Beta: Taintedletter

Artwork by peachijuiceart on tumblr/instagram. 

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Early spring of 1908

"Hello."

Elizabeth paused in her studies, looking up to find a boy taller than her. He was a cute boy, with neatly combed black hair and deep purple eyes. He was well dressed, and he had a nice smile.

'An heir?' Elizabeth thought to herself, closing her textbook to give the boy her full attention.

No one had approached her in the library for months, after all.

Six months into her alchemical tutoring, Mrs. Delve inquired about Elizabeth's interests. When Elizabeth admitted her desire to combine alchemy and botany, she expected some kind of lecture, or negative reaction.

Instead, Mrs. Delve made an approving comment, and admitted that she was not well versed enough in botany to assist.

The following day, Grandfather Crow gave Elizabeth permission to study in Central's military library in regards to botany. Mrs. Delve would drop her off at the library after their lessons, and a butler would fetch her before dinner.

That had been six months ago, and Elizabeth gleefully took to her studies. The library at home was dismal, and unpleasant to be in, but she found the library at Central to be an utter delight.

It had an overabundance of knowledge, a delightful smell of old books, and plenty of lighting to not feel dull. Elizabeth was utterly content at the library, and thoroughly enjoyed reading there.

Reading was always a good way to distract her from the fact that she had no friends.

She hardly had any interruptions, too.

No one paid her any mind.

Until day.

Today a boy approached her, and was holding out his hand to her.

Elizabeth accepted his hand with a shy smile of her own. "H-Hello."

"I'm new here," the boy went on, shaking her hand. "I'm Selim Bradley."

"E-Elizabeth Luxanna," Elizabeth introduced, retracting her hand.

"I heard about you from my father," Selim said, his smile widening. "You're studying to be a State Alchemist, right? A prodigy?"

"Yes," Elizabeth admitted, wondering why the boy had approached her. Children didn't come up to Elizabeth anymore, and once they knew what she was there for, they usually left.

"That's so cool!" Selim crowd, and Elizabeth thought the sparkle in his eyes was charming. "Hey, can I join you? I don't have school for a while, and it's boring being left alone."

"Oh." Elizabeth's eyes widened, and a hopeful feeling fluttered inside of her chest. "Yes... please do."

'Does this mean...?' Elizabeth watched with disbelief as the boy promptly took a seat beside her. 'Is he... wanting to be my friend?'

'Dear God, please let us become good friends!'

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

One month later...

Elizabeth Luxanna sat alone at a table in the far back of the library. At first glance one might find the appearance of a five year old girl reading from books as big as her head strange, but those that knew Elizabeth Luxanna would find the situation perfectly normal.

The brunette kept her thick long hair in a loose side tail that went over her right shoulder. She wore a stylish green and white sundress, accompanied by a dainty bow. She was, after all, a wealthy heiress. That demanded a certain standard to her appearance.

Elizabeth chewed on her bottom lip as she painstakingly redrew some of the more complex designs out of the book she reading from. She was not allowed to take any of the books out of the library, since this library was reserved for members of the military. She was one of the lucky few granted special permission due to her grandfather, and status as potential State Alchemist.

Obviously she was too young to take the test, but her prodigal intelligence, coupled with her intuitive grasp of science and alchemy, marked her as someone special.

This, with her connections through her Grandfather, granted the five year old heiress special permission to study in the library.

Every day after noon—when she would finish up her morning studies with her private tutors—she would take a trip to the library and spend the remainder of her day studying botany, plant science, and human biology.

Again, this would strike anyone as odd to find a five year reading—and understanding—these complex sciences.

But those in the know, simply accepted this fact.

Elizabeth worked with an intense single-minded focus that did not belong with a child. She worked for hours until she was politely interrupted by a boy close to her age.

Selim Bradley was a new addition in Central. The führer and his wife had adopted Selim only last month.

Elizabeth paused in her work, her green eyes lighting up with genuine joy when her friend took a seat beside her. Even though he had been visiting her every day for a month now, she couldn't stop being pleasantly surprised to see him. Comparing the demeanor of the girl before and after Selim visited her was like comparing night and day. Her sheer glee was plainly apparent to all who could see.

He gave her a saccharine smile, and asked in that cute voice of his, "Whatchya working on now, Ellie?"

Elizabeth showed him the diagram she was currently sketching.

"Nonvascular plants?" Selim repeated, tilting his head in a way that Elizabeth found to be a very adorable.

"Plants that don't have the tissues to transport water," Elizabeth oversimplified for him. There was, of course, a lot more to it, but Selim didn't have the same level of interest in botany as Elizabeth did. She didn't want to bore her only friend away.

"I see," came Selim.

"What do you wanna do?" Elizabeth asked Selim, closing her books and turning to him. "Do you like any games?"

"What kind of games?" Selim asked, cocking his head.

"Hmm." Elizabeth hadn't really played games before, but she had seen children play them in the streets. "What about hide and seek?"

This made Selim smile so wide it looked almost sinister. "I don't think you want to play that with me. I'm really good at finding people."

If that wasn't a challenge, Elizabeth didn't know what was.

Childish joy bubbled up inside of her, and confidence she didn't know she had stepped forth. "I bet I could hide somewhere you can't find me."

Selim's grin stretched even further out, and if Elizabeth didn't know any better she would have thought there was a darker tone to it. "Eh? Well, let's find out. I'll give you three chances."

"Okay," Elizabeth agreed to. "Count to thirty, okay?"

"Okay," Selim agreed.

Unfortunately for Elizabeth, he found her. All three times.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

The library always grew quieter as the day went on. In many ways, the library would remind Elizabeth of her home when it grew too quiet. But the library had something "home" didn't, and that was Selim Bradley. When Selim joined Elizabeth in the afternoons, Elizabeth would pause in her work to spend time with him.

For the first time in years, Elizabeth had something—someone—to look forward to throughout the day.

She hadn't realize how badly she needed a friend until Selim stepped into the role.

At home, Elizabeth would count the seconds until she was freed to go to the library. Her tutoring sessions became more difficult to focus on when she started to find herself daydreaming about some new and exciting game she and Selim would play (he was very good at coming up with games).

To her, Selim was the best thing to have happened to her.

To her, he could do no wrong.

So the very idea of anyone disagreeing with this opinion felt like sheer blasphemy. Like someone was trying to argue that the sky was purple, not blue.

"You don't find me creepy, do you?" Selim had asked her one day, his face blank, and tone flat. The two sat in their favorite little corner in the library while Elizabeth had been reading aloud a fantasy adventure novel for Selim. He was usually an attentive listener—he especially liked it when she did voices for the characters—but that day he felt distant.

"No," Elizabeth answered honestly, caught off guard by the strange question. As she thought about it for a second more, apprehension rose up inside of her. Concerned, she asked, "Why? Who said that?"

"Oh, just some kids," Selim answered vaguely, turning his head away from her. "A lot kids don't like to be around me because of it."

"Then they're stupid," Elizabeth concluded, frowning as she peered at her friend.

'Did they hurt him?' Elizabeth worriedly thought. 'I hope he doesn't think that about himself.'

The thought of her only friend being upset deeply bothered her. She wished she could do something to take away those awful feelings, and she frantically searched through her mind to think of a way. Most of her knowledge pertained to math, or science, not social interactions.

But then she recalled an earlier scene in the book she was currently reading to Selim, and it was from there she found an answer.

She reached forward and gently patted Selim's shoulder. This caused her friend to turn his head to look over at her, and she leaned forward to kiss his cheek in friendly manner. "You're not creepy, Selim. You're my friend. Don't listen to those other kids, okay?"

Selim froze the moment Elizabeth kissed him on the cheek, his entire posture and face stiffening as if he had just witnessed the impossible.

"Selim?" Elizabeth asked, realizing that her friend wasn't reacting. She waved her hand in front of his face. "Selim, are you okay?"

Selim blinked several times before he smiled awkwardly at her. "I'm fine."

Elizabeth beamed. "As long as you're okay. Tell me if anyone ever says that to you again and I'll beat 'em up for you."

For some reason this caused Selim to snort before bursting out into laughter.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

"Cat or dog?"

"Cat," Selim answered. "Red or blue?"

"Red," Elizabeth returned. "Chocolate or vanilla?"

That got a smirk. "Chocolate. Day or night?"

"Night." Elizabeth narrowed her emerald green eyes in thought. They had been going back and forth for over an hour, and she was starting to run out of questions. "Fire or water?"

"Fire. Stone or steel?"

"Steel. Fruit or vegetables?"

"Fruit." Selim's nose wrinkled. "Who likes vegetables?"

"Vegetarians," Elizabeth suggested.

Selim nodded, curling his lip back in plain distaste and reluctantly accepting such. "Yeah. Alright... Mountain or ocean?"

"Mountains." Elizabeth shuddered. "I don't like water I can't see the bottom of."

A dark glimmer of interest sparked in Selim's eyes. "Oh? Why not?"

"One word: kraken."

Disappointed, Selim snapped, "That doesn't exist!"

"We don't know that," Elizabeth insisted, but Selim snorted disbelieving at her. "Have you ever been to the ocean?"

Selim frowned, his eyes narrowing. He folded his arms over his chest. "No. But you have?"

"No, but that's 'cause I'm too scared. I don't want to accidentally unleash the kraken," Elizabeth retorted, then brightened, her eyes sparkling. "Your turn."

Selim pursed his lips. "Mn. Cake or cookies?"

"Cookies—no, cake. No, cookies. Um... This one is really hard." Elizabeth scratched her cheek as she thought. "Oh, dang. I guess you win, I can't choose."

"I always win," Selim said haughtily, a smirk crawling across his face.

"I'll beat you at something one day," Elizabeth declared before she deflated immediately afterward. "Maybe."

Selim mockingly patted her back, his tone smug. "You're welcome to try, Ellie."

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Time spent with Selim was treasured, and Elizabeth even took to writing about their quiet adventures in the library so that way she could re-read them at home. When she was done writing a week's work of adventures, she'd give them over to Selim who would then scribble comments in the margins that always made her laugh.

She wished it could go on like that forever.

But time marched on unwavering, and Selim had to start attending school.

When Selim Bradley started school, he was no longer able to visit Elizabeth in the afternoons. He had to return home after class, instead.

Elizabeth didn't want to lose her only friend—the thought of Selim leaving her for good sent a sharp pain through her heart, and made her feel sick to her stomach. She didn't have anyone else to talk to.

Selim really, and truly, was her only friend. If she could no longer spend time with him, she thought she might drown in her loneliness.

A bit over dramatic, perhaps, but that was how the girl sincerely felt.

She hated being ignored at home. She hated not being able to connect with her own peers. She hated how the adults looked down at her because of her age.

But none of these were things she felt like she could fix. Making a ruckus at home would cause her to be confined to her bedroom in isolation for however long Grandfather wanted, and she lacked the patience to deal with immature children. She couldn't make adults respect her, because she honestly had no idea how.

Selim was the only one who voluntarily spent time with her. He listened—and understood—what she talked about.

He single handedly made her feel... not alone.

If she could look forward to meeting with him later that day, then she could stomach the bitterly quiet breakfasts, or the snide tutoring lessons. He made everything bearable.

And yes, she knew it was unfair to put that entire burden on one person, but...

Elizabeth didn't know what else to do.

Selim no longer being able to visit her in the afternoons was unacceptable to the girl, but she couldn't very well force him out of school.

No.

But she could visit him for an hour at his home.

Hopefully.

Now, she had never been to Selim's home, or even met his parents, so Elizabeth knew she had to make a very good impression.

She dressed up in her nicest sundress, cute shoes, and fixed her hair several times before she was satisfied. She had her butler take her to a nearby bakery and floral shop to pick up greeting gifts—her etiquette tutor told her such was essential—and then she was escorted to Selim's home.

Which just so happened to be the home of the führer in Central Command.

The butler, Gregory, escorted the young heiress to the front gates. He stopped short of going in, giving a stern look to Elizabeth. "I'll return in an hour, young miss."

"Okay," Elizabeth said, a touch disappointed he wouldn't be escorting her any further. She understood why—ever since it was decided she would be enlisted in the military as soon as possible as a State Alchemist, her grandfather began to enforce "early independence"—but she still disliked it.

Central Command was a massive and intimidating building. It stood tall, clinical white walls looming above all who entered its premise. There were guards stationed nearly everywhere in sight, and patrols roaming along outside.

Elizabeth clutched at her small box of puff pastries, and her bouquet of blue flowers. Nerves fluttered inside the pit of her stomach, and she swallowed back the anxious lump in her throat. Mustering up the little courage she had, she straightened her shoulders, and marched directly down the front road.

She received a few perturbed looks as she walked, but she (with great difficulty) pressed on.

Entering the front doors—the guards stationed there opened them for her, thankfully—she stepped in to a pristine waiting area. There were a couple civilians milling around, and no one paid the small girl any bit of attention.

Elizabeth moved to the receptionist, and the pretty woman behind the counter smiled down at her. "How can I help you, sweetheart?"

"I-I'm looking for Selim Bradley's home," Elizabeth squeaked out, trying to calm her stomach.

"Oh, he's the führer's new son, isn't he? Are you a friend from school?" The receptionist asked with a wide smile.

Elizabeth nodded shortly. "I'm his friend."

"Okay... you see the doorway over there?" At Elizabeth's nod, she continued, "Go through there, and take an immediate right. Go all the way down the hallway until you reach the end and go left. Go through the white doors, and it'll take you outside. The building directly across is where the Bradley's live."

Elizabeth committed the directions to her head. "Okay. Th-thank you."

"Of course. Ask any of the guards to help you if you get lost."

Elizabeth bowed politely before excusing herself. She hurried down the hallways, weaving between the guards. Thankfully, she was able to accurately follow the directions, and she made it back outside.

The Bradley's home was behind Central Command, and it was every bit as imposing as Command. Elizabeth nervously approached the front door, and knocked.

There was several seconds of tense silence before the door opened up to reveal an elderly butler. "Good evening, young miss. How may I help you?"

"I-I'm here t-to see Selim, a-and meet his parents," Elizabeth barely managed to say, her voice quivering from nerves. She wished she was back at the library, where it was safe, quiet, and she didn't have to interact with so many strange adults.

Adults only looked down on her, after all.

The butler's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Oh, I see. Please, do come in, miss...?"

"E-Elizabeth Luxanna," Elizabeth hurriedly said, stepping inside.

"If you would please wait here, I'll fetch the young master and Mrs. Bradley." The butler excused himself, and Elizabeth resisted the urge to fidget.

It took several minutes before anyone returned. Selim practically rushed into the room, face conveying a perfect sense of shock. "Oh, wow! You really are here, Ellie."

Behind him was an older woman with kind eyes, and a sweet smile. "Is that any way to greet a friend, Selim? You must be Elizabeth, it's wonderful to meet you."

Elizabeth promptly curtsied, remembering her manners. "I'm Elizabeth Luxanna, ma'am. It's an ho-honor to meet you. These are for you."

Elizabeth thrusted out the pastry box and flowers, and Mrs. Bradley's eyes crinkled as she accepted them. "Oh my, these are lovely. Thank you. Elizabeth, why don't you stay for dinner?"

"O-oh, I couldn't impose—"

"C'mon, Ellie!" Selim exclaimed, grabbing Elizabeth's hand and tugging her forward. "Dinner's the best here. You came to see me, didn't you?"

"Y-Yes! A-About that, actually," Elizabeth took a deep breath in, "I was hoping if maybe I could visit after school? S-Since Selim can't visit the library in the afternoons anymore, I—"

"I don't see why not," Mrs. Bradley responded gently. "As long as Selim has his homework finished, you're more than welcome to come over and play any time."

Selim tilted his head as he looked at Elizabeth, amusement in his eyes. "Did you really come here to try and spend more time with me?"

"Of course," Elizabeth said, her cheeks red. "You're my best friend. I'd be really sad if I couldn't see you anymore."

Selim frowned briefly at that before he grinned widely. "Best friend, huh?"

"The very best," Elizabeth assured him.

For some reason this made him laugh.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Elizabeth met Selim at his school the following day, excited to walk home with him. Central Academy was stationed close to Central Command, so his home was within walking distance. To Elizabeth's surprise, Mrs. Bradley was already at the school gates, too.

When Mrs. Bradley noticed Elizabeth, her whole face lit up. "Oh, Elizabeth, did you come to walk Selim home, too?"

"Yes, ma'am," Elizabeth shyly admitted, tugging at her dress.

Mrs. Bradley glanced around Elizabeth, a small frown marred her face. "I don't see any escorts with you."

"My tutor dropped me off at the library at noon, and I walked from there," Elizabeth answered. The library was nearby, too, after all.

Mrs. Bradley let out a small gasp of surprise. "Alone? But you're so young!"

"Grandfather Crow wants me to become independent as soon as possible, so I can join the military," Elizabeth explained. Mrs. Bradley's face clouded over with blatant disbelief, but Elizabeth didn't understand why. Everything she said was normal to Elizabeth.

Adults only thought of children as beneath them, or tools to be used. Grandfather Crow thought of Elizabeth as a thing to better the country.

That was natural.

Having Mrs. Bradley show up to escort her son was utterly bizarre to Elizabeth.

Although, now that Elizabeth noticed, there were quite a few other parents milling around outside.

'Are they all waiting for their children?' Elizabeth wondered, befuddled by this. 'Why?'

Before Elizabeth, or Mrs. Bradley, could say anything further the school let out for the day and Selim rushed over to the two. He greeted both with a happy chirp, "Hello, Mother! Hey, Ellie!"

Mrs. Bradley smiled sweetly down at Selim, taking his hand and then holding her other hand out to Elizabeth. Elizabeth stared at it peculiarly before she realized Mrs. Bradley wanted to hold Elizabeth's hand.

Perturbed, the heiress reluctantly obliged, and Mrs. Bradley began to walk the two children back home.

Elizabeth expected a quiet, somber walk home.

But then Mrs. Bradley did something absolutely absurd.

Smiling warmly, she asked with a downright ludicrous amount of sincerity, "How was your day, Selim?"

"Easy," Selim bragged.

"Everything's easy to you," Elizabeth pointed out, even as she stared at Mrs. Bradley in disbelief.

'Why does she seem like she genuinely wanted to know about Selim's day? Am I dreaming?'

That got a big smile from her friend, and a cute giggle ('Adults can do that?!') from Mrs. Bradley. "Oh, my! She's got you pegged, Selim."

"Not entirely," Selim responded. "How about you, Mother? How was your day?"

"Lovely, as always," Mrs. Bradley answered cheerfully. "Elizabeth, dear, would you like to have dinner with us again?"

'Dear?!' Elizabeth thought, aghast, before she shook her head to clear that thought.

Elizabeth promptly recalled Grandfather telling her to always accept dinner from the führer's family. When she had returned home late the night she first visited Selim's family, Grandfather Crow had been quite cross with her. Until she explained what happened, and then he told her to always accept whatever request came from the Bradley's.

A part of Elizabeth was relieved to receive blanket permission to spend time with Selim. The rest of her wondered how Mrs. Bradley planned on using her.

She smiled hesitantly at Mrs. Bradley. "Y-Yes, please."

Mrs. Bradley's eyes shone brightly. "Wonderful—"

The hair on the back of Elizabeth's neck tingled, and she abruptly snatched her hand out of Mrs. Bradley's grip. A car swerved out of control toward the trio, and Elizabeth's body moved on its own accord, throwing itself on top of her only friend.

Mrs. Bradley also reacted, crying out and immediately grabbing both children and turning around to shield them from the car.

There was a loud screech as the car veered out of the way, crashing into a nearby lamppost. Mrs. Bradley trembled as she held Elizabeth, who was holding onto Selim.

For several seconds there was only tense silence and then a flurry of men and women rushed over to the scene. Shakily, Mrs. Bradley relaxed her hold on the children and worriedly asked, "Are you two okay?"

"Y-Yeah," Elizabeth answered, too flustered to question the sincerity behind Mrs. Bradley's question. The brunette heiress addressed a blank faced Selim. "S-Selim?"

"I'm fine," Selim answered, his tone subdued, and expression unreadable.

Mrs. Bradley breathed out a sigh of relief before she rounded on Elizabeth. There was a painful warmth inside of her eyes that made the young girl deeply uncomfortable. "You threw yourself in front of Selim before I even noticed. That was very brave of you."

Elizabeth's face turned hot. "It was nothing."

Mrs. Bradley's expression softened and she pulled both children into her arms, kissing the top of their heads (the action made both children turn to stone, completely stiff). "What wonderful children you both are. I'm so very glad you're safe."

Embarrassed heat flooded through Elizabeth as a motherly woman hugged her tightly with unwarranted tenderness. Never, ever, in her life could Elizabeth remember a time that she had been hugged.

She had read about it. She had read about kisses on the cheeks, and hugs, and sweet families, but those had been in stories. Fantasies. Make believe.

She tried to be affectionate with Selim, but he never initiated contact.

So having someone hug her tightly with relief that she was okay was—

Ohsoverynice.

And confusing.

Extremely confusing.

And judging by Selim's expression, he felt the exact same way.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Mrs. Bradley is an angel that should have adopted the Elric brothers too, and no one can change my mind about that.

Answer: Sure. I'd sacrifice an arm to learn how to transmute plants. As long as I could get a pretty sweet automail arm afterward.

Question: What kind of alchemist would you like to be?

Reviews are love!