"What a quaint little town." Ed muttered sarcastically. He and Al were walking down what seemed to be the main street of the town they were in. the buildings were badly in need of repair and there was either a homeless person or a passed out drunk on every corner. The only place that seemed to be even the least bit cheery was a giant house perched on top of a hill, overlooking the desolate street.

"I wish there was more than one train that goes through here," Al complained. "Everyone is staring at me."

"You always get stares Al. it's not everyday people see a walking talking suit of armor." Ed replied.

"I guess you're right." Al answered, even though he still felt uneasy. He didn't like the way the people were staring at him. There was just something in their gaze that made him feel unwelcome. As Al thought about this, his brother was looking for a decent place to stay. The search was futile, though, as what seemed to be the only hotel in the whole town was missing its roof.

"Damn. This place doesn't even have somewhere for a guy to sleep."

"What was that brother?" Al asked, jarred from his thoughts.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself." Ed replied.

"No, not that. That noise." Al nodded in the direction where he had heard it. Ed listened.

"I don't hear anything Al." Ed sighed.

"There it is again!" Al half-shouted.

"Look, Al, I don't hear anything, so whatever it is you seem to be hearing either isn't there or-" he was cut off by a scream. "What the hell was that?!"

He was answered by a girl charging headlong into him. The two toppled to the ground, landing in an awkward position. The girl blushed and immediately stood and helped Ed up.

"I-I'm so sorry." The girl stuttered, brushing herself off.

"Was that you that screamed?" Al asked. The girl looked up to see a metal suit looking down at her. She was confused for a moment that a metal suit could talk, but shook it off quickly.

"Yeah." She answered.

"Is something wrong?" Al asked.

"Yeah something's wrong. I'm being chased, that's what wrong. Look, could one of you please help me? You're Alchemists, aren't you?" She told them in one breath.

"I don't know. I mean, we're having problems ourselves right now." Ed told her. The girl sighed.

"Please? I'll give you anything you want." She offered. Ed raised an eyebrow.

"Anything?" He asked.

"Yes, anything. Now hurry up. They're coming." She told him.

"I don't know..."

"Come on brother." Al looked down at Ed.

"Well..."

"Oh gawd." The girl looked exasperated. Ed was stroking his chin now, and he looked ridiculous doing so. Suddenly, though, more shouts could be heard from the direction that the girl came from. Three men appeared, running toward the three. The girl jumped behind Al almost instinctively upon seeing them.

"Hey! Kid! You seen a girl run by here?" one of men asked Ed, stopping in front of him to catch his breath. Ed looked back at the girl hiding behind his brother. She shook her head furiously in response.

"Nope." Ed lied. He heard a relieved sigh come from the girl.

"No?" another man asked. "Well then, what's that behind the suit?"

"I'm not a robot." Al protested.

"Cripes! It talks!" The last man said in amazement. "How'd you get it to do that kid?"

"I'm not an it." Al told them.

"'Fraid he's right. He's not an it." Ed agreed.

"Well, than what is it?" The first man asked.

"He's my little brother." Ed told them. The three men started laughing.

"Your little brother? Now that's funny." The first man laughed.

"He is." Ed said, looking half offended and half confused.

"Nice prank kid, I needed a laugh." The third man said, trying to breathe through his laughter

"but-" Al started to protest, but the men started leaving.

"See ya kid." The second man said as the three went off, still chuckling.

"I don't get it. Why'd they laugh? I can see not thinking Ed and I are brothers, but did they have to laugh about it?" Al asked innocently.

"It's because they're inconsiderate bastards." The girl said, glaring in the direction the men left in. "Come on. You look hungry." She led them down the street, around a few corners, and stood in front of a semi-decent looking building with an illegible sign hanging above it.

"Hazel! Out again, I see." The man behind the drink counter greeted the girl cheerfully as she led them inside.

"Hello Mr. Miller!" Hazel greeted just as cheerfully, taking a seat at the counter.

"Um, aren't you underage?" Ed asked, confused as to why the girl was sitting at a bar.

"Oh, it's okay. Mr. Miller's known me forever. He doesn't care if I sit at the bar. After all, I've been doing since I was four" Hazel informed him, smiling. She patted the stool next to her. "Come sit" she offered. Ed obeyed and sat on the stool as Al just stood where he was.

"What about you?" Mr. Miller asked the talking suit.

"Oh, that's okay, I might break a stool if I tried to sit in it." Al refused politely.

"Suit yourself A/N: does bad pun dance." He turned to Hazel and Ed. "What'll it be? The usual for you Hazel, I know, but how 'bout the guest?"

"I don't know..." Ed said, rubbing the back of his head, "Whatever she's having, I guess."

"Sure thing." Mr. Miller said, turning away to make the drinks.

"Ehm, what exactly is your 'usual'?" Ed asked nervously, turning to Hazel.

"Don't worry, it's non-alcoholic. But it tastes really citrus-y. I like it." Hazel said, smiling.

"Hey kid, how old are you anyway? Ten? Eleven?" Mr. Miller asked over his shoulder. Ed's jaw dropped.

"I'M 15! AND WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT HE ISN'T EVEN AS TALL AS A SINGLE-CELLED ORGANISM!?!?!?" Ed exclaimed, jumping out of his seat and knocking his stool down in the process.

"N-now clam down brother, he didn't really say you're short." Al said, trying to calm his brother.

"Oh, so now YOU'RE against me too Al? In case you forgot, despite the height of that suit I'm still your older brother!" Ed said angrily.

"I-I didn't mean it like that!" Al said, putting his hands up. Ed looked like he was going to dismantle his brother, but a jerk on the back of his head stopped him.

"Sit down, the drinks are ready." came Hazel's voice from behind him. Ed looked back to see she had a hold on his braid.

"Gimme that back!" he said, pulling it away from her grasp. He stood his stool upright and sat on it. The drink he saw in front of him was bright orange, but gave off a peculiar smell of strawberries. He looked oddly at it, wondering if it was poisoned.

"Just drink it." Hazel sighed, already starting on hers. Ed gingerly took a small sip. But he was surprised at how good it tasted. He chugged the rest down in one gulp. Hazel saw this and couldn't help but let out a small giggle.

"You seem happy Hazel." Mr. Miller told her while handing Ed another drink. "This boy special or something?" Hazel blushed at Mr. Miller's last statement.

"Please, I only just met him a few minutes ago. I don't even know his name." Hazel saved herself.

"It's Ed." Ed told her, putting down an empty glass. "And this tin can here is Al." he finished, patting Al's back.

"Pleased to know you. I'm Hazel, if you haven't noticed." She shook Ed's and Al's hands.

"How nice for Hazel to meet a nice young man her age." Mr. Miller said, filling Ed's empty glass. Ed and Hazel both blushed at his comment.

"I'm sorry Ed. Mr. Miller likes to flirt for me." Hazel said to save herself.

"Ah, it's okay." Ed reassured her, drinking his drink slower this time.

"Hey Hazel?" Al asked, "I want to know something."

"Hm? Oh, sure. What is it?" Hazel said, turning to face him.

"Why were those guys chasing you? Did you steal something from them or something?" He inquired. Hazel's eyes grew dark at his question.

"Shall I explain Hazel?" Mr. Miller offered, but Hazel shook her head.

"No, I'll do it. You see Al, I'm an orphan. My father committed suicide before I was born because my mother was having an affair with another man. My mother died when I was being born and left me in the care of her fiancé at the time, the man she was having an affair with when my father died. You see, my home is that mansion on that hill above town. It's also the prison I've been tortured in for fifteen years." She paused to take breath and saw Ed looking into his glass. "From the moment my mother died, my 'father', as he makes me call him, has abused me and neglected me, blaming me for my mother's death."

"That's awful." Al commented, pity in his voice.

"So why don't you run away?" Ed asked, still staring into his almost-empty glass.

"What do think I was doing today you idiot?" Hazel spat, turning to him and holding back the urge to punch his head in. "And I've been trying, since I could walk. Unfortunately, I've failed every time. My father always threatens me with death if I run away again, but I don't care. I'm gonna leave that hell hole or die, I decided on that years ago and I'm gonna stick to it." She fell silent and stared into her warming drink.

"I've considered adopting her, but her father won't give her up. I guess he really wants revenge for Hazel's mother." Mr. Miller said, taking Hazel's glass.

"But can't you do something? Call the police?" Al asked, now worry in his voice.

"He IS the police. He's this whole damn town. We don't have a mayor, we have a dictator. And that's my father." Hazel said grimly, not looking up. There was awkward silence for a moment when something caught her eye. A silver chain hanging by Ed's pants. A state alchemist? she thought, I didn't see that...

"You don't have our pity you know." Ed told her, looking her in the eyes. "We've lost our mother too, not to mention Al lost his body and I lost an arm and a leg, just trying to bring her back."

"Brother-" Al started, but Hazel cut him off.

"When did I ask for your pity?" she said, slightly offended. She stood up and walked out of the bar, Ed thought he saw tears in her eyes.

"Hazel!" Mr. Miller called after her. He sighed and looked at the brothers. "You'll have to forgive her. She hates it when people don't even try to understand her pain. I guess you could say she's a little selfish." At that, Ed got up and walked out of the bar also.

"Oh dear." Al said. He reached to pay Mr. Miller for the drinks, but Mr. Miller put his hand up.

"Keep it. If you're one of Hazel's friends, all drinks are on the house." The bartender said kindly.

"Thank you." Al said politely before running off to find his brother