Same, But Different (A Fullmetal Alchemist fan-fic)

That's Why I Wanna Get Stronger

Eclair's POV

"What do you wanna do when you end this, later in life?" Ed had asked me on the walk back.
"I don't know. Probably raise a family, find someone so I don't become an old hag like Trevor will."
"A family?"
"Yeah. I've always been alone before this, and well, I finally have decided it's not so bad having company."
"I guess your right"
"I bet that seems a little far fetched anyway. Seeing me with a man....in love....having children, not getting up-roared at everything, and not the 'man of the house'...it all seems not like me. But I don't wanna seem hard and rude all my life" I pop a slight sly smile.
"I can see it. But I don't think you'll be as happy as you think you will be."
"Huh?"
"Think about it. If you are any of that, is it really you?" Was he suggesting that it wasn't me who kinda liked him? Was I actually okay with myself?
"Partially. Not all. A good....fifty-percent."
"Fifty?
"Twenty five"
Ed stairs at me.
"Ten."
"You just won't be happy in a normal family"
"A normal family would mean I'd lose my job also....I guess you're right."
"You like being an alchemist?"
"I put all my pride and work into it. I don't know any other way to live."
"You have to know!"
"But I don't. Ever since I was twelve, I wasn't a 'kid' anymore. I grew up. I had to to stay alive."
"You don't give a crap about Amestris though, so then why are you still a state alchemist?!"
Shocked and almost appalled by the question, I replied, "I don't know. Perhaps it's because I don't have a home to return to. The village...Zanner...he burnt it down to stop me from getting information. I acted as though I started the fire to make it look like this was my plan from the very start."
"You mean, you're alienated from everyone else?" It started to rain, and only what got through the thick overgrowth of the forest could get us wet.
"Isn't it obvious? There's nowhere I exactly fit in. I went to xing actually to see if I fit in. The only reason I became a state alchemist was because I wanted to try to find that place, who knows where, that I'd fit in."
"You fit in here, Eclair" Ed said, looking me in the eye. "Everyone here needs you. If you left, we'd all miss you, and probably die-" With that, we heard a loud rustle in the bushes, as ten bandits jumped out.
"Great. Looks like I'm in luck." I roll my eyes. And I'm practically useless. I clap my hands, and see if the alchemy would work on my metal arm. Surprisingly, it worked. I just stood, like Ed, in the center as they surrounded us.
"Finally found the two 'its'" one of them said.
"'Its'?!?! I have a name. AND a gender."
"What do you want, anyway?"
"You should be familiar with it by now, since you escaped us already. We want your heart you mixed-up child!"
"Mix-up....maybe. But child...no. Just no. You're the child since you're coming after me. Do you even know my name?!"
"Uhhhhh Eloise?"
"WRONG!" I shout, slamming my feet into one's head, knocking him down.
"Ellis?"
"WRONG!" I took out another.
"Eclair"
"WRONG!" Another went down.
"Elanie"
"WRONG!" I took out another. "Let me give you a hint," with each syllable I took out one, "I. Am. The Halfmetal." with the last word, I clapped my hands, putting them on the ground, hoping the ground would react, "ALCHEMIST!!!!"
The ground spiked up, and threw the guy against a tree, knocking him out.
"El, you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just....let's get going."