Converted-
'I am always alone.
It hurts to be by myself. They say if I'm good, I'll get to see Al soon. I miss him, and I get to read the letters he sends me. I can't send him any though.
They won't let me.
I had to talk with Envy again today. He scares me, but I don't let him know that.
I want to go home.
I want to be back with Al.
Why won't they let me?' Pride awoke drowsily to talking, wondering where his strange dream had come from.
"You're lucky he came back to you. How could you just leave something as valuable as him out with no protection? Who knows who could have gotten their hands on him."
Envy?
"Well, Christ. You people could have told me he was not completed."
Master?
"I did tell you. You're just too thick-headed to remember. I only had time to wipe his mind away. With all the corruption he's had over the years, it's better for us to start with a clean slate."
"Then what about the killings he already committed? He seemed willing enough to do them."
"That wasn't him, nor was it Pride. I've told you, he was taken from us early, before we had the chance to finish. The killer you saw back then was just what he remembered me telling him."
"You're saying you had influence over him, subconsciously?"
"Exactly. I mean come on, if you had someone talking and implanting ideas in your head for nearly seven years, it would get to you too. He was just recalling what I had said during those… sessions, and then taking that and evolving it into an alternate personality called, "Pride". Not the outcome we had expected, but an interesting turnout."
Were they talking about him? Why did his head hurt so much?
"Oh. He's waking up."
"So, you're saying he's ready now?"
"Yeah, he's only Pride now, no more Chibi remains."
Master came into his room and stood over his bed.
"I've been told that you're completely functional now. Is that so, Pride?"
He nodded.
"Make sure you let him have these, Captain," Envy commented, tossing a small carton.
Haruko grimaced at the pack of cigarettes. "Why? I don't want him stinking of this crap."
"Think of it this way, he needs some form of stress relief with all that's going on in his head." He did not look convinced. Envy sighed, "We used them in his treatment years ago, so he's already hooked. They calm him down, and for what you're going to make him do, I'm sure he'll need it."
"And you are so concerned for his well being because…"
"Because I spent years breaking and rebuilding his mind you tightass. Besides," Envy grinned as he glanced at the blank look on Pride's face. "he's my little brother; I have a right to care."
Brother? That word seemed important, didn't it?
He paid little mind when the stair beneath his boot crumbled to bits. The wind howled fiercely as he shook off the debris and continued his trek.
Slipping through a slight crack in the door, Pride distastefully glanced around at the limited décor. It was dirty, dust coated everything like a miasma, and it stank of dried flowers and ashes. He shielded his nose with a thick sleeve.
A groan mingled with a high whine sounded from the other end of the room. Pride walked over, prepared to strike if need be.
Two large brown eyes glared at him distrustfully and the dog began to bark at his intrusion. When it saw that the intruder was not frightened, the beast weakly stood on its hind legs but noticeably winced at the pressure on old bones and joints.
Pride smirked at it, noting the courage to literally stand up to someone stronger than it, and then ignored it completely.
He was told nothing of killing a dog, so as long as it stayed out of his way, he would have no reason to harm it.
In the room across a narrow hall he found what he came for. A rocking chair placed in front of a blazing orange fire creaked as it rocked methodically in time with the faint classical music playing.
Pride squeezed his knife tightly, taking in a deep breath.
The chair ceased moving as the radio crackled.
"Why hello there. It's been ages since I've had a guest," A dry raspy voice spoke to him without turning to look who was there.
He held his air tightly and refused to acknowledge his presence.
"I heard Den barking earlier, but he's getting on in years, hence I assumed he was only hearing things. So tell me," The woman glanced back at the general dark area where he stood, "what might a young boy like you be doing here?"
Pride was silent.
She shrugged, "No matter. Come sit down," and patted the couch next to her chair.
Suspicious, but curious nonetheless, he crept over to her.
A small pipe was in her hands that she lit, filling the dim room with a sweet cherry scent.
Grinning at what seemed like nervousness she chuckled. "Sit. Don't be so shy."
He sat.
Pride's curiosity filtered to the stand beside her. There was a bowl of something on it. He wondered what.
"You want one? I baked them just yesterday." He carefully took a cookie without making eye contact and munched on it quietly. "Don't know why though. I'm too old for that much sugar and no one comes around here anymore. It's a habit I guess."
His eyes asked why.
She sighed, "I had a granddaughter once, probably near your age. She and the family would come seeking my baking treats. When you're alone like me, you're happy to do the little things you can for people. And this was one of them."
Pride stared at the light reflecting off her glasses (courtesy of the fire). Why was she sharing such important information with him?
"But, the poor girl died years ago…" She sniffled a bit yet held her composure with a strong eye.
He felt badly for her.
"Why?"
She was startled that he spoke. "Oh, just some two-bit crook that decided a bright girl like her shouldn't live."
He was silent.
"Anyway, I'm sure she would have liked you. Always had an eye for handsome men…" She smirked when he blushed lightly.
Handing him a steaming cup of tea she just poured, she took notice of his melancholy expression.
"I think I have a picture around here of her."
Pride blew on the liquid, wanting to drink some, but held no desire to scald himself.
"Aha, here we are!"
She pressed the photograph in her hand and stood in front of him, as if waiting for an approval of her descendant.
He looked and then screamed. The cup fell from his hands, shattering on the wooden floor.
Bright blonde hair and stunning blue eyes greeted him. They leered at him, called out to him. They were driving him insane.
With a feral cry he struck his knife at the image, wanting nothing more than to silence the voices.
Blood splashed onto the couch, himself, and pretty well anything within a five foot radius.
The picture was slashed delicately in half, crimson liquid coating it and covering her eyes.
The voices were gone.
He stepped over the woman's dying body and eagerly left the room as the barking started up again.
It was a shame.
Pride was sent to kill one, not two, but the harsh yipes sounded too much like the girl's screams, he had to get rid of them.
The faint taste of cinnamon lingered on his tongue.
Alphonse sighed, dragging the tawny piece of yarn back and forth over the linoleum floor.
He hoped that Roy would be able to find his brother. And wished that he could have gone with him. He wanted to apologize to Ed face to face, rather than sit here and wallow in his guilt.
A cushiony pink pad swatted at the curious moving object and Al grinned. Tiny claws appeared and savagely attacked the illusive enemy.
Sure, sitting there, playing with Mr. Sprinkles was entertaining and all, but…
What if Ed was in trouble?
What if his brother was kidnapped?
Or, what if he hated Al now?
"Maybe that's going a bit overboard," he whispered to the only other living thing in the empty house. Well, disregarding a neglected cactus in the bathroom.
But, what if Ed did?
Al's musings were cut short when the phone noisily rang. He scrambled to get it and stubbed his toe in the process.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Alphonse. I'm glad I caught you."
"Roy! Did you find-?"
"Yeah, I did."
Al breathed a heavy sigh of relief, smiling at the cat that crawled on his feet, weaving between them.
"I found him but…"
That anxious fear came back at the hesitant tone on the other line. "But what?"
"It's going to be a while before you see him again. So I just thought I'd call and-"
Bang!
Al dropped the phone. Was he hearing things?
Another bang echoed from the front door.
Ignoring Roy's calls for him and asking what was wrong, Alphonse went to see what was making the noise.
He opened the door cautiously.
A body dropped at his feet and Al had to bite back his yell of shock. Because that wasn't just any person laying unconscious on Roy's doorstep.
It was Maes Hughes, beaten, bruised, and sore as all hell.
Haruko nodded in approval when Pride returned an hour later. It took the boy longer than he had predicted, but at least he'd done it.
Why had he asked the youth to kill a defenceless old woman? No reason in particular. He only needed to make sure that Pride was fully following orders, instead of the defective version from before.
"Pride, did you kill Mrs. Rockbell as I asked?" There was no use in asking, really. The blood soaked in the heavy coat he wore spoke on enough volumes.
He nodded.
"Excellent. You will be rewarded for following my commands." When Pride had returned to him the night before, Haruko had not questioned the spicy cologne surrounding him. No, he had no need to question. He knew that smell. And by damned, he would make sure this time that the washed down ex-Captain Mustang did not put his hands on what belonged to him.
"Come here, Pride."
He complied and settled in against Master's chest. Pride ignored the wandering hands caressing him, trying to block out the heavy breathing behind the crook of his ear, and at the same time, wondering why this felt so wrong.
The night came and Pride was woken up quite rudely with a harsh prod. He sat up and winced at the uncomfortable burning, but knew better than to complain.
"Now, Pride. I need help in getting rid of a special someone. I sense that this 'someone' is going to become a thorn in my side." Haruko paused, enjoying this more than he ought to be. "I believe you know this 'someone', so I'm sending you to do the job, as you likely are aware of his habits better than anyone."
He relished the blank, unemotional look he was receiving.
"I expect you know of who I speak."
Pride nodded and left after dressing himself.
He gazed up at the night sky, woeful from the lack of bright stars.
He could not afford to hesitate like last time. Hence, this time he was armed with a knife instead of a gun.
"I'm coming," Pride whispered.
"My beloved, prepare to die."
AN: So yeah, another slow update. If anybody didn't understand some of the few things I shed light on, ask and I shall do my best to answer! Ugh. The second last scene with Pride and Haruko nearly made me gag. But it was necessary I suppose.