Rooted In The Past

Undercover missions were Eden Elric's favourite kind. It was the chance to be someone she wasn't, the opportunity to go back to her alias, the strong, proud, Edward Elric. Edward was a boy who didn't take crap from anyone, didn't panic, was physically strong and everyone called him a prodigy. Edward was revered and adored and praised. No one was ashamed of him.

Eden wasn't like Edward at all.

No one was proud of Eden - She was the bane of her mother's existence, crass, rude, unladylike, dirty and unwanted. She was ignored and talked down to, something she hated more then almost everything. Those that didn't talk down to her, talked to her breasts, let their gaze wander from her shoulders down the curves of her chest and hip. Some even dared to brush their hands along the back of her thighs, ass or 'bump' into her bosom.

Worst of all, some of her friends treated her like glass, like something to be admired and taken care of, and being protected was worse than being talked down to.

Edward Elric was her idol. He was perfect, everyone loved him, but as for her? She was nothing, trapped in the cage of her gender.

Missions that came in where she didn't have to be herself were the best. Her eyes lit up, she smiled, she practically ran home to make the transformation. It was truly her favourite kind of mission where Eden could be left at home.

Ritual was the way to describe it, any time she wanted to make the transformation these days. The box was carefully removed from the closet and slowly opened. Her gloves were removed before each item inside was tended to with care, caressed and placed upon the edge of the bed. When each item was laid out, it was time to undertake her favourite part.

Her eyes closed as her fingers groped for and slowly let the blond strands fall from the hair clip that held them in place. Soft hair cascaded down her shoulders before the same nimble fingers slid down the zipper that kept her dress on her body. She opened her eyes in time to see the pale blue fabric pool down at her feet before she kicked it aside.

The next thing to leave her body was the female undergarments that felt so uncomfortable against her hips. Once nude from the waist below, boxers took their place, the loose fabric making her feel more relaxed. Leather pants were tugged and kneaded with her fingers to soften them for use before pulled on, one pant leg at a time. She admired herself in the mirror, her hips lost in the folds of black fabric.

Eden smiled. After a few moments, she tore her gaze away from the mirror to pull a loose tank top and add a thick brown belt to complete the image. A black jacket was applied and she pranced to the mirror, clasping it and adjusting the folds until the rest of her form was hidden. Happiness lit up her golden eyes as she parted the hair into three pieces and then plaited them into a precise braid.

Finally, it was time for the icing on the cake. Eden pulled the final item in the box after pulling her gloves on and adourned the long red coat, signified only by an embroidered flamel on her back. Another glance at the mirror made her feel that she had reached the epitome of perfection, the masculine form that would bring her respect and confidence unlike any other thing in the entire world.

Ed turned away from the mirror, her coat breezing behind her. As she left the apartment, she didn't look back. Edward would never look back. He always pushed forward into the future, leaving Eden and her insecurities behind in the apartment, the true masquerade had ended for the time being.