Chapter 3: Envy Appears
Ed felt blackness recede from his vision as he swam back into consciousness. A huge headache pounded at his temples and he tried to massage it away…only to realize that he couldn't move his arms. Adrenaline pounded through his system and washed away the fuzziness from his unconsciousness. He was lying on his side, hands tied behind his back with wire that cut into his flesh arm. He tried his legs and grimaced as they buzzed, starved for blood after having been asleep. His ankles were tied as well with the same material, which explained why his flesh foot was asleep as well.
He opened his eyes slowly and winced as the light hit the back of his eyes and caused his headache to rise with vengeance. He was in a brightly-lit room and as his eyes focused, he realized it was filled with other tied up military officials, all lying or sitting on the floor. The terrorists were all sitting casually on the edges of the room, some were chatting in low voices, others just sat grimly, guns drawn, and watched the hostages closely. Ed blinked to clear his sight and then panic shot through him – Colonel Mustang!
He twisted on the floor and found himself facing a pair of tied hands with familiar transmutation circles on the palms of the gloves.
"Colonel?" he murmured, barely above a whisper.
Mustang twisted slowly to face him. His face was blank, but Ed could tell he was somewhat relieved to see that his subordinate was alright.
"Where are we?" Ed asked.
"One of the less-well-known lounges that were used mainly for negotiation between higher ups. Whoever's planned this was very clever and did his research."
The long end of a gun suddenly crashed down between them. A dark man in shades smirked as he viewed them over the barrel of his gun.
"I'd keep quiet if I was you. Our orders were to keep you alive until we hear back from C&C, but that doesn't mean we can't rough you guys up if you annoy us. And believe me-" He slowly removed his tinted glasses to reveal red eyes, "-you don't want to annoy us."
An Ishbalan! Ed glanced over at Mustang and saw a brief haunted look before his customary mask swiftly overtook his features.
"So you're the Fullmetal Alchemist, huh?" The Ishbalan studied him contemptuously, "Bet you've heard this before, but I kind of expected someone a little-"
"Say taller and I'll kick you till you're my size." Ed growled.
"Was going to say older, but that works too." He grinned and tucked his gun over his shoulder.
"What's this?" a rough voice asked sharply, "You know we keep minimum contact with prisoners."
"Sorry, sir." The Ishbalan turned to the tall scarred man from before, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Such a waste." Another broad man with strange bright eyes commented huskily as he bent over the young alchemist, "Look at him: he's almost…pretty."
Ed growled. He was most certainly not a petite helpless girl! This only seemed to amuse the perverted freak as he slowly ran his fingers through the smaller figure's long hair, harshly yanking out his hair tie. Ed shuddered under his touch and lashed out, almost biting the freak's hand. The molester only laughed and pulled him up by his hair, making the boy clench his teeth in agony as he glared at the molester's disturbing eyes.
"Just give me a few minutes of 'private time' with this one." The man begged with an oily smirk, "I'll make him scream..."
A sudden blow sent him reeling, releasing Ed to collapse gratefully onto the carpeted floor. A tall grim soldier stood above the groaning figure who ruefully rubbed his bloody forehead. For a moment, Ed was vaguely reminded of Mr. Curtis, the butcher. This man, however, was clearly Ishbalan and wore his ripped traditional garb proudly as he glared down at the injured perverted terrorist, long gun held like a staff in his huge hands.
"We keep away from the prisoners." The scarred man repeated coldly, ignoring the silent Ishbalan's actions, "Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir." The molester spat as he struggled to his feet and slunk away.
The silent Ishbalan lowered his weapon and turned to Ed, his dark red eyes softening ever so slightly. Ed nodded, confused but grateful. The Ishbalan, satisfied, quietly walked to his former post, passing the younger Ishbalan who'd threatened them and was now staring at the taller man in disbelief.
"Are you alright?" Colonel Mustang muttered under his breath.
"Yeah." Ed whispered back, "Just perfect."
He never should have come to this stupid party. Hell, he never should have gotten up that morning!
This is just one of those days, he sighed mentally.
Hours went by, each minute slower than the last. After a while, the initial fear and shock wore off and boredom set in. No one dared speak: anyone who tried was brutally beaten by the guards. So Roy was left to stew in his own thoughts. This attack should have been no surprise. So why was it carried out so quickly and why had the staff been so unprepared? Had this been an inside job? If so, how were the Ishbalans involved? Was this part of a larger conspiracy? His musings were interrupted when the sentry from the outside opened the door. Almost immediately, the room came to life as the guards leapt to
their feet and readied their weapons. The sentry let in a small dark man in one of the doormen's uniforms, but who carried one of the motley weapons carried by the terrorists.
"Passphrase?" The guard glared at the disguised soldier who replied calmly,
"Never forget, never forgive. The past was theirs, the future is ours."
"Enter."
The soldier slowly walked in, his head low and his entire posture one of regret and disappointment. The various guards straightened at his presence.
"Well?" One finally asked, "What's the news?"
The soldier lowered his head and muttered quietly,
"We just heard back from the Fuhrer. He's refused all of our demands."
A low murmur ran through the room. Roy smiled grimly. The news certainly didn't come as a surprise from most of the hostages. The Fuhrer hadn't come into power by appeasing his enemies!
"In light of this, our leaders have decided that we should make a demonstration of our dedication and show him our commitment. We are to kill one of the hostages publically, and continue on until he gives in."
Go ahead, Roy urged them on savagely, show the world what you really are: a bunch of thugs masquerading as freedom fighters!
"Who will be the first to die?" The leader asked coldly.
The messenger looked down and quietly said,
"One of the Alchemists. Our leaders wanted someone the whole country would recognize, so it's…the Fullmetal Alchemist."
No! Roy risked a glance at Fullmetal. The boy was pale but grim and his hands were curled into fists behind him. Roy was no stranger to losing comrades to war, but he'd be damned before he let another comrade die in front of him without a fight.
Before he could make a move, there were a series of outraged gaps.
The quiet Ishbalan who'd protected Fullmetal stood in front of the newcomer. The messenger blinked and barked,
"What is the meaning of this?"
"It makes no sense, killing young ones first. Kill one of those who were involved in the genocide, yes. But murdering children?" He spoke with a thick Ishbalan accent, but he was clear and unhesitant.
"It's not your place to question our superiors." The leader stated from the corner.
The messenger raised his hand quietly: he felt confident enough to deal with this. Roy clenched his hands. He needed to get Edward out of here!
"Your name is Tarin, isn't it?" the man asked quietly, "Your son…he would've been the Fullmetal's age, if he'd survived. I understand: it's hard to shake the feeling of vengeance for your people, it's harder to forget who you left behind when you survived. My brother, this boy…he had nothing to do with the murder of your people, but he is still a part of the military. He is an Alchemist. In a few years, Amestris may go to war again to murder more innocents. Do you think that this boy will not take part in the slaughters to come, if we do not change the leadership of this country? We work for the future, my brother. Sometimes, that means that we have to make sacrifices, even of innocents like this boy, so that more are saved."
The soldier stood still, but then nodded jerkily and let the messenger pass. The messenger smiled sadly and began to walk past. Then he abruptly stopped. There were shouts of anger and confusion as the quiet soldier, Tarin, calmly held his gun to the messenger's back.
"No one could know about my name, nor about my son." Tarin growled, "I am the sole survivor of my village, I gave my name or my past to no one after I left. Who the hell are you?"
To everyone's surprise, the messenger smiled wryly. Then his very shape changed. His body thinned and his hair lengthened and turned to a green-cast black. He wore a short black skirt under a high-riding black tunic that wrapped around his chest. His waist-length, spiky black hair was held back by a strange black headband with a red triangle.
"Envy." Roy heard Ed hiss under his breath. Roy couldn't help staring. This was one of the homunculi that Ed had talked about?
"Jeez, I really can't get anywhere, can I?" Envy was saying with a rather sardonic tone, "Suppose that's what I get for being careless. Now if you'll please hand over Fullmetal, this'll all go quickly."
Tarin just glared at him, and didn't lower his gun. The rest of the patrol gathered around, surrounding the homunculus with a ring of guns pointed straight at him.
"Idiots." Roy heard Ed mutter, "You can't kill them with guns."
Indeed, shots rang out and Envy calmly stood in the face of the bullets. Then, realizing their target wasn't staggering or falling, the terrorists backed away. Envy sighed as bullets began to pop out of his skin and fell in a rain of iron to the floor.
"Let me make this as clear as I can. You cannot kill me. I can't say the same for any of you. Just let me get Fullmetal, and I'll be out of here."
Tarin hadn't moved from his spot, nor had he lowered his gun. He just scowled at Envy's words and moved closer.
"I will not let you touch that boy." He growled fiercely.
Envy's face darkened and he suddenly leapt for the large dark man. Tarin could barely gasp as Envy grasped the sides of his head from behind and pulled him into a crouch.
"You love your goddamned son so much?" snarled Envy, "Why don't you just-" the homunculus twisted the man's head with a sickening crack, "-join him?"
Two terrorists rushed at Envy from opposite ends, their guns cocked and ready. Envy jumped away from Tarin's corpse and, Roy could barely see him move, was suddenly standing between the two men who stopped stiff with fear, their own guns were positioned under their chins by the homunculus who held them in each hand crossed in front of him.
"You guys are really making me cross," the homunculus stated calmly, "If I have to, I'll kill everyone in this room to get Fullmetal. I suggest you guys back off and let me do my job."
Everyone turned to the leader. He stood agape at the homunculus and finally asked,
"Are you working for the Fuhrer?"
"Please," Envy replied scornfully, "Do I look like I'd take orders from the likes of him?"
"Then, take the boy. Just don't interfere with our mission."
Envy smirked and lowered the guns. The two men sighed in relief and quickly slunk away.
"Well then," Envy stared at the cluster of captured military officials, "Where is Fullmetal?"
"He's here!" called a voice next to Roy, "He's here! Don't kill us!"
"Glad some people can be helpful around here." Envy muttered as he stalked towards them.
Roy heard Ed growl as something snapped. Envy was barely able to dodge aside as Ed lunged for him, snapped wires trailing away from his wrists and ankles. How on earth had he…?
Ed aimed a punch at Envy who easily blocked it and caught his automail wrist with ease.
"You just never know when to quit, do you?" Envy said dryly.
Ed just glared at the homunculus and attempted another punch with his flesh arm. Envy released the automail and twisted aside, catching the flesh arm and twisting it painfully. Ed fell to his knees with a grunt of pain. Envy's smile widened as he casually broke Ed's wrist. Ed screamed with agony.
"Give up brat," Envy said unsympathetically, "You know you can't beat me, especially without alchemy."
"Don't…need alchemy…to kick your…ass." Ed lashed out suddenly with his automail leg as he fell to the floor, managing to trip the homunculus in the process. Roy could tell that Ed would pay for his defiance.
Envy rose with a murderous expression and grabbed Ed by the throat to lift him until they were eye-to-eye. They glared at each other until Envy pulled back his fist and drove it into Ed's stomach.
"You – ungrateful – brat!" Envy snarled, punctuating each word with a punch, "I come all this way to make sure you're alive; hell, I even came here to get you out, and this is how you thank me?"
He pulled his arm back for another blow, but Ed chose that moment to cough up a mouthful of blood. Envy paused, as if remembering he didn't come here to kill the boy, and swung forward. The wall next to Ed's head exploded in a cloud of plaster. A crater that revealed the brick-lining beneath the wall appeared after the dust settled.
"Just be glad I have orders to take you alive." Envy hissed. Ed couldn't answer, he just slumped onto Envy as he lost consciousness. The homunculus caught the alchemist and casually lifted him onto his shoulder as though he weighed nothing. Envy turned and walked to the door as the stunned men around him quickly made a clear path in his way.
"Oh, and don't worry about the kid," Envy called offhandedly behind him as he reached the threshold, "by the time She's through with him, he'll be begging for death."
"And the rest?" the leader replied reservedly.
"Do what you like with them." Envy replied scornfully, "I couldn't care less."
The door shut with a soft click.
Hi everyone, thanks for reviewing. No, this is not Envy/Ed, they just happen to be the main characters. Sorry for taking so long to introduce our favorite gender-confused homunculus, but I needed to introduce the whole situation, so there you go! I'll be leaving on a loooong vacation soon, so it'll be a while before I update. Thank you again to everyone who reviewed!
