Hello one and all. I didn't die again! I'll let you all decide if this is a good thing or not. Saw the dubbed version of the episode The President's Son just now, so of course I had to get off my lazy self and write the next chapter of this. Well, let me shut up and actually write the story now.
"Pride Speaking"
"Selim speaking to Pride"
Chapter 20
After a few hours Selim managed to fall asleep, still hanging over the boney man's shoulder. He didn't think he would have been able to, but he was tired, and it became pretty monotonous after a while. When he woke up, it was dark and he could see the lights of Central coming into view. Envy started to pick up the pace then, reaching the entrance of the same kind of secrete tunnel the black haired boy had first escaped from.
They descended into the tunnel and Selim really wished he'd thought of a plan instead of falling asleep, now he'd have to play it by ear. He wasn't able to look up to the ceiling from his position, but he could hear the growls and movement of the strange creatures that seemed to live in the ceiling. He'd forgotten about those. Now he was even more worried, what if when he tried to escape they ordered them to attack? He hadn't been able to see them the first time he'd went though, but it sure sounded like there was a lot.
They reached the large room full of wires with the strange throne in the center and Envy, rather ungracefully, dropped Selim onto the floor, where he lay in a heap for a few seconds before quickly attempting to straighten himself and stand up.
They were standing in front of the throne, and Selim finally saw the man who Pride kept talking about. He had long blonde hair, was a bit old looking and wore some kind of long white robe. He didn't look friendly and Selim had to resist the urge to whimper or back away, which really was strange. The man was scary, but not that scary. Really, he was more intimidated of the psychotic man who'd brought him here. With everything Pride had built him up to be, Selim had expected skeletons and black cloaks and fire.
"Father," the green haired man started, walking towards the chair, "I found Pride, although Greed was right, he definitely isn't himself." The man named Father nodded before looking over at Selim, who had to will himself to meet his gaze. Echoing footsteps caught his attention though, and he saw Greed step out from behind the throne as well.
That probably should of increased his worry, having to add another person to the list of enemies he needed to escape from at the moment, but he was actually a bit glad to see the Xing man. He didn't give off an aura of pure evil like these other two, and he wasn't alone with them anymore. The black haired boy actually had to keep himself from waving at him, resulting in both Pride and himself commanding him to stop being stupid.
"I see," Father said as he continued staring at the boy, who turned his attention back towards him. "Tell me, what is the meaning off all this?" The blonde man asked, and Selim was struck with an idea. It was desperate, if he got caught he would be in huge trouble, but it was all he had.
"Father," Selim started with a small bow, trying his best to sound strong and confident, "I am truly sorry for any setbacks that were caused do to my misdeeds, but as I see Greed has informed you, I was not in control of my container," The black haired boy said, staring up at the man. He could still see Greed out of the side of his eye though, and he looked completely shocked. Selim could imagine Envy having the same exact expression behind him. Inside his head, Pride didn't say anything at first, and then nearly exploded.
"What are you doing! A-are you pretending to b-be ME? Y-you little…" Pride died off, sounding completely stunned. Selim was able to figure out where the underlying fear he'd felt since he'd first saw Father came from. It wasn't his fear, it was Pride's. The revelation made it hard to keep off his face.
"Pride? Why are you scared? Isn't this what you wanted?" Selim asked, not taking his eyes off the blonde man. Pride scoffed and tried to regain his composure, although Selim could still fell the intimidation pulsing inside him.
"I am not scared, and yes I wanted you to come here, but not pretend to be me!" the voice defended, but Selim didn't believe him for a second. Was Pride afraid he'd get in trouble or something because of what Selim had did? Before The black haired boy could get the chance to ask, Father started speaking again.
"I see, but tell me my child, how have you regained control?" Father asked, causing Selim to have to think fast.
"You see Father, the human soul that had possessed me had finally lost hope. After running for so long and jeopardizing your plans, being caught was too much for the weakling. He willingly returned control over to me," Selim said, trying to match the scorn usually in Pride's voice when he spoke of humans. The black haired boy knew he was an okay actor, but he couldn't afford any sort of slip up.
Out of the corner of his eye he was able to see Greed slowly come out of his shock at the explanation, although he still looked a bit confused. He probably didn't believe he would give up so easily after their last encounter, and Selim really hoped the man didn't say anything about it.
Father nodded as he looked the boy in front of him over. He was standing straight and staring the blonde man straight in the eyes, a very neutral look on his face. Selim could feel that Pride was fearful of this man, but he knew the voice would never actually show that. He'd fake his strength, and so would Selim.
"Do you doubt me, Father?" Selim asked, not taking his eyes off of the man. He'd never actually met the meek boy, so he might be fooled, Selim just hoped neither Envy nor Greed saw through his façade. He couldn't risk looking over at them to check though. Father was his concern right now. If he convinced him, there was little chance either of the other two would go against his decision without serious evidence to prove otherwise.
"No, I do not," he said after a moment of thought, and Selim had to resist a sigh of relief or responding to Pride's outraged cries in his head.
"I can't believe it… How could father possibly fall for your charade! You are not me!" the voice barked, and Selim agreed whole heartedly, but that didn't mean he couldn't pretend, if it meant saving his life.
"What do you wish to do now Father?" Selim asked, "I can not simply return to my position undercover with the commotion that human caused." It sure did pay off having Pride around twenty four seven. It gave him a pretty clear grasp of how the sin spoke, making the disguise at lease semi-natural. Father nodded in agreement, which for some reason sparked Pride's anger again. Jealousy?
"That is true. We'll have you taken up to the surface and brought back by police forces," The blonde man decided, and Selim nodded. He'd have a chance to escape, but it might not be in his best interest to take the first one that came to him. They thought he was Pride. Now was his chance to get information. "but first," Father started again, and Selim locked his eyes with the cold golden ones of his enemy. They were a bit like the full metal alchemist's, only deprived of any and all warmth.
"Yes father?" Selim asked, keeping any of the nervousness he was feeling hidden. What if he'd actually saw though his mask? He'd be killed, or worse. He wasn't sure what worse was, but that was usually an option.
"This child that had gained control over your container, Greed had said that he'd come though the gate after being killed before somehow gaining control over you, is this the truth?" The blonde man asked, and Selim nodded as relief washed over him. He was still fooled.
"Yes it is. I do not know how it possibly happened, but that is what the child informed me. That was also all he knew, sadly, other then a white figure he claimed to see in front of the Gate before possessing me," The black haired boy informed, which caused Father to rub his chin in thought. Finally though, he seemed to put whatever it was he was thinking aside and turned towards Greed to address him.
"Greed, I want to you take Pride up to the surface, we can't risk the human regaining control," At this, Selim made a minor look of annoyance, nothing that would seem disrespectful of Father, but not make it seem like he was perfectly alright with the implication that a mere human could somehow overpower him.
"You got it," the Xing man said before walking towards Selim. The two then headed out past Envy and down the tunnel while the black haired man stayed behind. As they walked Selim didn't say anything. If Greed wanted to talk, then he would start the conversation. Once they were a good distance down the tunnel, he eventually did.
"So Pride, that kid really just give up like you said?" The tall man asked, and Selim scoffed in imitation of Pride while rolling his eyes. He wasn't sure if it should worry him or not, but pretending to be the child like sin really wasn't all that hard. Sure it made it easier to keep up the act, but it shouldn't be that simple to put on a mask of someone completely different from you in every way.
"Of course he did. You know as well as I do how weak those humans are. They can never hold out for long," Greed just nodded and he could guess from the utter annoyance emanating from the real Pride that he was doing a pretty good job.
"Yeah I know, but that kid seemed to have a bit more spunk then that," The Xing man said with a shrug. Selim set a frown on his face as the exit to the tunnel came into view.
"You overestimate those humans Greed, it'd be best if you stopped," the black haired boy said as they left the tunnel. For some reason, those words seemed to annoy the homunculus, although Selim masked his wonder. Pride doesn't act like a child in front of the others, even if he is one.
"And you underestimate them, but I'm Greed and you're Pride, so of course it's going to be like that. Anyway, lets just get Father's plan to get you back to your role as the president's perfect son into action," Greed said as they made their way away from the tunnel. Selim glared at the man, but decided not to say anything and follow him.
He was wrong though, he wasn't Pride, not that he was going to say this. He looked like Pride, and he could act like Pride, but he wasn't him. He wondered how long it would take them to notice though. He had virtually no knowledge of their plan, and he was bound to slip up eventually.
"So Pride, what was it like being completely useless against a little kid?" Greed asked and Selim clenched his first as his glare intensified.
"Greed, if you want to be able to sleep at night, I'd suggest you'd refrain from asking any more questions," The black haired boy growled, effectively shutting the sin up. Selim was still frowning, although it wasn't entirely an act. How natural should his Pride persona be? He couldn't help but feel it was a little too easy. He wasn't like that monster in a child's body though, all this was just so he could survive, right?
Hurray, finished, and what an interesting turn of events. At least, I hope it is. The funny thing is, I'd originally wrote about half the chapter which Selim acting like himself, and then realized I had no way to save him… So I read it aloud to my sister, and asked her what I could do. She said I could make him act like Pride had regained control, I absolutely loved it, and redid the entire chapter, and now I have a clear path where to go again.
Well, I hope you liked it as much as I did, if so, please review.