This Will Make Sense Later,
But something to keep in Mind:

~…~ = Taps/Morse Code
*...* = sign language
"..." = Speech
"/.../" = Mouthed
Italicized = Thoughts


~*~ Silent Love ~*~
Chapter 9: Tell Me About Yourself... What Have I gotten Myself Into?

~*~*~ ~*~ Leonani's Point of View~*~*~ ~*~

It was about eight blocks or so from the military dorms where Alphonse and Edward were staying. We didn't really walk fast, but it got dark pretty quick considering it was the middle of fall. I wished the moon and stars were out, but there was none tonight. The street lights were the only thing that lit the street and those didn't even light them that well. It was more like a pool of light, and then darkness surrounding it, a pool of light, then darkness. I thought this was a city. Why is it so dark at night? Where were the bright lights? I don't know how close we were to the dorms when we just so happened to stumble upon someone. Which is to say, someone I really didn't want to find me, had found us.

"So kid, why are you kidnapping little Lea?" Sam's boyfriend, what was his name? Harold? No it was Arnold; glared at Ed as he spoke. I don't know how he did it, but he seemed to always be around when I didn't want him to. I really didn't care for him, but I didn't hate him. Now I think I should reconsider. "She doesn't like to be around boys. So let her go."

I hid behind Edward, holding on to his coat tightly, and pressed my head against his back. This was an old habit of hiding behind my siblings and parents. "You know this guy?" he whispered to me. I nodded into his back so he could feel it. "Do you want to go with him?" At this I shook my head. "I didn't think so."

"I need to take her back to the foster home where she was, sadly enough she ran away. But she can't live on her own she's not old enough to," I could almost hear the smirk in Arnold's voice. Why was he so persistent on taking us back?

"I don't think it's your choice to decide, I'm sixteen and I've been on my own for five years now," I knew Ed was glaring at him. For some reason he tried so hard to protect me. I couldn't understand why he would, he barely knew me.

"Well then I think I should take you with, kid. There's no reason for you to cause a nuisance to people around here."

"I'm a ranking State Alchemist, I'm allowed to be here," he snapped showing off his silver pocket watch. Even if I had only known him for a little while, I knew he was easily angered like my sister. It's kind of the reason why their personalities clashed. And Arnold, well he was the type of person who knew how to push your buttons.

"You could have easily stolen that," the red-head said dully. "So just give me the girl, so I could take her back, and I'll let you stay here, all willy-nilly."

"Go to hell! She doesn't want to go with you!" Ed snapped at him.

"Are you sure about that?" I peeked from around Ed to see Arnold glaring. He was angry. And it was scary. I've never seen him angry before. It looked, to me, like he was about ready to kill someone.

"Dead sure," Edward clapped his hand and hit the ground, making a wave out of the concrete and knocking Arnold off his feet and into the darkness of the night. "Stay alert, he's still around," I heard Ed say as he scanned the darkness with his eyes. I let go of Ed to do the same; big mistake on my part. I suddenly felt someone pull me into the darkness of the night.

I saw Edward drifting away slowly, and I without a voice, couldn't do anything about it.


~*~*~ ~*~ Alexia's Point of View~*~*~ ~*~

"Arugh!" I threw myself back down on the bed I had fallen asleep on. My legs lazed over the side of the bed, with my feet flat on the ground. "This is SO annoying! What's taking them so long?!"

"Relax Alexia, it was the middle of the afternoon, and they haven't been out long," Alphonse tried to calm me down. I had been complaining since I got up, which was about an hour ago. When I realized that Lea wasn't there, and that she was with that stupid shrimp, Edward, my anger grew. Poor Alphonse, he didn't need me stressing him out. But what can I say, I was angry.

"They've been out for ten hours! Who eats for ten hours?!" I exaggerated.

"They should be back soon. It's almost dark now," he said nervously. I guess he was trying not to make me angrier then I was. Or at least hoping I didn't get as angry.

I sighed. It was a sigh of frustration and a bit of guilt. I could tell Alphonse was relieved that I wasn't yelling anymore. I bet he gets enough of that from his brother. I'd hate to admit it, but that kid and I are a lot alike. -.-; Not something I'm proud of, mind you. "I'm sorry Alphonse; I guess I'm just a bit on edge..."

"Al."

"What?"

"Call me Al," his voice was kind, and though I couldn't see it, I could tell he was smiling. Which reminds me.

"Hey, Al?"

"Yes?"

"Why is your armor hollow?" I asked hesitantly.

"W-what? It's not-?"

"If you don't want to tell me, then don't. But I know you are. I could feel it in the floor. The vibrations aren't as strong as they would be if someone was in there. I could hear it in your steps. The armor echoes as you walk. After living with two deaf people, a blind person, and a mute, you have to be observant of every one of your senses," I said calmly. "I'm the only one in my family who did not have a disability, so I had to keep my in keen tune so I could help out my brother and sisters."

"..." Al was quiet. I knew he was listening. He was just the kind of person who listens without interrupting you.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to..." I repeated. I rubbed my right eye, it was aching since I put the thing back in. You're supposed to rinse it before you put it back in, otherwise it starts irritating you. But I didn't want the State officers taking any interest in my magenta colored eyes; I didn't trust them to know.

I finally decided to popped it out, 'cause I couldn't take it. I heard Alphonse gasp as his armor clinked together; I think I startled him with my eye. I walked to the tiny bathroom, not bothering to explain, and rinsed it off before I placed it back in my eye. I know Al was just as curious as Edward was when he first seen it, but Edward didn't bring it. Then again, I never gave him the chance too.

I plopped myself on the bed, searching for those stupid eye drop things for when my eyes got dry. Drat! I think Lea has them. I let out a frustrated sigh before the room was silent once again.

"Alexia...?" Alphonse voiced in a small whisper.

"It's okay, I don't mind...Ask your question first," I offered. The military knowing about my eyes was one thing, but anyone else was just fine with me. I didn't mind telling people who I knew wouldn't mind. Al was someone I knew didn't mind.

"Well... Are you from Ishbal?"

I expected as much. "No, my father was. He left though. After falling out the beliefs of his people, well I guess they're my people, too, he left; long before the Ishbalan Rebellion. He met my mom somewhere here in Amestris, but she's from Xing. She had the richest dark blue eyes you could have ever seen."

"How do you-"

"Change the color of my eyes? It's something my mother's side came up with. In Xing they focus more on medical alchemy than any other kind. And my mother's family has this thing, where in each generation at least one child of each family is either, deaf, blind, or mute. They created this sort of plastic contact thingy; I don't know what it is. It practically dissolves on your eye though. It has a transmutation circle on it, so that it may give sight to those who are blind. They used that... technology, if you will, to change our eye color."

"What happened that you had to change your eye color?"

"The Ishbal Rebellion," I replied flatly.

"Oh," he seemed to understand. I'm glad, 'cause I didn't really want to explain it any further. There was more to it with the people in the town we used to live in being mainly relatives of the State. They didn't care too much for Ishbalan descendents.

Where's Lea and that midget brat... I wondered as I tried to think of something else to pass the time. Then it hit me. I could read Lea's journal without her being here. I know I shouldn't but I'd never used anything in it against her. Or tell her that I read it. So this was just a little more insight to what she was thinking because she didn't always tell me. Alright, maybe I was just being nosey 'cause I wasn't told everything about that incident with the older boy, but whatever.

In any case, I didn't get to read it. Right when I was about to get the little journal, I felt a familiar vibration reach my feet...erm foot.

"Al, we need to go find them. Now," I said firmly and walked out of the room not waiting for him to follow.