Disclaimer: FMA does not belong to me. Congratulations for figuring that one out.
AN: This is set during Ed and Al's training under Izumi. Straightforward stuff.
Funny, isn't it?
How everything you could ever want is always so close and so far away? Izumi sighs as she clears away the apple peal from the chopping board and rubs her hand on her apron. She remembers when she was young, growing up without a Mother but a Father and bevy of Aunts. Her Father taught her how to fight, alchemise and drink beer with the best of them. Her Aunts had always been more concerned with her marriage-ability and biological clock seemingly in that precise order. They'd clucked their tongues at her Father because no man would want a girl like that. He'd said that only a strong confident wonderful man would want a woman like that and that's exactly what she got.
"Ed! We're out of milk. Go get some from the corner shop."
"Do I have to?"
"Don't make me repeat myself young man! Now go!"
"Semi or skimmed?"
"Skimmed. Get to it."
Izumi turned back to her cooking. She was a damn fine cook if she said so herself. She often did in fact since no one else seemed to. She had devoured recipe books. They were calming. Precise. Orderly. Every ingredient had its place and was used. Of course she'd always imagined herself cooking for her family and experimenting with her baby in the kitchen, getting flour everywhere and taste testing… Funny how that didn't work out…
"Anything I can do?"
"No, Al but thank you for asking. It'll be ready to bake pretty soon."
Al sauntered out the kitchen. She placed all the apple bits in the pie and placed the doughy crust over the top. It was the ultimate irony that she, she who was strong and independent felt the need to be strong for someone, that urge to protect. She was certain that the Almighty, the One as it were, had leapt into existence and her consciousness just to laugh at her.
"Teacher! Teacher! Look! There's a parcel for me!"
"Oh, that! Well, it's finally arrived. Go on open it."
"… It's clothes…"
"Of course it's clothes! You're growing up so quickly; it wouldn't do to leave you in those old things. You better damn well be grateful, I had to order those from Central. And do you have any idea how expensive that is for a simple housewife like me?"
Izumi resented the broodiness that never left her but somehow she'd grown reliant on it. It was the pain that reminded her of her existence and her reality. Kept her sharp. She'd always wanted a child of her own. Always would.
Al kissed her cheek and ran upstairs to try on his new outfit.
Funny that.
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