~Third Person~
"So what should we do tomorrow?" Artie says while balancing on a fallen tree. Russel looks down. She looks over her shoulder so see that he's stopped. She hops off of the log a slaps his face.
"What was that for?!" He yells, clutching the side of his face. Artie's expression remains neutral.
"You were spacing out again... unless you're hiding something from me." She crosses her arms. He sighs.
"Roy was the one who called." Artie's eyes widen. She runs up to him a grips his shirt.
"What did he say? What happened?" She asks, prying into his eyes.
"He want's you to go home tomorrow." She loosens her grip in relief.
"Sheesh, you really had me worried there. It's probably some State Alchemist business." She says reassuringly. He looks down at her with a smile of relief. A sudden gust of wind sends shivers down Artie's bare arms. Russel takes his jacket and wraps it around her shoulders.
"T-thanks..." She says. He laughs and they begin walking back into town. After a few minutes, the crowd began to pick up, for it was almost dinnertime and everyone was hurrying home. Artie began to find herself lost in the crowd, and moments later Russel was nowhere to be seen. She frantically searches the masses, but couldn't see very far from her height. Someone pushes her from behind, dropping her onto her hands and knees into a puddle. She begins to sob.
"Russel..." She clasps her hands on her head. She hadn't been lost since she first went to the market with Roy.
"This is no good. You're causing a huge traffic jam." An unfamiliar hand stretches out in front of Artie. She looks up to see a boy a little older than Russel. His dark blueish black hair covers his face, which is nestled underneath a blue paper-boy type hat. She takes his hand and stands up, brushing herself off.
"Oh, that won't do. Come back to our shop and dry off. I'm sure my sister has some clothes that'll fit you." He says, eyeing her up.
"Thank you..." She says shyly. Suddenly, a hand pulls her back.
"That won't be necessary." Russel say menacingly, clutching her to his chest. The boy simply snorts and walks away.
"No one in this town will forgive you if you keep looking at them like that." She says walking ahead. Russel quickly catches up to her and holds her hand. When she looks at him, he's looking in another direction, blushing.
"Maybe they won't think I'm that bad if they know I'm with you." He says. He turns his face and leans in close to hers.
"And this way you won't get lost." Their faces get nearer and nearer until...
"Brother! Artie!" Fletcher waves. Belsio smirks and gives Russel a thumbs up. The two back away from each other swiftly, both blushing and looking for something interesting on the ground to stare at.
"I take it you two had fun tonight~" Belsio asks.
"D-don't make it sound so perverted." Artie says, fast-walking back to the house.
"We're going to be selling these all night, so you two help yourselves to dinner at home, alright?" Belsio calls back out to her. Russel excitedly rushes after her. When she looks over her shoulder, she panics and starts running.
"Do you think it'll be okay letting them stay home alone together?" Fletcher asks as they watch the two run off in the distance.
"They need their time alone." Belsio says, remembering the phone call from earlier. Roy was concerned that Russel would try keeping Artie all to himself, so he told Belsio as well, just in case.
"Yes, Papa, I know, I'm going first light of tomorrow. N-no, we didn't do anything like that! NO! I don't need that talk right now! I'll call you tomorrow. BYE!" Artie slams the phone back onto the stand. Evidently, Belsio told him about their little excursion earlier today. Russel smiles from across the room, placing two bowls on the table.
"Let's eat."
"Are you sure they're going to be alright? She's at that age, you know." Riza Hawkeye stands by the Colonel's desk. Roy lets out a small laugh.
"It's fine, she knows very well what'll happen if he does anything to her." He says, pulling on his right glove. The rest of the Mustang unit shuffles into the room.
"All of our things are packed and ready, sir!" Warrant Officer Falman states. With a wave of Roy's hand, the group drops their salutes. He stands up and walks over the face the team.
"We leave for Central tomorrow evening!"
"Why tomorrow evening?" Fuery raises his hand.
"Because he needs time for his little girl to pack up her stuff, too." Havoc says. Roy smirks. Suddenly, the doors burst open once again as Maes Hughs makes an entrance.
"Did someone want to talk about their daughters?!" He says. The rest of the group sighs while Roy and Hughs begin to go off about their little girls.
"There's no helping it when those two are together." Riza says.
"Wow! Look at her, she so big now! an it's been awhile sine I've seen her! How old is she now?" Roy proudly holds out Artie's sixteenth birthday photo.
"She just turned sixteen three months ago." Roy nods, sparkles emanating from who knows where.
"Well, just take a look at my little sweetheart!"
"Achoo!" Artie sneezes.
"Heh, is someone talking bad about you?" Russels asks. She wipes her nose.
"No, but I have a feeling Roy and Maes are together. He must be doting on me again..." She trails off. She'd stayed in Xenotime for around a month, the longest time she's been apart from Roy. They've been able to call each other a lot, but she still missed him.
"You can't wait for tomorrow then, huh?" Russel asks, pushing his food around with a spoon.
"It'll be fine, I'll just be there for awhile, fix whatever needs to be fixed, then come back." She smiles reassuringly. Russel smiles halfheartedly.
"Have you heard from Ed yet?" Artie asks. He promised he'd call and update us on whatever happened when he goes to visit his old teacher the last time he called.
"No. Maybe he did get killed by his teacher...?" Russel thinks aloud.
"Don't say that! I'm sure they're alright!" Artie slams her hand on the table. He snickered softly.
"You seem to worry about others a lot." He says.
"Well, they won't, so someone has to!" She declares. His laughter dies off.
"Then I'll worry about you." He says. She smiles softly.
"Thank you."
"And don't forget to call as soon as you're in East City." Russel yells over the roar of the train.
"I'll be fine, I won't forget." She laughs.
"Just be careful! And don't talk to strangers." Russel says.
"It's almost insulting how much you doubt my power." She replies. Artie turns to Belsio and Fletcher.
"Sorry Elisa couldn't see you off." Belsio says.
"It's fine, I'll be back soon enough." She says. Fletcher hands her a ring of flowers.
"For good measure." He says. Artie smiles and places a kiss on top of his head. She then places it atop her head.
"Thank you, I really like it!" The train bell sounds in the distance, signifying the train's near departure.
"Well, goodbye..." Russel says. She sighs at his hopelessness and leans down and gives him a kiss, this time on the lips. Belsio and Fletcher giggle.
"Next time, I want you to do that to me, okay?" She says. He simply nods back, flustered. Suddenly, the train starts moving. Artie waves at them.
"Goodbye!"
"Bye Bye!"
"See you in a few days!"
"Artie!" Russel calls out. Artie peeks her head out of the window.
"Come back safely, alright?!" She smiles and waves again. The three wave back until the train is out of sight.
Russel's getting it on now. And so is Roy. And Ed. And eventually Fletcher.
But not Al lol.