Somewhat Human (Fullmetal Alchemist)

9: Fools Gold

(Y/n) looks up and the corners of her mouth quirk up at Edward's plan, Edward extends his hand out to her with a smirk, "Absolutely!" (Y/n) takes his hand and the two of them climb on the crate full of rubble, " We're breaking the law here Al so pretend you're not looking," Edward calls from over his shoulder.

" So I'm an accomplice now?" Alphonse says, (Y/n) shrugs her shoulders, " We've been accomplices in worse." While true this is a bit different than the other times they all found themselves in trouble, " What's worse than breaking the law?!" (Y/n) thinks before eventually giving up on finding an answer.

"Don't sweat the details, (Y/n) focus!" Edward goes over the process of transmuting the stones into gold, it was completely different than (Y/n)'s plant alchemy. (Y/n) had to be gentle with her plant transmutations since she was dealing with living things, though you wouldn't be able to tell from watching her fight.

Metal and probably rock-based alchemy, she could be rougher with it making the metal/stone transmute to her not the other way around. Though the concept took some time for (Y/n) to grasp, her first couple of gold bars didn't look like bars at all, taking the shape of gold twigs.

" Don't beat yourself up over it, this is a good start."

"That's what every mentor says when their student is shit."

" I mean it!"

(Y/n) keeps trying and eventually she can make the gold bars at a reasonable pace, " I can't believe the first thing you taught her is how to transmute gold..." Alphonse sighs, Edward laughs and drills his knuckles into (Y/n)'s cheeks, " But look at her! She's a natural." (Y/n) playfully rolls her eyes pointing at one of her first 'gold bars,' " You call that a natural?"

Edward nods, " Definitely, we're going to keep your first one for memories." Alphonse looks at Edward worried, " That could get us in big trouble!" Edward shrugs his shoulders before looking at Alphonse with a cheeky grin, " Not if I do this."

Alphonse tilts his head curiously, Edward grabs the gold twig and transmutes it into a ring with rose etching as a nudge to her code name, the only good fashion decision he has made to date.

" See? No one will know." Edward signals (Y/n) to give him her hand, she extends it to him and he puts it on her right pointer finger. (Y/n) admires the ring with awe, Edward stares at her with a small smile. If he had a tail it would most definitely be wagging, Alphonse looks at them and sees the perfect opportunity to make a joke.

" And by the power invested in me, I hereby pronounce you-"

" SHUT UP!"

" It was perfectly fine until you said something!"

=TIME SKIP=

Edward and (Y/n) stand proudly in front of the gold as Yoki gapes at the amount of money, "Like I said, I would like you to sell us these mines." Edward states, Yoki's men examine the gold trying to count how much there is. Yoki stutters and (Y/n) tilts her head innocently.

" Is this not enough?" Edward mentally notes how he was going to say the same thing while Yoki frantically shakes his head, "Not at all! Just... Who are you?" Yoki points at (Y/n), he didn't see her at the inn since she was hidden in the back with Alphonse, so he's still surprised at her appearance. Edward and (Y/n) link arms and bring out both of their pocket watches, the two watches clinking together with a ding.

Yoki gasps at (Y/n)'s watch, " You're both State Alchemists?!" (Y/n) nods while twirling the watch around her finger, unlinking arms with Edward, " Yup!" Yoki nods slowly before getting back on track, " Alright... But gold transmutation is illegal."