Co-written by Yumeko and Shizuko.

In this chapter: Yume - Pride, Hohenheim ; Shiz - Envy, Lust

A/N

::Yume: Noooooo Pride!

::Shiz: A few more things happen, a few more things revealed, and a few more characters enter the story, even if for the moment it is brief.


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CHAPTER SIX

"Homunculi's pain"

Envy stood speechless, staring up at Father with a look of disgust and misplaced anger. Father had just casually told him how involved Pride would be in getting Alphonse to make the Stone! And he didn't even care for his well-being in the slightest. Envy's fist shook slightly by his side, his eyes narrowed as silence stood in the empty room for what seemed like days. Finally he spoke.

"Father... are you really going to use Pride that much? I agree a glimpse of him would do good to shock the little pipsqueak, and intrigue him to make the Stone, but I don't think I agree on using Pride to that degree. He may be a new homunculus, but I don't think he should be treated as something easily disposed of."

Envy stood in silence, awaiting his Father's dreaded reply

·.·.••..••.·.·

Lust walked down the hallway where all the Homunculi's rooms were located. She passed door after door, disapproving of any clutter she could glimpse through small gaps between the door and frame. Stopping at hers, she looked down the hall as she heard rushing feet running. Who on earth could that be? She asked to herself, turning to confront the runner. That's no mannerism of Wrath or Gluttony. Hmm... Is it Pride? Lust let her claws extend and waited in the darkness of her room for the passing figure. It had better be Pride or they'll get a nasty surprise. Lust gave a cruel smile.

Pride ran down the dark corridor, his feet pounding steadily on the hard floor. In contrast, his thoughts were disordered, a whirling frenzy. Whose memories were those? Why am I remembering them all of a sudden? What does this mean? Letting loose a small cry of frustration, he clutched at his hair as he ran.

A dark shape, all of a sudden, looming ahead of him. Startled, he ground his feet into the floor and skid to a halt, but not soon enough. Carried on by his momentum, he slammed into something soft and pliable, and heard a distinctly feminine yelp of surprise as they both tumbled to the floor. Panicking, everything happening much too fast, he struck out blindly, his fist connecting with something.

The next thing he knew was a swooshing sound as something cut swiftly through the air, and then a sharp pain in his chest...

·.·.••..••.·.·

"And since when, Envy, have I allowed you to question my orders?" The change in Hohenheim's voice was sudden and chilling. "I do not recall asking for your opinion. In fact..." He rose from his chair, towering over the green-haired homunculus. "I am not inclined to overlook this insubordination of yours..."

Envy opened his mouth to retort, but whatever he might have said was cut off, as a shrill scream echoed from outside the room. Both he and Hohenheim turned in unison, to stare at the closed doors.

Envy snarled the words, "I'm going to find out what's the matter," and stormed out of the place, forgetting all about Father and hurriedly walking to the scene of the scream. What had happened? Who had screamed? It sounded like Pride, but... Envy froze in his tracks as he saw the blood on the floor, Lust pulling her claws from Pride and pushing him gently off of her, and the pain that was written on Pride's face... Wait. Pain? What is going on here?!

Envy walked to Pride's side and lifted his head up to settle on Envy's knee. "Get up," he said harshly, glaring down at Pride. "Since when did a Homunculus feel pain? Get on your feet, Pride!" He nearly shouted, roughly grabbing his arm and yanking him into a standing position. "What the hell went on here?"

Lust stood slowly, brushing her hair out of her face, her hands back to normal. "I heard someone running down the hall, waited to see who it was, he tripped, and fell on top of me. Pride then proceeded to hit me and that's when I retaliated." She gave a small huff and walked into her room angrily, shutting the door after saying, "Why he's still around, I'll never know..."

Envy ignored Lust's last comment and looked into Pride's eyes. They were... off a bit, somehow in some way. He wasn't sure what it could actually be, but he had plenty of guesses. "Come on," he said, pushing Pride in front of him. "You and I will have a talk in my room."

Dizzy and disoriented, Pride allowed Envy to yank him to his feet without resisting. Half leading him, half-manhandling him, the older homunculus shoved him along the passageway. Opening the door to his room, he shoved Pride roughly in, and slammed the door behind him.

Thrown off-balance, Pride teetered for a moment before regaining his balance. Standing with shoulders slumped, he looked at the floor, allowing his bangs to fall down over and cover his eyes. He kept his gaze down, somehow strangely afraid to meet his brother's eyes. He could practically feel the waves of rage coming off of Envy.

"What the hell were you doing out there?!" Envy shouted at Pride, pacing a few feet in front of him before rooting himself five feet away. "First you scared Lust, and then you attacked her! Are you even a homunculus!? I could see the pain in your eyes! How many times have I told you that pain is nothing to us?! Maybe I should keep stabbing you until you get that point across!" Envy let out a hiss of frustration through his teeth, placing a hand on his head and closing his eyes.

"Pride... What on earth made you run?" His voice was a bit steadier now and he didn't seem so angry. However, Pride could see that he was still a ticking timebomb. "What happened?" At this, Envy reached over towards Pride, and lifted to see his eyes. Some foreign light shone in his eyes. "Tell me now, Pride. What did you do?"

Pride tried to turn his face away, but Envy had his chin in a firm grip. Reluctantly, he looked up, meeting the older homunculus' violet eyes.

"I…" he began hesitantly. "I…" He stopped. For some reason, the words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. "Envy…"

More images, flashing before his eyes, blurred and strangely hazy. A scene of what looked like an old abandoned laboratory, he could see Envy and Lust, the former's hand on his hip in a nonchalant pose, grinning down at him, but it wasn't him, though he was seeing through that person's eyes, he looked at his hands and saw one to be metal, the memory-Envy was taunting him now, calling him 'Edward Elric', but the scene was already changing, to a cold, grey alley with rain soaking his hair, a hulking figure standing over his kneeling form, while in the background, that same voice cried desperately, 'Niisan!'…

He didn't even realize he was on the floor, curling into a ball and fisting his hands in his hair, till a sharp pain in his cheek brought him back to reality. Looking up dazedly, he found himself looking into Envy's furious eyes. The older homunculus was crouched on the floor in front of him, one hand clutching his shoulder in a vice-like grip, the other still raised in the air from the slap.

"What the fuck—" Envy began, but Pride didn't give him a chance to finish. Launching himself forward, he all but threw himself on his brother, wrapping his arms tightly around him and burying his head in his chest. He had no reason to expect Envy to respond with anything other than anger, he knew his brother hated displays of weakness or affection, but he honestly didn't care. He was scared, and confused, and lost, and so he clung to Envy like his life depended on it, and awaited the furious response that he was sure would come.

Envy's hand still remained poised in the air, like he was going to slap Pride again. He was silent for a long while, something that puzzled Pride greatly. Where was the angry reprimand? Where were the yelling and blows he was sure to get by showing this affection? Time seemed to sit still, minutes going by before Envy lowered his hand and put it around Pride. His eyes softened and he pulled Pride away to get a good look at his face.

"What's wrong?" The question was not rough, nor was it shouted. It was actually gentle for once. Was this truly Envy? Accepting this emotion, this affection without so much as a "What are you doing?" Envy's arms were held slack behind Pride's back, but he was unwilling to let his younger brother escape without some kind of explanation. "What happened? You collapsed on the ground, practically ripping your hair out very suddenly. I was worried you had a spasm." Some affection was hinted in his voice and he gently pushed Pride back into his shoulder, putting a hand through Pride's hair.

"Now don't cry... I'm here for you always, Pride. I won't ever let anything happen to you. I swear to you," Envy continued. "So tell me what happened. Did you remember something disturbing?" And quite suddenly, Envy's eyes widened as if he knew the answer. Former memories... His voice increased a little in harshness as he questioned, "What was it about?"

Pride rested his head tentatively against Envy's shoulder, puzzled by this sudden gentleness. His insecurity got the better of him, however, and he nestled close to the older homunculus, burying his face in his hair.

"I..." His voice was muffled and hesitant. "I remembered something. About...about Alphonse Elric."

"... Alphonse Elric?" Envy's voice shook slightly, trying to keep his anger inside. "You... What other memories have you experienced?" Envy pulled his arm away from Pride so that Pride was keeping himself balanced with his head on Envy's shoulder. "Those memories mean nothing more than empty flashbacks of someone else's life. You will not believe them to be true and you will not delve deeper to find out what they mean."

Envy paushed for a short second. "Understand, Pride?"

"Yes." Pride whispered into Envy's shoulder. "Yes, Envy."

He didn't know whose memories those were, or what they signified. He didn't know why he was remembering them all of a sudden, or what to do with them. All he knew was that they confused and scared him, and all he wanted to do was shut them out and block them away.

He pressed closer to his brother, burrowing his head into his shoulder. "...yes." he whispered one last time, barely audible. "I will not."

I don't want those memories.

This is who I am now.

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A/N:

::Yume: Aaaaand that ends this update. Opinions are appreciated. )