Alright this is another request, from SonoCat if Gaiaonline. She requested a fic with Greed and Maria Ross. Since you're so nice I decided to make it a full three chapters. Here's chapter one, I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. But I wish I did.

Shed Your Skin Snake

"Ba-Bastard"

The desert winds, they were cruel and warm and tended to scrap sand against your face. The entire desert itself was unpleasant, near torturous. With every step the Homunculus took, it seemed like it only got hotter and more painful. Regeneration took its sweet little time. Ugh, how Greed hated to have his time wasted.

The duel with Bradley hadn't gone well at all. Who knew the old man could be so strong and agile? Though in retrospect, he was in fact quiet younger then the Ultimate Shield himself. Never the less, it didn't make sense that he could have beaten him. No, no, slaughter was the more appropriate term.

Though somehow he managed to escape, running off as far as his feet would carry him. His wounds weren't healing right. They should have been closing up quicker! Then again, he needed those god damn stones to regenerate. The majority of them had been thrown up death after death. So here he was, after stealing two cars and a mule and eating said mule, Greed was out in the middle of no where. No subordinates, no wealth, no woman. Hell he had even given up his adorably fuzzy vest. Nothing, the man didn't have a dime to his name either.

Greed just wanted to burry his head in the sand and never look up.

"This is ridiculous!" He shouted out towards the sky. Nothing replied, though he heard the faint cry of a vulture in the distance. The Homunculus grumbled, rubbed his bruised and scraped stomach, and kept on walking through the hot hot sand. Damnit! His feet were absolutely fuming! So were his legs!

Then went the fine Italian boots, and the tight leather pants.

So blue boxer wearing Greed continued to stroll the desert, feeling far more aggravated then hopeless. In truth he should have been hopeless. His friends were dead, his power was gone, and he had to flee the country to save his own pathetic existence from father. But really, he had lost his whores and clothes! That was far more important. At least those precious little circular glasses stayed perched upon his nose.

Well, after a long night of no sleep, and another day of walking, Greed felt more exhausted then anything else. In fact, that was the primary if not only feeling. His body rocked and ached, the traveling hadn't allowed his wounds to heal properly. The sun was setting, the animals would be about. It didn't matter, he was just too tired. Far too tired. Plopping down face first Greed groaned loudly, his nostrils and mouth being filled with hot sand. "Eh, that was smart" Turning on his side the sin coughed, wincing at the burn in his throat, and passed out.

A few hours later a small group began shuffling about nearby. It was dark, it seemed as if they were hunting and or scavenging for plants. About five males and one female. All clothed in old rangy garbs, most were patched up and sewn together with other pieces of fabric. It was the woman who found Greed. Well, she actually tripped right on top of him. Letting out a soft 'ep', she was both surprised and concerned that the soft mass of flesh he fell upon didn't make a sound. "Oh god!" Maria Ross suddenly cried, flinging herself from Greed and landing on her ass, "A dead body!"

Well that caught the rest of their attention. "Augh, no no Maria he seems to be alive. Though just barely" One said.

"Leave em! We can barely take care of ourselves we don't need another mouth to feed!"

"What?!" Maria snapped, kneeling back down against the man. In the moonlight, she could just barely make out his face. If she squinted really really hard. Young, he was probably in his thirties. Very handsome and well built, though exhausted from the heat. "Please?!" Her plea was directed to an elderly man of the group. "Please! I'll share my meals with him!"

"Why do you want to save this man?"

"Why?" Maria snorted softly, "I don't need a reason. I'm a soldier. I help anyone and everyone that needs it. No exceptions. I refuse to let this man die"

"Hm...Very well. You two, carry this young gentleman down to the ruins"

With much grumbling and groaning heard through the night the group brought Greed back to the small camp. Maria sighed, content with him taking her own shabby tent. She watched the strange man sleep by candlelight. Her eyes drifted from his tattoo, to the strange red markings upon his body. Who...who was this man?

Alright chapter one is complete! This will be a three part fic. I hope you all enjoy it very much! This pairing is just too adorable! And random! Either way I hope the requester enjoys it.