Hello, all! Thanks for the wait with this chapter. Life has a habit of getting in the way sometimes.

A special thanks to JMichelleW, Pandoru, and heavybreathingcat whose reviews and PMs really helped me improve my writing last chapter. This chapter exists, because of you lovely people. Enjoy!


29th April, 1807; Wellesley, Western Amestris

The rain pattered down around Nadine's rushing form. She was attempting to skip around the puddles that littered the muddy road as she hastily made her way from the café towards home. While her fast pace was deliberate, her mind was far away.

Solaris had left her not long after putting forth her proposition. The mysterious woman had mentioned a new program the Amestrian Military was starting up. She recalled the words the woman had said,

"It is a special military task force to gather alchemists trained by the state. The idea has been in the works for a while, but you know how inflexible government red tape can be. While alchemists have always been welcomed into the ranks, they tend to be rather…unruly and ill-trained in their specialty.

The Military Academy will be conducting an exercise focusing on the particulars of alchemic warfare for a new class of incoming students. A subset would include a group of students training to harness alchemy for medicinal and scientific purposes. The hope is to hone alchemists from scratch, making them much more reliable and proficient for military use."

She had been told that Solaris was a recruiter from the government, sent out to proposition young people into joining the program. Apparently, Nadine's proclivity for reading medicinal texts on alchemy had peaked the bodacious woman's interest. Additionally, invitation was limited to those Solaris, and her apparent partner who merely watched the entire exchange from across the room, handpicked.

Solaris also pressed that, "Experience as an alchemist is not a required prerequisite for entrance. In fact, it is not encouraged as the Academy wants to build the recruits from the bottom up. To avoid priorly obtained bad habits and to foster resolute unity, you see?"

That singular fact was a bit unnerving to Nadine, but she didn't dwell too long on it.

After the short conversation, Solaris rose from the table with all the elegance of a refined aristocrat. She encouraged Nadine to think her proposition over, and with that ghosted out of the café. Her male companion quickly crossed the room, and followed her out the door, but not before he tossed a sharp-toothed grin back at Nadine.

It seemed too good to be true. Too convenient. Too well-timed that this offer would come just as her family's apothecary business was going under. Could they possibly know about that? They had been watching her for some time, so it was possible. However, she could not deny that the proposal was rather enticing.

"Finally," Nadine muttered through the downpour as she approached the familiar sign that read, Matris Rememdii.

Standing under the alcove of the shop, the brunette tossed her mud-splattered shoes aside. Rubbing the moisture from her woolen stockings, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. She was in the middle of wringing out her moist clothes, creating a pool of water at the entrance to the room, when a voice caught her by surprise.

"Hey!" A shout echoed from across the room

Nadine ceased to fiddle with the folds of her soaking skirt, and looked up at the call.

A young woman stood on the opposite side of the room leaning into the checkout counter against a backdrop of vials and clouded jars. Though she seemed to be in her early twenties, she didn't look all that different from Nadine. The same pale skin, pert lips, and gray eyes looked back at her.

Only two features really differentiated the two young women. With a bit of bitterness, Nadine marveled at the slight reddish tint to the girl's hair that she herself did not have. She had always wished that she had inherited their mother's hair color just like Lucille, and their younger brother, Leon, had.

"I bought this today," the woman, Lucille, gave a single, quick three hundred and sixty degree twirl of her maroon dress. It sent the skirt of it out into a flare before falling back into a straight A-line, "Well, how do I look?"

The second feature Nadine was hardly envious of.

Like any good younger sister would, the brunette young woman responded with, "Uh, fat. You look fat."

A frown marred the older woman's features as she watched her sibling make her way up the creaking staircase, "Well, I am pregnant, you know? I have enough body issues to deal with as it is. You could have at least done me the courtesy of lying, and told me that I look ravishing."

"Isn't it that kind of talk that got you into this mess in the first place?" Nadine paused her ascent up the stairs to comment before she peeked her head back down to the lower level with a cheeky grin, "Besides, sister dear, you very well know that I am a great deal of many unpleasant things, but a liar certainly is not one of them."

Nadine gave a giggle at Lucille's expense, reveling at her sibling's blushing, indignant expression. She bounded up the rest of the steps to the second floor, just narrowly missing the shoe that had been aimed for her head. It clattered on the wall just to the left of her ear. If she had to give her sister credit for one thing, it was that her illegitimate pregnancy had done nothing to hinder her quick reflexes.

There were only two bedrooms and a kitchen in the apartment Nadine and her family lived in over their apothecary business. Enticed by the smell of cooking food, her nose led her to the kitchen. Once she stepped foot into the cramped room, she was hardly disappointed.

The smell of homemade stew wafted over the seventeen-year-old girl, her mouth already beginning to hungrily salivate. She had been so caught up in her job search and the idea of setting her stalkers straight, that this would be her first meal of the day. The two cups of tea she had been courteously offered by Solaris by way of apology had done little to satiate her hunger.

Speaking of which, just what was she supposed to do about that odd woman's proposition? Accept it or—

"You certainly look as if you are miles away. Care to spare a cen for your thoughts?"

Shaking off the worries of her reverie, Nadine turned to lock eyes with her mother. She was not sure how she first missed her presence when she came into the room. After all, the graying woman was reclined in a chair in the same spot she always sat in since she had taken ill a year ago.

"Oh, you know," Nadine chuckled nervously, "This and that, and a whole lot of these and those."

"I see. Sounds like serious business," her mother replied with a twinkle in her eye.

The brunette girl brushed into the room to remove the pot cooking over the stove, and placed it carefully on the center of the table her mother sat at, "You betcha."

As Nadine set out four bowels, and began to evenly proportion the stew among them, she heard her mother shout out into the narrow hallway, "Leon, dinner!"

She rubbed her sore ear. For a woman who was so small, she barely reached Nadine's chin, she sure had a set of powerful lungs on her. Her eardrum still pounded as she sat behind one of the full bowels.

A low grumble of expletives and a slamming door announced a new presence in the room. Leon stood at the entrance to the kitchen in all his angsty teenage glory. A permanent scowl seemed at home on his young face.

"Geez, woman. I'm just in the next room over. You don't have to bust a damned blood vessel to get me in the kitchen," the thirteen-year-old boy muttered.

Nadine watched on as her mother gave a deep sigh, but chose to ignore her son's less than respectful behavior, "Go tell your sister to close up shop, and come up for dinner."

They listened as Leon made his way down the short hall, and stopped at the top of the stairs to shout, "Hey, old cow, it's time for dinner!"

Mother and daughter met eyes and shared an exasperated groan. Leon had once been such a sweet boy, Nadine mused. It was when puberty set in, however, that her younger brother had taken on this insufferable attitude. She was counting the years left until he would get over this hormonal rush, and come back to his better senses.

Leon reappeared into the room, and took a seat to the right of Nadine. He immediately began shoveling the stew into his mouth heedless of how it was still too hot for that level voracious consumption. He was already reaching into the cooking pot to dish himself out a generous helping of seconds.

"Hurry up and eat before the big heifer gets in here," Leon said around a chunk of potato in his mouth, "Once she's done there'll be nothing left."

Despite how rude he sounded, Nadine couldn't find the lie in his statement.

"I heard that, you little imp," Lucille said waddling into the room, and taking a seat for herself.

The oldest and youngest of the Huntly children sent each other a heated glare. They only dropped their gaze when their mother clapped her hands together, and in a falsely cheerful voice demanded they all began eating that moment. Nadine fought down the urge to roll her eyes. This was a typical dinner in the Huntly household.

The meal continued on in silence except for the scraping of silverware against porcelain. Nadine would normally have followed her brother's example, and would be scrambling to down a second portion. This evening, though, her mind was more preoccupied than usual.

"Soooo," Nadine opened her mouth unsure where to begin.

Three pairs of eyes peered back at her, each of them with a spoon raised at various heights toward their lips. It was like looking at a herd of startled auburn-haired deer. It was rare for someone to stop cramming food into their face to speak at this table.

"What if I…um, ah…" The sole brunette gulped, "I'm thinkingofjoiningtheAmestrianMilitaryAcademy?"

"Wha…?" Lucille attempted to ask with a full mouth.

Nadine sat a little straighter, focusing all her attention on her untouched dinner rather than her family. The stew was not nearly as judgmental as her siblings were, after all.

"Um, er, I'm thinking of joining the Military Academy in Central City."

There was a moment of blissful silence before all hell broke loose.

"Are you insane?!" The shrill voice of Lucille filled every inch of the compact room, very much her mother's daughter.

"Clearly," even Leon had stopped his meal to add in his own impolite opinion.

"Naddie," the eldest of the Huntly children whined the childhood nickname, "this is madness. What got you thinking about this?"

Nadine shifted uncomfortably under her sister's intense eyes, "Well, I—"

She pressed her lips together as the seductive voice of Solaris filtered through her brain. Remembering the sultry woman's final statement caused a hitch in her breath.

"Invitation is limited. Let's keep this meeting a secret between us. To avoid hurt feelings, that is."

Nadine was intelligent enough to realize that it was hardly just a friendly suggestion.

Knowing that Lucille was waiting for an explanation, but wanting to avoid a lie, she put forth, "Cilly, we need the money. Badly. The Academy will pay for my room and board. I can always find a job to work in between classes in the big city, and I can send my wages back here. After graduation, the military pays well enough."

"Yeah, sure, they pay well enough," Leon joined in with a snarky remark, "if you don't die, that is."

"Leon!" The two other women at the table rebuffed him, but he just shrugged nonchalantly.

Thoughtlessly, the young boy continued, "Besides you're a girl. Girls can't join the military."

"Oh, yes, Leon," Lucille sarcastically deadpanned, "I'm sure Nadine forgot that she was a woman when she was considering all of this. Thank you for reminding us."

"And, you're supposed to be the epitome of thought out choices? You went for a romp in the field with the town pariah. You're the queen of lapses in judgement and poor decisions," Leon pointed the handle of his spoon at his eldest sibling's swollen belly.

"Stop," Nadine intervened between her siblings, "that was uncalled for."

However, her firm rebuke was ignored as the pair launched into vicious verbal warfare. Being the most even tempered of the Huntly household, Nadine attempted to placate her wily family. After all, she did view this disturbance as her fault. It eventually dissolved into Nadine trying her best to dodge the now flying comets of stew.

"ENOUGH!" A booming shout enveloped the entire Huntly clan. Three terrified children immediately froze, and looked to their less than pleased mother, "I. SAID. ENOUGH."

Everything came to a complete standstill.

"Lucille, Leon," the pair in question stared at their parent with varying levels of chagrin, "I need to speak with your sister. Privately, that is."

They both shot up from their seats. Despite the even calm in their mother's upbeat voice, they were certain that it covered a brewing storm. The uncomfortable siblings were nearly out of the room when their mother added,

"And, feel free to take the remainder of your meal that is not slung across my kitchen with you."

Each wordlessly reached back for their bowel, and shut the door behind them. A light thump on the door after it closed gave way to the fact that two curious ears were pressed against the wood prying for more information.

Nadine huffed. Siblings always seemed to have this sick sort of fascination with eavesdropping on their counterparts when they were being chastised by a parent. Lucille and Leon were no exception to this unspoken rule.

"Nadine?"

Her attention was drawn back to her mother, "Yep, that's me. Hello."

Ugh. Now if only she could control her errant tongue. Awkward rambling would not take her far in life. It was sure to be a death sentence more than anything.

Nadine looked on as the age lines seemed to deepen in her mother's face, and it appeared that she was weighing what to say to her daughter. Guilt dropped into the pit of her stomach. Perhaps, she should have never even considered Solaris' strange offer. She hated bringing discomfort to her mother, who was already under so much stress.

The older woman sucked in a large breath. Here it was. The younger of the two cringed, waiting for what she was sure was to be a mighty reprimanding roar.

It never came, however, as her mother spoke in a tired, but not angered tone, "Do what you think is right."

The surprised young woman blinked back in response. This had not been what she was excepting whatsoever. Not that she wasn't pleased with the outcome, though.

"Oh, uh, yeah," The girl finally said at a loss of words, unsure how to proceed. Thankfully, her mother did that for her.

"I'm not sure what brought this idea about, and I'm not even sure I truly want to know what did. I can't say that it doesn't worry me, honestly. Just, please, think this over. Do this because you want to, not because you feel that you have to for the sake of the family."

With that statement hanging in the air, the elder Huntly pushed back from the table, but did not stand like Nadine's siblings had just done. Instead she fiddled with the sides of the chair she sat in for a moment before expertly maneuvering the large wheels on either side to roll herself to the door.

With remorseful eyes, Nadine saw her mother's wheelchair glide out of the newly opened door, and disappear down the hall. Not even the sound of her siblings whistling innocently as if they had not just been listening in on them could pull the young woman from her trance. Watching a piece of flung carrot slide its way down the wall, an unsettling thought pervaded her mind.

If asked, could she leave all this behind?


The table was empty. For the first time in weeks, Nadine found herself sitting in the rustic café, La Amelie, without two pairs of amethyst eyes analyzing her every move. Honestly, she was more unnerved by the fact that she was not being watched than by the prevalent presence of the stalkers she had become so familiar with.

The young woman raised a cup to her lips, and took a sip of the warm tea it held. Now she was the one who couldn't drag her eyes away from a table across the room.

"My, how the tables have turned. Literally," She mumbled to herself.

"Nice not having that old broad watchin' ya?"

Mindlessly she responded to the inquiry that the smooth, masculine voice had posed, "You bet, bud."

Nadine took another sip of her drink. The warm liquid sat on her tongue as realization dawned on her. She stiffened, slowly turning her head away way from the other side of the room to across her own table.

Half-lidded eyes and a sprawling smirk met her gaze. There, in his trademark position of slouched shoulders and boots on the table, sat Solaris' unintroduced partner-in-crime. He appeared all too entertained by her gaff.

Nadine parted her lips to speak. Instead of words coming out like she expected, it was unswallowed tea that poured around her lower lip and down her chin to stain her pale blue shirt. Gray eyes flickered between her ruined blouse to the man sitting opposite of her.

"You've gotta little somethin' there," The vagabond leaned forward to wipe the tip of her dripping chin with a single finger, far too much amusement in his tone.

With a frown, Nadine pushed his hand away and the condescending smirk that went along with it. She had to make at least some attempt to quell her rapidly diminishing dignity. Despite her social awkwardness, the brunette girl knew well enough when she was being mocked.

"Um, where is Solaris?"

The unnamed man snorted derisively, "Yesterday you're looking at us like ya were plotting how to make us conveniently disappear. Now you're askin' about us like a concerned parent. Mother hen syndrome, eh? Cute."

She suddenly questioned as to how she had ever considered this man to be attractive. His personality was hardly refined, as his comments were crude, his speech pattern irreverent of all polite social pleasantries. The outfit he wore with all its garish silks and leathers seemed more tacky than opulent now. At a distance he was much more palatable. He lacked all the sophisticated allure his partner had held.

In fact, the observation escaped from Nadine's lips the moment it flashed through her mind, "Up close you look kind of seedy."

There was a pregnant pause before Nadine registered what had caused the staggered expression to fall over the man's face.

"Oh, hells bells! I said that out loud."

What? What in the world had she just done?

She had just unintentionally insulted this man. This very muscular, very tall, very suspicious-looking man. Once again her loose tongue was bound to get her into trouble. Now the embarrassed girl could hardly blame the stranger for his lack of etiquette when she herself was missing a verbal filter of her own.

The man let out a loud, barking laugh showing a wide array of particularly sharp teeth that Nadine couldn't help but to balk at. Once his laughter had died down he set his feet on the floor. One hand rested on his hip, the other draped over his knee.

"A straight shooter, huh? I like that. You're not half bad, kid."

"Am I supposed to be honored? I don't even know who you are." Nadine raised a quizzical brow.

He bore a vicious-looking grin her way. Placing two fingers of his gloved hand against his chest, he said with all the confidence in the world,

"The name's Greed."

Oh. So, he was one of those guys. The kind that immediately assumed that all young women had brains made of marshmallow and hearts of molasses. The ones that had the idea that anything a man said was the word of law, and women were airheaded enough to blindly believe their blatantly obvious fibs.

"What kind of a dunce do you take me for? That has got to be the cheesiest fake alias in all of Wellesley," Nadine responded after a pause, clearly displeased.

'Greed' crossed his arms, giving a swift roll of his peculiarly colored eyes, and with a carefree expression looked up at her from under thin brows, "Whether ya believe it or not, that's my name, kid."

"Uh-huh, right…" She was obviously still skeptical.

"What can I say?" The dark-haired bloke shrugged, "I wasn't Daddy's favorite. Still not."

"…hmm…"

Taking in the pouting downturn of Nadine's lips, the man made an observation of his own, "Ya were practically sucking on Solaris' teat yesterday when she talked about all that Academy shit, which is a hell'eva lot more farfetched. Now ya won't even trust a guy about his name? Geez, ya have some wild mood swings."

Really? He honestly expected her to believe that he was named after a cardinal sin? Fat chance of that ever happening. What a lame, poorly timed joke.

Two could play at that game.

In a low, nasally voice different from her typical soprano, Nadine began,

"Sure, nice to meet you, Greed. My name is Envy," she pointed at her tea cup, then to her textbook, "these are my pals, Gluttony, and, uh…"

She couldn't recall the name of another sin, so with a deadpan expression Greed offered up, "Pride, Sloth, Lust…"

"Yeah, thanks. These are my pals Gluttony and Pride."

Nadine noticed the man named for avarice seemed disgusted for a moment. His eyes shifted almost nervously around the café. The moment was over so quickly, that Nadine was sure she must have imagined it. The nauseous countenance that had briefly surrounded him was simply replaced with a less than enthused scowl.

"Nah. If a sin were named after ya, it would be 'Juvenile Brat.'"

"Envy, Brat, Nadine Huntly, whatever. All the same, really." The girl was getting into the swing of their practically lighthearted banter now. The tension easing from her taunt form.

"Shit," Greed muttered, "Your parents ever teach ya some damned manners?"

"My mother might have managed to sprinkle in a few good virtues here and there," Nadine shrugged, "As for my father, well, the dead don't teach you much else, but how to be angsty."

The Huntly child would be the first to willingly admit that she had her flaws, a plethora of them, too. She was no saint, but she wasn't quite a devil either. Perhaps that just made her…human?

The sandy-haired girl continued, "How about you? You don't seem the pinnacle of polite yourself."

"My parenting was a bit lackin'. Taking my…youth…into account, I'll have ya know that I turned out pretty f-cking well. Daddy issues, though? I guess ya could say I relate," Greed frowned as if an idea had just come to him, "Besides, I'm plenty polite. I cleaned your chin, didn't I?"

Nadine scrunched up her nose in disapproval, "I hardly believe you did that out of the kindness of your heart."

"Hey," Greed messed with one of the leather bracelets on his exposed wrist, "I was tryin' to save ya a bit of embarrassment. But, what can I do? If ya got it out for me then there ain't a damn thing I can do to get in your good graces. Gimme a f-cking break, kid."

Though his language was coarse, Greed did not appear to be upset in the slightest. Nadine guessed that foul language must have been what he considered to be part of his charm. He was certainly insufferable, but charming? Maybe she'd have to hand that to him. His lack of social convention actually made him easier to talk to than it was off-putting. But, just barely, that is.

"So, why are you even here?" Nadine finally breached the topic that had her curious from the start of their conversation.

"Huh?" Greed leaned forward to rest his elbows against the table, steepling the fingers of his gloved hands, "Right, yeah, business."

Unbeknownst to Nadine, it was unusual for Greed to be on a solo mission. That fact left the typically loquacious man at a loss as of what to say next. Somehow he had to ensnare this brat into willingly involving herself with the military, and thusly, its underground leader, Father.

He usually had Envy or Lust with him when it came to covert operations. While he did have a smooth way with words, he was too direct to play the mind games that Father sometimes required them to concoct. Therefore, more often than not, he was sent as backup for his more manipulative siblings. He was forced to tag along with the mere idea that he was to go Ultimate Shield and bloody a few lips if trouble arose. It frequently did, too.

It was degrading work, but often Greed found himself too lazy to care. To him, it was all a waste of time anyway. He couldn't find it within himself to give two shits whether Father turned Amestris into a nationwide transmutation circle or not.

Being a megalomaniac's lackey was not what Greed had planned out for the entirety his near immortal life. No, he had bigger and better plans he would someday seek to fulfill. Ones that were much more self-satisfying than playing bodyguard for a bunch of homunculi.

Higher ambitions aside, the homunculus still had the matter of persuading this girl sitting in front of him. She seemed naive, easily trusting, and had an interest in alchemy. That made her a valuable candidate for inclusion in the Father's alchemist program. She'd mindlessly follow any order with the right coaxing.

Before Lust had skirted out of town, she had assured him that the target was putty in their hands after speaking with her yesterday. She had left him behind to "mold the girl into an obedient pawn," saying that it was "something even you can do, Greed." Tch, arrogant woman.

With that, the sole female homunculus dumped on him the job of forcing this kid into jumping on the first train to Central. This was supposedly the easy gig. Lust was whisked off to the more challenging work of recruiting a malleable young man in Eastern Amestris, who reportedly had gained a sudden interest in atmospheric alchemy. Now it was his burden to babysit the Wellesley brat.

The only place that Greed was expert in cooing women to was his bed. Convincing someone into making life decisions was a lot more difficult than swaying them to do something for a single passionate night. But, damn it, he was Greed the Avaricious, and he would allow no little girl to defeat him.

Not that Nadine was privy to any of this information, so she sat there with an irritated grimace at his sudden silence.

"What? Did your ego get caught in your throat or something?" Nadine drawled.

Finally, Greed began with, "So, ya said your old man is dead?"

He knew the approach was weak, but he was grasping at straws here.

Nadine shifted uncomfortably with a sour face, but answered nonetheless, "Well, that is certainly random, but yeah."

The Huntly girl eyed Greed warily. What was this guy getting at? Did he think he was being clever? Because, honestly, he wasn't.

His façade was as transparent as the windows that lined the café. She did not appreciate when people were evasive with her. Being such a candid person, Nadine had little tolerance for those who were not.

Then the two went back and forth for a moment.

"How long?" Greed pursued.

"I hardly see how you're entitled to that information." Light eyebrows rose into a matt of curly brown bangs.

The man tutted, "I'm just tryin' to make conversation. Ya don't have to be so damned stiff about it."

"Seems more like you're trying to weasel your way out of giving me an explanation as to why you invaded my table." Nadine fiddled with her tea cup, running her finger lightly in a circular pattern along the lip, and looking up from under her eyelashes.

Greed grunted. Throwing his arm around the back of his chair and leveling his amethyst gaze on her young face,

"Listen, kid, I'll be straight with you. I'm sitting here to try to convince ya to take Solaris up on her offer."

Nadine's continence lighted. The truth was out. As pushy as he seemed, she appreciated his honesty more than anything.

"Yeah?" Nadine quizzed, tilting her head ever so slightly, "Why so desperate?"

The girl was biting at the bait. She was clearly interested in not only what he had to say, but in the prospect of the Academy. Switching gears, Greed decided to put things into terms he was more familiar with, and altered his game plan.

"It ain't that. I was watching ya when 'Solaris' spoke yesterday. Had a look on your face that I know all too well. Kid, ya want this."

"I-I-I am not exactly sure what you mean," Suddenly Nadine was unable to meet his gaze, which caused her to miss the triumphant smirk that lit up Greed's features. What a hypocrite, she chastised herself. Now she was the one being a bit evasive.

"Eh, none of that bullshit." Greed shook his head exasperatedly, "Ya have the covetous look right now."

Nadine stared obstinately at her lap, bunching the cloth of her skirt nervously in her fists. Sweat prickled at her temples. He was getting unsettlingly close to the truth.

"You're enraptured with the idea, brat. My name's Greed, remember? Ya can't hide wanting somethin' from me."

"That's not it…my family…" Nadine's refusal came out in a feeble voice.

It was true that Nadine had thought over Solaris' offer to train in the new special alchemist program in Central. It was a once in a life time opportunity that she had merely stumbled into by just reading the right subjects. Most would call her a fool for passing it up.

A career in the military would be harrowing, but it would also be vastly rewarding. The pay would be well. Taking into consideration the worsening health of her mother and that her sister would soon have her hands full with a child, Nadine knew they would desperately need the money.

As the training of doctors and surgical techniques improved, the livelihood of their apothecary business fell more and more. People no longer were seeking out homemade remedies for their ailments. Now they were traveling on the new rail system to the big cities where they could find government trained doctors that would cure their illnesses for them.

To be honest, Nadine had always been interested in medicine. She had grown up constantly surrounded by it, after all. It was only within the last year that she had become interested in alchemy and the medicinal properties it could possibly hold. Perhaps, if she could learn how to apply it, then she could bring their struggling apothecary business back from the grave. It turned out that teaching herself was much more difficult than she had thought.

Applying for the Academy, however, could give her real lessons. She could send any money she earned home, and could eventually bring the skills she honed back to their family business. She would never admit it, but the power, money, and glory that a job in the military offered attracted her as well.

But, could her family survive without her constant presence?

Greed's voice pulled Nadine out of her contemplation, "Well, what about your family? Ya want what's best for 'em, right?"

"Well, uh, yes…" The girl felt like she still could not look at the man.

"So, what's best for 'em then?"

Nadine was silent for a long while. When Greed was sure that she wasn't going to answer, he began again,

"From your silence, ya obviously want this. Ya got that insatiable desire clawing at your chest." – he leaned forward clutching the silken fabric of his waistcoat – "It's flowing through your veins, gripping at your soul. The only thing that quenches that urge is obtainment! The feeling of clutching all you desire by your own hands is euphoric!"

Nadine finally looked up to be struck speechless by the frenzied gleam in his eye. Suddenly, she was entranced. Very much a little sparrow caught by the stare of a predacious snake.

"Brat, take possession of your life. Why not take all the world has to offer?"

Nadine was not quite sure whether Greed's intensity resulted from extreme passion or insanity. At this point, she wasn't quite sure that it mattered all that much, because regardless, she was taken by his words. Something was stirring within her. She realized now that he was quite aptly named.

"So, Nadine," Greed addressed her properly for the first time since their meeting, "tell me…whatdya want?"


"Clearly, I am insane."

Nadine was in a part of Wellesley she rarely traveled to muttering into the cool spring evening air. She still wore the outfit she had sported in the café earlier, the tea stain quite evident even in the low lighting. By the fidgeting of her hands and the twitch of her of her cheek, it was rather easy to tell that she was nervous.

Her steps were hasty as she dashed through the dark streets. Gray eyes were trained on the approaching light in the distance. Pumping her legs faster, Nadine made the last few long strides she needed to reach her destination: the train station.

She came to an abrupt halt stepping onto a wood platform. The bewildered expression that was painted across her face gave way to the fact that she clearly felt out of place. Unsure of what to do with herself, the girl paced nervously back and forth across the platform until a concerned voice called out to her.

"Hey, you lost?"

Nadine spun on the spot to catch sight of a white, elderly head poking out of a candlelit booth.

"No," she replied rushing toward the aged man who had spoken, "but I could use your help."

The man grumbled leaning back into the booth window, obviously displeased, "Don't you know what time it is? A girl like you should be home at this time of night. Unless you're an evening harlot, that is. You a prostitute?"

"W-What? Uh, uh, uh, no," Nadine sputtered as she placed her hands upon the grainy surface of the booth countertop, "I can assure you that I am not."

"Then come back in the morning when it's more appropriate for a girl to be out!"

With that the crotchety senior attempted to close the booth window on the beseeching girl. However, before he could slam it all the way shut, Nadine caught the bottom, and pushed it back up. Her voice was a bit manic as she began to shout,

"Wait! Please, I need to do this before I lose the nerve!"

The old man slurred a few obscenities under his breath, but turned back to eye Nadine nonetheless, "Fine, fine," he straightened up a bit, "Wellesley Train Depot. How may I help you?"

Nadine visibly trembled. She sucked in a large breath hoping to calm her jitters. Her eyes bore into the ground, before she raised them to meet the irritated man's. This time there was a starling conviction in them, they flashed like hard steel in her certitude.

"Well?" the train clerk cut in, his voice thick with agitation.

Mustering up all the meager courage she had, Nadine spoke, "I need a train ticket that will take me to the capital!"

"Central City? It was a waste of time running up here tonight. The next doesn't leave for two days. Will that be a one way or a return route?"

With a sense of finality, the phrase slipped from Nadine's lips,

"One way, please."


Well, there you have it! The end of chapter two. Hopefully Greed was in character, and you enjoyed the snarky banter between himself and Nadine. I hope you all are liking how this is turning out. Please, if you would, let me know what you think about this chapter.

Additionally, I have a poll up on my profile page. Basically, I am writing two stories, and unfortunately, that takes up a good bit of time. Therefore, I will be updating one every week and the other once a month. Please go vote on which you would like for me to update weekly, so I know which to handle more expediently! Thank you.

That being said...A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Thanks to heavybreathingcat, JMichelleW, StariChanx, and ShandaHinata-chan for following last chapter! Thanks to Moonstar66, Pandoru, StariChanx, GiraffePanda2, and ShindaHinata-chan for favouriting! A super special thanks to the Guest, JMichelleW, heavybreathingcat, and Pandoru for your kind reviews. I really appreciate the encouragement you all gave me, and appreciate the pointers you helped me out with. I appreciate every single view. :)

Please follow, favourite, and especially review! Please keep my passion for this story flowing. :)