The Sin of a Homunculus

Chapter eight: Illegitimate

Tennessee

"Master," Lust said in her usual monotone voice. She sat in one of the larger chairs near the wall with Gluttony sitting on the ground beside her. "Need I remind you of the Envy problem?"

"I don't need reminding, Lust," Dante snapped. "Where is that child?!"

"You think it's a coincidence that he's gone missing just after he's learned how to delay the effects of the cuffs?" Sloth interjected, she held a clipboard to her chest and was dressed in her uniform seeing as she had just joined them, coming from Pride's office.

"Absolutely not," Dante said just as sharply as before, "He'll come back soon enough, and when he does all we have to do is wait."

"For what?" Lust asked in a tone that really didn't sound like she was asking anything.

"The shackles will suspend their breakdown of his body as long as he doesn't do anything stupid, so it really shouldn't take long before the red stones decompose completely…" there was an air of sadness in Dante's voice, but not for Envy, she could care less about him.

The problem was not getting what she wanted; her best homunculus, most driven by revenge and hatred had gone soft for a mortal not even worth pity. She would never have killed him for these reasons, just make him forget about his Olivia; but now that he was separated from the chains and only wore the cuffs he would die, there was no constant flow of energy to sustain his mortal being. She needed to kill Olivia and with nothing left Envy would again turn to hatred.

"Master," Sloth spoke up, "what if Wrath won't tell us where they're hiding?"

"We just tell him the truth about those things and follow him back," Lust suggested.

"Yes," Dante nodded, "And Wrath will come back; even in his state I'm sure Envy will be no kinder to him."

"Envy's not kind to anyone I've ever seen," Sloth agreed.

Lust remained silent. She'd known from the very first time she'd seen Envy and Olivia together that they would soon be in love. Her vulnerability and caring nature had won him over, kept him interested because she had a certain air of forgiveness about her. He'd done everything he could think of to break her of this, taken those who she had loved away from her, what would make even the most peace loving of humans upset, but this was not what would get to her in the end.

It was his love for her that had caught her off guard, made her curious, maybe too curious for her own good. She'd taken a step over human boundaries, fallen, and been caught in Envy's arms.

In a way Lust did not want to tear them apart, she'd seen a side of her eldest brother she never had before. She liked it, she liked to see him happy considering he'd never been happy in the company of humans before.

"Lust, you'll follow Wrath when he leaves next," Dante instructed.

The female homunculi nodded.

"Plus if this girl really does love him I'm sure she'll do whatever it takes to get those shackles off."

-----

"Thank you," Wrath smiled as Olivia set down a plate of eggs in front of him. Once Envy had stirred in bed he had run back to the couch and pretended to be sleeping as to not to upset him. Only a few minutes afterward both would wake with a stretch and a yawn and begin moving about the apartment both seeming more lively than before. In fact Olivia had been teaching, with little cooking skills she had, Envy how to make breakfast.

"I made them this time," Olivia grinned patting Wrath on the head, "Envy's still trying to get the soap taste out of his."

There was a loud crash from the kitchen and Envy swore loudly. "Olivia!" he shouted trying to pick the eggs and pan up off the tile.

"As long as they don't taste like the floor I'm fine," Wrath said slowly watching Envy put the eggs back on the plate and look around to see if anyone had seen they had been watching.

"Just keep trying," Olivia replied without turning around for Envy to see her smirk.

There was a long pause before Envy was once again moving around the kitchen and Olivia was left staring into space.

"Hey, Wrath?" she said quietly.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"You called the homunculus Sloth your mother…."

"… Yes?"

"Is she really your mother?"

Wrath nodded, "Uh-hu, she really is."

"So that would make homunculi fertile?"

"… Uh…. Well, no… I don't know how that works, but she really is my mom," Wrath grinned in a childish sort of way, a way that led Olivia to believe he believed this just because it was what he thought was true.

"So a homunculus can or can't have children?"

"We can't."

Olivia bit her lip. Something very odd was going on here, maybe she was just going crazy, she'd get a hold of herself and wait a few more days.

"Okay, try this," Envy sighed reentering the room with a plate of toast.

"… What happened to the eggs?" Wrath asked looking at the burnt toast.

"Gave up, so eat it," he ordered shoving the plate at Wrath.

"… I'm full," he said setting down his plate and inching down the couch away from Envy.

"Toast?" he offered bringing the plate closer to Olivia.

Olivia watched it for a moment before sighing with a nod and taking a slice.

Envy sat down beside the two and placed the tray on the table as Olivia attempted to eat the burnt toast. The questions inside her head beginning to spin and tap at the inside of her skull until she decided she had to do something.

"I'm going to go out for a little while," she finally said to mask her couching due to the dryness of her breakfast.

"Hmm? Where?" Envy asked sitting up, "I'll go with you."

"No, no. You stay here," she nodded quickly standing up.

"Me too?" asked Wrath, becoming worried.

"Him too?!" Envy growled shooting a sideways glance full of dislike at Wrath.

Olivia thought for a moment before deciding it might be best if they weren't left together. "No, Wrath you can come with me."

"What?!" Envy snapped.

"Yay," Wrath sighed in a way of relief more than a way of thanks as he jumped up to stand next to Olivia.

"We'll be back in a little while, don't worry," she assured walking into her bedroom and returning with her coat and her hair hanging in her eyes so you could only see half of one red eye if she turned the right way.

Envy grumbled in anger and slumped farther into the couch.

"Envy," she sighed, "We'll only be an hour or two."

"Fine," he said still sinking lower into the cushions.

Olivia grinned and walked into the hall behind Wrath.

"Lock the door!" she called through the wood.

"What am I, four?!" he replied and there was no movement from the other side.

"Fine! But when Dante come for your-!"

"I'm going! I'm going! Like any lock could keep her out." The lock clicked and Envy retorted, "Happy?"

"Thank you," she grinned, "Come on Wrath."

"Where are we going?" Wrath asked as they stepped into the elevator and the doors shut behind them.

"The doctor's," she replied pressing the button for the ground floor.

"Because you're stomach's upset?"

"… Something like that," she sighed running a hand down her face.

"Where is the doctor's?" he asked as they stepped out of the elevator and walked through the lobby.

"Only about seven blocks."

"That's far."

"Not too bad."

"Can we take a cab?"

"Uh… no…." Olivia bit her lip. Truth be told she's never actually been in a car and was almost afraid.

And the two continued out onto the crowded streets of Central, Wrath half behind Olivia and Olivia with her head down and hair in her eye, so this way neither the homunculus nor the Ishvalan would attract any attention.

-----

"Olivia?" Wrath asked quietly as he sat down beside her on a park bench not to far from the apartment. "Olivia, what's wrong?" questioned when she did not respond.

Her eyes, staring straight through her feet, were clouded with thought and her arms were wrapped tightly around her middle.

"Olivia?" he asked from the third time putting a hand on her shoulder and shaking her gently.

"Wrath," Olivia said slowly. "I-… I can't go back…."

"…What do you mean?"

"I can't go back, you'll have to tell Envy I'm sorry…."

"Why wouldn't you go back? Y-you need to!"

"He'll be mad, I know he will…."

"… But why?"

"… Wrath… I-…. If homunculi can't have children then why am I pregnant?!"

Wrath blinked hard, "… Huh?"

Olivia buried her face in her hands, but did not cry.

"… You're gonna have a baby…?" he said thoughtfully.

"It couldn't be anyone else's child! It has to be his! I just don't get what's going on!"

"… Maybe it's 'cause of the cuffs?"

Olivia stopped and looked up at him.

"W-…what?"

"Well, if the cuffs make Envy mortal maybe they can make him fertile."

"…."

"Do you really love him?"

Olivia nodded certainly.

"Then go back, he won't be upset."

"I don't know if it's that easy. He might think…."

"What will you do if you don't go back?"

"…."

"What will Envy do if you don't go back?"

"…."

"What will the baby do if you don't go back?"

"Y-you're right," she nodded standing up.

"Yep," he smiled crossing his arms over his chest.

"… Wrath, are you're arms two different lengths?" Olivia asked watching him.

"Yep," he repeated just as happily.

"Uh… okay," she shrugged.

They continued back to apartment, up the stairs, and to the door.

"I'll go in and tell him," Olivia said turning to Wrath, "Maybe it's best if you stay out here."

"But what if he gets mad?" Wrath asked.

"You said he wouldn't…."

"Well…."

"J-just stay out here, I'll call you in when I'm dead."

"… Uh…?"

Olivia unlocked the door and quietly stepped in, looking around. Envy was in the kitchen again and emerged when she took another step in.

"Hey," Envy said with a toothy smile. "I made scrambled eggs," he offered her a plate of eggs that looked more like an omelet full of eggshells.

"… Envy… we need to talk," she said placing a hand on his shoulder and sitting him down as she sat down next to him.

"… About what?" he asked in a very defensive tone.

Olivia played with the corner of her shirt.

"Envy… I-…. I'm…."

"…What?"

"I'm… I'm pregnant…."

Envy stayed silent for a moment before turning red, but not with embarrassment or shock, it was with rage. His eyes flashed dangerously and his nostrils flared as he shot up, towering over her.

"Damn you!" he shouted.

"Envy-!" she replied getting up one hand instinctively flying to her stomach.

"You slut!" he roared.

"No-!"

"You're just like everyone else! Someone new comes along and-!"

"You don't understand-!"

"YOU WHORE!" he screamed balling his hands into fists and hitting her so hard she was knocked off her feet, falling into the corner of the table and moving to get back up. He took her by the collar and punched her again in the face before throwing her down against the table again so she rolled to the ground. He raised his foot and placed it on her neck as tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. "I never should have trusted you."

"Stop!" Wrath screamed bursting in and taking a flying leap at Envy, who was tackled to the ground and punched in the face. "Touch her again and I'll KILL you!"

Envy paused realizing he was completely serious.

Olivia lifted herself from the ground, for the first time in her life looking with total fear upon Envy. She took a step backwards and Envy lurched as she bolted for the door without a glance back.

"Get off me!" Envy exclaimed pushing Wrath from his chest and standing up, looking after her.

"Well?!" Wrath snapped.

"… 'Well' what?"

"Aren't you going to go get Olivia?!"

"… Why should I?" he asked staring longingly at the doorway.

"Because her child deserves a father!" he snarled.

"Yeah well… let whoever it belongs to take care of it."

"But that's you!"

"Heh," Envy scoffed.

"Envy! I can stop the cuffs from hurting you, but I can't take away what they do to you! And that's, make you mortal!"

Envy blinked hard and looked at Wrath.

"W-wh-…?" Envy stuttered.

"It's your child!"

"… B-but…."

"You're not a homunculus any longer, you have human traits! And one of those is fertility!"

Envy's eyes seemed to grow, filling with water, and his shoulders slumped.

"You're so stupid!" Wrath added as Envy fell onto the couch face down in the cushions. "And-!! … Isn't it hard to breathe like that?"

Envy did not reply.

"Envy?" he asked making a move to sit the sin up, but Envy let out a low warning growl and inched away.

"…Envy, get up," Wrath demanded.

"No."

"The only way she'll be able to survive out there with an illegitimate child is if you're with her!"

"…."

"Give this baby what you never had."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" he snapped sitting straight up.

"… A dad."

Envy clenched his hands into fists and swung at Wrath, who back away just enough so Envy missed him.

"I don't need that bastard!"

"Do you want that child growing up to hate you?!"

"…No…."

"Then why are you giving it reason to…? Please Envy, don't do what your father did."

"… Come on."

HELP!!!!!!!!!!! All readers I need your help! I have a poll up on my profile asking about the ending of this story's squeal!!!!!!!! If you want to decide the fate of Envy and Olivia please visit to vote!!!! Thanks for your help!

Do you like the story? Please let me know! I love to hear from you guys! :P

And lest I forget! Visit my profile to the link for pictures I've drawn for Olivia and Envy (my icon is one of them!)

Thanks for reading!

Until next week,

Tennessee