Chapter two: Difference
Maria Ross walked up the front steps, glancing over. A girl was leaning against one of the large pillars, smoking a cigarette.
"Are you too young to smoke? And you're not allowed to loiter on military land." She began.
"Relax lady." The girl replied. "It's fake. And I'm not loitering, I'm waiting for someone."
Maria sniffed the air. "It doesn't smell fake."
"Well it is, take it in and test it." She girl snapped.
She seems sure about this… Maria thought. "I'll take your word for it… Whom are you waiting for?"
"Dunno. Colonel Wotsisface told me to wait here." She shrugged.
Maria sighed and just went inside, passing Edward and Roy on the way. Edward scratched his head and looked around. "Where is she?"
"Over here, dimwit." Coniniaue stamped her fake cigarette into the ground and crossed her arms. "What, did you think I was going to be short like you?"
"WHO'S THE SUPER SMALL SPECK THAT CAN'T BE SEEN UNDER A MICROSCOPE?" Edward shouted, fuming.
"You are." Coniniaue laughed.
"GAH LEMME AT HER!" Edward fought to get to her, but Roy held his metal arm.
"Calm down, Fullmetal." He laughed. "That's Coniniaue. I told you she wasn't that nice."
"Shut up, Fireboy." Coniniaue snapped.
Edward's eyes trailed up and down her body. She was about his age, with long red hair pulled back in a braid that went to her ankles. He had thought her hair would be an orange-red, but instead, it was the color of blood. She wore a black shirt with sleeves that went to her elbows and black pants that stopped at her ankles, where black combat boots covered them. On her hands were fingerless black gloves. Her lips were a blood red, and her nails were the same color. Red eye shadow gave her an exotic look. Her shirt hung off her shoulders, showing the alchemy symbol that was tattooed above her right breast.
"You don't look like a state alchemist." He commented.
"That's because I'm a girl. There aren't many girl state alchemists around here." She muttered. "Listen pipsqueak" –This made Edward fume— "Just because I have to work with you doesn't mean I have to like it. So don't butt in on my social life, okay?"
"Are you going to be busy stealing?" Edward hissed.
"Probably." She replied, crossing her arms.
"Coniniaue, military personnel cannot steal." Roy said firmly, crossing his arms.
"Fine! Then I'll just do something else to piss you off!" She retorted. "I'm only in this stupid military because I need to research… Something."
That interested Edward. "What do you need to research?"
"Nothing! Just leave me alone. And don't look over my shoulder every damn second." She hissed.
"Your first mission is to just find a thief who's been stealing from the library." Mustang said. "Alright? Important files on the Philosopher's stone have been stolen. And also several on alchemy. We need you to find the culprit and bring him to justice. It should be an easy task." He glared at Edward sternly. "And no reading the other files while you're back there!"