I do not own Full Metal Alchemist
Date: November 2nd, 2009
Word Count:8,623
Here the three of them were waiting, again. It always seemed like they were waiting. That was one thing the two who hated each other actully agreed on. Al watched the two, wishing the train would come. Ed was pacing and Aria was sitting next to Al. Aria let out a sigh every now and then. Her eyes followed Ed. He was giving her a headache. She didn't understand how he could be so full of energy. The shrimp had woken her up too damn early.
Ed had decided that this morning was a good time to leave. He had woken her up early. She knew that Ed had gotten up earlier, he had actully got up and bought tickets. He had woken her up at five saying that their train was leaving at six-thirty. Aria had been enjoying her sleep. She was having a strange dream, but it made her happy.
Dream:
"Aria. Aria, come here." Her mother called. Aria turned her head, she was sitting on the floor. She wondered what her mother wanted. Aria was looked about seven. Her hair was all the way to her butt. It seemed to be a lighter shade of dirty blonde. She had been playing with a toy, her one year old brother sleeping next to her. Aria got up, dropping her toy. She wanted to see what her mother wanted.
"Yes mama." She called as she entered the kitchen. Her mother stood next to the stove, she was cooking. The smell of beef stew filled the kitchen. Aria loved the smell, it was her favorite food. Her mother looked so much like her. Aria's mother was woman of normal heigth; her hair was a light blonde. She kept her hair long, much like her daugther's. She had beautiful blue eyes, they were a deep ocean blue color. Aria's mother turned towards her, smiling softly.
"Aria, would you do me a favor?" She asked, drying off a dish.
"Yes mama." Aria said, quickly. She adored her mother, abosolutely adored her. She was happy to do her mother a favor.
"Will you go take this to your daddy? He forgot it again. I'm starting to think he does it on purpose." She said, rolling her eyes. Even though she rolled her eyes, you could see the love for the man she had married. Aria vowed that one day, she would find someone to be with that would make her as happy as her father made her mother.
"Mama, why would daddy want to forget his lunch? He would go hungry." Aria asked, with all the common sense of a seven year old. She tilted her head to the side. She for the life of her couldn't figure it out. Why would her father want to go hungry?
"Because he wants alone time with mommy." Her mother answered nonchantly. She walked over to the cutting board and began cutting vegtables. Arai walked over to her mother, standing beside her. She pulled on her mother's skirt. She was still confused. Her mother looked down at her, understanding her unspoken request. Aria always pulled on her mother's skirt when she was confused. "Aria, you'll understand when you're older." She said simply, smiling at her.
"Why not now? Mama will you please explain?" Aria asked, she was always so full of questions. Aria's mother chuckled, she knew her daugther would ask that question.
"Because you're too young Aria. I promise I'll tell you why eventully. You have to be older." Aria pouted.
"That's the same answer you used when I asked where babies come from. I know that Leon came from inside your tummy, but how did he end up there?" Aria asked, she was such a curious child. Just like when she had saw her mother lift a giant boulder, off of an injured man, she had begged to know how her mother did it. Aria then had began to learn alchemy.
"Aria there's just some things that you should learn when you're older. It's all apart of life. Like when I make you wait for a birthday present, you must wait to get it. Or when I say you're not ready to learn something. You have to wait for the time when it's okay to learn it." The woman said, signing. Really why did her daugther have to be so curious?
"But mama I want to know now. I'm old enough to know." Aria complained, pouting. She crossed her arms, blowing a piece of hair out of her eye.
"I'm sorry baby. I promise when you're old enough I'll tell you." Aria's mother bent down, placing her left hand on her knee. She held out her right hand in the shape of a pinky promise. "Pinky Promise?" She asked. Aria nodded her head, quickly. Aria quickly placed her pinky in her mother's.
"I'm sorry mama." Aria apologized. She felt like she had something wrong. She didn't want her mother angry with her.
"Oh Aria you did nothing wrong. You just have to wait." Aria's mother said, her arms surrounding the child. Aria's mother pulled back after a few minutes. "Now Aria will you please go take your daddy his lunch? He's going to be hungry without it."
"Yes mama!" Aria exclaimed. She was handed her father's lunch. Aria left the kitchen, taking her father's lunch with her. She loved where she lived. The town was a small town called Kachept. She walked down the streets, watching people. The people waved at her.
"Aria!" A voice called. Aria turned around, she spotted the owner of the person who had called her name. A boy about her age ran to her. He had short black hair and brown eyes. His name was Leroy. The two of them were always together. Everyone always said that the two of them would grow up and be together. Aria waved, showing that she had heard him.
"Watcha doing, Aria?" He asked, smiling at her. Aria smiled back. Now she wouldn't have to walk alone.
"Taking my daddy his lunch." She answered, laughing at him for breathing so heavy. "How far did you run to find me?"
"I went to your house and your mom told me that you were out and that I would find you in town. I ran to find you." He said with a blush. Aria looked over at him. He was her best friend and she told him everything. She wondered if she should ask him if his mother was having another baby. In the end she decided to just ask.
"Hey Leroy, is your mama really having another baby? I overheard mama and daddy saying that your mama was having another baby." She asked, curious.
"Yep! I get to have another baby sister or brother to play with! I hope it's a little brother though." He said, throwing his hands up in the air. Aria rolled her eyes at her friend, but laughed at him anyways. He was so excited easily.
"Why do you want a little brother instead of a little sister?" She asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Because girls are icky!" He exclaimed. Before he could think about what he had said, he was knocked over. Aria had hit him. She stood over him, her hands on her hips. Her long hair, tossed over her shoulder. "Ar-aria. What did I do?" He asked, scared. She really hit hard for a seven year old.
"Girls are not icky! I am a girl, does that mean that I'm icky?" She asked, throwing her hands up in the air. Leroy slid backwards, he did not want to be close to her in her rage. Some of the people around them stopped and stared, before chuckling. This was one of the reasons why they believed the two of them would be together eventully. They fought like an old married couple.
"N-no. You're not icky. But little sisters are icky. I think you're nice." He said, afraid she would hit him. Aria seemed to eye him for a second, before offering him her hand.
"I'm not going to hit you." She said when he didn't take her hand right away. Leroy seemed to think it over, before taking her hand. Aria helped her friend up. "Come I need to take this to my daddy." She added, as they began walking. Neither of them let go of the other's hand. It was just normal for the two of them. Eventully they reached the stables where her father worked.
Aria knew that her family had once lived on the property, since they owned the stables, but she didn't remember it all that much. There had been a flood that had destroyed their house, but they had got out in time. After that her mother and father had decided that they wanted a house farther from the river and some property where they could take the horses in case of an emergency.
"Daddy! Daddy where are you?" She called, looking around. Her eyes caught the sight of a man with sandy hair. She made her way over to him, pulling Leroy behind her. "Mr. Resse where is my daddy?" She asked when she had made her way over to the man.
"He's in the stable, one of the mares is giving birth. You should just wait out here for him." He said, but Aria was already to the stable door. She loved horses, she briefly wondered if it was her favorite mare giving birth. She checked every stall she passed, until she reached the right one. Her father sat next to a foal, you could tell that it had just been born. The foal's mother stood to the side. Aria walked into the stall remembering her father's words to be careful around a mother and her foal. She sunk into the hay next to her father, quietly.
"Isn't she beautiful Aria? She was just born a few minutes before you came in." Her father whispered softly. Aria looked to her father, his short black hair plastered to his head. He must have been stressed. His green eyes were focused on the filly. Aria knew why her hair and eyes were neither like her father's or mother's, they were a cross between them. She watched as her father let loose a sigh before leaning back, laying down in the straw. Aria followed suit, enjoying the quiet. It was never awkward in her father's presence, he had a way to make any one comfrontable around him. Aria remembered what he had asked her.
"Yes daddy. I think she's beautiful." Aria said, smiling. The filly really was beautiful, she was a gold color, with a dark brown mane and tail.
"I'm glad you like her. She your's." He said softly. Aria's head whipped to the side. Her father was gving her the filly? She looked over at him, his eyes were closed.
"You mean it daddy, she's mine?" She asked, excited. Her father opened his eyes, looking over to her. He could see the hope and excitement in her eyes. He loved making his daugther happy.
"Yes. Why do you doubt me? Have I ever lied to you before?" He asked, sitting up. He pretended to have a hurt look on his face. Aria sat up as well. She tilted her head to the side, thinking.
"No, but I just can't believe it." Aria said, laughing at her father's expression.
"You actully had to think about if I have ever lied to you before or not?" He said, another pretend hurt expression on his face. She laughed again.
"Yep!"
"Then I guess I don't feel bad about this." He said, slyly before he began tickling her, Aria tried to get away but her father was just too cunning. Aria was eventully crying from laughing, her father laughing next to her.
"Daddy, mama had be bring you your lunch. She said you forgot it again." Aria said, remembering the reason she was here. Then she remembered someone that she had forgotten. "Leroy!" She yelled, sitting up quickly. She began to get up, scrambling around.
"Aria calm down, you're scaring the horses. Do I need to take back my gift?" Her father asked.
"Indian Trader!" She exclaimed. Seeing the expression on her father's face, she quickly added: "But no daddy. It's just that I forgot all about giving you your lunch and I also forgot about Leroy. I just hope he's not mad at me." She bite her lip.
"Don't worry about my lunch, you brought it here. As for Leroy, I'm sure he's enjoying himself interacting with the horses. But you should go see him. He is your future husband." Her father said. Her father was one of the biggest supporters of the two.
"Daddy!" Aria whined, blushing. She decided to get back at him. She leaped at him, tackling him. She knocked him over. Aria sat on her father's back for a second before exclaiming: "Daddy I beat you!"
"I swear you've been taking lessons from your mother." He grumbled. He had his face planted into the straw. Aria had a big smile on her face, laughing. "Kiddo you can get up now." He said.
"But daddy, I don't wanna." She wined, a pout on her face.
"Hunny, please get off. Don't you want to name your filly?" He asked, hoping to divert her attention. It worked. Aria jumped right off, excited. Her father on the other hand, sat up slowly, wondering how such a small child could be so strong. Aria was standing next to the filly, who was drinking from her mother. Aria's father noticed the look of pure wonder on her face. She was softly petting the filly, not even bothering it.
"Daddy, I want to name her May." Aria said, smiling.
"May I ask why sweetheart?" He asked, puzzled. Aria giggled.
"She was born in the middle of may, daddy. See it's simple." Aria said, giggling softly. Their laugther filled the stable.
End of dream.
Aria was surprised, she never had just dreams. Normally her dreams weren't dreams, sure she dreamed, but they weren't dreams, they were nightmares. It had been so long since she had had a happy dream, that she had forgotten what it felt like. She had sorta wished that Ed had allowed her to sleep, but then she knew that the nightmare part would have eventully come. So she was thankfully that she had been woken up before the part where the dream went bad came. Maybe I should be thankful to him. She thought about it for a second. Naw, he did it just to wake me up and be a jerk. She thought.
"Aria, why are you smiling?" Al asked, curious. For the last few minutes she had been sitting there smiling. It was the sweetest smile he had ever seen on her face. Al noticed how his brother was looking at Aria. Ed had to agree with his brother. He had watched how a smile had crept up on her face. He had also been wondering why she was smiling.
"I was just remembering a funny memory." Aria said, looking up at the morning sky. It was only six-fifteen, and the sun was barely peaking over the horizon. Aria looked up at the stars, she loved it when you could see the stars and the sun at the same time. It was different, more beautiful. Aria closed her eyes, maybe she could sleep for a little bit. Ed decided to voice his curiousity for once.
"What was so funny about it?" He asked. Aria's head snapped to attention, she hadn't expected that little question. Ed never asked her about herself or things like this. Al did, but he learned that when it came to memories of the past, to not ask about it.
Al and her had gotten pretty close over the last few days. He helped her train on the military training grounds. She had saw how some of the cadets and officers would come over sometimes and watch. Armstrong had even came and fought with her. She had to admit that he knew what he was talking about. He was a very good figther. She also now knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of Edward's punches.
Flashback:
Aria stood one side of the practice field, Edward on the other side. He wore a tight tank top and tight pants. They were easy to move in, she had realized. Aria wore a pair of tight shorts and a tight tank top. She really didn't want to get her butt kicked again. The first time she had worn bigger clothing, Al had grabbed ahold of her pant leg, slamming her into the ground. She had vowed to never wear big clothes to fight in again. She noticed that half the people who worked in the military biulding were there. Roy, Liza, Armstrong, and several others that served under them. She really didn't understand why they came and watched, Ed had muttered that they were all bored and that she served as the form of entertainment.
"Are you two ready?" Al asked, neither of them moved. Al decided to take that as a yes. "GO!" He yelled, but to his surprise neither of them leapt forward. Aria had gotten better, she waited for her opponent to make the first move, unless they didn't move and then she would attack. Both seemed to realize that the other wasn't going to move forward first.
"Hey pipsquek, come on, attack me." Aria said, smirking when he got all riled up. This would be so easy. She didn't think that Ed was that good at figthing. His field was alchemy, so how much did he actully focus on training his body? Plus if she got him riled up, then it would be truly easy to beat him. Her assuption was right, he ran forward. To her surprise, he was much faster than he looked. He brought up his leg to kick her, Aria ducked under it, hoping to land a punch under his guard. He jumped away from her punch. Aria was surprised, how was he so good at dodging? Aria wished that she could use her strength to knock him off balance but she wasn't going to show that infront of all the people.
"You're not bad at all." She said, looking for any signs of an opening. Maybe he was going to be harder to defeat then she had thought. Ed smirked, he was going to have so much fun beating her. Aria decided that she was just going to try and attack him herself. She lunged, her fist pulled back ready to hit him. Ed dodged by a few centimeters.
"Too slow." He said, punching her in her stomach, following it up to a punch in the face. Aria tumbled backwards, managing to just barely stay on her feet. Damn that hurt! She thought. She used th sleeve of her shirt to wipe the blood off of her jaw. She decided to try another form of attack. She pulled out twin knifes, these were allowed, as long as she didn't aim for any crucial places. "Using that trick already. You're little knives aren't going to do anything." He said, smirking. Ed had watched her fight some of the others. He noticed how she used knives when she didn't have any other options.
"Maybe, maybe not. I don't know until I try." She said, running forward, throwing the one in her right hand. Ed dodged it, waiting for the follow up punch. It never came. Aria jumped over him, landing in a roll. She threw her other knife, picking the other up from the ground, throwing it as soon as it was in her hands. She lunged at Ed again, her fist hitting his face. He flew back a couple of feet, but managing to stay on his feet. "Still think they're worthless?" She said. Ed glared at her.
He wasn't going to be nice and play fair anymore. He transmutated his automail, making sharp points on the automail knuckles. Aria could feel the pain if he even connected just one hit with that hand. She knew that getting hit with the automail would hurt worse, then his flesh arm would. She really didn't want to be hit with the automail, especially with those knuckles. Ed ran forward, hoping to hit her once and knock her out. He knew he wasn't being fair, since she wasn't using her alchemy, but it was fair game once she brought the knives into play. Aria managed to stay away from his fists for a while but she was quickly getting tired. He has fast and he had more stamina than she did. She knew that it wouldn't be long before he hit her and she'd be screwed. She jumped back when Ed nearly clipped her.
"What do guys think?" Roy asked. He kept his eyes on Aria.
"She has potential. We should give her a gun. I wonder how'll she'll do." Hawkeye said, as Roy took a step away.
"We do not need another trigger-happy girl. So please keep guns away from her, sir." Jean whispered in Roy's ear. They heard a click of a turned their heads to see a gun right next to their heads.
"Now what were you saying about trigger-happy girls?" She asked, her eyes serious.
"Nothing, nothing at all. We think that she'd be excellent with a gun." They said, stumbling over their words.
"Oh I plan on giving her a few lessons on how to use a gun, since neither of the brother's use one. They need someone to cover them from a distance." She reasoned, all the guys gave her a look, stepping away from her. It seemed like an idea had came to her. "Hey Al." She called, waving him over.
"Yes? Do you need something Hawkeye?" He asked, wondering what the woman wanted.
"Well when is Aria free? When she's done training could you send her over to me, I want to show her how to use a gun. You need someone who can cover your backs from a distance." Hawkeye said, a sadist smile one her face. Al looked to the others. They were all afriad of having another trigger-happy girl around. Al could just see Aria putting a gun to Ed's head. Liza moved away, thinking of the perfect gun for Aria.
"Do you think it's safe to give Aria a gun, she has quite a temper?" Jean asked.
"Well she might be able to keep him in line." Roy said, hoping that Aria didn't take to the gun.
"But what if she actully fires it at him." Al asked, worried.
"Well then no more Fullmetal to deal with. No more problems with shorty." Roy said.
"Colonel! How dare you say that!" Al said, sounding a little angry.
"Let's watch the figth instead." Roy said turning the attention away from him.
Aria had managed to pick up one of her knives. She had it in her hand and she was still dodging Ed. She wasn't going to hold out much longer, that much was sure. She was sweating, her hair sticking to her neck; the pony-tail torn from her hair a while ago. Her body ached, she realized that the others had been going easy on her. Ugh! I feel like I got hit by a truck. She thought. In a last ditch effort she swung the blade towards Ed, hoping to get him far enough away, so she could land a punch that would knock him out. Instead of dodging, Ed put his automail arm up, effecively blocking her strike. He brought his other hand up, grabbing her hand holding the knife and punching her with his automail arm. He had hit Aria on her right cheek. He allowed her to skid backwards, til she stopped. Ed walked away, as everyone began to disperse. Al stayed, seeing how bad Aria was hurt. Liza stayed, waiting to show her how to work a gun.
End of Flashback.
"Hey! Hey! Hey, I asked you a question. I want to be answered." Ed demanded, angry. His face was very close to her's. Aria realized how stupid she looked.
"I was just remembering of when I was a little. I'm sorry I didn't mean to space out like that." Aria said looking to the side, she was really doing a lot of remembering today.
"Well what happened?" Ed asked, he was very curious this morning. Aria wondered if he was curious every morning, or if it was just today.
"It's none of your business." She answers, finding her feet more interesting.
"Hell if it isn-" Ed was cut off by the sound of the train. Ed stopped pacing, turning to look at the train. Aria jumped up, happily. The train had taken the attention off of her. She was happy that she didn't have to worry about answering him. Al stood up slowly, the calm one of the goup. At that moment their group was joined by another.
"Aria, it's good to see you." Roy said. They had went on another date since Aria had been in Central. The two of them had gotten used to each other's company. Behind him were Liza and Armstrong.
"It's good to see you too Roy. So you all came to see us off." She said. Ed looked over at the two, he did not understand how they could be dating. How could he put up with her? Aria was a pain in the ass, she was loud and annoying. Why didn't Aria smack Roy all the time like she did him? Was there something that Roy did right, that he didn't? Well he did tend to annoy her? Calling her names and starting fights with her but still, did she have to hit him all the time?
"Hello Colonel. How are you this morning?" Al asked, suddenly feeling protective over Aria. He wanted to keep boys away from her. He wondered briefly if this was what it felt like to be protective over a sister.
"I'm well. And you?" Roy wanted to laugh, he really did. Ed was staring at them, while looking angry and Al seemed to becoming more protective over two were starting to really care for her. Roy wondered if he could get Ed to actully strike out at him, an idea formed into his head.
"I'm fine. The train is leaving soon, thankfully. These two will probably be out cold soon." Al said. Aria and Ed both turned on him. He thought they acted like little kids. Seeing their looks, he quickly added. "I mean you're tired right? You can sleep on the train." He said while holding up his hands. Neither Ed nor Aria looked like the believed him, but they let it go.
"Aria come here for a second." Liza called. She had a box in her hands, about six inches high and eight inches long. Aria wondered what was in there. Roy was afraid of what was in there. He really hoped that it wasn't a gun. With Liza helping her, Aria had passed all the tests to carry a gun on her. She was even certified to carry a hand gun with her every where. He had to admit that her aim was good, she with some practice could one day get to Liza's accuracy. Aria walked over to the gun loving woman.
"We had better hope that there is not a gun in that box. I don't think Aria having a fully loaded gun around Ed would be a good thing." Roy said.
"What? You would allow her to carry a gun?" Ed asked, surprised. He knew that Aria would end up putting the gun to his head, at least once if she had one.
"She passed all of the certification tests. She has great accuracy as well. She may not be apart of the military, but since she hangs with you too, she needs to have a weapon. Hawkeye also says that you need someone to watch your back in a fight." Roy said, he just hoped Aria and Ed never got into it.
"That's what the knives are for. Her weapon is knives. Seriously a gun? She'll become all trigger-happy." Ed said, alittle to loudly. Al, Roy, and Armstrong backed away. Hawkeye was known for putting a gun against someone's head, but Aria they didn't know what she would do. Ed wondered if she was going to do anything at all, after a minute he decided that since the two girls were in a heavy conversation about guns, they hadn't heard him. He turned around and that's when he heard it. He gulped.
"Who are you calling trigger-happy?" Aria asked, he could feel the metal of the gun against the back of his head.
"I said you could become all trigger-happy, not that you were." He said, trying to get out of this alive. He kept seeing himself dead. After a second he felt the barrel of the gun leave the back of his head.
"Fine but if you ever call me trigger-happy, you're getting a bullet in the back of the head." Aria asked, putting the safety of the gun back into place. She had heard him call her trigger-happy, so she had waited until he was turned around, to put the gun to his head. She had to admit that the gun was a nice gun, it was a pretty silver color. She could tell that it was engraved with something on it. She looked closer, on the gun, it said in fancy letters: Aria Renaldie. She looked at Liza. "You bought me a gun Liza. It must have been expensive." She said, tracing the letters of the writing. It was nice. She felt that with the gun in her hand that she was one step closer to her goals.
"Yeah. You need a gun. You need to keep those two out of trouble from a distance. They can't guard their backs, that's your job now. You watch their backs from a distance." Liza said, smiling at Aria.
"Thanks Liza. I'll pay you back eventully." Aria said, vowing to pay her back. Liza put her hand on Aria's shoulder.
"The only thanks I need is knowing that you protected them with that gun." She said, smiling at Aria. Aria smiled back.
"Hey we do not need trigger here to watch our backs. We don't need her help." Ed yelled. He realised what he said a second later. He actully got worried that she would take the gun and shoot him.
"Trigger? I kinda like it." Roy mused. "Hey Liza, don't you think that Trigger is a nice nickname?" Hoping that Aria wouldn't kill Ed. She had a temper like a trigger, ready to fire off at a moments notice. She also had very good aim with a gun. It could be her nickname, like how Liza had the nickname 'a hawk's eye'. It fit her. Aria wasn't so happy about it.
"What the hell? My name is not Trigger, it's Aria. Don't you dare call me that, midget." Aria said, extracting her revenge. She had been trying to stop calling him short. It worked sometimes, but when he pushed her buttons, she lost it.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MIDGET. AT LEAST I'M NOT A TRIGGER-HAPPY GORILLA!" He yelled, he wanted to hit her. Aria's hand was itching to either punch his lights out or shoot him. She knew that she couldn't shoot him, she did not want her gun taken away or thrown in prision. She could hit him, but that would only make them get into it. She knew for a fact that she couldn't defeat him and that made her mad. She didn't like that he could beat her.
"Boarding for the train to the east. I repeat boarding for the train to the east." The intercom said. Looked like it was time for them to go. Both Ed and Aria were engulfed in a hug, at the same time.
"L-let go." Ed gasped. His face was against Armstrong's chest, his shoulder against Aria's chest.
"Oww. Let go, I can't breathe." Aria said, trying to wiggle free, she didn't want to use her true strength. Armstrong finally let them go. The two teens fell to the ground, gasping for air. Why that man loved to hug so tight was beyond them.
"I can't believe you three are leaving. I feel like I haven't got to spend any time with the three of you." He wailed. Aria had the sudden urge to put the gun to her head, she wouldn't hear the guy's mouth anymore. Ed was having the same thoughts.
"Hey how about we escape to the train, he can't come on board without a ticket." Ed whispered. Aria thought it over, it wasn't a bad plan.
"Okay, I say we go off one at a time." Aria said. Ed looked surprised that she had agreed with him.
"I say we all go together." Ed said, trying to have an argument. If they went together, they were all safe.
"One at a time. He'll notice us if we all go off at the same time." She said.
"If we got together, no one's left behind. No man left behind principle." He conducted.
"He'll notice us. It won't be sneaky. Sometimes its better to move parts of the army then the whole army at the same." Aria said, she had been reading some books on the military since arriving in central.
"What if he gets ahold of one of us. They're done for, what just leave that person behind?" Ed conducted. This was getting further and further from the matter at hand.
"Well if it gets the objective done. That's what it says in the military books. And I'm not saying to leave people behind, just do what you can." Aria concluded. She was right and she was going to prove it. They both turned to Roy, Liza, Al, and Armstrong. They all suddenly feared for their lives. One was because Aria had a nasty right hook-though only Ed and Al knew how nasty-and Ed was a genius when it came to alchemy. He would do something to them. On top of that the two had gigantic tempers.
"Umm, this is just really a way you look at things. It's important to get the objective done and it's important to save as many lives as possible, so both of you are right." Roy concluded after a moment of silence. Liza decided to speak again.
"If you don't want to miss your train, I'd get on it." Liza said. Before Aria or Ed could move, they were pulled into another giant hug.
"I will miss you both, so much!" Armstrong said, tears flowing. Armstrong let the two go, hugging Al. He made sure to avoid the spikes on Al's armor. After a minute he let go of Al.
"We'll miss you too Major Armstrong." Al said, Aria and Ed nodding.
"It was nice to meet you. I'll see you the next time we're in Central." Aria said, grabbing her suitcase. Ed already had his bags ready to get on the train. Aria wanted to elbow him. He could at least say good-bye.
"Well see you later. Bye bastard, see ya Hawkeye, bye major." Ed said, turning to get on the train. He held his hand up in good-bye.
"See you soon. Take care of Central. We'll call if anything happens." Al said, turning around and getting on the train.
"Bye Ed, bye Al." Liza calls to them, turning towards Aria. "Here. This box has a decent amount of ammo in it. You'll have to buy some more if you get into a gun fight. Remember watch their backs, those two get into a lot of trouble. Keep that gun in good shape, you'll be surprised how many times it will save your life. Also keep up your shot and get better. I expect you to be much better the next time I see you." Liza said, handing Aria a box of ammuntion and a gun belt. Aria put the belt on, slipping her gun into place. She really wished that she had a jacket to hide it, but she didn't have one. She vowed that she would get one soon. She really didn't want to flash that she had a gun.
"Thank you Liza. You've been a big help to me. I promise that my aim will be much better. I'll be able to hit the center of the target from just as far as you can." Aria said smiling at her teacher.
"Good luck. I have to get back to work. Come on Major, we got to go get the car pick up paperwork for the Colonel." She said, making Roy grimace at the mention of paperwork. Aria watched Armstrong follow after Liza.
"So where are the three of you heading?" Roy asks, turning to Aria.
"Towards the east I think. I think we're just winging it." Aria said, the morning breeze blowing her hair around. She swore that she was going to start putting it back. Roy tucked some of her hair behind her ear.
"That's the brothers when they have no new leads. They just wing it. Well be careful, I really don't want to hear that you've been killed." Roy said, grimacing at the talk of death. He didn't like the people under him or the people close to him to die.
"Don't worry I have things in this life that I have to do before I die. I also promised to help the boys get their bodies back." She said. She wondered what was going to happen now. She knew her life was changing. She hadn't been close to anyone in so long and now she was getting close to a whole group of people. It was scary to her. She was still trying to keep her distance, but eventully the walls were going to come crumbling down. Well she kept lying to herself saying that these people ment nothing to her, but she knew that she was lying, she just wouldn't admit it.
"What are you thinking about? You seem to be upset by whatever you are thinking about." Roy observed. Aria's face had scrunched up in thought. A frown on her face. When he spoke her face went to a nuetral look. Roy wanted to uncover what was under that mask.
"Oh nothing. I was just thinking over something trivial." She answered. "I have to get on my train. Ed would just love it if he left me behind." She said. Roy was shocked, she had called him Ed? She didn't even seem to realize that she had done it.
"You'll be careful right?" He asked, worrying over her. He did care for her a lot.
"Don't worry Colonel." She said.
"Take care of those two, they like to get into trouble." He said before, adding. "We'll go dancing next time you're in Central." He suggests.
"Sure, I'd like that. You'll have to help me though. I really don't know how to dance." Aria said.
"I'll help you, don't worry." Before another word could be said, Roy leaned toward her. His lips touched hers and Aria pressed her lips to his. She didn't mind kissing him, she enjoyed it. It had just been a surprise the first time. Ed who had been watching, annoyed, suddenly got even more annoyed. He was not happy. He realized that she was going to miss the train-at least that's the reason he justified his next actions-and yelled out the window.
"Hurry up! You'll miss the train! We do not need to some back for you, gorilla." He yelled. Aria pulled away, her hand itching to pull her gun from it's holster. She wanted to shoot him.
"You do have to go. I'll see you next time you're in Central." He said, kissing her on the cheek before leaving. Aria hurried up and got on the train, ready to kill a certain someone. Aira got on the train, intent on finding her traveling companions and murdering one of them. She was debating on using her gun, chopping his head off, or beating him to a bloody pulp. She liked the beating him to a bloody pulp idea, just for the simple reason that he would feel every strike.
Al could feel the murder intent form the other side door. He felt like death was literally on the other side of the door, like the devil was after him. Oh no, he knew the anger wasn't directed at him, no it was director at his older brother. He could see the dark clouds pouring into the room from the other side of the door; he was teriffied of the door opening. Time seem to slow down as the door opened. Al could see her opening the door. When he was able to fully see her, he could see the anger and the promise of pain in her eyes. She looked like a fierce God going to war. Then it all melted, her anger dissapeared, her face softened. Al followed her gaze.
Aria was fully intended to kill Ed. She was ready to beat him, so that every bone in his body was broke. He wasn't going to have a single bone left unbroken. Her fists were going to leave his skin forever black and blue. He wasn't going to have any teeth left. She knew that he would be in the hospital for a long time, that was until she saw his face. He was asleep. She wouldn't-couldn't hurt him with that face. He was leaning against the window, his head on the window pane. His hair was falling in his face, the braid coming loose. His bright blond hair falling around his face, creating a halo. His face was calm and peaceful, unlike how it was when he was awake. He looked happy, and Aria couldn't shatter that. She smiled, softly, wishing that she could see his face like that more often.
Al was confused. She hadn't yelled, kicked, punched or destroyed something yet. He looked at the smile on her face, it looked so happy and peaceful. He wondered what had made her smile, she followed her gaze. If he could have smiled, he would have. Ed looked peaceful in his sleep. He knew why Aria was smiling. He liked when Aria smiled, it brought out a light in her eyes, it seemed to make them glow. He could tell that Aria was getting closer to them, even if she didn't want to admit it. He watched as she came and sat beside him, Ed on the other side of her.
"Al why does he keep going?" Aria whispered, looking at Al.
"What? Please explain." Al asked confused.
"Why hasn't he given up yet? Most people would have given up a long time ago. They would have excepted their fate and moved on. Yet he doesn't, neither of you do. You move on, trying against the impossible to get your bodies restored. Why?" Aria asked, her gaze wandering around the booth, stopping on the sleeping blond.
"I think it's because he's just stubborn. He wants to get me my body back because he thinks it's his fault. He blames himself for what happened to me. There might only be one person who he blames more than himself. And that's out father. Trust me, you've never seen the way he acts towards our father." Al said, realising what he said. Then he remembered that he had told her that their father was still alive.
"How does he act around your father?" She asked, her gaze still on Ed.
"He refuses to get along with him. Father left, causing our mother to always work, in the end getting sick and dying. Ed blames him for that." Al said, watching Aria. Her face seemed unguarded and different than normal. She looked sad.
"I wish you would have had a father like mine." She whispered softly. Neither of them knew that a certain someone was awake and listening. He had been awake since Aria had asked why he kept on going.
"What was he like?" Al asked, curious. He hoped that she wouldn't cry. Aria kept her gaze on Ed's face. She knew she was staring but she couldn't meet Al's gaze. She wanted to answer his question. Ed could feel her gaze on his face, even with his eyes closed.
"He was kind and nice. He used to forget his lunch all the time. Mama or me would always have to take him his lunch. He used to be able to make me laugh over everything. His smile was contagious, he had a way about him. You were comfrontable in his presense." Aria was crying, tears streaking down her face. She missed him so much. His smile, his laugh, just the way he treated her. Ed felt bad for her. He could feel the tears on his arm, she was so close. He wondered what it was like to have a family like that, to have a father like that.
"What do you remember the most about him?" Al asked. He was hoping she would tell them more. She clearly needed to get it off her chest, she needed to let it out.
"When I was in his arms I always felt safe. I felt like no harm could ever come to me." Aria answered, her tears flowing harder. Everything was blurry. She wondered why she was talking about him. It was none of Al's business. So why was she telling him?
"Aria I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I just wanted to know." He said, he was glad that she wasn't flipping out like the other day. He really didn't want her to do what she did the other day.
"What was your mother like?" She asked, surprising both the brothers. Why did she want to know?
"She was kind. She was always interested in our alchemy studies. She loved us very much. She tried to do everything by herself, never letting anyone know how hard it was on her that our father left her." Al answered. He could deal with talking about their mother. Aria could definetly not deal with talking about her family. Al was glad she had gotten some of it off her chest though.
"I understand." She said.
"What? Aria what do you understand?" Al asked. He was confused. Ed was slightly confused as well.
"Why you keep on going. You do it so you don't have to look back. You do it to keep you from wallowing in your past. Ed's the same as me, he moves forward to escape his past. He has a goal to keep the hauntings of his past away. It's his light in the dark, without it he would have surely given up a long time ago." Aria said, closing her eyes. She leaned heavily on Ed. She didn't seem to care what she was doing. Aria just wanted to sleep, she wanted to forget her shadows. Both of the boys sat in silence for a few moments.
"Al do you know what happened to her family?" Ed asked suddenly. Al jumped, thinking his brother was asleep. He would have laughed if this was under different circumstances.
"No. But I asked once and she broke down crying. I think something bad happened to them. Brother whatever happened to them, broke something inside Aria." Al answered. He watched his brother allow Aria to keep leaning on him.
"I want to know what." Ed said, looking at Aira. She had tear tracks down her face. Her eyes were closed and her face was calm. One side of her face rested on his chest. Her hair was spread around her like a curtain. The train went around a bend and Aria's body shifted, before she could fall off the seat, Ed grabbed her arm, keeping her against him. He let go once they were around the bend. "We're never going to get rid of her are we?" Ed asked suddenly.
"Nope. I think she's stuck with us brother. I really don't mind, though." Al answered. Ed groaned.
"Looks like another person that I'm going to have to look after." Ed said, staring down at the head of dirty blond hair. Ed wondered if he had mistreated Aria. Sure she was pain in the ass, hell she was the world's largest pain in the ass, but could he have went alittle overboard? He realized how similar they were. They both had issues with their past, he could tell that she blamed herself for something. He had a feeling that it pretained to her family. "Why us? Why couldn't someone else have gotten stuck with gorilla girl?" Ed asked, annoyed. He knew that nothing would really change between them, they would still argue and fight, but he would try and be nicer. He also knew that he would protect her now. He wouldn't allow her to die while she was with them.
"I don't know brother. But come on Aria isn't bad at all, she's just rough around the edges, like you." Al said. He knew what was coming next.
"I am nothing like her!" Ed whispered, loudly. He really didn't want to wake her, he thought that she had had enough to deal with and deserved to sleep.
"But brother you are! You're both stubborn, you both like to use violence, and you both have tempers the size of volcanoes." Al said, moving his arms to prove his point. Ed sighed. His brother was right, but he wasn't going to admit it, at least not at loud.
"I am not like her." Ed said, hoping his brother would drop it. He was tired, since he had woken up so early. He wondered what had made him get up that early. It didn't matter now, he supposed, it just pissed him off. He closed his eyes, trying to not focus on Aria leaning on him. Why couldn't she have leaned on Al? He asked himself.
"Brother, I'm glad that she's with us." Al said. He didn't get a response. Ed had fallen asleep, his head, resting on Aria's. Where is the camera when I need to take these pictures? They'd be perfect for blackmail.
well heres the newest chapter. this originally was going to be alot longer, but i split the chapter in half, the next half will be the next chapter. well thanks to ike1440 for helping me with this chapter. also thanks to anyone who put this on their alert lists and people i love reviews. they make me smile, so please review. hehe... also if anyone can draw and would maybe draw Aria for me, i'd be eternally grateful, i cant draw. well thanks for reading...