I wake up to the smell of pastries and the sound of someone speaking rapidly. Where am I again? I open my eyes. This doesn't look like anywhere I know. I sit up to get a better look at my surroundings and-

"Oh, good morning."

I turn around to see a teen with long hair, noticing that he has a strange accent, and suddenly, I remember. Last night. Oh truth. I cried in front of a total stranger. My face goes red in embarrassment as I remember the events from yesterday. I look away. But if last night actually happened then…

Oh hell no.

I get up and quickly run to the bathroom. I hear a small protest from the teen, but ignore it, my urge to check just too strong. My strength seems to be back. I feel normal, but a strong feeling in my gut says that I don't look normal at all. I get to the bathroom, look in the mirror, and realize that I was right. Staring back at me was the young kid who was here yesterday, not a full grown man who had a date scheduled for this evening.

I walk back over to the couch that I was sleeping on, looking around. While I do so, I realise that everything seems a lot bigger than it once was. A thought pops into my head, which I deeply hope is not true. I want to ask, but I decide that I should wait until I've at least had something to eat.

The teen seems to read my thoughts and places some sort of colourful, fake-looking pastry in front of me. "You better had not have been puking in there. Goodness knows that you need to eat, and I don't have the patience to deal with sick strangers." He holds out his left hand. "Speaking of strangers, I forgot to ask your name. You can call me Jackie."

I take his hand, believing he's offering a handshake. "It's Roy." I say, deciding not to give out my last name until I really know what's going on. I also decide to ignore his odd phrasing. I'll figure that out later.

I pick up the pastry and look at it for a moment, debating whether something that looks so fake is really edible. And I don't really want to take the risk if Jackie's trying to poison me or something. My stomach growls, yelling at me to eat something. I decide that he doesn't seem to want to do that, so I take a bite of the fake looking pastry.

My eyes go wide at the taste. The taste of sweet pastry, icing, and sugary filling. I don't usually enjoy sugary sweets, which is a relief considering that they cost an arm and a leg, but I do have to admit, I'm loving this.

"This is delicious!" I say, my mouth still full from the sweet treat.

Jackie looks at me incredulously, then snorts. "Holy hell Roy, if that's delicious then you need to try my cooking. This," he points at the one that he's eating, "is cheap as fuck."

I stare at him for a moment. "Wait, what?" What could he mean by it being cheap? Sugar was really expensive. And this? It was practically all sugar.

He giggles, wrinkling his nose. Cute. Wait. No! Curse you, teenage hormones! I'm not even a teenager, damn it!

"Aww, honey, you're sweet. But really, do I look like I've got the cash to be living well?" Something in his voice is both playful and weary, and I realize that my host is a lot more complicated than he seems.

I look at Jackie for a moment, as I take another bite into my should-be super expensive delicacy. I'm starting to wonder what would happen if you heated these up, considering the icing and all. Oh well, I'll figure that out later. I continue to stare at him, starting to space out and let my mind wander.

My mind wanders to things like what missions could be happening right now, and Hughes, and Hawkeye, until the craziest thought just pops into my head. That thought being: Fullmetal working as a maid, wearing a maids dress, and actually acting the part like he's completely into it. I burst out laughing my ass off, and Jackie looks at me.

"Are you alright? Holy hell, it wasn't that funny!" Jackie looks legitimately concerned for my well being after my outburst of laughter, but he also has a soft smile on his face.

"No! No! Sorry!" I just manage to get out as I'm still laughing my ass off at the random thought. Jackie looks at me and frowns a little. I suddenly can't read his face at all. It's a little freaky, to be honest.

"Okay," he says, then turns and starts to go back to the kitchen. He pats my shoulder on his way out. "Finish your breakfast, Roy." He pulls a small metal tablet of sorts from his pocket and taps the shiny surface, which seems to be emitting some sort of light.

I stare at it in shock and wonder. What is that thing? How does it do that? I'm finding myself starting to act like Fullmetal's mechanic. Which is good because she's a strong, intelligent girl; but bad because once again I'm feeling childish. Damn it! But that tablet is really interesting…

I stare at it while I eat my sweet breakfast, and continue to gaze at it. Part of me wonders why I'm so interested and doesn't mind it, but a huge part of me feels childish for being this curious. I shake my head. I'm an adult for fuck's sake! I'm not a teenager anymore! I should be spending my time thinking about where the hell I am and how to get home. Not being distracted by some weird tablet that glows when someone touches it.

But why do I feel so... young? I've even been dealing with mood swings that bring me back to my early teenage years. I'm so confused. I have no idea what's happened to me or why. Honestly, It's overwhelming. That fact in of itself is confusing, since I have a good grasp of my emotions. I feel tears start to brim my eyes. I try to hold them back, but nothing seems to stop them, and before I know it, tears are flowing down my face. I start trying to wipe them away with my sleeve, hoping Jackie won't notice. Why is this happening? I try to breathe, but instead choke out a small sob. Unfortunately, this gets Jackie's attention.

"Roy!" I hear a concerned cry from the kitchen. I can hear his footsteps as he rushes back to the couch to comfort me. Before I can say anything, I'm once again wrapped in Jackie's arms. "Hey, it's alright. It will be fine."

As soon as his arms wrapped around me, I break down against my will, bawling my eyes out. Fuck, stop being so emotional, you absolute idiot. I try to stop myself from crying, but I find myself having no success, and continuing to bawl my eyes out. I also find myself wanting to nuzzle into Jackie's shoulder for comfort. No, you dumb alchemist bitch. Stop that. He's probably ten years younger than you, damn it.

I try again, actually managing to compose myself this time, as much as someone can be composed with tear tracks on their face. I gently push him away. My cheeks are tinted red in embarrassment.

"T-thank you," I mumble, wiping the tears out of my eyes. I can feel the heat on my cheeks when I brush my hand across my face. Jackie brushes some hair out of my eyes.

"Hey, it's alright. I'd be a bit overwhelmed too." He has a soft, sad smile. It makes me want to tell him. It just makes him look like he knows things that I need to understand. However, I simply give him a look. What the hell does he know? He's just a kid. He probably just thinks that I'm a runaway kid or something. Even if I wanted to say anything, he wouldn't believe a word of it. I mean really? I got turned into a teenager? No one would believe that. I look down at my lap, wanting to go home.

Jackie lets out a small sigh. "Are you sure that you're okay? I quickly nod, not wanting to risk giving into the urge to nuzzle into his shoulder.

I glance around, looking to see if I could make a dart for it to get a glass and some water. I'm thirsty as hell. I guess that's what pastries made out of sugar do to you. Or crying out half the water in your body. That could do it too. Also, I really want an excuse to get up so that I can get away from my emotions. Jackie gets up, and as if he read my mind, gets a glass of water and hands it to me.

"How did you know?" I ask. Jackie smirks and makes sure that I have a proper grip on the glass.

"Experience," he turns and gets himself some water as well, "I've had my fair share of panic attacks." He leans against the kitchen counter and takes a sip from his glass. "Oh, by the way, I noticed that you get overwhelmed pretty easily, so I thought I'd tell you now. My boyfriend, Bart, is coming over at around 1:30. I've got work, so he'll be looking after you from after 8:00 tonight. He knows where everything is, so you can ask him the same stuff that you would ask me."

I choke on my water from shock. Boyfriend? Yeah, I've heard of some men taking male lovers back in Amestris, who hasn't? I mean, it isn't so uncommon in the State barracks, what with there being separate dorms for men and women and all. I've just never heard anyone be so blaisé and open about it. Luckily, Jackie misinterprets my shock as something else, and smirks into his glass.

"Calm down there on the water, kid, we're not in the Sahara. Take your time."

I stop drinking the water and look at him for a second. Where the fuck is the Sahara? After pondering on that for a second, I take another sip from my water and look back at the ground. Talking to this guy has reminded me just how little I know about him. All that I know is that he has a lover, apparently has a job even though he looks no older than 15, has some sort of strange past, and has a paternal streak a mile wide.

Before I know it, I've finished the water and Jackie gets the cup. He stops and looks at me with concern. "Roy," he starts, placing the cup on the low-lying table in front of me and kneeling down, "you look flushed. Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Jackie rolls his eyes. "Because you were walking around for who knows how long, without a coat, in sub-zero temperatures." He puts the back of his hand to my forehead. "Yep, you've got the start of a fever. I thought this might happen." He stands up and pulls the strange tablet from his pocket. "Rest here for a bit. You can read any of my books, just know that if you damage them- actually, never mind. Just don't damage them. I'm gonna go get properly dressed and update Bart." He walks into one of the rooms and shuts the door.

I scoff. A fever? Yeah right, I've walked at night without a coat before, and I sure as hell didn't get sick. Also, was he about to threaten me for damaging books? That sounds like something Sheshka would do.

I pick up a book from the table. The Hobbit. I start to read.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a wet, dirty hole filled with the ends of worms; nor yet a bare, dry, sandy hole with nothing to sit down on or to eat. No, this was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort…"

-Jackie's POV

Once I've closed the door to my bedroom, I let out a sigh. Gods, this kid. Whatever he went through, it had to be bad. He had panic attacks for seemingly no reason, ignored his health, and had never even had or heard of a poptart. I run my fingers through my as-of-yet untied hair. Fucking hell. How am I supposed to help a traumatized kid when I have work, have school, my own mental issues, and limited money?

I slide down the wall and pull my phone out of my pocket. I open the lock screen and bring up my messages to text Bart. My fingers hover over the screen. How am I supposed to say this? Oh yeah, honey? I picked up a stray kid last night and he's staying at the apartment. Fuck.

emerald_python: Hey, Bart?

blueboi: yeah?

emerald_python: So… I found a kid on my way home last night…

blueboi: ...did you adopt them…

emerald_python: …

emerald_python: I'm letting him stay here for now.

blueboi: wow what a dad

emerald_python: …

emerald_python: That's what you take away from this?

blueboi: i mean it's true

emerald_python: …

emerald_python: I hate you

blueboi: no you don't

emerald_python: …

emerald_python: No I don't.

blueboi: love you too~

emerald_python: I love you too.

emerald_python: I'll see you soon.

blueboi: see you~

I put my phone down. That went better than I thought it would. I get up off the floor. It's time to actually get dressed instead of wearing my pyjamas all day. My clothes are set out already, since I can wear basically anything to my job at the bar. In fact, my manager might as well encourage me to wear stuff that shows more skin because the customers buy more. I throw on a crop top and ripped jeans as well as my socks, and brush and braid my hair before pinning it up. I fasten a thick black choker around my neck and slip my promise ring onto my finger. To finish, I add a cat's eye in eyeliner, and then head back into the living room with my Ancient Civilizations textbook.

Roy is curled up on the couch, absorbed in The Hobbit. His hair covers his eyes and his frame is swamped by his sweater, but he has a sharply intelligent look in his eye. I sit down next to him and open my textbook. The thing is outdated, but my school is just too poor to afford the new ones. He doesn't move a muscle, completely absorbed in the novel. It isn't long before I too become absorbed in my reading material.

I'm reading about the fall of the Roman Empire when I feel a light weight on my shoulder. I look at Roy, who has fallen asleep, the book in his hand. His eyes have dark circles under them and he's beginning to get a sheen of sweat from his fever. His fingers keep his place in the book. I consider moving for a second, but I really don't want to risk waking him up. Instead, I continue to read my book, and wait for Bart to arrive.

Roy's POV

I wake up when I hear a door close. The click is soft but distinguishable, and I hear someone slipping off their coat at the door. My whole body tenses. It's an intruder! You're in danger. I start to scramble up so that I can defend myself, pushing against… a person? Jackie, my mind supplies. Jackie? Oh, right. This whole mess that I've found myself in. Does that mean the person at the door is his lover? I try again to sit up, only to feel a wave of nausea.

I look over when I hear another person walk into the room. He has gold eyes like Fullmetal, pale skin, and short styled hair that's- blue?! What the fuck? A bright, blue-green blue. It's unnatural. Why-

"Wow. You're actually taking care of him when he's sick too?" He says, and Jackie looks a bit nervous. Then the guy continues. "Now I'm serious. What a dad."

Jackie screeches at the indignity. "I'm not his dad!"

The guy smirks. "Are you sure about that?"

Jackie crosses his arms petulantly. "Yes, I very much am, Bartholomew." He looks down at me and gestures at the newcomer. "Roy, meet Bartholomew Heim. My boyfriend."