The Random Files: FMA edition
chapter 3: Felis Catus (kitties)
(Requested by die-hard-4-anime. Hope you like it buddeh and thanks for reviewing!)
(also, this chapter won't really be random or weird... It's kinda normal actually... Thats pretty depressing... Jk, :3)
Alphonse tiptoed past the dark hallway as quietly as his armor would allow. He slowly made his way past all the dorms to the room he shared with his brother. Al hoped with all his soul that Edward was already asleep.
"Meow!" a tiny black kitten cried from within the armor.
Al froze and reached into his armor and pulled the little cat out. "Shhh... Shadow, you gotta be quiet!" He told the kitten softly with a stroke to it's head. The cat purred and nuzzled against the huge hand affectionately. If Al had a body, he would be dying from the cuteness.
"I'm glad I found you, Shadow! You're so cute! I'm sure my brother will let me keep you!" Al cooed. The kitten snorted in response and slowly blinked it's piercing green eyes as if saying, 'I doubt it.' Al chuckled and gently placed the kitten back into it's hiding place.
Alphonse continued walking to his room and slowly opened the door. It was pitch-black and quiet, maybe Ed had fallen asleep? Al tiptoed inside and sat down on the couch. He was about to lift his new cat from it's hiding place when a blinding light filled the room.
"Where have you been?" Edward asked from where he leaned in the doorway to the bedroom, his finger still holding the light switch.
"Uh... Um... N-Nowhere! I j-just went for a walk!" Al stammered.
Ed sighed and walked over to his brother. "What is it this time? a tabby or a calico?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Al stuttered.
Edward sighed again and suddenly knocked his metal hand against Alphonse's chest plate. The sound of ringing metal echoed around inside the armor loudly. Just as Ed expected, a low meow of annoyance sounded from within his brother's metal shell.
Edward shook his head in exasperation "You're a terrible liar, Al."
"Aw, come on brother! She's so cute!" Al begged. He pulled the little cat out and stroked her fuzzy black fur. The cat purred but kept her curious gaze on the older brother.
"Again, Al? You know we can't keep a cat! We travel too much to take care of one!" Ed sighed.
Al pulled the cat close and faintly glared at his brother angrily. "You're so cruel! Shadow is such a smart little kitty! She can take care of herself!" Al responded.
Edward raised an eyebrow. "Shadow?"
"Yeah, Shadow. That's her name!" Al stated.
"Al, give me one good reason why this cat is better than the hundreds you've picked up before." Ed sighed.
"Well for one she's really pretty. Just look at her eyes! They can gaze into your soul! And secondly, she's really smart! Watch!" Al placed the cat onto the coffee table and backed away. Shadow just continued to stare at Edward curiously.
"Yeah, she's sooo smart." Ed snorted.
"Just wait. Shadow," The cat looked away from Ed and up at Al. "Sit."
To Edward's surprise, the little kitten sat obediently. "S-So? The cat can sit, so what..." Ed mumbled.
"Now, Shadow, lie down."
The cat obeyed.
"Shadow, sit." Al commanded again.
The cat sat up from it's laying position immediately. Al praised the kitten and patted it's head.
"There, see brother?" Al said smugly.
Edward stared at the black cat in shock. How can this kitten act like a well-trained dog?!
"Lemme try." Ed murmured. "Shadow." the cat turned to gaze at the older Elric once more and gave a questioning meow. "Uh... Fetch... my alchemy book?" Edward asked awkwardly.
The cat tilted it's head and looked up at Alphonse. Al chuckled and pointed to the bedroom door. The cat gave a little meow of thanks and hopped down from the table. It walked over to the closed door and stared up at it.
"Oh, lemme open it kitt-" Al began but was interrupted when the cat jumped up and landed on the doorknob. With a slight twist of it's body, the kitten unlatched the door and pushed it open. Al and Edward stared in disbelief as the cat squeezed inside the room.
"I...I didn't know she could do that..." Al gasped.
There was a rustling noise and the cat's rump poked through the door. She slowly backed the rest of the way out, dragging a thick brown book with her.
Edward walked over to the struggling cat and lifted the book. His eyes widened as he scanned the title. Ed turned to look at his brother and showed the book's cover.
"Introduction to Alchemy..." Ed breathed. "Why did she choose this one? I haven't read it in so long and there are many other alchemy books!"
Al tilted his head and thought about it while Shadow hopped onto his lap and curled up for a nap. "I guess it's because you told her to fetch, YOUR alchemy book... I read all the books at night because I can't sleep so most of them must smell like me, not you. You were the last person to touch that book so I guess Shadow decided it was yours judging by scent." Al stated.
Edward looked up at his brother from the book and stared at him in bewilderment. "So you're saying that this kitten can understand what I'm saying?!" Ed exclaimed.
Al looked cross for a moment. "Of course! You give animals far too little credit! They are much more intelligent than you think." He huffed.
Edward smirked and looked at the sleeping kitten. "Okay... Let me see... I'd be surprised that such a tiny flea-bitten mangy stray could even learn anything!" Ed laughed.
Shadow's head went strait up at Ed's statement. She laid her ears back and hissed at him in anger.
Edward smiled, "I was just kidding, kitty, don't get your fur in a bunch." Ed chuckled.
"So, can I keep her?!" Al asked hopefully.
Edward frowned and shook his head. Al looked crestfallen and was about to argue when Ed interrupted him.
"Al, I don't think a cat like this would be wandering the streets. I'm pretty sure she belongs to someone... Someone who really knows how to train an animal." Ed stated.
Al pouted and squeezed the cat protectively. "Then who does she belong to?"
Suddenly the sound of shattering glass filled the room. Edward and Alphonse looked up in surprise to see a man swing in through the window. He was wearing all black and had on a mask like a thief.
Edward stood up and was about to transmute his arm when Shadow perked up and raced over to the strange intruder.
"Meow, Meow, Meow!" Shadow chirped happily.
The man leaned down and scooped the cat into his arms. "Midnight!" he cooed. "I was so worried! Don't you ever run off like that again!"
"Mrrow..." Midnight/Shadow mewed sadly, her tail drooping. But then she perked up and wriggled from his grasp.
"Midnight?"
"Meow Meow!" The cat called, walking up to Alphonse and rubbing against him while purring.
The intruder looked at the brothers curiously before smiling (or at least it looked like a smile behind that mask.) "Thank you all so much for looking after my precious kitty!" the man said.
"Uh... N-No problem..." Ed stuttered in bewilderment.
"I am truly grateful. Midnight is my partner, you see. She helps me pick locks and the like, so loosing her would not only loose my friendly companion, but my important partner! I can only give you my thanks, however." The man announced happily. "I must leave now. Good bye." He took a bow and leaped back out the window with the black cat close behind.
Ed and Al stared out into the darkness in utter shock and confusion.
"Al..." Ed murmured.
"Yes brother?"
"This is why I don't like it when you bring home stray cats..."
"This is the first time anything like this has happened!" Al argued. "How was I supposed to know the cat belonged to a thief?"
"Don't bring home another cat, okay? I'm going to bed... Please fix the window..." Ed sighed before slinking off to his room.
Al sighed and waked over to the broken window. A simple transmutation later it was fixed. Al sat down on the couch and stared at the floor sadly.
A muffled 'Mew' was heard. Al looked up and stared out the newly-fixed window at a pretty little white-and-orange tabby kitten that was climbing on the windowsill.
Al looked around and tiptoed over to the window and opened it. He took the little kitty into his arms and cuddled with it.
"I hope brother is asleep..."
"ALPHONSE!"
"Dammit..."