A Little Difference
Full Metal Alchemist fanfiction
By AveonThorn
A small splash disturbed the slowly flowing water. The afternoon light glistened atop the disturbed surface until it settled back into its mirror-like state.
"Stupid."
Another splash.
"Idiotic."
Another splash.
"Name calling jerks!"
There was a particularly loud splash as the fuming child threw a larger rock into the winding river. The thick plunk of the sound oddly satisfying. The young blonde let out another growl as one more chunk of stone flew into the air only to hit the bank on the other side.
"Whoa. That was amazing!" Another blonde child said as he sat up from the lush grass he was laying in. "You made it reach all the way."
"That's not the point Al." the sitting boy watched as his upset sibling kicked at a clump of dirt before ungracefully falling to the grown beside him. "They didn't have to say those things." The voice was softer this time, but no less hurt by the cruel words they had both heard.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Al grinned and nudged his fellow blonde with his shoulder. "You got 'em good, though." His grin widened as he saw pouting lips twitch and then turn into the satisfied smirk he was waiting for.
"Ya, well, it's not my fault that the jerk's not aware of his surroundings."
"You tripped him into the manure cart."
"That's what you get for saying that my name sounds like what comes out of a horse's mouth." The blonde crossed thin arms in a defiant huff. All the while, grinning at the little victory over the older boys in their school. "I just made his face look like what comes out the other end."
The two children melted into a pile of giggles. Holding their sides when they found it hard to breathe. When they calmed, they were flat on their backs. Staring up into the cloudless sky.
"I don't like it." The lighter blonde suddenly said.
"Don't like what?" the other turned his head to the side in question.
"My name"
The younger boy scrunched his brows together, wondering where his older sister was going with this. "Winifred?"
"Ugh, don't say it."
"But it the name dad gave you."
The girl stilled for a moment before sighing "Ya, well, 'blessed friend of peace' or whatever, isn't really me."
They lapsed into silence as the two children thought about the man they hadn't seen for months.
"What was Dad like?" Al asked quietly.
"He's gone a lot, but he always comes back." The girl said this as if it was just one of his extended trips, but she knew without being told. She saw it in his eyes the night he left. He wasn't coming back.
"I know that. But what was he like?"
"He's smart. He's got loads of books in his office."
Al sat up and looked down at his sister. "The room mom doesn't want us in?"
"Ah-ha"
"What kind of book?"
The lighter blond grinned knowingly. She had already snuck in while Alphonse was helping mom with the laundry the week before, "You want to look and see?" the look in her brother's eyes was all she needed for an answer as she shot up and started down the road that led to their home.
Al called after her as he quickly followed. she turned in answer "Don't use that name anymore. It's too close to Winery's anyway?"
"What will I call you then, sis?" he asked as he caught up to her.
The girl stood for a minute as she thought.
"Ed" she finally said, "call me Ed."