Title: Allotted Design.
Pairing: Envy and Ed.
Rating: Barely PG-13
AN: Again, this was co-written by Amanda.
Envy groaned helplessly, his body visible tensing as the news of where they were going continued to sink in.
"I cant; I can't go back there."
Envy didn't have to explain further; immediately Ed knew he spoke of his hometown; the town where he'd grown up being abused, and was later even raped. And if he's still a suspect in the murder… that will only cause more trouble at his return.
Envy buried his face in his hands, "Shitshitshit. There's nothing I can do to get out of this; I'm so fucked."
"No Envy," Ed wrapped his arms around him, attempting to comfort the distraught boy. "Don't worry… I won't let anything happen to you."
"You can't stop them; if they want me, they'll get me. Ohgodohgodohgod." He began to tug on handfuls of his own hair. "If they know you're with me, they'll even go after you! I can't let that happen… I'll protect you, Edward."
"I'll watch your back while you watch mine." Ed vowed, reassuringly brushing Envy's hair from his face, although undeniably worried about what could happen to either of them.
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After an hour of frantically attempting to calm Envy, who was determined to come up with an escape plan for any and every possible conundrum that they may be struck with, Ed allowed himself to doze off when he'd noticed Envy asleep, pressed against the window.
The loud shrieking of the bus's breaks and the relieved cheers of the other students were enough to wake the two from their slumber. It'd been a long trip, but luckily they had managed to sleep through most all of it.
"Okay, ladies! Since that was such a long trip, we're not going to get started on the actual studies until tomorrow. Tonight you will be guided to your hotel rooms, two to a room, and in the morning I'll personally come to each room and wake you all up if you aren't in the lobby by 9AM sharp." Mrs. Pactrony bellowed over the chattering students, and then led them all off the bus.
"I can't go out there." Envy murmured, staring through the steamed window to the night outside.
"C'mon," Ed stood, pulling Envy up with him. "It's dark out, and it'll take only seconds for us to get into the hotel; no one'll see you."
Envy nodded, unsure, but joined the line of boys filing from the bus, and frantically pushed past them and into the hotel.
"Now," Mrs. Pactrony waved her arm, trying to catch the attention of the students. "Your bags will be brought up to you, so I want you all to get in partners and come to me, get your key, and then go to your rooms. There is to be absolutely no leaving the hotel tonight and lights out at a good time, please! I don't need a bunch of tired students to drag around tomorrow."
Envy remained against the patch of wall between two elevators, watching Ed fetch their room key, and then dove into the elevator at the first sight of the blonde returning.
Jumping inside just before the doors closed, Ed reached over to give Envy's arm an assuring squeeze but only managed to scare the tense boy.
"Sorry." Ed smiled sadly, hating to see Envy acting like this. Sure, he'd never been a very confident person, but being back where it all began only seemed to lower his assurance even further.
The elevator slowed to a sudden stop at the 4th floor; the hallway before them stretched to the far other side of the hotel, and was lighted a pale yellow colour, emphasizing the red carpet.
"C'mon." Ed placed his hand protectively on the small of Envy's back and led him down the hall. Envy ignored that the doors were all numbered in order, and checked each and every one for their number, desperate to get inside the safe confines of their own room.
"407, here it is." Ed had barely slid their room key through the crack before Envy had bolted inside and hung against the back wall, watching Ed close and relock the door.
Still pale, though visible calmer, Envy began to sort through the bag Ed had packed for them both, searching for their simple toiletries; toothbrushes, hairbrush, toothpaste, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner. Normally something he wouldn't care about, Envy carefully organized, and then rearranged it all in the bathroom, using the repetitive task to calm his nerves and frantically running mind.
When he began reorganizing all the things in his backpack for the third time, Ed took the situation into his own hands and led Envy to the bathroom, where he silently stripped the boy as they waited for the hot water to fill the long tub. After removing his own clothes, Ed stepped into the full tub first, sitting against the back with his legs spread. He motioned for Envy to sit between his legs, and began wet his long hair; he filled the provided pitcher with water from the bath, tipped Envy's head back and poured it over the tangled locks, then repeated the cycle.
Setting down the pitcher, he squeezed a large helping of shampoo onto his palm and began to work it through Envy's hair, massaging his scalp and then dragging the sweet smelling suds down to the tips.
After Envy's hair had been rinsed clean, Ed began the task of washing his back, massaging his tense shoulder muscles as he cleaned the pale flesh.
"Thank you, Edward." Envy spoke up with a soft whisper. They'd been in the bath for nearly an hour, despite that it was beginning to get cold.
"It's all I could think of doing to help you." Ed wrapped his arms around the body of the boy lying against his chest, head resting on his shoulder. "Don't worry about tomorrow, I'll take care of you; protect you."
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"Okay!" Mrs. Pactrony clapped her hands a few time to get the attention of the room full students before her. They all gradually took the hint and the group fell quiet. "Our first day, today, includes going to the local high school and spending time in a couple of the classes. Get into groups of two, and then come to me; I'll give you all schedules of all classes you are to take part in, and a map of the school."
Envy stood, frozen, against the back wall of the conference room given to the group of students. He clung tightly to the strap of his backpack, holding it much like a child would hold a teddy bear when they hear noises in their closet late at night.
"Don't worry, Envy. I won't let anything happen to you." Ed whispered close to his ear as he squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. Envy smiled slowly, leaning in to the touch.
"Edward Elric!" Their teacher called him to the front. "I'm going to assume that you're working with Mr. Culus; your list of classes to visit, and a map of the school are all in here. Along with some key questions you are to answer after spending time in each class." She passed him a brown envelope, and then turned to pass the remaining envelopes to other pairs.
The two were shipped to the nearby school on a bus with their fellow classmates to join various classrooms throughout the strange school; many were excited, and seemed oblivious of the fear plaguing the two boys at the back of the bus.
"Ican'tdothis." Envy mumbled, with his face buried in his hands. "They'll recognize me, and accuse me of killing their friend, and I'll be taken away and beaten!"
"Don't worry, Envy; what did I tell you? I'll protect you against anyone who tries to hurt you." He rubbed Envy's back with small circles, trying to comfort the distraught boy.
He fell silent to allow Envy time to think, until the uncomfortable shrieking of the breaks was enough of an omen that they had arrived.
"Envy?" Ed leaned over so to appear he was whispering to the boy should anyone be watching them, but instead carefully pressed a comforting kiss against the smooth skin behind his ear. "We have to go. Let's just get this over and done with as soon as we can; ne? Then we can do whatever we want!" He smiled cheerfully, tugging a reluctant Envy to his feet.
They were far behind the other students when Ed finally got Envy off the bus, and up the front walk. He thought they were making good progress until Envy froze tensely outside the graffiti ridden doors. The entire scene was familiar, and seemed to play back like a memory. He could almost see himself walking into the school as an everyday student, and being assaulted at his locker. They'd knock his books from his hands, and dump his backpack's contents on the floor, then, with a finishing blow, kick him to his knees. That position, of course, earned even more humiliating comments from his assailants.
"C'mon." Ed smiled, hoping to be helpful in aiding comfort as he stroked Envy's back reassuringly. "Let's just get it done and over with."
The familiar hallways were empty of most students, now filling the already crowded classrooms, while some stragglers ran to their nearest class and others walked casually slow.
A couple looked at Envy and Ed as they passed, recognizing the face hidden behind black hair, though couldn't place it as the boy they'd spent years secretly adoring for his beauty, or beating him to a living pulp for being just that reason.
Ed took the liberty of finding the classroom for them to be in, not wanting to break Envy from the world of solitude he seemed to have found peace in; until they paused outside the door of the room, and Ed reached for Envy's hand.
"Envy?" He whispered, tilting his head up with a finger under his chin, "Don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you." He smiled, and then knocked on classroom door. The teacher paused her lesson to answer the door; she was recently new to the school, and so Envy was just as much a stranger to her as Edward. Realizing they were the two she'd been warned ahead would be visiting her class from the prep-school, she eagerly ushered the two boys into the room, holding them in front of the other students.
"Students! Students!" She called out over the chattering voices. Most arrogantly ignored her until friends started to poke friends, and whispers clouded the room. "Please welcome Mr. Culus and Mr. Elric to our class today!" She smiled, then surveyed the class and pointed the boys to two empty seats at the back of the room.
Envy solemnly followed Ed to their allotted seats, hiding behind his hair as the teacher continued her usual lesson. Ed tried to pay attention to everything she said, answering the questions that had been suggested by Mrs. Pactrony, but the less than subliminal whispers floating around were distracting.
"Hey; isn't that the Envy fag?"
"What's he doing back here?"
"Isn't he the one that killed that other kid?"
The kids in the class didn't bother trying to hide their conversations amongst each other, until the teacher threatened detentions for them all, and then they all continued through text messages.
"Envy," Ed whispered, nudging Envy gently with his elbow. "This isn't so bad, right?" He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. Envy peeked at him through his hair; his face was pale, but he'd forced a smile.
The remainder of the class went well; with the students messaging through their cell phones, Ed and Envy weren't subject to listening to their accusations and insults, and that helped them to both listen to what the teacher had to say and happily fall into their own worlds.
Moments before the bell was to ring, the teacher instructed the students to pack up their bags while she excused herself to speak with another teacher in the hall. Ed and Envy remained still at the back of the room; Ed tried to initiate conversation, but Envy seemed to want nothing but to get from the room, and sat in agitated anticipation for the bell to ring.
When it did, and Envy rose to escape the room, a poorly shaped paper airplane bounced square into his forehead. Ed tried to kick it away and tug Envy from the room, but Envy curiously snatched the paper away and unfolded it.
Took a lot of balls to come back here, you better be ready for what's coming. .
A burly jock style fellow at the front of the room grinned smugly when Envy looked up from the note.
"Forget it, Envy. Let's just get out of here." Ed tugged Envy's arm to lead him through the other students and from the room; Envy obediently followed.
They were shuffling quickly down the hall, knowing now that the students of the school had time to eat lunch, and so they could escape for a while to calm down, when a familiar voice from behind called 'Envy. Envy Culus!'