniture that a family household had, although there was the odd bit of automail parts scattered here and there. Her eyes then rested on the big pin board by the green front door, with many photos stuck to it. Upset that it was far away, Claudia tried to make out some of the figures…
"Claudia, please stop daydreaming."
She blinked, and felt her checks get hot. She hadn't meant to seem rude, but she couldn't help that she had the world's shortest attention span.
Mustang sighed, and looked at Pinako, and Claudia realised that while she had been spacing out, Ed and Al had left, leaving only the old woman.
She bowed her head slightly, and apologised quietly. "I'm so sorry; I hope you don't think I was being rude."
Pinako chuckled slightly. "It's fine, young lady. There are plenty of daydreamers in this household, including me."
Mustang cleared his throat. "Anyway, Miss Rockbell, this is Claudia Stanfield, my subordinate's goddaughter. She was wondering-"
"Ah, you hush up! Let her speak." Pinako then turned to Claudia with kind eyes. "Whatcha wondering, hmm?"
Claudia looked down at her thumbs, which were still gripped around her, now cold, tea. It didn't matter, she hated tea. "I was wondering…if I could stay here to study automail, and maybe some chemistry and biology for a year …"
Pinako blinked. "You want to become an automail engineer?"
Claudia snapped her head up, and started shaking it vigorously. "Oh no! I just – I don't have a very good understanding of mechanisms and I really want to improve."
Pinako smiled, and tapped her pipe against her ashtray. "I don't see why not. If fact, it's a perfect opportunity seeing as Ed is most likely going to demand for automail limbs."
In a normal situation like this, Claudia would have been beaming widely, gushing out 'thank you's and probably hugging the old lady. However, this time she only smiled a little at Pinako. "Is there anything I can help you with when I'm here?" It was the least she could do.
Letting a puff of smoke drift lazily out of her mouth, Pinako returned the smile. "Just some basic household chores, if you don't mind. Cooking, cleaning, the usual. I could always do with a hand. And you will to school with Winry until you leave."
Claudia couldn't believe that was all; this was way too easy. "No problem."
Mustang looked at her with a frowning face. "Will you be all right?"
She blinked a little at the Flame Alchemist. He was concerned about her? She had only known him a week, why was he worried? But then she reminded herself that she was Riza Hawkeye's goddaughter, and she nodded. "Yes, thanks."
"Very well." Mustang stood up, and made his way over to the door.
"I hope you study well, Claudia."
And with that, he was gone.
Claudia looked at the closed door, a usual feeling of nausea setting in her stomach. Her nerves were always jittery at new places and unfamiliarity, but hopefully it wouldn't last long. This was her home for the time being, she would just have to get used to it.
Pinako tipped the ash from her pipe into the ashtray before standing up.
"Come on. I'll show you to your room."
I guess here they really don't care about stranger danger.
-OMGALINEBREAKOMGALINEBREAKOMGALINEBREAKOMGALINEBR-
June 14th, 1910
It's been a month since I got here, and three days since I became a residence at the Rockbell's household. I haven't really spoken to anyone much, but I will probably become more comfortable in four more days time.
I started attending the school here yesterday, and everyone appears pleasant enough, but I am still very shy. Again, it will probably take a week before I become properly secure there. Also, I did give the fifteen other children in my class, including Winry Rockbell, full warning of my temper and informed them not to provoke me, but I think that 3 boys are trying to get a reaction from me, not believing that my temper is terrible, and that may be a problem.
Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric do not attend the school anymore for obvious reasons, and I have yet to converse with them. Hopefully, in time that will change. It is wise to make as many allies as possible. Edward Elric has not mentioned automail yet. I have kept the artefact from 2014 hidden well, but I doubt that they will think it out of place here.
I am still trying to figure out how I got here, but hopefully their science, Riza Hawkeye's eye-witness account and logic will help me find the truth. Any theories that Truth was involved have been dismissed, as I had no possible way of contacting him or attempted anything to see the truth (not to mention I haven't lost any body parts or senses).
In other news, I have been portraying my eleven year old self perfectly, and I doubt that anyone (excluding Riza Hawkeye) suspects my true age. What am I saying, my true age is eleven. 11. XI. ELEVEN. I must not continue thinking I am fifteen, as I no longer am. I am eleven years old now.
I saw no reason to lie about my name to the Rockbell household either, so luckily I do not need to remind myself of a new identity. No, I am still Claudia Stanfield, but I have just de-aged by four years. That's all.
I miss them…
Signed, Claudia Stanfield.
Well. That's that I guess. I was going to have a diary entry by Claudia at the end of each chapter so you can see a first POV, but I generally write better in 3rd person. I did actually try 1st POV, but it was shit.
NEXT TIME: Who's Laughing Now (Jessie J)
It will be about Claudia adjusting to living in the Rockbell household and development of Claudia, a little more about her, but there is an incidence at the school which is the main focus point with Ed's first impressions of her.
Later peeps.