"Sister! Did you have to beat him again?! Let Mr Breda have some self-confidence!" Seth scolded, while Kenny swallowed the last gulp of her sugar- uh, coffee with a satisfied smile on her visage.

Meanwhile, Breda, Havoc, and Fuery were twitching on the floor while Falman counted bills, folded them neatly, and placed them in his pocket.

"Seth, stop being a spoilsport. You know this is hilarious."

"S- so?! It's still cruel!"

"'Right then. How 'bout you challenge him then? If you win, I'll pay back everyone with a night out at the bar and we'll get to laugh at the fact that he lost to a twelve year old. If Breda wins, well, he'll have the knowledge that he can still beat my brother and we all get a night out at the bar anyway. It's a win-win situation." All the twitching men shot up, new light in their eyes.

"OH, KENNY! I KNEW YOU'D BE NICE!!!" Havoc hugged the woman tightly and she sighed before pushing him off.

"Hey! No touchie!" As this was going on, Seth sighed and took a seat across from Breda.

"Alright. Which one of us is white?"

--

Seth frowned at the chess table.

"I- lost?" Breda shot his fist into the air.

"HAH!!! I DID IT!!!" From out of nowhere there was the clap of hands, all the officers, and Seth, looked and blinked upon seeing Roy leaned up against the wall.

"Well done, Breda, you beat a twelve year old to get back at his sister. Oh, and did I hear correctly that you're going to be treating everyone tonight?" Kenny rolled her eyes and stood up, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"'Course you did. Soon as the word 'bar' is mentioned, you come running. I guess I'm going to have to treat you now too. Well, Seth, looks like I'm going to be the only sober one tonight. I won't have enough money to buy myself any drinks."

"That's probably a good thing, Kenny. The way you are now- I'd hate to see you drunk." The twelve year old murmured, gaining a grin from his older sister.

"I'm not gonna get drunk. Not after seeing Roy's last hangover. Hey, didn't it last thirty-six hours?" The Colonel frowned as the others snickered.

Now that he remembered that-

"Weren't you the one in charge of that night too?" She continued to grin.

"Of course I was. Who else would've let you get that drunk and then would've had the courtesy to help you back home? By the way, I suggest you stay away from the Shirley Temples this time. Obviously, you can't hold them." Seth sighed and shook his head as the laughter rose.

This was not going to end well. He could just tell.

"Sister." She stopped and glanced at her brother, not focusing on the fuming Roy.

"Yes?"

"Please don't get drunk. Promise me."

"Well, I can't do that, see, because Mr Mustang here is about to challenge me to a drinking contest and guess who's gonna kick ass?"

"Not you." Roy mumbled.

Kenny rose a brow and placed her hands on her hips.

"Really? Well, considering-"

"I know you had something to do with that. Admit it!" Kenny grinned.

"Of course I did, Roy. I wouldn't be me if I didn't have something to do with it." Roy smirked.

Perfect. Now he was getting somewhere.

"You know, Kenny, you being a woman and all, I highly doubt you'd be able to hold your alcohol." Seth slapped his face.

"Please don't encourage her, Sir." Unfortunately, his voice was drowned out by the loud voice of his older sister.

"You are so on! In fact, I bet that out of everyone here, I'm the only one who's going to be left standing!" Unknown to everyone, Kenny had already created a plan that would ensure her victory.

Seth was just plain horrified at the possibility that she could get drunk.

--

The group of officers sat at a round table, each with some sort of alcohol in their hands. Kenny sat across from Roy, casually leaned back with her feet plopped down on the table as well. Beside her, sat several empty shot glasses that were once filled with straight whiskey, or so everyone thought.

It was actually some sort of carbonated soda that she had specifically ordered for herself. The men were stupid enough to allow her to order the drinks.

Roy smirked at her before glancing down at the equal amount of empty shot glasses that sat by him as well.

"Heh."

"Come on, Colonel! Someone needs to beat her!" Havoc and Breda exclaimed together.

They had of course, made a bet on the dark haired higher up, along with Fuery. Falman kept his faith in Kenny, who had never let him down before.

"You won't last long."

"Another round!" Kenny exclaimed, raising an empty glass.

"Same as before!" Roy blinked and then smirked once again.

"You really are trying, aren't you?"

"Not really." Was her response as she held the newly filled glass to her lips.

Roy did the same, keeping his focus on his opponent. She slammed the empty glass down on the table and yawned, leaning further back in the chair.

"I find this really boring. I feel exactly as I did two hours ago." Roy frowned and placed his empty glass of whiskey down, putting his hand to his head.

Kenny blinked and then sat up quickly at his expression.

"Roy? Are you-?" He smirked and leaned forward.

"Concerned, Leiu-utenant?" He slurred and she rolled her eyes.

"Just don't want your pride to be damaged, Colonel."

"Hey, Kenny?"

"Hmm?" Roy leaned forward as the waiter poured some more 'alcohol' into her empty glass and reached his hand over to brush it against her face.

"You look pu-urty."

"Whoa! You really ARE drunk!" Kenny exclaimed, laughing in hysterics.

"Oh, well. Might as well enjoy this while I can. Hey, you ladies need some more to drink?" They all nodded and Kenny snapped her fingers.

"Another round!" Unbeknownst to her and every one else, Roy smirked when she reached over and took her glass to place to her lips.

It was then that she stopped and frowned. His heart stopped and he paled.

"Hey, before you get too drunk to think clearly- can I have the day off tomorrow? I- have some important things to do." Everyone stared at the two competing drinkers, rather surprised at the sudden quiet tone Kenny was taking.

"Hmm?"

"You heard me, Roy. I want the day off tomorrow." Her tone- completely serious, was unlike any tone they had heard from her before.

Roy blinked once and then sighed.

"If you need it."

"Thanks." He hadn't noticed that while she was talking, she had switched their drinks.

Neither had anyone else. A quiet Kenny, was a Kenny that no one had seen before.

Roy kept his gaze fixed on her as he took 'his' glass and placed it to his lips.

This was unlike her. Asking for a day off. Especially in a tone like that. He hadn't heard that tone since he'd first met her.

Nine Years Ago

He walked through the small town of Flora, not oblivious to the nervous stares the civilians were giving him. He knew it was because of his uniform. That and the pocket watch chain that was hanging from his pocket. They must have been able to tell that he was here in this small town under official business.

A State Alchemist in a tiny country town that's specialty was growing flowers. Something definitely was going on.

It was true. Central had gotten a call requesting a State Alchemist to deal with some sort of disturbance involving random explosions shaking the forest on the south side of town. It was suspected to be alchemy and since Roy was the Flame Alchemist, the Furher had figured that it would have been best to send him to deal with the matter.

It was more than likely a similar type of alchemy to his after all.

The young man stopped at the edge of the forest and narrowed his eyes as the wind blew his dark hair. It was moments later that he heard the explosion.

His head bolted up and he frowned when he saw smoke coming from inside the trees.

"Great." He walked into the forest, following the vibrations of the explosions that took place afterwards.

It wasn't long after that he came to a small clearing, revealing a small house, surrounded by several craters. In front of the house was a small boy, no older than three, giggling and laughing at an older girl. She was a teenager and he could tell by her physique that she was definitely older than thirteen. Sixteen, maybe? Give or take a year.

Her auburn hair was tied back tightly in a ponytail and sweat beaded her forehead, which she wiped away with the back of her hand.

"Big Sister! Do it again! Do it again!" Her shoulders slumped.

"I'm- tired, Seth. Very tired. I can't keep blowing up random things because you enjoy it."

"Hmph! You ruin everything! I hate you!" And her blue eyes widened as she watched the boy run inside the house.

"Seth!" Roy watched as the girl shuddered and then fell to her knees, panting heavily.

Obviously, she was the one behind everything. But, it seemed that she was doing it to keep her younger brother happy.

He stepped from the trees and the girl jerked her head up, eyes wide as she stared at the uniformed officer. They then traveled down and she sighed when she caught sight of his pocket watch.

"I- wondered when they would send the State. I- suppose I haven't been as careful as I should have been." She attempted to stand, but she fell back down.

Roy walked over to the girl and handed her his hand.

She blinked and stared at him before slowly reaching up and taking it. He pulled her to her feet and held her steady.

"Do your parents know about what you're doing?" Her eyes saddened and then lowered as she spoke in an extremely quiet voice.

"Funny you should mention 'parents'. I'd rather not explain while my brother is around, but if you come inside, I'll find some way to put him to bed and I'll explain myself then." She opened the door to the tiny house and smiled weakly.

He entered the house and blinked when he met with the glaring grey eyes of the three year old boy.

"Get out!" The teen girl sighed and then knelt down in front of her brother.

"Seth. Don't say things like that. This is a uniformed State Alchemist. Now, go to your room. It's time for naps."

"I don't wanna!" Her eyes drifted down again.

"Please, Baby Brother. Go to bed. You want to get big and strong, right? To be like- to be like Dad was before he died?" Roy stared, noting that she hesitated.

The girl had lied to her brother about their father being dead.

The boy's glare turned into a great big smile.

"Yeah! Kay, I'm goin' to bed now, Big Sister! So I can be like Daddy!" And the child took off and Roy could make out the sounds of a slamming door not far down the hall.

The teenager stood up and forced a smile as she then showed the State Alchemist to the tiny living room.

Roy sat down under instruction and then opened his mouth.

"Your father isn't dead." Her eyes widened and then she let out a small chuckle.

"Yeah. You're right. He's not. I just tell my brother that so he won't ask why our parents aren't with us." He stared at her, knowing where this was heading.

"They abandoned you."

"I was eight." She murmured.

"My brother was only a few weeks old. I was left alone to raise him. It wasn't so bad, but I- I had to think of something to tell him. So, knowing that it wouldn't hurt as bad, instead of telling the truth, I told him our parents are dead. They died during the war." Roy's eyes widened as the girl smiled at him, softly.

"I'm sorry for all the crap that's been going on. But the only way to keep Seth happy is to use my alchemy." Alchemy.

This girl knew how to use explosive alchemy? And she hadn't killed herself?

"If- if you like, I guess I could show you. I feel much better now. Besides, I was thinking about going for the State Alchemist Exams when I turned eighteen. That way we could live somewhere else- somewhere nice for a change. Instead of this tiny craphole. It'd be better for Seth." And his gaze softened.

Her intentions were solely for her brother and she just wanted to give him a better life.

He stood up.

"I see. Then, show me. I'm interested in how you haven't killed yourself yet using such dangerous alchemy." Her head jerked up and a real smile plastered on her pretty face.

"But, first. How old are you?"

"Fifteen." His eyes immediately widened.

"I was eight. My brother was only a few weeks old. I was left alone to raise him."

The math didn't make sense. If she was eight when her parents left and her brother was only a few weeks old- that would mean that there'd be just eight years between them. There was twelve years between them.

His gaze remained fixed on her.

That only left one explanation other than the fact that she was lying, which he knew wasn't the case.

"Show me your alchemy."