The Girl In The Cage Of Her Own Making And Her Benevolent Captor

Being a homunculus was not a preferable experience. But it was all I knew. It was as much of a part of my life as the four prison walls surrounding me. I hated them, the same way I hated most of my companions with one glaring exception. He didn't care for me. There was no way he'd ever feel the same way I felt about him. But that never stopped me from hoping.

"Sorrow! Get your butt out here! Time for dinner!"

I came out of my shelter, eyeing the man standing there. "Hello, Greed," I whispered, my words coming out gently.

He wasn't nearly as cordial to me, shoving a small tray of red stones through the bars and leaving me alone again. I reached out and nibbled on one tentatively, looking around my simple prison for the umpteenth time. Wall, wall, wall, bars. Beyond the bars was a small set of stairs. I had a small area to hide out in if I wished, but other than that, I had nothing to entertain myself in here.

I knew they had put me here to break me. But they would not succeed. Not with me. I didn't want to be a monster anymore. If I could, I'd end my life right now. But I didn't know how to do it, and besides, I didn't have the courage I'd need to end my existence. I feared for my beloved's life.

I grew sickened of my food and shoved it back through the bars, ratting them loudly. Unfortunately for me, the sound brought the other female of my kind stomping into the room. Her eyes were cruel, as emotionless as her black dress. "Keep it down, Sorrow. I don't care what Father told me; I'd take pleasure in whipping your back raw right now."

I shivered but didn't move. I knew if I waited long enough, my beloved would come. "Fine, Lust," I said, turning around and presenting her with a clear shot of my back. "You know I don't care what you do to me. It doesn't hurt nearly as much as my inner demons."

Her lip curled up in disdain as her finger elongated, hanging mere millimeters from my back. I closed my eyes, ready for the pain. It didn't matter to me anymore. All I wanted was for it to end.

"Enough."

I gasped, glad the sound was hidden by Lust's movement as she turned around to regard the speaker. "Envy, don't tell me you don't feel sorry for this little freak," she said, disbelief oozing from her voice like acid.

"She may be a freak, but then again, aren't we all? It doesn't mean she has to be beaten like a dog."

"Hear hear," I muttered to myself, earning a slash across my head from Lust.

"No one asked you, freak," she hissed. I took my punishment in silence, like a puppy who's been spanked so many times now it doesn't even whimper anymore.

"Lust, why don't you go take care of Gluttony or spend some time with Greed? I'll handle Sorrow."

She made a decision quickly, choosing to handle Gluttony. She did, however, slash me across the head again for good measure. I was pushed to the ground by the force of her blow but didn't make a move to get up. I knew that if I did, she'd only hit me again, and harder, regardless of whatever Envy said to her or how Father might punish her. In her eyes, I was a traitor to my kind.

Gentle hands helped me up. I pushed myself up to a sitting position so that I could see the face contorted in unfamiliar kindness better. "You shouldn't let her push you around so thoroughly," he said, examining my wounds. I didn't say anything; he already knew what my answer would be because we'd already had this argument several times before.

He held one of the small Philosopher's Stones in his hand, offering it to me. I closed his hand around it. He frowned and wordlessly held it to my lips. Caught by the surprise of this strange gift, I let him slip it inside my mouth. When he tried to slip another one into my mouth, I turned my head away, not wanting to let myself dare hope this could mean what I thought it meant.

"Sorrow," he sighed. "Please. You have to eat." I shook my head, very much in disagreement. He sighed again and pushed me away. He didn't leave me though, far from it.

He instead shed his long-haired, vaguely cross-dressed form for his true form, a large creature that was a mix of dragon, lizard, and the stuff of nightmares. He opened his mouth wide, laying it down on the floor beside me. "If you aren't going to eat normally, please, take from me. Please." My heart swelled with the full implications of his gift.

I gently pet him before doing as he said, crawling inside his mouth and latching onto his core, the large semi-solid Philosopher's Stone. He let out a gentle moan, and his body went limp around me. It was then that I realized the truth of the matter.

Neither of us wanted it to end.