Disclaimer: I don't own FMA or anything in relation to the anime/ manga… except the characters I created.

A/N: I decided to got out for something different and fresh and original… I have to say that this story fulfills what I wanted from a story of my own, with it's own atmosphere, rhythm and characters.

That Which Is Deception

Chapter One: Unwavering Tug of the Leash

He leaned against the wooden support beam of a awning to a small street shop idly, yawning and occasionally sighing at the situation he was in. He turned his amber gaze to the suit of armor behind him, at the counter, talking to the cashier before taking up his silver pocket watch from his pants' pocket and flicking it open swiftly to glance at the time; 4:17. He closed it with a jab of his thumb and shifted the toothpick he had between his clenched teeth. They were wasting time here… Nothing suspicious could happen in a rural town such as Tuscal…

"From what I'm told," Al spoke before Ed turned to him, "this town doesn't get many travelers. So hotels are really not needed…"

"So we're once again screwed over because of that asshole?" Ed asked bitterly. "Mustang is gonna get it."

"You really can't do anything." Al pointed out and Ed grunted at him reluctantly in knowing and folding his arms, "Besides, he must have a adequate reason for assigning us here."

"Your definition and his definition for a 'adequate reason' are two different things all together." Ed muttered. "I'm already on edge because this town didn't even have a train station because it's so far out in the sticks, and we had to walk all the way from that other shit-hole."

"Brother, we could always ask to rent a guest room somewhere. This town seems friendly enough, but your mouth isn't exactly making friends." Al remarked childishly and Ed took a quick glance around and sure enough, several eyes flickered at them disapprovingly.

"I don't understand why we're here."

"Because Colonel Mustang said that-"

"I know why we were sent here, I don't get what we were sent here for."

"Didn't you read your report?" Al asked.

"Of course I did, Al, but this town..." he paused and looked around before frowning, "I mean, look at it! Do you see anything suspicious about a flower shop and a few houses?" Ed asked incredulously sarcastic.

"No," Al straightened and looked around, "there may be nothing suspicious about this town, but it reminds me of home." Ed looked up at him and then joined in his observations. Indeed, it did remind him of his hometown, Resembool, but that wasn't the issue that took another jab at him mockingly. He changed the subject on me.

He was there to investigate "suspicious" activity, and for the life of him, he couldn't see any shifty and menacing plans going on. During his briefing, the only thing that caught his eye was a abandoned laboratory that all records had been erased of due to "unknown circumstances", as told by Colonel Sarcasm himself. Even the person in charge of that particular lab was unidentified and thus the Elric Brothers were sent in without a second thought to investigate anything that may have been "left behind". It did strike Ed's interest at first, but when they reached there, his excitement plummeted. It could have been another lead on the Philosopher's Stone, but now…

Ed threw his hands into the air and growled in frustration before his stomach gave a clench and growl in frustration of it's own. Al laughed momentarily before Ed grabbed at his clawing hunger that was his stomach. He took the toothpick from his mouth and flicked it, sending it into the grass.

"How about we worry about sleep after I eat?" Ed muttered as Al pointed in the direction of a small but quaint restaurant that Ed immediately took interest to.

They didn't even walk fully into the restaurant before a waitress clumsily fell to the ground after hitting a swinging-door that another waitress had attempted to push open before the one on the ground ran into it, her plastic tray clattering to the floor beside her. The girl who fell didn't look any older than fourteen, they observed, as she thrust herself off the ground and picked up her tray hurriedly with fiery agitation. They didn't get a good look at the girls face, but the other waitress had simply stepped over the girl and continued on her way.

As they waited for a table, Ed noticed that the restaurant wasn't very busy and only three tables were occupied out of the fifteen or some what tables in the whole place.

"Follow me, please." Ed turned to the same girl who had fallen not two minutes ago and nodded nervously, expecting her to make another blunder. Her brown hair was tied into a loose bun beneath a white bandanna that matched her apron and, as she motioned them to their table, he took notice to her eyes. They were just dark enough to be brown in the shade, but as the sunlight from the window shone through, they seemed to shift to a dull gold with copper just around the rim of her irises. She seemed nervous, for she was probably scolded for her earlier mishap by her employer.

She sat them next to a window, gave them their menus,

"My name is Brooke, and I'll be serving you today. I'll give you a moment to look at our menu and I'll take your order when you're ready."

With that, she turned on her heel to tend to other customers. Ed watched her, wondering why someone as young as her was working at all before turning his attention to the small array of orders, making his decision quickly.

If they were going to find somewhere to rest, they'd better hurry for they were under a time limit as far as daytime was concerned. In a matter of five minutes, Brooke came back with a bit more gusto and took Ed's order before turning to Al,

"And what would you like?" she asked politely and Al said hurriedly,

"I'm fine, thank you." she nodded and took up their menus before turning to the kitchen.

oooooooo

Ed hurriedly finished his meal after it was given to him and placed a tip at the table after paying for his meal.

"Now where to?" Al asked as they left.

"I dunno, I guess we'll look for a place to rest." Ed sighed heavily and stuffed his hands into his pockets before stepping out of the shade the awning was giving. "Lets go, Al"

"Okay…" They turned the corner that led to the side of the restaurant they had just left and were just about to turn again until the side door swung open and knocked Ed in the back as he passed, knocking him flat on his face.

"Well, I don't give a damn, how's that?"

"Good, take your things and find somewhere else to smart-mouth!"

"Fine! Take your stupid apron back!" Ed grabbed the door for support as he picked himself off the ground, disorientated, and turned to the source; Brooke. She was trying to rip off her apron to throw at the man she was yelling at and was failing immensely as the knot in the back was tangled. She yanked and pulled and finally resulted in tearing the string from the apron itself.

"Just get out of my sight." The man, assumingly her former boss, grumbled and slammed the door in her face. She threw the apron down to the ground and folded her arms stubbornly. Only then did she notice Ed down at her feet, grabbing at his shoulder that was hit with the door in her frustration.

"I'm sorry...! Hey, you're the guy who gave me that huge tip. Well at least I got that before I became unemployed. Sorry, again, for hitting you with the door." she said as she grabbed at Ed's sleeve in a attempt to pick him up off the ground.

"Huge tip?" Ed asked as he straightened himself. He really hadn't given her that generous of a tip but shrugged it off anyway. With her performance, he guessed she didn't get that much of tips.

"Yeah, as you've noticed, I'm not much of a waitress," she jabbed a thumb behind her at the door for emphasis. "You're travelers, aren't you?" she asked abruptly and Ed nodded, "Knew it, I haven't seen you around is all. Here, everyone knows everybody. Are you staying the night in town?" she asked as she took off her bandanna and bun from her hair; it now hung just above her shoulders in layers.

"Yeah, we noticed that there weren't any here."

"Well…" she paused a moment before finally continuing, "If you don't mind my offering, my house has a few spare bedrooms and I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind taking you guys in." Ed felt Al shift nervously behind him at the sudden offer. They really hadn't even properly given their names and she was offering something so kindly… People here really were friendly.

"You mean, you don't mind?" Al asked hopefully.

"Of course not!" she waved her hand dismissively and smiled.

"It does save us the hassle of looking around for a place." Ed commented, stuffing his hands into his pockets again. Brooke couldn't help but notice the silver chain of his pocket watch gleam in the descending sunlight, but shoved it to the side. For all she knew, the pocket watch he had could be just that, a pocket watch. Not a state issued one.

"How rude of me. I'm Brooke Lindeman. What're your names?" she asked as she motioned for them to follow her to her home.

"I'm Alphonse Elric. Nice to meet you." she smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

"And I'm his older brother, Edward Elric." Ed added, waiting for a mocking jab at his height.

"You guys must be here on business?" Ed hadn't expected that to be the next question.

"Yeah," he answered slowly, wondering what she was getting at with all her questioning. She knew she was probably being nosey, but she had to know…

"Military business?" she stared forward, looking at the path she was taking to her home. Ed's hands shifted slightly in his pockets around his pocket watch before answering,

"Yeah… I'm a State Alchemist; The Full-"

"The Fullmetal Alchemist." she folded her hands behind her back and hurried her pace a bit so as to walk ahead. "I know I probably should have mentioned this before, but I suggest that you don't mention your position in the military to my mother. She's not real fond of them." She tilted her head slightly to look over her shoulder.

"How come?" Al asked ("Now you tell us!" Ed shouted.).

"My father was one." Ed's face loosened a bit and he gave his pocket watch a furtive glance.

"Did he leave or-"

"No, dad would never do that… He resigned from it, though. He cut off all relations to them after my parents were married." she smiled and turned her attention back on the path. While the falter in conversation became apparent, Ed took a moment to observe her clothing. He couldn't tell of what social class she was from for she wore a simple black blouse and white skirt with black shoes; simple waitress attire. But from what she had told him, if her father was a successful State Alchemist, she wouldn't be living too badly. Al stayed silent, obviously marveled at this girl's unique attention to detail. She was very observant for a girl her age…

"How old are you?" Al suddenly asked and Brooke slowed a bit to walk beside Al.

"I'll be turning fifteen in exactly one week!" she said proudly and Ed looked at her back with a unreadable stare. He hadn't quite sized this girl up yet and he couldn't get over the fact that she was TALLER! By a hair, granted,but still.

"We're here." she announced suddenly and Ed looked up from the ground and stared up at her house that was possibly four stories high and very large. It had a wrap around porch and white, wood paneling witha black roof. There was no fence to distinguish the actual land the property itself held so the

"You said you had a few spare rooms?" Ed asked in awe.

"It's not all that big… It's only three stories and the fourth is a attic." she stated in a matter-of-fact tone and continued to walk on.

She walked up the steps on the porch and opened the front door that didn't make the slightest sound as it pivoted on it's hinges. She turned to Ed and Al and smiled reassuringly at their obvious nervous faces and motioned them to follow. They obviously weren't used to using guest rooms in other people's homes.

"Mom… Dad…?" They walked into a large foyer and as Al closed the door, a young boy around the age of ten came thundering down the stairs in a hurry.

"Brooke!" he yelled and grabbed a firm hold of her waist before she kneeled down to speak,

"Hey, Jake, I want you to meet Edward and Alphonse; they're going to be staying a while so-"

"Whoa…" Jake said in awe as he looked at Ed. Brooke followed his gaze and found him staring at Ed's pocket watch chain eagerly. "Just like Dad's!" Brooke hurriedly grabbed a hold of Jake's mouth and laughed nervously while looking around avidly.

"But it's not." she lied, "So, we won't mention anything to mom or dad about that, right?" Ed shifted slightly to hide the chain and wondered fleetingly if he and Al should leave. Jake nodded slowly looked up at Al.

"Speaking of mom, where is she?" she asked, getting up and placing her hands on her hips.

"In the living room; reading." Jake said simply.

"Dad?"

"Um… He's locked himself in that room again…" Brooke sighed heavily and then smiled at Jake.

"How about you go to your room while I talk to mom, okay?" Jake nodded and went back up the stairs, giving Al a quick glance. Brooke noticed his behavior toward Al and smiled at him warmly. "He's just not used to visitors…"

"Brooke?" a feminine voice sounded from a room that branched off to their left and Brooke motioned for them to follow, which they did silently. Ed wasn't too keen on this idea, and he'd make sure that Mustang knew just how much he disliked it.

A woman that resembled Brooke in a older state sat on a black, leathered couch a fire crackling before her in a fireplace, causing calming, flickering light to swim off the furniture.

"We have guests?" Brooke's mother asked in a smooth and soft tone. She smiled and it became immediately apparent where Brooke got her smile and straight teeth.

"Yes, this," she pulled at Ed's sleeve to step forward, "is Edward." Ed gave Brooke a furtive glance at her back and then turned his gaze to her mother and smiled before bowing slightly. "And this is Alphonse." Ed noticed that she left out their last names, purposely or otherwise, he didn't know.

"Pleased to meet you…"

"Just call me Katherine." Brooke's mother smiled, "It's nice to meet you too, Alphonse."

"I've offered them a stay in one of our guest rooms." Brooke said.

"That's lovely. We rarely have guests… Why don't you go ahead and show them to their rooms?" Katherine asked Brooke who nodded and kissed her mother on the cheek before they left.

"Your mom's real nice, Brooke." Al commented as they made their way to the staircase Jake had run up just moments ago.

"Yes, well, don't get on her bad side… It's-" a door to their far left burst open and a man, most likely Brooke's father, came through it's threshold. As he looked Ed and Al over, it was obvious where Brooke got her eyes from, but his weren't as gold as hers, even in the light. He was tall and square with a lean build, his face hard and chiseled from a stern and strong jaw line that needed shaving. He had square cut reading glasses and short, black hair that was peppered with gray from age.

"Hey, dad… This is Ed and Al." she had now shortened their names, Ed noticed, but of its significance, he couldn't tell, yet. Brooke's father stared at Ed a moment longer before finally holding out his hand for them to shake. Ed began to shake his hand, but resulted in bowing his head slightly, instead. His auto-mail hand was way too cold and hard to be mistaken as flesh… Her father took notice to the chain of his pocket watch as he bowed and grinned wider; glancing at Al after Ed had straightened.

Something about this man, even though it was Brooke's father, made the hair's on Ed's neck stand up on end and he looked away swiftly as he tried to catch Ed's stare.

"The name's Bryce, Bryce Lindeman." Bryce put his hands in his pockets as Al nodded in introduction. Bryce even sent warning signals to Al, and he wondered if Ed felt the same. Brooke noticed the tension in the air and knew that her father possibly knew who these boys were, despite her attempts to keep it hidden. Her father usually didn't take to people in this way, so why would he now? It couldn't be because they were in relation to the military, for he had at one point too, so why….? Bryce gave a false cough and got Brooke's attention,

"Make sure your mother doesn't find out." Ed, Al, and Brooke stared at him. So that's where Brooke's attention to exact detail came from… "I'll be in my room. Nice meeting you boys." With that, Bryce left and shut the door he had come from with a small click. This door didn't have a handle on the outside, Ed noticed and made note to check it later…