Hours after Envy's stormy fury had finally reduced to a calm rumble of anger, the brothers once again entered the hotel room where he was being kept. The homunculus was finally able to sit upright, but it was obvious from his wobbly posture that all was still not well with him. Ed raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Not gonna try to kill me this time, are you?"
Envy snorted, looking away.
"Well I can't get up, so there's that. I guess you're safe… for now."
He sighed, crossing his arms. Despite the front he was trying to put on, it was easy to spot the discomfort in his body language.
"Has this ever happened to you before?" Ed asked.
"And why on Earth would I tell you that?! You're the enemy, Pipsqueak."
Ed turned and started walking away, to Al's annoyance.
"Fine. If you'd rather die, go ahead and die. One less homunculus for me to worry about."
Envy swallowed, and an almost primal look entered his eyes. His body shook slightly.
"No."
Ed turned back to face him. "'No' what?"
"This has never happened to me before," Envy admitted through gritted teeth. "You're aware by now that homunculi have advanced healing capabilities?"
Ed nodded, remembering Greed.
"Well they should've kicked in by now. I have no idea why they haven't. Who knows, maybe I am dying." He shrugged. "Maybe my stones have finally run out of juice."
"Stones?" Ed paused, realising what Envy meant.
"The red stones."
"The ones from Xenotime?" Al asked.
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure those are what power homunculi. When I fought Greed, there was a puddle of red water on the ground."
"So, he'd already been sealed when you fought him. That's how you won," Envy mused.
"Sealed?"
Envy put his hand up.
"Whoa there, I'm not telling you all our secrets. We're still enemies, don't you forget that. The only reason I'm even talking to you right now is because there's a slim chance you can save my life. And if I'm being totally honest, I'd rather not die." He sighed. "But yes, our bodies are powered by red stones. When we're first born, we don't look like this," he glanced down at himself. "We look like twisted masses of flesh; like nightmares given life."
Al stopped breathing for an instant. He glanced at Ed, who shared a similar horrified expression.
"What did you just say?"
Envy's brow raised in confusion for an instant, before a gleeful smile crossed his face and he snapped his fingers.
"Oh yeah, I forgot! You guys know what that looks like already! You've seen it, haven't you?"
Ed struggled to regain his composure. He'd known when he first saw that woman that she looked similar, similar enough for him to stop and take note… But he'd had no idea… She couldn't be. It wasn't possible.
Envy leaned forward. "Wait, don't tell me you didn't know." His teeth, sharper than a normal person's, flashed through his wicked grin. "You're an alchemist, right? Don't tell me you did all that research on human transmutation without discovering what happens when an alchemist tries and fails to bring back the dead."
Al was the first to speak. "Are- are you saying that we created a homunculus?"
"Well duh, how do you think we found you in the first place? Why do you think we targeted you to help us create a stone? Do you think we chose two random kids just because you showed up at Lab 5? No, we planned your involvement long before you even knew that lab existed. We know that an alchemist has committed human transmutation when we find the homunculus left behind."
Clenching his fists, Ed stormed silently from the room. Al barely glanced after him, consumed in his own emotions. Envy cocked his head at him.
"What'd I say?"
Shaking his head, Al followed his brother.
Ed slammed his automail fist into the wall, taking a massive chunk out of it. He put his head in his hands, just barely biting back a scream of disgust as Al caught up to him.
"Brother…"
"Don't you see, Al? This is it. The final punishment for our sins. We were arrogant enough to play God, and this is what happens. We created a monster."
He leaned against the wall. Al looked behind them towards the door of Envy's room.
"Maybe not."
"You heard what he said! And we already know he's right. We both knew how a homunculus was created before we ever even attempted that transmutation. We were just so caught up in everything else that happened that I never realised… I never even stopped to think…" His voice broke, and Al could tell he was holding back tears.
"That's not what I meant."
Ed raised his head, looking up at his brother. Al bit his lip and steeled himself before continuing, knowing that Ed wouldn't like what he was about to hear.
"I noticed something. When we were talking to Envy."
"Oh shut up, Al. I know you want to see the good in everyone, but don't you think you're taking it a bit far?"
"Just listen to me! I know you saw it too, Ed. You just don't want to acknowledge it. Envy's not just a monster! There's something there! When you mentioned the idea of him dying, when he woke up in a strange place and had no idea where he was… Something stirred inside him."
"Obviously. I can't imagine even a homunculus wants to die."
"But that's exactly my point! He feels things. He gets scared and uncertain, just like us. Don't you think it's even possible-"
"No, I don't."
"But-"
"Don't go there, Al." Ed's tone was low, angry in a way Al had never heard directed at him. "Seriously. Just don't." He left and entered their own hotel room, slamming the door behind him. Al threw his hands up in frustration.
"Brother, I don't have the key…" He hit his head against the wall, stopping when he saw the hole left by Ed's outburst.
"Of course he'd just leave it there for me to fix. Why would he ever clean up after himself?" Al sighed, taking out his chalk. Drawing a quick circle on the wall, he tapped it and watched as the hole in the wall slowly sealed over. Ed had always been messy, especially when he got angry – but at the very least, he'd always tried to clean up afterwards. For some reason that had stopped when Al got his body back. Now it was always Al's job to fix Ed's mistakes. He couldn't help but feel like now that he wasn't actively on the edge of death anymore, Ed had started taking him for granted again.
He paced for a few minutes, trying to figure out what he was going to do now that he was locked out. He realised that while Ed had the key to their room, he still had the key to Envy's room. He wasn't sure he wanted to face him again after the revelation they had just had, and he knew Ed would kill him if he found out Al had been alone with the homunculus. But he didn't really think Envy was capable of trying anything in his current state, and he supposed anything was better than sitting in the hallway.
Bracing himself, he went back to Envy's room and let himself in.
Envy looked up as Al entered, delighting in the tense posture the boy held.
"Why are you back? Figured you'd want a break from interrogating me after that little tidbit of information."
"Doesn't matter."
"Suit yourself," Envy shrugged. Al sat down on the room's couch, and curled into a ball. He focused on his breathing, trying to calm himself.
Envy watched him for a time, curious. Finally, he spoke.
"Do you want the rest of the information I was about to give you, or not?"
Al looked up. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised at Envy's total lack of respect; it was Envy, after all. Besides, part of him had to admit that he was interested in learning more about the inner workings of a homunculus.
He sat up properly, turning to face him. "You know what? Sure. Keep going."
Envy rolled his eyes.
"When a homunculus is created, we look like… that. You know what. We only start to look human after we've eaten a sufficient amount of red stones. Those stones are the reason we're immortal; they give us all of our powers."
Al thought back to Lab 5, where he had seen Ed step into a puddle of red water. He had been out of it at the time, focused on the fact that he had almost died as well as the fear that he might not even be real, but he had still noticed what the substance did to his brother.
"I guess that makes sense. They're prototype philosopher's stones; they're pretty powerful even in their own right. But wait, why would you even tell me that?"
"Why wouldn't I, if there's a chance you can use it to save my ass?"
"You just admitted that the stones are what give you your immortality," Al pointed out. "We could use that information to defeat any one of you."
"No you couldn't," Envy laughed. "It's not that easy, especially where I'm concerned."
"why 'especially where you're concerned'?"
Envy tsked at him.
"Now that would be giving away too much."
"Fine, I won't push it." Al thought about what he had just been told.
"What exactly happened before you passed out?"
Envy scrunched up his face. "I don't remember a whole lot, honestly. Out of nowhere I just started to feel… sick." He refused to use the word 'weak'. He was not weak.
"Had you just been using your powers?"
"Hey, come to think of it I had just shapeshifted not long before." The realisation sent a chill down Envy's spine. He had always known this day was coming; it was inevitable that his power source would eventually run out. But he still didn't want to accept it. This couldn't be the end.
"So that's it then. It must have something to do with your red stones."
"I'm probably just running low," Envy commented dismissively. "I have been alive for 400 years; that's a long time."
"So what happens when you run out?" And Envy was surprised at what he saw on the young alchemist's face. He looked almost… worried. Envy forced a nonchalant grin onto his face.
"Same thing that happens when a human body runs out of energy, I guess. We're not really that different, biologically."
"You mean you're… No. You won't. We'll find another way."
Envy's tone raised in mocking surprise. "Wow! Are you… upset at the idea of me dying? You do realise that I'm responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent people, right?"
"I'm upset at the idea of anyone dying when there's a way to stop it," Al argued. "My brother taught me that all life has value."
"Yet he used lives to bring your body back," Envy pointed out. Al's mouth dropped open.
"No he didn't! He promised me he wouldn't use a stone!"
"Oh really? What did he give up then? Equivalent exchange. He must've sacrificed an awful lot to get your body back. Humans are expensive."
Al paused. Envy's smirk widened.
"You're telling me you don't know what the trade was? Didn't you ask?"
"I did, he-" Al thought back to Ed's words. "He didn't really answer me. He just told me that I didn't need to worry about it."
Envy leaned back against the headboard. "Seems suspicious to me. The fact that he didn't tell you. I'd be worried if I were you. But hey, who am I to judge your relationship with your brother?"
"You're right, you shouldn't be judging what you don't understand." Al responded. His head shot up at a knock on the door, followed by Ed's voice."Hey Al, you in there?"
"Crap," Al muttered. "He's gonna kill me." Getting up, he headed for the door and unlocked it. Sure enough, Ed's expression was a mixture of concern and anger.
"Seriously? What did we decide on? No one gets left alone with Envy! It's not safe!"
"Well no one would've been left alone with him if you hadn't locked me out of our room! What was I supposed to do?"
Ed flushed, as his hand reflexively went to the pocket where Al knew he had their room key. "Oh shoot, yeah, I didn't even think."
"No, you didn't," Al responded haughtily. "You never do." Ed's look of embarrassment was swiftly followed by one of chagrin.
"Sorry about that, I guess this one is my fault." Ed was murmuring, so low the others could barely hear him. Al raised a hand to his ear.
"Sorry, what was that? I didn't hear you." Ed returned a sharp glare.
"Geez, when did you get so sassy?"
Their argument was brought to a halt by the entrance of another person; this new addition was one of the hotel staff. Al moved to stand in front of Envy, blocking him from view as the brothers listened to what the mousey girl had to say.
"S-Sorry if I'm interrupting something. There's a call on the line for Mister Edward Elric."
"What? Who's calling?" Ed frowned. No one should know he was here, except-
"A Colonel Roy Mustang."
. . .
Roy twisted the phone line impatiently as he waited, listening to the silence on the other end. He knew he shouldn't be this worried, knew the boys were more than capable of handling some stray attacker… but something about this didn't sit right with him. After spending so much time with the Elrics over the last five years, he liked to think he knew them pretty well – and something about the way they'd been talking to him had been off. Ed wasn't telling him everything.
At long last, so suddenly that it almost startled him, he was greeted with Ed's voice.
"What do you want, Mustang? We're busy."
"There, that's the Ed I remember."
He allowed himself to relax slightly into his chair, meeting Hawkeye's eye from across the room. He had already mentioned his concerns to her, of course, and he saw her tense posture change too.
"Get to the point, Bastard."
"I'm just checking in on the… situation you mentioned to me. The reason you wanted the hotel?"
There was a pause. It was too long, and it confirmed Roy's suspicions. Ed was checking his story with someone, which meant Roy was being lied to.
"Right, the guy chasing us. We haven't seen him. We're hoping he's lost us, but we don't know yet."
"You know, you never told me. Who exactly is this guy? Do you have any idea what he wants?"
"Well we didn't exactly stop to chat, but we think he must have recognised me from my State Alchemist days. I probably just pissed him off at some point, and now he's out for revenge." Roy stayed silent for a few seconds and sure enough, surely prompted by nerves, Ed kept talking.
"You know you don't have to worry, right? It's nothing we can't handle. We've faced worse."
"Yes, and you almost died," Roy pointed out. "Should I remind you what happened last time you faced a single guy chasing you because your position as a State Alchemist pissed him off?"
He still shuddered at the memory. It had been raining that day; he had always hated the rain. But he had never hated it more than in that single instant; Ed slumped on the ground with both his arm and his brother lying in pieces around him, utterly defeated, Scar's vile hand resting against his skull. Al's desperate screams as he begged his brother to get up, run, fight damnit. And Roy himself? Worthless. Helpless to do anything but watch as other people rescued his subordinates from mortal peril.
Ed's angry ranting in the background started to calm, and Roy focused back on their conversation.
"Yes yes, you're very capable. I never said you weren't. But that doesn't mean you can't be defeated, Edward. No man is invincible. Besides, I thought you said you were worried about your brother."
"I am," and Roy was immediately convinced that of all the things Ed had told him, this at least was the truth. "That's why I'm being so careful. But this isn't Scar. I promised I'd tell you if I got in over my head, right?"
"Right."
"And have you ever seen me break a promise?"
Roy had to smirk at the question. "No. I'll give you that much, Full- Ed," he corrected, "when you make a promise, you're not the type to take it lightly."
"So how about you quit bugging me and let me deal with this on my own?" The irritated response ended with a click as Ed presumably hung up on him. Roy sighed and turned to Hawkeye.
"Never one for manners, that boy."
"Well," she responded cautiously, "you have to remember that they weren't exactly raised under… ideal circumstances." She glanced behind her to make sure no one was listening.
"Are they alright?"
"I still don't know, Lieutenant. Ed swears up and down that they can handle this on their own, but-"
"But we both know he likes to think he can handle everything on his own," Hawkeye smiled.
"Well that, and I'm pretty sure he's lying about the circumstances they're in."
"What makes you say that?"
"Are you saying if one of those boys lied to you, you wouldn't be able to tell?"
"Fair point. So what are we going to do?"
"I have some ideas," Roy mused.
. . .
Ed put down the phone with more force than he meant to, almost scaring the poor receptionist until Al offered her a soft-spoken apology for his brother's behaviour. Ed turned to Al with his brow furrowed.
"I don't think he's buying it. We'd better work this out quickly."
"Lucky I decided to talk to Envy some more, then."
"You mean you figured out what's wrong with him?"
"We have a theory," Al sighed. "He thinks the red stones that power his body are running out."
"Well that's it then. We don't have any red stones, and I don't think either of us wants to make any. There's nothing we can do."
"Ed-"
"'Ed' what? He's dying; what do you want me to do about that? You know as well as I do that everyone dies eventually," he grumbled.
"How can you be so callous about it? Wasn't it you who told me that every life is important? Why is his any different?"
"Because-"
"What, because he tried to kill us? Do I even have to start reading out that list? And yet you never killed a single-"
He fell silent. Ed knew exactly why Al's sentence had cut off.
"Oh. That's why." Al dropped his head.
"Brother, you know that wasn't your fault."
I would love for you to explain how it wasn't my fault."
"You didn't know he was mortal. You saw him survive worse than a stab to the gut! How were you supposed to know that would kill him?"
Ed knew Al was right, he knew it wasn't his fault. But somehow, that didn't do anything to fill the uncomfortable pit in his stomach at the knowledge that someone had died at his hand.
He knew he'd probably feel guilty about it for the rest of his life. But as he was sure Al was trying to get at, that didn't mean he couldn't start trying to make up for it.
"Fine. I'll look into it, do some research. I'll try."
"That's all I can ask," Al smiled sadly.
. . .
