The Mercury Alchemist

by AveryScarlet

What if there was someone who traveled with the Elric Brother's that never existed before? And that there was actually 8 homunculi? Meet Catherine Cairo, a once normal girl with the love for anime and FMA, wishing for her life to change. What she didn't expect was to be sent to the other side of the gate! Will she find out who she really is and find a way back home? EdxOC AlxOC

12. Chapter 12

'Have I really gotten used this world...?

So much that I even forgotten

where I belong...? 'Course not... But... I feel like...

I'm truly from Amestris...'

---

Chapter 12 ~ Reunion

-Me-

Its been 3 years since I first arrived in Amestris, since I crossed from the gate and met both Truth and Fate. Every so often, I would visit New Optain to check on the people there. Russell is applying for the state qualification exams somewhere this year. I want to stop him, but he wants to protect both the country and his little brother, Fletcher. I can respect that. For Clara, she spends her time as a nurse now and is currently taking care of Dante. The both of them have finally moved on and decided to live a peaceful live. So much, that Clara is going to study medical school in Central to become a doctor, and Dante is thinking of going back in being a farmer. Things have been going smoothly so far. I haven't been hearing about any signs of the homunculi nor Jealousy for a while. But I can't let my guard down.

She still has the philosopher's stone with her, along with all the souls trapped inside it. Currently, I'm heading back to Central HQ for an 'important' meeting with Mustang. He, along with his other subordinates, knows about my automail arm and my reasons on why I joined the military. (If you can remember, I chased down Barry the Chopper.) Of course, I haven't told them my whole intentions. I was forced to after being found in a hospital again. 'Damn Mustang... he better have a good reason as to why I had travel 500 miles just to see his stupid face,' I thought to myself as I stomped my way through the doors of Mustang's office. I didn't care if he had company, I was too pissed even notice. "Mustang! You better have a good reason as to why I had to travel 500 miles just to meet your sorry ass!" I demand as I marched towards his desk.

He just gave me a small smirk, and then asks me, "Is that your way of greeting your superiors Mercury? Or are you just mad 'cause you missed an important date with someone?" I want to punch that guy! But even if I did, I would just stoop down to his level. "For your information sir," I glare at Mustang, "I'm still under the order of Brigadier General Raven!"

"But then the Furher put you under my orders until the Freezer is captured."
"Touché, except the one thing Mustang."
"And what is that?"
"I'm only here until the mission is over. I need to leave to finish something very important."

"Anyway," Mustang was serious now, "your assignment is to capture Isaac the freezer. You'll have a partner for this mission." I stared at Mustang with terror in my eyes and ask worriedly, "Is it Major Armstrong?" The last thing I want is being paired with captain muscles. He really gives the biggest hugs, and I mean big. Are his muscles made of iron or something? He chuckles, "Don't worry squirt, it's not the major." "Who are you calling a half-pint midget!?" me and another voice shout in unison. I turn to whoever it was and saw my ex partner. "Edward! Alphonse!" I gasp. Ed just gapped at me, looking up and down my body from head to toe. I covered my body as best as I could and asked, "What is it? Have you turned into a pervert now?" "Shut up! Only a blind person would stare at that tiny body of yours!" Ed retorts. 'You haven't changed at all!'-"Says the person who still hasn't reached his little brothers' height," I point out with a wide smirk on my face.

Just when he was about to pounce on me, Al grabs onto his midget brother screaming, "Stop it brother! You both made peace years ago! Besides, we need her for the mission!" I knew that Ed would stop. He's just too proud to admit that he just can't compete with his own little brother. "Yeah Elric," I smirk and rubbed it in, "I'm the one who can help finish your little job, which only I can do!" Al just helplessly watches as Ed and I glare at one another. "Alright you two love birds that's enough," interrupts the colonel. When the both of us finally quiet down, the colonel spoke up, "I want the three of you to go and look for Freezer tomorrow." "Freezer..? You don't mean Isaac the freezer!?" I gasp. 'I never thought that I would actually meet the guy! Yeah he's cool and all, but-' I was interrupted from my thoughts when a sudden surprise popped through the door.

"Yo Roy! I heard that the Fullmetal Alchemist is here!" Good old' Hughes is here. I just stared at Hughes' reaction to the Elric's. "And cue for Hughes to greet Al by mistake," and my prediction was accurate. From the side, Ed just happened to overhear what I just said, but decided to brush it off. Hughes shook Al's hand like a maniac and greets the poor boy, "It's such an honor to meet you Mr. Fullmetal sir!" I couldn't help myself, I just had to laugh. Seeing this scene play-out in person is just too funny to ignore, even if I get weird looks, this moment is the best I've seen in 3 years.

-Ed-

For some odd reason to the boy, Cat got it right that Al would be the one greeted by the strange man. 'Sure people usually mistake Al for me,' Ed stared at the girl suspiciously, 'but how did she do that?' She giggles and whispers, "Now Al will correct Hughes and-..." Ed couldn't entirely make out what she said. But when he turned to look back at the duo, the man named 'Hughes' jumps and apologizes, "Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't know that the Fullmetal Alchemist would be so-!" 'Go ahead, say little... I dare you!' he silently glares at the man. Ed entirely forgot Cat at that moment.

-Me-

'I love being right,' I muse to myself. "Hughes," Mustang interrupts. "If you don't have anything to do here, go home already." I expected him to say something important, but instead, "I will, after I greet the godmother of my lovely daughter." My eye twitched at the sudden statement. "For the 20th time Hughes," I remarked, "I told you to stop calling me that. You're the one that forced for me in that business." Hughes ignored me and continued with his blabbering, "My daughter always kept on asking when she's coming over for a play-date! I had to come up with so many excuses just to make her happy!" We all were forced to listen to the endless talk of Hughes' little angel. "More like a devil in a body of a child," both Ed and I blurt out unison. The two of us ended up awkwardly staring at one another in surprise, trying to figure out what just happened.

To break up our little staring contest, I was the one to turn away and maturely excuse myself, "I think it's about time I make preparation for tomorrows mission. I have a lot of studying and research to finish up before any other distractions, along with other cases that needs to so excuse me." That's what I really needed to do, I just have to walk out before anything else gets out of hand. I shut the door behind me silently and left. When I knew I was far enough and there was nobody nearby, I immediately started to punish myself. "After so long of constantly telling myself not to get close to anyone... I just had to go and befriend them unconsciously! And ever since that phone call, it's no wonder he'd be staring at me!" Now that came into thought. Ed was staring at me...

::Flashback::

"Edward! Alphonse!" I gasp. Ed just gaped at me, looking up and down my body from head to toe. I covered my body as best as I could and asked, "What is it? Have you turned into a pervert now?" "Shut up! Only a blind person would stare at that tiny body of yours!" Ed retorts.

::End::

I balled a fist at that memory, feeling that familiar urge bubbling up inside me.

-Hughes-

That really surprised me for a second there. I then remembered what I was supposed to tell Roy before I saw Cat. "By the way Roy," that caught his attention, "the investigation team still hasn't found Isaac since the escape." Roy sat there trying to sink in all the sudden info. After a few short seconds, he question Ed, "How much do you know about Mercury? I'm sure that after being stuck together doing missions within Central have done you some good in getting to know each other." "All I know about Cat is that she only joined to military in search of someone," and that was all I needed to know. I pit my hands on my hips and leaned towards the two brothers. "You guys probably haven't booked a place to stay yet, right?" I ask.

-Me-

When I calmed down, I took a deep breath and sighed. "Ed really has ruined my plans... that guy is the reason I went astray from what I've been planning from what I originally wanted. I did want to keep my distance, but the incident in Heissgart-" I stopped myself. My feet planted themselves onto the floor, making me freeze in place. "Alice..." Now I'm making thins depressing! I crouch down to the ground, putting my hands on my face. 'This whole shit started 3 years ago and now look at me,' I lift my head up. 'I'm a state alchemist that already knows what's going to happen in the future. I'm just a little flaw in all of this.' I stood up from my place and took my hat off, allowing my hair to freely flow as it pleases. "Miss Catherine!" a child like voice calls out. Before I had time to react, tiny arms wrapped themselves around me neck. It was Alice! 'No... this is Alice from Hiessgart!'

A woman runs up to us and yells, "Alice! I told you not to run off when I'm doing something!" Alice lets go of me and apologizes with a pout, "Sorry Miss Camilla..." I took a closer look and realized that it was indeed Camilla. "Oh Catherine! What brings you to Central?" she asks me. I answered her politely, "I just arrived a few hours ago. I was ordered to meet up with Colonel Mustang so I have to follow his orders for now." It then caught my attention, "Say Camilla, how do you know Alice? She's supposed to be in Hiessgart, right?" "I just happened to know her father before he died. I was asked to take care of her until her mother fixes a few problems in Hiessgart." So that explains everything, I almost thought for a moment that Alice is adopted since her father died. Alice grabs onto Camilla's arm and begs, "Lets bring Miss Catherine to the apartment! I bet she knows Mister Hughes!"

"Well I-" I was unable to finish my sentence when Alice grabs my legs. "Waaahhh! Please say yes! It's so lonely when you have an old lady around!" I sweet drop at this, while Camilla smiles behind my back, but it wasn't a sweet and kind smile. "Oh Alice you know how old I really am," Camilla grips onto Alice's shoulder tightly, "Right?" Alice quivers in fear and grips onto me for her life. I just sigh with a sweat drop forming on the back of my head.

-Camilla-

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Catherine and a blonde boy shout, pointing fingers at each other. I stared at the two wide eyed. "I'm sorry for my brother's rudeness," an armor boy apologizes, looking at me shyly as he scratches the back of his metal head. 'I feel like I know these two...' "It's alright, I'm just glad such fine young men are friends with Catherine!" I lightly laugh as Cat blushes at my statement. She gains back her posture and turns her head away. "Pfft! Yeah suuuure, Ed is a reeeaally a 'fine' man!" Cat agrees in sarcasm. I couldn't help but watch as the two go at it again. "Miss Cammy!" a tiny perky voice calls. I look down as Elicia hugs my legs just in time. "Elicia!" Gracia pulls her daughter away and apologizes, "I'm sorry Camilla. Elicia is just so happy to see so many people in one day."

"It's understandable, Elicia is still growing up," I comment. It makes me really envious of the Hughes family. When I watch the three come together, I feel as if I had that life once. Alice tugs on my skirt and asks politely, "Hey miss Camilla, can we stay at their house for dinner?" I didn't know what to say. Just when I was about to answer Catherine grabs my hand and smiles widely, "That's a great idea! The more the merrier!" I look at the two below me skeptically, who were crouched on the ground giving me the 'puppy' look. With no choice, I agreed, "Alright you two we can stay for dinner." The two girls smile even more. Cat turned her head and stuck her tongue at 'Ed', who was steaming already from anger. "But on one condition," I butt in. Now it was the young girl's turn to look at me skeptically. With a flash of my evil smile Cat already knew what I meant at that moment.

Backing away, she flails her arms around and rejects what I just said, "No no no no! I will not wear that thing again! I was humiliated just walking 2 feet in that thing!"

-Me-

Yep... I had it on now... Shit! "Aw you look so cute Cat!" two adult women squeal from behind. I turn to everyone just so they could get a good look at me. 'I can't believe I'm doing this...' I thought as a gloomy aura surrounds my head. We all were in the living room, and the people who were sitting were waiting for my reveal. "You look wonderful Catherine! You should wear that everyday!" Hughes comments. I blush and look away from the crowd. I sighed thinking, 'It's not like I wanted to wear this... I only bought it cause I thought it looked cute...' (me: Tsudere! Cat: Shut up!) At the corner of my eye, I could see the two brothers gawking at the sight. Once again, I cannot tell since Al's a tin man, but at least his eyes show it. Ed on the other hand was staring at me wide eyed and was really really red. "S-Stop staring! Ugh! I'm gonna go set the table up!" I blurt out as I marched pass the crowd. 'This is so embarrassing! I knew Amestrian clothes are weird!' my thoughts scream.

-Normal-

"I'll go help Cat and make sure she's not destroying your table ware," Gracia excuses herself and follows. Ed still couldn't get that image out of my head after what just happened. "Cat really is different from last time brother," Al comments. Ed cross his arms and said, "Well I still think she's still the same as usual." Al sighs at this and asks his brother, "Haven't you guys made up already? I thought you made peace over the phone?" It just made him gagged at this, "Me and that witch get along? She's still as heartless as ever is you ask me! I can't believe she starts to act all girly like this now." Camilla laughs at this reaction and says, "She doesn't usually act like this. Before, she acted so serious before and not go near anyone. I think you boys are really that important for her to act like this now, I haven't seen her act at nervous like this ever since Elicia was born!"

||Conversation Mode||

(Me: Too lazy to summarize it!)
H(ughes) - Hahaha! I remember the time she paced out after all that craziness!
Al - Cat was the one who helped deliver your child?
A(lice) - I heard all about from Miss Camilla! Cat sounded really cool from what I heard!
Ed - That's knew, I never knew that she had to knowledge on delivering babies!
Cam(illa) - I was surprised to! I did help her a little bit after hearing all that commotion, but she was actually the one to deliver the child. I wanted to but she insisted saying, 'I have gloves on so please allow me to do it!' So I did and watched her from the sidelines.
Ed - I guess I should give her some respect there
Al - That's why I told you before to stop picking fights with her!
Ed - It's none of your business Al! I just can't stand how she acts like she knows everything.
H - That girl has been through a lot. Ever since she's been under Raven's order, Cat has been working non-stop! My family and I are just here as a support for her, so you have to ease up on how you treat her.
Cam - I agree with Maes. I've seen how she is after her missions and I can tell it's been taking it's toll on her so much.
Al - They can't be that bad! Brother and I have our own missions as well, but they have to be the same as Cat's.
A - They are different!
Ed - What do you mean kid?
A - I'm not suppose to say this but... Cat has been-!
Cam - That's enough Alice! We both know that she wants this to be kept hidden between the three of us. I'm sorry if we're making you worry about Cat. Yes she has been busy, except not all the time they're as pleasant as you think they are. That's all I can tell you for now.

||End of Conversation||

The two brothers look at one another worriedly. Not one have they ever considered what has been going on with Cat, and by the looks of it they are complete stranger to the things they've heard. Alice jumps off her seat and comes up to the two only to stare at Al's armor. Ed watches with a sweat drop as Alice suddenly pulls Al's feather and try to peek inside his suit. "Ah! Alice please don't pull my head!" No matter how hard he tried to plead with the girl all it did was make her even more curious. "Can I please take a look inside? I wanna know what you look like!" Alice begs with a puppy look in her eyes. The look at one another nervously as Alice continues to beg in front of Al. "Everyone! It's time to eat now!" calls out Ms. Hughes who peeks out of the kitchen door.

-Me-

When all of us gathered at the dinner table, there was this awkward feeling in my gut when I sat next to Ed. He even looked like he was feeling the same thing. "Why don't you three eat? The food will get cold if you just sit there staring at it," Camilla comments. When we snapped out of it the two of us gaze at the table in awe. we wipe the drool off our mouths and yell, "This looks great!" When the two of us dig in at the same time everyone in the room starts to laugh at our reaction. Hughes laughs as well and says, "You two are meant to be together! The two of you are a like just by looking at you!" I stop what I was doing and drop my utensils on my plate, my face turning pink from the thought of it. 'Me and Ed the same!? Well I do hate being called short and hate milk... But it's not like I have the same attitude like him,' my eyes take a quick glance at the boy, 'and he doesn't have any interests in dating anyone so they shouldn't say it like that.'

My face turned even redder than before. 'What the hell!? What I meant was that he just doesn't have the time to think of being in a relationship with anyone!' I shook my head wildly, 'No! That's even worse! I can't believe I even thought that!' "Why don't you take off your armor Al? You can't eat properly if you keep that on, right?" Hughes asks just to break the ice. The three of us, well they didn't notice me, flinched at the sudden question. They two sat there nervously and sweat all over, trying to figure out the right words to saw. Now that I look at them closely, Al was shaking all over his body! I sigh at their familiar actions and answered for them to help, "Maybe it's ment for his training sir. I mean with a growing boy like him, he does need to train hard enough if he's gonna protect his little brother." They looked at me relieved at first, until Ed realized what I had just said.

"You just called me a runt just now didn't you!?"
"No I didn't Edward. I just said the truth since you are not as mature as your supposed to be."
"Don't give me that attitude again! Errr! I thought you already finally opened up to us! Man your such a pain!"
"I don't know what you mean... I'm acting the way I'm suppose to be."
"We're not at work you know!"

Yep, I'm back in my work persona. When things get tough I want to shut myself out so I can get on with things smoothly. Although my true self didn't think so. 'Yeah that's right... I'll annoy you as much as I want to until you break,' I thought maliciously. Alice starts laughing like crazy and asks at the same time, "How did you two meet in the first place!? Hahahaha! You act like an old married couple sometimes!" Oh Alice is so innocent, but she really needs to know when to not cross personal boundaries. I was about to respond when Ed cuts in, "It's nothing like that! We just met three years ago after we saved this girl's butt from being sliced in pieces."

A vein popped at the back of my head throbbing. 'I'm right here you idiot!' my thoughts scream as I clutched onto my knife. 'No harm done... yet! Just have to wait for the right moment until he say's those 'kind' words.' "You two sure do get along," and that wasn't sarcasm coming out from Camilla's mouth, it more sounded like a compliment. "Are they gonna marry each other some day?" Elicia blurts out. I spew out my drink while Ed, to my side, nearly chokes on his food. I cough a little and half-yell out loud, "Didn't we say we weren't together!?" My face was already flushed red from embarrassment and the hard part was I had to try my best not to raise my voice too high to show my embarrassment. Camilla sighs and says, "If only there would be someone who would teach you things about love then you wouldn't be acting like this."

"Miss Camilla! I can't have any relationships now that I'm in the military," I remind her, continuing to eat my meal at ease. She gave me an apologetic look, "I'm sorry Cat. It's just being on your own can make someone feel lonely. You constantly go out on the field without any rest and you haven't been able to visit you hometown." 'If I have a hometown here,' my inner voice added as I stared intently at my plate. "That reminds me... I wanted to ask you something Cat," Al said. "Did your parents really allow you to become an alchemist?" That struck me right in the heart, the one place that I've always wanted to keep hidden from others and myself. "Now that I think about it, you never mentioned anything about your parents at all. Do they even know you're a state alchemist?" Ed asks, realizing it was well. My lips were sealed. I didn't say anything the whole time as all their gazes focused on me. The weight was too great for me, so I did the one thing that always caused suspicion, leave. I stood up to leave and excused myself, "I need to rest now. Isaac could show up any moment and I need to get as much rest as I can."

-Normal-

When Cat left the dining area and went to her room, things good a little quiet for those left at the table. Camilla, Gracia, and Maes look at one another and silently agreed that it was time to clean up. "Alright girls it's time say good bye," Camilla says, earning a few 'aw's from the two girls. She turns to Hughes and gives him a look that only he understood. "Ok boys," he says, earning the attention of the two Elric's. "Maybe it's time that I explain a few things to you about Cat. I know it's not my place, but I think you two deserve to know since your her friends."

::Bedroom::

As Cat sits beside the window and gazed down at the road below, the two brothers hesitantly step inside the room. They had to share the room, but after the previous events, it's curious on how Cat would react when she see's them. Ed was the first who had the guts to speak up, "We need some rest for tomorrow... so you better go to bed now." "..." No words came out of her mouth. "There are two beds only so I'll sleep on the floor," Al's suggestion was ignored. After a few silent moments Cat finally spoke up, "I wonder who they were." "Who?" Both brothers already knew what she meant. They can still remember Hughes' words.

++FlashBack++

"At a young age, Cat was supposedly found in the rain staring at the sky and was alone. She has no memories of her childhood until she was 7. Someone found and took her in, but only stayed with the family for and year. She made the decision to live on her own so she wouldn't be a burden to others who have helped her. During the time she left on her own, Cat still tried to look for her parents. I was never told how long she's been looking... But I know that when she gave up, she made the assumption that her parents abandoned her... that she was an accidental child. Even though she never said it, but I can tell by the way she looks at others that she really feels that way. Cat has tried desperately not to let others in and I see that envious look she get whenever she's near a family. Especially you two. I want you to understand that the word 'family' isn't something Cat can deal with so easily."

++End of FlashBack++

"Hughes already told you, didn't he?" Cat blurts out of nowhere, scaring the two in the process. She continues, "I'm an orphan... a child who was abandoned in the streets without knowing what the hell just happened. I was so stupid back then. I can't believe that I'm still here when I should be in the streets dead. You two are lucky to have a family." "Nobody's waiting for us," Ed states. Cat knew this line oh so well. "I mean the Rockbells," Cat points out, trying to remind him who's there at home. "I have no one... so maybe you two should at least appreciate what you have. My family is long gone. Hell, they might be out there messing around and forgot I ever existed!" Unbeknownst to her, Ed had enough of how she was degrading herself. He marched up to her and grabbed her shoulders, forcing Cat to look right into his fierce gaze.

"I know I don't trust you Cat... and I know that you are the most obnoxious alchemist I ever met... But don't you ever think of yourself like that!" Ed's voice grew higher as he continued to stared into her blue orbs. She was shocked at how he was acting to her. To think that she was the one to start their feud, to end it, and to make it burst up again after reuniting with Ed. Al just stood in the sidelines and watched as his brother take a few steps back. They're relationship was still strained, but the events of that night did forge something special between the three. Their feelings were similar in a way. And what they didn't know was that their trust for each other grew stronger.

To Be Continued

---

Me: Done! I am freakin' done!
Cat: About time!
Me: I know I know I have a lot of things to do...
Cat: Don't forget to mention that so many readers lost interest in this story.
Me: No! *runs away*
Cat: Oi! Where the hell are you going!?
?: AveryScarlet does not own FMA. She only own Catherine, Jealousy, Camilla and Alice. Although I think there's more to come...
Cat: Ah! Get out of here Pride!