「Anime x Reader One Shots」

The True Monster (2003 Teen!Wrath x Reader)

You stood in the kitchen and helped Izumi make that night's dinner. You were far from being a great cook but you still helped cut up vegetables or whatever small tasks she had you do. Even though it had been over a year since Izumi found you wandering the streets and took you in, you still felt in debt to her kindness. The Elric brothers warned you each time they had visited about how mean Izumi is, but she's only ever shown kindness to you.

Izumi's son, Wrath, had also only shown kindness to you considering everything he's been through. You were never told the full details and you never dared to ask further, but from as far as you knew, he was separated from Izumi as a baby and were only just reunited as a child. Years had passed since then and he was now seventeen. When you first arrived, he was shy and easily frightened. Over the past few months, he seemed to have opened up more to you and you both soon became each other's only friend.

Based on the pictures you had seen of Wrath as a child, he didn't seem to have changed much. He had obviously grown taller and wasn't as frail, but his long black hair was kept the same, only it was more well-kept. The only major difference was his eyes. As a child, his eyes held a little fear mixed with some playfulness. The Wrath you knew today only held sorrow in his eyes. You knew that he must've been through a lot but it wasn't your place to ask exactly what happened.

After dinner was finally ready, you, Izumi, Wrath, and Sig all sat at the table, passing the steaming dishes around to each other. Wrath didn't hesitate a moment before digging into his food, eating it faster than you thought was possible. You smiled at him, happy that was one thing that never changed about him and probably would never change.

"Slow down or you're going to choke," Izumi scolded her son. He nodded and continued eating his food a little slower, but still fast compared to anyone else.

"Hey, Izumi? Can I ask you something?" you asked nervously, meaning to bring up this question before but never had the nerve to.

"You just did," she replied with a smile before continuing to eat her meal.

"I- You know that's not what I meant," you said a bit more seriously. This topic was a serious matter to you.

"What is it?"

"Well, uh, I was wondering.... Could you teach me alchemy?"

"No," she replied without missing a beat.

"Wha- why? You taught the Elric brothers!" you exclaimed, upset by her abrupt refusal without even giving it a thought.

"They were a.... Special case. Why are you interested in learning alchemy in the first place?"

That was it. Your chance to finally explain why you've been holed up in your room for the past few weeks- to tell her about the research you were doing.

"I've been looking into my parents' death and I think I've discovered their murder," you said a little shakily, still sensitive about this topic.

"I'm not going to teach you alchemy just to get revenge on the person-"

"But that's the thing," you said quickly, not worrying about the annoyed look she gave you after cutting her off. "What killed my parents aren't human. They're a crime against humanity, complete monsters."

Izumi, Wrath, and Sig all gave you wary glances, all of which knowing what you were going to say next.

"They're called homunculi."

Wrath quickly averted his eyes away from you while Izumi stared straight at you, looking somewhat angry.

"I've heard of them," she admitted. "But what makes you think they killed your parents?"