Chapter Fourteen: Misfit Alliance

Envy and Edward stared at each other in stunned silence, and Winry was the first to speak, "Ed, I thought I locked the door? Don't you know how to knock?"

"It's kind of an emergency –," Edward tried to explain, but Winry picked up a wrench from her workbench and threw it at him. "Ouch…"

"That company you were talking about," Envy said, quickly, looking out one of the garage windows at the front of the house, "is it the human kind?"

"You tell me! You led the homunculi here didn't you!?" Edward accused angrily, but Envy just gave him a bored look, "It's not like this place is hard to find, runt. I wouldn't have had to lead them anywhere."

"Why are you so on edge?" Winry asked, suspiciously, and Envy grinned sadistically, "I managed to stab Father in the back…I can't imagine he's too happy with me right now."

Alphonse suddenly ran into the room and said, "It's the military! We have to – Envy!?"

"Military?" Edward and Envy both repeated.

"Ed, isn't Lan Fan an illegal immigrant?" Winry asked, eyes widening, "If they see her they can arrest all of us."

"It's the higher-ups too, about three of them," Envy said, peering out the window at their approaching forms, "They're just human though…It won't be hard to take them out."

Edward and Winry exchanged nervous looks. Alphonse piped up, "So…you're fighting with us, now, Envy?"

Envy ignored him, and said, "There could also be another with them, someone you can't see with your eyes…"

"A homunculus?" Edward frowned.

"Sort of," Envy replied and turned to them, "Winry take the immigrant upstairs, but don't turn any of the lights on, not even a match. I'll deal with these…"

Winry hesitated and Edward jumped forward, "Hey, since when were you in charge? Last time I remember, you were our enemy!"

Envy gritted his teeth, "As long as we all get out of this fight alive, it doesn't really matter what side I'm on now, does it? Winry, go!"

Winry nodded hastily and ran out of the room, leaving Edward to glare over at Envy suspiciously. Alphonse seemed to be the only one able to keep calm, as he asked, "What if they search the house?"

"I won't let them get that far," Envy promised with a sneer, "Besides, there's a good chance they're here for me, not that girl."

"What did you do?" Alphonse asked in wonder, but Envy shook his head, "It doesn't matter," and then he turned to Edward, "Who usually does the talking when someone gets to the house?"

Edward reluctantly replied, "Granny, but if this is your problem, don't drag us in as well!"

"Brother!" Alphonse sighed.

"No, Al," Edward snapped, "If we were anywhere else, it wouldn't matter, but what if Granny or Winry get hurt?"

Alphonse fell silent.

"You can protect them, can't you?" Envy smirked, mockingly, "You have a tendency to act all heroic-like anyways."

Edward rounded on Envy and pointed a threatening automail finger in his direction. The homunculus just grinned in amusement, as Edward snarled, "Take your fight elsewhere, Envy. I'm not about to play your games."

Envy's grin hadn't faded from his face and his eyes flashed in amusement, "I really didn't want to have to fight myself –,"

Alphonse gasped, "So, that's why you're here. You were going to make us fight your battle for you?"

Edward gritted his teeth, "I knew there was a reason besides having a friendly chat with Winry! Well, guess what, we're not interested!"

Envy suddenly changed into the fisherman he had arrived as and his face became impassive. Pinako stuck her head into the room and announced, "Edward, there's someone at the door. They say they'd like to have a word with you."

Edward turned back to Envy, who had moved away from the window. Pinako left them and when back into the living room, and Envy said, "That favor you did for Greed was also a favor for me."

Edward blinked, "You mean, you asked him to send us here with Lan Fan? But I thought Ling –,"

"He used Ling as an excuse," Envy said. His grin had disappeared and now his expression was completely serious, "You do a favor for me, and I'll repay you. That's equivalent exchange, right, alchemist?"

"What could you possibly do to repay us?" Edward asked, defensively, "And why don't you just fight them yourself? Weren't you the one who said they're only humans at the door?"

"And one other," Envy corrected, darkly. He held out the small box to Edward, and he took it cautiously. "This particular homunculus is stronger than the rest. I'll need help. Just as I helped you get out of the fake Gate, will you help me defeat Father's favorite child?"

Edward slowly and carefully opened the box and his and Alphonse' eyes widened at the sight of the two philosopher stones inside. Edward's mouth fell open, and Alphonse asked, shakily, "Are they…the real thing?"

"Genuine and pure," Envy said, "One is stronger than the other, but I'm sure you can make do with both of them. You wanted to get your bodies back, right? I'm handing them to you on a silver platter. Now, what do you say?"

"You…want us to use these to fight?" Edward asked in shock.

"I don't see how you would do it any other way," Envy replied.

Edward stared at the stones, and muttered, "But they're made of –,"

"Does it really mattered what they're made of anymore?" Envy snapped, "Are you going to hesitate to use coal because you pity the tree that perished hundreds of years ago? Wake up, Fullmetal! Those souls inside the philosopher stone serve only one purpose now."

Edward's blue eyes met Envy's violet and after a moment of silence, Edward finally sighed and said, "Alright, Envy, I'll help you get rid of your problem, but I have one condition."

Envy scowled.

"If Winry, Granny or Lan Fan get hurt because of this, I'll use these stones against you, got it?"

"I wonder what's going on down there," Winry mumbled under her breath. She and Lan Fan were sitting on the floor of her bedroom, in the dark. She had obeyed Envy's order to not turn on any lights. Though she wondered what would happen if she did, she knew there was a good reason for it, so she didn't really want to find out.

"That homunculus is down there with Ed and Al, but there's another chi unlike any other I've felt," Lan Fan, "It's quite close…"

"That homunculus is Envy, he's not the one you should worry about, but who's the other?" Winry asked, nervously.

Lan Fan shivered a bit. "I don't know, but I don't like it. Compared to it, the other one's chi feels almost human…"

"That must be what Envy was talking about…" Winry said, and she started to worry.

"You don't know alchemy, do you?" Lan Fan asked.

"No, I never bothered with it."

"What are we going to do if they find us? I'm not going to be much help in the condition I'm in."

Winry smiled slightly and glanced across the room at a small toolbox she had left there a while ago when she had been trying to fix the sliding door of the balcony. "Don't worry. I'm incredibly proficient with a wrench."

That got a small chuckle from Lan Fan and then they both fell silent again. They could hear people talking downstairs and Winry shifted nervously, "I want to know what's going on. I hate just sitting around and waiting."

She moved as quietly as she could towards the sliding door. She knew that she had just fixed it to move effortlessly and soundlessly, so she slide it open slightly and poked her head out to listen. The front door was located just below the balcony so she couldn't see anything but she could certainly hear every word. Lan Fan moved next to her and they both held their breath in anticipation.

Meanwhile below, everyone stood around the front door. The three officers each had three stars on their shoulders, classing them as either Colonels or Brigadier Generals. Edward knew he was treading thin ice, but he would have to play it stupid for a bit. Envy was disguised as a fisherman again. And Granny Pinako had refused to leave them alone, even after Alphonse had tried to urge her away discreetly.

"What can I do for you officers?" Edward asked, and Alphonse was sure it killed him to be so polite. Though, the fact that they had planned their strategy out before hand made it all the more worth it.

"We were tipped off about an illegal immigrant possibly staying with you," said the middle officer with the big nose, "Are you the owner of this property?"

"Actually that would be me," Pinako said, stepping out from behind Alphonse.

The officer to the left piped up, "You do realized that harboring an illegal immigrant in your home is punishable by law?"

"I'm not stupid, officer," Pinako said, sharply, "But the only people here are those you see standing here."

"Then, you wouldn't mind if we took a look around for ourselves?" asked the last.

Edward shot a discreet look at Envy, who frowned and said, in a husky voice, "Three stars and stripes up the ass tells me you're not just some pee-on, rather a Brigadier-General."

The three officers let their gazes fall on Envy, who stood a little taller, in fact, made a bit of a show of it. "And who are you?" asked the middle one sharply.

"An Ishvalan veteran," Envy replied, he showed him his automail arm and stared him straight in the eyes, "Now, last I checked there's a military run police department in town only about a mile from here. Are you going to stand here and tell me that three high-ranking officers, like yourselves, will travel all the way from Central just to capture one immigrant? Or is there a bounty on her head? If that's the case, you're working alone, and I don't think anyone will give a flying shit if your bodies find a nice nook at the bottom of that river over there."

The officer on the right swallowed nervously, but the other two simply frowned.

"Was that a threat?" scowled the left. Envy felt his blood start to boil.

"Funny," said the middle officer, with a sly grin, "I don't remember stating whether the immigrant was female."

There was a dumbfounded silence as Envy realized his mistake and Edward glanced over at him with an expression of pure disbelief.

"Oh, Envy, how the hell did you mess that one up?" Winry quietly mumbled and shook her head.

"An Ishvalan veteran, huh?" the middle officer said, coolly, "What was your legion number?"

Envy frowned and his eyes flashed darkly, "I was posted as Second Lieutenant, Legion 9 – directly under Fuhrer King Bradley's order. Last name Myers. You can check your records."

"I don't need to check the records," the middle officer explained, "Actually, for a veteran, you've had some recent activity, haven't you…Mr. Myers?"

Envy's eyes narrowed on them. These humans, they were only puppets for Wrath's use, but they couldn't possibly know about him and the other homunculi too, could they?

"It's curious that you should have the same name as the man we suspect murdered the Crimson Alchemist early this morning," the officer said, darkly, "And also, I happen to know that the only survivor of the Ninth Legion that was sent to Ishval was a close companion of the Fuhrer himself, and you know what that means…"

"Close companion?" Winry repeated under her breath. She was desperately trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together for her own frame of mind, "So…Envy was ordered to kill that child too…"

Suddenly, a voice rang out through the night sky. It echoed through the air, disembodied and made everyone freeze in shock.

"Your actions this morning were foolish, Envy. What did you ever hope to achieve by killing off one prisoner?"

Pride.

Envy almost laughed out loud. He had been right all along. When he killed Kimblee he knew Pride would be the one to follow him and end it. He had been waiting for this moment, the moment he would finally free himself of both Father and Pride. He loved it when his plans worked out.

"Hurt a bit, didn't it?" Envy replied, grinning darkly from ear to ear, "Can't catch Scar or Marcoh now that Kimblee's dead. I guess that leaves you and Wrath to do Father's dirty work. Though," Envy looked the three officers up and down with a malicious glint in his eyes, "I suppose you could always send a few humans to do it for you."

One of the three officers took a small step back out of fear, apparently news that he was working for people who weren't human came as a shock.

"Kimblee's death is a minor inconvenience," Pride replied, unconcerned, "Though, you will be punished for your disobedience, Father is willing to overlook it if you agree to work with us again."

Envy remembered watching Greed go through this exact situation before and his eyes darkened with malice. He had watched Lust, Greed and Gluttony fall at the hands of either their enemies or Father himself. It didn't matter whether or not Envy chose to work for him again, he knew his fate was sealed already. Telling Envy that he had a chance was a ploy by Pride. Envy wasn't a fool; you don't play a player.

His high-pitched laugh broke the silence as he transformed back into his usual form. The remaining officers backed up after that, eyes wide with shock and confusion. When he was finished, he sneered and said to the officers, "Whoever doesn't want to die, I'll give you ten seconds to get the fuck out of my sight!"

Without waiting, all three turned on their heel and hightailed it over the hill. Envy laughed again and took a few steps out of the house. He stood on the bottom step of the front porch with his arms wide open. He was pissed, and yet, he loved every minute of it.

"That's a shame," Pride said, simply, "You've been a valuable asset to Father's plan…I suppose I'll be returning Father's envy to him now."

Edward turned to Pinako and told her to get back inside the house before he and Alphonse met up with Envy on the front porch.

"Was this all apart of your brilliant plan?" Edward scowled from the corner of his mouth at Envy, who was glancing around at the shadows that surrounded them.

"…Actually, I'm going with the flow now," Envy admitted almost sheepishly. He heard Edward make a frustrated growling sound, but he chose to ignore it.

Alphonse followed Envy's lead and glanced around, "Where is he?"

"It's a little quiet," Edward commented, putting them all on edge. They froze to listen intently to the sounds around them. Envy felt sweat bead on the back of his neck. What was going on? Pride was supposed to have made a move by now. What's taking him so long?

"Fool."

Before he knew it, the shadows around them danced and Envy felt something sharp and powerful piece through him and tear his abdomen open. He didn't even have time to gasp in pain before something was ripped right out of him. The darkness swelled and stole the thing he needed most: his philosopher stone, his envy.

It had all happened so suddenly. The dagger-like claws left his body to fall to the cold, damp ground. Weakness consumed him. The hole in his chest remained and his hot blood flowed freely over the mud. He heard shouts in the distance, very far off, but his eyes had become terribly unfocused. He stared straight ahead, with the side of his face in the dirt. He couldn't remember how to breath, couldn't remember how to feel. His mind became blank, like a camcorder recording whatever it witnessed without having a memory installed.

Edward watched in horror as Envy lay motionless on the ground, eyes wide open, a blank expression on his face. The dark shadow had dissipated back into the night. Alphonse took a few cautious steps forward to examine him. "Is he dead!?"

Before Edward could answer he heard fast-paced steps thundering towards them and turned to see Winry just as she pass by him. Lan Fan followed slowly behind her and stopped in the doorway beside Pinako, looking on at the bloody mess. Edward glanced over his shoulder to see Winry had stopped just before Envy's body, staring at it with an expression of pure shock. Her face failed to project a clear image of the rising emotions inside her, and so she could only stare blankly onward, into violet eyes that stared blankly back.

"…Winry," Alphonse tried to comfort her, but even he was lost for words. Things like 'it was quick' or 'painless' crossed Edwards mind, but he knew it would only make things worse.

Pinako was standing next to Winry now, and Edward hadn't even noticed her pass by him. She patted her arm, gently and said, "Come inside, Winry…"

Get her away from this…Edward had tried to keep her from the violence of his world, but it seemed it had followed him home. Alphonse spun around to Edward and gasped, "Ed, the stone! We can use it to –,"

"You can't transmute a soul that's not there," Edward said firmly, though at this point he suddenly wished it weren't true. The look on Winry's face…

"He has a soul, Ed!" Winry suddenly snapped in defense, and Ed faced her with a shocked look. He hadn't meant it to be offensive, but Winry had obviously felt that way, "Just because he's not human doesn't mean –,"

"Winry, he didn't mean it like that!" Alphonse jumped in, "He was just –,"

Red sparks. They all stared at Envy now as red sparks shot up and around his body curiously, slowly fixing his wounds. All of them watched, confused, as the large hole in his chest was sewed back together. His eyes closed and when the red sparks finally died out, leaving his body in a healthy condition, he looked to be sleeping.

"I thought…his philosopher stone was taken by Pride?" Alphonse wondered aloud.

They watched Winry break away from Pinako to kneel beside Envy. A need to protect suddenly swelled in Edward's chest and he put a hand on her shoulder, and said, "Winry, get back from him. We don't know how he'll wake up. He could hurt you by accident –,"

"Envy would never hurt me," Winry shot back heatedly.

"Ed's right, Winry," Alphonse said, timidly, "He may not be himself."

Winry ignored them and gently checked Envy's pulse. She swallowed, and shakily said, "He doesn't have a pulse."

Edward frowned, "He's not –,"

"Edward," Pinako was staring at him, for once, without her pipe, "Why don't you go inside and get the spare bed made up?"

Edward gaped at her, "But –,"

"Do it," the look Pinako was giving him was not to be argued. Reluctantly, Edward nodded and left them.

Lan Fan exchanged a look with Edward as he passed her to get in the house. Quietly, she said, "That terrible chi is gone."

Edward stopped just behind her and glanced over his shoulder at her with a curious expression, "What does that mean?"

Lan Fan sighed and shook her head, "I'm sorry. I don't really know."

"Al," Winry said, gently putting the back of her hand on Envy's cheek. She couldn't cry. Her eyes had dried up, but her throat was tight and made her voice sound weak. She didn't know what to do, how to react. The emptiness inside her that she had felt when he and Edward had been swallowed by Gluttony was back. "It doesn't matter if he has no pulse, right? He's not human, so he wouldn't have one in the first place…right?"

The hopefulness in her voice was obvious, and Alphonse wanted to tell her with all his heart that she was right and that Envy would come around soon, but he didn't know. He couldn't lie to her, not even to make her smile, because it would only hurt her more if he was wrong. "I don't know…I'm sorry…"

"Oh, this is a surprise. Look who's here," Pinako announced. Winry and Alphonse stared across the hillside and saw a man approaching them. He looked incredibly familiar, and Alphonse suddenly breathed in disbelief, "Dad…?"

Winry shot a glare at Alphonse, "Isn't that Envy's Father? What's he doing here? What does he want?"

"I've been told I look like him," replied Hohenhiem, coming to a stop a few feet away from them. His eyes landed on Winry and the homunculus she was kneeling next to. He frowned, "I saw what happened from a distance. Do you mind if I see to him?"

Winry had so many questions running through her mind at once that she couldn't pick one to ask before Pinako had already answered, "Hohenhiem, it's a complicated situation."

"No doubt," Hohenhiem nodded, "But I think I can help."

"Is he dead!?" Winry blurted, finally able to choose a question suitable for all the thoughts jumbled in her head. She watched him come a little closer and crouch on the other side of Envy. "He's still warm. That's a good sign, right?"

"I thought he needed the philosopher stone to survive?" Alphonse said, "Pride took it from him!"

"He has another philosopher stone. A back-up," Hohenhiem explained, and then gave Winry a warm smile, "He'll be fine – I think he knew this would happen."

"Well, lets get him off the ground. Ed's making up the spare bed for him," Pinako said.

Winry nodded and stepped aside to let Alphonse get to Envy, but after a few moments it seemed that picking him up would be a task.

"I can't even get him to budge," Alphonse grunted, trying to lift his body up. Hohenhiem stepped in to help. He lifted him off the ground almost effortlessly, and they watched him go into the house and disappear. Alphonse turned to Winry, he put a hand on her shoulder, and said, "He said he'll be fine, so you don't have to worry now."

Winry nodded and followed him into the house, and instead of going upstairs to the spare bedroom, she directed herself to her workbench. Alphonse noticed her distance, and tried to comfort her, but failed. "I have to get started on the model arm for Lan Fan," Winry excused in a dead-sounding voice. She sat down and started up a few drawings free-hand without another word to the others.

Edward came down the stairs looking like someone had pushed his buttons a bit. He immediately grabbed his jacket off the coat hanger.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Alphonse tried, but Edward snapped, "I'm not hanging around with him here. I'm going for a walk."

He slammed the door behind him and Hohenhiem entered the living room, scratching the back of his head. A deep frown was on his face, as he said, "It's probably not best if I stay here."

"Nonsense," Pinako waved aside his comment and went into the kitchen to make them all tea again, "Let him calm down and he'll come around. Besides, we need you to help look after that man upstairs."

"I'm surprised you're taking this so calmly, Granny," Alphonse commented, and the old lady smirked, "Who do you think I am? I've seen plenty of odd things in my time. I suppose I could add a shape-shifting non-human to the list now too."

Alphonse laughed a bit and turned to Lan Fan, "I guess you can take mine and Ed's bedroom. I'm sure Ed won't mind sleeping on the couch."

Winry suddenly growled angrily and started gathering all her tools and measures into her arms, muttering furiously, "I can't focus with everyone chatting around me! I'll be upstairs in my room."

With that, she left the living room. Everyone stared after her, dumbstruck. Alphonse made to follow her, but Pinako stopped him, "Let her be. Giver her some space."

The first thought that came to mind was that he was too warm. Then, he tried moving and his entire body protested. His muscles burned with the effort to move and lift himself. The second thought that came to mind was that the back-up philosopher stone he had put inside his body earlier had replaced his original stone as his core. His theory had worked, but there was one problem.

The stone he had used was weaker than the original. Envy knew not to push the limits with this new form. He only had about fifty souls in him now, compared to the thousands he had before. He definitely felt the difference.

Too hot…

Envy opened his eyes and saw he was in a plain-looking bedroom. Across from the bed was a window. He wanted to open it and let in some air.

In one swift movement he shoved his covers off himself, and sat up. He winced at the soreness of his body. When he looked down at his chest he saw the hole that had been there before was now fully healed, but he supposed there would be some awkwardness until he got used to drawing energy from his other stone.

He hung his legs over the edge of the bed and felt the cold wood floor beneath them. Standing was harder than he though. He accomplished it the first time, but the room started spinning and he sat back down to avoid falling over. After he had blinked a couple of times and thought about trying it again, he heard someone walking outside the door. He froze to listen, and he stared at the door like he was expecting it to fly open and take him by surprise.

However, someone pushed the door open only gently and slowly, and a very familiar face appeared in the gap, peering in at him. He stared right back, desperately trying to remember the name of the face staring at him. And then, it came to him, "Winry?"

"You're…awake?" The door pushed open all the way and Winry came in looking surprised and a little flustered. She had a handful of tools and equipment in her arms, but she turned to the nightstand and dropped them down on it. Envy couldn't see her face.

Envy looked towards the window. He briefly considered asking her to open it.

He was suddenly punched in the chest and he looked back at Winry would was standing in front of him, her hair covered her eyes. She was frowning deeply. The punch didn't hurt, in fact, Envy had barely felt it, but he knew it was probably the best she could have thrown, so he gave her the benefit of the doubt. "Ouch?" he mocked.

"That's for being an idiot."

Envy narrowed his eyes on her and was about to go on the offensive when he was punched a second time. "What the hell!? I almost died you –,"

"And that's for dying!"

Envy blinked. "…Stop punching me or I'll hit you right back!" he threatened coldly.

"Why didn't you tell me you had another philosopher stone!?" Winry snapped, "I thought you had died!"

"It was a theory –,"

"You should have warned me first! You knew the whole time Pride would take your philosopher stone, but you kept it all to yourself. You're an ass!" Winry scowled.

"Do you really think I have the entire world on strings, Winry?" Envy smirked, looking up at her and catching a peek at her blue eyes, "I wasn't sure my plan would work, and I didn't need anyone screwing it up. That's why I gave Fullmetal runt those stones, so that if I did end up dying he could use them to kill Pr –,"

He didn't get to finish his sentence before Winry had leaned in and closed the gap between them. Her arms hung over his shoulders as she leaned into him. It was just a brief kiss.

" – ide," Envy finished with a grin. Then, he glanced over her arm at the window, saying, "Can you open that, it's getting hot in here. I would do it but –,"

"What are you saying, Envy?" Winry chuckled, and Envy shook his head clear, "No – that's not what I meant!" he suddenly blurted, "I meant it's getting really warm, temperature-wise, and now that you're, well, right here…"

Winry smiled, "Are you sure you're okay? You're acting stran –,"

"I'm a little dizzy," Envy excused, and then realized what he had just implied. Winry was grinning widely at him again, and he decided to clear it up, "I mean, I've never had my stone replaced by another before, so…Oh, hell, get your mind out the fucking gutter, woman!"

Winry grinned and walked across the room to open the window a bit. Envy took a breath and tried standing again, but decided he was feeling a little sick after the room spun around a second time and sat down.

"I thought you weren't willing to trust me after everything I've done?" Envy said thinking of the brief kiss, he added, "You're sending mixed signals. Can't make up your mind or something?"

Winry jammed the window open and walked across to the door, closing it. "Actually, I never said that. Edward barged in before I could answer you, remember?"

Envy frowned, "I just remember you apologized for some stupid reason."

"Yeah," Winry replied and came and sat next to him on the bed.

"Do you mind elaborating?"

"I apologized because everything that has happened to you up to now has been my fault," Winry explained, "If you hadn't of known about me, none of this would have happened."

Envy stared at her, dumbfounded. Was she seriously pinning all this shit on herself? "So, let me get this straight," he said, "I was the one who started the Ishval War that killed your parents; I was the one who murdered your friend, Hughes, in cold blood; and I was also the one who played your emotions to get to Father, and you think that the consequences of all those things are your fault? Why? Is it because you were vicariously influencing me to turn away from Father and –,"

"That's not it at all," Winry snapped, "I'm sorry I got involved in your life. I should have just stayed in Rush Valley and completed my apprenticeship. Then, everything wouldn't have been so complicated."

"You remember what I said about taking responsibility and moving on from things, right?" Envy said, impatiently.

Winry nodded, "I do…"

"Then take the fucking advice! And what hell do you mean by complicated? There's nothing complicated about it," Envy said, "I'm not working for Father anymore, you can go back to Rush Valley like you said, and Fullmetal runt will probably pursue Father a little more."

"What are you going to do now that you're not working for Father?" Winry asked, curiously.

Envy shrugged, "I'm not in any hurry to do anything. I have an eternity ahead of me after all."

Winry studied his face. His eyes were distant, deep in thought. She shoved her nervousness away and mustered all the courage she had, and said, "Then…you wouldn't mind spending a bit of that eternity with a human, would you?"

For how much effort she had put into saying it, it sure came out quiet and shaky. Winry felt a blush surface as he looked at her in surprise. She couldn't meet his eyes, too embarrassed to look up.

"…Oh…So that's what you mean by complicated…," Envy mumbled, and it was probably the first time Winry had heard him sound unsure of himself. "And all that shit I've done? I know you won't just forget it."

"Well, you'll have to redeem yourself," Winry said, "The first thing I want you to do is bring Mrs. Hughes flowers."

Envy's heart stopped, "And tell her I killed her husband!?"

"No, you can just apologize, but it has to be genuine."

"I don't get it," Envy frowned. He didn't like the idea of that. It could get messy, and he'd be close to Father, he could get caught.

"You will. You don't even have to say anything besides your apology," Winry said, "Just that will be enough to make you understand."

"Understand what?"

"You'll see," Winry replied, simply, and then she added, "Well?"

She was finally able to meet his violet eyes. They were still sharp and harsh looking, but Winry was used to this by now. Envy border lined on the extreme when it came to both appearance and personality. He was never dull or soft spoken. Everything about him was intense and raw. Winry had found that out even after their first meeting, and he still held true to that now.

"Well, I think you're an idiot for sending me over there," Envy sighed, "but I'll do it."

Winry blinked. She honestly hadn't expected him to agree to that, but it cheered her up. "You won't have to go alone. I'll come with you," she said.

"Do you think I'm a coward?"

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Winry snapped, "Remember the wrench?"

"Yeah, but you punch like a girl," Envy snickered, "I didn't even feel those last two."

"I'm not insulted, since I am a girl," Winry smirked, flirtatiously, "Or haven't you noticed?"

Winry thought she saw a bit of a blush, but figured it was her imagination. Envy didn't blush, for crying out loud! Actually, he didn't look at all shy in the least; instead he let his eyes wander down her body, and said, calmly, "Oh, I noticed…"

Winry suddenly felt a little self conscious and said, "Okay, enough fooling around."

"I couldn't agree more," Envy said, and before Winry could do anything, he had her pinned down on the bed. She felt her entire body tense up defensively. She felt incredibly vulnerable, since she was only wearing a tank top and some overalls. For being so heavy that even Alphonse couldn't lift him, Winry surprised to feel hardly any pressure at all on her hips where he straddled her. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he noticed she was looking down at where their hips met. She caught his glance and blushed.

"What are you doing?" she gasped and Envy raised an eyebrow, "You said –,"

"This is not what I meant," she pushed him, but he didn't budge. Envy frowned and moved off of her, muttering something about 'more mixed signals' under his breath.

"I – I can't believe you did that…"

"Oh, like it's really that unexpected," Envy said, defiantly, "As you said, you are a woman. You have very nice rounded features and even if I'm not human, I'm still very much a man."

Winry blushed crimson at this and fell silent. She had nothing to add or defend, and just wished that he would change the subject. She sat up and brushed the knots out of her long blonde hair. Envy, on the other hand, was smiling triumphantly at his ability to embarrass her speechless. He had had some practice in the art of seducing a woman, after all he had played many lovers, husbands and such, and apart of him want to try it on Winry, but he held back. She posed a good point: he didn't have the energy or the control right now. Also, Fullmetal runt was right downstairs and he had a bad habit of knocking down doors.

Winry stood and gathered up her tools from the nightstand, saying, "I'm going to start on that prototype."

Envy stood too. He wobbled a bit, but managed to regain his balance. Winry shot him a look. "You should rest more," she said.

"Shut up. I'm going to Central like you asked," Envy replied.

"Right now? Envy, it's almost midnight!"

"Is that a problem?"

Winry stared at him in disbelief, and then decided something for herself. "You know, I think you're probably more reckless than Ed."

Envy stared at her like she was out of her mind. Hadn't she ordered him to go to the Hughes household with an apology? If she wanted him to go, why the hell was she stopping him? "Could you make up your fucking mind already?" Envy snapped, irritably.

"Excuse me," Winry shot back.

"You want me to go and now you don't want me to go. Which is it?"

Winry narrowed her eyes on him, and said, "I want you to stay here and recover for a few days before you go. I also said I want to go with you, and since I have an arm to build, I won't be able to go anywhere for a while."

Envy made an irritated sound and Winry figured he didn't like the idea of waiting around for her to be finished with her project. She went to the door and said, "If you're really in better condition like you think, you could always make yourself useful. There's lots of things to do –,"

"I'd die again before I washed any fucking dishes –,"

Winry opened the door sighing. She turned to stare back at him with glare that matched his own, and said, "Oh, and one other thing: watch your fucking mouth, or I'll wash it with machine oil."

With that she slammed the door behind her.

Envy grinned.

Leonahari: I didn't like this chapter at all, so I basically posted it to get it off my computer screen. I find Envy waaay too OOC in this, but that's probably because I'm my own worst critic, and I'm on writers block. So, sorry if it came out like that, it'll be better next chapter.

IMPORTANT: Okay people, I tried this last chapter and only got a few replies. I'm not even looking for reviews, you can just PM me if your more comfortable. I NEED TO KNOW TWO THINGS before I write the next chapter, so please answer these questions in your PM or review. Depending on how you answer will alter the next chapter and the ending.

- 1 - If you are comfortable with lemons/sexual situations let me know, if not, we can decide something. (This is rated M but it's majority preference...)

- 2 - Do you want a sequel?