Chapter 2

Rory smiled as he heard Winry yell at Ed from outside as he lounged next to Den. He blinked in confusion when a massive shadow fell over him. He glanced up at the tall, bald man, "Hello, sir."

"Hello," The mustache moved with the word. "I'm Major Alexander Louis Armstrong. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Rory smiled, holding out his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Major. You're a state alchemist?"

"Of course," Armstrong nodded, shaking his hand. "How did you know?"

"Takes an alchemist to know an alchemist," The younger male replied with a grin. He blinked confusedly when the military man stared at him, "Is there something on my face?"

Armstrong shook his head, coughing into his fist, "I'm sorry, you just remind me of a person I know. People, actually."

"Really?" Rory swallowed dryly. "Would it be too much to ask who?"

Armstrong looked away, clearing his throat, "Tell me, Rory boy, where are your parents?"

Rory gazed at the floor solemnly. Den laid her head on his lap, seeming to gaze up at him sympathetically. Armstrong shook his head, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"No, it's fine," Rory said lightly. "I don't have parents. Well, I do but I don't know where they're at. They left me when I was born."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

The boy nodded, "Yeah, me too." He looked up to Armstrong with a fierce glint in his eyes, and the elder alchemist could suddenly see a certain Lieutenant and Colonel, "But I'm gonna find them."

"Do you know where to start?"

Rory laughed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head, "Not really. I was just gonna see where the wind took me."

Armstrong knew he shouldn't do it. He shouldn't give the boy false hope that if he did find his parents, they would want him back. He couldn't help it though. When he saw the boy laugh, he was reminded of when he saw the stony lieutenant or stoic colonel smile so rarely. "I think," The older alchemist began, "Maybe you should accompany Edward and Alphonse Elric. You might just find the ones you're looking for."

"You think so?" Rory's eyes lit up, and Armstrong felt a pang of sadness flow through him. The teen in front of him had so much hope for people he didn't even know; people that might disappoint him.

"You never know, my boy," He replied vaguely.

Rory sighed, rubbing his neck, "Honestly, I don't think they like me very much." He shook his head, standing up, "Well, I can't let that deter me. I'll go out on my own and see what happens. If I happen to find the Elrics on my journey, I'll ask if I can accompany them."

He then walked to the house, where he found Winry and Pinako tightening the bolts on Ed's automail. Ed grunted painfully, glaring venomously at the taller boy, "What do you want?"

Rory smiled uneasily, lifting his hands up in surrender, "Nothing, sorry." He walked away to the spare room where he slept. He heard Winry's voice say something to Ed, but he was too far gone to even care.

He blinked confusedly when he saw the suit of armor, Al, sitting in his small, makeshift room. "Oh," He mumbled with a slight blush. "Hello."

"Hi," Al shifted, turning to the other boy. "I'm Alphonse Elric. I'm sorry for what my brother tried to do to you. It's a good thing you were a match for him."

Rory chuckled nervously, "It was nothing, really. I just hope your brother doesn't have a grudge against me or something."

"Ed doesn't usually warm up to people easily."

"I can see that," The dark haired boy muttered under his breath before smiling. "I'm Rory, by the way."

"What brings you over here?"

"Well, this is my room," Rory replied, gesturing to the small mattress under Al.

Al glanced down, gasping, "Oh, I'm sorry."

Rory waved his hand dismissively, sitting down next to him, "It's fine. It's too early to go to bed anyways."

"Um," Al's head moved left to right, seeming like he was thinking. "How did you meet the Rockbells?"

Rory clenched his automail hand and trailed his other hand over it, "I uh…I did human transmutation." The silence from Al was too loud. He had to continue, "When I was born, my parents gave me away. A man named Leo took care of me. He was my guardian since I was born. He died a couple of years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Al said quietly.

Rory nodded before gazing up at the younger boy's glowing eyes, "I'm sorry about what happened to you guys too. Pinako and Winry told me about it when I came here for automail."

"The gate?" Al questioned. "It took your left arm?"

Rory nodded absentmindedly, thinking about what the gate had given him as well. He felt that Al was someone he could trust, but he couldn't risk it, "Yeah. I woke up and wandered around for a few days before I came here. The Rockbells patched me up well and let me stay with them."

"They're like family."

Rory smiled softly, "Yeah, they are." He looked up to Al, "I hope you don't mind, Alphonse, but I'm gonna take a quick nap, okay?"

He heard the shifting of metal before he fell asleep. He assumed the younger boy was nodding.

Rory sighed heavily as he packed the last of his stuff in his backpack. He attached his sword to back and put his gun in his holster. He put on the backpack and tiptoed quietly through the hall. He made it to the living room when he stopped short. He huffed lightly, staring at the blonde girl in front of him, "Winry? What are you doing up?"

Winry jumped, startled, and turned around to him. She set her hands on her hips firmly as she glared, "What are you doing up?" She then blinked confusedly at his attire, "And where are you going?"

Rory walked up to her slowly, "Winry, you know I came here because of something stupid I did. I don't regret meeting you and Pinako, but I have something to do. I have to find my parents."

"What?" Winry breathed in shock. "You're going right now to look for them? Honestly, Rory."

Rory smiled a bit sadly. He didn't want to leave her and he was sure she was going to be lonely when the Elrics left as well. He gripped her shoulders reassuringly, gazing into her eyes determinedly, "Hey, this is what I have to do. I'm sorry, Win. I really don't want to leave either."

"Then don't," Winry's cracking voice broke his heart.

He shook his head, pulling her into a hug. She barely came up to his shoulder. "I'll be back before you know it, I promise. Nothing can keep me away from you guys. You're my family." He rubbed her back for good measure.

Winry sniffled, pulling away, "Be safe."

Rory nodded, adjusting his backpack, "I will. Tell Pinako I said bye, and thanks for everything."

Winry punched his arm lightly, "It's not goodbye. You said you were coming back."

The boy smiled, "I am. See ya, Winry."

She waved at his retreating form until she couldn't see him in the dark night anymore. It was just one more person leaving her.