Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah… I don't own FMA… only Arturo…*huggles him*

Thicker than Rain

Chapter 5: Snapshots of a Puppy's Love

"Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning."

~ Unknown

~O~O~O~O~O~

((Flashback))

"Another date, Arturo?" Roy asked, looking bewildered.

His older cousin smirked, gathering up his coat and stuffing his wallet into the pocket of his slacks.

"Uh-huh!" he answered excitedly, "She's a real cutie too! Y'know, one of those quiet types, but you just know that she's sharp as a tack. And that's not even the best part!"

Roy looked at his cousin blankly,

"What else is there?" he asked, feeling his self-esteem level drop steadily with every word.

"She's BLONDE!" Arturo exclaimed, "She doesn't even seem like one… she has this really short hair! It's so cute! Actually, she's about your age, Roy… 14 or 15… but that doesn't matter! She's mature for her age!"

Roy gave another roll of his eyes,

"Stop rubbing it in that I'm single!" The 14-year-old snapped, his voice cracking as physical development took its humiliating toll.

Arturo looked at his cousin and laughed.

"Don't worry, Roy… you'll find someone when you grow a bit more and you stop sounding like a dog toy!"

"HEY! I'M NOT THAT SHORT!" Roy yelled, his voice cracking again.

It only made his 17-year-old cousin laugh harder,

"Keep telling yourself that, Roy… I think you're gonna be short forever." He said, "But I have to go. My date is waiting for me."

He then breezed out the door, leaving a fuming Roy behind.

"Womanizing bastard…" he thought to himself as he went back to read his cousin's books, a piece of chalk in hand.

~O~O~O~O~O~

((About 1 year later))

Roy glanced in the mirror. His first date…

The news hadn't gone over all that well when he told Arturo, who instantly began showering him with advice and reminders not to "screw up."

"How are you doing in there, Little Roy?" his cousin's voice asked from outside the door.

Roy gave a sigh.

"Almost done!" he answered, running the comb through his hair one more time.

Okay... Arturo is just kidding… you won't screw up… I mean, it's only your first date… there'll be more after this…right? It's not like you're gonna marry Genevieve or anything…

"Roy! You're gonna be late!" Arturo's voice rang out.

The future Flame Alchemist ran out of the bathroom, past Madame Christmas who only rolled her eyes, and glanced at Arturo.

"Good luck with Genevieve!" He said, "She's a real looker… not too smart, but she's definitely got looks…"

Roy paused in his tracks to gawk at him.

"You dated her too?" he whined.

Arturo only smirked,

"I told you: I'm just that good." he said, rubbing his fingernails against the front of his shirt and blowing on them.

Roy could only sputter dumbly as his cousin pushed him out of the tavern.

"Bye Roy!" Arturo sang as he closed the door slowly, waiting for it to click.

"I think he'll be just fine…" he said, heading back up the stairs to continue his research.

He poured over the desk, his calculations strewn over the wooden surface.

"What am I missing?" he entreated loudly to the papers in front of him, "I mean, really!"

He gave a sigh, calming himself down. He couldn't do anything with a fiery attitude (like his cousin)… he'd go about this with a clear head…

"Let's see… I've created the transmutation circle with the alchemic symbol for copper in the center. The surrounding circle gathers electrons, similar to a magnet, from my surroundings, which are accumulated in the central symbol. It also allows me to change the charges of the atoms in the area surrounding me at about a mile radius… and I know how to make the electricity travel… but how would I start the entire process? I can't just walk around with a piece of carpet or cloth with me all the time… That'd look stupid… if only I could just have it at my fingertips…"

He trailed off, as his eyes widened, staring at his hands.

"THAT'S IT!" he shouted joyfully, and instantly he began working at a fervent pace.

The skritching of his pen was the only thing that was heard from the room.

~O~O~O~O~O~

((Another year later))

Roy looked at his cousin,

"You're serious?" He asked, gawking at his cousin, "You're really gonna be a State Alchemist?"

Arturo nodded, then broke into a smirk.

"Of course… I mean, I've developed a technique that has never before been seen!" he said, as he donned the "Watt-cloth" gloves that he had developed. "Just see for yourself!"

Roy leaned closer to see what his cousin was going to do, when suddenly his knees went out from underneath him and he felt like someone was shaking him violently…every nerve in his body tingling.

Arturo's eyes went wide and ran over to Roy's side.

His younger cousin was breathless and weak.

Putting a hand on Roy's shoulder, he helped his cousin to his still trembling feet.

"I'm sorry, Roy… I'm still learning to control it… but are you okay?" he asked.

Roy gave a tired nod,

"It's okay… I'm fine… but I have to admit…" he said, looking up at Arturo with gleaming eyes "It was pretty awesome… in an unpleasant sort of way…"

Arturo laughed as he helped Roy lean on him and sit on one of the tavern's barstools.
"How'd you do it?" Roy asked, his curiosity getting the better of him, "Master Hawkeye has something similar to it, but he refuses to show me any of it… He says I have a lot to learn."

Arturo ruffled Roy's raven-colored hair.

"That's because you do have a lot to learn…" he replied, "But don't worry…"

Roy's expression brightened… it was a rare moment when he actually got a compliment from his cousin.

Wait for it… wait for it…

"You'll be able to catch up to me soon. I dunno… maybe about… fifty years or so?"

The hopeful light that filled Roy's eyes disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"F-fifty years?" He snapped, "I'm smarter than that!"

Arturo laughed again,

"Sure you are, Roy… Sure you are…"

((A/N: Sorry for the short chapter guys... Anyway, thanks a lot for the alerts I got for the last chapter! I really appreciate it... but reviews would be great too! Even flames are welcome! ))