Authors' Notes:
Authors: Hello! Just though we should let you know that this starts bafore the anime and manga do. It will eventually jumpint the anime and manga aroun chapter 11 though. Now, Ed, Do the disclaimer!
Ed: Fine, Chibi-chan and Jin's Lady do not own anything of FullMetal Alchemist. They do, however, own Morgan and Kaytie. (You'd think they own me, the way they boss me around though...)
Jin's Lady: What was that pipsqueak?
Ed: WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT A SPECK OF DUST LOOKS LIKE A BUILDING TO THEM?!
Chibi-chan: Holding Ed Back Calm down! She didn't mean it like that!!
Chapter 1: No Coffee, No Home, No Kaytie...Wait, What?!
It was raining. Lately when anything bad was happening, it was raining. Morgan's straight, dull, brown hair clung to the back of her neck and her bangs were stuck to her forehead., casting a shadow over her eyes. She didn't bother pushing them away because she was avoiding her best friend's eyes.
"Morgan," He said. Upon instinct she looked up, not quite meeting his face. "Do you have to leave?" Briefly she glanced at him. Ed had short blond hair and honey golden eyes. He was also quite short for his age, but if anyone mentioned that he'd get upset. His eight-year-old form looked crestfallen when she nodded. Morgan looked away as tears started to form in her eyes. She told herself along time ago she'd never cry in front of anyone. Especially Ed, she'd never hear the end of it. Ed pulled her up from her sitting position on her porch steps. She refused to look at him. He gently took her chin and turned her head to face him. Morgan quickly blinked away the tears as he dropped his hand to his side. "I'll miss you." He said, still more quietly. Suddenly and out of nowhere, Morgan latched her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "I'll miss you too, Ed." She shut her eyes tight in an attempt to stop the tears; she'd always hated the stinging feeling that accompanied the tears. She pulled away, to find Ed standing there, a light blush gracing his face. Morgan blushed scarlet as Ed's face slowly inched closer to hers. He laced his fingers with Morgan's and brushed his lips softly against her cheek.
Kaytie poked her roommate, Morgan, in the face. "Narf!" Morgan lifted her arm to shoo Kaytie's away. "Leave me alone!"
"Morgan, you have to get up...and possibly find a new place to live..."
Morgan sat up, her shoulder-length, dull brown hair sticking up at odd angles. It was oily 'cause she hadn't had her shower yet. She glared at Kaytie who was now standing at the door of her room.
"What do you mean 'find a new place to live?'" she asked.
Kaytie sighed and flicked the light on. "Ahh! It burns!" Morgan said in a high pitched whispery voice. "Shut it off!"
"Are you awake?"
"Yes!" Morgan answered, shielding her eyes. "Turn it off, and quit stalling!"
Kaytie shut off the light and squatted down next to Morgan. "You may want to come out into the living room for this, Roy's here..." She said the last part quietly, hoping to all that was holy, Morgan didn't hear her. Unfortunately for Kaytie, Morgan had excellent hearing.
"Who's here? Roy?! Wait, what time is it?" She turned to check her alarm. "At two fifty-five in the morning?!"
Kaytie sweat dropped, "Maybe..."
Morgan got up and stormed out of the room. She found Roy Mustang leaning casually against the kitchen wall. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Morgan, Morgan, Morgan, is that any way to talk to your superior officer?" She gave him a cold glare. "Oh, Alright. I got kicked out of my apartment."
Morgan face-planted into the ground while Kaytie burst out laughing.
"Ha, Ha" Ha said, mocking Kaytie. "Very funny."
"I thought so," she replied, leaning up against Morgan's door in an attempt to keep herself from falling. "You slept with the landlady didn't you?"
"No,"
"The landlady's daughter?" No response. "Ha!" She said pointing. "You did!"
Morgan sweat dropped, "I'm going back to bed."
"No, Roy needs to stay in your room." Kaytie said, stopping her.
"Fine, just let me get my stuff then, I need to be at work in two hours and i want another hour of sleep. You need to be there in an Hour."
"I'm aware of that, thank-you."
Morgan gathered up her covers and pillow and dumped them down on the living room couch, then plopped herself down. "I expect my bed and room back tomorrow."
Kaytie sat with Roy in the Kitchen. "I can't believe you slept with your landlady's daughter."
He narrowed his eyes, "Shut up,"
"Well I need to be at work in-" She checked her watch, "forty-five minutes, so I'm going back to bed."
"Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
Kaytie snorted, "Roy, since when am I ever on time?"
"Good point."
When Morgan woke up an hour later, she screamed then quickly covered her eyes.
Roy was in her kitchen, in his boxers, drinking her coffee. "Get some clothes on!"
"I didn't bring any."
Morgan turned back around, "You plan to stay here, yet you don't bring any clothes?!"
Kaytie came out of her room, took one look at Roy, turned back around and slammed the door.
Morgan blinked then went to change, shaking her head as she went.
Once in the bathroom, she slipped off her loose purple pyjama top and her baggy blue sweat pants.
After taking her shower, she wrapped the towel securely around her and walked into her bedroom which was a joined to the bathroom.
Slowly, she pulled on her clothes. Her 'uniform' consisted of navy blue cargo pants and a light blue shirt, like a tank top but with translucent tight blue sleeves that flared out at the wrists.
She studied herself in the mirror. Her hair was dull brown, her eyes were chocolate brown, she had practically no chest and she was short. "God, I'm ugly."
"Calling yourself names again, are we, Morgan?" Kaytie said, coming through the door that lead to the hallway.
"Shut up, I could have been changing you know."
"And I care...Why?"
Morgan stuck her tongue out at Kaytie. She threw her towel in the hamper and brushed the knots out of her hair. "Is Roy dressed yet?"
Kaytie sighed, "No," She rolled her eyes. "I called Riza to bring them over from his office."
There was a knock on the door "That must be her."
Kaytie opened the door to see Riza Hawkeye standing there with an indifferent look on her face. She was already dressed for work. Kaytie assumed she and Roy were late. Riza silently handed over Roy's uniform.
"You wanna come in?" Kaytie asked.
"No," She answered , sighing. "I have to get back to work. By the way you and Roy are late. King Bradley's inspecting tomorrow so all State Alchemists have to be there. Well, he's arriving tomorrow, inspecting the day after and again the next day for anyone who missed the first day or was on a mission."
By the time Riza left Roy was finally dressed and Morgan went to reach for a cup of coffee to find the pot empty. "How many cups did you drink?!"
"Six...and a half."
"Ohhh..." Kaytie said. "Bad move. Morgan's a bitch without her coffee."
Morgan's eye twitched as she slowly for her sky blue sweater vest and pulled it over her shirt. As she zipped it up it was taking all her will power not to strangle someone
They were standing outside Roy's office. "So where am I suppose to stay?!" Morgan demanded. She just found out she wouldn't be getting her bed back. Roy kicked her out of her own apartment! He pretty much blackmailed Kaytie into it. He threatened to fire her.
Roy tapped his fingers on Kaytie's desk impatiently. "You'll be living back in Risembool... with Kaytie's parents." He said. "Leaving in three days."
"What?!"
"Well, King Bradley's arriving tomorrow, inspecting the day after and again the next. Your leaving that day since there's no need for you to be at both inspections." He said, ticking them off on his fingers.
"But why Kaytie's parents?! Her Mom's horrible!"
Kaytie shrugged, "I feel for you." she said, simply.
"Well," Said Roy, looking between Morgan and Kaytie. "You both grew up there so we thought it made sense-" He shrank under Morgan's glare and gave up his attempt at explaining. "We didn't know where else to put you..."
"You've got to be kidding me...I need coffee." Kaytie rushed to get her coffee. The one thing Kaytie didn't need while her parents were here was Morgan as a bitch. "Actually," she changed her mind. "I want tea."
Kaytie poured the last cup of tea.
'But...I want tea,' she thought. 'Oh well, I'll just give her coffee and say it's tea.'
She handed Morgan the coffee. "Here's your tea."
"Thanks," She said taking a sip. 'Ahhh, caffeine is good.'
The door opened and in walked the strangest pair Morgan had ever seen. She had only been a State Alchemist for six months so she didn't know many people. Kaytie and Roy sighed, so Morgan assumed they knew whoever was standing at the door.
Speaking of the strange pair at the door, the first wasn't exactly hard to miss. It was a giant suit of armour. Morgan blinked, could you say odd? The other was around the same height as her, had honey golden eyes and had the back of hid blond hair tied into a messy braid. This person looked vaguely familiar. She tilted her head to the side slightly, trying to figure out why he looked do familiar.
"Morgan?" He asked, looking directly at her questioningly.
Something clicked in Morgan's brain as she saw Kaytie slap her palm to her forehead. "Ed?"
"Morgan!"
"Edward! They rushed over and hugged. "Oh, my gosh!" Morgan said excitedly. "It's been seven years!"
"I know...wait, didn't I used to be taller that you?"
"Yeah, so?"
"You've grown." He said looking her up and down.
Morgan looked at him closely and mentally measured herself. "You haven't." she said, rather bluntly.
"What?! Who're you calling so small an ant couldn't see him with a magnifying glass?!?"
Morgan backed up slightly and sweat dropped, "Sensitive much?" There was that attitude problem she'd known so well as a child.
"Wait," Ed said, looking at her again. "You're the same height as me, who're you calling short?"
"Yeah, but I'm proud and apparently you're just in denial."
"Shut up. What're you doing here of all places anyway?" He asked.
Before Morgan could answer, however, Kaytie's Mother burst through the door. Kaytie hid behind Roy.
"You told her where to find me?!" Kaytie seethed.
"Oh, yes. She and I had a very interesting chat about you as a child."
"You what?!"
"Yes, the pictures she has of you are adorable." Kaytie tried hard to fight the blush she knew was appearing on her cheeks.
"Kaytie, darling, how are you?"
Roy side stepped out of the way as Kaytie's Mom crushed her in a hug. "Fine, Mother." She winced. The only reason she put up with the hug was because she knew what her Mom was capable of, "Hi, Dad." Her Dad was the nice one, her Mom was the bitch.
There was an abrupt change in Mrs. Krimskii once she caught sight of Kaytie's uniform. The look on her face was rather distasteful. "Still a dog of the military, I see." She said, holding Kaytie at arms length.
"Yes Mother," She said in a tense voice. "And if you must know a State Alchemist too." Kaytie searched her pocket for something and slipped out her official pocket watch.
Her Mother pursed her lips and turned away from Kaytie, tuning her out. Kaytie started chatting with her Dad about random things.
Mrs. Krimskii turned to Morgan. "Morgan! My you have grown; you were just this high when you moved away." She said indicating Morgan's shoulder height. "And Edward, what brings you here?"
'What did bring him here?' Morgan wondered. Ed had a smug look on his face. "I'm a State Alchemist, too." He said.
Morgan smiled, of course. "Hey I didn't know you were one! I'm a Sta-" She caught sight of Kaytie. She was shaking her head violently and mouthing words that looked something like 'No! Don't tell her that!!'
"I'm Kaytie's secretary!" She changed her sentence. She was originally going to say something along the lines of 'I'm a State Alchemist too! As of six months ago.', but she changed her mind. Morgan had heard stories of Kaytie's Mom...she shuddered.
Mrs. Krimskii gave her a weird look and Ed raised an eyebrow. "I'll tell you later." she whispered to him.
Meanwhile Kaytie, Roy and Mr. Krimskii were engaged in conversation.
"Your Mom's completely tuned you out, hasn't she?" Roy asked.
"Yup, but as soon as I say something like 'Fuck you'-"
"What'd you say?" Mrs. Krimskii snapped, turning on her heel.
"Um..." Kaytie sweat dropped, "Vacuum?"
"That's what I thought..." She went back to tuning Kaytie out.
"See what I mean?" She asked, leaning on her father's shoulder.
At first glance Kaytie Krimskii would probably seem like every typical fifteen-year-old. The kind who stays up late, sleeps late and eats their parents out of house and home, but she's not the everyday typical teenager'. Kaytie ran away from home at the age of twelve to become a State Alchemist. She was the second youngest ever to join. She always hold a grudge against Ed for becoming one before her. Six months before her. It's the only thing he'll ever be able to hold over her head. (Literally and figuratively speaking).
When Kaytie first moved to Central, Roy took her in. He was sort of like the brother she never had (even though she had two; Miguel and Joey). Eventually she got her own apartment. Then she was transferred with him when he was transferred to Eastern.
She was surprised when she found Morgan Shaw at her door one night. They'd always hated each other when they were little until Morgan moved away when she was seven.
Morgan claimed Roy sent her and that she'd just become a State Alchemist. Not that Morgan was any happier with the arrangement that Kaytie. That was six months ago, they were the best of friends now.
Morgan sighed. She'd have to put up with this? For how long? "Wait" she said. "If I don't leave for three days where am I suppose to stay?!"
Roy and Kaytie looked guilty. "Um..." Roy said. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet."
Morgan and Kaytie sweat dropped. 'You couldn't think of a better excuse than that?' Kaytie thought.
"Well, now, dear, you can stay with me and my husband here." Mrs. Krimskii offered. Morgan thought the idea was about as appealing as having to walk on broken glass. It showed on her face apparently, 'cause Ed came to her rescue.
"Morgan's staying with us, remember Krimskii? You told us yesterday?"
Kaytie quickly caught on. "Oh, yeah, um sorry Mom, you know my memory..." Morgan sighed in relief.
"Just as well," Mrs. Krimskii said, pretending as if she hadn't heard her daughter. Kaytie rolled her eyes. "I must insist on taking you out for dinner, you too Edward..." Ed and Morgan exchanged worried glances. "Morgan you're much to thin, Kaytie probably hasn't been feeding you properly and Edward you just too short-"
Ed twitched and Morgan covered her ears. "Who're you calling the super small speck?!?"
Mrs. Krimskii went on as if she hadn't heard him. "-and need nutrients to grow."
Morgan heard Ed mutter something incoherent about not being short, she rolled her eyes. At that moment Mrs. Krimskii turned and was chatting with Mr. Krimskii.
Kaytie leaned casually against the wall, wondering. The question was, how long would it take for Morgan to ask where A-
"Wait, where's Al? You two are like never apart." Kaytie made shushing noised and pointed toward her Mother's back. She leaned over and whispered in Morgan's ear.
"Yeah, ya see that giant suit of armour over there?" she pointed in the direction of the suit of armour. "That's Al."
"What? Why is Al dressed up in a suit of armour?!"
Kaytie slapped her hand to her forehead again. She slapped Morgan upside the head. "Shut. Up." She said this very slowly, breaking it up as if to say "Morgan, if I said this any faster your brain wouldn't be able to comprehend what I'm saying.'
Ed sweat dropped and put his hand to his forehead. How was he supposed to tell her? Instead of answering, well he didn't have to answer. Morgan and Kaytie were busy whispering about whether or not Mrs. Krimskii was going to react or whether she'd even heard them.
Mrs. Krimskii turned on her heel and Morgan, Kaytie and Ed froze. Al was still standing at the door looking worried. Could a suit of Armour look worried?
"Kaytie dear," Mrs. Krimskii said, "Your Father and I have some shopping to do. Morgan, Edward, I want you to meet me in front of my hotel at five O'clock sharp. Don't. Be. Late." Morgan and Ed gulped. Mrs. Krimskii wore a look that plainly said 'Be there, or else!'
They were relieved, however that she didn't hear the 'armour' comment and they were relieved when she left, dragging Mr. Krimskii with her.
As soon as she was gone, Morgan quickly checked the door to make sure then ran over and hugged Al's arm. "I missed you!"
Al awkwardly hugged her back, but his voice was happy. "Me too! I can't believe it's been seven years! Now I have someone my own age to talk to...at least for a little while."
When Morgan was young, her best friends in the world were Ed and Al Elric. Her family moved to Eastern when she and Al were seven and Ed was eight. She remembered part of the day she left, it was morning and Al had run out to meet her on the hill. Ed was still asleep.
The hill was grassy and the sun was shining, it was supposed to rain later though. Morgan could see the clouds in the distance. "So, I'm leaving today." Morgan said, picking the grass beside her.
"You are? I thought that was next week!" he said turning to her and searching her brown eyes, waiting for some one to yell 'April Fools!' even though it was May. Morgan shook her head. "Mom and Dad decided to go a week early." She went back to picking the grass as silence fell over them. It wasn't awkward but it wasn't exactly comforting either. Morgan gasped suddenly. "Guess what?!" she said excitedly. Al turned to her. "What?" He asked looking curious. "When we settle down in Eastern, Mommy said we can get a Kitty!" Al's eyes went wide, "Really?" Morgan bobbed her head up and down, nodding and grinning broadly. "Awwww, but I won't get to see it!" "But I'm gonna write to you guys, and I can send you a picture..." "But that's not the same." Morgan thought for a second, "Maybe Mom'll let you and Ed come and stay for a weekend sometime." "Really?" Morgan nodded vigorously, "Of course!" She said as if she already knew her Mom would say yes for sure. She turned back to the front to see Ed running toward them, laughing. "Al!" He called. He stopped just short of running into them. "Mom says Lunch is ready." He turned toward Morgan, "She says you're invited too, if you want."
"You never wrote." Al said.
"There's a perfectly good explanation for that."
"Oh, really, and what would that be?" he asked.
"I forgot your address?"
"How could you forget our address?! You must have spent half your childhood at our house!" Ed yelled out from behind her.
Morgan dragged Al toward the group that consisted of Roy, Kaytie, Ed and now Morgan and Al. She sighed, "I just did, okay?"
"Fine!" He said harshly, crossing his arms over his chest. Morgan rolled her eyes.
"I dun wanna go live with Kaytie's Mom!" Morgan whined to Roy, at lunch break. The first half of her day consisted of helping him with his procrastinated paperwork.
"We don't have anywhere else to put you."
"But Kaytie's Moms mean!" She argued.
"She really is," Kaytie said backing Morgan up. "You know where Joey went?"
Roy, Morgan, Ed, and Al shook their heads. "Neither do I. We, my brother Miguel and I, have a theory that he might have run away, but every time we used to mention it to Mom, that always got ruled out."
"Why?" Morgan asked. "Wait do I want to know?"
"She'd go all quiet and when we'd leave the room we could hear her laughing." Kaytie shook her head sadly. "We used to think she was insane. Now we know she's insane."
"I dun wanna go and you cant make me!" Morgan said latching herself onto Al's arm. The coffee was kicking in. Suddenly Morgan was struck with a thought, "What am I gonna do with Blacky and Whitey? I thought your Mom hated cats?"
"She does she killed all my cats." Morgan's jaw dropped and Al gasped in horror.
Ed smacked his hand to his head "You just had to tell him"
Ignoring Ed, Kaytie went on. "The first was when I was six. I remember I tried to and succeeded in changing Midnight's fur colour with alchemy" She shook her head, "I said to Mom, 'Mommy! Look I changed Midnight's fur blue!', then she hit him over the head with a frying pan." Morgan's and Al's faces wore astonished looks while clinging to each other's arms.
"The next one was Dot. She was a good cat until my Mom threw her in front of a moving train."
Morgan had heard enough, "Don't tell me that! I have to live with her!"
Kaytie shrugged. "Fine, have it your way. I was just trying to warn you, so you'd be prepared. Take care of Missy for me. I think she's trying to starve her."
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!!" Morgan was shaking her head and covering her ears. "I don't want to know!"
"Anyway," Roy said dismissing the subject, "Morgan, you have the rest of the day off to pack...then I get your room."
"You know what Colonel Mustang? You suck!" She crossed her arms over her chest, hating him more with every passing second. He just gave one of his famous 'Roy Mustang smirks'
Morgan sighed, grabbed her sweater vest off the back of her chair and dumped her tray in the garbage. "Better go pack then. Ed, Al, one of you, at least one is coming with me."
"Ah, come on!" Ed complained. "Do we have to?"
"Would you rather stay here with him?" She asked with a knowing look and jerking her thumb toward Roy.
"Good point." He stood up and he and Al followed her out the door.
"They're cute together." Kaytie said when they left.
Roy looked at her, "I thought you hated FullMetal?"
"Oh, I do, I assure you I do, but," She said choosing her words carefully "I guarantee you, give it a month maybe two, and she'll be head over high heels."