"Hello this is Garfiel's, my name is Winry, how can I help you?" Winry spoke smoothly through the phone resting on her shoulder. In her hands was an unfinished automail leg piece.

"Hello Mrs. Rockbell, this is Colonel Roy Mustang."

She faltered, surprised. "C-Colonel?!"

"Yes. Is Iris with you?"

"Yeah, do you want me to get her?"

"Please do."

"Hold on."

She put the steel down and held the phone away from her. "Iris!" she called. "Phone call!" She immediately heard eager steps come downstairs.

"Who is it?" Iris asked as she took the phone from her.

"The Colonel."

"Roy?"

"Mmhm," she replied.

Iris smiled and put the receiver to her ear. "Hello?"

"Iris, how is everything?"

"Good, good. Everything's really good. The Elric brothers are in Dublith, and I've been with Winry in Rush Valley. And on your end?"

"My team and I are fine," he forced out. "Just fine." He couldn't bear to tell her about Hughes. She wouldn't believe it, and if he was honest with himself, he still couldn't fully believe it either.

'He was my best friend, and to her, he was...'

"Are you sure?" she questioned, concerned.

"Yes," he lied.

"Okay... Any reason you called?"

"We're moving to Central," he announced.

She gasped. "Really?! All of us?" She was referring to the team, of course.

"Yes. All of us."

"Awesome!"

"You're... you are willing to follow me, correct?"

She smiled at his worrying undertone. "Always will."

"Good to know. See you soon."

"You too."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Iris shook away the homesickness ebbing away at her as she put the phone back in its holder and went back upstairs.

•••

Mr. Garfiel was a generous man and had given the two girls permission to stay at his residence. Winry was his apprentice and worked there, so it was a fair enough exchange.

Iris didn't even spend much time there during the day anyway. She would roam the streets mostly, trying to get a feel for the city and its people, also doing miscellaneous chores for Mr. Garfiel that Winry didn't have time to complete. She looked like a regular citizen, and very rarely did she get recognized as her State Alchemist title. Sometimes she would wear her watch around town and was asked if she had stolen it.

"No, this watch is mine. I'm the See-All Alchemist." Honestly, she expected praise, but all she received were confused looks and annoying questions.

"The See-All Alchemist isn't a boy..?"

"How did someone like you become a State Alchemist?"

"For a girl, you're a pretty good alchemist!"

isn'taboy..?

...someonelikeyou...

foragirl...

"Stupid townspeople," she muttered, walking through an alley.

'Shake it off, Iris,' she thought to herself. 'Soon enough, you'll be recognized for the things you are, not the things you aren't.'

She was so caught up in herself that she barely realized a hand trying to grab at her ankle.

"Help..." he barely let out. He was dressed in a get-up that Iris could only guess was from the East.

"What's wrong?" she asked, crouching down to him and checking for injuries.

"...hungry..." His stomach growled.

She almost laughed, but sighed instead. He looked so helpless, she just had to help him out.

"Alright, come with me, we'll get something."

Soon, Iris found herself at a restaurant, the stranger she pitied before her, stuffing himself full.

"You're eating up all my money," she muttered. He didn't hear her.

The waiter came by later, asking, "Would you care for dessert?"

Iris butted in before the other could swallow and speak. "No! No, we wouldn't, thanks."

The stranger frowned and pushed away his now empty plate.

"What a shame, I wanted more."

"No, I think you're done."

"Thank you for that..."

"Iris."

"Ling. Pleasure meeting you."

"Likewise," she said, a bit sarcastic. "Now, where are you from? You're obviously not from here."

"Good observation. I'm actually from Xing. I just recently crossed the desert."

She reclined back in her chair a bit, a surprising smile curling at the ends of her lips. "Really? Wow, that's impressive. But why come to Amestris?"

"I came here to study something." He suddenly became deadly serious and opened his eyes to look into hers. "Do you know anything about alchemy? The Philosopher's Stone?"

Iris pursed her lips tightly but kept a cool and curious façade. "No. What's so special about it?"

He leaned forward a bit and crossed his arms. She deeply hoped he believed her lie.

"Oh, nothing. I was just curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat, you realize?"

"From what I've heard, cats have more than one life."

She gave him a satisfied look. This guy was something else.

"Well said, Ling. Well said."

•••

It was turning dark, and Garfiel's shop had been closed for the night hours ago. Iris had been given a key for reasons like this, so she pulled it out and entered the house quietly. The kitchen, bath, and room lights were off, and most importantly the garage light was off as well. No one was working; they were asleep.

She licked her lips as she crept through with caution. She was almost up the stairs when a loud ring made her jump and yelp. She ran over to the phone and picked it up so it would silence. Sighing, she put it up to her ear.

"Hello?" she whispered into it.

"Iris!" the voice on the other line yelled.

"Edward?"

"Yeah, this is Ed! I have some bad news."

She felt something in her stomach drop. "What is it?" she dared to ask.

"Al's been kidnapped."

"What? I'm coming over there, right now!" she exclaimed, not bothering to hear the details. Her friends were in trouble. She had to do something.

"No!" he shouted at her. "Don't! We're going to find him right now. We don't want you in trouble, too."

"But I want to help!"

"We won't need it. What I need you to do, is watch yourself. Be careful, and watch over Winry, but don't tell her. I don't want her worrying."

"She needs to know, Ed."

"No, she doesn't. I don't want her knowing we're in trouble, okay? Please."

Iris bit her lip. "Okay."

"Thank you. Keep yourselves safe."

"Will you call once you find him?"

"Yes. I don't have time right now. I have to go."

"Okay. Be careful."

"Yeah. Bye."

He didn't wait for a response. The line died.

She put the phone down and raked a hand through her messy hair. Footsteps slowly came downstairs. It was Winry.

She rubbed her eyes as she turned on a lamp. "Who was it?" she yawned.

"Just some salesman," she fibbed, avoiding her gaze. Lying to strangers was one thing, but Winry was truly her friend. She hoped she would understand.

"Alright, Imma go back to bed. You should too."

"I'll be up in a minute."

"'Kay."

She went back upstairs, and Iris chewed at her lip.

"Please be okay," she breathed.

After turning off the lamplight, she headed towards her room, the darkness engulfing her.