"Listen, I'm sorry." Cecil finally said, running his hand through his hair. He didn't regret staying for the dinner that was offered but he maybe felt a little stupid standing in the middle of the presidential library staring at the adult who had been designated his charge. "I can go tell them no now."

"It's fine." Zira shrugged. It wasn't, she was still irritated with him beyond belief…but she'd worked things out with her parents and now— "You're not supposed to be in Central for long."

"No, I wanted to head north." He agreed.

"Take me with you." She was nothing if not determined. He smirked. "It gives me a chance to test some things, maybe start fires with wet wood, and you're not even listening to me, asshole."

He was, he'd just caught sight of a box laying on the table full of papers and envelopes. It had distracted him for a minute, because he'd caught sight of his name. He picked at one of the envelopes and cocked his head to the side. They were letters, all addressed to him. Cecil looked up with a questioning gaze.

"I was going to write you." Zira mumbled, glaring at the ground so hard she could have burned holes through it. Cecil laughed. "But I didn't think you deserved an apology yet."

"Can I read them?"

"…They're mostly just me yelling at you." She admitted, eyeing him suspiciously. "Why? Did you want a love letter?"

His grin was suddenly too stiff and the smile in his eyes disappeared.

"Not the reason I wanted to read them, I wanted to see how creative your name-calling got this time."

Zira's feel finally detached themselves from the floor and she snatched the letter he'd picked up out of his hand with a growl. They weren't her best work, she'd chewed him out better before on multiple occasions.

"What's wrong, Sparky?"

"Don't fucking call me that, Elric." He raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her, as if taunting her to do something.

"I'll set you on fire—"

"You won't get a research grant that way, future Dr. Mustang." Cecil tucked a stray strand of black hair behind the younger girl's ear just to see them flush pink. The smirk reappeared on his face.

"I hope you know," She spun on her heel, picking up the box before she stomped straight to the door. "I don't need your protection."

The door slammed behind her and Cecil was alone in the library again.

"But I'll give it." Regardless of whether it was the President's idea or not.

AN:

HEY GUYS! Whoooo! yay! Story time!

So we're getting into the main story now which is fun!

Please comment and fav and subscribe! I would love to hear from you! It really inspires me to keep updating.

~ Citystrokes