Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist does not belong to me.

Hidden behind a Smile

There's a fine line between love and hate, but that doesn't mean there isn't a toll for crossing it.

"Wrath, I need you to do a little favour for me," cooed Envy, upon spotting the younger sin awaiting further instructions as to their mission. Envy's 'request' however, related only to his own agenda.

Just as in the case of the Elric brothers, Wrath was reluctant to agree without knowing exactly what was wanted of him, despite the fact that there simply wasn't the option of refusing to comply with Envy's appeal. It would have been a blatant lie to say that Wrath was not afraid or nervous, but he did his best to at least appear unfazed. Envy would know better, but no one wants to admit defeat, even when all hope is lost, there's still something inside us that prevents us from merely giving in – be it from panic or stupidity, we have to try.

What was I thinking? I can't bring Aru with me! I should never have even told him… Edo had been silent for a while now, so many jarred thoughts running through his head had left him oblivious to the fact that he had stopped walking.

"Nii-san? Are you alright?"

Edo looked up at his brother. He felt a strange blend of guilt and love. Aru trusted him, had stuck with him all this time, and here he was ready to do something that would probably hurt his brother deeply. Edo couldn't even explain why he was going to do it - that would only hurt him more. The best he could do was to try and keep Aru in the dark. "I'm alright," he said, with a half-smile. Aru hadn't even asked him why he was suddenly so interested in pursuing their father. Edo knew it was killing him, and it made him feel even guiltier.

The bluebird is considered a messenger of contentment and health – a symbol of happiness, yet this little bluebird had other plans. He had caught up with them once again, "not too amazing a feat," he thought to himself, considering such short legs could not possibly cover much of a distance in the little time he had been gone.

Envy watched them closely. His intrigue was merely the shell enclosing the much more rampant feeling of resentment inside him. No longer able to even ascertain who it was aimed towards, he forced it deeper within his consciousness – an opportunity to deal with it would present itself sooner or later, time had lost its meaning to him long ago anyway.

"Aru, I need you to stay here for a while," said Edo.

It hadn't taken the brothers long to reach their sensei's home, Edo had told Aru that they would be stopping by, but even he had not yet decided whether or not to take his brother with him on his new journey. He wasn't sure just how long it would take, and he wasn't looking forward to doing it alone, but it was Aru's welfare he had to be responsible for now.

Aru merely looked down at his brother – he didn't know what to say. The course of action he had wanted to undertake would involve questioning Edo's reasons, but the Fullmetal Alchemist obviously didn't want to discuss it. He seemed to be expecting the question, and dreading it also. So Aru didn't ask.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Edo told him, with a reassuring smile. It was true, as well. He had said it implying that he wouldn't be long, which was not the case, but he certainly was planning to return as soon as possible. He wanted to get it over and done with.

It was not long before he had to stop. Both his body and his mind were in dire need of a break. Propping himself up against a tree, he turned his head skywards and sighed – the sky itself was of course mostly obstructed by the thick branches and the remainder of autumn leaves yet to be released from their captivity, but what he did see was the little bird that had only just escaped his eye a number of times in the last few days.

"A…..bluebird," he said to himself, now smiling. It was a sad smile though, the type that could inspire sorrow in someone just by having seen it. The bluebird however, managed to derive quite some pleasure from it.

Edo lowered his head. He had been hoping those memories wouldn't catch up with him again so soon.

"So sad even when you smile, hagane no o chibi-san…"

Edo's head shot up to the branch on which the bluebird had been replaced with a leering sin. One leg bent up where he perched, the other dangling down, Envy leant his head against the trunk. "Scared of little bluebirds are we?" he taunted.

The blonde's shock turned quickly to rage as he backed off from the tree and transmuted his automail arm into a blade. "Bastard…" he muttered.

"Don't worry," said Envy, "I won't turn into a big scary bluebird again – just for you," he grinned, springing from the tree and landing gracefully in the leaves at its foot. "But they're even smaller than you are, there's no need to be afraid…unless it's the memories that come with the little bluebird that upset you so much," he purred.

That was it. Edo ran towards the homunculus taking his arm back in preparation for the strike, but Envy was far too fast for him, dodging the blade with remarkable ease, he emerged unscathed as Edo just kept trying, no closer no matter how many times he did, to silencing his tormentor who wasn't even bothering to fight back.

"Now, now – take it easy!" Envy laughed. "You don't even know why I'm here…"

Edo was breathing heavily and his heart was racing. Nothing was as painful as his loss of pride at this moment, but he had no choice but to listen – attempting to attack again would be hopeless and it wasn't as if he had nothing to lose. After all, he had left Aru behind, and would not be able to protect him if his confrontation with the homunculus didn't turn out so well.

"What do you want?" Edo growled, and if looks could kill…

Envy was more than happy to draw the conversation out as he could feel the rage and embarrassment of his adversary, stirring a joy he had long forgotten within him. "Well," he started, before pausing to admire the dramatic timing of the now almost piercing wind.

The other boy was getting impatient. "WHAT?" he barked.

"I just thought you could use some company," said the sin, breaking into a full grin.

Edo took a step back. "You…"

"And of course, you didn't really think you could find him on your own now did you?"

Edo's eyes opened wide. "My old man… what do you know about him?"

"Hmmm," Envy looked upwards and tapped his chin with his index finger. "What can I say? I guess it just depends," he crossed his arms and his gaze darted back to Edo, "on how well we get along these next few weeks."

A/N: Special thanks to my reviewers! (Sorry, I got dividy-line-happy again!) And about their names – I know, I know, but I just like them better this way. I've only seen the anime in Japanese and I'm used to them sounding like that. Ed and Al makes me think of real people – but Edo and Aru could only be the Elric brothers, and I think they sound cuter! However, writers love writing but the story isn't for me, it's for you – the readers, so if you really want me to change them I will. See you next time, and please review!