The Chain Alchemist

Ah yeah, she remembered that time - but never asked him what had exactly being said. One of the very few moments cold facade of indifference shattered with pure rage. Would it happen now as well, repeating the same mistake, the same action just for what she had seen?

Yes, Anais knew she would do the very same thing. And with thoughts in mind, a sigh just left as well, faint and nearly inaudible while she shook her head just lightly. The past was the past, yet came back every single time, and the little female was aware he would just add all of her ‘response’ to her exceeding in uncaring thought. 

Should he - it was alright.

“It is over, Viktor.” And despite her normally spiteful announcement of one’s name, this time it was especially soft. “Whatever he would say now, we grew up and out of it - he is a vile human, his thoughts shouldn’t even get to us, let alone face us.” For they were murderer just as well. “It is over, really.”

    How could he forget though? He remembered every passing second, to the way the sweat dripped down his face to how he barked that day was clear in his mind. Now that he mentioned it, everything with that war was clear in his mind. Even down to the moments he spent with her. Long lasting and forever in his mind, clear as day and dark as sin from the blood he poured.

     It was unmistakable.

     A drag of his cigarette was taken and before long, a smile crept on his face- His name coming out of her mouth like that brought back memories and he would shake his head and laugh gently at the mere thing. When was the last time she said it without antagonizing him? Too long, he mused softly.

      “Been a long time since ya called me by my name and not pissed me off.” Though, when it came down to it, she could hardly truly piss him off. “Yeah... In the past. I just have trouble getting over it, is all.”

“Hm? Oh, thanks.”

     “No problem. Mind me asking if it hurt? I wanna get some myself.”

The humming caught her off guard, as she had previously thought that she was alone. She looked up from her papers just enough to catch a glimpse of who was there. She saw a man she hadn’t noticed before and decided that he must have slipped in silently. “Oh, hello. I didn’t know you were there. Is there something you need?”

     So he had been noticed- The alchemist would turn his head to face the woman, casually glancing as he noted her uniform. A fellow comrade, how fitting, his mind mused. Pulling out a cigarette, he shook his head once.

     “It’s fine, just relaxing from work. It can be a pain in the ass.”

She hummed just very softly, the movement of him was nothing she wouldn’t notice, it was far too easy for her to do so, being the profession she had picked for herself. Nevertheless, Anais would mention nothing of it, relaxing back against the wall – shut out by his thoughts, would he be allowed to marvel on whatever there was.

Calm was such a nice treat.

“I heard of that Ishvalin, he is targeting Alchemists, isn’t he?” Her head would shake shortly, scattered hair becoming a very light mess. “Maybe he will, maybe he won’t – it shouldn’t bother us.”

     Another cigarette was pulled from his pocket- Despite the calm talk he was rather on edge and defensive when the talk of Kimblee came up. What that man had done to him had not been forgotten, not for years and would follow him to death. As he inhaled, Viktor sighed in relief as the smoke settled and a comforting bitter taste touched his tongue. It was nice to vent to her, the little demon spawn he had grown to care for.

     He cared too much for his own good.

     “Yeah, who knows- I might be next.” A joke that was all too real, all too powerful that the possibility could occur. Closing his eyes, a small smile finally passed his lips. “Easy for you to say, you’re so uncaring that he hardly did a thing to ya.” A sigh. “-I still remember what he said to me about you.”

And she would continue speaking like this, trying to take the aggravation away at least for a bit - it’s the least she could do, especially with their past and how they had been with each other, how - ‘important’ - they had been for each other as well.

“Basically: for killing the innocent, you kill the guitly now.” As the Ishvalin were innocent, and the amestrian were guilty, those trying to flee from the military, to be slain for the guilt they didn’t want to face anymore. At least, it appeared like it. “He’s in the jail, as much as I’m aware for the moment. Sitting up his punishment for killing five high ranked officers.” A shrug. “So you don’t need to face him soon.”

      His feet would shift to stand closer to her,       hopefully nothing noticeable by her, in       order to feel the calm. They had been       through so much, Viktor even remembering       when she risked her life for him.

           He would never forget the day he nearly lost her.

      “Whatever I am ordered to kill. Be it that Ishvalan,       Scar, or anyone considered guilty.” There was a       hum from his lips, a small smile tugging onto his       lips at her words. “I hope the monster rots.”

Despite her normal behavior, she knew simply when to stop talking in a certain way, calm and reserved, depicted emotionless by many, was it not true - of course, a farce and facade to keep up and for everyone to see. It didn’t mean it couldn’t change right away, if Anais desired so.

“Mhm. I see.” A sigh left her and she moved the rifle set over her shoulder to put it down, there was still a bit of time until she had to go to her place. “You could also always have someone assigned to you that does the ‘dirty’ work, not everybody is like Solf J. Kimblee, after all.” 

     He had seen her at her most cruel and      her most gentle, the moment currently      going on between them on of her calmer      moments. There was relief in it, something      calming in the way she spoke to him when      she desired to be calm. It was soothing,      and something he would never openly     admit to.

          “Nah, this is my punishment for killing; More killing.”           At the mention of the other, there was a twitch of           his eye before closing them. “That bastard makes me           sick to my stomach. I am glad there are only a few           like him in this world.”

It wasn’t as if she was cold, but killing was for her a job - the perfect sniper, the perfect soldier, the perfect… alchemist too, but never used in the war and in battle. Not that anybody but him knew about that. They had secrets that only the other was aware off, amazing, depending how they treated each other from time to time.

“I know.” For why would it be? Some alchemists had no qualms going around killing, some were martered by the thought and desiring for it to end. “Yet it affects you, you could always transfer to an office-profession in central? It would still allow you to use alchemy.”

     How the conversation changed drastically,      it made him nearly miss the banter they      had going on. However, he would accept      it nonetheless. It was somewhat soothing      talking to her about this, so he would crush      the cigarette with his bare hands before      dropping it to the ground.

          “I know you know. I just felt like repeating it.”           He knew of those that enjoyed it all, the Crimson           alchemist being one of them, yet that hardly           meant he would undermind his punishment.           “Nah, it’s too late to turn back now. Gotta keep           it up now.”

                           ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ᴡᴏɴᴛ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʟɪғᴇ

Ah, that was the thing why he was easier to irrate than usual. Anais knew as much, knew him long enough to know just how much everything affected him, despite his rather uncaring and brash behavior put out and in view for everyone to witness and to believe something else.

“I see, the unpleasant work yet once again? I thought they gave you free of that task with the war ending? I’m sorry for that.” Listening to them, it might come across strangely, but she was apologizing to him because she knew how he felt.

     There was a small sigh, smoke leaving      his lips- Yeah, it had been difficult for      him to continue to kill, having nightmares      of the faces he slaughtered yet living      with them nonetheless. She understood,      for she had been the only one to know      how he truly felt.

          “You would think I’d quit by now.” Yet alchemy was           and always would be his passion. He could never           truly leave it now.

     “... It’s not your problem.”

A tilt of her head came at him smoking, it wasn’t something she exceptionally preferred, yet would say nothing - he had his habits as she had hers, and he was smoking as long as she knew him. Should he do it for calm, why not? 

“Speaking simply would be a nice beginning? We only stumbled upon each other accidentally after all - what have you done the last weeks?”

     The way the air changed      around them would be      noted, making him calm      down quickly. His lips would      hold the cigarette softly as      he spoke.

          “Doing my job and getting drunk, mostly.           Had to kill someone again for running away           from the military. So the same ol’ things.”

“I need to get on my post only for a specific target. You know just well I don’t snipe everybody that walks around.” Her profession and skill after all, picking out one person amongst hundreds, one specific goal, no matter how protected or strong. “So why don’t you entertain me a bit, dear colleague~ It doesn’t appear like you have something to do at the moment.”

     A cigarette was lit as she spoke,      a puff of smoke leaving him soon      after. How long had he known this      woman? Years, since before the war      and yet she still managed to irk      him so easily. Only she was capable      of it.

          “Entertain’ ya, huh? What do you want           from me, a damn show?”

If she would try to pet him, he’s probably going to bite her.

“Don’t make me go and try to ‘snipe’ you.” But, honestly, how many of her comrades had been in front of her rifle, in front of her scope, simply by checking the surrounding for enemies? A lot. “And I will not vanish soon, I have an order here, after all.”

     Second by second he was losing      his patience with her but he needed      to remain cool. Sighing loudly, he      would grumble out his words.

          “Oh, I would love to see you try.           Then how about you do your           post the Hell away from me. I           rather choke on my chains then           deal with you.

    She would have to say that he was lost, this was out in the middle of nowhere–but at least she was here to help him get to be where he wanted to go.

         "Oh, um, sure.“ She said, pushing off the building that she was taking refuge in for now. "Where exactly do you want to go?”

     “The nearest bar would be great.” Would      be his reply, shifting his feet awkwardly for      a moment as she came closer.

          “I will figure out the rest when I am there.”

“huh?”

The boy looked at the other for a moment, confusion swirling in his eyes.

“Wait, are you asking if I’m lost or are you saying you’re lost?”

     “Nah, meant if you were lost.”

          He should have been clearer, but he           was a man a few words in the end.

————✘

                     What the hell kind of greeting was that? He quirks a                      brow and…awkwardly waves back, opening his mouth                      to say something before closing it again. Wow.

     “This is awkward.”

           He was admittedly, a bit surprised by how young            the other seemed. So the rumors were true, so           Viktor would pull out a cigarette as he began to           smoke.

      “Name’s Viktor, I’ve heard of you... Edward       Elric, right?”

“Mhm ~? Oh no ~ feel free.”

Merely the Shinigami waited for whenever his partner would return. The war-front had always held something very – alluring – for him, so the Crimson Alchemist would take him to the line whenever it was possible.

“I merely wait for my partner, and have no right and say in this place, so you should not worry at all ~”

     “Thanks.”

         He would lit his cigarette slowly, inhaling          the toxic fumes gently before releasing          the smoke. He wondered what the other          was doing without Kimblee but would not          ask.

     “Mm, I see. I just ask ‘cause I know      some people get mad at smell.”

He was so easy to irritate, that didn’t even provide a challenge anymore, and that when they had served so long together. 

“You know, insults only work in one way - if I already used the same words, it is unlikely they will work with me.”

     Dammit, she had a point; And he loathed      having to admit it to her. A twitch of his      eyebrow cam and he hissed like a stubborn      cat.

          “Oh, why don’t you just shut up and go snipe           something, you demon spawn. I have better           things to do then to deal with you!”