Read some stuff on Mary-Sues, and I have some doubts about Elizabeth's character, but I'm sure all will be okay. Sometimes I worry that she's too much like Ed and everything, but I intended for her to be basically a female Edward in the beginning, so that she develops and becomes more independent along with the progression of the story. (i.e. The change from slacks to skirt&her mentions of being too boy-like) Tell me what you think of it:)
(Age 15, 3rd person)
Though the day sped by from the long walk with Fuery and the meeting with Havoc, Elizabeth was immensely tired. But she couldn't rationalize it out in anyway she formed it. Her tiredness wasn't exactly physical, but the mentally drained feeling she had been carrying around for the past few days made her feel physically tired. Tired enough to allow herself to lean on Fuery, at least. He didn't seem to mind, as he let her rest her head on his shoulder and even kept his hand around her in his own attempt at comfort. It really rubbed Havoc the wrong way, that he'd been the one who she'd talked to and who had heard her story, yet it was Fuery who she went to for comfort.
The two walked down the main street, directly to the headquarters. Though it was a direct route, it was at least an hour's walk at night. The night-time traffic was always much heavier here in central because availability of cars here. It didn't help that the two weren't in any hurry, either.
They were just out of hearing range of Jean, but Elizabeth looked considerably happier than she did at the pub, laughing and smiling at whatever Fuery had just told her. Fuery's normally skittish and mild expression was slightly smug in Havoc's eyes. Was it his imagination or was it just Kain happy that he'd cheered up Beth? Whatever the reason, Havoc happily noted that his arm was no longer draped over Beth's shoulder.
The amount of lights grew as the three treaded closer to the center of the city, both because of the proximity and the growing darkness. The sky was mostly dark, with stars already appearing in the east. The only light was from the barely visible sun far to the west, scarring the horizon violently with a burnt orange streak. Havoc looked to the sunset to admire its majesty, but in doing so, wandered too close to the two he was following. They had stopped to look at the sinking sun, almost causing Jean to walk right into them. He realized in time, but was still too close for his liking. They would be able to hear him now, just s he could hear their conversation.
"Wow," Beth breathed, still looking at the sky with wide-eyes, "the sunsets here are just amazing, Kain." She subconsciously wrapped her arm around his, surprising him.
Havoc gritted his teeth as Fuery made no move to pull away, but instead replied, "Yeah, but you don't really notice them unless someone makes you stop and look." He prated, also gazing at the sun. It was about to disappear completely, there was just a minute sliver still above the city line.
A nearby clock chimed loudly, startling Beth and Fuery. It slightly affected Havoc as well, but unlike Fuery he didn't flinch. Beth tightened her grip on Fuery, looking around wildly for a moment. Once the bell chimed a second time, she laughed nervously and let go of Kain's arm. She muttered out a half-hearted apology.
"It's okay." He reassured her politely. Fuery didn't mind Elizabeth at all. Sure, she was a bit temperamental at times, but nowhere near as hotheaded as Edward. Though she tended to follow Edward whenever she was with him, Elizabeth was very opinionated, independent and optimistic. Unlike her brother, she leaned more to seeing the good in a person rather than being skeptical and questioning. Well, Fuery didn't know how Edward saw people, but if he did see them the same way as Elizabeth, he certainly didn't voice it like that.
Elizabeth scowled at herself but blanked it away as soon as possible. Though she felt as if he was just humoring her, she didn't want to bring up that argument with anyone else anymore. It just aggravated her, and no one really understood what she was saying about always being the 'little sister'.
Once again moving, Havoc had a chance to find a safe distance. He sure as hell wasn't going to get caught by Beth. Especially so soon after the assignment fiasco. He knew the risk of getting caught and the consequences of being caught, but he couldn't stop walking after them. He had to know what was going on. Beth and Kain hadn't been this friendly before.
As soon as Havoc fell out of hearing range, Beth reached out to Fuery and tugged on his sleeve a little. Fuery, only taller by a few inches, leaned over to hear what she had to say. Fuery nodded and replied to her, to which she also nodded. Fuery shot a passing glance over his shoulder, right at Havoc. He'd tried to duck down and hide his face, but he knew that Fuery had not only seen, but recognized him.
Havoc's colleague then smiled and patted Beth on the shoulder, motioning for her to complete the walk by herself. He then stopped walking and waited for her to get far enough away so she wouldn't hear his and Havoc's conversation. He looked to Jean with an unusual expression for Fuery; annoyance.
(Age: 20-Kain Fuery)
I smiled as I sent Liz off to walk the remaining distance. She only had a short walk, the headquarters were already in sight. If anything did happen to go wrong, Havoc and I could see and get to her quickly.
My smile faded into disapproval as I thought of Jean. I know he likes Liz and all, but to stoop to stalking? Stalking? For god's sake, she's fifteen! He's seven years older than she is! I turned on my heel once she was far enough away, and faced her stalker.
"Why were you following us, Jean?" I asked exasperatedly. I don't want to be mean or anything, but these two were tiring. What is this, high school? Oh, I guess Liz would be high-school-aged. But that doesn't excuse Jean's behavior in the slightest.
He gulped, "How long did you know?" he asked, a bit ashamedly. He should be ashamed.
"The sunset. You got too close." I replied bluntly, "Be glad I didn't tell her. She'd have been so pissed at you." Havoc groaned in frustration, taking out a cigarette and lighting up. He knew I disapproved of his antics, or he should at least. We'd trained and worked together for years. I knew he was really confused by Liz. She obviously liked him, but unlike any other girl who'd shown an interest, she had no clue what she was feeling. Which meant Havoc had no clue what she was feeling.
"My skills are getting a bit rusty. I haven't trailed anyone in a while, have I?" He asked seriously.
I sighed, "Whether or not your skills are rusty, you know you shouldn't stalk people, right?" I joked. I'm not much of an intimidation kind of guy, so I didn't know what I was doing. I'm not good with confrontation.
He didn't like my joke. "Fuery, what's going on with you two?" He grilled. He, however, was an intimidation kind of guy. He leaned toward me with an emotionless gaze that frightened me a little. I'd seen him with that cold stare before, but was never on the receiving end of it.
"Don't look at me like that!" I replied shakily, telling myself to keep my voice steady, "Something upset Liz. That's all. No need to be so protective, she's already got two brothers, you know." I scolded.
He scoffed, "Believe me, I don't want to be her brother." I looked at him skeptically and waited for him to realize what he'd just said. Sure enough a few seconds later, he quickly added, "You've, uh, seen what happens to her brothers. I don't want to be metallic or anything. Too loud." He rambled aimlessly. I chuckled at his antics and started walking after Liz. She'd past a few streets but was now looking in a shop window.
I looked over my shoulder and called to Jean, "Don't follow us anymore, I've got her taken care of!" He huffed some sarcastic retort before waving and heading in a more scenic direction. I wondered to myself if he was going to go find that waitress girl or not.
I hurried to catch up to Elizabeth, what she was looking at coming into view as well. Looking past the glass window into the display stand, she leaned on the glass with one hand, her eyes locked on a decorative silver hair pin. It was about three inches long and slightly curved to fit to a woman's head. Though it was fairly plain, it had been engraved with a simple design, etching across the entire length of it. The design had swirls that resembled vines, following til the end, where a single periwinkle lay. The middle of the common flower held a lone, colorless gemstone.
Hearing someone's approach, she glanced over her shoulder. She smiled when she saw Fuery, and quickly pried herself away from the window.
"Hey." She called, smiling, "Ready to go?" I returned her smile, leading the way to headquarters.
"Yeah, there wasn't anyone really following us, we're good." I reassured her. I'd told her to go on ahead, and I know she walks faster than that. Either she'd been looking at that clip for a while, or she stuck around to see if anyone was following us.
"M'kay," She replied. She grinned sheepishly, "I was looking in the shop windows." She admitted. She walked along side me, matching my stride. Somehow it amazed me that even Alphonse could think of her as a little sister. She was very strong and independent, much like an older sister. So why was she so often found listening to both her brothers, as if she were the youngest?
"So," I pried a bit, "What was that hair clip you were looking at?" I gestured behind us, towards the little jewelry shop she had stopped at. Elizabeth smiled quaintly to herself, as if remembering a fond memory.
"I," She laughed silently at herself, "I used to pick periwinkles for my mother everyday in the spring. And when the end of spring got near, I'd pick as many as I could and pull up some of the plants, too. My plan was always to give my mom a flower a day, but they'd wither before even a week had passed, and the plants died not long after. Yet I still did it, every year until I was nine years old." She sighed, a misty look filling her eyes, "Periwinkles were her favorite flower. She once told me it was partly because of the name and partly because of how many you could find."
I adjusted my glasses nervously, surprised at how much she'd shared. "I-I shouldn't have asked," I apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
She smiled at me sadly, "Those aren't bad memories, Kain. They're wonderful. I haven't thought of them in years. Thank you." Her voice rang sincerity, letting out a sad kind of happiness.
We walked in silence the remaining few blocks, not speaking a word until the arrival at the front door. Elizabeth then broke our solemn silence by saying, "Thanks for today, Kain. And about the memory thing, don't worry about my past. If you're curious about something, just ask. Ed and Al don't like to talk about stuff, but I don't mind. Memories shouldn't be shut away and ignored, in an attempt to forget them. No matter how hard they are to remember, you've got to. They are what made you who you are now." Her sudden words shocked me, and the invitation to questions even more so.
"Th-Thanks." I muttered out, surprised. She may be different around her brothers, but she was definitely not always the 'little sister' like she thought she was. But it did raise a good question, what about her made you want to protect her?
Hm, that is a good question. Anyone care to guess? :3