Chapter 3. The Emperor's Son.
Remy, or Envy, as he liked to be called, lived alone in an apartment 5 blocks away from school. His parents were divorced, and since he was quite a troublemaker, his mother used to come once in a while.
He wasn't so different from the Envy of Amestris, except he couldn't shape-shift, and he wasn't wanting to kill people all the time. Ed was afraid of what would happen if he saw Hohenheim when he went to his house to do some homework, but he didn't react at all.
Al was spending a lot of time with Trisha. He helped her in the kitchen, and talked with her when Hohenheim was at work. He was feeling really happy about this encounter.
Ed tried to behave as teenage as possible. Once in a while he discussed with Hohenheim, but he always ended up joking. It took a week for Ed to learn that they never really argued, in spite of his seriousness towards his father.
In school, Ed tried to get closer to Winry. She was just like the Winry of Amestris, and loved cars and electronics. She invited the four of them to her house, and showed her some little objects she was builidng. One was a robot, which was just like Al's suit of armor.
The little robot could fight, and it was very funny to watch. It fought teddy bears, an old doll Winry kept because "it helped her remember". Al picked it up, and asked winry if he could take the head off. She clicked it open, and gave it to him. With a pencil, he draw a circle just like the one his suit of armor had.
"Now we have to perform some magic…" Ed said. He clapped his hands, and put the on the robot. They all laughed. Then, Al noticed something.
The circle shined.
Once Winry clicked the head back on, the little robot started talking.
"Why is aeveryone so big!" He looked at Ed, amazed.
"Brother, you really grew up this time!".
If Winry hadnt hit him with a wrench, he would have kicked the robot through the window. A while later, the robot just fell flat.
"How did you make it talk?" Winry asked.
Both Ed and Al's faces were scary.
"You Ok?" Ling asked.
"Yeah, it was a little joke" Ed said. "You see, Al is a ventrilocuist, but we do that little ritual for luck".
"Yeah, right" Said Envy.
"Lets go down, my parents aren't coming, so I'll make us dinner. Could you help me, Ed?". Winry said.
"Hm…Wha…? Oh, yeah, sure".
Winry left the room and went down the stairs. Envy left behind her, and looked at the Elric brothers in sort of a shady way. Ling left the room smiling at Ed, giving him the thumbs up.
"That was Alchemy, Ed. I actually passed a bit of my soul to the robot".
"I actually transmuted in this side of the door".
"What do we do know?".
"If Sensei found a way in, we will find a way out".
While Ling, Al and Envy talked sitting in the table, drinking some soda, Ed helped Winry with dinner.
"Here, chop this carrots". She said.
Ed looked at Al, and blinked his eye. Then he clapped his hands.
"What are you doing?" Winry asked.
Ed's hands were just an inch away from the carrot.
"I, uh… I'm feeling the food, so that I cut it right and I don't ruin the flavor".
They all looked at him weird. Al hold his laugh.
"Suit yourself" She said laughing.
Once they al turned, he transmuted the carrot into a bunch of slices.
"Amazing…" he whispered. "…I'm done".
"So fast! How did you do it!".
"It's science".
Winry made some soup and meat. Ed sat next to her, and started eating, although it was hard to swallow. There seemed to be an invisible rope choking him softly.
They talked and laughed almost all night. Winry took out a bottle of wine.
"We are no longer under age, so we can drink up".
"What about me?" Al said.
"Want some orange juice?" Envy joked.
They all laughed, and started drinking. Ed left his glass, and started to pick up the table.
"Oh, please don't, I'll do it, Ed". Winry said.
"Nah, it doesn't bother me". He said smiling. "You start getting drunk".
He took all the plates and put them on the sink. He let the water flow a bit, and then transmuted all the plates. They were completely clean. He put them away on the shelf, and went back to the table.
"Ok, that is really weird. You picked everything up thirty seconds ago!".
"Shut it unless it's for drinking". Ed replied. She nearly stabbed him with a fork, but Al stopped her.
"Wine does that to people" He said.
"So, Envy, what does your father do?".
"I don't know, he and mother got divorced soon after I was born. I think he is a contractor or something, the bastard".
"Ooookaaaayyy… What about you, Winry?".
"Both my parents are doctors, but my Grandpa and my Granny are mechanics".
"You, guys, what does your father do?".
"He works in a chemistry lab. He says he is close to finding another element".
"Well, as to me, my dad is the owner of that video game company… Sendo, or something, I don't even mind about it, I only play as many video games as I want".
"Nice" Al said "Whats a video game?".
They all looked at Ed and Al really amazed.
"We used to live in a small town, with only one computer, and there were no games on it. I read something once, but we have never really played any". Ed lied quickly.
"Yeah, right… Anyway, eveyone in and outside the company calls my dad 'The Emperor', and everyone calls me 'The Emperor's son'".
"So you are a prince?" Ed said.
They all laughed, but Ling.
"In case you don't know, having a multimillionaire father isn't so good. He is never around, and I have to take care of my little sister".
"The Princess?" Winry joked.
"Yeah, keep laughing".
The sun was raising through the living room's window. Ed had slept sitting against the couch. Winry's hand was on top of his head. Se was asleep on the couch. Al had slept on a group of chairs he had brought together, and Envy and Ling were sleeping near the T.V. There were some empty glasses of wine dropped around.
Winry woke up. She was still drunk, and kicked Ed.
"Wutzzz wruong wizz youuu?" Ed asked as he stood up.
"I'm soooooo wasted, and I don't feel like zrowing up".
"Yeah, we all drinked zoo mush for zat". They both fell down on the couch.
Ed laid back, and Winry sat next to him.
"You knouww? You are reaaaally, cute".
"You aer kiddzing me".
"Reaallly, you are". And she kissed him.
Most of the drunk-ness went away. Ed hugged her, and pulled her towards him. She laid on top of him, and hugged him back. A while later, they were asleep.
It was about nine A.M. when they woke up again. Ed was surprised to find himslef hugging Winry. He had absolutely no memories of last nigh. The last thing he remebered was a seventh glass of wine.
He stood up. His head hurt. Winry was still asleep, and he didn't want to wake her up. She looked gorgeous sleeping, like and angel.
He walked up to Al, and woke him up.
"Wuzsup?". He asked, half asleep.
"I'll wake Envy, you wake Ling. We gotta go before Winry's parents arrive".
Winry woke up, and saw Ed and Al trying to wake up Envy and Ling. She vaguely remembered hugging Ed last night and, kissing him.
"I'll probably just dreamt it" She stood up. "Why would I dream that!".
She picked up the glasses, and took them to the sink. She washed them, and then got rid of the empty bottles. All the boys were alredy awake.
"Hey Winry, we are leaving… Sorry for the mess…". Ed said.
"No, wait… You can get ran over in this state, trying to cross the street. Lets have a coffee first. If my parents arrive, I'll just say you are here for breakfast".
"Wont they wonder what are four teenagers hanging around their only daughter?". Envy asked.
"Uh, shut up, sit down, drink the coffee and then get outta here".
She got the cups of coffe to the table, and sat down next to Ed again. E, suddenly, recalled the kissed, and the rope of his neck was tighter than ever. He couldn't even drink the coffee.
Winry took them to the door, and opened up for them. Most of the hangover had disappeared. When they walked away, Ed turned around and waved at Winry. She waved back, and smiled.
They walked slowly through the street. There were some cars coming and going, but there were no other noises. Perhaps a little bird once in a while, but nothing else.
"God bless Saturdays". Ling said.