Chapter 10: Aftershock

"How long has he been up there?"

"About two days now."

"Another episode?"

"Yeah…"

"Is he getting worse?"

"Winry, he's been blaring bubblegum-pop music for over 48 hours. Do you think he's getting better," Al practically yelled.

A year had passed, the episodes would com and go. Some worse than others, some longer than others. Sometimes he would compulsively clean the house and other times he would blare annoying pop music for hours.

"Has he eaten, bathed, anything?"

Al just shrugged.

Upstairs there was Edward. While Al and Winry thought Edward was going through one of his self pity phases, he was really compulsively cleaning his room, as best he could with one good arm.

While cleaning off his desk, Edward bumped the mouse to his computer, causing it to boot on. He stared at the screen.

Without thinking twice, he clicked on the file titled "Pictures." Instantly he regretted it. Inside there was only one picture with no title. With al his strength, Edward tried not to bring the picture up, but failed horribly.

Immediately, his heard sank. It was a random picture Winry had snapped during P.E. last year.

Flashback

"Look at 'em, actually doing something."

"Who does stuff during P.E., it's insane."

Envy sighed, "Are you guys that lazy, seriously?"

"I'm not lazy, I just…move when I feel like it," Edward retorted.

"Yeah, to the fridge."

Edward merely shoved Envy off the bleachers. Winry shook her head as she randomly took pictures with her camera. Just as she went to take a picture of the…err…ground, she felt the bleacher's move.

"I gotcha movin' now Edo!"

Winry stared in astonishment as Envy chased Ed around the grass part inside the track. Never, in the…short time she has known Edward did she suspect he could run as fast as he was now. Though you kind of had to take in effect the fact that he is currently being chased by a psycho. Reguardless, it was pretty funny.

As Envy picked up speed, Edward was losing his. Oh, was he losing it. Quickly, he glanced back. Envy was no longer where in sight. Edward stopped, bent over with his hands on his knees. He regretted it, especially when he felt a pressure in the rear.

"Hey Win, take a pic. It's a keeper," shouted Envy.

Oh, did he regret it.

End Flashback

He felt tears well up in his eyes. Panic overtook him. He needed a release. He…

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!"

With is left arm, Edward shoved everything off the desk. Save for the computer. From the desk, he went to the dresser and did the same thing.

Why was this happening to him? It was only happening to him, no one else. Everything was still falling apart, even after a year. He felt helpless, alone. Everyone tried to comfort him, but all he wanted was for everything to go back to the way it was before the shooting. Where Tibby was still alive and Envy was there with him.

Life hated him for some reason. It seemed like death was always there, waiting for him. First his mother got hurt severely in the car accident, now the shooting. Tibby shot and dead saving his life. Envy gone and no left are and emotionally damaged…

"…It's just not fair."

Sighing, he walked over to his stereo and turned it off. Inside his head he knew Al and Winry were also sighing, but in relief. Edward walked his way to the door and for the first time in over forty-eight hours, he left his room.

"Brother?"

Edward stared down the stairs. Tears threatening to spill over. Slowly, he walked down the stairs and when he reached the bottom, he leaned his head against the door frame.

"Bing Emo is stupid," Edward said, laughing.

Hearing nothing, Ed looked over at Al and Winry, who were staring at him.

"What?"

"He's alive," screamed Al.

"Wait, did you have an epiphany or something," Winry asked Edward.

Edward shrugged, "I guess I did. I need to clean my room, it's kinda trashed."

"But Ed, you can do that later…um, is it alright that your arm is just hanging like that?" Al asked as he watched his brother's arm swing about.

"I've got a sling, but yeah…wanna touch it?"

Al and Winry watched this display of oddness, not exactly knowing if Ed has completely flipped or if this was part of the epiphany. Whatever the case, at least he was downstairs associating with them.

"Well, I think I'm gonna go for a walk or something."

"Um, brother, "Al spoke up suddenly, "I don't mean to be rude, but you reek. You look all grungy. You're…gross right now."

"I'm going for a walk and honestly I don't care if I smell."

And then, he went jogging out the front door. Al and Winry stared in disbelief. Only about five minutes ago, Edward was a complete nutcase. Now, it was just too creepy to think about.

"What if he gets hit by a car," Al asked, choking back a laugh.

"Al," Winry shouted, "…what if he's attacked by a dog?"

They both cracked and began laughing. Now, who were the insane ones?

With Ed

Never in his life did he expect to be able to run like he was. Though, it did feel a little awkward carrying his right arm. It couldn't be helped and Edward just didn't feel like having his arm smack around while running.

Suddenly, he stopped.

"Only a block away," he mumbled to himself.

He rounded the corner. Chills went down his spine. How he had convinced himself to come here was beyond him. At this point, there was no going back. When he was in front of the door, he hesitated, rang the doorbell, then panicked.

When no one came to the door right away, he went to leave.

"Edward?"

Ed winced and turned back around. In the doorway stood Wrath, staring at Ed on the verge of tears.

Edward had always thought Wrath was like a child, but now, Wrath indeed seemed like a vulnerable child.

"Hey kid, how ya been?"

Wrath broke down. Edward sighed and led the sin back into the house, kicking the door shut in the process.

Ed went to lead Wrath into the kitchen, but Wrath grabbed Edward's arm and led him upstairs. The panic inside the pit of Edward's stomach grew, especially when they stopped in front of THE floor.

"No one's been in here since he left. Dad suggested that the door be opened when you got better."

Edward stared at the door. He felt like the door was begging him to come inside.

"You can go in, only if you want."

Edward glanced back at Wrath, who just shrugged. As he reached for the door knob, the front door slammed. Ed turned and ran down the stairs.

When he hit the bottom step, he stopped. Two people stood at the door. One of whom was Greed, the other…the person was slouching against Greed limply. The person was wearing a black skort, cut off tank top, and arm and leg warmers. Their long, green hair hung limp, in greasy dreds.

"Whoa, squirt, how's life treating ya," the person laughed in possible the most disturbing way Ed had ever heard.

Edward looked wide eyed at the person, then at Greed. Greed looked straight into Edward's eyes then looked at the door. Edward nodded in understanding.

Wait for me outside, mouthed Greed.

Edward silently walked his way around Greed and Mr. Rag Doll, then out the door. Not knowing how long it would take, Ed sat down on the front steps.

A few minutes later, Greed came out, yelling. When he looked at Edward, he sighed, then sat down next to him.

"An old friend of mine found him," explained Greed.

Edward only nodded.

"He freaked…or that's at least what Kimblee's saying. When he told Envy he was bringin him home, Envy almost had a heart attack. Edward," Greed turned and looked at Ed, "he got hooked up with a bad crowd. He almost O.D.ed."

Edward stared out into the street.

Greed put an assuring hand on Ed's shoulder.

"It's okay kid. On the way back, I guess he said he wasn't coming back because you were dead. We…had to explain to him that you were infact alive."

Edward suddenly stood up and walked into the house. Greed was left still sitting on the front porch.

Again, it was Edward vs. the door. Except this time there was a noise coming from the room.

"Envy," Edward asked, knocking on the door.

There was a sudden silence before the door opened. An arm reached out and pulled Edward in. He was thrown onto the bed when he heard the door shut.

Edward also became nervous when he felt Envy practically lay on top of him

"You can help me," Envy whispered in Ed's ear.

"What?!"

Envy leapt off the bed and began digging around the drawers.

"There's gotta be money somewhere."

Edward didn't say anything, instead he got up off the bed and gently tried to put his hand on Envy's shoulder. Instead Envy whipped around and grabbed Ed's shoulders.

"You've gotta help me," Envy pleaded.

And that's when it caught Edward's eye. The scabs and bruising on the inside of Envy's arm.

"I-I can't…"

Edward felt Envy's nails dig into his left arm and began to try to free his arm.

"Edo…"

Ed looked at what Envy was looking at. Envy still held onto Ed's Right arm, only now Envy's hand was shaking. Apparently from how tight a grip he had on the arm.

"Why don't you flinch," asked Envy, frantically .

Edward looked away.

"Why don't you flinch," Envy yelled.

"I just…can't," Edward yelled back.

Envy let go of Edward's arm and sunk back like a dog that had just been kicked.

"I-I thought you died. I'm sorry I didn't come to you," Envy cried, "Please don't hate me."

Edward sighed, feeling pretty pathetic as to how something so small like an arm injury could reduce Envy to this state.

"You didn't do anything. I let my guard down."

Envy sniffled, "But I left you.

Edward sat down next to Envy's sobbing figure.

"I know, I left too."

Envy looked at Edward's face, his eyes darting back and forth. When he couldn't hold it anymore, he cried. And as he layed his head in Edward's lap, Ed only stared out in space as he rubbed Envy's hair.

Well, that was long over due and written...over a year ago??

Thanks to all that have reviewed to the other chapters and I hope...to have one up sooner than 6 months from now. I hope...

I am also starting to draft up a Death Note fic also. So stay tuned.

PEACE!!

The Mello Clone