Hiya. Another chapter from me. Sorry about being a little late yet again on this, but it's spring break now (does happy dance) so I should have more time to update everything in between studying for my AP exams (my hardest one the second day we get back, no worries there)

Chapter 23

After eating with Mrs. Bradley, Selim quickly excused himself to his room, giving the reasoning that he was still tired and wished to rest before father came home. The older woman let him go without any sort of fuss, although Selim could tell that she didn't exactly like the idea of him being out of her sight, and he couldn't really blame her. He was still extremely grateful once he was able to close the door to Pride's room, now alone and able to at least attempt and think of some sort of vague plan for when Wrath came.

He tried to tell himself that it was the same as it had been with Greed, but it wasn't, really. He lived with Pride, he probably knew more about how the sin acted and would be able to spot any sort of mistake quicker then the Xing man would. He would definitely have to be extra careful.

Sitting down on the large bed, Selim soon stood back up again. He couldn't sit still, the anticipation of King Bradley returning weighing on his mind too greatly. The black haired boy quickly tried to find something in the room that would occupy his mind before he started to psyche himself out before the older man even showed up.

There was a bookcase against one of the walls of the bedroom. Selim hadn't taken much note of it before, but now decided it could be of great use to preoccupy him as he waited. It looked a lot like the one he had back at home, really.

Walking up next to the bookcase, he started looking over the title of the books on the shelf closest to eyelevel. A few of the books were beginner guides to alchemy, placing a question in the boy's head he hadn't thought to consider before.

"Hey Pride?" he asked to the open air, temporarily forgetting about the guards outside his door and that it would probably be a better idea to keep the thoughts in his mind, but Pride didn't bother to correct him.

"What is it?" the sin asked, an irritated tone to his voice, not that Selim had any doubt about what was annoying him. Ignoring it, he went straight to the question, this time remembering to keep it in his head.

"Can you do alchemy?" the black haired boy thought as he pulled out one of the books on just that, slowly flipping through it as he waited for Pride's answer. He didn't have to wait very long, the sin deciding for once to actually answer one of his questions quickly.

"No," he didn't elaborating any farther then that, causing Selim to frown slightly to himself in confusion as he took the book back over to the bed. He had read an alchemy book in bed the morning of his birthday… That was so long ago now…

"Why do you have books on it then? Are you learning?" he couldn't do more then skim while talking to Pride, having to put his full focus into trying to understand the complex meanings and equations that went into the complicated science. He understood more then most children his age, but he still was far from being able to actually go through with a transmutation. He was a bright child yes, but he knew he was no prodigy.

"It's a part of my act. I can't wait for the day when I grown up and become a state alchemist in order to help my father," Selim easily noted the dull sarcasm dripping from Pride's voice in the latter part of his explanation. It didn't really help him much hearing it though, his mind too caught up in the irony. That had been his dream, before he had died…

Selim sighed under his breath as he closed the book on his lap. Being here was making his homesickness increase quite a bit. When on the run he could just ignore it all and focus on trying to stay alive, but here every little thing proceeded to remind him of the world he left behind.

"What's wrong now?" Pride asked after a moment, that irritated tone still emanating throughout his voice and around Selim's head. The black haired boy really couldn't tell why the sin was asking him that anyway. Was he actually concerned about the child, or was he just looking for some sort of crack in order to work his way back in control of the body? Selim couldn't tell, Pride was just too confusing, he couldn't figure him out unless he spent some time using his full focus. Like Alchemy.

"Nothing, just a little homesick…" he whispered, too quietly for anyone outside the door to hear but knowing full well that the voice inside his head could just fine. He didn't need to elaborate any farther then that, and Pride didn't ask him to, thankfully. Although it was probably more out of a lack of interest then any actual care for Selim on the sin's part.

It wasn't too much longer after that when Mrs. Bradley peaked in through a crack she opened in the door. By now Selim had the book back open, but was only half reading the words, none of them truly processing in his head.

"Selim, dear. Your father's home, and he wants to see you," the older woman said, and Selim looked up towards her with a smile on his face. Time to let the acting begin again.

"Really, mother? Where is he?" the child asked happily, quickly pushing himself off the bed in order to go and meet the man he so feared right now.

"He's in his study waiting for you," she said, opening the door a bit wider and moving out of the way for her son, who appeared oh so excited to see his father again. Just like he always was. Like none of the horrors that must of plagued him during his time running and hiding away from kidnappers and the authorities ever happened.

Selim quickly reached the door to the president's private study, standing outside for just a moment as he took one final chance to steel his nerves. He could do this. He's already fooled all the other homunculi he'd met, their leader and Mrs. Bradley. He could fool just one more person.

"You wanted to see me father?" Selim asked as he walked into the room, figuring Pride would want to keep up his 'act' until he knew it was safe, so he should too.

"Yes, I wanted to make sure you were alright from your… experiences during your disappearance," the older man asked, looking up from the papers on his desk and in his hand with his one good eye. Selim smiled brightly as he nodded, rolling a bit on his heals for good measure. He might have been overdoing it, but from the way Pride spoke of his 'act' he seemed much more outgoing then how Selim himself usually was.

"Of course I am Father! It was quite an experience like you said, but it wasn't that scary. I knew that you would save me before anything too bad happened," he said, trying to keep a cheerful, carefree tone to his voice as he tried to figure out when to break his first act and go to the second. Hopefully Wrath would do it first so that he didn't have to worry about that, but what if he didn't? How long should he wait before it started getting suspicious. As per usual Pride was absolutely no help here.

"Yes well, we are all so glad to have you back and safe, and as for the kidnappers… what do you think the chances are of them returning, so to speak?" the latter part of that sentence had been directed at Pride, not 'Selim' and the child tried to make himself look more confident, sinister, like he imagined Pride to look. It had worked on the other homunculi and 'Father' but Selim couldn't help but worry inside if it was all wrong. Back then it he had already been a dead man, here he had a chance to live if he didn't mess up.

"None, the 'kidnapper' had given up all hope once he was successfully captured. I trust that you have been adequately filled in on the details?" the black haired boy asked, and Wrath nodded, looking much more serious then he had when they had been going about their little act.

Selim was actually managing to impress himself with his self control. The last time he'd seen this man, it took everything he had to just keep from busting into tears at merely being in the same room together. Here he was now speaking and acting confident. Sure, he was still shaking on the inside, but it was the outside that counted right now.

"Good, is there anything else you wished to discuss?" Selim asked, still using his Pride voice. It really was strange, hearing the sin's voice coming out if himself, but he guessed it wasn't really his mouth in the end.

King Bradley seemed to think the question over for a moment before answering, "No, nothing right now. Either myself or one of the others will fill you in with any plans that were changed or completely while you were… away," Selim nodded, glad that he didn't have to deal with trying to act as though he understood exactly whatever evil plan they had was. "For now though," Wrath continued, his voice returning to that of his cheerful act, "you should rest, you've been through quite the ordeal."

Selim smiled brightly again, putting his hands behind his back as he returned to rocking on the balls of his feet. He had no idea if this was something Pride would do, it sure wasn't one of his habits, but it had instinctively come on as part of his act, and Wrath didn't seem to question it.

"As you wish father! Thank you!" Selim cheerfully said before turning towards the door and leaving the room, almost running into his mother as she came down the same hallway. The black haired boy tried to keep up the same mask for her, but this happy act was definitely wearing on him.

"Hello Mother! Are you going to see father?" he asked, and the older woman nodded. Selim didn't stay much longer after that, quickly returning to his room where he could drop the mask for at least a few moments. Mrs. Bradley watched her son walked down the rest of the hallway before continuing her way to her husband's study. There was something wrong here…

"Dear, is it alright if I come in?" the older woman asked as she stepped into the room. King Bradley nodded, looking up at his wife as he placed several papers down.

"Of course Larissa, is something the matter?" he asked and she nodded, although waiting until she had taken a seat on the bench against the far wall of the room before explaining exactly what it was that was bothering her.

"King, I think theirs something wrong with Selim," Larissa said, and Wrath raised an eyebrow in question. Pride again? This was definitely starting to be quite a bother. Now he hadn't been alive for as long as some of the other homunculus, but Wrath was certain that the oldest and most deadly of the sins had never been this much trouble before. Why now, so close to the promise day and the fulfillment of all their hard work and planning?

"Selim? What do you mean? He seemed fine when I just spoke to him. It's like the kidnapping never happened," the older man said, and to his surprise his wife nodded.

"That's what I mean. He doesn't even seem fazed by the months he's spent all alone, being kidnapped and who knows what else happened to the poor boy! Not to mention how strange he'd been acting right before the kidnapping as well. What if he's trying to suppress it all, that can't be good for him," Mrs. Bradley said, and Wrath was a bit at a loss for words. He hadn't considered the fact that Pride probably should be acting a bit traumatized, and apparently neither had Pride.

"Yes, I see what you mean…" King started, trying to sound like the concerned father he was suppose to be while hiding his irritation at Pride for not considering this part of his human act. He was suppose to be a child, not a war-hardened veteran.

"What do you think we should do. I don't want to force it out of him, but I don't want him to bottle everything inside himself either," Larissa asked, and Wrath had to think for a moment. What would a normal parent do in this sort of situation?

"Just let him rest for now. We'll talk to him about it tomorrow. I'll try to find a good child psychologist for him, I'm sure it will all be fine. He's a strong boy," King said, and was relieved at seeing his wife nod in agreement. Pride was probably going to hate him for the child psychologist, but it was the only choice he had in order for their 'act' to remain realistic. What parent who had the money didn't seek psychiatric help when their child was put through the 'horrors' that Pride had faced?

In any case, he'd tell the old sin tomorrow. Maybe he could just hire someone working for father to pose as one, but that would be too much work if his wife insisted on helping with the selection, which she most likely would. Ah well, Pride could deal with it. As long as he kept up his act, everything would go according to plan.

There just couldn't be anymore slip ups, although Wrath had no idea at the time how ironic that particular thought was.

And it's done. I had reread a few of my earliest chapters, particularly chapter 3 where Selim first comes to the manga world. He's sure taken a level of badass since then, hasn't he? At least, I hope that's what it is and not character derailment. He's just had to get at least a bit more confident or else he wouldn't of lasted long at all.

Well, I hope you like this chapter, and please review.