Disclaimer: I don't own FMA or Greed or any of the chimeras other than Elise & the few girls I made up in this story. Also, the song Day one, Jeepers Creepers, & Simple life are not mine as well...Just to put that out there.
Note: Sorry for the delay, my back gave out, but now I'm much much better! So on with the chapter nya~!
Chapter IV: Singing in the Rain
~ 3 Months Later~
"Goddamn it! Who left the raw meat out last night? You know people we can't afford to be leaving meat out to rot! Dumb asses!" Martel's voice growled with annoyance as she slammed the refrigerator door behind her; Dorchetto was the first to walk in to hear her commotion as he was fixing his waist belt.
"I don't know. We didn't have chicken last night…We had curry. Good curry…" He was beginning to drool as he thought of Last night's grub.
"This is bull crap! The boys start cleaning up after themselves! Elise & I aren't their cooks & we certainly aren't their maids!"
"Take it up with Greed then, He'll set'em straight." The pup replied getting a cup of water for himself.
"No…I'll handle it myself."
"Handle what yourself?" The chimeras turned to their boss with welcoming smiles, excluding their situation at hand.
"Morning sir. Just some bad meat. Apparently someone forgot to put away chicken last night."
"We didn't even have chicken last night…." Greed muttered thoughtfully, remembering the curry from last night as well. "Wasteful bastards…Well, I guess it'll be a good time to go grocery shopping then, eh?"
"Mm, I guess so. We are running low on some things."
"Alright. Dorchetto, you want to take Elise with you?" Both Martel & Dorchetto's faces fell into blank features, "But sir, isn't she asleep?"
"Yeah, but that she hasn't gotten any action since she's been here. Get a little more sociable than just knowing the guys & girls that come in here…You know what I mean?" The Avarice had a twinkle in his eye when he said this...
"Yes sir." Was all the dog could reply. He never mind doing favors for his close friend, Elise. Yeah, it had only been within the last two months that they had grown so close. Some would go far as to say they were a little more than friends; well that's what happens when rumors get started….They were constantly talking & poking fun of each other, so it was no wonder why people thought that. Yeah okay, if one were to say they were more than friends? Than the word following after that would be best friends. And that's all they were… Best friends. Anyone that knew them well enough would've known that…
"Alright then. So…How do we wake up the sleeping princess, is the question." Greed brought his hands to his waist with a thoughtful gaze up at the ceiling.
"I think I know how…" Dorchetto cupped a hand around his mouth, "Ellie…! Wake up, Breakfast!" The pup lied getting a creek out of the floor boards above them. The three of them softly laughed & chuckled at the small sound, knowing it was none other than the Panther herself getting up, & stumbling down the stairs to come fact to face with the three snickering companions…
And sadly, no breakfast.
"You bastard…" This had to have been the easiest prank yet to be played on the poor kitten, but in defeat, the green eyed girl rubbed the side of her face of sleep, still trying hard not to burst out in a smile.
"Every time Ellie…" Dorchetto sang to her laughing to get the panther to glare at the guilty pup.
"I hate you."
"No, you hate the fact that you love me."
"Oh please!" She laughed rolling her eyes as she threw her arms up in the air.
While the two continued their back talk of sibling-like rivalry, the avaricious was suddenly finding it hard not to look down at Elise's morning wear.
Honestly, the kitten was so self conscious when he first encountered her half naked…Now, after only a couple months, Elise was already wearing nearly nothing, but a white over-sized, dress up shirt, & a pair of lacy panties!
Is it just me or has she changed? She seems a bit more…At ease now…
Little by little, Greed was beginning to focus in on the girl's motions, & body language. The way she propped her elbow against the door frame with her hand supporting her head & the way her hips were shifted to the side while her free hand just dangled over the side of her voluminous heart shaped rear.
He had to admit…She was getting hotter by the day…
Then, without realizing it till it was too late, the Panther had shifted her eyes to her boss that was staring her down, intently. Their eyes trailed away from one another before returning back to meet the others soft gaze.
Violet met emerald green for a moment before Elise began to smile bashfully, looking down at the polished floors with a small discreet nip of her bottom lip.
Greed couldn't help but smirk to himself, humming a very soft chuckle before heading over to the fridge to grab the last apple that was just staring at him to be eaten.
"So Elise, how about it? The fresh air will do you some good…" Dorchetto awaited the girl's answer on the invitation to go out today. They all did as her face crinkled with her ponders, until she finally smiled happily & nodded, "Sure, okay! I'll go get dress!"
"Yeah, you do that naked girl." Greed added the last part hoping he'd get some kind of reaction of her, which he did. An innocently giggle echoed further & further away as Elise made her way upstairs to get ready for her small adventure to the store.
By the time she was ready, Dorchetto was already standing outside the Devil's Nest, staring down at his watch as if he had something to do.
"Here I am! Sorry!" The kitten pounced the upward steps waving at her friend.
"Damn, took you long enough." The pup retorted chuckling.
"I said I was sorry."
"Yeah, Yeah." As the two walked in silence, Elise hooded her ears & hid her tail from the world before they could even hit the busy streets of Dublith.
It truly was a peaceful town for the most part. Kids were playing out in the street, while the adults did their daily routines of jobs, care taking, or whatever they did usually in their daily lives. Truly, it was a place you could call home. At least the district they were in; even where she lived now, she considered that home, even if it was a bar.
It hadn't been all that bad. Elise was finally able to put some life into her gloomy dark walls of a room. She decide to hand make her own bedroom canopies to set up all over the walls & ceilings. The fabrics were a mix of blue & purple, & in the process of finishing that first project, she had slow began to make her own clothes & outfits to pass the time.
Hmm, maybe that's why she never got out was because she was always trying to find some new project to thread & sew. Yeah, it didn't seem all that fun to the others, but hey! As long as she was happy, they were happy.
But then again, she could see why Dorchetto asked if she wanted to get out. This girl had been so use to being inside all the time, it sometimes took a small gesture to get her to want to go anywhere.
Probably, or mostly because she always wanted to sleep, clean herself or train with him & Roa half the time!
Damn it! She's so much of a cat it's crazy! Dorchetto's mind was starting to spin in a downward spiral thinking about it, but he wasn't sure if it was just him or his canine instincts telling him these things.
It always seemed to leave him in complete awe at how different she was in comparison to the other chimeras & himself. Of course, they all carried animal instincts, that was a given & they all had traits of the animals they were fused with, but with Elise…
Call it what you will, but every week her attitude, persona…Everything about her was changing drastically to the trained eye.
In the beginning, she started out timid, distant, & a little on the 'short fused' side; no one could blame her for it though, anyone in her position would've acted the same way she did to her new body & what she had gone through.
But now, only after a few months in her training, Elise had honed her skills so well they were even pass excellence; which made the Dog wonder if she was already good enough to even go up against Greed himself. The thought was definitely intriguing, but the more he pondered on the idea, the more mind began to fade away as Elise began to murmur to herself.
…She was singing.
The song was peaceful, soft, uplifting, & majestic…
Reborn and shivering
Spat out on new terrain
Unsure unconvincing
This faint and shaky hour
Day one, day one start over again
Step one, step one I'm barely making sense
for now I'm faking it 'til I'm pseudo making it
From scratch begin again but this time I as I
And not as we
Dorchetto was surprised. He had never heard the girl sing before…And it was truly something. As she continued to do so, he couldn't help but shift his eyes to her to only see a smile on her face.
Gun shy and quivering
Timid without a hand
Feign brave with steel intent
little and hardly here
Day one, day one start over again
Step one step onewith not much making sense
just yet I'm faking it till I'm pseudo making it
From scratch begin again but this time I as I
And not as we
Once she was finally finish, Dorchetto smiled rubbing the back of his head remembering what Greed had told him a couple of weeks ago while they were hanging out over at the bar, his boss had mention something about her singing when he went to go check on her up in her room…
-.-.-
"Hey Martel! Have you seen Ellie?" Greed looked from left to right, awaiting for the young kitten's foot steps to come skipping in to join the night life. She usually liked to socialize with the girls & make drinking games with the boys to lighten up the mood of things, but tonight, it seemed she had been taking her sweet ass time on getting ready or whatever the hell it was she was doing up there in her little hole in the wall.
"I don't know! Dorchetto!" The snake tried calling her friend who was all the way on the other side of the bar chatting it up with some of the men that had started a drinking poker game; half of them being already wasted from another previous drinking game, including Dorchetto, "Dorchetto!"
"Yeah!" The pup slurred waving his hand at her with a grin.
"Where's Ellie?" They were literally shouting at each other for answers over the loud booming music.
"Up in her room, I think!"
"What the hell is she still doing up there?" Greed took that as his queue to find his missing kitty cat, & removed himself from between two of his lady friends who seemed to pout in his departure.
"Awe, don't worry so much Greed. I'm sure she's fine. She'll come when she's ready." The brunette Angelia stated, but the girls just watched as he strolled up the stairs with a wink at the two ladies.
"Don't fret ladies, I'll be back." With that said the girls awaited his returned without a word.
The Avarice was beginning to hear the music fade beneath him as he made his way up the stairs, suddenly hearing another song playing. He figured it was the music changing songs from below in the bar, but instead, he came to find, as he glanced around the upstairs hallway, Elise's door slightly ajar with the sound of an upbeat song playing with the sound of white noise rippling throughout the walls of her room…
He thought it was a little strange to be hearing white noise, but as he inspected the room further, he came to find that the girl had left her radio on.
Well that explains the white noise…
Yet, the kitten was still no where to be found until Greed pushed the door open with his index finger. As the door widened to him, he heard another sound…The sound of running water. He had found what he was looking for & smirked when he saw the bathroom door was just as opened to him.
This girl was seriously horrible at locking or closing her doors, but never the less it always the Avarice smile a little at the panther's forgetfulness. None the less, he walked into her room & walked over to the bathroom door to make sure Elise was alright, but the closer he approached the bathroom, the clearer the kitten's voice becoming…Yeah, at first he thought he was hearing the radio echoing itself because of the bad reception in the bar, but it wasn't…
Is she… His thoughts stopped in their tracks when he leaned himself forward, only to see the girl's blurred figure behind the shower's glass hearing her…
Singing…?
I don't believe in frettin' & grievin'
Why mess around with strife?
I was never cut out to step & strut out
Give me the simple life
Some find it pleasant dining on pheasant
Those things roll off my knife
Just serve me tomatoes & mash potatoes
Give me the simple life
It was amazing. Elise had never told anyone so far about her being able to sing, then again, Greed had never heard a woman sing the way she did before, so why would she tell him if there was never really a time & place to tell him? Right?
He never knew a woman could sing so beautifully. He didn't even realize he was gazing at the form of her naked being all the while she continued sing along with the radio.
Her hips swayed with the music as she lathered herself with soap. She was working on her arms & worked her way down her legs to her tail…It reminded him of the first time he saw her naked when he caught her fiddling with her tail. She too had started from arms to legs & worked her way back up again before finally rinsing herself. Further & further into the song, the Avarice began to shake his head at the sight of the girl & finally knocked softly to get her the kitten's attention.
With a soft gasped she jerked her head to the door, "Yes?"
"Hey Ellie, you alright in there?"
"Yeah! I'm almost done-, did I forget to lock the door again?" The question was kind of random causing Greed to pause before chuckling, "Yeah. I'll lock it on my way out. I just wanted to make sure you were still alive up here. We were starting to worry."
"That's a affirmative! I'm alive & kicking!" He laughed before seeing her head poke out from behind the shower's glass & smiled at him.
"Good. Well, I'll see ya downstairs."
"Okay!"
There wasn't anymore to say. Greed made his way downstairs once again only to see the two girls he had left waiting for on the couch, already smiling & waving at him, "Hi Greed! Did you find what you were looking for?" One of them asked.
"Yep…I certainly have…I certainly have…" He was already smirking when he looked to Dorchetto & Martel. He had to tell someone…And those two were perfect for the job he had planned up in his clever mind.
"Hey, Dorchetto…Martel, come here for a moment, I need you to do something for me."
"What is it boss?" Dorchetto was the first to ask only getting Greed to smirk a little more at henchman's question.
"Well…It's about Elise…"
-.-.-
And that was that, now here the pup was smiling to himself as he realized what Greed was talking about before & with a unnoticed exhale through his nose, Dorchetto turned his attention to the kitten who had began to hum another melody to herself, "I didn't know you could sing Ellie. Since when were you going to tell me!" He joked only to get the dark headed girl to blush with shyness behind her eyes.
"Oh, I just…um-, well-, I don't know, I guess it never came up."
"Well, you know the girl's have been planning auditions to get the bar up & running…"
"Yeah, I know."
"You going to try out?" The question made Elise's cheeks redden more before she turned her face away.
"Neh? N-No."
"Why not? You have a good voice. A great voice…You should try out. I know the others would love to hear you. Do you make your own lyrics?"
"Oh no, no, no, I just heard these songs on the radio that's all."
"Oh, well, either way in my opinion, you should at least try once. I mean it'll be open mike night soon, why not try then?" He suggested this, but it only made Elise roll her eyes over at him with a buttoned smirk, "Oh yeah, that's what I want to be, a Go-Go dancer for a bunch of perverts & my boss." She laughed.
"Hey now, I didn't say it like that." He tried hard to stifle his laugh with a grin, only making the girl smile at him with sincerity before really starting to ponder the singing thing.
The first time she had heard of Greed's attempt at entertainment for the Devil's Nest, she had seriously considered trying out just for shit's & giggles, if anything, but just the thought of her boss, Greed the Avaricious, watching her up on stage with those eyes of his made her nervous. And considering she would have to sing in front of about 50 to 80 people…That gave her an even bigger case of anxiety.
"Dorchetto…Can I tell you something?"
"Well, that's a stupid question to ask." Elise could only smile knowingly as she started to fiddle with her jacket's button.
"I…I would do it, because I love singing. I've been singing ever since I was a little kid, but the thought of knowing I would have to sing in front of an audience…I mean I've never even sang in front of anyone before!"
"Well, what about just now in front of me?"
"That's different, I'm comfortable with your company to sing around you. And besides, I'm not up on stage." She had a point.
"True, but…You shouldn't be afraid Ellie, you've got an awesome talent. A talent you should be sharing with the world, & if not for the world then for the people that would want to hear your voice. Listen…" He didn't want it to come to this…But he had to see if maybe his advice would help change her mind, "Just because those bastards in lab 5 made you a chimera, doesn't mean that you have to stop doing what you love. If you love singing…" He turned his eyes to his friend's, seeing the look of what resembled shock on her face; but it wasn't shock. It was more of realization, which made him smile at her before placing a hand on her shoulder to give some comfort in his words, "Then damn it, sing your heart out. Don't let anything get in your way."
He truly was a good friend. He knew just what to say to make her glow with a smile to brighten her day; but something was dreading her heart, pulling on a simple string to make her frown once again in doubt, "But…What if they don't like me? What if they…Um, you know, boo me off stage?" She said the last part so softly she only got a chuckle at of her friend.
They didn't even realize they had already started getting grocery's by the time they were on the subject, & the only thing that seemed to make Elise realize this was the box of chocolates that were staring at her down.
Chocolate…
*Traitor…* The kitten's mind grumbled to herself before her hand grabbed for the blue box of candy.
"I doubt they'll do that. Not with Greed there. You know he wouldn't allow that….Not in his bar." The way he made it sound only put Elise at ease as she smiled down at the chocolates still. She never took her eyes off them as they walked around the aisles still looking for the remaining supplies that they needed.
But just then, the kitten stopped in her tracks, causing the pup to look back at her, "I don't know…" There was a short pause. She really seemed to be struggling with herself on it, but suddenly her green eyes gazed back at him with determination, "I guess it wouldn't hurt…To try."
He could only smile, "That's the spirit, kitty! Give those girls a taste of their own medicine!" Now the girl was puzzled…There were going to be others? "Girls? What girls? You mean Greed's girls?"
"Yeah. You didn't think you'd be the only one right?"
"Well, no, but I didn't think I was going to be….Competing…I just want to do this for fun."
"Yeah…I have no idea what the hell they'll doing it for."
"I can think of a few things…" The two of them laughed at their little inside joke about the girl's, & after buy their things from the market, they headed out enjoying the rest of the glorious day that seemed to shine on them this fine day.
Yep, it certainly was…Blue skies, warm sun with a nice cool breeze in the air & many blooming flowers from neighborhood yards made it almost seem like spring…Even though realistically it was autumn. It was days like these that would make Elise's heart feel at ease, but right now, while they made their way back to the Devil's Nest, the girl was starting to feel more timid & uneasy the closer they seemed to get to home. Just the thought of getting home was making her nervous beyond belief!
It had to have been from knowing she was going to be singing in front of people for the first time. And not just in front the chimeras, or the girls, but also…In front Greed.
Again she came to the thought of that man watching her It was sending chills down her spine, chills she could never explain when noticing his gazes he was so fond of giving women. Especially her…
She assumed the reason that he stared at her the way she did was because she was different, chimera wise, or because she was a woman & out of all the girls he's slept with, she was one of many girls that were able to contain themselves; but that idea went straight out the window when she thought about Martel. Martel was like her as well…She had never gotten into Greed's pants, or vice versa, so what made her different from Elise?
She had to stop thinking…Too much thinking made her head hurt, & her heart was already a problem all on its own. They weren't even a block away & Ellie's cheeks were bursting into flames while her heart thumped against her chest so hard it felt as if it wanted to explode; Explode from the fear of stage fright.
What a god awful experience she was experiencing, & it was only getting worse.
All the while this was happening, Dorchetto was beginning to sense the Panther's worries, & comfort ability, "You going to be okay, Ellie?"
"Uh-, Hmm." Was all the kitten could reply wiping her forehead of invisible sweat that was beginning to start up again.
"That's what you bought the chocolate for? To calm the nerves?"
"Why else?" She giggled softly getting Dorchetto to follow along with a solemn smile & a gentle chuckle, "You'll do fine. And remember, you got Martel, & me to protect you if anything happens, okay?" It was a generous offer for Dorchetto to have her back on this, but for Elise to do anything on her own, she needed to stop holding everyone's hand for everything.
Well, not like she was, but she wanted to be dependent on this…She wanted to do this on her own…This wasn't training…She had been singing for years, even without a teacher she would keep singing till her lungs gave out…So, that's what she was going to do…
Sing your heart out.
"You sure you're going to be alright?"
"Yep. I'll be find Dorchetto…I can do it…You'll see." The expression that fell to her gentle features showed nothing more than dedication.
Dedication to face her own fear & reconstruct them to nothing more than the missing confidence she had misplaced over her years as a child.
"Okay, you know I got your back. Always."
"Thank you Doro…You truly are man's best friend." She smiled over to her friend before he grinned back at her mischievously.
"I'll take that as a compliment, & not one of your usual jokes."
The two headed down the steps of their now over crowded home to see Greed had started a little get together while the two were away.
"Oi, Oi! Look who's finally joined the party!" Greed announced their arrival happily with two girl's swooning on both sides of him, of course while he was enjoying a glass of brandy he seemed to have found a taste for.
"Hey boss…" Dorchetto saluted his boss with a small smile.
"Hiya!" Elise exclaimed her arrival happily waving over at him & his two lady friend's before heading into kitchen with Dorchetto following in behind her with the bag of grocery's so they could finally put them away, but before Ellie could ever start taking out the bag of apples in her hand, the sound of Greed's voice began to call for her.
"Hey kitty, Could you come in here for a sec?"
"Uh, Um, sure!~ I'm coming! Dorchetto…" Elise turned to her canine friend with pleading eyes to finish up with the bags.
"Heh, Heh, yeah, yeah I'll finish up here. Now go on, he's waiting for you." Oddly enough, he grinned a wide smile, almost as if he was expecting this. Or something to happen.
…Something funny maybe?
Well, she only got a glimpse of his smile anyways, but now she was more interested in what Greed had to say.
When she came out from the kitchen's double doors, she found her boss drinking down the rest of his drink, with the same girls still underneath his arms, giggling & chatting with one another while Greed just watched them with smiles…
Nothing unusual there…
That is until his ears & eyes perked up to Elise walking towards them, "You rang!" She announced happily with a smile.
"Ah, there's my star attraction…"
Star attraction… What?
"Girls, I'd like you to meet our kitten of the group, Elise. She's the one I've told you guy about."
"Oh, so you've been talking about me have you?" Elise laughed crossing her arms over her chest.
"Very much so, but only good things have been said about you."
"Oh?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Well, I'm flattered, really.. So….What'd you need to talk to me about?"
Greed just smiled at Ellie for a moment like he was pondering, as he always did, before looking down at the two dames that looked back with curiousness in their eyes.
"Well, if the ladies don't mind…I'd like to talk to you in private…"
"What?"
"But Greed?" The girls puffed their lips & bashed their lashes with a pout at his answer.
"Don't worry ladies, it won't take long…And it's not what you think."
"Yeah, don't give them the wrong idea, Greed." Elise joked only to get another soft laugh out of the homunculus.
With a short pause the girls left without a word, & only a shrug of their shoulders to an open seat next to the Avaricious who was patting the warm spot with a welcoming smirk.
Usually, Elise dreaded people unless she was in a calming environment, but since Greed always tried to make this place as much at ease to his abilities, she didn't feel all to nervous as she did before on the way home.
"So doll, how was the walk?"
"Good. No trouble at all." She could only reply softly with a smile as she sat next to him, attempting to put some space between them before the homunculus turned an upside down glass on its end, "Brandy?"
"It's like noon."
"So? You only live once…"
"Eh, why the hell not." She shrugged getting an approving grin out of her boss as he poured the drinks.
"Atta girl…! You're definitely one of mine alright." As much as Elise didn't want to blush at that comment, she did, & it worsened when he handed her the glass of alcohol, it worsened so bad she had to turn her face to drink golden liquid.
"I hope Dorchetto wasn't too much for you. I know he can be a handful, knowing you both." He added slyly, only getting Ellie & himself to laugh a little when she thought about that morning.
"You hit the nail on the head, but no, he was great! We had fun. Oh! And I got chocolate!" She took one more drink before showing Greed the blue box of chocolates in her pocket getting another laugh at him, "Sweet tooth?"
"Yeah…Something like that…" She didn't want to think about her discussion from earlier, so change her mind she asked the question from before, "So, uh, what's this thing you needed to talk to me so eagerly, in private?" She could feel the hug in his grip tighten a little on her hips making the girl release a soft gasp when he brought her closer her….They nearly connected at the shoulder as he took a swig of his drink & then looked back down to Ellie as he put his drink down.
" Oh right, about that…Well, I've been thinking…"
"Uh-oh." Was all she could say to interrupt him.
"Uh-oh, what?"
"Usually when you start off with 'I've been thinking' it usually means that you've been thinking of something that has to do with me." She giggled looking up at him with a cocked brow & a sip of her drink.
How he could get her to giggle the way she did was beyond him, but none the less he laughed with her as he rubbed the back of his head with a smile forgetting how clever the kitten under his wing could be. And he loved it. He loved how clever she was, & how witty.
Oh yes, but her cleverness was nothing compared to what he had trained her to be… Beneath her fits of giggles & smiles she was a skillful artist in the body, mind, & soul.
But now, there was one more thing he wanted to see…
That he wanted to hear…
"Well, I wanted to ask…How good are you at singing?" The air from Elise's throat hitched within seconds; how could he have known about her singing when she never had the chance to sing in front of him in the first place? She wondered if there was any other time she had sang out loud, but the only time she could think of was today about 20 minutes ago, outside, & away from the Devil's Nest!
There was no question to what he was actually asking…He knew she could sing…His eyes said it all. They told her everything, "Wait-, I-,…How could you have known without…"
Suddenly the panther paused, feeling her cat ears perk up as she swirled her head around to the kitchen door to see Martel muttering something over at the snickering pup who was looking straight at the kitten from the corner of the door frame. He thought he was clever or sneaky about what was going on right now, but Elise gave him such a look…
…I have many pranks coming up for you my pup…Just you wait…
"Don't blame him. It wasn't Dorchetto's idea."
"Oh. I'm sure, but I'm still going to put a bucket over his bedroom door soon enough. I can't believe he had a hand in this…" She grumbled the last part just enough to finish her glass out of the frustration, but just as the glass was emptied, Greed chuckled softly & poured her another glass, "You think you'll be able to handle another?"
"Maybe… I knew he sounded funny when he said I should try out. You guys are horrible." She replied some what bitter.
"Awe… Come on, babe. Don't be like that. You know. The only reason why I'm asking about singing, is because I want you to become…Our cover."
"Huh?"
"If you have time for a few more drinks…I'll tell you what my plan is…" After first, Elise looked around remembering about his two lady friends, but then shrugged a little as she laid back into the homunculus's grasp.
She had to admit, even though they weren't that close to one another (Physically), his arm around her waist felt…comfortable. Maybe because it was really rare to have someone hold her the way he did. The funny thing about it was…It was innocent. He didn't attempt to grope her butt, or attempt to woo her…He just…Held her. To feel something like this was completely new to the poor panther, & since it was new...
…She was slightly frightened by it. She didn't know how to react to his touch, but in response to his proposal, she merely raised her glass to let him pour her a new glass.
"So, what's this big plan you have with me being our cover?"
"If I tell you…You have to swear to keep it between us."
"Alright. I can do that." Greed smiled down at her for her answer.
"Trusting too. I'm liking you more each day…Well, right around the time we finally found this place. I heard from Bido that my brothers have been looking for me…Or should I say us…" Elise stayed quiet listening in as she held her drink swaying it with a sense of wanting to play with it.
"They're trying to find us?" She asked softly, almost a little frightened…. She didn't want to go back to that place. Lab 5 was worse than hell itself & she never wanted to return or remember it for all it was worth.
Yet, at last, Greed could feel her anguish, & softened his gaze to her, lifting her chin to have her look at him, "Don't doubt me doll…I'll make sure that you're safe…That we're all safe." The way he gazed into her eyes & the way he spoke made her inside twist in funny ways while her cheeks began to flare up between red & pink, which Greed seemed to noticed when she replied with a meek, 'Okay'.
He smiled pulling away from her once again before he resumed his sitting position with a sip of a his drink again, "Now, listen to this…This is where you can help me with this crazy plan I made up. I'm thinking if we turn this place into a…Night club. It might make it a lot harder to pin point this place on the map for them."
"How so?"
"Hmm?" Greed cocked a brow at the girl making her blush a little. She didn't mean to talk back if that's why he was looking at her like that, but it didn't make sense.
"Well, if you think about it. We'll make ourselves more known if we try to make this place into a night club."
"It's not even like that doll. It's simple, once we have you on stage, & we've got enough people in here to start a night club…It'll make it ten times harder for the Military to track us down…They won't be able to touch us because they'll think we're just another bar trying to get big…It's perfect. Not only that we'll all be getting paid as well as it is with every business, & while we're all relaxing in the background, we'll also be safe & sound. We'll make this place so huge they won't be able to touch us."
"Uh…I-,…I guess…?" The way she replied was more of a question they response.
"I know it sounds complicated, but don't think to much into doll…Because that's not the only reason why I want you to sing..."
"Neh?" Her little responses always made him hum a laugh. She was just too damn cute.
"What? You didn't think I've heard you sing all those times in the shower before asking you a question like 'wanting you to sing'?" The whole conversation went silent when Elise heard that. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates & her mouth was left a gape, getting Greed to laugh at her reaction, "Hey it's not my fault you leave your door wide open when you go to go take a shower; Which by the way, you should start locking more often like I've told you to, silly kitty. Do know how many perverts we've got in this place?" That earned him a stifle laugh as Elise began to fiddle with her hair leaning forward.
"You mean besides you?"
"Hey, now…."
"Well you are…Otherwise you wouldn't be staring at me like you were this morning."
She could hear the Avarice groan, "You were half naked woman, what was I suppose to do…?"
"I don't know, resist the urge?" She laughed looking back at him as she leaned back against his arm again once more, now getting an odd chuckle out of him this time. He leaned into her head murmuring words she could only blush to, "Resisting the urge to see you in nothing but panties & an open shirt with no bra on…? You're insane…"
"Space, Greed, space?" She mumbled closing her eyes from the embarrassment she was feeling again & finally scooted away now thinking it was a bad idea to drink while sitting right next to him.
Curse her for being nice…
Some people would've taken that as flirting…But no, she was naturally friendly like that; she thought Greed would've learned that by now, & maybe he did…
…He just didn't care.
What could he say…He was Greed.
"Am I making you nervous?"
"No…" She tried to pull away more but it only made Greed wave her back over with a soft chuckle.
"Don't be like that…. Come back over here, I won't bite."
"Are you drunk?"
"No. Not yet anyway, come on, I promise I'll behave. I'll give you space, like you said."
"Mm…" She was a little uneasy now, she didn't want him to get the wrong idea of her, but she was only thinking too much at this point. For Greed merely put out his hand to her, & gave an odd comforting smile. He probably wasn't very good at trying to comfort someone, but he knew a small smile always made the girl feel a little better about loosening up, "Fine." She replied just above a whisper to get Greed to smirk once again as she moved a little closer to him.
"I wasn't trying to make you nervous, beautiful."
I'm not beautiful… Her mil-second thought was bitter at the name. God only knew why…
"It's okay. I'm trying not to feel as nervous as before, but sometimes…I just can't help it I guess…"
"It's not easy fitting into a new place, eh?" He agreed softly running a couple fingers through the side of her hair. She didn't seem to mind it; in fact she leaned into it like a cat, feeling his thumb softly brush up against her cat like ears.
"Mm-mm…"
"But you know what?" Greed had gotten stuck in thought when he turned her face to his, making sure he could stare into those wondering green iris's of hers…
Those eyes could always lighten his mood. They could make him feel like the whole world in motion had stopped turning, "You're doing a wonderful job at being yourself. So stay that way. Okay?" It was an odd question for the girl to answer, but none the less she just nodded her head almost to the point where it was unnoticeable to him & gave a little reassuring smile to confirm it all.
With that Greed smiled, & removed some of the strands for the panther's face before making themselves comfortable against the couch now. His arm now over her shoulder as he propped one leg on top of the other with a glass in hand.
"Well, what do you think, Ellie? After everything I've laid on the table…Do you think the plan would work? I doubt a homunculus would want to try to check a completely packed night club…With loud lights, & booming music…"
"We already do that though." She laughed seeing the two girls now to her left awaiting for Greed to finish up with her near his room, but again she just turned to her drink & looked at the Avarice with a smile, "You're girl's are getting impatient…"
"Huh?" Greed looked over his shoulders to the seeing the girl's sad expressions on their faces, only to have him smile & wave at them before he turned back to his kitten who was gulping back her glass now, "They'll be alright. I'll make it up to them later."
"Okay….Too much information."
"Heh, what? I didn't even say anything."
"Yeah, but you could've stopped a couple letters earlier…"
Sorry about that…A bad habit of mine, I assure you. But…On a better note, I am still waiting on your answer, beautiful."
Why does he keep saying that…I'm not one of his girls, so he better knock it off with the pet names!
"Well, if you promise to stop calling me beautiful. Sure, I'll do it."
"Huh? What? You don't like being called beautiful?"
"It makes me sound like I'm one of your chew toys, Greed. You can call me kitty, kitten, or Ellie…But…" Her eyes softened when she said this, "Beautiful…Is definitely not a nick name I want for myself."
"Boy, you're real anal aren't you?"
"I'm not anal, I'm just-,"
"Not use to being called beautiful?"
"Yes!" She replied oh so bluntly, realizing afterwards that she said it so loud people in the bar were staring at her, "Oops."
The Avaricious couldn't help but bust out with laughter at the kitten's shyness all over again, & awed at her to make her blush even worse than her cheeks were already burning from the alcohol she had consumed, "It's alright Ellie…Now…When do you think you'll be ready to go up on stage & sing for us?" He probably didn't mean to murmur it to her, but even if he didn't mean it, the effect to his mumbled words made Elise's skin crawl with goose bumps, & her heart to lodge up in her throat.
"Um, I don't-…Mm…" She looked anywhere but where he was. He was hunching over her, curious about her to only have her answer with a wavering voice, "How about when everyone leaves?"
That made him laugh. "Awe come on Kitty, let everyone hear what I heard that night…" He placed his chest against her back somehow.
He was surprised to feel her heart pounding rapidly against her back, & merely held onto her shoulders with a rub of her muscles to ease her. It was working too…He caressed & massaged her shoulders with care, feeling her turn into puddy in his hands as she continued this, hearing a small sigh leave her lips.
As much he wanted to admit he wasn't turned on…He really was. The way she laid against him, the way her hair & skin always smelled of chocolate…God he wanted her…He wanted her in such way that drove him nearly insane.
"I want to hear your voice…Please…?" Ellie really did ponder this again. Especially after finding out that Dorchetto was working for Greed the whole time…Yeah, she was definitely looking this whole situation over like she did the first time Greed had an idea…
Unfortunately unlike before, this idea was a little…Weird. Weird was the only word she could think of, because even though it was suppose to be a cover…Elise couldn't help but feel a smidge of Greed's own interest being put into this…
So, with a deep sigh & a frustrated ruffle of her hair, Ellie rolled her eyes & nodded, "Alright! Alright. Why not! I'll try! But you have to pick the time of day because I don't know when you want me to do this…This singing thing."
"Well, How's right now?"
"What? With no time to prepare?" She asked worriedly.
"How hard is it to sing? And with a voice like yours, I'm sure you'll knock the boys dead…"
"I know but-, I don't know if I'm ready for this…Now. I mean there's barely anyone in the bar!"
"Which gives you the perfect opportunity to at least try to get on stage without fainting." The joke made her laugh softly, even though she didn't want to. She couldn't help it, not with the faces he was to making at her to make her giggle even more, "Stop making me laugh." Her smile was so very apparent that it even made the Avarice smile back down at her.
"Come on…I'll even have one of the girl's go up there with you to sing back up. Huh?" He may have been seriously, but it made Ellie giggle once more before exhaling softly to nod with a shrug.
"Okay…."
"That's my girl."
Oh jeez, now I'm one of his girls now?… Or was that another compliment I can't tell
Her voice mentally laughed to itself as she began walked her way over to the front of the stage, across from the bar & back flipped onto the high stage floor to stretch herself out in the hot lights that beamed down from the ceiling.
Once she was actually all set up on stage, the back up singer, Angelic & Elise stood side by side as everyone in the bar including the chimeras & Greed watched with anticipation.
Another girl, Jordan cracked her fingers before setting her finger tips over the piano's keys, "Are we ready?"
"Ready!" Angelic cheered happily.
"Yeah…I'm ready…" Elise breathed into the mike.
"You sound nervous." Angelic laughed gently rubbing the kitten's back in comfort.
"Heh, heh, I am, indeed-y…I hate to rush this but can we hurry this up please? The lights are killing me here." This was no joke. When Ellie first made it up on the stage the lights were beginning to give her a head ache, but after only being up in the bright lights for 10 minutes…She was getting a migraine!
…Or something close to one.
"Alright, well then, let's get this started!" Jordan began to play her piano…The song started up with a rhythmic beat you could snap your fingers to…Something Elise started to do when she got into the song & tried to look up at the lights to distract her from the people watching her.
Jeepers, Creepers
Where'd you get those peepers…
Jeepers, Creepers
Where'd you get those eyes…
The song may have been an interesting pick, but it was a song Elise could get into to help her self esteem, yet all the while she tried hard to keep singing… Her eye sight wasn't getting any better & the light was becoming unbearably bright.
Her entire body felt like it was getting worse…
Shit…Am I about to faint? God I hope not but,…I'm-…I'm not really feeling like myself right now…I'm starting to feel sick. What's going…On with me.
Her lips were moving with the lyrics, but her voice sounded so far away, almost as if it was echoing from upstairs.
It only got worse from there… The song she thought she was singing to, faded off with her voice & vision, now following with it, the feel of a cold sweat coming on.
From a far, the others could see something was wrong…
Elise's eye lids were having a hard time staying open & from the look of it she was beginning to grit her teeth with the song as her cheeks heated up in flames.
Who was she kidding her entire body felt like it was being burned alive!
Had she really drank too much for her own good? Or was she just that nervous she was about to faint?
Those were two questions everyone was pondering before suddenly the sound of the lyrics coming from the kitten's lips began to sound like babbling, they were completely incoherent.
"What the hell…Is she okay?" One of the girl's from behind Greed asked only to get Greed to stand up from his seat with a weird look falling upon his face; a look of light concern…
"Ellie?"
She didn't respond…Instead Elise just fell to the floor screaming bloody murder as a bright red light consumed her body & the room around them.
Everyone ducked not sure if the red lightening was dangerous just yet, but when nothing happened to them, the chimeras & Greed were the first to make a move to the stage, watching as their friend's body curled up into a ball on the floor holding her head. Her finger nails grew the size of machetes, & her canines grew & sharpened with her senses…Her body felt like it was going so far into over drive she couldn't take it.
"What do we do?"
"I don't know…Greed…!"
"Damn…" The homunculus knew what this was…He had seen this happen before a few times…
The red light was coming from her body…A red glowing light usually only meant one thing…
"She has a philosopher stone as her core…?" Greed muttered his words only loud enough for him to hear it, making the others stare at him as if he never said anything.
"Greed!"
"Shut up Dorchetto! I can handle it!" In a means to save the kitten, Greed attempted to her up only to get a violent jerk out of the girl as she began to scream in even more pain.
"Whoa! Elise! Elise!" He cradled her the best he could, trying to hold her breaking form in his arm as her entire being began to deconstruct & reconstruct itself like the stone always did before it took over its host.
This was crazy.
….Those bastards from Lab 5 had somehow turned this girl into a chimera &…A human based homunculus. Did they even have a name for this kind of thing? If they did Greed didn't know what it was…But he was…Astonished at what was happening in front of him…
Elise… was turning into a homunculus…
"I know it hurts babe, but let it take you… Don't fight it! It'll only kill you if you do! Except it!" He pleaded with Ellie in her sudden deep submission only hoping that she would hear him & just accept the power of the stone in order to live.
He couldn't tell whether he was doing it to see what would happen or to see if she would survive it, but either way, he was running out of options.
It was only after a few more jerks of her body & grunted pants… It seemed that his voice was beginning to reach her. "Ellie…"
He held her tight to him, finally getting his strength around her to shelter from the world…
Again the light began to lessen…And so did her pain.
The screams had fallen to softened & tired pants with light rasping from her lungs. Her eyes tried hair to stay open, but the merely with barely any strength to go on… It was then her body began to form back to normal, no longer were her nails claws, & her teeth were back to their sizes once more. In time, the entire place fell silence…
Everyone in the place didn't say a word, & the guest that were originally here before, disappeared…
Even Greed couldn't say anything…He just held the poor kitten in his arms, continuing to pet the side of her head to soothe her in her deep sleep…
"Should we call a doctor?"
"No…" Was the first thing out of Greed's mouth & the last.
"Then what're we going to do, huh? Leave her in another coma like she was in Lab 5?"
"Calm down." Dorchetto was trying his best here.
"I'm trying, but I'm feeling helpless here! Did you see what happened her? Her body twisted up like fucking screw driver & then reconstructed everything back to normal! What the fuck did those bastards do to her! Is she going to be going through this again? We need to know! We need to help her!"
"We know Martel, we know. We really do, but the best thing to do right now is to stay calm & think of a plan that will keep us & Elise safe." After that, there was nothing left to be said. Everyone sat in silence once again wondering & hoping when the poor girl would awaken…
…Or if she would ever awaken…
By the time five the next morning rolled around, Greed couldn't take relaxing this time…He couldn't even stand staring at his glass knowing that her glass from the previous night was still sitting on the table in front of him…
It was bothering him for some reason & he didn't know why, so what better thing for him to do then get rid of what's bothering him…
Which was the nagging feeling of wanting to check up on her…
"Where you going boss?"
"I want to see if the kitten's alright..." As many times as he's seen this happen unsuccessfully, the ones that never made it usually had the stones liquid flowing out from every Orpheus of their body, & wore the face of horror to match the pain they once felt but her…
With Elise…It wasn't like that! He knows she made it! She was alive, he could feel it, so why wasn't she waking up!
Fuck… It bothered him when he didn't know the answers…
When he reached her room, he opened it with ease, but slowly made his made his way in trying not to startle her awake if that was even possible at this point. He quietly walked over with his hands in his pockets as usual, & stood in front of the girl slumbering so soundly.
He didn't make any sudden movements. He just stared down at her without a word, hoping in seeing her would ease his fluttering thoughts…But they only made them worse…
…This time…
His thoughts wondered among her & her features….
Her back was turned to him, with her hair covering her neck & some of her back. She really did have the most gorgeous hair he had ever laid eyes on. It was black as raven's feather & even softer than silk…And it always smelled like chocolate; don't ask for the life of him why, it just did! But none the less, he loved everything about her, she was perfect in every way in his eyes, but he knew one thing that bugged him more than anything…
He may have her as a possession, but like every woman he wanted & got…He wanted & wanted get Elise too.
He found it strange that he hadn't had a taste of her like all the other girl's he came across, but he knew that was because this neko was different from them…
She was different in every way. She was goofy, a jokester, shy, hyper when she wanted to be, ambitious, helpful, she never tried to complain, & she was always opened minded…absent-minded… That made him laugh a little at the thought of her leaving the bathtub running or from leaving something in the oven too long.
She-,…She was surely something...
What the hell is wrong with me? Come on Greed get your head out of the clouds…Idiot.
Greed had to shake his head of the ridiculous thoughts popping into his head, just before hearing Elise beginning to turn over with a strong painful moan turning her face to him with such a sickly pale tone to her once peachy fair skin.
"Elise…" He said her name just above a whisper before sitting on the bed next to her, gripping her hand at first to see if his touch would wake her.
But somehow it was making her worse…
"Come on, wake up." She began to struggle against him now, throwing her head from side to side violently as she began to whimper & cry out in pain.
"Wake up!" He had enough of this, he had to shake her awake. He couldn't stand seeing the look on her face. It was in so much pain… And her tears?
It was the first he had ever seen her cry…
"Elise!" Finally out of her nightmarish hell, the panther awakened with a loud gasp when she flung herself forward straight into Greed's arms…
-.-.-
She could hear the beeping noise as she awakened from a sleep that merely seemed like seconds…
The beeping sound was steady, almost as steady as heart beat would sound.
She began to wonder if it was the sound of a heart monitor.
And indeed she was correct…
Elise adjusted her eyes to the bright light above her, feeling the sting of it as she stared up into it…
It was starting to cause a really bad migraine…
Not only that her body was starting to hurt…A lot.
"Good…You're awake…I didn't think you'd be able to withstand this much…" A male's soothing voice called out to her, making her ears hurt for the first time in her life. It felt like her ear drums were about to explode, but she tried hard to ignore the pain…
Let's just say that wasn't going all too well.
"Now, answer my question…Chimera…Can you speak…?"
"Huh…? S-Speak? Yeah…Did-, Did you just call me…?" Elise could barely make a coherent sentence, although in her mind she thought she was doing fine; until she looked down at her body to see the horror before her…
With a blurred vision, Elise could barely make out that her body was being ripped opened, with a red glowing heart beating within her chest…
"What…What the fuck?" She nearly cried at the sight of her own body being torn opened.
"Damn, we're going to need more anesthetics in here! And get another doctor in here with morphine!"
Before she could stay awake for anymore of her nightmare, she could feel her body go into shock from what she had experienced, but as the nurse had tried injecting a dose of some into her blood stream…Elise did the unthinkable…She sat up, extended her claws…And sliced the man in half before falling into a deep slumber…
-.-.-
Elise flung herself forward out of her hellish nightmare & straight into a warm pair of arms.
She didn't even seem to realize she was dreaming when she first woke up, but when she hear a voice hushing her…She knew she was safe…
It was-…It was all just a dream… Her eyes were misted with tears, & her body shook to the feel his hand caressing the back of her head with care. With that she leaned into the person…
She already knew who it was already, & didn't care, the fact that she had something to hold on to after that…Was anything but a relief to her as she gasped back to hold her sobs the best she could.
"It's okay Ellie…You're okay…" His voice was trying the best it knew how to be comforting & it seemed to work how soft & soothing he was to her ears, & with a tight grip on the back of his vest she finally began to feel her heart follow back into a normal rhythm.
You know, you'd think Greed would've been uncomfortable by her crying…Or by her holding onto him the way she was…The silly little fact of the matter was…He wasn't…
He secretly smiled down at her & laid back down against her pillow covering her goose bumped covered body with the comforter that warmed her before…
The avaricious stayed where he was on the side of her bed removing some of her bangs from her face a little in a spare of the moment, "You going to be alright…?"
"I think so…" Her voice was so weak & tired, it was nearly raspy.
"Good…." Was all he could reply, before asking, "Do you remember what happened?"
"Mm…Mm-mm…" She was being timid again. She didn't want to speak or talk about it, & Greed couldn't really tell as he leaned to see the confused & sorrowful look on her face, "Do you want to talk about it later?"
"Yeah…." She sighed nuzzling into the side of her pillow before looking over at Greed who seemed like he was deep in thought, "Penny for your thoughts?"
"Hmm? Nothing kitty… Nothing at all… I'm just… glad you're going to live. You gave everyone quite a scare…You know?"
"Sorry…"
"Oh babe, it wasn't your fault… If anything…just…" He had to stop himself. Knowing what she had gone through, he didn't want her going through any more than what she had already endured, "Never mind. It's a long story. F-forget it; anyways, on another note, you want something to eat?" She shook her head.
"Thirsty?" Elise shook her head again making the homunculus scoff with a cocked brow, "Well then what do you want?"
Out of a sudden knot in her stomach, Elise's face flushed with embarrassment as her eyes mist over again, "C-could…"
"Yes…?" He egged on wondering what this little kitten could possibly want from him, other than food or medicine at the moment.
"Could you…stay here…" She trailed off reaching over hesitantly before gripping onto her boss's hand, hard. So much so, her nails were gently digging into the sides of his fingers bones, "With me…?" He didn't know what to say. It was something completely random…
But he couldn't deny her….Could he? He stared down at her a little longer till her teary, pleading eyes turned to him for his answer.
"Now how can I say no with eyes like that, huh?" He chuckled getting over the kitten's feet, making himself comfortable next to her. When he was comfortable enough he pulled Elise into his chest & laid his forehead against the side of her head, "Is this okay beautiful?" He asked softly, trying not to scare the Neko…As if he could.
"Mm-hmm…" As much as she wanted to comment on that nick name again, she really didn't have the energy to do so, &
"You're going to tell me what's bugging you tomorrow. Right?" Even though he wasn't being demanding about it, he knew she would have to tell him what she had dreamt about & Elise knew that too. The kitten could only look over at him, staring back into his eyes as she thought about it, then smiled sleepily up at him before answering, "Only if you tell me what happened before I passed out."
"Hmm…" With a soft kissed into her hair, causing Elise to gasp, he chuckled as he nuzzled his face into the back of her head as he attempted to doze off with her, "I think I could do that…Equivalent Exchange as the old saying goes…"
"Huh?"
"Heh…Don't worry about it, Ellie…" With a soft yawn & a snuggle of her hips to his Greed closed his eyes & relaxed his body against his chimera, " Let's just rest."
It took Elise a minute as she looked back to see the Avaricious slumbering softly behind her. She knew he wasn't really asleep but the fact that he wanted her to rest…Made her smile.
He cared about her…It may have been not as a friend, but the fact that he came up stairs to see if she was alright after all the excitement from earlier, it showed her that she had someone that cared for her well being…
Not like her parents…
These people…
This man…
They were all something else, & she was glad to know them. To have them in her life now only after 3 months.
With a light yawn of her own, Elise shook her head of sleep & finally gave in, nuzzling her back into Greed once more time, feeling him hold her tighter as they both fell asleep in each other's arms…
Most people would've found this odd…But to the two of them…Who cared? They were at peace…And that's all that mattered…
Next- Chapter V: Friends
What is a friend...
A friend is a someone that will stand by you
Someone that always has your back & tell you the truth even when it hurts
They're the person that will try anything to make you smile & make you laugh...
So...Is that what you are?
This one took forever! I'm so so sorry again for my delay & misspellings of sorts lol. And for some of us that needed a stress reliever I hope this was a good one for you guys( at least to hold you over) & the next one will be out as soon as it can. Promise! R&R peoplez!