“Amy, come on, get up…” Nina said, shaking her sleeping twin. “We’re going to be late. Come on!” It was no use, Amy was pretty much passed out cold sleeping, like usual. Nina just shook her head and left the room. “Fine,” she muttered to herself as she did.
Nina went back to her own room to get ready to go. She looked into the mirror and was met by her own eyes, golden at the center, crimson around the outside. Taking up her brush, she ran it through her shoulder length blonde hair, her green bangs falling in her face. How could anyone have hair like this naturally? But then, her mother did have naturally green hair. Natalie had explained the reason why to her when she was younger, after the kids at school had made fun of her and Amy both for their weird hair. But how she and Amy had both ended up with the hair colors of both of her parents at the same time, that was something she’d never know. This wasn’t the time to really be thinking about it though. She quickly pulled her hair back into a pony-tail and tied it up then headed downstairs.
When she came downstairs, Natalie was in the living room folding clothes. “Where’s your sister?”
Nina sighed. “Where do you think Mom?”
Natalie shook her head. “I knew letting her stay out with her friends yesterday was a bad idea. Oh well, she’ll just have to face the music with her uncle when she’s late again.”
“No she won’t, you know Uncle Alphonse won’t scold her, he never does. Aunt May, well then yeah, she might actually give Amy what she deserves…”
“Nina!”
“What? It’s true you know.”
“That’s doesn’t matter. How many times have I told you saying things like that aren’t nice.”
Nina just sighed. “Sorry Mom,” she said as she grabbed her coat and pulled it on. “Either way, I’m going to be late if I don’t get going. I swear though, aside from the fact that we look like you and Daddy and we’re twins, you’d never guess we were related. We’re nothing alike once you get past our faces…”
“Yes well, at least you try to look after her which is important. You two actually remind me a lot of your father and your uncle when they were younger.”
“Yeah I know, I’m technically younger than Amy, even if it’s only by a few minutes, and I’m the more responsible one, like Uncle Alphonse.” Nina smiled a bit. She actually really liked it when people compared her to her uncle seeing as she wanted to be just like him someday. “But I should get going or I really will be late. Bye Mom!” she said as she opened the door to head out. Before she could through it though, her little brother E.J. came running out of the kitchen and latched on to her.
“Don’t forget me Big Sis!” he exclaimed as he hugged her.
Nina laughed and hugged him back. “Sorry E.J., how could I even dare to leave without saying good-bye to my favorite little brother?”
“That’s right! How dare you Big Sis!” he said puffing up his chest a bit and grinning.
Nina ruffled his golden blonde hair and smiled. “Have fun at school today OK? I’ll see you later when I get home.”
“I will Big Sis! You have fun with Uncle and Aunty too, don’t work too hard! Give them hugs for me too k?”
“You bet,” she said ruffling his hair again making him laugh.
“Oh Nina, don’t forget your father is coming home from Central today so don’t be late coming home,” Natalie reminded her.
“OK Mom, I’ll make sure Uncle and Aunty don’t keep me,” she replied, finally making it out the door.
As Nina walked to the clinic that was owned by her uncle and aunt she couldn’t help but to sigh. She couldn’t believe Amy. How could anyone be as lazy as she was? It was all because of the Moron Squad, it had to be. Amy hadn’t been like that until she started being friends with Riley Mustang and his cronies. Stupid Fuhrer Mustang and his insisting upon sending his idiot son to school in the East and of course where ever Riley went, his friends had to go with him, Fuhrer Mustang saw to that.
Before she knew it, Nina had arrived at the clinic. When she walked up, Alphonse was sitting outside on the porch.
“Good morning Nina,” he said with a smile. “You’re early, as usual.”
Nina smiled back at him as she came up on the porch and gave him a hug. “Good morning Uncle.”
“Where’s Amy?” he asked, quirking his brow.
“Don’t ask,” she replied making a sour face.
Alphonse sighed as he got up from his chair, walking with Nina inside. “Couldn’t wake her up again huh? That girl, I swear, she’s just like Ed was when he was young. Sadly, she doesn’t have a decent reason for it like he did though.”
“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Nina said with a laugh as she took off her coat and hung it on a hook by the door. “You know how much she hates being compared to Daddy.”
“I don’t understand why though. Amy is just as talented an alchemist as Ed, if not more so, for her age.”
“I think that’s exactly the problem Uncle,” Nina replied. “She doesn’t want to be like Daddy, she wants to be better than him. You should see them when they’re both home… Amy tries so hard to get the better of him to the point Mom actually kicked them both out of the house the last time so they wouldn’t destroy the place.”
Alphonse couldn’t help but to laugh. “She’s my brother’s daughter all right.”
“Yeah well I’m glad I’m more like Mom. I’m just hoping that E.J. doesn’t end up being like Daddy too. Mom will never let me leave for the Academy if that happens just so she’d have someone else around who can keep the peace,” she said as she slipped her apron over her clothes.
“That’s right; you and Amy both are heading to Central next week to take the acceptance exam aren’t you?” Alphonse asked as he pulled on his lab coat and prepared for the first patient of the day.
Nina nodded. “Yup, now that we’re seventeen we can take it.”
“Speaking of, isn’t today your birthday?” Alphonse asked with a grin. As he did, May walked in holding two wrapped boxes.
“Happy Birthday,” she said with a smile then looked around. “Hey, where’s Amy?”
Both Nina and Alphonse sighed heavily and gave May a look that told her all she needed to know. “Sorry Aunty, Amy was out with the Moron Squad again last night and you know how she is when she’s been hanging out with them.”
May sighed. “How does that girl expect to make it at the Academy if she’s going to be this irresponsible?”
Nina shrugged. “She probably thinks I’m going to help her. She’s got another thing coming though if that’s what she thinks. I’m not going to enable her fixation with Riley. What she sees in that idiot is beyond me.”
“She’s a young lady in love, there is no explaining it. Once it happens to you Nina, you’ll understand,” Alphonse answered with a sigh.
“I don’t have time for stuff like that Uncle,” Nina said looking annoyed that he’d even say something like to her. “If I want to be like a doctor and help people like you and Aunt May do then I have to stay focused and not let myself get distracted by things like love.”
Alphonse and May couldn’t help but to chuckle. For as intelligent as Nina was, she could be so naïve too. “Nina, you have plenty of time to do that, you should enjoy being a young woman while you can and not turn away from trying to find love,” May said.
“Well when I find a guy like Uncle then I might think about it,” she replied nonchalantly.
Alphonse blushed and May just laughed. Nina looked at them both confused. “What? What did I say? Is it so bad to want a kind, compassionate, intelligent guy that also happens to be good looking?”
As Nina spoke, Amy walked through the door. “Are you on about your Uncle complex again?” she asked with a laugh.
Nina spun around and glared at her sister. “It’s better than being obsessed with the idiot son of the Fuhrer,” she snapped. “And the only reason you even like that little slime ball is because his father is too old for you.”
Amy’s face turned beet red and angry. “What do you know?” she said scowling at her sister.
“You know if Daddy knew the real reason you hung around with Riley he’d be pretty angry…”
“Shut up Nina!” Amy shot back.
Alphonse stepped in between the two girls and just shook his head. “Now, now, no fighting. Aren’t you girls too old for this anyway?”
Both of them crossed their arms and looked away from each other. “Sorry Uncle,” they said in unison.
“Go take your jacket off and get your apron Amy then come meet us in the other room,” May said as her, Alphonse and Nina went into the next room that served as the office for the clinic. Amy nodded and did as May instructed her trying to be as quick about it as possible.
When Amy came in, they were sitting at a small table. May had set the two boxes she’d been holding down on the table, one in front of Nina and the other in front of the empty chair. Amy sat in that chair and looked at her Aunt and Uncle.
“Happy Birthday girls,” Alphonse said with a smile. “We wanted to give you your presents now since we weren’t sure if we’d be able to see you later on tonight.”
“I’d almost forgotten about the little party Mom and Dad always do,” Nina said with a laugh. “No wonder Mom made sure to remind me to not come home late tonight before I left.”
“She reminded me too,” Amy said. “I was just glad Riley did his thing for me yesterday…”
Nina ignored that comment. “Why won’t you be able to come for the party Uncle?”
“We have a house call to make tonight unfortunately. You know Mr. Heist right?”
Both of the girls nodded.
“He hasn’t been doing so well and he can’t make here into the clinic right now so May and I agreed to go see him after we were done with our appointments for the day. Maes will be there though so at least one of us will be able to enjoy the party.”
“You really are kind Uncle,” Nina said with a smile. “Wish him well for us while you’re there OK?”
Alphonse chuckled. “Of course. Now go on, open your gifts girls. I hope you like them.”
Both Girls pulled the ribbon lose from their box and opened the lid. When they saw what was inside they looked at each other a bit confused. “Uncle, I thought you said we couldn’t…” Nina started.
Alphonse and May just laughed. “It’s time for you girls to have your own set of kunai. How else are you going to practice your alchehestry once you’re off at the Academy and not here every day,” May replied.
“But I’m also expecting you girls to be responsible with them. They are technically still weapons,” Alphonse warned them.
“You don’t have to worry about a thing Uncle,” Nina beamed as she took one out to look at it. Amy did the same with hers. Each girl’s had differently colored ribbons tied to the top of them. Nina’s were green and black and Amy’s were red and white.
“I hoped I picked the right colors,” May said.
“They’re perfect Aunty!” Amy said. “You know us pretty well.”
Alphonse and May smiled seeing the girls so happy with their gifts. They wouldn’t get a chance to try them out though because they heard the sound of the door opening. The patients for the day had started to arrive.
No comments:
Post a Comment