Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
I.
The girl wouldn't stop crying.
Her mother fussed over her, as the girl cradled her arm.
"I don't know what happened," The mother said helplessly. "She was playing with her friends, and then-"
Lola simply held up a hand, as she looked at the situation.
The muscles were strained, and her bones were slightly fractured. She knew she could mend it, but it would leave the girl more vulnerable if she injured it again
Lola sported a pair of gloves, transmutation circles stitched into the palms, that allowed her to heal the wounds in an instant.
A light sparked, and the girl winced as her body seemed to heal itself. She looked down at her arm, before grinning, as she rolled her shoulder.
"Thank you Miss!" The brunette replied, with a dimple forming smile. Lola just smiled at that, and silently nodded her head. She pulled out her notepad, and wrote:
'Be more careful next time, okay? Take it easy for a bit,'
The girl just scrunched her nose at that.
"Why can't you talk?" The mother covered the girl's mouth.
"Anne!" The woman admonished. She sent Lola a sweet smile. "Thank you for everything doctor, I'm sorry that she asked you such a personal-"
(I'm not a doctor-)
'It's fine,' Lola wrote, shaking her head. She smiled at the girl, as she kneeled down.
'I got into an accident a few years back,' She wrote, as she massaged her throat. 'My voice was injured,'
"I'm sorry," The girl replied, looking slightly saddened. Lola just ruffled the girl's hair.
'Don't be,' She wrote. 'Stay safe okay,'
Anne just smiled at that, as she grabbed her mother's hand. The woman looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Doctor," The woman said slowly. Her heart twinged at the address. "About the payment-"
Lola shook her head, and instead rushed into the back room. She came back with a basket of cookies.
'I baked these,' Lola wrote. 'Share them with your family, and don't worry about the payment,'
The woman's eyes shone, as she crushed Lola in a hug.
"I can't thank you enough," The woman replied, as she walked out of the clinic with her daughter. Lola just waved.
"You can't keep doing that," A familiar voice drawled. Lola just rolled her eyes, as she cleaned up the area. "I'm serious Red. You can't be too nice, someone's bound to take advantage,"
Seth had dark hair, and even darker green eyes. Wherever he walked, he walked as if he owned the place. The moment she laid eyes on him, her fourteen year old self couldn't help but think he belonged on the cover of a magazine instead of a doctor's office.
She was a little disillusioned, however, when he had asked her to marry him.
"I've never seen hair like that before," He had stated, eyes star struck. "Your face isn't anything to write home about, but the hair makes up for it. I have enough beauty for the both of us anyways,"
Lola had simply smiled at that, and hit him in the face with her suitcase.
(He continued to ask her to marry him, day in and day out. He made sexist comments without even realizing it. She didn't know how Wagner had even accepted him-)
Then he saw her use alchemy to heal someone, and for the first time he showed humility. He bowed his head and begged for her to teach him.
("I'll do anything," he had pleaded, eyes scrunched shut. "Please let me make a difference and help people like you can,")
"Calm down Seth,'"Lola signed, putting her notepad off to the side. "We're here to help people, not just to make money,'
Seth hummed at that, before giving Lola a goofy grin. He reached forward to give her a hug.
"That's exactly what I love about you," He stated. "Marry me,"
'I'd rather die,' She replied, kicking his shin as she placed the bandages on the top shelf.
"You'll come around someday," He said, as he rubbed his leg. He perked up slightly. "The Hughes called. Something about Elysia's birthday party,"
'I almost forgot,' Lola signed, massaging her temple. 'I have to look into getting her a gift,'
"If you just agreed to marry me I'd give you all the gifts in the world,"
"She's not desperate enough to want to marry you, pretty boy," A scratchy voice interrupted, causing Lola to smile slightly.
"Dr. Wagner," Seth replied, placing a hand to his heart. "The girls in this town think I'm quite the catch,"
"The girls in this town have no taste," The man replied leaning forward on his cane. "You're a fool,"
"I'm a doctor, ladies eat that up,"
(There it was, that little twinge-)
"Lola, you need to hurry up and take your exam," Seth said offhandedly. "You'd pass with flying colors-"
Wagner whacked the back of his legs with his cane, raising an eyebrow. Seth hissed at that.
"What the hell was that for-"
'Seth,' Lola started off slowly. 'Doctors have to be able to talk to their patients. They won't license me,'
"You don't know that-"
'The moment they see I'm unable to talk, they'll run for the hills,' Lola replied. 'I'm fine being an assistant. I'm fine-'
"No you're not," Seth replied, shaking his head. "You have talent and you're wasting it. You just proved that you don't need to talk in order to be a doctor,"
Lola didn't respond to that, and simply shook her head.
'You're too optimistic,'
"You're too pessimistic,"
"You're both annoying," Wagner snapped, causing his two apprentices to shut up instantly.
Not many people knew how to sign, leaving the options for Lola to communicate with others limited. Dr. Wagner had learned it in his younger years, however, to help with deaf patients and people that suffered from mutism. Which was probably why he agreed to take her on in the first place. Seth just learned it to hit on her.
(She remembered spending hours with Winry and them, pouring over signing books as she tried not let this new obstacle stop her-)
"You're almost an adult," Wagner relayed, slowly lowering himself into the seat across from her. "You could do better than this fool, but most girls around here think about settling down at 18. According to all the young men that seem to pass by here, you're quite the catch,"
Seth scoffed at that from the other room.
"None of those men can hold a candle to me,"
"Medicine is my one true love," Lola signed back. "And besides, the girls here are dull. Could you ever see me getting married?"
"You could always marry me," Seth stated nonchalantly, packing away some books. Lola and Wagner ignored him.
"No," The man replied truthfully. "If you're smart, you'll stay single. Medicine is the only thing that'll actually mean anything in the long run,"
"Weren't you married?" Seth questioned, raising a brow. The man just scoffed, before shaking his head.
"And where is she now?" The man said bitterly. "Gone,"
The man took a swig of wine, as Lola just pursed her lips. He didn't talk much about his late wife, but she knew the subject still bothered him.
"Your grandmother called," The man brought up, causing Lola to brighten slightly. "Your sister too. Was it Winifred?"
"W-i-n-r-y," She spelled out on her fingers, "How are they?"
"Says you haven't written in a while," The man groused. "The old hag nearly talked my ear off. Why don't you go pay them a visit this weekend? We can handle things here,"
(Seeing them hurt. They didn't need her and had never needed her. She would wait for everything to unfold-)
Lola just shook her head, and gave the man a cheeky grin.
"I'll try and write them soon," She signed. "There's still so much to do here. I can't let you guys do it all by yourself,"
Wagner scratched the back of his head, as him and Seth shared a look.
"Lola," The man replied, folding his arms. "I already bought you a train ticket,"
Lola blinked, the smile slowly slipping from her face.
"Why would you do that?" Lola signed, her brow furrowing, as her hands moved wildly. "Without even asking me-"
"That famous temper," The man replied. "It's nice to know you haven't lost it,"
"You seem to have lost all common sense if you think you have any right to-"
"I already told them you were coming," The man replied, leaning back in his chair. "Curse me out all you want, but the hag and Winnie expect you there by Saturday. They seemed so excited too,"
"W-I-N-R-Y," Lola spelled out once more, before clenching her fists.
Lola drew a hand over her face, as she pinned a harsh glare on the older man. Wagner just gave her a shit eating grin.
"You haven't seen them in over a year," The man replied, growing slightly serious. "Family's important. Don't take it for granted,"
(Seeing them hurt-It wouldn't do them any good-)
"What about those two other brothers you grew up with?" The man questioned, causing Lola to freeze. "Aren't they alchemists too or something?"
(They didn't need her-The plot would do fine if she just didn't involve herself-)
"Who knows how they're doing?" Lola signed apathetically. "Haven't seen them in even longer,"
(They were probably avoiding her as much as she was avoiding them-)
"Go home," The man said once more. "Spend time with your family,"
Lola stared down at her lap, before simply nodding her head once more.
(She just hoped she wouldn't see them-)
She was four years old when she had first come to Resembool.
The lady who had taken her from the orphanage had smelled like roses. She had a nice smile, and stunning green eyes. Lola told her as such.
The woman had just laughed at that, patting Lola's head.
"Your new family's going to love you," The woman had stated, as they made their way onto the platform. "The Rockbells are a good sort. You'll fit in with them well,"
(The name Rockbell tickled at the back of her mind, but she couldn't explain why. The matron at the orphanage had always said it was best to not ask questions)
Lola had preened at that, smoothing out her new outfit as she clutched her tiny suitcase.
(She could do this. She could be normal)
Resembool was quiet, Lola decided. The air was fresh, and cool. The people waved at her as she walked by.
One of the elderly ladies stopped her on the way to tell her how pretty she thought her hair was.
Lola had just grinned at that, twirling a curl between her fingers as she told the lady how pretty her own hair was.
(Make them love you, her mother had told her before everything went to hell. Make sure they can't live without you-)
She froze momentarily once the lady had told her they were in front of the Rockbell's house.
(Are you really that weak, her mother had spat moments before-)
The lady had gone to open the door.
The train was always uncomfortable.
She watched the hills and small towns pass by through the window. She ignored the man snoring next to her, as she looked over some of her notes.
Ever since she had gotten her apprenticeship, she realized how lacking the medical community was when it came to medicines she had seen as standard in her past life.
Antibiotics were a concept that hadn't even been thought of, and she was determined to bring them into existence.
(Penicillin came from mold didn't it? Maybe if she-)
Wagner had told her to take a break, but Lola knew it wouldn't be possible. While she loved her family, the idea of just sitting there and wasting precious time was unappealing.
When the train came to a halt, Lola hesitated to get off.
(Maybe I can just write and say there was an accident-)
Then she thought of Winry's disappointed face, and her and Pinako sitting in that automail shop all by themselves.
She picked up her suitcase, and dragged her feet to the platform.
Resembool hadn't changed at all, she decided, as she made her way down the dirt path. It was the one place that would always be the same.
(She remembered running down this dirt path as a child. Chasing after Winry and them-)
Mrs. Schiller- the florist - waved at her as she made her way by. She gave Lola a free bouquet.
"You look so grown up now!" The elderly woman gushed. "How old are you now? Sixteen?"
"Seventeen," Lola wrote down on the notepad.
"Seventeen! Why I remember when you were barely past my knee," The woman replied, as a customer came in. She sent Lola a warm smile which she couldn't help but return. "Don't be a stranger!"
A lot of people welcomed Lola, as she made her way down to her old home. Mr. Kinsley, and his son Mark who she had helped deliver only five years ago at the clinic. The old milkman who insisted on everyone calling him Gramps. It made her feel less like an intruder.
(You don't belong here-Don't fool herself-)
Eventually she stood in front of the Rockbell's house.
She took a deep breath, tugging on her earrings-the earrings her and Winry shared- as she mustered up the courage to knock on the door.
(They're your family, they'll be happy to see you-Stop being a coward)
The door swung open.
The little blonde girl kept hiding behind her father's leg, as the lady talked to the other two adults.
Yuriy and Sara Rockbell were doctors. Yuriy and Sara were respected in the community.
(Yuriy and Sara had known her mother-They had worked with her mother-)
Lola smiled at the two, bowing her head slightly.
"Thank you for having me," The girl chirped. "I hope to be a good addition to your family,"
The two were silent for a moment, before Sara let out a squeal.
"You already are Lola," The woman said excitedly, ruffling her hair. "I hope you enjoy your time with us,"
Yuriy crouched down so that he was eye level with the girl, and sent her a sunny smile.
"This is your home now, Lola," Yuriy replied instead. "If anything, thanks for being with us,"
Lola had smiled at them, smoothing out her skirt as she caught sight of the blonde girl. The girl shrunk, and looked down to the ground.
Lola had strode forward, and grabbed the girl's hands in her own.
"My name is Lola Graham'" The girl had enunciated, sporting her biggest smile. "You're Winry, aren't you?"
'Winry's eyes widened, as she just nodded her head. She looked down at the ground momentarily, before blurting out:
"Your hair's pretty!" The girl called out, face burning as she trudged forward. "I've never seen a color like that before,"
"You think so?" Lola questioned, pulling at her curls. "Thank you! That makes me happy to hear,"
The blonde fiddled with her hands, before running into the back room. She appeared seconds later with crumpled flowers in her hands.
"I got these for you," Winry said basfully, her face flushed. "Ed said they were stupid, but I thought-"
"I love them," Lola gushed, taking the flowers in her hands. "I'll treasure it. Thank you, Winry,"
The blonde let out a sigh of relief, and grinned.
("You are going to be an extraordinary individual, Lola," Her mother had said as she brushed her hair. "I won't stand for anything less than that,")
Lola crushed the smaller blonde, her new family, Lola thought resolutely, in a hug.
Den was the first one to meet her at the door.
She rubbed behind the dog's ear, as she took a look around the house. It was eerily silent.
(This wasn't right. The house had always been warm before-)
She shouldn't be here, the redhead thought as she fiddled with her hands. She was the unneeded piece in all of this.
(Leave. Go back to Wagner's-)
"Welcome home,"
Lola's shoulders sagged, as she gave Pinako a slight smile. The elderly woman was lugging around a piece of automail much too big for someone her size to be carrying, and she stopped in front of Lola looking the girl up and down.
"Well," The woman started off, placing a hand on her hip. "Don't just stand there. Come over here and give me a hug. I swear you just won't stop growing,"
As the two hugged, Lola looked around the house once more.
"Where's Winry?" Lola signed, as she pulled her luggage from behind her. Pinako just shook her head, a fond look on her face.
"That girl," The woman said warmly. "She wanted to wait up for you. But she spent the past two days working on an arm for old Lincoln down the street. You remember him, don't you? I told her to space it out, but she was so determined,"
Lola smiled at that, as she made her way to the room her and Winry had used to share.
(Winry would braid her hair, as she looked over medical textbooks-Den would curl up next to the both of them as they slept-)
Blonde hair was strewn out on Winry's pillow, as the girl sleepily wiped drool from her mouth. Lola kneeled beside her, as Den nestled into the blonde's side. Winry rubbed the dog's ear, and mumbled slightly before turning on her side.
Blue eyes blinked open.
Lola grinned, as she waved slightly.
Winry tackled her in a hug.
Den stayed by her side, as Winry talked her ear off about all the new happenings in town. Pinako was making tea in the corner.
"You remember Lucy?" Winry asked, brimming with new found energy. "She said she's moving out to the city. She wants to open up her bakery over there,"
Lola just smiled at that, and nodded her head as she slowly sipped on her tea. She took a heavy breath, as Winry patted her back.
"Is it still hard for you to keep down food?" The blonde questioned, eyebrows scrunched. "You said it was getting better,"
"It is," Lola signed. "I'm just tired. It's been a long train ride,"
"Then go lie down," Winry insisted, her eyes widening. "We can talk more in the morning-"
Lola just gave her a look, as the blonde pulled on her sleeve.
"Winry," Lola signed, raising a brow. "I am fine. I want to talk to you,"
"She's just worried about you dear," Pinako replied, hopping up to take the seat across from the redhead. "You shouldn't overexert yourself,"
Lola just scrunched her nose at that, running a hand through her curls.
"You sound like Al," The girl signed, as the other two froze momentarily. "He was always such a worrywart,"
Winry looked down at her cup for a moment, before steeling herself.
"You haven't spoken to them in awhile, have you?" Winry started off slowly, swirling her tea cup. Pinako gave her a warning look but the blonde trudged forward.
"Lola," Winry started off slowly. "You still believe in them don't you? Ed and Al promised that-"
"I don't need their promises," Lola signed. "They should worry about themselves. I'm fine living like this,"
"No you're not," Winry replied, shaking her head. Lola's grip on her cup tightened. "This isn't you,"
"And you know me so well?" Lola questioned, brows scrunching up. Winry looked stricken.
"You're my sister,"
("I'm your new sister, Win-" "I'll always take care of you-")
Lola's shoulders sagged.
"I'm sorry," She signed after a few moments. "I shouldn't have said that,"
"You always say things you don't mean when you get angry," Pinako relayed, shaking her head. "Wagner said you had lost that temper of yours,"
"Wagner's an ass," Lola signed, grateful to see a tiny smile appear on Winry's face. "He makes me do all the work,"
"But you're learning aren't you?" Pinako questioned. "He may be a lazy bum, but he is a good teacher,"
Lola just nodded her head, looking at Winry from the corner of her eye. The blonde was still silent.
(I can't believe I'm about to do this)
Lola tapped on Winry's shoulder.
"You remember Seth? My alchemy apprentice?" Lola signed, shoulders sagging as Winry brightened once more. "He asked me to marry him again,"
Pinako chortled at that, as Winry clapped her hands together and squealed.
(For some reason the topic of Lola's non existent love life entertained Winry to no end-)
"Can I meet him?" Winry pleaded. "I've never gotten the chance to see your workplace. I met Dr. Wagner once but that was so long ago,"
"I'll take you one of these days," Lola promised. "It's not that exciting though,"
"You save people, how is that not exciting?" Winry beamed. "Mom and Dad would be proud,"
Her eyes stung a bit, as she looked down at the table.
(Mama and Papa. She had never gotten the chance to-)
Lola just smiled, as she listened to Winry continue on.
("Do you blame them?" Winry had asked her, tubes shoved down Lola's throat to help her breathe. She knew Al was sitting outside. "Do you blame them for what happened to you?"
Yes! Lola wanted to scream. I warned them and yet I have to suffer?
"I'm so sorry," Al had kept whispering as Lola had heaved on the ground. "I'm so sorry,"
Ed couldn't even look at her.
She wanted to blame them. She wanted to hate them.
"Take care of them, Lola," Trisha had made her promise.
Lola just shook her head, and simply squeezed Winry's hand. The blonde sobbed)
Resembool was so dreadfully boring.
She took Den on walks, watched Winry repair automail, and talked with Pinako.
She snuck away to take notes every now and then, but it seemed Winry always wanted to pull her away whenever she got started, or Den would tug on her leg begging to be taken outside.
She felt herself going crazy.
(She loved her family, truly she did. But she couldn't stay here forever-)
"You got more piercings," Lola noted, looking at the jewelry with interest. She pointed at her own earrings. "I thought we were supposed to match?"
"Ed and Al kept buying them for me," Winry said without thinking, as she adjusted some wires. "Whenever Ed ruined his automail, he'd buy me earrings so I wouldn't clobber him,"
Lola simply nodded her head, as Winry pursed her lips.
"I'm sorry I keep mentioning them," Winry eventually said. "I know you guys aren't exactly-"
"They're my family, just like you," Lola signed without hesitation. "I'll always love them Winry. Don't apologize for talking about them,"
(Once the plot finishes. Once the Promised Day happens, I'll talk to them again. I'll make up with them-)
"I'm glad, Winry said softly. "I… they think you hate them Lola. That's why they've never reached out,"
"I don't hate them," Lola signed. She added nothing more, as she watched Winry work.
(I hate myself for not stopping them in the first place-)
She sees the muscle man first.
(The sight of him tickles at her brain)
He's hard to miss, Lola thinks to herself. His eyes are pretty, and he towers over almost anyone.
She had gone to visit Sara and Yuriy's graves. She had put it off, unsure of what to say to them.
("Your daughter's a coward,")
She sees him next.
Ed walks next to him, the picture of nonchalance even though it's pretty clear he only has one arm. The hunk of metal that the muscle man had been carrying in a box could only be Al.
(Where am I in the story-)
"Lola?" The voice sounds so childlike, so innocent. She had walked towards them without even realizing it.
Al had always been the more observant one when it came to other people.
She ran a hand through her hair, suddenly feeling a bit self conscious.
(I know I've gotten taller, but I wonder if I've changed any-)
Golden eyes pierced through her.
Lola simply waved.
"Are you a friend of these two, young lady?" The muscle man asked her. Lola just nodded.
(She hadn't brought her notepad)
"Is something wrong with your voice?" The man questioned innocently. Ed and Al both seemed to freeze up. "A sore throat?"
"Lola's just very quiet," Al said immediately, Ed nodding his head fervently. "She doesn't like talking,"
"She's shy," Ed added on. Lola slugged him in the arm.
"You could just say I was born mute," Lola signed, shaking her head. "You're both as dramatic as always,"
Ed looked ready to retort, before catching his tongue. He scoffed, and simply turned away from her, walking down the dirt path.
(That… hurt a lot more than she had expected)
"It's nice to see you again, Al," Lola eventually signed, as she walked beside the muscle man. "Introduce me to your friend,"
"Oh, right," The suit of armor started off "This is Major Armstrong, Major Armstrong, Lola Graham,"
The man seemed to sparkle, as he extended a hand towards her.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mis Graham," Lola smiled, and shook his hand.
"Tell him he has pretty eyes, Al," Lola was sure if he had a body, his eyes would've bugged out of his head.
"What?"
"Do it,"
Al paused for a moment, before relaying the message.
"She says you have pretty eyes, Major,"
The man started crying.
Lola was taken aback for a moment, as he placed Al down on the ground and promptly squeezed the life out of her.
"Thank you Miss Graham! To be bestowed a compliment such as that means the world to me,"
"Is he okay?" Lola signed, as the man proceeded to take his shirt off and flex.
"He always does this," Al said long sufferingly.
She simply patted the man's shoulder, as Ed continued to walk on ahead.
(He was always walking away from her-She hadn't wanted to see them so soon-)
Nothing she did ever went according to plan, did it?
She walked beside Al, and the muscle man. Careful not to walk too fast.
(Nothing ever worked in her favor did it?)
AN: So 'Kairos' is getting rewritten, as you can see, for a multitude of reasons.
1) I wouldn't have been able to finish the story the way it was before
2) This way I can get right into the action
3) I was getting bored with the way things were going.
Lola is still 2 years older than Ed and Winry and 3 years older than Al.
This story is still Ed/OC
I hope you guys enjoy the rewrite, and if there are any questions please leave a review.