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Ed quickly transmutes a speaker into the last cart we stood on. We were the rest of the hijackers were stationed there. Though I wasn't sure why the end of the speaker phone had to be his face—but in chibi  form. I glance at him knowingly but he shrugs in response.

"Hello, hello. Calling all hijackers," he calls. "We've recaptured the engine cart and rear. This is the only cart left. Lay down your arms and let the hostages go. If not—then we might just use force."

I hear one of men cackle in distaste. He obviously didn't seem to enjoy Ed's orders. "What a joke!" He yells. "As long as we have the hostages—we aren't giving up!"

I roll my eyes at his nonsense. I'm sure this man was the leader of his group, and he has no desire to be complaint with Ed's wishes. But Ed doesn't seem to mind though. He smirks devilishly as he shifts his footing.

"Oh my, still going to resist?" He muses in such a smooth tone. My throat clogs at the sound, my ability to breathe ceases to exist.

My heart rages thunderously inside me, and I was trying everything in my power to calm myself down. Ed gestures me to speaker phone as he crouched down.

I sigh, "Then I guess talk is over then. Passengers, please take cover. Thank you."

Ed claps his hands onto the roof, creating the pipe that connected the tender cart to the cart beneath us. Water unleashes inside and we could hear are the terrified, panic screams from the inside. We watched as the water rushed out the windows and any open areas around us.

After a long moment till we were sure the water had escaped the cart completely both Ed and I jump inside through the latch door. A tall, masculine man greets us in the cart. I took a quick moment to eye him.

He had a large black eyepatch over his right eye, his clothes drenched from the water, his brown hair barely met his shoulders. And was his automail arm a machine gun? My eyes linger there for a long while, he must be crazy to ask his mechanic to give him an arm like that.

A loud clap greets my ears then the extension of steel. Looking to my right Ed had transmuted his automail arm into a blade, his white glove ripping in the process.

"Well, well," he hums with a smirk. "Someone else with an automail arm. Interesting."

The man doesn't answer and gets into a fighting stance instead. I have no desire to transmute my arm like Ed, nor do I have any plan to shoot my lightning at him in such little space. I had no choice but to go hand-to hand combat regardless of his weapon.

The man's lips pull back into a deeper snarl. "You're just two brats!" He spats with darkness in his eyes.

He points his gun at me and I flinch at the action. I have no training against guns, I had to improvise if he were to shoot. I bounce on the balls of my feet, preparing to duck down if needed.

But Ed was faster. He rushes towards the man and raises his blade, slicing the machine gun. The man misfires and hit the ceiling.

Ed scoffs, "You know, you got the cheaper model, huh?"

I notice something big behind the man. Unsure what it was I kept my eyes on it just in case it was another man. But it wasn't another criminal, Al appeared behind him trying to find the perfect opportunity to strike.

The man was too occupied with Ed to notice Al. He gives me a look as if asking if he can strike—I nod. Pushing myself by my feet I launch towards the man throwing my fist at his stomach.

Al throws his fist at his head while Ed completely slices off the man. The man falls to his knees, defeated. Only thing that is left is tying him up.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

We've finally reached East City, but weren't allowed to leave the station yet. Ed stated that we had to wait for the military before we could check into our hotel. I wasn't sure how long we've had to wait, but it felt like a small eternity. My feet were starting to hurt.

"Hey. Fullmetal."

The deep voice startles me, my shoulders stiffen at the sound. Turning around I see a tall, young man striding towards us. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, each step he took practically screamed confidence.

His hair was jet black and his eyes matched the color of his hair, but only darker. For some reason something inside me riles at the sight of this man. I felt odd staring at him—he seemed familiar.

"Oh! Hello, Colonel!" Al greets in a chirpy tone.

Ed scoffs beside me, he crosses his arms like a child. His eyes were boring into the man before us and I couldn't understand why.

"What's with the unhappy face?" The Colonel muses with a teasing smirk. He props his hand on his hip as he cocks his head.

"Dammit!" Ed fumes. "I wouldn't have helped out if I knew this was your district!"

The Colonel smirks with amusement sparkling in his obsidian eyes. "Still don't like me, huh?"

I wasn't sure what was happening, but it seems these two have some sort of history with each other. Clearly this solider enjoyed annoying Ed, and Ed despised it. The Colonel does a quick sweep with his eyes before shrugging.

"Not back to normal, huh?"

Ed clicks his tongue beside me. His body tensed and his Avery's gaze from the Colonel. "I've been reading ancient texts," Ed begins curtly. "Al and I are even doing some research in East City, but nothing yet."

Their conversation continues and I've lost interest in the subject of alchemy and the possibilities it had to offer for the brothers. I knew this subject was touchy for Ed and a part of me wishes the Colonel didn't bring it up. I've decided to look around, get to know my surroundings.

This train station is far from the same as in Resembol. While my hometown had only one train, this place had dozens. There was even a lot of people scurrying about holding suitcases or what not.

But I caught a few passerby's glancing my way. I wasn't sure if it was because the military was nearby, there were criminals tied up a few feet from me, or because of me. I probably looked like bumpkin compared to these city dwellers and I knew I shouldn't care what they think, but a part of me does.

I didn't like how these people looked at me funny or murmured to each other after catching my gaze. Did I really look out of place? A surge of anxiety pulses through me.

My palms start to sweat and my heart beats unevenly fast. I look away in an instant, casting my gaze to the ground. Maybe I shouldn't have come at all.

"Y/n, are you alright?"

I was barely pulled out of my thoughts, only to realize Ed had stopped talking to the Colonel. Looking from underneath my lashes I notice how he turned to me completely, giving me his undivided attention. His arms were slightly out as if I was about to faint.

His lips downturned into a frown while he looked at me in worry. It was then I've realized I unconsciously grasped a part of his cloak. I swallow down my embarrassment.

"Y-yeah," I mumble sheepishly. "It's just that—these people. . .they keep staring."

Ed scans the area, the people who stared immediately looked away as if they were interrupting something intimate. I downturn my gaze once more wishing I could hide somewhere. Though that had left me as if it weren't there at all.

Ed had grasped my hand, squeezing it to gain my attention. Looking back at him he stares with such softness that I didn't realize his eyes could do. If he wasn't holding my hand right now I would probably stumble.

"Ignore them," he murmurs. "They're probably just staring because you're interesting."

I scoff, "Interesting as in bumpkin interesting?"

A smirk comes to life and I could've swore my cheeks were on fire. "No you're not a bumpkin. You're just—you're just—"

He abruptly releases a loud sigh looking frazzled. I notice how his cheeks were flushed now, did he have a cold?

"Never mind," he mumbles with a pout. "Just know that you're safe and they're not judging you."

If anyone were to tell me that I would've rolled my eyes. But when it came to Edward I wasn't sure why I didn't pull away or scoff at his nonsense. Him telling me those things it made me feel—special.

As if I was his number one priority. And that mere thought alone eased my anxiety, replacing it with this bubbling energy that made my heart beat wildly. This never happened before and I few nervous after a moment.

Ed wasn't pulling away nor was I. He kept staring and I stared back. It's like it was just at the station and nothing seemed to matter.

It was till I heard someone clearing their throat awfully loud that the feeling disappeared. I blink once to find that Edward had immediately pulled away before taking one step away from me. I frown slightly but could I do?

I pretend nothing happened and stare at the Colonel. He eyes me skeptically before smirking in amusement.

"Got yourself a girlfriend, Fullmetal?" He teases.

"GIRLFRIEND?" Ed shrieks.

I was sure I was more shocked than him. My cheeks flared hotly and I was sure I'd went stiff at his words. My throat abruptly went dry and when I'd tried to speak nothing but air escapes my lips.

Edward, though, was in a worse state than I. His eyes went wider than they could be while his face was redder than any strawberry I saw in the farmer's market in Resembol. The capacity of breathing seemed impossible for him.

Was the mere mentioned of being his girlfriend that shocking?

"She's just a close friend, nothing more!" Ed exclaims with a huff. I nod wordlessly as I try to calm the nerves all over my body.

I don't meet the Colonel's intriguing gaze though I could still feel him looking at me. And I was sure the man was smirking widely.

"A shy one, aren't you?" He muses. My eyebrows twitch, what's this guy's problem?

"Back off, Colonel!" Ed warns. "You're making her uncomfortable!"

The Colonel huffs, "Protective aren't we, Fullmetal?"

"OH SHUDDAP WILL YA!"

They go at it once more, forgetting I was here. I watch them with a blank look and I was sure Al was doing the same. At least, I could imagine that's what his expression would be now.

"STOP HIM!"

I whirl around only to see the man with the broken automail arm break out of his binds. I was surprised to see a knife in his hand. Was it in his broken automail arm?

I watch as the military police quickly surround him guns raised. The man didn't seem phased, he simply puts the knife up defensively. Something firm wraps around my arm, yanking me backwards.

"Hey, what the—?"

I was pulled backwards till I was behind Ed. It took me a second to understand that it was him who grabbed me and was currently before me with a protective arm out.

"Y/n, stay behind me." He orders firmly. Even Al stood beside him in a defensive stance. He was trying to protect me too.

I raise a brow before propping my hand on my hip. "Ed, the military has him regardless. This isn't necessary."

"You don't know," he retorts.

"Better safe than sorry," Al adds.

I slump my shoulders knowing better than to argue with them. So I watch the scene play out silently. I see a woman with blond hair and brown eyes swiftly move in front of the Colonel. Her pistol was raised also pointing at the criminal.

"I'll handle this, Colonel," she affirms bravely.

I'm sure she was his right-hand woman. Though the Colonel only patted her shoulder as he steps around her. A cocky smile plays at his lips.

"I'll deal with it." He tugs on his white gloves and even if it was for a moment I was able to recognize the fabric of his gloves.

They weren't normal like Ed's, instead of thin fabric the Colonel wore ignition gloves. If that's the case then. . . my eyes widen in surprise. There were red transmutation circles on them.

The man took the Colonel's long strides as a challenge. His growls were almost animalistic as he charges for the solider. But all the Colonel had to do was raise his hand and snap his fingers.

Fire shoots through his fingers burning the man's arms as he blocked the attack. The fire quickly ceases leaving the man's arms to be coated in light burns. My eyes widen in awe, his technique was just like mine.

He even wore gloves just like me, I thought my mother was the only one who came up with this idea to transmute? His form was impressive and his ability to control his flames was outstanding. I still had trouble controlling my lightning bursts.

"Seriously, who's this guy?" I hiss in Ed's ear.

Seeing as the MPs were detaining the man once more Ed drops his arm and Al also dropping his stance. Ed turns to face me with a small frown.

"That's Colonel Roy Mustang," he replies in a knowing tone. Though I wasn't sure what I was supposed to know.

He may have told me his name but what importance does it hold? Seeing as how I stare at him blankly Ed releases a sigh.

"You know," he continues with a look. "Hero of the Eastern Rebellion?"

I still shook my head, that rang nothing to familiarity. Ed groans, his shoulder slumping. I'm sure he found me odd for not knowing who's he talking about.

"The Flame Alchemist?" He questions in a groan. It takes a moment before everything clicks into place.

My eyes sparkle in surprise, he looked younger than I expected. Everyone knew who the Flame Alchemist was and how quick he was to raise through the military ranks. And that should've been the reason why the man looked oddly familiar to me, but that wasn't it.

Even if I never knew he was the Flame Alchemist I would still think I saw him before. I look past Ed and at the Colonel who seemed more than triumphant at his little battle. Though once he turns around and sees me staring, that attitude instantly drops.

His smirk fades and that gleam in his eyes well. When he looked at me his lips tug downward, even his eyes go soft. It was like he was looking at me with—sympathy?

I raise a brow, why would he? I turn away but that wasn't enough to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling. He was still staring no matter how much I tried to ignore it.

I was starting to wonder, did he know me?

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Any theories as to why Mustang is looking at Y/n like that?

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