Some Things Never Change (FMAB fanfic)

Chapter 1

I shoved my hands in my pockets as I continued to wander the streets of Central. I'd only been here for a few days and it's going to take some getting used to. I keep getting lost in the city, it's like a maze.

As I was trying to find my way around when a hand grabbed my bag and started to try and steel it away from me. On instinct I pulled back, and the man pulled me into an alley.

He continued to pull, and I pulled the other way. I pulled him closer and brought my knee up to his stomach to try and get him to let go but he just grunted, his grip tightening. I tried it twice more and he responded by grasping my hair and smashing my head against the brick wall of a building. I groaned, my vision blurring, but I did not let go. This bag was too valuable to lose.

I put my foot on his stomach and kicked a couple times, and with a harder kick he finally let go and stumbled back. I made a move to run, but he ducked and grabbed my leg, tripping me. I grunted as I hit the ground, and started to get to my feet, grabbing my bag at the same time he did.

Why does he want this so badly? He must be a pretty desperate thief.

I got up and pulled on my bag more before he gripped my hair tightly, yanked it forward, then he threw me back onto the ground. I cried out in pain, but luckily I held onto my bag and it was forced out of his hands.

He was about to come after me as I was about to get up when I heard fast footsteps and clanking metal. He heard it too because he hesitated and a few moments later he was tackled down by a short boy with a black outfit and a long red coat. He had golden blonde hair pulled back into a braid and he started to beat the thief up, as I stared in shock, clutching my bag.

"Are you alright?" A big suit of armer with the voice of a young boy asked me, kneeling down by my side. I nodded a bit jerkily, as I scrambled to pick up the few things that had fallen out of my bag.

"Get out of here!" The blonde boy shouted to the thief as he got up and ran away in shock and fear, the same thing I was feeling.

"Are you okay?" The boy asked, holding his hand out to help me up.

I stared at his hand, then looked up into his golden eyes, then back at the hand. I pushed myself up, since I had no idea who these guys were. The blonde boy glared lightly at me before letting his hand drop.

"Who are you?" I demanded, holding my bag close and looking between the two of them.

"I'm Edward and this is Alphonse, but we're usually called Ed and Al." The short one answered. "I'm also pretty well known as the Fullmetal alchemist, so you may have heard of me." He added with a smug smirk.

"I've never heard of you, sorry." I replied, shaking my head. His expression changed from smug to grumbly in a matter of seconds.

"Who was that guy and why were you fighting?" Al asked, ignoring Ed's grumpy attitude.

"He was just a thief trying to steal my bag." I answered, showing them my wrinkled, canvas backpack. They nodded. "And I never asked for your help by the way." I added, crossing my arms across my chest and sending them a glare.

"Well it sure looked like you needed it" Ed shot back, glaring back at me.

I smirked, my glare fading. "Whatever. See ya later." I said, throwing my bag over my shoulder and walking away from them. But I stopped short when a thought came to my mind.

"Wait, did you say you were an alchemist?" I asked as I turned around.

They both nodded.

"Could you...teach me some alchemy?" I asked a bit eagerly and hesitantly. "More than I already know I mean, I know some of it. My mother was an alchemist but she died before she could teach me much and since then I've only researched it."