Al had learned bits and pieces of exactly what it really meant to be a homunculus during the periods of time when Wrath came for maintenence. In spite of all of the cryptic allusions and theories the books he'd read offered, it seemed to be a relatively normal existence; He ate (quite barbarically at that), had an above average temper, considerable strength, and a reluctance to go to bed on time or be forced to bathe that was perfectly healthy for a headstrong boy his age. He even had a friend, or so Al was lead to believe that was what the gangly young man who called himself Envy was. Al had seen him only once, and briefly, as it was apparent from the Sin's condescending leer that he had no interest in waiting around to converse. Envy had angrily insisted that he and Wrath stay together, since they were the same kind, and took the boy home, wherever this 'home' was.
One remarkable thing about the homunculus that the younger Elric noted with his keen eye for detail, was that he had the ability to heal himself from injury. He'd seen Wrath graze his knee, stab his finger with a butter knife, cut his bare toe on an unfortunately placed rock in the front yard, and while nobody else noticed, a small zap of white light over the wounds saw the injury completely gone, skin renewed and flawless. While most of those who deal with rowdy boys would praise the heavens for such a blessed load off their mind, such an ability to hide drew Al's concern, and made him pay more attention. His worry was not needless; as Wrath continued to return, and pretend everything was fine, there was something wrong. Even without scars and gashes flawing Wrath's unnaturally snowy skin, deep within his angered violet eyes, there was an injury. The bruises evaporated with ease from his arms and legs, but they could not deteriorate from the pained amethyst rings that still tried to glare angrily and hide their own betrayal.
Al confronted him, calmly, out of the blue, as Wrath, who had grown accustomed to the Elric boy's presence, was lying against a tree in the Rockbell's backyard.
"Envy... hurts you, dosen't he?" Al asked. Wrath stiffened, shocked at the sudden pinpoint suggestion, but instead of lashing out in denial as Al had expected him to, he rolled his gaze away sadly, and muttered,
"He dosen't mean to..." Al stared at the saddened child, trying to figure out how to ask further, as the young sin grumbled, "He's just mad alot. He lost his powers in that place. We both did. That's why he needs me."
"Wrath," Alphonse edged closer, worriedly as Wrath's gaze trailed further away than his voice,
"We're both nothing now. He needs me..."
Al closed Wrath in a protective hug, and the sin, resistant at first, quickly fell limp, collapsing against the boy's embrace, sobbing for all the long lost tears he left unshed.
For that moment, he didn't have to keep pretending to be strong.