Hi! This was written for Lefay Strent's FMA/FMAB one-shot contest. Hope you enjoy, you guys!
"And, that's why we can't keep a cat, Al," Edward Elric said to his younger brother. Alphonse looked longingly at the kitten in his arms before setting it back down in the alley, gently.
"Sorry," Ed sighed, resting a hand on Al's metal arm.
Al looked sadly at the kitten as it scampered away then moved his gaze to Ed. "So, what now?" he asked hollowly.
"Well, I still have a report to give to colonel b-" he reached reflexively for his state alchemist pocketwatch in his coat pocket-but it wasn't there. "Damn it all!"
"What is it brother?"
"I've been pick-pocketed! Again, damn it!" Ed scanned the crowd around then just in time to see a man walking away with a state alchemist pocketwatch clutched tightly in his hands. "There!" He gestured wildly at the man and took off running, Al following behind.
The man, seeing that two people were chasing him, started to run, also. He was fast, but he wasn't young so soon he was panting for breath. The Elrics kept chasing him, Ed also shouting profanities, until he turned sharply into an alley and came to a halt. A dead end.
"Give me my watch!" Ed demanded, holding out his hand. The man looked at him in confusion, still breathing hard.
"Brother-" Al started, but Ed ignored him.
"I said, give me my watch! You know, the one in your hand."
"Brother!"
The man glanced down at the pocketwatch before panting, "I don't know what you mean."
"Of course you do! You can see it! It's right there!"
"Yes, but it's not yours. That's mine," the man said at the same time as Al finally shouted, "Look what he's wearing!"
Ed, looking the man over, realized that he was in a military uniform. "So, you're a state alchemist?"
"Yes. The Copper Alchemist," the man sighed, relieved that he wasn't being screamed at anymore.
"Oh." Ed paused. "Could I see it for a moment? Just to make sure."
The Copper Alchemist nodded and handed him the watch. Ed opened it easily and looked inside. It was unmarked.
"Sorry for your trouble, sir," Al said as Ed pulled him out of the alley wordlessly fuming with humiliation.
"Brother?"
Ed sighed, glaring into space. "If he didn't have it, then that leaves only one problem. Where is my pocketwatch?"
Back at the Rockbell automail shop, Winry was reaching rapidly for her tools. She reached for a large screw-driver, but instead of hitting the slim rod of it's handle, her hand met smooth, circular metal. The pocketwatch.
Soooo? What'd you think? Good or bad, just review! I'll even take flames! (good for my fire place) Pleeeeease review!
