Notes: First-anime-verse past fic. One of Greed's many awakenings. PG-13.

Off The Cuff

DarkSlayer84

IV: Mr. Self-Destruct

The first thing he knows is hunger. He doesn't have a name for it, yet-he can't speak and all his effort is focused on that need, hot and sharp. The pain and cold and light hit him next, and he wants darkness and warmth and relief. He has eyes, can feel them aching, drilled down by the light, but he can't see. The room spins, fuzzy, jagged outlines careening in and out of half-focus, and he wants to get a better look.

Want is fast becoming his anchor, his way of making sense of the world.

"He doesn't look like much." It's a high, thready funeral croak that hits him with a bolt of desire, of wanting to remember, wanting to know, but he can't see.

"Now, now, Envy; that's no way to treat your brother."

"That piece of shit is inot/i my brother."

The words hurt. He's not sure why, but it makes sense, in a way: everything hurts. He'd like to say something back but all that happens is a wet, guttural squelch, heavy and red.

There's a murmured word of power and Greed writhes on the floor, wrapped in lightning, screaming to end the world-a hard wet stutter that won't stop. He wants it to stop. He wants out, he wants to tear free, to rend and kill and rip out the thing that's causing him so much pain.

He wants his fucking body back.