I do not own FMA. I only own cat, a pocket watch, and a laptop with no Internet. And my OC's.
3rd person POV
Ed laughed. "You tried alchemy with one hand?" Repeating it made him laugh even harder, despite Camille's metal-melting glare being shot his way.
She shoved him, knocking him off of the bed where he was sitting next to her. "Shut the fuck up, pipsqueak."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT HE COULD USE A LEAF TO BOAT ACROSS A PUDDLE?" Ed strained against Roy's arms around his waist to keep him from attacking the smirking girl.
"She's not saying that, Fullmetal!" Ed seemed to realize that Roy's arms were around him, and blushed, relaxing. Roy put him down, and Ed pouted, sitting next to Camille on the bed. "Now, you said that you were going to give us your background?"
Camille nodded. "I was born in Texas, in the year 1995. My mothers name is Callie Clifton and my fathers was Johnny Clifton. I have an older half sister named Natasha, whom my mother adored, and while she loved my little sister Abby and I, she was distant, never really trying. Then Uncle Tony, who,, alongside my dad, learned alchemy from their father, who had learned it from some guy names Hohenheim in Munich, Germany in the 1920's. Told them a shit-load of stories about his sons too."
Eds breath caught. "Hohenheim? So that's where the old bastard went after he died..." His eyes had darkened to a caramel-ish colour, and Roy slung an arm around his shoulder. Ed stiffened, then leaned into the embrace. They looked so happy, and Camille hated breaking the embrace, but Ed looked like he was falling asleep. She cleared her throat, and they jumped apart, bright red.
She giggled. "Anyway, -came to stay, and my mother became even more distant as we -Me mostly, but sometimes Abby too,- became more and more interested in his stories of a far away land and the Alchemist brothers Ed and Al. Then one day, she just stopped caring. That was around my 13th year, and I was far into my alchemy training. After awhile, my older sister stopped liking us as well, and suddenly it was the four of us against the two of them.
I can't count how many times I got grounded for using alchemy on my sister. And once I was praised for knowing it. When I was around 14, almost 15, I was walking home from a friends house. We lived in an OK part of town, and it was only a couple blocks, so I walked." Roy snorted. Camille shot him a glare. "Shoosh. I was naive. Anyway. I was only about a block from my house when I passed these 4 dudes playing poker and drinking. They weren't drunk, I could tell, but they were well on their way to being so.
I was wearing a form fitting jeans and t-shirt, wanting to impress a guy but not wanting to seem like a whore. Anyway, they wolf-whistled, calling horrible things from the safety of their porch. I ignored them, as everyone I knew had told me. Dad, Uncle Tony, Mom, my best friends, I did as they asked. But these guys wouldn't leave me alone. They followed me, swaying and not at all being quiet. I was about to pull my blade out of my purse when it was pulled out of my grasp, and I was spun into one the drunks arms. I can still smell the alcohol on his breath." Camille shuddered, tears brimming in her eyes.
Ed tried to hug her, but she shied away. He backed off. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to, Camille." He said softly.
Camille exhaled slowly, closing and opening her eyes, smiling in thanks. "Thanks Ed, but you need to hear this. It's a major part of my background, and I still have nightmares. You'll need to know what happened.
Anyway, I pushed against him, breaking his grip and falling backwards into one of his buddies. He laughed, tearing my red shirt halfway. I tried screaming, but my throat was closed in fear. I couldn't think. They had me surrounded, tearing off what was left of my shirt and my bra, squeezing my breasts. They were starting on my pants when I lost control of the adrenaline. I was trying to control it. I knew I would kill them if I didn't. I refuse to kill. I kicked out, and that's all I remember, besides seeing red and snarling like a lion. They laughed. Laughed. They held me down, doing horrible things. I was legally raped twice, the other two had long since passed out from not being able to hold their liquor. -I was 14 and could hold hard liquor better than those idiots.- After that, I just wasn't myself. I was, very distrusting, refusing to get close to anyone, even my dad and Uncle Tony. You see, I was a very touchy-feely person. Loved to hug and be close to people. Not for awhile after that.
"After I recovered, things settled down. I went to school, I studied my alchemy, I beat the shit out of the people that messed with my alchemy notes. There was this one guy named Brennan Adkins. Horrible, horrible boy. Anyway, he thought it would be hilarious to steal my alchemy notes.
"Now, by that time, I had long since learned that coding your notes would get people to leave them alone, and spent weeks with my dads and uncles alchemy notebooks, copying them into several blank leather journals in a different language. And when people asked what I was reading, I simply told them in that language and they left me alone. Not Brennan. He repeatedly asked what the journals were, and if he could see them. I repeatedly told him no. One day he just ripped it from my hands. Now, I had had a very bad week." She waved her hand, which had the water from earlier resting between her fingers with a practiced ease.
"My dad had died, my Uncle Tony was gone, my mother had just kicked us out, I was working overtime at the pizza parlour, I was getting about 3 hours of sleep, and I had just started my period. I was not someone to be trifled with. And I was just exuding an air of 'Don't mess with me, I'm pissed off.' which is something that this douche-bag seemed to have not noticed because of how far he had his head shoved up his ass. So, he ripped the book from my hands. And it was a book on fire alchemy, and I was interested so I could burn down my mothers house. Anyway. When he did so, he tore my book. He tore my book. I don't care who you are. You could be as tough as Scar and as big as Armstrong. No one touches my books. So, naturally, I flipped out. His goons held me back as he slowly tore out the pages, one by one. Now by this time, I was pumped full of so much adrenaline, because 1: I was being surrounded and pinned by boys, bringing up not so good memories, and 2: It was my book! One of the last things I had of my dad and happier times. He was destroying it, right before my eyes. And I lost it. According to the police report I received in the hospital, I had beaten three of the eight boys into unconsciousness, four had concussions and broken bones, and Brennan? Brennan had suffered from 3 cracked ribs, 2 shattered femurs, both arms broken, a fractured ankle, and a cracked skull.
The only reason I was in the hospital was because I was covered in blood, I had hit my head, and it seemed as if I had received my own concussion, which I hadn't. I was in counselling again because of them holding me down. I didn't receive any jail time because it was in self defence, and because I couldn't remember anything. I'm a rather innocent looking person, if you haven't figured that out. I looked lost, confused and tired, I hadn't had my growth-spurt so I looked about 10 or 11 years old. It always helps to look helpless, guys. Anyway, after that incident, nothing really important happened. I graduated high-school in my second year out of four, I went to work, stayed at my apartment, and lived on. Until I came here, of course. Any questions?"
Ed spoke up. "How was your father killed? Why did your mom kick you out? Why do you refuse to kill?" He asked in rapid fire succession.
Camille sighed. "He was poisoned by something alchemy-made, unfortunately. The same person that poisoned him probably sent me here."
"As for my mother, that's a bit of a long story. See, my mother wanted a picture perfect family. White picket fence, the whole ordeal. But, the only people that fit that description in our house were her and my older sister, Natasha. Dad, Uncle Tony and I were alchemists, exchanging notes and ideas and hiding out in this little bunker thing behind our house. Abby was well on her way to being an alchemist, studying everything, questioning, craving more information. So she gave up on us. Not totally, but enough to fool us. After Dads funeral, Uncle Tony took me aside and said, 'My little Songbird, don't believe anything your mother says. She'll lie to you, try and make you forget what your father and I taught you and your sister. Don't let her. Alchemy has already saved your life. Now, I have to go get back to the taboo and what it cost Ed and Al. I'll see you in another life, perhaps. Take care of your sister.' And then, poof, he was gone. He walked away with one second glance, seeing me, hugging Abby tightly. Then he was gone." Camille's voice was so quiet that the two men had to strain to hear her. "I knew he had another picture besides the one of you guys. That picture had been taken at my 15th birthday a few days before. The picture was of me, Abby,Dad, and Uncle Tony , taken by my mother. It was a memory that I was glad to let him take. That life was gone now,and the less reminders the better."
"Sure enough, a few days after the funeral, mom tried to burn my dads alchemy notes. I stopped her, because those were left to me in the will. She didn't care, and continued burning them. I told her to stop, transmuting a cage around the books. Then she said for Abby and I to get out of her house until we chose the logical thing and gave up alchemy. We left the day after, with duffel bags full of books and clothes. We never looked back, and my mother tried to convince us to come back, several times. After we kept saying 'no', she resorted to physically attacking us." She showed them her neck, which still had claw marks. "I just hope Abby realizes what happened to me and hides. Mummy dearest will be after her if she doesn't."
"Now, as for my lack of killing, it has a relatively short answer. The people that you kill, they have families. They're somebody's dads, somebody's sons, daughters, best friends, husbands, wives, mom's. They've got people waiting for them. There's no reason to kill them."
Roy asked his questions. "Camille, what's a cell phone? And why do they call you The Songbird Alchemist?"
Camille reached in her trench coat pockets for the small silver device. "This is a cell phone. It's a portable phone, that can hold music,pictures and peoples phone numbers. She lifted it, checking the battery. "Full. That's good. Gives me time to transmute another charger." Her eyes caught her service. "Oh wow, 4 bars. Awesome reception. Enough for me to call Abby later on. Anyway, the reason I received the name 'Songbird Alchemist' is because I love to sing. I can sing right now, if you'd like."
Ed nodded and Roy spread his hands. "By all means."
Camille, slid open the phone, selecting a song. The sound was tinny, but a good quality besides.
Got up on the wrong side of life today, yeah
Crashed the car and I'm gonna be really late
My phone doesn't work cause it's out of range
Looks like it's just one of those kind of days
She shrugged. It'd been a weird day so far.
You can't kick me down I'm already on the ground
No you can't, but you couldn't catch me anyhow
Blue skies, but the sun isn't coming out, no
Today is like I'm under a heavy cloud
And I feel so alive
I can't help myself
Don't you realize
I just wanna scream and lose control
Throw my hands up and let it go
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
I just wanna fall and lose myself
Laughing so hard it hurts like hell
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
So-so's how I'm doing, if you're wondering
I'm in a fight with the world but I'm winning
Stay there, come closer it's at your own risk
Yeah you know how it is life can be a bitch
Life was a bitch. A simple and well known fact.
And I feel so alive
I can't help myself
Don't you realize
'Realize what?' Mouthed Roy to Ed. Ed shrugged.
I just wanna scream and lose control
Throw my hands up and let it go
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
I just wanna fall and lose myself
Laughing so hard it hurts like hell
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
Runaway, runaway.
Runaway, runaway.
I just wanna scream and lose control
Throw my hands up and let it go
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
I just wanna fall and lose myself
Laughing so hard it hurts like hell
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
I just wanna scream and lose control
Throw my hands up and let it go
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
I just wanna fall and lose myself
Laughing so hard it hurts like hell
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
I just wanna fall and lose myself
Laughing so hard it hurts like hell
Forget about everything and run away, yeah
The song ended, and Roy and Ed looked slack-jawed. Besides the slightly repeative lyrics,Camille sang beautifully. She took a bow, giggling at the boys expressions. "Want to hear another?" She asked tentavily. Roy nodded, while Ed still seemed to be slack-jawed. "Ok, hold on for just a second. Ah! Here we go." The quality of the next song was better.
You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man
Well, you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know
Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
You, with your switching sides and your walk-by lies and your humiliation
You, have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again
I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know
Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean
All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean
But someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
Ed asked for another song this time. Camille took less time to pick this one than she did the second one. "Last song." She warned. "Then we have to get going." Roy and Ed nodded. Camille took a drink of water, and cleared her throat. "This song goes out to my douche bag of an ex, Matt May he burn in hell, heartbreaking cheater."
I used to think one day we'd tell the story of us
How we met and the sparks flew instantly
People would say they're the lucky ones
I used to know my spot was next to you
Now I'm searching the room for an empty seat
'Cause lately I don't even know what page you're on
Oh, a simple complication
Miscommunication's lead to fallout
So many things that I wish you knew
So many walls up, I can't break through
Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room
And we're not speaking
And I'm dying to know, is it killing you
Like it's killing me
I don't know what to say since a twist of fate
When it all broke down
And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now
Next chapter
How'd we end up this way?
See me nervously pulling at my clothes and trying to look busy
And you're doing your best to avoid me
I'm starting to think one day I'll tell the story of us
How I was losing my mind when I saw you here
But you held your pride like you should have held me
Oh I'm scared to see the ending
Why are we pretending this is nothing?
I'd tell you I miss you, but I don't know how
I've never heard silence quite this loud
Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room
And we're not speaking
And I'm dying to know, is it killing you
Like it's killing me
I don't know what to say its a twist of fate
When it all broke down
And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now
Camille rocked out to the beat of the solo.
This is looking like a contest
Of who can act like they care less
But I liked it better when you were on my side
The battle's in your hands now
But I would lay my armour down
If you'd say you'd rather love then fight
So many things that you wish I knew
But the story of us might be ending soon
Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room
And we're not speaking
And I'm dying to know, is it killing you
Like it's killing me
I don't know what to say since a twist of fate
When it all broke down
And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now
Now, now
And we're not speaking
And I'm dying to know, is it killing you
Like it's killing me?
And I don't know what to say since a twist of fate
'Cause we're going down
And the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now
The end
Camille looked at the two men. They looked ready to tear someones balls off. Hopefully Matts. "Woah, not that I don't appreciate the blood-lust, but what's with the faces?"
"This guy cheated on you?" Ed asked.
"Yeah, but its no big deal. He just broke my heart, is all. Regular teenage girl stuff. Besides, even if you guys do act like my older brothers, -which I totally appreciate, by the way- he's on the other side of the gate. With a couple of black eyes and a sore ball sack, courtesy of me. My best friends trashed his truck too." She stood, tightening the sweat pants as best she could, pulling on her trench coat. "I need clothes, so can we go now?
Roy nodded. "Let me get the car."
. And that's the end of this chapter. The songs I used were Runaway by Avril Lavigne, Mean by Taylor Swift, and Story of Us by Taylor Swift. Anyway, this chapter took a couple days, Mostly because I'm worried about the automail surgery in a few chapters. I have not been raped, but one of my best friends was and it was horrible. I had tried to help, and I have ended up with bruises for trying. R&R