The Call of the Psiren

Chapter 1

The Assignment

Edward Elric was furious; there just was no way around it. Here he was on the most stupid assignment he'd ever been sent on in his entire life. The bastard, Colonel Roy Mustang, did this to him on purpose, he was sure of it. He looked out over the water that threatened to take the last of the tourist town he'd just arrived in, as the evening sun set sparkles to it. Aquroya, he hadn't been here in a few years. He definitely remembered the beautiful thief he'd tried to apprehend for the local police, she was hard to forget. And now it was because of her he'd been sent back. The assignment was so pointless, he'd even sent his brother to Resembool to see Winry; there was no reason to drag Al into this. Observe, the Colonel had told him; just observe Clara or Psiren, the thief. Why on Earth would someone so important to the military as he be sent to spy on a two-bit petty thief? Well, she was an alchemist, and a pretty good one at that if he remembered correctly. She'd gotten the better of him at least once. What was really chapping his hide was the fact that he was just supposed to record her actions, not intervene, not stop her from breaking the law, just sit back and watch. Stupid, he thought to himself again.

He decided to get a bite to eat before checking into his hotel room, and then he'd sneak his way around town to try to find his reason for being here. He'd left with a listing of her whereabouts, her home address, the hotel she currently worked at, various places she'd broken into recently, and places she probably would rob next. He sighed as he looked up at the restaurant entrance; it was going to be a long night.

xxx

It was dark and Ed felt like he'd been waiting behind the stinking garbage can all night, he pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time, it read ten o'clock. Then he saw the figure of a woman leaving the hotel. She stopped at the top of the stairs and looked around nervously. What was she looking for, he wondered? He could see the shine of her hair in the moonlight and her figure, was it that perfect the last time he saw her, he wondered? His mouth hung open for a minute before he caught himself, stop it Ed, she's just an alchemic thief, remember?

Clara started off down the street walking at a fast pace, her long legs kept her moving easily.

"Damn," Ed muttered as he took off after her and tried to match her pace. He followed her to her home; she lived in an apartment building. Thankfully for Ed, she was on the lower level. He watched her enter the building and turned his attention to the window that lit up shortly after. He peered in and saw her walk through what appeared to be a living room. The window next to the one he stood at illuminated and he turned to gaze into her bedroom. He stood hidden by bushes and watched as she removed her blouse, the familiar transmutation circle was apparent on her chest. She pulled her skirt down and Ed suddenly gasped as he realized how perverted it was for him to be watching her like this. He put his hand up to his face to cover his eyes, but stopped just short as she turned around in the room and removed her bra. He saw the soft skin of her bare back and noticed how her black panties hugged her behind.

Ed found he couldn't take his eyes off her. Seeing her almost naked like this made him feel strange in a good sort of way. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open, breathing heavily. He knew he wasn't supposed to look, but he couldn't help it. He felt swelling between his legs as he continued to watch her walk around her bedroom, he wanted to see more, but she somehow kept her back toward him. Then she disappeared into what looked like a bathroom. Ed finally relaxed a bit and gulped hard. He peeked down at the bump in his pants, he was throbbing, "Damn-it Ed, what are you doing, what an idiot," he whispered to himself. When he heard a door inside her apartment open, he looked back up in time to see her walk out into her bedroom in her black Psiren costume.

She moved quickly through the rooms and soon she was outside again. She began running down the street with a very aroused state alchemist on her tail.

Ed sat outside the jewelry store while he waited for her to finish her job inside. Since he wasn't allowed to stop her, there was no reason to try and get inside. While he waited, his mind kept replaying what he'd seen in her apartment, he'd never actually seen a full-grown woman naked before. It was a sight he'd like to see again.

He heard something clanking in the alleyway and realized she must be finished with the store. He picked up the pace as he followed her to a house not far from her apartment. He snickered as he thought how good he was at his job, he'd hid himself very well from her, there was no indication at all she suspected he was right behind her.

He watched as she slowed down and hesitated at the door of the small house, then she seemed to abruptly turn the knob and open the door. Edward ran to the windows of the house and was pleased to find his prey standing in the kitchen with a man. He struggled to get a better look, he was unable to make out who the man was from his position and he had a hard time hearing the conversation through the open window.

Psiren handed the man a small linen bag and bowed, waiting for a response from the man in the kitchen. Ed heard the man shouting at her and gasped as he watched him strike her across the face. Ed lurched forward in the bushes; his anger was building as he saw the force of the strike knock her to her knees. He really wanted to intervene, he wanted to show that guy he shouldn't do something like that to her. Who the hell is he and why would he hit her, he wondered? Ed clenched his fists, he knew he had to maintain his position; he couldn't blow the assignment the first night out.

Ed watched as she got up and rubbed her face, she muttered something to the man and walked away. Why didn't she fight back? He ran back to the front door of the house in time to see her walk slowly down the street. He kept a good distance from her, but it was obvious to him whatever had transpired had left a mark on her. She walked with her head lowered and seemed to be in deep thought.

Ed followed her back to her apartment and chastised himself for getting excited about possibly seeing her strip down again. As she entered her bedroom, Ed felt himself hardening at the prospect of what was to come. He was not disappointed, as he took his position behind the bushes, he watched the languid movement of her body as she disrobed and walked to her closet. This time he could see her ample bosom as she came close to the window. Ed's breathing became labored and he found himself pushing his hips up against a water pipe that ran along the outside of her building. He licked his lips and closed his eyes briefly as the sensation of pressure on his firmness shivered through him. His imagination was running wild as thoughts of touching her filled his mind. He tried to pull himself back to the present, she'd put on her nightgown, but of course he was still able to discern her figure through the thin silky cloth. His eyes caught on the tiny bumps pushing through the fabric as she once again came close to the window, suddenly, the curtains were drawn and he was left with nothing but the backside of her draperies to look at.

He shook his head, he needed to go back to his hotel, he needed to process what he'd seen tonight and get control of himself.

xxx

He lay on his back in bed but couldn't sleep, so many thoughts were pouring through his mind. His arms cradled his head as he thought. He tried to focus on the questions he had for what her purpose was in bringing her loot to the man in the house, but his mind always drifted back to the beautiful way her body looked striped naked in her bedroom. He fought the compulsion to touch himself, he wouldn't do that; he didn't feel right about it. He turned over onto his side and let out a heavy sigh. Morning couldn't come fast enough as he closed his eyes.

Ed found himself in a room, he was naked and there were people staring in at him from the windows. He tried to cover himself with his hands, when he noticed a figure approaching him. As the figure got closer, he realized it was Clara; she sensually walked up to him and put an arm on his shoulder. She leaned in and gave him a lingering kiss. Ed felt himself starting to swell, but he couldn't get away; the sweet feel of her mouth on his possessed him. He surrendered to her as he felt her arms wrap around him. He became only slightly aware of the gallery of people still watching them. He felt something warm and wet on his firmness and he thrust into the sensation. He moaned loudly as he felt the delicious friction take hold of him. He continued pushing his hips into whatever confined him and soon the tension began to release itself. He opened his eyes and thrust into the mattress, trying to catch his climax before it ended.

"Shit," he muttered to himself, now he had a little mess to clean up. He looked around his small room and realized it was morning. He lifted himself up and raked a hand through his bangs as he sat on the bed. He could feel a sticky spot in his boxers. As he scanned the sheets, he was thankful he didn't see any further evidence of his dream. He climbed to the edge of the bed and stood. He shook his head and chuckled at the stupidity of it all, before he walked into his bathroom to get cleaned up.

xxx

It had been a warm pleasant day in Aquroya and Ed had spent most of it trying to stifle the urge to visit Clara at the hotel that employed her. He was afraid if he went there during the day she'd see him and recognize him. It didn't stop him from being bombarded by her in his thoughts; he'd tried to keep himself busy sight seeing. But everywhere he went he kept thinking of how she had probably been here before, she had probably seen this, it was like her spirit was following him.

As darkness cast it's shadows on the many canals of the water town, Ed felt himself getting almost giddy, it was nearing time to see the woman who'd turn into an obsession over the last twenty four hours. He made his way back to her hotel and placed himself by the trashcan again, waiting to catch a glimpse of the woman who haunted him. His breath caught in his throat as the door opened and his Clara emerged.

Something was obviously troubling her, he watched her walk forlornly down the street in front of him, her usual pep was not present tonight. He wondered if it had to do with her brutal treatment from the man she went to see last night. As they neared her apartment, dusk was just starting to fall. He was grateful he didn't have to wait so long for the show to start tonight.

Clara set her purse down on the kitchen table and walked into her bedroom. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching her. It had been so strong last night when she got home, she'd felt the need to draw her curtains; something she didn't normally do. She made her way into the bedroom, she was dreading the onset of evening; it meant she had to comply with that man, the one she hated.

Ed watched eagerly from his concealed position as she made her way into her bedroom. He anticipated the form of her plump breasts as he licked his lips. His pulse quickened and his heart thundered in his chest. However, instead of seeing her disrobe, he stared as she sat down on the edge of her bed and dropped her head into her hands. He could hear her soft sobs echo out through the now open window. He put his flesh hand up to his mouth, stunned and empathetic to her apparent pain. He saw her turn around and throw herself to her bed, burying her face in a pillow as she wept even harder. Ed wanted so badly to go crawl through her window and go to her. He wanted to be the one to comfort her and bring happiness back to her pretty face. Soon, it was almost too much for him to witness as he felt his own tears sting his eyes, he had to turn around and collect himself. He stood leaning back on her building next to her window and waited for her crying to cease.

When he heard her fumbling around in her room, he turned his attentions back to her window, and was relieved to see her start to undress. He felt his arousal take hold of him as she undid her blouse and tossed it on the nearby chair. He his breathing became heavy as she dropped her skirt on the floor and stepped out of it. He let himself push up against the water pipe again as she bent over, exposing the sumptuous area between her legs, hidden under pink panties. She pulled out a new outfit from her wardrobe and put it back on. He felt like the whole display had been purely for him as he let himself rub up and down on the pipe. When she finished dressing, he pulled himself back from his motions, this time he ached and it was all he could muster to keep himself from shoving his hand down his pants to release the build up that gathered in his groin. But he wouldn't do that, not here, not now. Maybe later, he thought as he grinned wickedly. She was driving him crazy, he thought, he never imagined he'd behave this way.

He quickly turned his attentions to the entrance to her building as he saw a figure leaving out of the corner of his eye. He followed as he recognized it to be her. As he watched her enter a nearby pub, he noticed she was wearing a black miniskirt and a white, low slung form-fitting blouse. He felt a little funny thinking of her going into that sort of establishment with so much skin exposed. He was starting to think of her sensual skin as belonging to him, he realized. He was in trouble; his emotions were overwhelming his assignment.

He snuck his way into the pub through the back door and took a seat in the dimly lit corner. He watched intently as she sat at the bar with a beer in front of her. Ed ordered a beer and some food when the waiter appeared. He leaned his cheek on his metal hand over the table as his gaze studied her. He noticed the softness of her hair, the quick smile that radiated a glow through the room. He wished he was sitting with her, he imagined the conversation they'd have. They could talk of alchemy; then he'd kiss her and hold her hand. He'd feel her hair running through his fingers. His visions were rudely interrupted by the plate of food the waiter set down in front of him.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" the waiter asked as he softly set down the plate.

"Huh?" Ed replied as he looked up at him.

He saw the waiter chuckle, he nodded in Clara's direction, "I said, she's beautiful."

Ed nodded his agreement and hungrily devoured the plate of food set before him. His gaze never left her. He noticed she'd also ordered dinner, as a plate was set in front of her by the bartender. His imagination went wild again as he envisioned sitting across from her, gazing into her eyes as they both ate.

He noticed a man pulling up a chair next to her. The man started talking to Clara, his Clara. He could see the look the man held in his eyes, it was lustful. Didn't Clara see it, he thought? Didn't she see how the man moved his eyes over her bosom, how his eyes roamed over her body? Ed finished his meal and sat forward in his seat, making note of every detail, every time she flung her hair back for the stranger. Damn Mustang, why couldn't he intervene, why couldn't he let his presence be known? He fought his jealousy as he ordered another beer and another; he felt the need to drown his urges in the gold beverage.

Ed came close to standing at his table or walking over to her the more he saw her casually touch the strange man, as their conversation turned more intimate. His anger flared as he saw her lean in towards him and whisper in his ear. He even spit out a mouth full of beer when he saw the man's hand reach around her back and pull her close. He had to get away, he couldn't watch anymore. Ed paid the bill and let himself out through the way he'd come in. He stood in the street and backed himself up to the outside wall of the pub. He fought to get a handle on his anger, his jealousy and his still shaking hands. When he felt calm enough, he walked around to the front of the building. Ed shied away as Clara passed him, arm in arm with the stranger. She hadn't given any indication that she'd noticed him, a fact that both relieved and disturbed him.

Ed gave chase, following the couple the short distance back to her apartment. He cringed as he peered through her window from his hiding spot and saw her walk across her living area holding the stranger by the hand, heading for her bedroom door. How could she bring this terrible man to her bedroom, Ed questioned? Surely, she would make him leave, nothing would happen. She just met this man, his head screamed. Ed bit his lip as he saw her wrap her arms around the stranger and pull him down on top of her onto her bed. The couple twisted and writhed with passion as their bodies met and their lips engaged.

Ed turned around, his back against her building wall and let himself fall downward, sliding his back against the rough bricks. He covered his ears with his hands; he didn't want to hear her moans, not when it was meant for someone else. He pulled his legs close to his chest when he hit the bottom and rested his forehead on the forearms he propped there. He shut his eyes tightly; he had to keep the visions of her with that man out of his mind. He felt hot tears escape down his cheeks even as he tried to tell himself she didn't even know he existed, what should he expect?

Ed pulled himself together enough to stand and made his way across the lawn in front of her building. He wasn't going to subject himself to anymore of this tonight, he didn't give a damn what Mustang wanted. He couldn't believe how heartbroken he felt. How did this happen to him so quickly? Did the assignment awaken feelings for her that lay dormant all these years, feelings that started the first time he'd met her? He'd just been a kid; he never would have understood what was going on inside him back then. He finally realized what the excitement had been about, fluttering in his chest, when Mustang originally told him of this assignment. He finally recognized why he'd been so insistent with Al about visiting Winry instead of accompanying him. He'd wanted to see her and he'd wanted to be alone with her all along.

He opened the door to his hotel room and threw himself, face first, onto his small rented bed. He sighed as he thought back to something more pleasant, Clara undressing in her bedroom. He revisited the moment in his imagination and felt himself harden at the sight of her full breasts, of her bending over, for him. He thrust into his bed as aching enveloped his lower torso. He turned over onto his back and undid his pants; he brought his flesh hand up to his mouth and spit before plunging into the depths of his arousal. He stroked hard on himself, trying to let the sensation relieve him of everything he'd witnessed that evening. Ed bucked his hips to meet the enticing movement of his hand as he felt the tingling of his climax start to wash over him. He stroked harder, faster, as he twisted on the bed. He only thought of his Clara, her hand stroking him, her mouth on his, her body pressed up against him. He imagined her making the noises he heard tonight for him, and only him, as sharp moans escaped out of his own lips. He surrendered to his climax as the tension released and wave after wave of pleasure moved through every fiber of his being.