#greedling x reader

[zaimta]

彡HIS BIGGEST DESIRE

paring: greedling x reader

a/n: i love me some fma greed especially greedling

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greed watched as you slept soundly on his shoulder, he couldn’t help but stare at you, his eyes stared at your sleeping form and softened slightly. the feeling you gave him was something new and something he wasn’t used to.

“what is it?” he whispered quietly to himself careful not to wake you.

“you’re in love with them greed.” the young prince spoke from deep inside his being causing greed to roll his eyes.

“please do you know who i am kid? i’m greed i have many desires and y/n ain’t one of em the only thing i want is-” he felt you stir and immediately turned his attention to you.

ling smiled to himself, “my ass” he distanced himself to allow the homunculus to have his moment.

you sat up slowly, rubbing your eyes “damn how long have i been out? are ed n them back yet?”

“you’ve been out for a good 30 minutes and no they’re not back yet.” he slowly started to smirk “you’ve got some nerve you know. what if i killed you then what?”

you rolled your eyes in annoyance “as annoying as you are i trust you.” you matched his smirk with one of your own “besides i know you wouldn’t kill me.”

“you’re a real brat you know that?”

“i learn from the best.”

he sighed in annoyance “that damn prince was right, i can’t have you dyin on me i need you with me when i rule the world.” he laughed to himself which caused you to raise a brow.

“it’s crazy really, tell me how a human like you managed to gain my attention? i mean i thought i had it all figured out but now there’s only one thing at the top of the list of the things i desire.”

before you knew it he held your face in his hands and kissed you softly, the soft kiss shocked you slightly but you kissed him back and you could feel him smile against your lips.

he pulled back and rested his forehead on yours and spoke to you in a low whisper, almost as if he spoke these words he would loose everything “i promise you i’m gonna get my own body and it’ll be me and you till the end ruling the world.”

you kissed him once more and looked at him with a smile “i like the sound of that”

the being who desired everything the world had to offer, power, fame, money, women, and sex. only desired one thing and it was you, he couldn’t be anymore content with having someone to love and call home.

[multifandoms27-blog]

Aaaahhh your writing is so lovely!! May I request a Greedling x GN reader? Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what the other homunculi might do if they found out about Greedling’s darling…how they might……use that against him………and what Greedling might do to keep his darling safe👀

Thank you, anon!! And yes, you may!

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Content: Greedling x gn!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of violence, turning reader into a Homunculus, possessive-ish behavior from Greed

Notes: I kinda got away from the plot lol

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Oh good lord

If Greedling ever felt you were in trouble, he'd probably freak out

You're his one weakness - his one possession he can't let go of

As much as he prizes other possessions, he can't let go of you

Not to say you're an object to him, but you're his person, so that's like, kind of the same right?

He says lovingly

Would do anything he could to keep you locked up in a room, and return to you like a damn dragon

ESPECIALLY wants to keep you away from Lust

Who knows what the hell she'd do if she got to you???

Envy is a close second worse to him

He could transform himself into anything to get where you are, then kill you!

He can't have his darling taken away from him, now can he?

Greed comes to realize (through fights) that he can't keep you locked up in a room forever

So now, whenever you have to go outside, he's got a tight grip on you and never leaves your side for anything

If you're going somewhere, he's going with you. No exceptions.

Night out with your friends? Cool, looks like he's meeting them tonight

Going to your parents house? Looks like they'll have to make another spot for him

Greed, as we all know, is possessive in the first place. But the added threat makes him even more possessive - if possible

Pulls you away from crowded situations a lot to make sure no one is either following you or looks threatening

Depending on how pulling you away goes, he may or may not bring you back in

Not cause he wants to make out with you, but because if he sees anyone that even looks slightly threatening, he's taking you and he's leaving

Would give up his immortality if it meant you stayed alive

Even if he couldn't be with you, he'd rather you continue to live life than him, especially if he had to live it without you

But he would fight his hardest fight for you before that happened, of course

Greed would probably also try to relocate you to a remote area, like a cottage in the woods. It would make it harder for the others to find you and use you against him

However, if the others (Envy and Lust especially) found you still, they'd probably tie you up and use you to get whatever they wanted from Greed

They might even take you to Father and try to turn you into another Homunculus if they don't want to wait for Greed

You'd be turned into a weapon to fight Greed and the Elric brothers, lose all your memories, and feel nothing for him anymore

He'd do all he could to defeat you, then take you in his escape, and slowly try to pry your memories out like how Ling and Ed had done for him

Would be absolutely devastated if you got turned, even more if he couldn't pry the memories out of you. He'd hug you and whimper about how he failed you, and how he's sorry he wasn't able to be there earlier

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Here is my Masterlist in case you want to request, or look for more of your favorite character!

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 12

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

Previous

Chapter 1

Read on AO3

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All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 12: An Overwhelming Pride

I watch as they march with their head hung low,

Flanked on both sides, then left in the cold. 

The koldun knows it’s a long way home 

But on they tread, through ice and snow. 

I watch. 

I watch. 

I watch. 

I wait. 

It’s been a few days. They are making good time. 

They’ve traveled far under my watchful eye. 

I know where they’re heading, when they will arrive, 

So I’ll get there first while the witch is alive. 

I watch. 

I watch. 

I watch. 

I wait. 

Now close to the village, the koldun is asleep. 

I will visit the witch in the night while they dream. 

The secrets she guards are now mine to keep, 

And the soul that she carries is now mine to reap. 

I watch 

I watch 

I watch 

I strike. 

The witch has no strength, yet still she fights back, 

Protecting an old book throughout the attack. 

With her life on the line for this artifact…  

Do its pages reveal what the sorcerer lacks? 

I strike. 

I strike. 

I strike. 

I cease. 

A new day rises, the koldun stands tall. 

From outside the house I can make out their call. 

They open the door, I’m a fly on the wall,

And I watch the koldun as their tears start to fall. 

“Madam Ulyana!” you cried. 

She lay in a pool of blood. Most of her limbs twisted at unnatural angles. 

You stumbled towards her, a frantic cry escaping your throat as you dropped to your knees at her side. This was the woman who raised you. The only one who was not afraid of you. The one whose brilliant white hair was now being stained red by the puddle growing beneath her head. 

Lifting her gently into your arms, you could feel how broken she was. “Madam!” you sobbed, “Please! I’m right here, I’m right here…” 

You said it as if there was hope for her. As if she was not already gone. No herb or elixir in this cabin could help her now; there was too much blood. There was too much blood. 

Time stopped as you held her close to your chest. You barely even noticed yourself rocking gently back and forth, as if to soothe the dead woman. Or maybe yourself. 

Hours passed. Maybe it had been days. Maybe only minutes. But then the old woman’s voice croaked to life. 

It was a wordless, broken rasp. 

“Madam Ulyana!” you gasped. You pulled your tear stained cheek from the crown of her head and peered down at her. The old woman’s eyes fluttered, her breath hitching in her chest. “Easy,” you said, trying to help her lie down, “Easy. I thought you were gone! Stay here, let me find something to help your wounds.” 

But she did not let you get up. With a surprising amount of strength for someone who has lost so much blood, she pulled you close by the collar of your bearskin cloak. 

“(y/n)...my child…” Her voice was barely more than a strained whisper. “The book…my diary…” Ulyana let out a hacking cough, blood dribbling down her chin. 

“Shhh, shh,” you soothed her. “Don’t speak. I have to find something to help you. I’ll be right back—” 

“No!” Her vice-like grip on you tightened. “(y/n). My diary. Find it. It has…the truth.” 

The truth? Your blood turned to ice at her words. Surely she couldn’t mean the truth about you. That would mean she had known all this time, that would mean she had hid it from you. 

That would mean she hadn’t stopped you from going to Amestris, knowing it would be a fruitless endeavor on your part. 

You shook such thoughts out of your mind. Ulyana had lost a dangerous amount of blood, she probably didn’t even know what she was saying. 

“I’ll look for your diary after I heal you! Please, let me stand!” 

The muscles in Madam Ulyana’s face relaxed. Her eyes softened in the way they always did when she looked at you with awe, with pride. It was the way you imagined mothers might look at their children. “You…are something remarkable. Don’t ever forget that.” 

Fresh tears welled in your eyes. Her grip didn’t loosen on you in the slightest. “Please,” you sobbed, “There’s still time…let me up, I can…” You were floundering for words you didn’t actually believe in. There would be no recovery from this. She was already growing cold. 

“I always knew…the shadows would come.” Madam Ulyana retched again. “But your light will continue to shine. Your beautiful light…” 

You pressed a kiss to Madam Ulyana’s forehead, and allowed small rivulets of purple energy to waft around the room. They flowed in streams like a gentle aurora. Ulyana had always been fascinated by your power. Had loved it, even. To her, it was something that made you extraordinary rather than something to be feared. 

Bathed in the soft purple glow from your magic, she smiled and spoke her last words. “My diary, sweet one…You are a miracle.”  

Weeks passed. 

You had found no trace of anything that looked like a diary in Madam Ulyana’s cabin. 

After you buried her, you watched the sky each night for the northern aurora. It was believed, in some Drachman cultures, that the lights in the night sky were the souls of the departed. Whenever you saw their brilliant greens and violets and blues, you were filled with an overwhelming sense of pride. The same pride that was in the old woman’s gaze the last time she looked at you. 

And it was to her you made your promise to keep going. 

You spent your daytime hours sifting through Madam Ulyana’s belongings, searching through tome after tome for something that looked like a personal record, but ultimately coming up short each time. And during the night, under the lights of the northern aurora so that the old woman could see your magnificence, you trained. 

Utilizing some of the solo drills you and Ed had created, as well as inventing some new ones all on your own, you pushed your power further than you had ever taken it before. Even if finding answers was seeming more and more impossible by the day, nothing was stopping you from at least mastering your abilities. And well on your way to mastery you were. 

So when the ground rumbled and a hulking creature with an ouroboros tattoo broke the surface, you had no qualms about following it alone. 

Perhaps returning to Amestris in the foreseeable future was out of the question. But a homunculus digging tunnels near Drachma was something too strange to ignore. 

“Did you uncover anything of use?” 

“I had to push my boundaries severely in order to follow the koldun back to their home,” Pride said. “But yes. I was, of course, successful.” 

Father’s thin lips curled into something that could maybe be considered a smile. 

If Pride was being honest with himself, he had been slightly taken aback when he returned home to Amestris. Lust was gone, which effectively turned Gluttony into a lost puppy with no one to follow. Tragic. Envy was even more insufferable than usual, and Wrath almost seemed to be too calm with everything that had transpired recently. 

Oh, and there was the new Greed. 

This new avarice was slightly shorter than the last, but still decently tall. Definitely muscled, but in a leaner way than the previous Greed had been. He had sweeping bangs that covered one eye, and long black hair that he kept tied in a ponytail. Apparently he was inhabiting the body of a Xingese prince who willingly gave himself over to him. What a foolish act of ambition that must have been. 

“Way to go, little bro,” Greed said in that new, unfamiliar voice. “But what exactly was it that you were successful in? I might need to be caught up a little.” 

Pride’s skin prickled. “I am centuries older than you, Greed.” 

The avarice shrugged. “Still little.” 

Oh Pride was going to make him pay for that. Humiliation was inexcusable, no matter how slight. 

“Pride has returned from recovering a valuable artifact from the home of one of our enemies.” Father commanded the room’s attention when he spoke. “They are called the koldun, a Drachman word that roughly translates to ‘sorcerer.’” 

“A sorcerer?” Greed repeated. “Like, a real one? Sounds intriguing.” 

“A nuisance is more like it,” Envy grumbled. 

Pride thought he saw the corner of Greed’s mouth twitch just then. The avarice quickly furrowed his brow and looked down, an expression that read two parts confusion and three parts anger. Though his gaze had shifted to the hard concrete floor, it looked like he was staring a hundred yards away. If Pride didn’t know any better, it almost looked…as if he was working through some sort of heated internal conversation. 

Was the soul of that prince still alive? That could be a problem. 

“I fear that the koldun’s days of being a nuisance are going to come back sooner than anticipated as well,” Pride said, wrenching his mind back to the conversation at hand. “Sloth veered off course and accidentally broke the surface in Drachma. He was confused, so I set him back on the designated path. The koldun saw him though, and they’ve been poking around in the tunnels ever since. They’ve been quite effective at trailing him quietly.”

Father frowned. “That is displeasing.” 

“Do you want them killed now?” Pride asked. He was beginning to think that letting the sorcerer live was more trouble than it was worth. 

“No,” Father said. “Let them wander the tunnels bordering Drachma for now. It’s just as likely that Sloth will kill them before you could reach them again, anyway. But do inform me of their movements. If they end up deeper in Amestris again, that is a different discussion.” 

“Of course,” Pride said. 

“Now, back to the original topic at hand. What did you find in the sorcerer’s home?” 

Pride held up a worn leather diary. “I think you’ll be very pleased with this.”

[minruko]

Hiiii any headcanons for greedling being protective over his s/o??🥺

⌜summary- read request⌟

as the avatar of greed he’s very possessive and protective of his stuff, as his s/o he’s way more protective of compared to some random pro

doesn’t allow you to fight even if you’ve been traveling with ed and al and fighting long before he came around

arm around your shoulder or your waist around others, and standing in front of you when he senses danger near by

he would keep you far away from wrath as he could, if he ever met up with the two of you he would stand in front of you shielding you with his body even if you could defend yourself he wasn’t risking it

ed is sick of greed being so protective of you all the time he wants to talk to you without greed interjecting and adding his two cents saying how he wasn’t gonna put his s/o in any type of danger

he’s gonna watch over you as much as he can, he refuses to let you die on his watch

[im-just-a-simp-le-whore]

An idea

A greedling! X reader where reader was with og greed to start

And after Greed gets yeeted by father, reader slowly starts falling for Ling

And then when greedling happens, reader just falls hard for both of them

[xenia-cenia]

Hi!! I saw that you do FMA, but are you okay with FMAB? If so, could I request Greedling x reader?

Aaa thank you for sending me this!! I meant to put FMAB and never noticed it says FMA. 

Also its been a hot second since I’ve watched FMAB so im really sorry if this is off! Very sorry that they’re pretty short!!

Slight (implied) yandere TW 

+jealousy, protectiveness, love language 

-does he get jealous?

-yes its literally in his name

-however he does not feel ‘envy’ he feels ‘jealousy’

-he knows you’re his and is quick to flaunt this fact to anybody who tries to engage in conversation with him

-but still he wants more

-he wants to be the only person who can make you smile (that smile that always brings him to his knees)

-really he just wants you to be with him and him alone

-even if he gets that you both know he’ll always want more

-he is Greed for a reason

-however Ling and Greed are, at their cores, two seperate beings

-they may work together and inhabit the same body

-Ling can temper his greed

-he can hold off his jealousy

-GreedLing is still jealous

-but it’s not as bad as if you were dating Greed 

-so thats a win? i guess?

-Ling pre-Greedling is incredibly protective

-he hides it with a carefree demeanor but its still there

-GreedLing is even more protective

-part of it is the Greed aspect

-but mostly it stems from his fear

-of Father

-of humans

-he is scared

-he wants that light in your eyes (a light that fuels his heart, he thinks) to shine bright

-he doesn’t care what he has to sacrifice 

-as long as your laugh stays in his ears

-hes fully head over heels for you

-when you hold his hand

-for a second

-barely a second

-he realizes that theres nothing he wants more than to stay like this

-to stay with You

-GreedLing loves receiving gifts and physical touch

-he prefers big expensive gifts but sentimental gifts always makes his lip quiver

-gives a lot of words of affirmation

-also quality time

-he loves you <3

[universal-imagines]

☾ a distant memory

fandom: fullmetal alchemist pairing: greeling x reader word count: 837 synopsis: the reader bumps into greed again after several years, but he looks different...

a/n: this is a birthday present i wrote for a friend almost 3 months ago. i didn’t have anywhere to post it before, but now i do! hope you guys enjoy!

please do not use any of my works, in any shape or form, without permission.

You didn’t need the nose or sixth sense of a human chimera to recognize the man walking on the other side of the street. Appearance-wise he was an entirely different person, but his every move offered clues of who he used to be. From the way he walked and moved, to the way he talked and laughed. Not to mention the odd formed group of guys that followed him. They were no doubt his new lackeys.

It’d been years since you last laid eyes on him, let alone spoken to him, but old emotions bubbled to the surface in an instant. Memories clouded your mind and caused a turmoil. At first, you were elated to see the man from your past, albeit assuming a different identity, but the more you thought about it, the less there was something to be happy about. He’d lied to you countless times and even after supposedly telling you the truth, he disappeared without a trace.

Wiping away the warm tears from your cheeks, you balled up your fists, stuffed them in the pockets of your jacket, and followed him. After about 20 minutes he led you to a pub in the darker parts of the city. You debated for what felt like another 20 minutes, in reality only 2, whether to walk in or not, but the anger running through your veins at that moment forced you past the door.

Even though you’d kept your distance while tailing him and no one in his group had given any signs of spotting you, something in the back of your head made you think he’d be waiting for you to enter. But when you opened the door, only the warmth of the pub and murmur of conversations greeted you. In a mixture of relief and disappointment, you made your way over to the bar. You could feel more than one set of eyes on you, but you kept yours on the barkeeper. If any of those eyes belonged to him, you were sure you’d know soon enough. So you continued on your way and ordered your favorite drink.

As if on cue, the owner of the suave personality you’d learned to hate propped his arm on the counter, right next to you. “A sweet drink for a sweet woman?”

The voice was different too, but there was no mistaking the confidence that still oozed through the words.

“Perhaps, or perhaps I need something to contrast my personality.” For the first time that day, you made eye contact with him. It was like the world stopped for a moment. He might be in a different body, but those were definitely the same eyes. Still, you kept a straight face, waiting for him to break first.

“Oh? I like women with a little attitude too.” His smirk used to be charming, but it made your blood boil at the moment.

“But I don’t like you.” You clicked your tongue, turning back to your drink and taking a sip.

“Have we met before?”

It was supposed to be a joke, he had no clue who you were, he didn’t remember you, but you didn’t know that.

“Are you really going to act stupid?” Your voice caused all conversations in the room to cease immediately. “I know it’s been a while, but even with your new look, which I can’t explain… I still recognize you. Are you telling me I was so insignificant that you forgot me already? I guess when your immortal people just come and go, huh?”

Setting the glass down, which you’d been gripping so hard the tips of your fingers were white, you stood up from your stool and began to head for the door.

“Look…” his voice interrupted the silence. “I have no clue who you are. I can assure you, we’ve never met.”

Your fists were balled up again when you turned to face him once more. “So you’re going to tell me you’re not Greed, the Avaricious? The way you talk and carry yourself is the same for crying out loud. You even have a new group!” The surprise on his face only fueled your anger. “Fine! Act like you don’t know me. It’s probably for the best.”

“You must have known the previous Greed. You could say I have a new host. But I’ll gladly take you back.”

A forced laugh got stuck in your throat. “I’d say go to hell, but that’s too good for you.” The lump in your throat kept you from speaking for a bit, but after forcing it down you looked him straight in the eye. “You know, you once told me there was nothing in this world you wanted more than me. That you’d actually give everything up just to have me. And like an idiot, I believed you. So I guess I deserve this… But despite it all, I hope you finally find something to fill that void of yours.” With that, you headed for the door and never looked back again.

please do not use any of my works, in any shape or form, without permission.

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 11

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

Previous

Chapter 1

Read on AO3 

_______________________________________________________________________

All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 11: Imbalance 

“You’ve barely touched your meal.” 

You sat across Fuhrer Bradley at a long table in his office. A small mountain of pancakes with a side of eggs and toast lay in front of you, untampered with. 

“I’m not hungry,” you responded. 

“No?” the Fuhrer asked. “I find that hard to believe. After your…ability almost destroyed that poor couple’s entire cafe, surely you need to replenish your strength.” 

“I find it hard to believe that you’re concerned about my strength.” 

Bradley sighed. “(y/n). You may have caused an immense amount of property damage in my country last night, but you’re still just a child. I have a child at home. And I would hate for him to go a morning without breakfast.” 

Hesitantly, you reached out for a slice of toast. “How do you know my name?” 

“You’re friends with Edward Elric, aren’t you?” 

You froze for the smallest fraction of a second. “I’ve met him.” 

“You shared a hospital room with him,” Bradley stated. 

“I did.” 

“And you’ve stayed in a hotel room next to his, have you not?” 

You swallowed your food and did not take another bite. “I have.” 

“Tell me, (y/n),” Bradley said, his voice lowering. “What is your intention in getting to know Edward Elric? Because a person as powerful as you could be considered a threat to one of my state alchemists. And I won’t let anything happen to the soldiers under my watch.” 

“I’d never do anything to hurt Ed,” you said. “Never.” 

“Maybe not intentionally. But from what I saw, it looks like you don’t have the best control over your capabilities.” 

It stung. The Fuhrer's words reminded you of what Envy had said, about you being a “waste” for not understanding your powers fully. You knew in your heart that you’d never do anything intentional to turn your powers against Ed, or any of your new friends, but could you say for certain that an accident wouldn’t happen? 

So far, you hadn’t gained any new insight into your existence by coming to Amestris. But you did find someone who was willing to train you. Your truthful answer as to why you’d been spending so much time with Ed would be lost on the Fuhrer, though, and it might even put Ed in danger. 

“It’s true,” you said neutrally. “I still have a lot to learn about my powers.” 

“Well then, I suggest you do that elsewhere. Where did you say you were from?” 

“I don’t think I did.” 

“Allow me to rephrase: Where might my men have told me you were from?” 

You hesitated. “Drachma.” 

“Where exactly in Drachma?” 

“Why does that matter?” 

“(y/n),” The Fuhrer’s voice grew cold again, “I don’t think you are the one in position to be questioning me. Remember that you are in my custody, I am the sole ruler of this nation, and I can decide your fate at any moment. How you answer my questions is going to affect that decision.” 

You looked at the table. “I’m from southwestern Drachma.” 

“Where?” Bradley pressed. 

“There’s a small village called Derevnya. I am from the forest surrounding it.” 

“Not the village itself?” 

“No. I was raised outside the village because the people were afraid of my abilities.” 

“And who was it that wasn’t afraid of your power? The one who raised you?” 

You clenched your jaw. It felt like betraying every instinct in your body, giving this information to him. But like he said, he was the absolute ruler of this country. He could order your execution at a moment’s notice. You began to wonder bleakly if you’d ever see Ed or Al or any of the other kind people you’d met on this crazy journey ever again. 

“Another village outsider,” you said. “She doesn’t have powers like me. She just…prefers her privacy.”  

Bradley raised an eyebrow. 

“She is known as Madam Ulyana. People believe she is a witch, so they are wary of her. But she’s skilled in medicines so the people of Derevnya tolerate her presence at a distance. She was the only one who wasn’t scared of me.” 

Bradley sat back in his chair. “I see. Well  then, (y/n) of Drachma, I order you to return to your country and never return to Amestris under pain of death.” 

Your intake of breath was sharp. “What?” 

The Fuhrer continued as if he didn’t hear you. “You are to leave immediately and expeditiously. The items from your hotel room have already been gathered and placed into your holding cell for you. You will then be escorted by Amestrian officers all the way to the Drachman border, and from there on you are never to return. You will have no communication with anyone in Amestris either, lest you both face repercussions.” 

Your head was spinning. You were being forced to leave Amestris now and you couldn’t even tell anyone? 

What had Winry and Al been thinking since you had failed to return to the hotel room? Had Ling and Lan Fan taken note of your absence? How would Major Armstrong feel about the disappearance of one of his most frequent house guests? What would Ed think when he returned to the hotel and you were gone? 

What would Fuhrer Bradley tell anyone if they asked? 

Tears welled in your eyes but you refused to let them fall. You stood up and nodded solemnly. “Thank you for allowing me to keep my life. I will be on my way.”

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 10

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

Previous

Chapter 1

Read on AO3 

_______________________________________________________________________

All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 10: True Power

Winry was becoming fed up with her friends getting into fights all the time. 

Granted, neither you nor Ling had started this one. It had simply found you. But still. It was stressful to see Ling and his attendant Lan Fan going toe to toe with something that looked like a human but had a tongue much too big for one. And then there was you, firing woven strands of magic at the creature who could apparently shapeshift. 

This all felt way out of her league. 

But Winry Rockbell was smart. She knew it too. She could whip up automail schematics in her sleep, and assemble them in half the time it took other mechanics. She could deliver a baby without any guidance. She knew the basics of human anatomy and physiology, and could apply them to practicing basic medicine and to connecting a client’s nerves to their automail. However, she wasn’t a combatant. 

And she couldn’t do anything to help her friends while the battle was raging. 

Sirens blared a few blocks away. 

Winry’s heart sank. No doubt it was the authorities coming to investigate the situation. The metal of Ling and Lan Fan’s weapons echoed with a sharp resonance through the streets, and, what’s more, your magic had reduced a large chunk of the cafe building to rubble. Winry was already well aware that Ling didn’t have a travel visa. And even if you did have one, you were still the cause of some pretty significant property damage during your fight against the shapeshifter. You would be arrested either way. 

The only solution was for all of you to get out of here before the military police arrived. And to do that, you’d need an escape vehicle. 

Good thing hot wiring a car was easier than repairing Ed’s automail. Winry got to work. 

Envy jumped out of the way just as a blast of your magic tore through the cafe’s front wall. Loose cement collapsed into piles on the ground, and spiderweb fractures raced up the sides of the building that were still standing. 

“Damn.” Envy whistled. “If I hadn’t gotten out of the way, you would have killed me that time for sure!” 

Your breath came in ragged pants. As the cafe crumbled, you were well aware that this was more power than you used normally. But you didn’t feel drained like you had at the Fifth Laboratory. All that training with Ed must have helped you build up your stamina. 

And you felt energized. 

With each deeper intake of air, the shards of your power begged to be released. Somewhere in your mind you knew you should stop. That even if this didn’t drain you, you might end up using it in a way you couldn’t take back. Rubble already lay at your feet.  

A moment from one of your sessions with Ed replayed in your mind. 

“Okay, so you can break through stone now.” Ed had said.“I think that’s enough for today.” 

Oh, Ed. What would he say if he saw the destruction you’d caused now? 

“Am I really supposed to believe you didn’t know you could do that?” Envy taunted. 

You glared at them. Knowing you can do something and knowing how you can do something are two vastly different pieces of information. But you weren’t about to get philosophical with this monster. “There isn’t a casual way to just learn you can destroy most of a building,” you said as you launched another beam of purple energy at the homunculus. 

Envy jumped and grabbed onto a windowsill. With seemingly just their fingertips, they pulled themself up and flipped through the air to grab onto the roof of the cafe. 

If they thought getting away from you would be so easy, they’d have to think again. With a swipe of your hands, you slammed your energy down against the ground and let the opposing force propel you upwards. 

Your arrival on the roof was more like a crash than a landing. But you were quickly on your feet when Envy spun a kick at you. You dodged that one, but they were quick to attack again. One of their fists struck you in the nose, and the other found your stomach. 

Your power sputtered a bit as the wind was knocked out of you. But with a desperate breath you regained some of your vitality, and created several disks to hurl at Envy. 

Nothing else existed besides you and the homunculus on the rooftop. Every muscle in your body was screaming, every instinct demanding that you not only fight and survive but that you fight and win. 

Everything else was so out of focus that you didn’t even notice the building being surrounded by military police. 

Winry clapped her hands with joy; the car engine sparked to life. Gripping the wheel tight, she slammed on the gas and sped over to Ling and Lan Fan. Right before the bulbous creature with the dripping tongue lunged at them again, Winry rammed into him with the car and sent him bouncing down the road. 

She rolled down the window. “Get in!” 

Ling and Lan Fan wasted no time. 

“Police are coming, we have to move,” Winry said. 

“Where’s (y/n)?” Ling said, closing his door behind him. 

“I was going to ask you that!” 

A quick scan of the surroundings revealed that you were nowhere immediately in sight. Not on the street, not on the sidewalks. Not amongst the overturned tables or chairs or chunks of cafe that had crashed to the ground. 

The sirens got louder. 

“Dammit!” Winry yelled, “Where are they?” 

“There’s no time. We have to go,” Lan Fan said. “(y/n) might not even be on this block anymore. If we stay here, we’re all going to get arrested.” 

Ling was taken aback. “So we’re just going to leave them behind? What if they are still here?” 

“If they are still here, then all four of us will be arrested if we stay. But if we leave, at least we’ll be free and we can make a plan to rescue them later.” 

“This doesn’t feel right.” Ling shook his head. 

Winry’s heart was pounding in her ears. Headlights were approaching in her rearview mirror now. “We don’t have time to argue anymore!” She shifted the car into gear. “I’m not letting Alphonse return to an empty hotel room.” 

The car sped off just moments before military police fanned around the cafe. 

“What is your report, Envy?” 

The shapeshifting homunculus stood before their Father’s twisted throne. With you securely in custody, Envy’s mission was complete. 

“The koldun is powerful, that’s for sure. They killed me a few times. Not that I let them know it.” 

“Are they or are they not going to be a useful asset to us?” 

“Hmm. I am inclined to say no.” 

“And why is that?” 

Envy shrugged. “I just don’t think they’d be much of a team player.” 

Father raised an eyebrow. 

“They’ve already aligned themself pretty strongly with the humans,” Envy elaborated. “It would be a waste of our time to try and sway them. Besides, they don’t even understand the full scope of their power! I can’t stand the thought of having a half-baked human magician with us. It would be embarrassing.” 

“Just because they’ve aligned themself with the humans doesn’t mean they can’t benefit us,” Lust spoke up. “There’s always a pressure point we can find and manipulate.” 

Gluttony grumbled. “But I wanted to eat them!” 

Lust patted his head.

The shadows stirred in the corner of the room. “For once, I have to agree with Envy,” Pride said. “If this sorcerer doesn’t comprehend their true power yet, they’re not going to be useful to us in the long run. Uncertainty surrounds them. And that kind of uncertainty reeks of insecurity and lost potential; two things that we don’t want to have in an ally.” 

“They don’t need to be an ally,” Lust pressed. “They just have to be a pawn.” She turned to Father. “Doesn’t the new Greed need a vessel?” 

Pride bristled. “That’s not a good idea.” 

“Oh? Care to explain why not?” 

“The last Greed knew exactly who he was, and he turned on us as soon as he had the chance. Meanwhile, the koldun seems to have no idea who they are. Do you really think that their emptiness combined with Greed’s avarice is going to keep them loyal to us?” 

Lust fixed her sharp stare on Pride. But she knew she was defeated. 

Pride continued, no little smugness in his voice. “I think it would be easiest to have them removed from the board entirely.”

“Does that mean I get to eat?” Gluttony perked up. 

Father’s mouth was a tight line. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Either of you. Just because the sorcerer isn’t useful to us now, it doesn’t mean they can’t be useful to us later. I don’t want them interfering with our plans, but I don’t think it’s time to kill them just yet.” 

Gluttony’s shoulders slumped. 

“So what, then, do you suggest we do?” Pride asked. 

“I think it’s time we look into some other sources.” 

The dim light streaming in from the hallway was eclipsed by a tall figure. “Sorry I’m late. I was just making sure our guest is well looked after.” 

“Wrath, welcome back,” Father said. “I trust the koldun is secure?” 

The Fuhrer nodded. “They are in a holding cell in Central Command. It will be about an hour before the sedative wears off.” 

“Excellent.” 

Envy crossed their arms and looked to Father. “So what’s this you were saying earlier about ‘other sources?’”  

Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Pride looked at him expectantly. 

Father leaned forward and rested his chin on the back of his hands. “I don’t want the koldun to get in our way. But I don’t want them dead yet. Envy, are you entirely certain that their abilities are not any known form of alchemy or alkahestry? Are they truly using sorcery?”  

“I was doubtful at first.” Envy shrugged. “But after fighting them again, I can say that they’re definitely not an alchemist. Or an alkahestrist, for that matter. Their power is something else.” 

“Then that settles it,” Father said. “Wrath, you will banish the young koldun from Amestris. Find out exactly what region of Drachma they are from, and send them back there. The more details you can get of their dwelling, as well as any people they may live with, the better. Make them think they have no choice but to give up that information. Pride, I then want you to trail the koldun back to their homeland. Use Wrath’s information to try and find their place of residence and get there first.”  

“What is the point of that?” Lust said, still indignant. 

Father smiled. “Home can often hide more secrets than one is aware of. I suspect we could find more information on our sorcerer’s mysterious history there. And information, my dear child, is true power.”

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 7

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

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All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 7: Shadows

“Hello?” 

“Hey, (y/n), Maes Hughes here. Edward told me that you were going to be staying here in Central while he’s away. I was just calling to check in and ask if you needed anything?” 

“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Hughes. I am okay right now, though.” 

“Alrighty, well you let me know if that changes! Don’t hesitate to reach out.” 

“I won’t. Thank you, Mr. Hughes.” 

“Anytime. Take care now, (y/n).” 

“You as well.” 

- - - 

“So Maes Hughes…” you said, twirling some pasta onto your fork. A full day had passed since your phone conversation with the Lieutenant Colonel, and you found yourself at the Armstrong family mansion for dinner. The Major had invited you after a long day of pouring over old books in the library. After finding nothing useful, you didn’t have it in you to refuse a meal. “He’s someone we can trust, right? He seems to know Ed fairly well.” 

A grim expression fell over Armstrong’s face. “Yes. Hughes is…he knew everything about the Fifth Laboratory that we did. No word of your abilities were mentioned to him, but he knew you were involved in the incident with Ed. He was helping us look into the identities of the mysterious people you and Ed encountered inside the lab. Hughes…was a trusted ally and a dear friend.” 

“Was?” 

“He was murdered late last night.” 

Your fork fell from your hands. “You can’t be serious.” 

Armstrong nodded. 

“No…no that can’t be right. I talked to him on the phone just yesterday morning!” 

Armstrong took a breath to steady himself. “I’m so sorry, (y/n), but it’s true. They found his body in a telephone booth a few blocks from Central Command. We have no idea who killed him.” 

The room tilted. You didn’t know Hughes very well, but you knew that the Elrics and Winry were fond of him. And one of the first things he did on his final day alive was call you to make sure you were doing alright. It felt like something a parent would do for their child’s friend. The food and bile in your stomach lurched.  

“Major, is there a bathroom nearby?” 

“Out in the hall, fourth door on your right.” 

“Thank you.” You stood up from your chair more abruptly than you meant to. Once you were in the bathroom, you clutched both sides of the sink as the world continued to spin. 

“Calm down, calm down,” you whispered to yourself. Not only because you were trying to resist vomiting up your dinner, but because you felt your power surging beneath your skin. Begging to be released. You closed your eyes to shut out the spiraling world—sure the Armstrongs had enough money to buy twelve replacements of whatever you could accidentally break, but you didn’t want to put them through the trouble if you could help it. 

When the world finally steadied itself, you opened your eyes. 

A shadow stared back at you in the mirror. 

Just over your shoulder. 

With a sharp gasp you whirled around, already constructing a violet sphere you could hurl at whatever that thing was. 

But as soon as you turned around, it was gone. There was nothing there but a particularly shadowy part of the bathroom. You hadn’t bothered to turn on every light when you first walked in, but still. You were certain that what you saw wasn’t just a dimly lit area of the room. It couldn’t have been. 

This shadow had eyes. 

- - - 

The Major was gone the next day. Apparently the Fuhrer was doing a routine inspection in the South, and Alex was to be one of the people accompanying him. But you were still welcome at the manor to train. 

In the same courtyard you and Ed used for practice, Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Brosh had agreed to run you through some drills. The sky was more overcast than the ones of late, and the wind brought a crisp chill in the air. You kept your bearskin cloak on while training this time. 

“Alright,” Sergeant Brosh said after setting up the final practice dummy, “Let’s see how you do against these guys!” 

With a deep breath and three swift punches, you propelled your power at each of the wooden mannequins. They splintered to pieces. 

“Oh. Well that was…fast.” 

Lieutenant Ross stepped forward. “Step back, Sergeant Brosh. I think (y/n) needs something a little more dynamic.” 

Maria raised her fists in a defensive stance and began to circle you. You mirrored her actions. 

“Lieutenant, I don’t want to hurt you,” you said. “I don’t think hand to hand combat would make for a fair fight against someone using sorcery.” 

Maria raised her pistol and aimed at your torso. 

Cursing loudly in Drachman, you crossed your arms in front of your chest to make a shield. Once the purple barrier was between you and the Lieutenant, you kept one arm raised to maintain it while your other arm swung wildly and sent a blast towards the Lieutenant's weapon. Though you were lacking a little in precision, the force was more than enough to knock it out of her hands. 

You let your shield drop when the pistol hit the grass. “You could have warned me before you pulled a gun on me!” 

“Relax, I wasn’t actually going to shoot you.” Maria’s smile was almost proud. “And besides, you could have warned me before nearly breaking all the bones in my hand.” 

“You pulled a gun, how did you expect me to react?” Even as you were yelling, you felt the adrenaline wear off and turn into another sensation. Something that fluttered, something that sang. A smile crept onto your face. 

Soon the courtyard was filled with laughter; yours, Ross’s, and Brosh’s combined. 

- - - 

“The sorcerer is very quick on the offensive.” Pride stood before his Father and siblings. “Their defensive capabilities seem to be improving as well. But still, they lack a certain amount of control.” 

“And what of their background?” Father asked. “Do you have any idea where they might be from?” 

“I’ve heard them use Drachman words. Their attire also seems to be that of a Drachman style.” 

“Hmm.” 

Lust raised an eyebrow. “Shall we use them to carve the Crest of Blood up north? We could lead the Briggs forces astray, cause them to attack Drachma unprompted. Maybe our little sorcerer would want to defend their homeland.” 

“Let me do it,” Envy said, leaning forward. “I love manipulating humans.”  

“Perhaps,” Father said. “But there is still much we do not know involving this sorcerer…Pride, do you know the Drachman word for what they are?” 

The small homunculus nodded. “They have referred to themself on a few occasions as a koldun. Only in secret, to the Elric brothers and their mechanic friend.” 

“Well then,” Father said. “Ultimately we must determine whether the koldun can be manipulated for our purposes, or whether it’d be best to remove them from the board entirely.” 

Gluttony perked up. “Can I eat them?” 

Lust patted his head. “Patience, Gluttony.” 

“If you do decide you want to remove them,” Envy said with a grin, “I’d be happy to do the job.” 

Lust’s laugh almost sounded like a groan. “Still angry over them besting you at the lab?”

 Envy’s grin deepened. “Not at all. I just want to be the one to put them in their place.” 

“My, my, if those humans have a true sorcerer in their ranks I’d say you're in quite a bit of trouble there, pops,” Greed said from above. Even while chained over a pool of molten liquid, nothing could wipe the smug smirk off his face. “Can we get this over with? I’m already bored of listening to you all.” 

“Greed,” Father said, almost sad. “You are a son and a piece of my soul. Why is it that you would betray me?” 

“You should know that better than anyone, dad.” Greed’s smirk twisted tighter. “You made me this way. I’m only being who I am. And I simply had more ambitions than to spend the rest of my life working for you.” 

“And if I asked you to work for me again?” 

“Never.” 

“As you wish.” 

Gears whirred. The burning pool rose as Greed was lowered. 

Not even a homunculus as headstrong as he could keep from screaming.

[im-just-a-simp-le-whore]

Greedling with a s/o who is a cat chimera

[im-just-a-simp-le-whore]

Greedling calls you 'Doll'

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 5

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

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Chapter 1

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All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 5: Each of Us is Hiding Something

A light. A bright light, a violet light. It was the only thing you could see, save for the expanse of stars all around you… 

Your waking was not sudden. It never was when you dreamt like this. The shining rays of purple and the sea of stars were ones that you dreamt of often, and ones that always allowed you time to come back from. No, your waking was not sudden. It was gentle as a whisper— go now, you can come back later. 

As you blinked your eyes open, you saw the tilted image of a hospital room. The walls were starkly bare and pale beige in color, and the sheets pulled up to your chin were pristine white. There was another cot in the room with you. A familiar shade of blonde hair spilled over its pillow. 

“Ed,” you croaked. Your throat was dry. Luckily there was a cup of water on the bed-side table. 

The alchemist rolled over, and his eyes widened when he met your gaze. “(y/n)! You’re awake!” 

“Are you…alright?” You could see that there was a bandage around his head and another one wrapped around his left forearm. But there was color in his cheeks again. You took this as a good sign. 

“Better off than you, by the looks of it,” Ed replied. “Although I am a little jealous that you were able to get out of the building before it collapsed entirely.” 

Heat flooded your face and you cast your gaze to the floor. “Yeah. Sorry about that.” 

“Eh, it’s no big deal. You’re alive because you left when you did. I’m glad about that.” 

“I could have killed you, though.” 

“What?” 

Ed’s question hung in the air for a few seconds. The shame had still not left your cheeks when you dared to look up at him again. 

“The building collapsed. It could have killed you, it was my fault. I was trying to protect you, I swear, by taking out a piece of the ceiling I thought I could make a barrier between you and those—” 

“(y/n), slow down,” Ed said calmly. “You didn’t cause the entire building to collapse. Those guys with the ouroboros tattoos—Envy and Lust—they were the ones who did that. I heard Lust instruct Envy to blow it up before I blacked out.”

You were silent for a few moments. In one heartbeat you felt relieved, but it was only  replaced by more unease in the next. “And then Envy carried you out.” 

“And then Envy carried me out.” 

“I wonder why they did that.” 

“Beats me,” Ed said. “The woman, Lust, she told me to remember that they allowed me to live. That I was one of their ‘sacrifices,’ whatever that means.” 

You remembered Envy’s rage at Number 48’s brother. How Lust had stopped Number 48 from talking, and then how Envy picked up the guard’s sword and stabbed his brother over and over again. What was it Envy had said? 

You were trying to kill one of our most important sacrifices! You could have messed up the entire plan! 

It was all too much to think about. You closed your eyes, feeling a headache beginning to blossom. 

But the silence didn’t last forever. The door flung open, and four people rushed in. Two of them were officers you recognized from the Fifth Laboratory, Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Brosh. One of them was Major Alex Louis Armstrong, a towering man who you had often seen hovering around the Elric brothers. The fourth person was someone you didn’t know. This girl, with long blonde hair and shining blue eyes, was carrying a toolbox. She dropped it to the ground the moment she laid her eyes on Ed. 

“What happened?” She said it somewhere between a cry and a demand. 

“Well that didn’t take long,” Ed mumbled. It was the first time you had heard something similar to meekness in his voice. “You’re gonna charge me an express service fee now huh?” 

The blonde girl lowered her eyes. “No. No, I didn’t do a good enough job repairing your automail last time. And now you’re badly injured. I won’t charge you for this.” 

“Wait!” Ed sat up in a hurry. “It’s not your fault! You can’t blame yourself for this! I was being reckless, your repairs were as flawless as ever, Winry. Besides, if my arm didn’t break when it did, I would have kept fighting and gotten even more hurt…” 

He was rambling. The fullmetal alchemist, state-certified human weapon and snarky little asshole, was rambling. You couldn’t help the small smile that quirked on the corner of your lips. Ed and this girl—his apparent mechanic—were kind of adorable. 

“It seems that your injuries are also quite extensive, young sorcerer,” Major Alex Louis Armstrong rumbled as he approached your bedside. 

It felt like a shockwave, hearing him say it so matter-of-factly like that. Young sorcerer. You turned your gaze to Ed so sharply that he didn’t even need to look away from the mechanic to know you were staring daggers. 

“Ed,” you snapped. Never before had a single syllable from your lips also been such an accusation. 

Ed turned towards you, shaking his head.“Wait, (y/n), it’s okay. You can relax, he’s—” 

“Relax?” You felt your face heating up. “You tell someone, a government officer mind you, my biggest secret and you want me to relax?” 

“Wait, a sorcerer?!” Sergeant Brosh gasped. He and Lieutenant Ross shared a wide-eyed stare. 

The mechanic squealed and practically jumped up and down, turning her full attention to you. “So you can do magic? Like, real, actual magic? Tell me everything! What does it look like? What does it feel like? How do you—” 

“Oh, great! And now everyone knows!” Your voice was reaching near yelling levels now. “Ed, once I get my strength back you’re gonna wish those ouroboros guys had killed you—” 

“(y/n) will you shut up for two seconds and listen to me!” Ed shouted. “These people are okay! You can trust them!” 

Major Armstrong folded his hands. “I meant no offense, young one. I was merely intending to check on how you were doing.” 

“(y/n),” Ed said, commanding your attention, but also speaking much calmer than he had been before. “You can trust everyone in this room. I promise you. Armstrong, Ross, Brosh, and Winry are a few of the people I trust most in Amestris. In the whole world, even. They have my back, and because of that, they’ll have yours.” 

“Aren’t sorcerers not supposed to exist, though?” Ross spoke up. 

You hugged your knees to your chest. The throbbing in your head combined with the dull ache in your side from your wound were becoming almost too much to bear while conscious. “Please just…don’t tell anyone else.” You hated how small your voice sounded when you said it. But you didn’t know what Amestris would do to you if what walked among them became widespread knowledge. You didn’t know what anywhere would do to you. 

It had been a massive risk just telling the Elric brothers. And the last thing you needed was the wrong person in the chain of command to know your power. 

“My existence spits in the face of your beloved alchemy,” you continued, “And there is much about it that I don’t understand. So please, the less people know of me, the better.” 

“Edward told us your story while you had yet to wake,” Armstrong said in a voice much softer than you thought a man of his stature would be capable of. “We had no idea when you would open your eyes again, and we needed to know what happened in the Fifth Laboratory. But I can personally assure you, young one, that word of your abilities will not leave our lips.” Armstrong's gaze snapped to the younger officers, and when he spoke again his voice boomed. “Isn’t that right, Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Brosh?” 

The two officers frantically saluted and responded in unison. “Yes sir!” 

The Major turned back to you. “Thank you for defending Edward, (y/n).” 

You managed a weak smile. “It was nothing.” 

“Oh, please,” Ed deadpanned. “I probably would have been a lot worse off if I didn’t have you with me. And once we figure out how to keep your power from getting drained so quickly, you’re going to be a serious force to be reckoned with. I’m sure of it!” 

“Thanks?” 

Winry sighed. “Well I’m just glad somebody had your back, Ed. You seriously need to stop being so reckless all the time. (y/n), you have my thanks too. Now let’s start on those repairs, Ed!” 

“Hey, wait. Where’s Al?” you asked. “He practically pulled me from the Laboratory when I couldn’t stand anymore. I want to thank him.” 

Ed frowned. “I’m…not sure where he is. I haven’t seen him yet.” 

This struck you as odd, considering how inseparable the brothers seemed to be. “Oh. Well…I’m sure he’ll be around soon.” 

“Yeah,” Ed said flatly. “I hope you’re right.” 

Al did show up, eventually. But the reunion of the brothers didn’t go as you had expected it to. 

It was obvious that something had been bothering Al for the past couple hours. And after Al insinuated that his existence could be entirely artificial, that maybe Ed had fabricated the memories of his old life, the fullmetal alchemist got up from his cot and walked out of the room. 

“You moron!” Winry’s cry shook the entire room. She threw a wrench and it hit Al square in the head. “Why would you say that? You idiot, do you even know what—”

All you could do was sit there in shock while Winry’s sharp words tore into Al. How much of a dumbass he was to accuse Ed of such a thing, how this entire time Ed had been so fearful that Al secretly blamed him for the way his body is now. It didn’t answer all your questions about the brothers, but it did give a little more insight into the alchemical accident that shattered their bodies. You were beginning to think that maybe it wasn’t entirely an accident, that there had been some intention behind the brothers’ actions…

“Now,” Winry said at the end of her enraged speech, “Go get your brother. Start running!” 

“Right!” Al leapt to his feet and hurried out of the room. 

Winry let out a long exhale and slumped against the wall.  

“Well that was…intense,” you managed, awkwardly. 

“Yeah, well. Somebody needs to keep those boys in line,” Winry huffed. 

“Does it have to be you?” 

The mechanic turned her gaze on you sharply. “What?” 

You felt your face heat up as it often did when you realized you made a mistake. “Wait, I don’t mean any offense, I promise. I guess I’m just…curious about why you seem to be the one who cleans up their messes? Not to make such a huge judgement about you right away, I know I pretty much just met you.” At that point you were beginning to ramble and figured it was best to just cut yourself off. 

Winry’s pointed gaze softened for just a moment. “How much do you know about the boys?” 

“Not much,” you admitted. “I know they’re looking for a way to return to their original bodies, but whenever I ask them about more details they avoid the question.” 

“That sounds like them,” Winry said, “Never wanting to accept help from anybody unless as a last possible resort. I grew up with them. We’ve known each other since we were…gosh, I think I’ve known them my whole life.”  

You nodded. Not really sure how to respond, but wanting to let Winry know she could keep talking. 

“I guess they just don’t have anybody else, now,” Winry explained. “That’s why I feel so responsible for them.” 

“That sounds like a large burden to put on yourself,” you stated. “Why is it they don’t have anybody else?” 

“I don’t really think it’s my place to tell.” 

It wasn’t Ed’s place to tell everyone about me being a sorcerer, yet it seems like he didn’t hesitate.

“Well, I’m not sure if they deserve you Winry,” you said. “But I know they must be incredibly grateful to have you. Anyone worthwhile would be.”  

Winry allowed herself a small smile.

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 3

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

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All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 3: What Is and What Isn’t

You, Edward, and Alphonse made your way to the Fifth Laboratory under the blanket of night. Standing in the shadows of a nearby alleyway, you surveyed the scene; a few street lamps were on, illuminating a quiet road and a ‘Keep Out’ sign that was posted in front of the laboratory. Also posted in front of the facility was an armed Central soldier. 

“A guard stationed outside of a supposedly abandoned building,” Ed observed, low enough for only you and Al to hear. 

You frowned. “Definitely strange.” 

“So, how do we get in?” Al asked. 

The three of you snuck closer to the wall that surrounded the laboratory, hugging one of the sides that was in the guard’s blindspot. 

“We could use alchemy?” Ed suggested. 

Al shook his head. “The light from the transmutic reaction would give us away.” 

“Is there a way we could go over?” you wondered. 

Ed studied the height of the wall. “Hey Al, give me a boost.” 

Al cupped his hands together and flung his brother up to the top of the wall. Once there, Ed grabbed the barbed wire with his automail hand and cut a line to send back down to you and Al. 

“You can hold onto me if you want to, so the wire doesn’t hurt you,” Al offered. 

“That’s very kind of you,” you said, taking his hand. 

Ed pulled the two of you up to the top of the wall and wasted no time jumping down to the lawn surrounding the Fifth Laboratory. Al leapt after him, somehow landing just as quietly as his brother. You doubted you could land as gracefully, having never been trained in any sort of martial art and not knowing the correct way to fall. 

From the grass below, Ed looked back up at you. He raised an eyebrow. 

Your power wanted to fly through your fingertips again. You could feel it; rising up to meet you as you were rising up to meet a challenge. With a calm exhale you jumped, and, right before you hit the ground, soft purple waves rippled from your hands and slowed your fall. 

Ed almost had a smile on his face. “Nicely done.” 

You nodded in thanks. 

Al led the way to what appeared to be the front door, but the three of you found it was boarded up and blocked off by more rows of barbed wire. 

“Man, they must be hiding something big in there,” Ed said. 

Your stomach sank a little. The closer you got to the lab, the more it felt like you were sticking your nose in a place it didn’t certainly belong. Al pointed over to a grate embedded in the side of the building. 

“There!” 

On Al’s shoulders, the young state alchemist was able to pry the grate off the wall and toss it aside. “Al, you need to wait out here. (Y/n) and I can continue on.” 

“You two will be fine?” Al asked. 

“Whether we will or won’t isn’t really the question,” Ed said, already climbing into the duct. “You’re too big to fit in here.” 

“Well I didn’t ask to get this big,” Al said, dejected, as he helped you into the crawl-space after Ed. 

You and Ed crawled in silence for a while, nothing but the dark and a few cobwebs surrounding you. You’d never experienced a particular moment of claustrophobia before, but it was unnerving being pressed in on all sides like this. 

“Damn it’s an even tighter squeeze than I thought,” Ed said. “If I was regular sized I probably wouldn’t even be able to get through.” 

A tense beat of silence struck the air. 

“DAMMIT I JUST CALLED MYSELF SHORT—” 

“Ed!” you hissed. “Shut up! What happened to us ‘not getting caught’?” 

“Right, oh, right. Sorry.” 

A few moments passed before you and Ed came upon another grate, this one bolted to the floor of the duct. The alchemist kicked through it, and you and he jumped down into the hallway below. The corridor was almost as dim as the crawl space, save for some faint yellow lights along the ground. 

“‘Abandoned building’ my ass,” Ed said. 

“Do you think anyone’s here right now?” 

“No way to tell for sure. Just stay on your guard.” 

The energy you carried surged beneath your skin on instinct. “Right.” 

The symbol on the ground was composed of circles and pentagons all nestled within each other. In the center was a cylindrical altar that bore more alchemic iconography. Blood, dark and crusted with age, was splattered in many areas around the large outer circle. 

“What is all this…?” you asked, dull horror filling your core. 

“I’m not sure,” Ed said. “But if I had to guess, I’d say it’s what they used to transmute a Philosopher’s Stone.” 

“That is correct.” A third voice. From the shadows. 

You and Ed turned quickly to see a figure emerging from a hall on the other side of the room. He wore heavy plate armor and a helmet covered his face. “I don’t know who you fools are,” he continued, “But you’ve figured out a lot just by looking at a transmutation circle.” 

“Yeah, I’m just good like that. Who are you, pal?” Ed snarked back. 

The man’s armor clanked as he spoke. “The one in charge of guarding this place from curious brats like you. Let’s just say my name is Number 48. And believe me, I am not your ‘pal.’ My orders are to dispose of anyone who ventures in. Try not to take it personally.” 

“Alright, I won’t,” Ed said. He clapped his hands together and the blue light of an alchemic reaction flashed through the air. His automail arm extended into a large blade. “As long as you don’t take it personally when this ‘fool’ kicks your ass!” 

“You’re an alchemist, are you?” Number 48 said. With speed you didn’t think possible, the armored man lunged towards Ed. It was like he crossed the span of twenty feet in the blink of an eye. “Let’s see what you’ve got, then.” He swung his massive two-haded sword high over his head. 

In one motion, Ed pushed you out of the way and leapt backwards from the guard. He blocked the tip of the sword with his automail arm, and the knight stumbled back. 

“It seems your automail just saved your life,” Number 48 said. “No matter, my sword can pierce steel as well as flesh.” He rushed at Ed again. 

“Wait!” you screamed. Extending your hand forward, partially reaching for Ed and partially focusing your vitality, a violet blast of energy sprung from your hand towards the man in the armor. It struck him in the shoulder and he spun from the impact. 

“Another alchemist?” he pondered, turning towards you. 

Wide-eyed, chest heaving from the outburst of power, you shrugged. “Sure?” 

Number 48 changed direction and charged you next. It was instinctive, what you did. Raising both hands in front of you like a shield, only to watch your energy take shape and mold an actual shield in front of you. The barrier was small, just barely enough to stop the guard’s sword from piercing your heart, but it held strong. 

“No…” Number 48 said. “This is not alchemy. What a strange opponent you make, but how excited I am to fight someone like you.”

To your dismay, the sturdiness of your shield began to diminish as Number 48 dug his blade in harder. Nothing about the position of your hands and body had changed, so you weren’t sure why it was shrinking. But you clenched your jaw in the vain effort to keep it intact. 

Ed landed a swift kick to the guard’s torso, knocking him away from you. You allowed your shield to fall. Gave yourself a brief moment to heave more air into your lungs. And then stood tall next to the fullmetal alchemist again. 

“Have you seen something like this before?” you called to Number 48, despite your better judgement. 

To your surprise, he remained where he was. “No. But I’ve fought enough alchemists to know what is alchemy and what isn’t.” 

“Well, speaking of what people are and aren’t,” Ed interjected, “I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that you’re hollow inside?” 

“Very perceptive.” 

“I could tell by the sound,” Ed said. “I spar against someone like you all the time.” 

You turned towards Ed. “Wait, so you’re saying he’s—” 

“Just like Al,” Ed nodded. 

“So there are people like me on the outside?” Number 48 asked, a strange earnestness in his voice. 

“Unfortunately.” Ed said. “It makes me sick to think there was another idiot out there who came up with the idea of bonding a disembodied soul to a suit of armor.” 

“Perhaps I need to re-introduce myself, then,” the guard said. “48 was the number I was assigned when I was a prisoner on death row. Back when I had a living body, I was known as Slicer the mass murderer.” 

“Tell me something, then,” Ed started. “Does this laboratory use condemned prisoners to make Philosopher Stones?” 

“That I cannot tell you. I was simply recognized for my skills and appointed to be a guard dog of this place. Now then,” he shifted back into a battle-ready stance. “Which one of you would like the pleasure of being killed first?”

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 2

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

Chapter 1

Read on AO3

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All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 2: The Agreement

The metal boy remained very still. But the blonde boy burst into sudden laughter. 

“A-a sorcerer?” he stammered. “Come on, I thought you were going to tell me the truth. Sorcerers don’t exist.” 

“Your companion said it himself,” you argued, “I didn’t perform any transmutations. You both saw. Whatever this is, it’s not alchemy.” 

“Yeah, well, the concept of sorcery spits right in the face of alchemy!” the blonde shot back. “Alchemy follows the law of equivalent exchange, in order to obtain something you must give up something of equal value. These are the laws of the universe as much as they are the laws of alchemy, and nothing can bypass the laws of the universe. Unless…” 

There was a sharp intake of breath from the suit of armor as his companion’s voice trailed off. “A Philosopher’s Stone.” 

The blonde boy grinned almost wickedly. “You have one, don’t you?” 

“A what?” you asked. 

He took a step closer to you. “A Philosopher’s Stone. An all-powerful artifact from legend that ignores the laws of equivalent exchange and allows its user to will practically anything into existence. You have one, right?” 

You took a step back. A heavily charred book crumpled to ashes near your feet .“No. I carry no such stone.” 

“Liar.” 

“I swear!” 

“There is no such thing as a sorcerer!” 

“Brother,” the armored boy placed a hand on the blonde’s shoulder, halting his steps towards you. “Many people say that there’s no such thing as a Philosopher’s Stone either. Maybe on our hunt for the impossible, it makes sense that we run into something else impossible too.” 

Your gaze shifted to the metal boy. His fixed expression was that of a cold, unchanging helmet, but his voice had been soft when he spoke. And you could have sworn he gave you the slightest bit of a nod when your eyes met his. 

The blonde considered his brother’s words for a moment, his eyes still studying you. Your hand had traveled up to the collar of your bearskin cloak, as it so often did when you felt nervous. The violet energy was gone now, but you felt it lapping just beneath the surface of your skin, ready to spring forth if you felt even the slightest bit more threatened. 

“What’s your name?” the blonde finally asked. 

“I am (y/n).”

“(y/n),” he repeated. “I’m Edward Elric, and this is my brother Alphonse. I think we can help each other out.” 

The agreement was simple. The Elrics would help you try to figure out the nature of your abilities, and in return you would assist them in their pursuit of their goals. Just another equivalent exchange, as Ed would say. 

You’d learned that the brothers were in search of a way to get their old bodies back—Ed having lost an arm and a leg, and Al having lost his entire body in a horrific alchemical accident. When pressed further about the details surrounding the accident, both of the brothers became very quiet. Sometimes it felt like learning the truth about them was going to be as impossible as learning the truth about yourself. 

“Ed?” You called as you knocked on the door of the brothers’ hotel room. “Al? Are you in there?” 

Several days had passed since the three of you had spoken with a woman named Sheska—a former employee at the National Central First Branch, who offered to provide transcripts of all the research the Elrics were looking for—and, after sitting alone in your room and reading for days, you found yourself at a dead end. The books you’d borrowed from the National Central Main Library hadn’t given you any insight into your powers at all. 

The door opened slowly, and you were greeted by the sight of Al. “Oh, hey (y/n). What’s going on?” 

He moved aside for you to enter the room. You nodded at him, sinking onto the couch once you were inside. “I haven’t been able to uncover anything. If there is any written record of other individuals with abilities like mine, it’s not in the Main Library.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Al said, sitting on the other couch across from you. 

“Eh, it just means I have to start looking elsewhere, I suppose,” you said. “What about you and Ed? Have you made any progress?” 

“I wish we hadn’t.” A door had opened near the small kitchenette. Edward came walking into the room, his hair down instead of in the usual braid it was normally tied back in. His eyes were downcast, dark bags hanging on the skin underneath. 

“You look terrible,” you said. 

“Wonderful to see you too again, (y/n).” He took a seat next to Al. 

“I take it you…didn’t find what you were expecting?” 

The brothers were silent for a while. The room was dim, filled with low candle light and the aura of the moon. A cool wind ruffled the curtains of the open window. 

“No.” Al stated simply. 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” you said. “If it means anything, I found absolutely nothing of what I hoped for. So you’re already doing better than me, at least.”  

Ed forced out a bitter laugh. “I’m not so sure about that, (y/n). I’m really not so sure.” 

“What does that mean?” 

“It means, well…” Al’s voice trailed off. He looked down to his older brother, and Ed gave him a short, resigned nod. “It means that we did find something. But it’s horrible. It’s making us sick to think about.” 

“What is it?” you pressed. 

A silence fell over the room again. 

You softened your voice the next time you spoke. “We made an agreement with each other. You help me, and I help you. You’ve already given me my own room to stay in while I’m in Central, and you’ve checked out books from the Main Library for me. You’ve helped me, so…let me help you.” 

For the first time since walking into the room, Ed’s eyes met yours. “We were successful in deciphering Dr. Marcoh’s notes. The Philosopher’s Stone isn’t just a myth, it’s real. But the main ingredient to make them is human life.” 

Your stomach dropped just as another cool wind wafted into the room. “Oh…oh no.” You were shaking your head. “Oh god, I’m so sorry.” 

Ed just shrugged in response. Al had closed his eyes, the usual red pinpricks of light beneath his helmet gone. It felt like you were an outsider, watching this grief you could not understand. Yes the revelation about the ingredients of a Philosopher’s Stone was horrific, but you knew that whatever sinking emotion it caused was only amplified by the agony of why the brothers needed the Stone in the first place. A reason that they still had not even whispered to you yet. 

You didn’t understand the weight of what they were going through. But you could tell it was crushing. And they needed their space. 

“I’ll be down the hall if you need anything.” Slowly you stood up from the couch and made your way to the door. You glanced back once before slipping into the hallway, eyes searching over the brothers yet again. Al still had not opened his eyes. Ed was curling up on his side. 

At some point you registered a loud banging on your door. 

“(y/n)!” the voice called. “(y/n), open up!” 

Having not bothered to change into pajamas that night, you sprung from your bed fully clothed and rushed to the door. A wide-eyed Edward Elric stood there on the other side, with Alphonse right behind him. 

“Good, you’re awake,” Ed said, pushing into the room. 

“Yeah, I am now,” you half grumbled. “What time is it?” 

“Early.” 

“Is everything alright?” you knew the answer was objectively, probably, no. But after the state you had left the boys in, you felt it was only proper to ask. 

Ed turned to you, his expression surprisingly very different from where you last left him on the couch. His eyes were alight with that usual spark you had come to recognize, and his mouth curled upwards in a grin. “We have a hunch. There might be more to the truth about the Philosopher’s Stone than meets the eye, and we know where to go to investigate more.” 

“Okay?” 

“Brother is trying to ask if you’d be willing to come with us,” Al said. 

You looked back and forth between the boys. “Where exactly would we be going?” 

“There’s an old building that was designed to be a government laboratory not too far from here,” Ed explained. “It’s supposedly been classified as ‘off limits’ for a long time due to structural imbalances, but it might be hiding something beneath the surface. Al and I think we can find more information about the Philosopher’s Stone there.” 

“Why? I thought you were giving up on your search for it after learning what the main ingredient was.” 

“It’s like Dr. Marcoh told us,” Ed said. “We have to search for the truth within the truth. There could still be more about the Stone we don’t know, and we can’t pass this up.” 

You leaned an elbow back against the counter. “And you want me to come with you because…?” 

Ed shrugged. “Maybe you could find something there too.” 

“Plus we might be in need of your powers,” Al said. “Brother and I have a tendency to run into trouble, and we have no idea what we could find at this laboratory. One more person with us might help even our odds.” 

You thought about it for a moment. “This building. You said it was ‘off limits,’ right?” 

“Yup,” Al said. 

“And you intend to poke around to see if you can unveil some secrets that are potentially  hidden inside a government building, and you’re asking me if I’m willing to trespass with you?” You thought back to your home in Drachma. How the Briggs mountains were so close, though it was never safe enough to go to them. “Do you have any idea what could happen to me if your government officials find a Drachman citizen just casually breaking into a restricted municipal facility?” 

Ed’s grin widened into a smirk. “That just means we won’t have to get caught.” 

[oneisallallisone]

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 1

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

I wanted to see more Greedling x reader stories in the tag. This one’s going to be a SLOW burn, but we’ll get there. I have plans. 

Read on AO3

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All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 1: Koldun

There are ancient legends: tales that tell of a city disappearing within a single night, stones that hold the power of god, of immortality itself, just to name a few. Myths such as these have been passed down through generations by word of mouth, pen to paper, and are woven into the fabric of everything that fascinates humankind. 

There is no name for the legend that you are, however. 

Alchemy is the science of understanding, reconstructing, and deconstructing matter. Alkahestry is the art of reading the Dragon’s Pulse, of sensing the flow of energy within yourself and the world around you, and then manipulating it. Both rely on a give and a take. A desire, an exchange, and a result. But you, with your will and your breath and the force that plays at your fingertips, are something else entirely. 

No, there is no name in Amestris for you. But there is an ancient Drachman word for what you might be. A word so old and feared that it is uttered in barely a whisper. “Koldun,” they call you. “Sorcerer.” It is the only word that seems to fit what you are, and the way it is spoken is just as cold as the air that bites your ears and the tip of your nose. Drachman winters are harsh. The resentment of Drachman people who don’t understand your nature is harsher.

But enough about the cold. Now you found yourself in the warmer weather of the south, regretting the bearskin cloak you have draped around your shoulders. It might not be fit for a sunny day in Central City, but its weight provides a calming sense of familiarity. A small piece of home that was actually yours to keep. 

The journey to Amestris hadn’t been hard, but it had been long. The mountain pass was no longer safe to use, as both Drachman and Amestrian soldiers were posted nearby at all hours of the day. The peace was holding out, for now, although it seemed like things could take a turn for the worse at any moment. So instead of taking the mountain pass, you traveled the road through the forest with a group of merchants who were on their way to Aerugo. They needed to pass through Amestris first. You’d parted ways with them in Central, and they wished you luck despite not knowing the full details of your mission.

How could you have told them, though? They would have left you for dead with nothing but the snow as a blanket for your final rest had you told them what you were. Koldun. The word still didn’t feel right in your mind, but it was the only lead you had to cling to.

So there you were, walking through the streets of Central in your too-hot bearskin cloak and worn leather boots, trying to find the greatest wellspring of information the West had to offer in order to gain some insight into the nature of your existence.

Only when you got to the First Branch of the National Central Library, you found a pile of rubble instead.

“What?” you gasped, barely audible. “No, no!”

You ran up what was left of the charred stairs and into the wreckage. 

All around you were mountains of debris and ash. Wooden shelves reduced to nothing, charred husks of books no longer readable and scattered about. You stumbled around every turn, through every crumbling passage that looked once like it might have been a hallway, searching the skeleton of each room for anything that might look like a single page intact, but there was nothing. It was a ruin. You sank to your knees. 

“Dammit!”

An involuntary surge of your power shook the room with your cry—violet waves that knocked loose a few pieces of stone that had not yet fallen. You buried your head in your hands and willed yourself not to sob. There had to be another place to find answers about your abilities. There had to be. You couldn’t have come all this way for nothing. 

You were muttering this softly to yourself when another voice interrupted you. 

“Um, hello?” 

You turned sharply to an unexpected sight. A boy with blonde hair and a long red jacket, and…a massive armored fellow? The voice from before, coming from the blonde boy, spoke again. “Are you alright?” 

You quickly rubbed your dampening eyes. “Yes. Yes, I’m just fine.” 

“We heard a crash,” the armored fellow said in a voice that sounded far more childish than you expected. “Are you sure you’re not injured?”

“Yeah, yeah I was just…throwing some things around. I’m fine. Just frustrated.” 

“Did you happen to see who did this?” the blonde boy asked.

You shook your head. “No.” 

He narrowed his eyes a little then. “How do we know you didn’t do this?” 

“What?” you hissed. “Look, when I got here the place was already a wreck. I didn’t see who or what did this. I swear.” 

For a moment it looked as if the boy was going to continue interrogating you, but then his eyes softened. He dropped his shoulders. “Alright, Al.” He turned to the suit of armor. “I guess we’re going to have to figure something else out.” 

There was a clanking as the suit of armor, Al, hung his head. “I guess so.” 

“Wait,” you said just as the boys were turning to leave. “Do you know if there’s anywhere else in the city that would store knowledge similar to what was in this branch?” 

The blonde boy crossed his arms. “What kind of information are you looking for?” 

You hesitated for a moment. How were you supposed to explain your predicament to these strangers? “Well…I’m looking for any sort of historical records or myths of people with beyond-human abilities.” 

“So you mean like alchemists?”

“Honestly, not quite,” you said hesitantly. “But that wouldn’t be a bad place to start.”  

The blonde boy huffed. “Well believe me, when it comes to people with ‘beyond-human abilities,’ alchemists are the only thing you’re going to find. Alchemy isn’t anything supernatural, but it’s the closest thing humans will ever have to augmented abilities.” 

“You sound very sure of yourself.” 

“Yup. Anything else is just made up.” 

The corners of your mouth twitched. Was it pride? Was it spite? The only thing you knew is that you wanted to wipe this guy’s smug smirk right off his face, and you could already feel the power surging to your fingertips. 

You hadn’t even called upon it. It knew you. 

Raising your hand, you allowed your energy to manifest at your fingertips. Small flickers of purple danced across your skin as you curled and flexed your fingers. It was like passing a coin between your knuckles. 

The blonde boy’s mouth flew open, first in shock, then as if he was going to say something, and then settled into shock again. The armored fellow next to him startled. 

“Brother…” the metallic voice rang. 

“How…how are you doing that?” the blonde asked you. 

“They didn’t perform a transmutation or anything!” the armored boy said, partially to his brother but mostly to himself, it seemed.  

“I’ve never seen alchemy like that,” the blonde started, “Not even Teacher’s is like that. Seriously, how are you doing that?” 

“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours,” you responded.

“What?” 

You pointed at the suit of armor. “What’s his story? I haven’t been in this country for long, but I know that citizens casually going around in full armor isn’t the standard.” 

The metal boy shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, I, well…uh…” 

A resolute look fell onto the blonde boy’s face. He placed a hand on the armored torso of his companion. “Al, it’s okay. We can think of this as just another equivalent exchange, information for information. And besides,” he lowered his voice, “Whatever their power is, it’s not something we’ve seen before. We’d be idiots not to learn more about it. Maybe they can help us.” 

You raised an eyebrow, but neither of the boys saw it. 

The armored fellow raised his head to catch your gaze again. “Please just don’t freak out.” He brought his hands up to his helmet and pulled. There was nothing underneath. 

At first you thought that the boy inside the armor must have been too short to stand within it. But then you took a few steps closer and realized there was no boy in the armor at all.

“Oh,” you said. “Well that’s not something you see every day.” 

“And neither are you,” the blonde said. “We told you ours, now you tell us yours.” 

You frowned. “Unfortunately there’s not much to tell. It’s why I came here, actually. I’m trying to learn more about the nature of my abilities, because they are definitely not…what you call alchemy.” 

“Well, where do you come from?” he asked. “Maybe it has a different name in your country?” 

You shook your head. “Alchemy exists in my country. It is something that is taught. I, however, was not taught any of this.” You lowered your gaze to the floor, preparing to say the words that you had only said to so few. “I am from Drachma. The only word they have for me is Koldun. It translates to sorcerer.”