DISCLAIMER
WE DON'T OWN FMA OR FMA:BROTHERHOOD. We don't own anything except for our original characters and story arcs. Most pairings, if any will be OCxOC.
WARNINGS: Contains material some viewers might not find suitable. Most chapters rated T. Other chapters will have a separate warning and will be rated M.
Line breaks are in place because the chapter jumps back and forth to a few different perspectives.
Three days had passed since the incident at the auto-shop. There had been no new attacks on the soldiers and all seemed peaceful at Central HQ. Morning came and went, as did the afternoon. As evening approached it seemed as if nothing was going wrong in the world, even though it was divided and warring. The day was normal for Roy Mustang, that is, until a young man in a military uniform walked through his office door. His long, black hair was tied back and his eyes were bright green and friendly looking, yet seemed to be hiding something.
"Sir, I need the train tickets to Liore. They seem to be missing from my box." The young man said.
"Just who do you think you are coming in here without knocking?!" Roy shouted. He took a moment to look at the other. He then realized who it was.
"Oh, it's you, Walsh. Took the dye out of your hair, I see."
"Yeah, my hair kept coming out in clumps so I brought it back to black. It's not good for the oil in my hair to have all that hydrogen peroxide anyway." Maes replied.
"I would assume not…" Roy smirked as he imagined the young colonel entirely bald. "I had Fuery deliver them to your office. They should be on your desk by now. Which one of your subordinates are you taking with you?"
"Lieutenant Jensen, he's the only one I trust enough to travel with through the desert."
"Very well, I assume Lieutenant Colonel Mortizzi is in charge while you're gone?"
"Obviously. Also, I sent Lieutenant Wei to Southern HQ. Apparently there's an important ambassador of Xing there. He doesn't speak our language very well so I sent Yun to translate."
Roy took a moment to think before he said, "So Weber is going to be here with Ms. Mortizzi. Alright, I'll keep an eye on him. Knowing her, he'll be dead before you even leave the city."
"Don't worry about him today or tomorrow. He's got these days off, remember? I think he's in the city doing errands or something. Oh and I forgot to mention this, you have two angry blonds on their way in here." Maes snickered.
"What?!" Roy quickly looked around for an escape, but found it conveniently blocked by the newly raven haired Colonel.
"See you next week, General." He mock saluted and left just as Riza and Ed came through the door. One had a large stack of paper-work; the other had the rest of it.
Maes rounded the corner back to his office, snickering all the way. He peeked inside, where he saw the Lieutenant Colonel sitting at her desk with a sad expression.
He knocked on the door panel to alert her that he was there. "Are you alright?"
"I miss my family. I haven't seen them in six years. Now that we're at war with the surrounding countries, I can't even visit them." A tear moved down her face, even the toughest of men and women had to cry sometimes.
"I've never seen this side of you. Just don't worry about it. Things will get better, and I'm sure they are just fine. Your family is from the Southern part of Aerugo right? It's not like the war has passed very far into either country." He handed her a tissue.
"I know… Still, I worry. My brother never was the patient type and I'm afraid he might have joined the military back home. He was always going on about it…" Her usually hardened expression became soft and the coldness in her eyes melted into a warm nostalgic trance as she wiped her face with the tissue.
"Well, you take care of the office while I'm gone. Major Weber won't be in for a couple of days, so you'll have the place all to yourself. I'm sure you can handle it."
"Of course, sir. Good luck in Liore, and be careful. Things may be peaceful now, but you never know when a riot will break-out there."
"I'll come back safely." He picked up the tickets from his desk. "Don't stay here too long, I'm sure Katarina wouldn't be happy with you."
A tinge of pink touched her cheeks and she glanced at the picture on her desk. Katarina was the woman of her dreams, her best friend and her true love too.
"I don't plan on staying long." She said quietly. "Tonight is important. I've saved six months pay for this night and nothing is going to ruin it."
"Good luck, Alexis." She rolled her eyes at her first name, preferring her middle one. "That one's a keeper. Mikkel and I will see you in a week or so. Please try not to kill Major Weber." He squeezed her shoulder and left the office, his footsteps growing duller the farther away he got.
The lieutenant colonel opened a drawer, reaching her hand into it. She pulled out a small, black, velvet box, a sweet smile gracing her features. She gave it a little kiss, put it away and closed the drawer, and went back to her work.
Markus Weber was enjoying a quiet day in town. The usually warm summer air was cooled by a coming rain storm. Many shops were rushing to sell their produce and trinkets before the first drop of rain fell. Crisp ripe vegetables and shiny jewels were on either side of the crowded street. Markus had found everything he would need for the day, except potatoes. They seemed to be eluding him. He turned around to look at the other side of the street, but a flash of purple and black rushing past him nearly knocked him and his basket over.
"What was that for?!" He shouted in the direction of the blur. His voice was drowned out by a clap of thunder and a siren coming from the middle of the city. It was the city's new storm warning. A year prior, an enormous black cloud had covered the city and the storm that came from it wiped out more than a dozen homes. The siren was so people could get to a safer place if their homes weren't ready for it.
Markus grabbed a bell pepper that had fallen out of his basket and headed across the street. This time, there was no blurs or people knocking him over. Finally finding the elusive potato stand, he bought a week's worth and made his way home. He arrived at his small, second-floor apartment in the north side of the city. It wasn't grand or flashy, it wasn't even decorated. It was a simple and plain three room building. There was a living room/kitchen as you open the front door, and a bedroom down a small hall with an attached bathroom.
He set the food down on the table and began putting things away. He glanced out the window as the rain descended across the city. Checking his pockets for change, he discovered enough to grab a hot coffee he set it down on the table next to the groceries. He quickly changed out of his military uniform and into some clothes more suited for the weather. A pair of black jeans, a dark blue sweater and some comfortable rain boots adorned him as he grabbed his keys. He pulled on his trench coat, grabbed an umbrella, and head back out the front door.
The coffee house, only being a few blocks away from the apartments, was a regular stop on the way to work for Markus. He managed to get under the awning just as the rain started falling. It was gentle for now, but he knew it would only get worse.
Inside, the rich smell of coffee beans and mocha wafted through the air filing his nostrils with pleasant warmth. The shop seemed deserted aside from a bubbly brunette barista behind the counter.
"Hey there, Markus! The usual, I'm assuming?" She gave him a big smile as he sat down.
"Yes please, Samantha. It's been a long week and I could really use a cup." She went over to the coffee machine and started it up.
"So where've you been? I haven't seen you in forever." She said as she hopped over the counter.
"I've been working on the murder cases. You know those soldiers that were killed? Well I have to work with a cocky brigadier general, a self absorbed colonel, a long time lieutenant, and an ex-state alchemist trying to figure out who's responsible."
"Wow, and I thought I had problems. My dog is being a pain and won't stop pissing on the couch. My dad is furious."
The two laughed together as they waited for the brew to finish. When the coffee was done, Samantha jumped back over the counter and got a couple of cups. She pulled the lever that released the bitter drink and steam rose from the dark liquid. She set them on the counter, jumped over and set the cups on the table. Markus reached into his pocket for the change only to find it empty.
"I must have left my money on the table. Crap, sorry Sam."
"Don't worry about it, Markus. I'll take care of it this time." She gave him a toothy smile, dimples appearing on her cheeks.
Markus had seen Sam every morning, but he never took time to really look at all her features. Her eyes were a deep electric blue and her wavy brown hair flowed down her shoulders. Her figure was toned from what Markus assumed was gymnastics. She didn't have many curves but by the way she carried herself with confidence she might as well have had them.
"Uh… Thanks, Sam. I'll pay you back some other time." He felt his face heat up.
"No, I insist. This one is on me." Her smile grew wider, flashing pearly white teeth and pink gums.
Markus felt the warmth in his cheeks spread to his ears. He looked outside and saw the rain pound against the streets. Even though the weather was awful, he knew it was going to be a good night. Sam sat down next to him and they spent a couple of hours talking. Outside the rain was punishing anyone who dared to venture out in it.
Eiren was just ten yards from the auto-shop when the rain started to fall. She surged forward trying to keep her balance on her temporarily wooden legs. She managed to get under the awning of the shop to catch her breath. She leaned against the door and let out a sigh. Her purple button-up was ruined and her shoes and the bottom of her pants were caked in mud.
'This rain is killing my ports. They won't stop aching.' Eiren adjusted the eye patch on her face to sit more comfortably. As she dropped her hand down the door swung inward and she fell to the floor.
"Whoops, my bad. Sorry Eiren." The redhead apologized, reaching a hand down to help the soaking girl. White sleeves pulled up to her elbows, and a dirty apron covering the rest of her.
"It's alright, Lynne." Eiren accepted the offered hand and let herself be helped inside. "It's raining cats and dogs out there!"
"I bet. Did you step in any poodles?" Lynne asked.
"Ha-ha very punny. Did my legs come in?"
"You bet! The maker herself is here too! She and Mr. Elric are in the back room talking."
The two girls sat and waited for a couple of minutes, talking about the recent events and their mutual dislike of Maes Walsh. The door to the back room opened and in walked Edward, in his favorite red shirt and a heavy suitcase in each hand. Trailing behind him was his wife of two years, Winry. She wore a simple light blue dress that complimented her eyes, and her hands were supporting a very pregnant stomach.
"Hi. You must be Eiren. I'm Winry it's very nice to meet you." She said as she sat across from her.
"It's nice to meet you, too. Ms. Winry. I'm eager to see my new legs." Eiren stood up and shook Winry's hand. "I'll be back in a second; I just have to go change in the back real quick."
Lynne grabbed the tool kit off her counter and set it down on a table next to the blonde woman. "There should be everything you need in there, Miss Winry."
"Thank you, Lynne. That's a nice hand you've got there. Who made it?"
"Mr. Garfiel made it for me when I was twelve. It took two years for me to recover from the surgery, but I'm glad I went with something I can move like a normal hand." The green eyed girl beamed with admiration.
"I thought I recognized that work. Did you make these models here in your shop?" Winry asked inquisitively.
The smile became a sulk. "No… I'm just a seller. I've been trying to learn how to make them, but it's almost as complicated as alchemical formulae for me."
Ed chuckled. "Well at least you can fix them up without a hitch. I know for sure, she'd have killed me if it weren't for you."
The three shared a laugh and Eiren came back in the room wearing a baggy black shirt and red shorts. Attached to her thighs were the wooden replacements she had been borrowing. She sat down in front of Winry, next to Ed and put her legs up on the stool in between them. Lynne pulled her padded stool from behind the counter and sat facing Eiren's legs.
Winry took out a few tools from the tool box and set them on a table to her right. She then unhooked the temporaries and looked held her hand out toward Ed. He opened the heavy suitcase and handed the first leg to the pregnant mechanic.
Winry looked Eiren in her one eye, noting the nervous expression on her face. "Before I do this, do you have any reflexes that kick in when your legs are attached?"
"My leg jerks up toward me when the nerves connect. I think my arm muscles clench too, but that's about it."
"Alright then, are you ready?"
"You bet!" The raven haired girl exclaimed.
"Let's do this!" Winry lined up the left leg, and began to count. "One… two… THREE!"
The leg connected, the nerves surged, Eiren yelped and her newly attached leg jerked backward. The second leg went on in a similar manner and after much sweating and tearing, the four shared a good laugh, and Lynne swooned over the craftsmanship of the limbs. Outside the thunder and rain continued on.
Markus looked out into the stormy sky. "I don't think you're going to get any more customers tonight, Sam. You want me to help you close?"
"That would be great! Do you mind if I crash on your couch tonight? Your place is way closer than mine and I don't have an umbrella."
He felt his ears and cheeks heat up once more. "U-h s-sure! That sounds… er… f-fine." He laughed nervously.
"Thanks!" She gave him a hug and the two went about closing the coffee shop. Soon they were done and all that was left was to lock up.
Sam turned off the lights and stepped outside with Markus. She locked the door and he opened his umbrella. He held it up above him and let her slide in close to him as they made their way back to Markus's small apartment. He began to think about how the day had gone and his thoughts were plagues with the mysterious blur that had nearly knocked him over. He knew that somehow, it was important.
The thunder boomed right overhead as they reached his front door. Sam pressed herself close to him, hiding her face. He put his arm around her and suddenly, the blur didn't seem so important anymore.