Alchemy Academy

AU FMA

Okay so second chapter of my new series Alchemy Academy. In this we'll meet a few more characters and of course hear Zolfy's opinion of them as well. Again italics are Kim's thoughts and bold are spoken dialogue. Hope you all enjoy and please review if you read. I do not own FMA (unfortunately) though I do own the plot. No real new warnings except language and Kim's questioning his sexuality. will be yaoi in near future. Have fun. ~

Chapter Two Part One: Awkward Apology

"Why does the cafeteria refuse to serve anything remotely edible for lunch..?" I grumbled to no one in particular at our group designated table as I pushed what are supposedly mashed potatoes and peas from side to side in my lunch tray. The four faces around me all looked up at the current question up for discussion. Four faces, four people, four names of which have been carved into my memory since day one at the Academy. Dorochette of course, who's face had been literally buried in the mysterious meat substance that had passed as the main course that I hadn't been brave or rather suicidal enough to add to my plate, simply smiled as his good friend Martel tried in vain to clean any of the meaty residue from his face with a napkin.

"Oh lighten up Kim. It really doesn't taste all that bad!" he remarked cheerfully, earning a scoff from Martel as one of her arms slithered all the way across the table at an impossible angle to snatch the roll from my tray earning a hiss from me. I was gonna nibble on that later at least… "Doro's right, alchemist, and besides that, you need your protein. Or do you want to stay a weak little string bean till senior year?" was the only snide comment I got from that snake which only worsened my mood more. Why did she even bother sitting with us again? Martel is a chimera just like Doro, though her chemical make-up is divided with that of a snake. She can bend and stretch her body and limbs in any direction or angle to considerable length unlike any normal human for sure. I've also heard rumors she can unhinge her jaw but one scandalous story at a time heh heh. Smirking none to friendly at her, I set my spork down flipping my pony tail over my shoulder as I spoke "Hmm maybe you're right Martel but you see I just so happened to learn in biology today that snake meat has a very high fat content and prone to carrying diseases".

Grinning as she nearly stretched over the table to strangle me, my expression turned sour as Miles gave a weary sigh shifting in his seat next to me handing me his roll from his own tray. "Oh leave her alone Zolf. I know for a fact the lack of gourmet in the lunch menu isn't what's got you in such a bad mood. And Martel calm down, you're not fat or disease ridden." Miles calmly commented as I chewed on the now dry bread roll in my mouth, Martel halting in her efforts and plopping back down in her seat with a pout. While I did hate the snake Miles was right, neither she nor the lunch menu were the real reason I was pissed. It had been more than a whole week since I'd had my little standoff with that spiky haired jackass and I'd seen neither head nor hide of him since. The worst part was I never even got the guy's name, so for the past eight or nine days, all I've had to curse him by is this stupid annoying leather strap tying up my hair.

Looking at me from her spot on the other side of Miles, Olivier blew a strand of hair from her eyes as she practically commanded "Oh just go ask Frank who he is! You said he had Honor bands so I'm sure Frank of all people will know who he is and even his shoe size probably". I inwardly groaned about asking that prick anything, especially something like this. Knowing him, he'd get a good hard laugh if he found out I lost it again and got my ass handed to me by some punk new student. Glaring over at him as he sat a few tables over near Roy and his group's table, I nearly laughed at the sight of him sitting there eating by himself. Don't be fooled, he's not some helpless abandoned little pale puppy with no friends forced to eat all by himself.

Frank Reginald Archer didn't just happen to sit by himself, he chose to for the solid fact that he is convinced he is that much better than the rest of the students at the Academy. Though only a colonel in the military department of the school, he captured the spot as Student Council president in only his freshman year, I swear that election was rigged. As president though, he also happens to have a file on any and every student here regardless of grade or department in which they specialize in, paying very close attention of course to those of considerable achievement. Wonder if that creep has a file on me, better not…pale bastard.

Hanging my head in defeat however, I conceded that Olivier was indeed correct and that Frank was probably my only other option besides putting notices on all the lunch milk cartons reading out "Missing: Tall overconfident shark faced asshole, please call number etc." "Yeah, bet he could even get you his phone number so you can finally profess you're totally head over heels in love and want to spend the rest of your life wi-!" was all Martel really got out of that damn smirking mouth of hers before I promptly threw a good portion of my potatoes all over her face using my spork, marvelous inventions that they are. Getting a sympathetic pat from Miles and his usual "It'll be alright", I shoved my hands into my pockets as I walked over to where he was sitting and currently reading some kind of huge volume on what looked like a history of wars.

Damn snake, I do NOT like that guy. I'M NOT EVEN GAY!...right…? Growling, I shook myself out of my thoughts as I made my way past Roy and his group, Roy seeming too distracted by making some speech about dogs or miniskirts I don't really give a fuck to notice me. I am not in fact gay, I can still get turned on by a pretty girl and strike up a conversation. Though I admit I haven't been able to get that second part down very well lately. And the way he held me when I fell was pretty nice, plus those deep gorgeous purple- "Can I help you with something Zolf, or are you just going to stand there and drool all over my book?" I never thought I'd be so happy to have that snarky monotone voice interrupt my train of thought, that was just getting way too weird.

Looking up I saw Archer in his usual school regulated uniform, ungodly clean and pressed as usual. Bored and slightly annoyed ice blue eyes practically glaring at me from his usual expressionless face, he sighed wearily as he marked the page he was on and slamming the huge book shut with a snap as he regarded me with his usual frown. Hate that damn frown, hate him, stupid prick with your stupid book! "Well Ari since ya asked so nicely, I was wondering if you could help me find a certain student I've been looking for. He's new and has several Honor bands clipped to his watch so that should narrow it down for ya, old buddy!" I grinned nearly painfully, voice dripping with slight sarcasm at the term buddy as the pale little pencil pusher merely raised a brow at my request, hands resting on his book. "Firstly Mr. Zolf, you will address me by my title as Student Council president or at the very least Archer. Not Ari, not Franky, nothing else. Secondly since when do you hang around the Honor crowd? finally decided to drop those circus freaks?" he replied cold as ice, eyes drifting over to my circle of friends, Doro hugging Martel while babbling happily to a very confused Miles and reluctant Olivier at the moment.

Clenching my fists, I tried not to lose my temper at the notion of a guy with absolutely no REAL friends having the sheer gall to insult them like that. I knew by circus freaks he was referring to Doro and the snake and while I don't much care for her the fact still remains. They didn't choose to be that way, disfigured and changed beyond the point of turning back. Frank chooses to be a pompous arrogant dick but not those two. Martel even kept the tattoos on her face neck and shoulder from the transmutations, not out of regret but pride. She knew exactly what she was and she was proud of the new strength and abilities. "Listen prick, oh forgive me, Student Council president. I'll kindly ask you to leave them out of this conversation. Now Archer, can you provide me with information or not?" I just deadpanned, frown now replacing the faux grin I had before.

Tapping his chin in thought, Archer slowly smiled which is never a good sign knowing him and looked up at me, voice belaying some type of unhealthy desire or want. "Say please, Mr. Zolf, I'm sure you can manage at least that." I wanted to gag at the thought of begging this man for anything, especially since I could tell by that smug glint in his eyes that he had a very good idea of who I was asking about. Swallowing back the few harsh words I had in reply to that, I bit my lip and glared daggers at him which only made the bastard smile more of course, and ground out "Please, Archer, can you please help me find the new student I'm looking for?"

Letting out what I can only assume passes as a laugh for someone like him, Archer took out a small notebook from his blazer pocket. "It'll do for now I suppose, now then." Small colorful tabs and markers lining each page, he flipped through the book to the last half of the pages which seemed to bear more tags and reminders then the rest. "You said he had Honor bands correct? And he's a new student apparently? I'll need a few more details". Drilling my brain for any unique characteristics, I tried not to shiver a few off memories like his laugh and grin in front of Frank.

"Well he's tall, wears black sunglasses even without the sun part it seems..." I rambled off, Frank already madly flipping through the book. "I can only guess he's a sophomore like us, he had a tattoo on his left hand and seven Honor bands on his watch so he's in the alchemists department.." I blinked as a pale hand flew up stopping me in my report, Frank's eyes set on one particular page with many black, red and green markers as well as a few others. Wonder what the red and black one's mean...

"That will be all I need Zolf, thank you. Though as meager and amateur as your description was, I believe I've found your man" Letting out a sigh of relief, I was too excited as well as anxious to even lash out at the subtle insult he had placed in there. "Well? Let's hear it, who is he? What is he? How does some rookie sophomore score seven honor bands even before his first day?" This time I got the book instead of his hand brought down across my head before he opened it back up and read out from the file.

"Settle down, I was getting to that. There's no real sure answer under his name other then the fact he's from a very high up family in the state alchemists division. His specialties include defensive alchemy and everything else on that is heavily restricted and classified." I nearly forgot to blink; shocked that even Frank's files were limited on this guy as he continued. "You were right to guess he was a sophomore though he's a year older than us. Probably got held back, a delinquent no doubt…" Frank scoffed trying to seem unimpressed as he shut the book; no doubt he's pissed at the lack of information as well being the control freak he is.

Finally coming back from taking it all in, I was able to stutter out one more question before Archer would surely lose patience. "No name, that's it? Can you at least tell me what class he has? What bus he takes maybe? I need some way to get a hold of him!" Raising a thin dark brow at my sudden outburst, Archer almost smirked as he peeked back into his little book. "Really desperate to find this guy, huh Zolf? He stand you up for a date or something~?" WHY DOES EVERYONE ASSUME I LIKE THAT COCKY BAS- "He has P.E last period of the day and says here he just walks home. Huh, says here he takes the same route you do Zolf, though he lives up on Dublith Street."

With that, Frank seemed to get bored and left without even a goodbye, turning his head up as if I was garbage as he walked away. Honestly though I didn't give a damn about what Frank did at the moment. The guy really is a student, lives near my street even and walks back that way! Nearly cackling with glee, I returned to my table grinning in triumph. Miles seeing the grin smiled and adjusted his glasses as the bell that ended lunch rang. "Wow, no sadistic smirk or murderous glint in your eyes, I'm guessing it went well?" Grinning still as I grabbed my bag from my seat, throwing what little I had left in my tray away, I threw my arm around Miles's shoulders as we headed off to Math, already drawing up my perfect plot for the day ahead. "Oh yes Miles, I got EXACTLY what I need…"

Well that's it for the second part. Tried to get Frank's character right and even worked in Roy's fascination with miniskirts AND DOGS! ^^ anyways second part of the chapter should be up by tomorrow or early in the week. Reviews are love! Hope you all enjoyed it. Happy New Year all!