And the challenge between Indigo's Ocean and I starts with the next chapter (there is a discrepancy in the numbering that this site does and my own. Since there's a prologue and all).

But don't worry, I'm in it to win it. (and unlike Hillary Clinton, I will actually win).

Also, what do you all think of Ed's time obsession/awareness? I'm thinking about having him lose his watch, since it's getting irritating to calculate time passage and all. But if you like I might continue (or bring it back after I finish it and re-edit it).

But yeah!

Chapter 6

"So, little brother, how goes your evening?" Greed asks and Edward immediately bristles at the tone. It is not because Greed is eating the role that was supposed to be Ed's. It has nothing to do with that. Ed would react the same way if anyone took that tone with Envy. He's only known Envy for one hour, twenty-seven minutes, and nine seconds. Great, so now he's either jealous or possessive. Neither are good traits.

"Shut up, Greed," Envy says, moving a stray crumb of stuffing around on his plate.

"Hey, I'm just asking," Greed said, unbothered by Envy's brusque response.

"Well, don't."

"Hi, I don't believe we've met," Greed said, looking at Edward and smiling. He extended his hand across the table. Envy looked at it like it was side of rotting meat. "I'm Greed."

"I'm Ed," Ed said, shaking the outstretched hand. Envy gave him a betrayed look and became extremely interested in arranging the leftovers on his plate. "Nice to meet you."

"Winry's told me so much about you," Greed said with another large smile.

"Uh." Ed was speechless. He couldn't imagine any of it being good. Greed probably thought he was a creep. Only he wasn't, he really wasn't, even if it appeared that way. He didn't mean to cheat on Winry, but it was just a goodbye and, and then there was Envy. Along with the fact that he'd had dreams about Heidrich when he'd never dreamt of Winry.

"Don't worry, it hasn't all been bad," Greed said, with another huge smile reminiscent of a certain Doctor Sues character. Strange that the Grinch and Greed would have anything in common.

"That's good," Edward said and chanced a look at Winry. She seemed to be taking the exchange well. Moreover, her mascara was not smeared so she hadn't been crying at the party.

"I assume that Envy has told you nothing about me," Greed said, giving Envy a careful look. Envy ignored him in favor of doodling in the sauce on his plate.

"He mentioned you," Edward said. Envy's head snapped up and his mouth was half open. "You told me his name, didn't you?"

Envy suddenly nodded, shut his mouth, and continued to stare at his plate. Greed watched the entire exchange wordlessly.

"Interesting," Greed said, before adding. "Winry told me you play rugby."

"Yeah, I play Left Wing," Edward said, putting his fork down. "It's pretty awesome. You play at all?"

"Nah, I just watch," Greed said with a shrug. "Or play with friends. I'm not too into the whole competition thing. You thinking about going pro?"

Ed smiles.

"Nah, I have to go to university and all," Edward says with a smile. "And I don't really think it'd make that great a career."

"Well, at least you're not in the scrum all the time."

"True, but those forwards are massive."

"Point, still it's fun to watch," Greed says. Winry's smiling. Ed wonders what she has planned. He folds his hands and sets them in his lap. "Who's your team?"

"I like the Thunderbirds," Edward says.

"Right on!" And Greed is off talking about the team's wins and losses. Normally Edward would be overjoyed to talk university rugby with someone, but Envy's locked his ice-cold hand around Edward's and Ed can't think. Fortunately, Greed doesn't seem to notice and eventually, Ed's able to join in.

"Oh, GOD!" Russell exclaims upon entering the room. "Tell me you're not talking rugby? You're not letting them talk rugby are you?"

Envy blinks at Russell. He seems astonished at being addressed at all.

"Um," he says.

"You are," Russell informs Envy sitting down in the empty seat next to him. Envy clutches Ed's hand tighter. He's not sure if he should let go or just hope that no one notices. He knows that Ed's not out and doesn't want to out him. But yet, he doesn't want to keep it a secret and have Ed think that Envy's embarrassed or something. Yet, he doesn't w ant to have this conversation with Ed, even though Ed would probably be great at it. After all, he'd had long conversations about the meaning of sex with his ex. Surely he'd be happy to talk to Envy about their relationship, if you could even call it that.

"Look, you don't want to be here," Russell says, looking Envy in the eyes. "You want to come in and watch the movie with us."

Envy gives Russell a look.

"Seriously," Russell continues. "Otherwise, you're going to get called for clean-up duties."

"I'm good," Envy says.

"Suit yourself," and Russell walks out of the room.

Seconds later Mrs. Elric announces that it's clean up time. Her eyes light on Envy and her son. Envy glances at Edward, but he's too involved in his rugby conversation to notice.

He does notice when Envy hands him a dishrag after Greed and Winry vanish to collect plates or something.

"Oh man," Edward groans. Envy raises an eyebrow. This is entirely Ed's fault. He could've avoided clean up or at least dishwashing if he'd been more aware. Ed throws the rag back at Envy.

"We're not doing the pots and pans first," he says, walking over to the sink, "Just the dishes for now, people generally like to take stuff home."

Envy shrugs. He just wanted Ed's attention. He can see why people take stuff home too. Unless the Elric's fridge is much larger than it looks, all the food simply won't be able to fit.

"You don't really need to do anything," Ed says, turning the water on. He rinses off a plate and puts it in the dishwasher. "You can just sit on the counter and keep me company."

For some reason, Envy doesn't. Maybe he's feeling daring or maybe he managed to get some of the spiked cider when Ed wasn't look. Either way, Envy walks over to Ed and whispers in his ear:

"I think I'll stand right here," Envy says before biting Ed's earlobe. Ed freezes and without turning his head, looks over at the adult's table. No one notices that Envy currently has part of Edward's ear in his mouth. Envy steps away. "You know, so I look like I'm helping."

Edward just stares. He briefly considers dragging Envy off to his room, who cares about the dishes. But he can't. Damn.

"I wouldn't want to get sent out on plate patrol," Envy says, wrinkling his nose.

"Yeah," Ed says, breathless. "We wouldn't want that to happen."

"Here," Envy says suddenly, walking behind Ed to stand on the other side of the open dishwasher. "Hand me the dishes."

"Right," Edward says and turns back to the sink, missing Envy's glare. Envy's not completely useless, he can put plates away, even if he's never done before in his life. Still he doesn't want to be waited on by Ed (even though Ed seems plenty willing at this, but then Envy would get used to it, but Ed would have limits and Envy would ignore them…). If Ed won't tell him to do anything, Envy will have to volunteer and he doesn't like doing that. It makes him seem needy.

The dishwasher fills up quickly and Envy glances at Ed, concerned. He really has no idea what to do. The maids have always taken care of this type of stuff before.

"Here," Edward says. "Take out all the small plates and bowls. We'll need them for dessert and we can hand wash them faster."

Envy quickly obeys. Maybe Ed's just used to doing this alone and he's not coddling Envy.

Envy spots Mrs. Elric walking over, plate in one hand, wine glass in another. Classy. Envy's mother follows, the two are involved in conversation and Dante, Dante, is carrying her own plate and wine glass. Either she's taking the When In Rome thing too seriously or his mother has always secretly had no manners.

Dante gestures wildly with her wineglass, red liquid sloshing around dangerously. Envy sighs. That or she's drunk, he thinks. He wishes he could flee. He hates his mother when she gets like this. She'll start asking about his love life, berate him for his grades, discuss colleges with him or worst of all, try to set him up with the nearest avaible teen, regardless of gender.

Not that Envy would mind as much now. The closest teen is Edward and at least Dante's attempts would be useful or at least non-hindering. But Envy doesn't think Edward could survive the embarrassment.

Envy also doesn't want to see Mrs. Elric's reaction to his mother's matchmaking. She might not approve and she doesn't look drunk enough to go along with it.

"So, tell me more about this school, Mrs.," Mrs. Elric pauses, Envy wishes she wouldn't try. It's confusing even to think about his mother's full last name.

"Please, call me Dante," Dante says smiling. "It's easier to pronounce."

Envy gently sets the plate Ed's handed to him in the rack. He can tell from his mother's drawn out vowels and exaggerated movements that she is slightly intoxicated.

Privately, he's amazed. It normally takes at least ten glasses of normal wine before she gets like this. The alcohol must be extremely good or she managed to drink ten glasses with dinner.

"Alright, Dante," Mrs. Elric says with a schoolgirl giggle. Envy stands up to peer at Ed's face. He's blushing, Envy notes. Maybe Envy isn't the only one with needlessly embarrassing parents who may or may not be a little tipsy. Dante joins in with her rich, full laugh.

"Yes, it's a private boarding school Envy's attending next term," Dante says. Envy stiffens. This is the first he's heard about this. She can't have gotten the scores back this early, Envy thinks, panicking. "His father decided that it'd be better for him, prepare him for college, you know. Sloth, my darling daughter, is studying abroad next term and she's really the only person he knows at his current school."

Envy relaxes and waves off Ed's concerned look. He bends over to place another large plate in when:

"You should consider sending Edward there. It's a very well-respected school and they have a special seniors program. Edward could finish all the classes he needs to and still have room for some fun ones."

Envy pinches himself. It hurts. This is unreal. This can't possibly be happening. Going to the same school as Ed would be, it'd be, it'd be loads better than failing at home that's for sure. Especially with Sloth gone. Envy's pretty certain that he would've slept through his finals, if she hadn't shown up, like some angel of caffeine with Starbucks during the breaks.

"I don't know if Ed would—"

"Actually, Mom. I think that'd be great," Edward says suddenly. All eyes are on him, but he only smiles. Dante looks pleasantly surprised, while Mrs. Elric seems mildly shocked. Envy is just staring at him. He can't quite believe it. "It'd be nice to have a couple fun classes and since Envy would be there, I'd already know one person."

Envy melts. He can see that Ed's playing the role of perfect, wholesome son, but he does it so well. And he's so nice and good and Envy's flattered, flattered and excited, that anyone that perfect could still want something to do with him.

"That'd actually be perfect," Dante says, smiling at Edward as if he's genuinely pleased her. Wordlessly, Envy takes the plates from the two women, because it's expected more than anything else. He hands them to Ed quickly. "Envy has such a hard time making friends." Dante places her hand on Envy's shoulder as Mrs. Elric looks sympathetic.

"Really, but he's so nice," Mrs. Elric says, and Envy has to wonder if she's just naïve or nice. "And his sister is so outgoing."

"That's more the problem," Dante says, letting go of Envy's shoulder. "He just follows her and doesn't make friends of his own. That's why I'm not too sure about the boarding school, but it can't be any worse than his current one. And if Edward goes, well it'd lay to rest some of my worries."

Envy marvels at Dante's first class guilt trip. Such art, such talent, such a brilliant idea. Especially if he was Ed's roommate. That would ideal, it'd be perfect. Ed could help Envy study and keep him on task and then they'd have fun. Oh yes, they'd have a lot of fun.

"Well," Mrs. Elric says, wavering. "Ed's in the middle of rugby."

"Ah, come on Mom," Edward says jumping in. "I'm sure I could make the team there. Besides, it's not like I'm depending on a rugby scholarship. And there's always lacrosse in the spring."

"The school has a very nice lacrosse team," Dante adds. Envy tries to resist performing a victory dance.

"I'll think about," Mrs. Elric says, "I'd have to talk to my husband of course. But there's a chance, there's definitely a chance."

"We should let you boys finish up," Dante says, as Greed and Winry return with more plates. Greed looks inordinately pleased and Winry's lip gloss is smudged. Greed's wide lips are sparkling.

"Encounter some mistletoe?" Edward asks and Envy feels like kicking him. Can't he just hurry up and stop talking to his ex?

"Yes," Winry says, blushing and Greed laughs. "It caught me in the forehead."

"Al thought it would be funny," Ed says and shrugs helplessly.

"Speaking of Al, where is he?" Winry asks, glancing around as if the trio may suddenly leap out and attack her.

"One can only hope that they are in sugar-high induced comas or Dad spiked their cider with Nyquil," Ed says. "Else they're plotting our doom."

"Ed that's horrible," Winry says, smacking his head lightly. Greed just smirks. He's the guy with the hand on her waist. He feels no threat.

"You know it's true," Ed says. "You guys wanna hand wash the plates and bowls." Ed gestures to the dishes on the counter. "We'll need 'em for dessert."

"Sure," Greed says. "We'd love to."

End.

I am so evil. I do so love this chapter. It's now my favorite. Which is odd because writing it was not enjoyable or particularly easy.