Summary: postseries - slightly AU Alphonse would do anything to get his brother back, and his new friend is willing to help, for a certain price. Now, Edward has returned from Munich, without a clue of how he came back and Alphonse is acting strange, but unknown to Edward, Alphonse is in much more trouble than he can handle.

Venom

11. The Jetset Life is Going to Kill You

December 14, 1917, 1:45pm – Central Amestris

Three months in the hole, doing nothing but sleeping, eating and counting the cracks in the ceiling had made his defences weak. The host was beginning to enter his thoughts, making it hard to think of his more important task; waiting patiently.

When Greed got out of there, he was personally going to rip Envy limb from limb and burn the rest of his body to ashes. Of course, the fact Envy was practically immortal was even better as he could repeat his revenge over and over again.

"I think you'll enjoy your stay here, Alphonse. Unlike most jails, our facilities are very comfortable. You remember your room mate, don't you?" A familiar voice echoed through the dreary halls and Greed's eyes snapped open. He would be getting rid of Envy sooner than he thought.

Greed's scowl stretched into a wide grin and he practically jumped out of bed. Throwing himself at the bars of the cell, he came face to face with a slimy haired, pale, pointy nosed Detective Hawthorn.

"It's about time," Greed sneered, tapping his foot impatiently and the metal bars clanked open.

"How'd you hold out? I didn't take too long did I?" The younger Elric asked a smirk on his face.

"You could've come back three months ago… but at least we're getting out of here Pip–"

"Al is fine." Alphonse cut him off and Greed rolled his eyes as the shorter boy easily slipped the handcuffs off of his tiny wrists. He handed the cuffs to Hawthorn then clapped his hands together and stepped into Greed's old cell. "Now, let me get us out of here…"

Hawthorn stepped back beside Greed as a bright blue flash, a gust of air, harshly blowing dust around as the light crackled away. A grand, decorative archway leading to a dark tunnel was now where the old brick wall once was and Greed exchanged a dry look with Hawthorn.

"And you managed three months with this brat?" Greed raised his eyebrows, but then let out a chuckle. "Or perhaps 'Mother' kept you on a leash."

Hawthorn looked down at him, unfazed by the insults, a smile still on his face. "What can I say, all this annoyance will be worth it in the end, don't you think?"

The two stepped into the tunnel as Alphonse returned the brick wall to its former state behind them. Suddenly Greed felt a rush of adrenaline as the walls around them rippled with alchemic activity and the end of the tunnel opened, blowing snow and bright light into the hole. But it wasn't because he was finally leaving prison.

"The three of you! Hands in the air!" A loud voice bellowed. "You're under arrest."

"It seems I may have made a slight mistake…" Alphonse hummed from behind. "Oh well."

"This should be fun!" Greed howled in laughter, spreading his fingers as his shield melted over his 

hands. Normally, Greed would've been furious, but being able to stretch his limbs in a fight sounded good. But his excitement soon turned to annoyance when Hawthorn stepped in front of him.

"Greed, go get the new host." Hawthorn said calmly, running a hand through his greasy back hair as Alphonse stepped up beside him. "We'll meet you at Mother's."

Date, Time, Place Unknown

He swung his legs unconsciously as he sat on the high brick ledge, watching the word around him. Although Alphonse could only feel very little, he could tell it was a warm summer day. The sky was the deepest shade of blue and he could almost feel the light breeze that ruffled the leaves on the trees, made waves in the grass.

People walk by in front of him, some of them partnered up, some of them in large groups, some of them alone, but the street was filled with activity and sounds. In this place, this street was his favourite spot. It was like a blur of different coloured skin tones, ethnicities, ages, genders; it didn't matter. Here, everyone got along. Here, it was always perfect.

But suddenly, a high pitched cry cut through the serenity.

"Biggur Bruver!"

Alphonse jolted and immediately pushed himself off the ledge. Seized in terror, he looked around, suddenly overwhelmed by the people hurrying by him. But then, a small figure pushed herself through the crowd.

A surge of relief melted through him and Alphonse bent down on one knee as the girl spotted him, her auburn braids flying behind her as she threw herself into his waiting arms.

"Biggur bruver, I knew I seened you!" She giggled; jumping back to her feet as he gently let her go.

"Are you okay? Where's your mom?" Alphonse demanded, holding her at arms length as she stared back at him with big blue eyes.

"I dunno… around!" She replied cutely.

Alphonse sighed. "Nina, did you wander away again?"

"No, I made a new friend," Nina replied matter-of-factly. But then her confidence faltered and she frowned as she looked behind her. "She was just behind me…"

Alphonse held back the urge to roll his eyes. Nina had a tendency to wander away from her mother and start talking to other people. In fact, that was how Nina met him, a week or so after he arrived in this peaceful place.

But for some reason he felt guilty when she had grabbed his hand and started calling him 'Little Bigger Brother'. When he told her that he wasn't 'Little Bigger Brother', but Alphonse Elric, she seemed recognised the name immediately, even though he was sure he hadn't met this girl in his life.

"Oh! Wait! There she is!" Nina's voice brought him back and he looked up, wondering who she met this time.

But he wasn't prepared for who he saw.

"Alphonse?"

December 14, 1917, 1:50pm – Central Amestris

Winry stared at the metal leg on her kitchen table, the tools limp in her hands as she floated in her thoughts.

"You do know that Alphonse won't be returning to your apartment with Edward, Winry?" General Mustang's voice echoed in her head from the phone call she had made earlier.

With a sigh, Winry drooped forward, resting her head in her arms, closing her eyes. Everything was so stressful. She wished she could just go back in time and stop Alphonse from ever leaving to train with Izumi in the first place.

"I'll train harder too," Another memory drifted in her head, and she was now standing at the train station in Resembool.

Young Alphonse's face lit up with determination.

"We can be a team!" Alphonse said and then his eleven year old face blurred away and everything was black once more.

Sombre, Winry opened her eyes and watched the steam drift into the air from her coffee mug. Alphonse. Little, innocent Alphonse was… a homunculus. And she knew. And Edward didn't.

With a half whimper, half sigh, Winry bit down on her lip, tapping her fingers on the counter as she tried to figure out her options. But she didn't even get to think any further as the window on the other side of her apartment suddenly slid open.

Winry jolted upright, staring in fear as someone started to climb into her apartment, pale hands clawing at the window ledge. Quickly, she grabbed the wrench that was sitting on her counter and held it tightly in her hands as she got up from her chair. Hurriedly, yet as quietly as she could, Winry tip toed over to the window, making sure that she was out of the intruder's view as she went, her back against the wall.

Now she was right in front of the window and the intruder was nearly all the way inside, all that was left was his shoulders and head. She felt her heart pounding as she lifted the wrench above her head, ready to strike.

And as a head of black hair came into view, she let out a cry and swung the wrench down as hard as she could, a crack ringing in the empty apartment as she made contact.

She backed away, breathing heavily as the intruder collapsed to the floor, motionless. Still holding the wrench tightly, she bent down and crept towards the intruder, a feeling of dread rising in her chest as a small puddle of blood swelled around his head. He couldn't have been any older than her, or at least, that was what she judged from his size. With a shaking hand, she found her way through his thick, tied up black hair and pressed two fingers to his neck, feeling for a pulse. She didn't kill him, did she?

But before she could feel anything, the intruder gave a low groan and twitched. She gasped and stood up, ready to smash his head again if he attacked.

"Who are you? What do you want?" She demanded, watching as the intruder pushed himself to his knees.

"You hit pretty hard for a girl," the intruder grinned at her and at the same time, there was a hissing sound and the wound on top of his head started sewing itself together. She felt her blood run cold and she froze.

"You're a homunculus!" She breathed, backing away from him.

Then, two things happened at once.

Her door was kicked open with a loud crack and her back smashed the wall as the homunculus jumped at her. Winry looked up to see the Xingese homunculus face inches from her own. She then felt something cold and hard wrap around her arm and she looked down to see the monstrous, clawed black hand of the homunculus gripping her arm.

"Let her go," a familiar voice said and Winry looked up to see Ran Fan standing in the doorway.

"Ran Fan!" Winry cried in relief, but she knew there was nothing that the other mechanic could do.

"No, I won't let her go," the homunculus sneered, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his cold body, while something cool and sharp was pressed into her neck. She bit down hard on her lip as her body trembled with fear. "This little wench coming with me."

'Edward, where are you?'

"Not without a fight she isn't," Ran Fan growled, stepping forward.

"Sorry, you little slave," Winry could hear the homunculus grin and she whimpered at the malice in his voice. "We don't have time for this."

The next thing Winry knew, something hard hit her between the shoulder blades and her apartment swayed. Ran Fan's shocked face, filled with horror and anger blurred and Winry mouthed her name, but no sound was made. And then she was pitching forward, unable to put her arms out to stop her fall, but before she hit the floor, she blacked out.

Again, sorry for the long wait! I don't really have a good excuse except for school work, which is really bad, but anyway.

Hope you liked this chapter! It's really going to start to get exciting soon, I can't wait to start writing the next chapter. I MEAN. I totally started writing the next chapter, cough cough.

Please review, any questions or criticisms are adored.

--Renneh

PS: TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE, HAPPY EASTER. I hope I won't be the only one who will feel guilty after eating chocolate. :D