"We have to get him out of here," Ed whispered to Al, trying not to wake Envy from his uneasy slumber.
"What about the rats?" Winry asked, having overheard their conversation.
"Alphonse will transmute a car outside as close to the porch as he can -"
"Brother, it's too dangerous!" Al hissed, "What if you get bitten?"
"I'll run outside with Envy, and you can try to keep the rats off of me long enough for me to get to the car."
Just then, a low roaring sound came from outside the house, slowly building in volume.
"What the -"
The roaring became deafening, and a vibrant orange light shone through the cracks in the boards on the windows. Envy woke with a start, and Edward rushed to the front door.
"What're you doing?!"
"Brother, wait!"
But Ed wrenched open the front door, only to see flames engulfing the hillside. He gasped as his hair was whipped back and forth by the wind caused by the flames, and as quickly as the fire had come, it vanished, leaving a half-burnt countryside. Standing in the wake was none other than Roy Mustang, backed by about fifty other soldiers.
"You just can't keep yourself out of trouble, can you?" he called, approaching the house. Only then did Edward realize what Mustang had done: he'd burned the rats to death.
"Trouble has a way of searching me out," Ed retorted, smiling for the first time in what felt like ages. He stepped down from the porch and met Mustang halfway.
"I believe thanks are in order," Roy said, smirking.
"Yeah, whatever," Edward grumbled, shaking Mustang's hand nonetheless.
"Brother, what…?" Alphonse was standing in the doorway.
"Hey, Al, look who decided to show up!" Ed called. Ed turned back to Mustang. "You wouldn't happen to have a car, would you?"
On Roy's affirmative, Edward led him up to the house, stopping on the porch. "Wait here," he said, before proceeding into the house with Alphonse. One right turn later, he saw Envy, still on the couch. He looked like he was in pain, with the slightest hint of confusion.
"Mustang's outside right now," Edward explained. Envy's eyes widened. Ed had anticipated Envy's fear, but seeing it caused a dull ache in his chest. He was overcome by a sudden urge to hold the homunculus, to let him know he was okay.
"Can you change forms?" Ed asked. Envy shook his head, causing his hair to flop around him.
"Then he'll just have to put up with it," Edward decided. With that, he left to go fetch Mustang. Envy curled in on himself, despite the stress it put on his wounds. There was a moment's pause, and then Edward returned with Mustang in tow. Sure enough, when Mustang came in, his eyes were filled with hatred. Ed must have briefed him on the situation, though, because he didn't attack.
"So you lived?" he asked bitterly.
"No, I died," Envy snapped back, "Seems someone saw fit to revive me."
"What a pity," Mustang retorted. They stared each other down for a moment. Ed had the desire to tell Mustang to "fuck off," but he didn't think that would be received well. If they were going to get an escort to a hospital, they needed to play nice.
"Look, Colonel," Ed interjected, "We could really use a military escort to the nearest hospital, and I need you two to put aside your differences long enough for that to happen."
The two males continued to glare at each other.
"At least pretend the other isn't here," Edward sighed.
"Fine," Envy snarled, looking away. Mustang didn't budge.
"How do I know I can trust him?" he asked.
"Because I said so," Edward insisted, already scooping Envy up into his arms. Envy automatically wrapped his arms around Edward's neck, making Mustang raise an eyebrow. "Let's go."
They all made their way out onto the front porch, facing the soldiers Mustang had brought with him.
"Attention!" Mustang called, "A… civilian has been gravely injured and requires a military escort to East City Hospital! Squad A will come with me to escort him! The rest of you will stay behind and help evacuate any other survivors!"
The soldiers leapt to attention, hurrying to go about their designated tasks. Soon, they had all squeezed into the back of a military car, and they were headed towards East City. Envy's condition worsened on the ride to the hospital, so much so that he stopped retorting to Mustang's insults. When this happened, Mustang began inquiring as to how a homunculus had gotten wounded in the first place, and how Envy had come back to life. Edward explained everything, and in the midst of conversation, they reached the hospital in what felt like very little time.
As soon as they arrived, Envy was rushed into the emergency ward, leaving Edward behind in the waiting room with everybody else.
"Why are you helping him?" Roy asked, taking his place beside Ed.
"Because I'm in love with him," Ed thought about saying, but instead he said, "He's changed," and left it at that. With that, he went over to sit with Al, Winry, and Pinako.
"Brother?" Al asked, as Ed took his seat.
"Yeah?" Ed responded, "What is it?"
"What… well, what exactly is between you and Envy?" Al said slowly.
It cost Edward something to answer. "Nothing," he answered, "But…"
"But?" Winry asked.
"But I feel like there could be something. I mean, I like him…"
"You like him in what way?" Al prompted.
"I… I like him… romantically," Ed admitted, finally.
"Then tell him," Winry insisted. Ed looked up, and saw Al, Winry, and Pinako all smiling at him encouragingly.
"… Thanks, guys," Ed murmured.
After that, they all waited quietly for what felt like hours. It probably was. Edward's eyes were drooping with the effort of staying awake through the night by the time he heard any news of Envy.
"Edward Elric?" a male nurse called. Ed was on his feet in an instant, his fatigue completely forgotten.
"How is he?" Edward asked quickly, looking up at the nurse.
"He's fine," the nurse assured him, smiling gently. "He's just fine. He's been asking for you."
Edward blushed a bit at that, but he allowed the nurse to lead him down the hallway, leaving Al and the others behind him. When they reached Envy's room, the nurse stopped and held the door open for Ed. Ed thanked him and entered the room, hearing the door shut behind him.
Envy was laying on the bed in the center of the room, looking very tired, granted, but he didn't seem to be in any pain. Edward sighed in relief.
"Hey," Envy said groggily.
"Hey," Edward said, taking a seat in the chair beside the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Drugged as fuck," Envy answered. Ed chuckled, taking in the stitches under Envy's left eye.
"Are you in any pain?" Ed asked. He had to make sure.
"No," Envy answered, "I don't feel much. My head feels fuzzy."
"Okay," Ed murmured, brushing some of the hair out of Envy's face.
"They said the bites might leave scars," Envy whispered, looking down. "Do you think I'll be able to shape shift them away?"
Ed paused a moment, not sure how to put it without hurting the homunculus. Finally, he just shook his head, having already run the alchemical formulas through his head multiple times. Envy looked heartbroken.
"But…" Envy tried, before trailing off in defeat. He covered his face in his hands. "You probably think I look disgusting."
"No!" Ed burst, perhaps louder than was necessary. "I mean… you look wonderful."
"No I don't," Envy childishly insisted. Edward sighed and pried Envy's hands away from his face.
"Hey, look at me," Edward gently commanded, gazing into Envy's violet eyes. "You're beautiful."
With that, Ed leaned down and gently brushed Envy's lips with his own. Envy's eyes widened as Ed pulled away.
"Why did you…?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ed asked.
"But I'm…"
"What? What could you possibly be that would stop me form loving you?"
Envy's eyes widened even further. "You… love me?"
Ed considered saying, "Well, duh," but instead he simply said, "Yeah."
A slight blush appeared on Envy's cheeks. "I… I love you too," he said, looking anywhere but Ed's face. Ed smiled gently and kissed Envy again.
Edward couldn't remember the last time he felt so happy. He'd been so glad to return Al to his body, but losing his alchemy had been a heavier blow than he would admit. He'd had no idea what to do with himself in the aftermath, no idea what his purpose was. Now he knew.
Author's Note: This shouldn't have taken as long as it did and I apologize. It felt like I couldn't quite get into it for the longest time. But, I'm back now, and you can look forward to the last chapter pretty soon.