Author Note: This story is loosely based on my previous FMA fanfiction. I had originally planned for my OC to be a man in that story but I had chickened out since I wanted to write a romance so here I'm finally writing what I had originally intended with a new and improved story.

If you haven't read my other FMA story then DON'T. Trust me. It's crap in my opinion. It was my first story so I was unsure in my writing and my grammar was atrocious. There are also potential spoilers in it so please don't.

Not sure about fanfic title or summary. Help would be most appreciated.

Warning: There will be attempted slash in this story. I had never written slash before so you have been warned.

Disclaimer: FMA and its characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa

Chapter 1:

Fire coursed through me, burning my organs and robbing me of air. The lack of air made my lungs burn even more. My cries of pain were silent and breathless but still tore at my throat, scratching and tearing it. My body bucked uncontrollably against the cold, hard restraints that bound me. Nothing I did relieved me of the pain though. My struggles did nothing but draw blood that felt boiling hot against my skin. My wide eyes, filled with hot tears, begged for relief and mercy but those around me did nothing. They watched with wicked grins, not moving an inch to help. I didn't really expect them to; they were the ones that did this to me after all. They stood there chuckling as my body fought viciously against the pain that consumed and devoured my entire being.

"AAAHHHHH!" I screamed as I finally ripped myself from the nightmare. I panted harshly, filling my aching lungs with the air I couldn't get in my nightmare. My heart pounded furiously as awareness returned to me. I released my fierce grip on the blanket once all the lingering traces of the nightmare faded. I fell back onto the pillow as my body lost all its tension.

"Damn it." I cursed, throwing an arm over my eyes. "Why?" My throat clogged up as tears started spilling down my face. "Why does it keep coming back?" I asked aloud, desperately hoping for an answer. An answer didn't come though, none ever did. No matter how many times I asked, I was left to suffer without any idea why. I once again pushed that damn nightmare and the memories it brought up deep down, hoping like always that it would never return. I knew it would be back though. It always came back to haunt me.

I turned my eyes onto the clock on my small beside table. Seeing that it wasn't too early, I decided to get up. It wasn't like I was going to fall back asleep anyway. I dropped to the floor to perform my daily pushups. It was more of a habit than a necessity but it happened to calm me so I continued it. It added to the sweat that already covered me but I didn't mind. I jumped up once done and made my way to my small bathroom. I froze in front of the mirror just outside it. The full-length mirror that the previous owner left for some reason gave me a full view of the scars that riddled my flesh. I once again questioned why I sleep in nothing but boxer shorts. This had become another morning routine. I would stand in front of that mirror and trace my numerous scars with my eyes. It was almost as if I expected some to disappear during the night. I sighed once my roaming eyes reached my face.

It was back. Right above my left eye was what appeared to be a tattoo but was in actuality an intricate scar that faded away from time to time. It would always come back though, just as red as the day I received it. It was another constant reminder of my past, just like that nightmare. I never knew why it faded then came back or what it meant. I knew how I got it though. It was on that day that I constantly relived in my nightmares that I received this strange scar. I could probably learn about it if I was to research it but I couldn't bear to do that. I didn't want to know. I didn't want to know what I had become.

I left the shabby apartment later with bandages wrapped around my head. They served to cover more than the scar though. I didn't like to think about it but it wasn't really something you could forget. The eye right beneath the scar was blind. It was now a milky white that always drew people's attention so I kept the bandages on when the scar returned and an eye patch when it wasn't there. My coworkers had stopped asking me about it though they always gave me concerned looks when I wore the bandages. They probably thought someone was constantly beating me. There was no one in my life to do such a thing though…I was alone. I felt it was impossible for me to form any sort of friendship with anyone. They would want me to share my troubles and there was no way I would want to burden anyone with my past. I told myself that I was fine being alone but just like most people I longed for companionship. I longed for someone to care and treat me with kindness and compassion. I probably longed for it more than most due to being denied such a thing my whole life. My childhood, well, let's just say that it was far from an average one.

I organized the boxes in the back of the store like I did every day. My mind wasn't really on the task though. It was instead on what I had heard happened in Central a few weeks ago. A rogue state alchemist had apparently tried to freeze over Central but was stopped. Fuhrer King Bradley had killed him. I shuddered as my thoughts turned to Bradley. The man terrified me and with good reason. It wasn't a reason I could share with others though. It was because of him that I was living in a small town instead of in a big city like East City or Central; I couldn't risk him finding me. I had served my purpose but that didn't mean he could let me roam free. He was probably still on the look out for me since my escape. I wanted nothing more to do with him though. I couldn't help but wonder what his plans were for this country. They couldn't be good if what happened in Ishval was any indication. My desire to stop his plans was overshadowed by my desire to remain hidden and safe. I had started to question that recently though.

Was it really worth staying where I was? Doing nothing but move boxes around? Shouldn't I be putting my abilities to good use? Would I be able to forgive myself for being so selfish later when everything went to hell? It would make for a pretty good revenge I realized. Using what I gained from those bastards to stop their plans. I liked the sound of that. But I wouldn't know what to do really.

Should I spy on Central headquarters? That would probably just reveal myself to Bradley. It would help if I had some allies but once again I was at a loss. How would I get allies? How could I know who was trustworthy or part of Bradley's plan? A sudden cry broke through my thoughts.

"Help!"

I rushed outside to see what was happening. A woman was being mugged. The robber was trying to use the mostly abandoned street to his advantage. I moved forward to help but someone beat me to it. The robber was taken down by a whirl of gold, red and black. A teen a couple years younger than me stood proudly over the man he had knocked out. I was struck speechless. The teen's hair was a striking shade of gold that matched his eyes. The long hair was tied back into a braid, leaving long bangs to frame his face. And what a face it was. The teen's features were still slightly rounded due to his age but there was a chiseled sharpness to it at the same time. Those eyes burned with a wisdom and sharp determination that was awe-inspiring. His nose was just the right size for his face and the scowl his nice lips shifted into fit him perfectly. It was only after taking in all this things that I noticed his height. He was short for his age but that didn't make him any less enchanting to me. It was the first time really that I found myself captivated by someone; I was simply swept up by his very presence.

"Ed!" A suit of armor came running up to the teen. It was then that I recognized who it was I was looking at. This teen was Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. The silver chain leading to his pocket proved as such.

"What took you so long, Al?" Edward asked, throwing his brother a smile. That smile was breathtaking all on it's own. It brightened his face and made him look more like his age instead of the worn, experienced teen he really was. The robber was arrested and Edward was praised for his good deed. He clearly hadn't done it with that in mind; he was just doing what was right. That realization was just the thing I needed. If I needed allies, then who better than the famous Fullmetal Alchemist and his brother? I decided to follow them for the time being and see if they were under Bradley's control or not. If they weren't, then I'd try and ask for their help.

Author Note: Some of you might have already guessed what my character's backstory is but I'm not going to confirm or deny anything at this point. Honestly, I'm still working out some things but the backstory is the one thing I have cemented. I don't even know for sure what part in the anime this is happening.

I promise Carter isn't like all those others characters that won't share their dark past with others. Carter will share his past with Edward and Alphonse but he needs to know if he can trust them first, which won't take too long.

Please don't drop my story just for that reason.

Please Review.