Yeah i'm working on this instead of all my other fics. don't judge.

"And then Ed hit almost every step on the way down." Allen laughs.

"Oh, Brother." Al sighs, glancing over at the golden-haired teen.

"It was one time." Ed scowls. "How about I tell you about all the times Allen got us lost?"
"That's not necessary." Allen says quickly.
"Isn't it?" Ed smirks. "How about Chantsburg?"
"You promised you'd never tell anyone."

"Since when do either of us keep our promises?"
"Whatever." Allen sighs.

"Well, I think it's good that you were together." Al smiles.

"You still think so?" Ed raises an eyebrow.

"I mean…" Al looks towards Allen. "At least you don't get in trouble alone."
"Yeah, but our trouble doubles." Ed says before laughing.

—

Kain Fuery watches the three teens from his desk. He was honestly surprised about Edward regaining his alchemy, but it doesn't seem to have been mentioned yet.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Havoc muses, leaning over Fuery's desk.

"Uh, what is?" Fuery wonders.

"Chief's all grown up." Havoc grins. "It's weird how much he's changed in under a year."
"Changed?" Fuery glances back towards Ed. "He seems the same."
"Hm, maybe I'm imagining it." Havoc shrugs. "Never mind, then."

"Oi!" Ed waves to the two soldiers.
"Hm?" Havoc saunters over. "Need something, Chief?"

"Allen wants to be introduced." Ed shrugs, turning to the silver-haired teen. "This is Lieutenant Jean Havoc."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Allen smiles politely, holding out his hand to shake. "My name is Allen Walker."
"Pleasure." Jean shakes his hand, looking at Ed. "I didn't think you'd have friends this tame, Chief."
"Don't fall for it." Ed huffs. "Allen'll trick you out of your life savings in under ten minutes. I've seen it happen."
"Oh?" Havoc raises an eyebrow. "How'd you do that?"
Allen smiles, pulling out a deck of cards. "Ever play poker, Lieutenant Havoc?"

—

Ten minutes later.

"What the fuck!?" Havoc stares at the cards in Allen's hand, his stomach dropping to the centre of the Earth.
"I win again." Allen smiles, sitting cross legged on the floor.

"Whoa." Fuery mutters.

"Rematch!" Havoc cries, throwing down his own cards.

"If you insist." Allen nods. "But, have you anything else to wager?"

—

Five minutes later.

"What are you fools doing?" Mustang stares at the small group on the floor. Havoc is in his underwear, his clothes lying strewn around him. Allen just smiles, innocently shuffling the deck.
"I know you're cheating!" Havoc accuses. "No one is that lucky."
"Maybe I am." Allen says. "But do you have any proof?"
"Dammit." Havoc groans.

"Put your clothes back on, Havoc." Mustang says.
"And you owe me two hundred dollars." Allen adds, standing up.

"You were betting money?" Mustang shakes his head.

"How was I supposed to know this would happen?" Havoc defends, throwing on his jacket.

"I did warn you." Ed says. "Though, I surprised he went easy on you."
"'Went easy' on me?" Havoc says disbelievingly.

"'Life savings' I said." Ed repeats. "You got off easy."
"You're insane." Havoc decides. "Both of you."
"I thought I was 'tame'." Allen says.
"I retract everything I have ever said." Havoc says, slumping over in defeat. "Everything is a lie."

—

"Where are you staying tonight?" Hawkeye asks, watching the three teens leave.
"I was going for a hotel." Allen shrugs glancing over at Ed and Al. "Unless there's anywhere else."

"Ed and I's room at the military dorms only has two beds." Al says.
"It doesn't matter much." Allen smiles. "It's not like I can't afford a room."
"Even if you didn't, you'd have it in no time." Ed sighs. "Then, We'll see you tomorrow."
"We can meet back here." Al suggests.
"Well, if everything's alright," Hawkeye faces the teens. "Good evening."

—

The next day.

"Fullmetal." Mustang watches the teen enter. "You need to answer some questions."
"About what?" Ed sits across from him, watching Mustang pull out his report.
"You have no respect for military regulation." Mustang sighs. "None."
"What'd you expect?" Ed leans back with a confident smirk.
"And with everything here," Mustang drops the report on his desk. "There's no explanation about your alchemy."
"We didn't find anything." Ed says with a shrug. "And trust me, we looked."

"And? What will you do now?"
"I was planning to check the library."
"I thought you'd read every book in there."
"I must've missed something, somewhere."
"I'm glad you're enthusiastic. Report back if you find anything."
"Yessir."

—

"Brother!" Al waves as the older teen exits the building.

"Al." Ed grins, heading over. "Just you?"
"Allen went to explore." Al says. "He said he was bored of waiting."
"Whatever." Ed shrugs. "Come on, I want to check the library agin."

—

"Hm." Allen slowly walks down the street, glad for the warm summer air. Unfortunatley, he was starting to sweat under his long sleeves and gloves, even with their pale colour.

Allen slips into a small cafe, the bitter scent of coffee spilling into the air. There aren't many customers, which isn't surprising for the late morning. The barista smiles at Allen momentarily as he enters. A woman sits by the window, a small coffee and plate of cake sitting untouched in front of her. She looks gloomily out the window, her dark clothes blending into the dark shade.
"Just looking?" Allen turns back to the barista, who's leaning across the counter.
"Oh, yes." Allen nods, eyes lingering on the woman.

"Take as much time as you need."
Allen almost doesn't hear them, still distracted. "Right, thanks." He mutters, trying to place the familiar figure. He knows she looks familiar.

"Miranda!" The barista calls over the the woman, causing her to look over slowly.
"Yes?"
"You need anything else? I was just about to head to the back for a minute."
"…I'm fine. Thank you." Miranda says, turning back to her table.
"Alright then." The barista heads away, glancing back at Allen. "I'll be back soon."
"Miranda." Allen lets out the whisper, unable to contain his voice.
"Hm?" The woman finally notices him, glancing upwards. "Yes?"
"Nothing." Allen says quickly, turning his face away and heading to the exit. "Never mind-"

"Allen?"

—

"I'm kinda hungry." Al says suddenly, looking away from the large volume in front of him.
"It's almost lunchtime." Ed notes, checking his silver pocket watch.
"Oh, a cafe opened down the street." Al says, standing up. "It mostly serves coffee, but we can get something to go."
"Alright." Ed nods, dropping a book onto the desk. "Lead the way."

—

"It's you, isn't it? Allen?" Miranda all but jumps up, stepping towards the teen.
"…" Allen doesn't say anything, eyes fixed onto the ground. Miranda slowly moves closer.
"W-We thought that…that…" Miranda looks to be on the verge of tears. "I-It's been al-almost a y-year." She sobs. "Everyone-"

"Sorry." Allen apologises, still avoiding her gaze. "I need to leave."

"Huh?" Miranda takes a step back. "Leave?"
"Sorry." Allen repeats.
"B-But…" Miranda's eyes glisten with tears. "W-What will I tell everyone?"
"Nothing." Allen says quickly.

"Allen?" Ed and Al spot their friend in the cafe, clearly visible through the window. A dark-clothed woman seems to be talking to him. Even stranger, she's wearing a thick, black coat that just doesn't quite cover the collar of a silver uniform underneath. Ed tries to ignore the small, wooden cross around her neck.

"Huh?" Allen glances up at the two in the doorway as the woman jumps back.
"S-Sorry!" She cries out, backing up quickly.
"Miranda…" Allen scowls. turning to the Elrics.

"What's going on?" Ed demands, standing between Allen and Miranda. "Who are you?"
"Ed!" Allen grabs his arm. "She's…an old friend."
"I thought you didn't have any friends." Ed says seriously.
"…She's an old one." Allen mutters. "Sorry."
"Brother?" Al speaks, still in the doorway. "Maybe we should go somewhere else."

—

Ten minutes later.

Allen stares gloomily at the table in front of him, refusing to speak.

"Fine." Ed sighs. "Don't say anything."
"Brother…" Al sighs.

"Sorry." Allen murmurs.
"You didn't answer my question." Ed says. "Who was that?"
"I did." Allen says. "She's an old friend."
"…Really?" Ed raises an eyebrow.

"I helped her get a job." Allen says finally. "I helped and then I left."
"She seemed upset." Al notes. "Why was that?"

"…I didn't leave on the best terms." Allen shrugs. "Never really said goodbye."

—

Miranda sprints through the streets, ignoring the indignant cries of pedestrians behind her. She eventually finds what she's looking for: a public phone booth.

She slams the shutter behind her and slips a few coins into the slot. After punching in a few numbers and after a few rings, someone picks up.

"Hello?"
"S-Supervisor Komui!" Miranda whispers harshly, making sure no one could overhear.
"Miranda? Are you alright? Did something happen?"
"I-I…" Miranda holds back sobs, rubbing her eyes with her free hand. "I saw Allen!"

—

:O

Thanks for reading! ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

-Cheese Wizzard