Hey people! Laski here, alive and not well!(feeling a little under the weather is all...) Aside from that, I bring forth the next chapter of Steel and Ice, this one moves things along alittle. I'd also like to thank those who reviewed the previous one, they made me very happy!Now, moving on...I don't own FMA...I justown Amber and the plot...now enjoy! xD

On another note, review replies will be sent with the exception of Earth Alchemist's which I'll reply here: I'm glad you like the story so far and I hope you enjoy this chapter, it starts to delve a little into what makes Amber a cold person. The full explination to what happen will be in the next chapter.

Chapter Twelve
Cold Envy, Stale Act
Amber

A few days had passed since that night and Ed and I were getting along, when we were at the bar acting like civilized folks that is. Casey had come more often at the bar and kept showing me some beautiful drawings of me and the girls hard at work, she had also made some of Ed sitting with her and playing tic tac toe to which he smiled at the young girl. Everything was clear and Ed and I knew that we'd have to leave Rohdas shortly to go back to Central to report to Roy. The move had been made official recently and he was awaiting our arrival with the news of how the bar was going.

I left earlier than usual, wanting to tell Bob that I was going to resign my job at the end of the week to go back home for some family situations. It was all obviously a lie to me but he believed me well enough to be compassionate about the situation and held no grudges when I told him I wanted to quit. The rest of my coworkers however, were sad to see me go but understood very well. Casey had a hard time understanding but she was very supportive and was glad that I wasn't leaving quickly. The night was very quiet and the bar was pretty busy...

"Hi Charlotte!" cried out Casey's voice as the little girl came in. She quickly sat at Ed's table and started talking to him about something they only know. I watched them laugh it up and I couldn't help but smile at them. I walked over to their table after clearing my first three of the night when the peaceful atmosphere was shattered to pieces.

"We're takin' over this shack!" yelled out some voices from the door, alongside some bullets.

"Duck and cover!" I yelled pouncing on Edward and taking him with me to the ground, my body on top of his.

"What the hell did you do that for?" he whispered loudly.

"Do you want yourself killed?" I asked.

"No!" he cried. "But apparently you want to kill me!"

"I wouldn't do Mustang the favor," I replied meeting his eyes. It had just become apparent to me how close we were, but I pushed the thought as far as I could, pressing my cheek against Ed's as the shots began to die down. "Stay quiet and play dead...I don't want to give them any ideas..."

"Like I'd do that," he said while placing an arm around me. "You're bleeding," he whispered.

"Not me," I said softly. "I don't feel anything odd..." I whispered as the shots dimmed and the invaders left the bar.

"Casey!" cried out a male voice. Oh no...not the little girl...

Edward

"Casey!" called out a voice. "Are you all right?" he asked as Amber got off me. I looked around and saw some who were injured but nothing fatal...except Casey.

"I don't want you guys to fight back..." Casey coughed out as she coughed up blood. "I'm from their town..."

"They killed one of their own?" Amber asked softly.

"Yes..." Casey started, showing strength we didn't know she had. "I don't want anyone to fight back..."

"But-" I started, trying to keep it together. I watched Amber for a while and saw nothing in her eyes. She really was cold...she's not even welling up with tears.

"This place was purely built for fun and so everyone had somewhere they could unwind..." Bob started. "The supposed shady people that meet here are just strangers that once they arrive here, like the place and stay."

"I'm sorry guys," Casey started. "Charlotte, Eric(a/n: name Ed used while undercover...not very creative of him...well, actually me but who cares?), thank you for being my friends..." she said softly as she let go of her last breath. I started to cry and so did everyone around us...except Amber. How can she be like this?

"You know what Amber?" I said while blowing her cover and standing up. "I wish I were like you, a block of ice..."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I wish I wouldn't be able to feel anything..." I said while walking over to the inn.

"Brother!" cried Al as I came into the room. "I heard all the noise! Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I said while taking off most of my clothes.

"What about Amber?" he asked, walking over to the door.

"I could care less," I replied while stepping into the bathroom, hoping to wash all the pain away. I turned on the shower head and let the warm water try to take the pain alongside my filth. Once I had enough, I turned it off, dried and put on some boxers before walking out to the room. The door opened and Amber stepped inside, still wearing the clothes from the bar.

"Amber!" cried Al. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she said angrily. Suddenly, a drop of blood, coming from one of her hands, fell to the floor and she failed to notice...what was her problem now?

"Amber you're bleeding!" Al cried. She snapped out of some sort of trance and looked at her right palm.

"Guess I am," she said softly. Al was about to say something else but she beat him to it. "We're heading to Central in the sleeper car, pack your bags," Amber said while walking for the door.

"Wait!" I found myself saying. "What about your hand? What happened? You said you were unscathed!" I said without thinking.

"I must've cut myself on something...now get packing," Amber said while leaving and slamming the door behind her.

"Sometimes I'm happy that I don't understand her," I said as I started to get dressed and began to pack my stuff.

"I'm not," Al said while putting some water in a towel and cleaning up the small blood puddle Amber had left. "Brother, you should go check on her...I'll finish packing."

"Mr. Elric?" started a voice from the door. "You received a message from a man named Mustang a few minutes ago. He wants you to call his office; you may do so from the front desk."

"Will do," I said while sighing. What did Mustang want now? "Fine Al," I said while putting on my red coat. "I'll go check on Amber before I call Mustang..."

"Thanks brother," Al said as he started to pack my bag for me. I left the room and made my way towards Amber's surprised to see the door slightly open. From outside I could hear her...singing?(A/N: Song that Amber sings here is titled Despacio by Black Guayaba...I translated it and changed a few words for the sake of the fic...now, onward with the chapter!)

"I feel like stranger, lost in a world with nothing to do...nothing to believe," she started. "Feeling that I'm alone, drowning deep inside and rare is my smile, without you by my side," she continued, pure emotion spilling out. "I wish I'd find you again because I don't want to lose my only reason of being and so, it's killing me. I feel that my life is slipping away slowly. I'm losing all reason and its loneliness that follows me...don't go away please...," she sang, holding her head, pained. "Emptiness surrounds me and I feel that its time to end all this even though I want to keep going. No more strength left in me, you turned your back towards me and I can't do this anymore...I can't hold it in..."

'I thought...' I started to think as she sat down on the bed.

"I wish I'd find you again because I don't want to lose my only reason of being and so, it's killing me. I feel that my life is slipping away slowly. I'm losing all reason and its loneliness that follows me...don't go away please..." she sang, louder this time, nearly yelling out the notes. "It's killing me. I feel that my life is slipping away slowly. I'm losing all reason and its loneliness that follows me...don't go away please...," she sang as her voice died down and turned into frail sobs, burying her face in her hands.

"Amber?" I said while knocking on the door lightly. She wiped her eyes quickly and stood at the far back of the room before telling me that I could come in. "I'm going to check us out," I started, looking at her back. Her hand was just bandaged but there were small stains of blood, showing that the cut hadn't stopped bleeding yet.

"I already bought the tickets," Amber said, not moving from her spot. I could see now that she was having just as a tough of a time as I was. "I'll see you at the station."

"All right," I said while turning to the door. "Amber...sometimes the only thing you can do is cry..." I finished saying as I made my way towards the door.

At central

"Havoc," started Mustang's voice. "I want you to go to the station to pick up Amber, Fullmetal and Alphonse...they should be coming from Rohdas in the sleeper car."

"Did something bad happen sir?" asked Riza.

"Yes," Mustang started, thinking back of the first time Amber had to deal with something like this. "I'll have to tell the Elrics..."

"That soon chief?" Havoc asked.

"Well, assuming that Amber hasn't said anything...I must," Roy said while looking out the window. 'Forgive me Amber...but if you don't tell them...I will...' Roy thought as Havoc left the office.

Back with the others...

"Ed wait!" called out Amber's voice after Edward had semi-apologized to her. She turned to face him but found that nobody was there. At the sight, she dropped to her knees, sadder than before. "I wanted to apologize too..." she whispered as Al came into the room.

"Amber!" called out the armor, making her look up from her spot on the floor. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Amber replied. "I just need to wash my face," she said quickly as she dashed towards the bathroom and locked the door. Al could hear from his side Amber's sobs over the running water and wondered if Ed had seen her cry. After she was done, she stepped out of the bathroom, closed her bag and walked out the door to the station, with Al close behind.

"Took you long enough," Edward started.

"Put a sock in it," Amber snapped as she gave him his and Al's tickets. They all walked, boarded their train and it soon started its course to Central, leading the trio to their next journey. Amber watched as the darkened scenery by the night sky zoomed by and Edward had his eyes on her the entire time. He then placed a hand on her shoulder, as if to reassure something to her.

"Everything will be okay..." he said softly. Amber began to laugh at his words and pushed his hand away from her shoulder as she resumed to look out the window. "What's the problem now?" Ed cried. "I'm trying to be nice to you..."

"That's the thing..." Amber started, her eyes still focused on the window. "You're trying so hard, that its obvious to me that its fake..."

"But Mustang-"

"I know he put you up to this...but you don't have to follow his orders all the time kid..." Amber said softly, her gaze falling to her injured hand. "The other thing is, Havoc cares about me so I know he wasn't acting. But, you don't so, there inlays the acting bit..."

"But-"

"Just keep your mouth shut and leave me alone...if I need anything, I'll tell you...that's what partners are supposed to do...I guess..."

There we go...chapter 12...hope you liked! Until next time people!

Laters!

Laski