Title: Allotted Design.

Pairing: None in this chapter.

Rating: Perhaps… PG. Maybe PG-14.

AN: I apologize for the various misuse of words in the previous chapter. I was in a rush to get it online before I had to get off the computer, and didn't take the time to reread it. Hopefully you all understood what I was trying to say. / Also, I realize that in the plot stated at the beginning of the first few chapters I mentioned that both brothers would be shipped to the prep school. Sorry for the change, if it caused any confusion, things just ended up going different than I'd originally planned.

The following night Wrath guided Envy to a fort he'd built in the woods just a few months ago.

"Normally I'd accuse you of being far too old to build a fort, but boy am I glad to see it now. Wasn't too comfortable sleeping on the ground last night."

"It's not much, but it'll keep you dry and out of the wind." Wrath nodded, rocking his hips from side to side. "I can also try an' steal you some blankets from the house… there hasn't been any police around since last night."

"So Dante knows?"

"Yeah," Wrath nodded, thinking back to her angry outburst. "She tore up one of the guys' notebooks, and then kicked them out."

Envy smiled, almost sadly with the knowledge that the only time Dante played a motherly protective role was at a time like this.

"D'you think I could sneak back into the house to gather a few of my things?"

Wrath hid his surprise of Envy's uncharacteristically shy attitude.

"I'm sure we could get you in and out without being noticed." They shared a smile.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slowly skimming the edge of the lawn, the brothers surveyed the scene before them. The house stood dark and silent; no sign of life, no shadows lurking behind closed curtains.

"Okay, c'mon." Wrath skittered across the lawn, brother following close behind, and pressed his body against the cool wood of the house. They both held their breath, listening closely for any sounds of people within.

"Okay, I think it's safe." The two snuck in through the back door and made way to Envy's room, hastily shoving a few changes of clothes into a backpack.

"Wait," Envy dove to the floor and dug through the mess swelling from his closet. "I need my school bag." Buried far below scattered papers of angsty lyrics and half finished drawings, he found his backpack, insides scattered in small piles around the floor. Shoving it all back in, not bothering to organize it all into proper pockets, he crawled frantically around the room gathering various other items that may prove useful later on.

Slinging a bag over each shoulder, and grabbed his drool stained pillow, he nodded with a triumphant nod and careful surveying glance around the room for any forgotten items.

"Okay Wrath, I think I've got anything I may need."

Wrath bundled a comforter into a ball, and held it formally under his arm.

"Wait…" Envy held out a hand to silence any noise Wrath may make, and listened to the heavy silence of the house. "We have to get out." He tugged his brother from the room and galloped down the stairs.

"Envy!" The front door swung open and Dante loomed over the two boys as the skidded to a halt. "What are you doing in this house?"

Greed's face popped into view over Dante's shoulder. "What are you doing leaving the house? There are cops all over the town looking for you!"

"We were just leaving." Envy spun around to head for the back door, but a familiar, boney hand snatched a handful of his shirt and tore him backwards. Stumbling, Envy fell back into a sitting position on the floor. He whimpered, knowing too well what was surely to come next. But it didn't; no accusing slaps or punishing kicks. Hesitantly he looked over his shoulder to the two only barely earning the title of parents.

Greed stood still, solemnly watching Envy from his position behind Dante, who stood, almost alienated from her typical self, with closed eyes.

"I don't know what to do with you anymore." She spoke softly. "I've tried punishment, affectionate force, and ignorance; nothing gets through to you. I'm tired of it, and I think it is time for you to leave."

"Dante—"

"No, Greed." She raised a hand to silence his protests. "Envy, my boy, please leave and never come back. I don't care where you go or what you do, just go. Here," She dug through the pocket of her overcoat, and held a small handful of bills out to him. "There should be a little over a hundred dollars there. If nothing else, it'll help you get started somewhere new." As soon as he took the gift, she brushed past without another word and disappeared elsewhere in the house.

"Greed?"

"Envy, she's right. It'll be best for you to get away from this house." He held out a friendly hand. Envy hesitated, carefully eyeing the hand, questioning Greed's purpose. As Greed grew impatient, he reached down and pulled Envy roughly to his feet.

"Here. A little more for the road." He slapped a bill into Envy's hand and disappeared just as Dante had.

Envy watched him go, and then looked to his palm; there sat another crumpled hundred dollar bill. Yes, this would help him nicely.

"Envy, we should go." Wrath spoke up from his position at the base of the stairs. "We could start heading towards the bus station now."

"Yeah," Envy followed Wrath's lead from the familiar house, and with one gaze back to the looming structure, they departed silently for the station.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before the two departed, Wrath clung sadly to his brother for longer than Envy would have felt comfortable with, but allowed himself to be held for as long as Wrath needed. When he finally pulled away, Wrath fought to avoid his brother's gaze, and scuffed his feet sheepishly on the pavement.

"I hate to see you go." Wrath mumbled, smiling behind a curtain of hair.

"I hate to go, but I guess it is for the best." Envy dropped his bags beside his pillow and blanket on the wooden bench. "But I do want to thank you again for giving me this. This chance, I mean, I don't know where I'd have gone if it weren't for you there to pick me back up. Thanks … for not giving up on me yet."

"I won't for a long time." Wrath slowly raised his eyes to meet Envy's gaze, smiling. The silhouette of a bus slowly grew over the horizon, dancing with the rising sun. Wrath sighed, not wanting to see his brother off just yet, "Geez, where has the night gone?"

"Well, I guess this is it, Wrath. I don't know when I'll see you again… but I hope you make out well at the convention thing, and get that job you want. Hope Dante and Greed don't give you too much trouble, either."

"Oh, they won't have time to. They expect me to be gone later today with the next bus, so I'll just stay with my boss for a couple of days. He's a nice guy."

They both nodded, trailing off with what they had to say. "Well," Envy began, reaching down to pick up his bags. Wrath dove down to gather the pillow and blanket, holding them out for Envy, eager to be helpful.

"Good-bye, Wrath."

"G'bye, Envy. Love you." Wrath blushed.

"Love you too." Envy chuckled, turning towards the bus as it screeched to a halt. The driver took his sweet time climbing off the bus, and opening a holding compartment under the bus for people to dispose of their bags for the time being. Dumping the bag of his clothes in storage, Envy carried his bag of items and blanket with pillow onto the bus, and settled into a seat at the back of the bus. Leaning his forehead against the cool window pane, he sadly watched Wrath scuff his heels on the pavement, hunched over himself on the bench. Within little time, after the few other passengers had boarded, and the driver had checked their tickets, the bus departed for its next stop. Wrath stood, walking slowly towards the bus until its speed gradually increased as it began through town, and he began to chase after it, yelling incoherently to Envy.

Envy fought to ignore the tempting thoughts of the brother he was leaving behind, waving sadly when the boy began to slow before coming to a stop in the middle of the otherwise empty street.

"I love you, Wrath."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luckily, having not known just how long the bus ride would be, Envy managed to sleep away a good portion of the trip. The rest of the time he spent doodling on papers crumpled from the process of packing, and trying to avoid thoughts of leaving the ones he knew and starting over. How was Gluttony doing? Would he be caught? Where was he now?

When it came time to transfer from the bus to a train for the final portion of the trip, Envy had drugged himself with a small package of Gravol he'd found for sale at the bus stop, and managed to collapse on a seat before passing out. Falling between dreams of murder and untamed emotions, the brief moments he'd awake in between he questioned what kind of a sap he was turning into. If nothing else, maybe starting new would turn him into a better person.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By time he'd finally reached his destination the sun was setting behind a row of towering buildings reaching to the sky. Envy stared longingly at the new sight of city lights as he climbed off the train, nearly tripping over a small boy standing near the exit.

"Hey, watch it!" Envy swung around, ready to defend himself from possible attack, when he gained sight of the short boy before him.

"Hey, you watch it!" The boy dropped the sign he'd been holding and raised his hands, preparing himself. "Wait; Wrath Culus?"

Envy opened his mouth to correct the boy, until he remembered the point of this trip was to get away; posing as his brother. "Yes…" He nodded slowly, eyeing the boy from top to bottom.

"I'm Ed!" Suddenly friendly, the boy grabbed a hold of Envy's hand and viciously shook it in a manner he most likely considered cheerful. "I was here to meet you. We're going to be room mates!"

"Wow; you're beautiful." Envy stared with wide eyes. When the short boy stared uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot, Envy realized he'd spoken out loud and slapped a hand over his mouth. "Dude; what the hell? I was joking. I'm not gay." He punched Ed lightly in the shoulder, chuckling to himself.

AN: Sorry for any mistakes in this! Just in a hurry again… want to get this posted before I go to bed.