Alphonse hums softly as he heads to the bank, holding Ed watch lightly in his hand. He didn't notice someone was running right at him until the watch was snatched from his hand and a girl runs off with the watch. Her blonde hair the only thing he registered before she disappeared around the corner.
``H-hey!! Get back here!'' Alphonse yelled in despair as he chases her, managing to watch her scale the side of a building with ease. She then begins to sprint across the roof of the buildings, trying to loose Al.
Al stubbornly follows the girl, scaling a building she just jumped on with minor difficulty. When he managed to reach the roof, she was jumping onto the next one, glancing back at him. He groans to himself as he runs after her, becoming confused on how she's faster than him.
She jumps off the next roof onto the ground and heads to an abandon home, smirking to herself as she watches Al follow her close behind. She quickly slams the door in his face after retreating inside. As soon as Al opens the door, he came face to face with nothing. He races around the building to see if she escaped somehow to find no evidence she left the building.
Determined to get his brother's watch back, he starts to search the entire building, finding nothing that indicates that she even entered the rundown home. Groaning in dismay, Al flops his head onto a wall. ``Ah man, Ed's gonna kill me......and then the Colonels gonna kill me. Why do things always happen to me?''
XXX
Back at the infirmary, Ed was still relaxed in the chair, dozing away without a care in the world. Jaylene, however, whimpered in her sleep, tossing back in forth until she bolt up right with a loud gasp. She covers her face with her hands and curls into a ball and begins to cry softly, holding herself.
Ed starts to wake up from the noise and looks over at Jaylene's bed to see her awake. Suddenly wide awake, Ed hops out of the chair and rushes to her side. ``Hey, are you ok? What's wrong? Does something hurt?'' Ed asks frantically as he looks over Jay's fetal form, trying to find any sign to her distress.
``I-I'm fine......its just a nightmare.....'' the young girl whispers softly, gripping the bedding hard.
Ed studies her for a minute before sighing softly, pulling the chair he was resting in beside her. ``Do you wanna talk about it? It usually helps.''
She shakes her head, keeping it resting on her knees as she takes a shuddered breath. Ed rubs his neck weakly, not sure how to proceed. Then he remembers something his mom said and looks at her gently. ``Do you wanna hold my hand when you go back to sleep? Knowing someone else is there beside you tends to help dreams.'' Ed asks gently as he offers her his normal hand.
She looks up at him, rubbing the tears from her eyes as she looks from his face to his outstretched hand. Hesitantly, she takes his hand with her own normal hand, her automail jerking down to her lap as she puts it down.
``Hey, if you want, I have an awesome mechanic that made my arm and leg, I could introduce you to her and she could make you a better arm,'' Ed offered, holding her hand gently in his own.
``A-a mechanic?'' Jaylene mumbles, looking confused for a moment.
``Yeah, look.'' Without releasing her hand, he shrugs his coat off to reveal his automail arm to her. She looks at it in awe, gently touching it with her own automail.
``Its so intricate and delicate looking....'' the young girl whispers almost reverently as she traces the details of the automail.
``Yeah, it looks like that, but its the strongest arm she's made so far. Many automail engineers and customers are jealous of her work,'' Ed said proudly.
Jaylene hums softly as she continues to trace the automail. ``I'd like that Edward.....'' Her gentle smile spreads on her lips, giving her an almost angelic look to her feature. Ed couldn't help but swallow as he looks at her face more, thinking to himself `Sh-She's kind cute.....'
He was shocked out of his stupor, however, when Al burst into the room. ``Brother!! I'm so sorry brother!!''
Both Jaylene and Ed jump in surprise, releasing one anothers hand from surprise.
``What the hell Al, you don't just run in screaming like that! And what are you sorry for?'' Ed exclaimed, confused for Ed sudden reappearance, thinking that his trip was too quick.
``Brother, I'm so sorry. I got pick-pocketed by some random girl and she stole your watch when I was heading to the bank. I tried to follow and look for her, but she just disappeared!'' Al cried in dismay.
``You got pick-pocketed? Seriously Alphonse?!'' Edward groaned inwardly and stands up, Jaylene watching him stand with wide eyes like a startled puppy. ``Stay here. I need to make a phone call.''
Ed ran out of the room, leaving Jay in Alphonse's care. Not more than 15 minutes later, Ed returns with Lieutenant Hughes in tow. ``Jaylene, this is Lt. Hughes. He's a good friend of mine and your brother's. He'll look after you while I take care of this mess, ok?''
Jaylene looked between Ed and the lieutenant for a moment before nodding slowly in understanding.
``Great, common Al!'' Ed quickly pivots on his heel and runs out of the room, Alphonse following close behind. Once out in the street, Ed scans the crowd and building nearby, huffing for breath. ``Ok Al, what does she look like?''
``The only defining feature I can tell you brother is that she has blonde hair,'' Al whined weakly to Ed.
``Seriously Al?! That's not much to go on, considering half the city is blonde. You need to pay more attention to your surroundings!!'' Ed yelled at Alphonse just as Mustang was rounding the corner with files on his sister's case. Upon seeing Ed, Roy growls under his breath and approaches the two boys, not noticing the same pick-pocket creeping up behind him.
``Fullmetal, I thought I ordered you to stay with my sister! Or did you decide her life wasn't worth the time?'' the flame alchemist snarled at the younger boy.
``Relax, ya hot head. I left her in Hughes's care. I'm in the middle of an emergency right now, so I don't have time for you!'' Ed argued, moving to turn and leave the colonel. At that same moment, the pick-pocket made an appearance and snagged Roy's pocket watch, grinning wide as she runs off at full speed.
``Ed, that her!!'' Alphonse gasps out as the girl makes a retreat for the roof.
``Oh yeah?! Hey! Get back here!!'' Ed yells as he chases after her, not wasting a single second.
``That little, thinks she can steal from the military, huh?'' Roy growls, still in a foul mood from the information about his sister from earlier. He slides his alchemy glove on and starts to head into town, intending to cut her off. Al chases after Ed, hoping to help him.
Ed was hot on her tail when Al arrived, transmuting a hand to snatch her in her spot. She yelps in surprise and ducks under the hand with grace. Regaining her balance, she jumps to the next roof, grinning with delight at a proper chase with a state alchemist.
Just as she was about to go to the next roof, Roy appears, snapping his fingers to cause an explosion right before her. She squeaks and claps her hands, making a wall appear to protect herself from the flames. Jumping off the same wall, she changes her direction and jumps through a window, getting out of sight.
``Great job Colonel!!'' Ed said snidely as he jumps after her, keeping her in his sights. Roy snarls in frustration and heads to the ground, trying to get to the front door before she gets out.
She manages to get to the next apartment and heads down the fire escape, jumping down each flight. Once she was two stories up, she leaps off the landing, rolling to her feet and sprint towards the crowds, passing Roy by the skin of her teeth. He barely misses her and continues to run after her. Roy notices she's heading to another alley and snaps his fingers, making the alley entrance burst into flames. She yelps in surprise and skids to a halt, landing on her butt in the meantime.
Ed catches up and stands right by Roy.
``You're under arrest young lady,'' Roy growled, approaching her with malice.
``Oh goodie, am I going to the command center? You gonna apologize to me for making me land on my butt on this nasty oil?'' the young girl inquires, the boy now getting a good look at her. She wore tatter jean pants that had many holes and stains on them, her shoes in similar condition. Her chest was wrapped in a single band of green fabric, exposing her stomach, that held what looked to be a tree and moon tattoo in some sort of tribal design. She also wore a tattered jean jacket that hung open. Finally, above her snarky grin were brilliant green eyes.
``No, I'm not gonna apologize because it wouldn't have happened if you didn't pick-pocket and piss off two state certified alchemist. And why are you so chipper about getting arrested?'' Ed questioned, growling as he follows Roy in advancing the girl.
``Well, it beats living in the slums, if you catch my drift,'' she says coyly, winking at them and stands up, dusting her pants off. As she does this, they both notice that the watch is gone.
Roy snarls in frustration and grabs her wrist. ``The pocket watches. Both of them. Now,'' he demanded, holding a hand out to retrieve the stolen items.
``And now why would I do that? I'm going to jail either way, why not keep what I swiped?'' she snickers at him, sticking her tongue out at him.
``Because it could get you a death sentence,'' Roy threatened, gripping her collar now to make her look him in the eye.
``Over a few watches? Jeez, you throw the death penalty so lightly,'' the annoyed pick-pocket said with a scowl, shoving his hand off her collar. ``That's why I hate the military. Especially you dogs.'' She turns to Ed and give him a belittling look.
``Right....'' Ed growls and tries to jump her to beat the watches out of her. However, she easily sidesteps him, sighing heavily.
``Honestly, you guys are so upset about something that was easily swiped from you. If you wanna be angry at someone, be angry with yourselves for letting someone like me swipe them....'' the woman glared at them, hand on her hip. ``Besides, I'm too tired to run, no reason to manhandle me now.''
``Look we don't even make the rules miss. The reason why we're so upset about you taking the watches is because were only issued one watch and if we lose it we get stripped of everything,'' Roy tried to reason, calming down enough to be diplomatic.
``And I should care because......?'' she drawls out, feigning interest as she stuffs her hands in her pockets.
``I think you have potential. And a life worth living free, rather than in prison or being killed,'' Roy stated hotly, looking right into her eyes.
``Potential? For what? To be the dog of the military? As if,'' she said in an exasperated manor, turning her back on them to kneel down. She claps her hands together and sticks her hand into the ground. After a moment, she pulls out the watches. Standing up to her full height, she turns back to them and tosses the watches back into the chests. ``Here, you can have them back. Not worth the hassle anyhow. Later.....'' She turns on her heel and starts to walk away, Roy catching sight of her slim figure.
Frowning at the sight of her petite body, Roy turns back to Ed, who was in the middle of reattaching the watch to his pants. ``I want you to go back and watch over my sister now, Fullmetal. And I catch you disobeying my orders, you'll be stuck here in Central for a month.''
``Wha?! You can't do that!! We made a deal!!'' Ed said with rage.
``Then you better obey my orders. Now get moving,'' Roy snapped at him, pointing to the Command center. Ed grumbles hotly and with Al in tow, headed back to the command center. Roy turns around and follows the girl. She ignored him for awhile, scowling every now and then when she catches sight of him as she turns the corners.
She suddenly takes off and rounds another corner. Roy curses under his breath and moves to make chase but as soon as he rounds the corner, there was a blade to his throat.
``Why are you following me?'' the young girl demanded.
Roy chuckles weakly and raises his hands in surrender. ``I figured you'd be hungry and wanted to invite you to dinner.''
The girls whole face turns dark red as her stomach emits a loud growl. Scowling at him, she lowers the knife and turns away. ``Shut up, you don't know what your talking about. Besides, I can take care of myself, I don't need the help from a military dog.'' She starts to walk away.
``Common, humor me. It'll be my treat,'' he calls out. That got her to stop. She slowly turns back to him, a grimace on her face as her stomach emits another loud growl. Roy offers his hand, smiling gently. ``Come one, what do you got to loose?''
The girl studies him for a bit before letting out a defeated sigh, turning back to him and walks passed him to the restaurants nearby, ignoring his hand. He shrugs and follows after, taking the small victory.
