Authors Notes: I cannot apologise enough for the delay, but school got all freaky, andI found this chapter rather difficult to write. But I finished it finally! Hooray! My apologies once again for making you all wait, and I hope you like the chapter! Oh, and by the way, I simply had to add a little throwback to the Envy Palm Tree thing. I can't help it, he's my favorite Homunculi. Too bad I can't use him in this story, since he's currently eaten! Grrrr...
To my reviewers:
Sangosfan: Eeep! is buried under pink sparkles> I'm glad you likey!
Torii: Yes, indeed, they are very useful, are they not? I'll definately use that, thanks for the suggestion!
"I'm sorry mommy!"
The boy's cries were cut short as a hand clapped over his mouth.
"Quiet, Wrath!" The hands owner, Sloth, glanced at the door briefly before releasing Wrath, whom immediately started babbling again, though quietly.
"I'm sorry, I let them get away, but they were gonna hurt me, it was scary-" He abruptly fell silent as Pride stood.
"The fact is we all let them escape." He said. "And now we've lost the element of surprise. We cannot afford to let this happen again." He gave the other Homunculi a hard look. "They'll stay together now. Mustang's a fool, he lets his feelings get in the way of logic. He'll stay where he is, to protect the second lieutenant. That gives us the advantage."
"But they could still form some kind of trap in that room." Sloth pointed out.
"True, though I doubt they could create one sufficient enough for one of us." Pride replied. "Still, it would be better to know what they are planning." He and Sloth exchanged glances.
"Wrath, perhaps you could redeem yourself." Sloth said, giving the young boy a look. "You're the best one for this job."
Wrath broke into a wide grin.
"Good. Now tonight you'll go do some snooping for us." Pride said. "Do not get yourself caught. Understand? And under no circumstances will you give them any information." he added sternly. Wrath nodded, and Pride continued. "If you get the chance to take one of them down, do it. Except- leave the paralyzed one. As long as he's alive, the others will stay to protect him. Keep the leash intact."
"Ah, the start of another long day... Oh, excuse me, little boy?"
The youngster turned upon hearing the secretary call.
"I'm sorry, but visiting isn't allowed for a few hours. You'll have to come back later."
The boy frowned, the small bouquet of flowers in his hand seeming to droop. "But.. I wanted to give these flowers to mommy, she's sick..."
The secretary blinked, watching tears begin to appear in the boy's eyes. She sighed, glancing about to make sure the room was empty, then leaning forward like a conspirator. "Do you know exactly which room she is in?"
The boy nodded. The woman smiled at him, nodding towards the door. "Go on, but don't tell anyone I let you in, okay?"
The child broke into a wide grin. "Thank you!" He said happily, skipping to the door, the bouquet of flowers bouncing along as he opened the door. In a flash he was gone, the door closing softly in his wake. The secretary smiled, returning to her papers. "What a cute young man."
In the hallway, the 'cute young man' sneered, stuffing the flowers in a trash can as he passed. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, rereading the number Sloth had written on it before turning the corner. His violet eyes read the numbers, searching for... that one. He stood outside the door, before glancing up and down the hallway, then pressing his ear against the wood. He could hear mutterings from inside, but couldn't make out the words. Well, that was to be expected. Passing his hands over the wall, he took a few steps to the right of the door. Pressing his palms flat against the wall, he melded into it.
As quietly as possible he allowed his face to break through the other side. Opening his eyes, he would have breathed a sigh of relief, had his chest not been embedded in drywall. He had been right when he guessed the bathroom to be here. He emerged entirely from the wall, creeping to the door, which was only open a bit, allowing in a sliver of light. He sat next to it, listening closely to the conversations.
"- best thing to do is stay here, so we're all together if they attack again." He heard a woman's voice say.
"This isn't exactly the best place to stay if we're talking about defense, Hawkeye." Wrath heard a man retort.
"Well... Roy decided to stay here..."
"Its because of me. He's making you all stay here, where it isn't safe, because of me." Wrath suddenly realized it must have been the 2nd. Lieutenant speaking.
"Havoc... you know we're not just going to abandon you here..."
"Well you should! How many times do I have to tell you, I'm useless like this! There's no point in you staying here, Roy's just being stupid and letting me interfere with everything!"
"Jean, we're not going to leave you behind."
"Stupid..." Wrath leaned closer to hear as their voices quieted down. "... it's stupid.. there's no point..."
"Yes there is, Jean. We're your friends, and we're staying, whether you like it or not."
The speakers paused, and Wrath smiled a bit. So they were staying. Pride had been right. "Weak humans." He muttered to himself. He suddenly heard the man mutter something, but couldn't make it out. He very quietly peeked out from around the door, watching the woman walk to the Colonel and sit beside him.
"This has been so hard on him..." She said softly.
"I know." The Colonel answered her. "But there's nothing we can do. If only Marcoh..."
"Riza I.. never thanked you properly for yesterday..."
After this Wrath stopped listening. This obviously wasn't anything important. He instead leaned out a bit farther, surveying the rest of the room. Aside from the Colonel and Lieutenants, the rest were still asleep.
What do I do now? Wrath wondered to himself. He had the information he needed, ho could go back. But, Pride had told him to kill one of them if possible. If I do kill one of them, they won't be mad at me anymore! He smiled devilishly. I'll just wait for the best opportunity.
The 'best opportunity', however, didn't come until much later that day. The young boy had sat for nearly three hours, still, watching his quarry. To pass the time he had tried to choose which one he would most enjoy killing, finally deciding upon the short one whom had shot him the day before, but, as time went on, it looked like he might not get the chance afterall.
However, just when Wrath was about to give up and go home, the break came.
"I'm gonna go get some fresh air. Anyone want me to get them anything?" Fuery asked suddenly, standing with a sigh.
"Uh.. coffee." Roy muttered wearily from his chair. "And, Falman, go with him.I don't want anyone out alone."
"Yes sir."
Wrath watched the pair leave the room, and smiled. "Perfect."
A few moments later he was slinking down the hallway after them. As they turned the corner he paused an instant before peering around the wall. They had stopped at the lobby. Luckily for him it seemed no one else was up this early, as the two officers were the rooms only occupants. He debated a moment what to do, but suddenly his eyes fell upon one of the floral decorations by the door. He glanced up and down the hallway one last time before grabbing a potted plant. Haha, Envy. He thought briefly before turning the pot upside-down, dumping out the miniature palm tree. Now holding an empty glass pot, he used alchemy to meld it to his hand, making the glass a long sharp spike. He waved his new weapon about a bit before grinning widely. Looking in on the officers one last time, he suddenly leapt, swinging his arm over his head and preparing to slash down upon their heads.
Fuery and Falman looked about in time to evade Wrath's blow, but the boy didn't give them a chance to recover, as he rebounded off the floor and leapt at them again, his sharp teeth bared in a wild grin. He paused an instant as he heard a bullet whiz past his ear, and saw Falman had his gun raised. He snarled, pouncing upon the man with inhuman speed, slashing out with his arm.
Falman cried out as the glass blade pierced his shoulder. Wrath grinned and twisted his arm around, making the man scream in pain. However, a sudden noise behind Wrath alerted him to danger, and he quickly jerked his arm backward. Wrath's elbow was like a bludgeon as it slammed into Fuery's face, and he crashed to the floor, accompanied by a tinkle of broken glass.
Wrath grinned as the man clutched his face, blood seeping through his fingers. He raised his arm to strike, but suddenly there was a blinding pain in his back, and he blacked out.
As the Homunculus fell, Falman knew it wouldn't be long before he was up again. One hand gripping his shoulder, the other holding his gun, he knelt by Fuery, his eyes on the broken glass shards. They were bloody.
Where did the glass come from? "Fuery, what did he do to you?"
"I- I think my nose is broken." Fuery choked out, lifting his bloodied face off his hands. As he did so, Falman realized the origin of the glass. One of the lenses in his glasses was missing, and there were many cuts around his eye, which was bloodshot. The other lens was cracked, but still in the frames. Fuery began mopping the blood off his face with his sleeve, but froze suddenly as Wrath moved.
Slowly Wrath regained his feet, his face twisted into a look of pure hatred, raising his glass arm slowly. "Fuery, move!" Falman leapt up, hauling Fuery to his feet, and the two leapt aside as Wrath lurched at them. Falman raised his gun and fired, but Wrath flipped himself backwards and the bullet went harmlessly by.
"What was that?"
"Oh my god, whats happening?"
"Is that a gun?"
It seemed the commotion had awoken the hospitals other occupants. A small group of confused people had congregated in the doorway. "Stay back!" Falman shouted as Wrath sprung forward again, hacking at the air towards them. Suddenly he stepped backward, before rocketing upward, twisting around, and striking Falman in the chest with his heels, sending the man sprawling backwards into one of the large shelves.
"Falman!" Fuery cried, but he choked as Wrath suddenly grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off his feet and throwing him into the same shelf, which crashed down atop them.