/Idiot older brother.../

The attack hit him square in the chest. Had he still been on his feet, it would have surely knocked him out.
The wind was knocked out from his chest as he fell back, landing on the ground, with a choked cry.
/Just stay down.../
What was the point of moving...
He'd rather die...
His eyes shut tight, inhaling at quick, odd intervals as he tried to breath, to return the air to his lungs.
"Hell, now you don't even have a brother anymore."
Al flinched, as if Envy had too a knife and stabbed him.
/I'm sick of this.../

It hurt too much...
How easy it would be...to just die...
/But.../ A tiny voice muttered. /Edward...wouldn't want that.../

Pride did an about face when he missed and charged at Envy again. He quickly realized what he was doing and poured on all the energy he could to run.

"DON'T YOU DARE!!!" he shouted as he stood between Envy and Alphonse. The instant Envy began his attack more images came to his mind, voices came too. He remembered a sharp pain in his chest, the cause was covered in shadows. The spear thrust forward.

Envy grinned. This was too easy!

/Watch out.../ the voice muttered, having now given up on calming Envy down.

And that was when Envy remembered that he had /another/ opponent. He spun on his heel, the spear slashing a clear red line in his stomach. He felt a snarl rise to his lips, even as the wound healed quickly and efficiently.

He was just about to whirl on Pride when he thought on how annoyed Pride had gotten at the word 'little' and Envy attacking Al...
Hmm...
Al forced himself to his feet, about to clap his hands together...transmute something...anything, to use against Envy...
But the homunculus was too fast for him...

Envy ducked forward, under the spear, and grabbed Al, twisting the boy around so that his back was to his chest. He held one gloved hand at Al's throat, keeping his grip tight. His other hand kept one of Al's arms behind the boy's back.
Envy cocked his head. One would've mistaken it for being playful if not for the murderous glint in Envy's eye.

"Let-" Al furiously struggled trying to pull away, hearing Envy's voice right up close to his ear.

"We'll continue our fight after we've done what we where told to do..."

/Their going to kill me.../
So it really didn't matter...did it...
Whether he wanted to die or not...
/Maybe I deserve it.../

"Alphonse! No!" Pride shouted. A small glimmer of life appeared in his eyes, true emotion. Something that he hadn't shown since his creation. "Envy...please, let him go..." Pride had almost forgotten what he was supposed to do, the only thing that mattered now was saving...his /real/ brother.

Al glanced up in Pride's direction, and for a moment he saw a bit of his brother flash in the homunculus' eyes. "Ed..." Al bit his bottom lip, trying to smile. "Sorry...Ed...It's my fault...you're..."

"Don't talk like that fool!" Pride told him.

You could almost hear Envy humming in delight. This was just the sort of thing he needed...
"Now, Pride!" His voice wouldn't stop coming out in a purr, like a cat that knows it has at least 10 canaries in store for it. His tone was that of mocking surprise. "I've never known you as one to disobey orders!" He sneered. "Just wait until I tell...Unless..." He thrust Al in front of him, still keeping a good grip. "I wouldn't dare be cruel to my 'little brother'." The way he said it came out like an insult. "I won't say a word, I swear-" Blatant lie, but Pride may not know that. "-but all you have to do is follow your orders." His head lowered, cruel violet half lidded and staring up through dark green bangs at the other homunculus. "Kill the Elric brat."

/Little brother.../
"STOP IT!" Al wriggled and squirmed, unable to stand hearing Envy utter those words.
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THOSE WORDS AS IF THEY ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU!" He shouted. It brought back too much memories...
sitting on the grassy slope, after Mother had gotten all teary about dad again, Ed ruffling his hair, muttering those exact same words... /"Don't worry, little brother..."/

"Fine." Pride said. He clapped his hands again, changing the blade of the spear into a gauntlet.

Al couldn't think of a time that he had been more scared in his life...
His heart seemed to have stopped in his chest, as he silently watched Pride.

/Just get it over with.../ He shut his eyes tight, gritting his teeth. /If I'm going to die...just get it over with./

"GNN-"

With that, he punched Alphonse in his sternum. A light cracking sound resonated from the impact. Al felt his body go limp, as he was suddenly unable to move, unable to breath, fear and panic gripping his mind.

Pride's face went back to its normal blankness. "Are you happy now, 'brother'?"

Envy released him and he slumped to the ground, a small amount of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

/...Brother.../

Silver eyes focused on Pride, filled with anguish as slowly, Al shakily moved his hand, reaching out for him, tears flowing down his cheeks. He tried to speak...but it seemed impossible. Slowly his eyes flickered out of focus, and his hand fell to the ground, limp. Envy was glad when Pride hit the boy solidly with a right straight. He didn't need that brat yelling at him all day.

As he watched the blond human slump to the ground, his brow furrowed. Something felt...Off, somehow. Like a barely noticeable change some one makes in a painting overnight.

But Alphonse Elric was dead, correct? Nothing was wrong. Still...

"You're sure he's dead?" he asked, a frown returning to his lips. He no longer had that cat-like pleased expression on his face. "Because I'm not going to take the blame if he somehow survives."

Pride's face remained stone like.

"Do you know of anyone who could survive having his ribs shattered? Besides ourselves?" he said in monotone. "We should go back. Father will want us to report." Pride glanced at the hand that had reached for him.

'I'm sorry,' he thought, 'I'll come back someday soon. I won't tell my 'brothers' or Father, but I am starting to remember things. It's slow, but when they return, I'll come back. And maybe, even like this, I can be your brother.'

Envy ignored Al's last movements, he couldn't help but think that something...
Whatever, if the stupid human survived, Envy would come here himself and kill him for sure.
He shrugged. "...I suppose..." The tiniest amount of doubt crept into his voice for an instant. He sighed and gestured aimlessly. "Alright...Yeah, let's report, whatever."