Envy was quiet as they unlocked the small rusted gate and descended into blackness. Kimblee followed behind them cautiously; he hadn't expected the home of the homunculi to have such a small, squalid atmosphere. As close as Envy thought he was to Pride and Wrath, Kimblee had only dealt with those two from a distance, over the phone, or through the shadows, never in their home beneath the earth. The thought of finally seeing where these creatures had hidden away for centuries should have been more exciting to him, but his mind still wasn't where it should be; it still wandered aimlessly.
He kept his eyes fixed on Envy instead, watching them forge their way through the darkness. Their steps were long, faux-confident strides; the swing of their arms seemed almost natural again.
"You look a lot better." Kimblee said it softly, thoughtlessly.
Envy stopped, turning towards him. There was something like hesitation in their eyes. He shouldn't have said anything. He backpedaled. "Of course, that's just my… observation. And I won't make any more of them, if you… if you don't want that."
He sounded so idiotic.
"No, keep going." Envy spoke suddenly, too loudly, and they blinked, beginning to walk again, their stride even more decisive than before. "If you say it enough, maybe it'll be true."
Unable to think of anything intelligent to say, Kimblee hummed in agreement, following closely behind them. He would laugh at himself, later today, he was sure, once he'd categorized and labeled all of his thoughts.
"I said to keep going."
Envy was looking at him, eyes wide. It dawned on Kimblee, far too slowly, that they wanted his reassurance.
That was almost adorable.
"You seem… quite confident in yourself," he said slowly. "I'm sure that you have what you want to do planned out to the letter."
Envy coughed, looking away. "Um… You're half-correct." They waved a hand aimlessly. "Go on."
"Hm." Kimblee looked up, and for the first time, noticed the hundreds of cold eyes looking down on him through the ceiling grate, and heard the growling from behind a multitude of fangs. "Well. I'm sure that you know how to deal with our friends up there."
"Oh, them." Envy chuckled, shrugging. "Don't worry; they won't hurt you if you're with me. They're our 'body guards,' if you can call brainless animals that." They grinned over their shoulder. "I'll protect you, Crimson."
"I don't doubt it," said Kimblee absently, watching them carefully.
Envy seemed to be waiting for him to say something else, but it was hard to know what else to say. Envy looked much better than they had, of course, but it was so easy to see that they were faking most of their bravado. Their steps were carefully measured, and their head turned from left to right, scanning the area with paranoid eyes. Their confidence hadn't returned completely; he knew that, and they knew that, and they'd certainly know if any of his 'compliments' were less than genuine.
"You don't think that I can do it, do you?" Envy's footsteps slowed. "You think I'm too weak to face 'em, don't you?" They looked back at him, the careless grin of a minute ago gone without a trace. "Father and Pride… they're perfect, y'know. I used to act like Pride wasn't all that great, but… he is. Even if he only shows up when he isn't wanted, he's way above my level. Father gave him so much, and compared to him, I'm… I don't know." They let out a humourless chuckle. "I'm not perfect, anyway. But you know that, now."
"Of course you aren't. We've discovered that already."
Envy startled, opening their mouth, but Kimblee pressed on, before he could regret it. "But neither is Pride. He has weaknesses; you taught me that. Even if your body's betraying you, you still have your mind. You're intelligent. You know Pride's weaknesses. It's just a matter of keeping a cool head." He summoned up his most charming smile. "You're capable of that; aren't you?"
A half-smile slowly lit up Envy's face. "You always try so hard." They looked away, their pace increasing once again. "But that's why I… that's why you were the right choice, I guess." They shrugged carelessly. "Although you tricked me, y'know. You used to act like you respected me."
"That ship has sailed," said Kimblee lightly. "But it'll return, if you can complete this task."
Envy chuckled quietly. "I'll try. But you need to do your part, too."
"And what's that?"
Their smile was thin, filled with false confidence. "Just… following me, until I get home."
Their tone was measured, but their voice cracked a little on the last word, and Kimblee's heart stuttered. It was only for a second, but he hoped Envy hadn't seen the momentary crack in his careful expression. "Of course, my dear," he said evenly, and that, too, was a mistake; something that he couldn't name flashed through Envy's eyes.
Envy looked away again, too quickly, and kept moving forward. "We're almost there," they said, and Kimblee followed, carefully watching, waiting to see what would happen.
It would be nice if Father had missed them.
Maybe he hadn't forgotten about Envy. Pride was bound by the borders of Central and by the Circle, after all, and couldn't be sent to look for Envy. Gluttony couldn't go alone, and Greed—well, Father must have needed Greed for some other task. Envy wasn't that important, for Father to drop everything and search for his missing child. The Promised Day was the most important thing, of course.
But, still. Maybe he'd missed them.
Maybe Greed missed them too—no, he wouldn't. But Gluttony—
"You should go in."
Envy tore their gaze away from Father's throne, glancing towards Kimblee. Kimblee was staring at Father too, and Envy wondered what he was thinking. Was this the first time he'd ever seen Father? Almost certainly; Wrath never came down here without being forced, and Pride would avoid bringing any human into Father's presence if he could help it. As far as Envy knew, only Human Sacrifices had ever had the honour of seeing Father.
"Go on," Kimblee said again. "You shouldn't put it off."
"Yeah," said Envy quietly, and, grabbing his wrist, pulled him after them through the door.
Their footsteps echoed as they walked across the cold stone floor towards the throne, the sound piercing through the never-ending humming that always filled Father's chamber.
Neither Greed nor Gluttony was anywhere to be seen. Of course, Envy hadn't really gotten their hopes too high over Greed missing them, but they couldn't help but be disappointed by Gluttony's absence. He must've missed Envy. He must have.
Father didn't stir. It was almost as if he hadn't noticed them coming-but he had to have. They were right in the open; it seemed impossible for him to have not seen them. But he didn't move, his eyes fixed on the parchment on his desk, his hand frozen, holding a quill above the page. Pride was nowhere in sight. Envy didn't feel any less uneasy, though; Pride could be hiding anywhere, ready to spring out from the shadows.
If Pride wasn't here, that would make things easier. But even speaking to Father alone would be difficult. What would Father think, seeing Envy after so long? Would he be angry?
There's no way that he'd give them what they wanted, either, not after how long they'd been gone.
But they still had to ask; they just had to.
"Father, I'm-" Envy's voice cracked, and they started again. "Father, I'm home."
He didn't answer. For what felt like an hour, Envy stood frozen, hearing nothing but their heart beating in their ears.
"Envy."
"Yes?" The word came out too loudly, echoing through the chamber, and Envy winced.
"Envy," Father said again. He laid down the pen, looking up slowly, as if it was a burden to do so. "Are you able to explain your long absence?"
"I…" Envy tried to summon an explanation, but there was a disconnect between their mind and their mouth. They couldn't tell Father the whole truth; that would be more humiliating than they could stand. They couldn't tell him what it felt like to have their souls expelled from their body, what it felt like to be ugly and weak, and trapped. A homunculus should never have fallen so far. Father couldn't know. "I-I'm sorry, Father," they started. It was awful, how much their voice was trembling; they couldn't let Father, couldn't let anyone see them cry. "I'm sorry. It was an accident. I was stupid. I…"
There were no words that made sense.
Envy heard Kimblee breathe in slowly, as though he wanted to say something, but even he wouldn't be able to magic up a way to paint Envy as blameless.
"I'm disappointed, Envy." Father looked back down to his parchment. "Disappointed in your weakness, and your inability to answer me. But at this late stage, I suppose that I can't afford to punish you. There is too much work left to do. You came back, at the very least, which is more than I can say for your brother."
"Do you mean Greed?" Envy managed to ask, hardly caring what the answer was. The relief they felt at being spared punishment was overshadowed by the knowledge that they'd disappointed Father.
"Yes. He's wasted his second chance, abandoning his family once again." Father looked up, meeting Envy's gaze. "I hope that you won't waste yours. Now," he began, gesturing vaguely in Envy's direction. "What have you brought back with you?"
Now, this was the difficult part.
"Father, this… this is the Crimson Alchemist." Envy felt Kimblee's eyes on them, and fought to choose their words carefully. "He's the one who carved the blood seal in Ishval."
"And?" Father's quill moved idly back and forth across the paper. "Why is he here?"
"Because—"
They couldn't find the words. Was it because Kimblee needed to finish his job? Because Envy didn't want to leave him behind again? Because Envy didn't want Pride and Wrath to be the ones telling Kimblee what to do?
Because Envy wanted to keep working with him.
"Because I want him." Envy kept their voice level, throwing the words out casually, as if what they were saying didn't matter. "Kimblee and I worked well together back in Ishval, and we still did, when we bumped into each other on my way back home. Pride and Wrath have their own resources. It seems only fair that I'd have mine, too."
Kimblee's stare was sharp, pointed, but Envy ignored it, looking up towards Father, desperately trying to keep up their confident front.
He'd probably say no, wouldn't he? Asking so soon after arriving home had been a mistake, hadn't it?
Father's face was like stone. "Is he a Sacrifice?"
Envy blinked. "N-no…"
"Then you may do what you like with him." Father's pen began its slow movement across the scroll once again. "The Seals are carved. Everything is set in place. All that is needed is the final Sacrifice. I have no need of him, or of any other human. They are all but ants to us, as you well know."
He said yes.
Envy fought to subdue their grin, confidence flowing through them, filling them with energy. "Yes, Father, of course," they said breathlessly. They had Father's permission. Wrath and Pride wouldn't be able to tell Kimblee what to do anymore. That was only natural, of course; after all, he was Envy's alchemist… only Envy should have that right. They'd continue working together, just as they had years ago.
Everything would go back to the way it was.
"They will all fade away soon enough, as flowers wither in winter. I have no interest in what they do now, or in what you do with them. Now, go." Father waved his hand idly. "Wait for my next command. I'll give you a new assignment soon enough."
"Yes, Father. Thank you, Father." Envy turned on their heel, Kimblee following slowly. The two of them both glanced more than once backward towards Father. Father sat frozen, like a statue; it was as if he hadn't spoken to them at all. Envy tried not to feel disappointed; sure, Father hadn't missed them, but they could hardly have hoped for a better meeting. No Pride, no punishment—it had gone very well.
"My days are numbered, then." Kimblee said the words quietly as they entered the hall.
Envy stopped dead. "What?"
"Your Father just said as much." Kimblee shrugged, smiling wryly. "Once your plan is completed, all humans will die. Even the special ones."
"That's ridiculous." Envy chuckled, flashing him a grin. "You misunderstood him."
Did Father mean that?
Envy had always thought that the 'special' humans would be brought below into Father's chambers in order to survive the Promised Day. That's what they'd been telling the government officials for years now, after all. Had all of that been a lie?
"It doesn't really matter what he tries, though," Kimblee continued, walking steadily down the hallway. "Even if your Father wants me dead, I won't be easily killed."
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Envy flippantly. He was walking quickly now, and Envy had to almost run in order to keep up with his long strides. "You're not going to die. We have… safeguards for our allies, y'know. You'll be fine."
"Oh, I'm sure." Kimblee glanced towards them, smiling crookedly. "I'm glad you're so concerned about my wellbeing."
"I'm really not," said Envy carelessly. "I'm just telling you that you're not going to die." They weren't concerned; really, they weren't… but the idea of Kimblee dying wasn't pleasant.
"If you say so," said Kimblee. He grew quiet, and Envy followed suit. They wished that he hadn't brought up the topic. They'd been feeling so good before, but now, that unwelcome picture wouldn't leave their mind.
"You did well," said Kimblee suddenly, his tone entirely different. His smile was almost sincere. "You pulled it off very nicely."
"Oh, well…" Envy shrugged. "You did your job, and I did mine."
"Yes." Kimblee adjusted his tie. "Well. From what you said before, I take it that I'll be working with you again soon?" His expression was its usual blank slate, but Envy could almost swear that his face had a tinge of pink to it that it normally didn't have. "I'll admit that I didn't expect that you wanted to work with me that badly."
Envy felt… odd, looking at him, and looked away. "You're my alchemist; that's all," they said lightly. "Doesn't make sense to have Wrath n' Pride telling you to do useless busywork when I'm the one who knows what you're actually good at."
"Undoubtedly." Kimblee nodded thoughtfully. "Well, no matter what your motives were, I look forward to working with you." He held out his hand. "I'm sure we'll make some wonderful art together."
Envy stared at his outstretched hand for several seconds, until it dawned on them that he wanted to shake their hand. They hesitated, then grabbed it. His hand was warm, his fingers long and bony. Envy thought, suddenly, of how easily it could be broken, how simple it would be for it, and his whole body, to be killed, to become cold and lifeless, how quickly he could cease to exist.
They didn't want to think about that.
They heard Kimblee laugh somewhat nervously, and realized that they'd been holding his hand for too long, but he didn't pull away, and they didn't want to let go just yet. Just ten more seconds, and then they'd go back to work. All in good time.
A/N: Hi everyone; I hope you're all doing well during this crazy time we're in. I'm happy for the extra time to write, at least, but I hope everyone's staying safe. I'm sorry for taking so long; we're in the home stretch now, and I just want to have everything lined up properly for the ending.
(The chapter wasn't supposed to end so softly but it just... happened. They're not supposed to be fluffy but I want them to be, ahh...!)
Thanks so much for reading; I appreciate you all so much.
