"I remember you. When I was a baby." Edward Elric gasped out, blood seeping from his mouth.
"Of course. Where d'you think you got your middle name from, baby brother?" I breathed in his ear.
Ed stared hard at me, eyes wide. And then the light dimmed in his eyes, and my baby brother, Edward Elric, died.
The year was 1899, and Hohenheim, after about 400 years, had finally had another son. A human son.
Not like the monster he'd given up.
There was a small creak and a barely-there sighing noise, and now there were suddenly four people in that small house on the hill.
A figure stood in front of a crib, staring down at the sleeping baby in it. He poked its stomach and the baby gurgled and opened its eyes sleepily, giggling delightedly at the stranger above his bed.
Scarlet eyes narrowed in irritation as chubby fingers grabbed long green hair and tugged. "Let go, kid." But his voice was soft, gentle.
"So you're the brat he's using to replace me, huh?" Envy asked, brushing his hair back as the baby reached for his hair again.
He was an okay looking child. Gold eyes, tan skin, wisps of golden hair. Rather chubby, though. Golden eyes went wide as he was picked up by what he didn't know was his older brother, and he giggled again as Envy turned him upside down, staring at him from narrowed eyes, placing a hand on his hip.
"I should kill you." Envy mused, holding the child away as he reached for the teen's headband.
He turned, righting the baby and froze as he saw there were two people in the bed, not one. A woman with brown hair and–
He looked at the golden baby again—who was now attempting to bite Envy's hand—and put him in the crib again.
"Kid, I hope, for your sake, that he stays. As for me…" he turned to go, but the baby whimpered.
Against his better judgement, Envy turned around and picked the baby up, hating the happy murmurs he made. "And kid…" and Envy did something extremely uncharacteristic: he hugged the baby. Small arms managed to get a bit around the homunculus' neck, and a small smile graced the elder's face.
He pulled away and now, more gently, placed the baby back in his crib, snorting as he looked again at his bastard of a father. Something above the cradle made him stop, and he smiled again, a plaque with the baby's name.
Edward William Elric.
Van Hohenheim started at a small creak and a barely-there sighing noise, a soft smile on his face as he looked at his sleeping son.
Scarlet eyes went unnoticed as Envy stared at the family. "I hope, for your sake, that we never meet again. Because if we do…" the eyes narrowed. "I will kill you."
The year was 1915, and after 16 years, Envy had made true on his promise.
He stood and kicked the body of his brother away, feeling an almost vomit-worthy tumbling in his stomach.
Hate.
Relief.
Disgust.
Finality.
And then, after 16 years, William Elric did something extremely uncharacteristic: he hugged his half-brother for the second and final time.
And he somehow knew that had Edward been alive, maybe his arms would've managed to fully get around Envy neck. Maybe William would've smiled for the second and final time.
"Rest in peace, Edward William Elric."
I've got to stop writing depressing stuff, haven't I? And I wasn't sure about the exact years, so...yeah. And Ed's middle name, I don't know exactly, but it's a nice thought, no?