Hiya everybody. Fixed my computer charger, took my AP exams, school's almost over and I've officially planned out the ending of this story. It's still a while away though, since this will probably have around 35 chapter, and an epilogue, but hurray for plans.
Also, huzzah! This story has officially gotten over 10,000 hits! It makes me very happy, and this is the most successful story I've had so far. Well, on with the chapter.
Chapter 24
The next morning, Selim awoke in Pride's comfortable bed with the sun shining in his eyes. It still sent a small wave of confusion over him for a few seconds, but it quickly subsided. After changing into a fresh set of day clothes, the black haired boy sat back down on the bed. He didn't want to head downstairs yet and have to put on his act, plus, there was something he wanted to think about.
He couldn't stay here forever. Pride would remind him of that very quickly if he ever got too comfortable. He just wanted to go home, but how was he suppose to do that? He still had no clue what the white figure was that sent him here, or better yet, why. Not only that, but his only leads were a group of apparently evil beings bent on world domination and a pair of brothers he had no chance of seeing at the moment.
So what could he do? Running away again wouldn't get him anywhere, but staying too long and being discovered would get him killed. There had to be some sort of solution, but he couldn't see it.
"Selim, are you awake?" Selim tried not to immediately spring into the air at the sound of his 'father's' voice at the door. Quickly attempting to regain control, he tried to make his voice sound as light as possible given the slight blindside knocking a bit of the wind out of him.
"Yes father, is something the matter?" he asked as he walked over to the door, opening it to reveal the tall, gruff man in uniform. He was smiling down at him, and shook his head kindly. Selim didn't trust it in the least though, and tried to ignore the shiver running up his spine at being so close to the man.
"Not at all, my boy. There was just something I wished to talk to you about for a moment," Bradley said as he walked into the room, shutting the door and locking it behind him. The black haired boy quickly made sure to get out of his way as he stepped inside, immediately noticing the locked door and attempting to calm himself down. He probably just wants to talk to Pride about plans and such, there's no reason to think they found anything out.
Selim momentarily wondered about the voice in his head. He'd been silent since he woke up. He usually made comments when Selim was trying to think of an escape plan, but hadn't this time. Maybe he was still asleep, although the nine year old for the life of him still didn't understand how that was suppose to work.
"About what? I didn't do anything wrong, did I father?" Selim asked cautiously. He really didn't want to be talking with Wrath. He was never sure which persona to use, especially when they were alone like this. He had to be perfect. Any slip ups could cost him his life. Whatever was left of it, that is.
"Pride," the older looking man started, and Selim quickly dropped his first act for his second,, turning his worried smiled into a irritated frown. They still thought he was Pride, that wasn't the problem. They probably just wanted to go over plans, and he just had to pretend to know what he was talking about. "You seem to have made a slight mistake with incorrectly assuming the mentality of a human child," The black haired boy tried desperately to not let the panic bubbling inside him appear noticeable. Just play along, maybe it's not what you think.
"A mistake? Exactly what do you mean by that, Wrath?" he asked, copying the same irritated tone Pride would use on him nearly perfectly. Just act annoyed. Act arrogant. How dare he imply you could mess up, you're Pride.
"Your… mother, has worried that 'Selim' is attempting to repress the 'horrors' that happened during you're little outing, due to the cheery behavior you've had since your return," Bradley explained, and Selim frowned in what seemed to be anger. He had messed up, but they still thought it was Pride. He had to be even more careful.
"I see… and you're plans to remedy this mishap?" he asked, hoping that he wouldn't have to come up with a way to fix this himself.
"I've talked to her, and she doesn't wish to force anything out of you, so simple lies should be sufficient, but she does want you to see a psychiatrist," Selim twisted his face into a look of extreme annoyance. There was no way Pride would be perfectly alright with this, no way at all.
"And you agreed?" he asked, keeping his voice sounding absolutely incredulous. Wrath nodded, somewhat reluctantly, before quickly launching into an explanation. He didn't want to get Pride angry, and Selim didn't blame him. If he was able to escape from Greed using his powers, then he could only imagine how deadly the sin must be with them, actually having full control and confidence.
"Yes, but only because it would jeopardize father's plan if our act we're to be found out, and this would definitely seem unordinary," Bradley said, and Selim reluctantly nodded. Pride cared about his 'father's' plan more than anything, Selim had figured that out long ago. Apparently so had Wrath, seeing as he strategically used it in his defense. If Pride was willing to act like a normal human child for father, then he would go to therapy for father as well. Even if Selim wasn't entirely sure if everything Pride did was an act. There had to be a bit of truth, or it wouldn't be so convincing.
"Alright… when should I expect this to start?" Selim asked after a slight hesitation. Therapy was bad. If he went there, the psychiatrist was bond to figure out something was wrong. That was they're whole job.
"Tomorrow, it shouldn't take very long to find someone sufficient enough for the job," Bradley said, and the black haired boy nodded absently. Tomorrow was so soon… Before he was able to get lost in thought, Wrath cleared his throat to speak again. "Well, it is best that we head down to breakfast before people start to worry," he said, in a voice slightly lighter and more cheer filled then before. Selim plastered a smile on his face before nodding enthusiastically.
"Of course Father. Let's go," he said happily, heading out of the room after the tall man. Breakfast had been as normal as Selim thought it could get in his current situation. Now that he was told, he could see some of the underlying worry in Moth- Mrs. Bradley's face whenever he gave her a large smiled or laughed.
After they were done, Bradley headed off to work, and Selim quickly excused himself to his room. No one objected, he wasn't going to start up schooling again for a little while, and Mrs. Bradley seemed too concerned to do anything.
Once alone the boy sighed quietly. Tomorrow his acting would have to be spot on. No mistakes. He had to be Pride. To be perfect…
Laying down on the bed, the silence inside his head was starting to bother him. Pride hadn't said anything all day. It was almost starting to worry him.
"Hey Pride? You okay?" He asked, hoping to get a reply. He wasn't even sure why, but a small rush of relief went through him at the sound of the arrogant voice in his head scoffing at him in disdain. He shouldn't worry about the monster child in his head, but for some reason he did. He was just too nice.
"Why are you asking?" Pride questioned, and Selim frowned up at the ceiling. He was glad he got an answer, but it wasn't exactly one he was looking for.
"Answer my question first," the black haired child demanded, earning a sarcastic sounding laugh from the sin.
"Exactly who do you think you are to be bossing me around, human?" Pride asked bitterly, but Selim simply tried to shrug it off. He was used to this sort of behavior from Pride by now, not that he was too happy about that. He really shouldn't be getting so accustomed to the voice in his head, if he ever got to go home, it wouldn't be there anymore.
"The person in complete control of your body and the situation," Selim said, and he could almost feel Pride's mouth snapping shut. He had to admit, that had surprised even himself. He wasn't usually so… forward. It was probably just the stress of the situation getting to him. After a few moments Pride finally spoke again.
"None of that matters. You still don't control me, I will not listen to anybody but Father," the sin said, and Selim sighed. He just wanted to know if Pride was okay, he'd been so quiet all morning. It didn't look like he was going to get an answer though, so the black haired boy decided to drive his attention towards other problems. He had to figure out what to do about the psychiatrist and eventually getting home. He couldn't solve anything just laying here though.
The Elric brothers were his best chance of finding out how to get to that white figure, they knew who he was talking about, and even though they said they didn't know how to get there, it was better then waiting here to eventually be discovered and destroyed. He couldn't just leave though, that would give him away for sure.
"So fickle… just decide already," Pride mumbled, startling Selim somewhat. There was definitely something wrong with the sin, but Selim had no idea what, besides the usual situation of being at the complete control of such a 'lesser' being as himself. Thinking it over yet again in his head, the black haired boy sat up in bed and started staring out the window.
"What do you think I should do?" he asked aloud, almost positive there was no one around to here him. He could sense Pride's surprise at the question, but the sin quickly masked it, like always.
"What possible reason could you have to want to ask me that?" the sin asked, and Selim wasn't sure. He shrugged slightly, leaning against the windowsill as he thought it over.
"I just want to know," the child decided finally, causing Pride to metaphorically roll his eyes, not that Selim minded much. He knew it was a stupid question, but he just really needed another person's opinion, even if that person wanted to have him destroyed in the end. It actually took Pride some time to finally answer, Selim rather surprised that he actually seemed to be thinking it over. Sure, he was probably trying to think of which one would get his free soonest, but for some reason Selim didn't care.
"You should leave and try to find the Elrics," he said, and the black haired boy was quiet for a moment, before nodding in agreement.
"Alright," he said aloud, standing up off the bed and putting on a pair of shoes. Pride was shocked silent for a few minutes before finally snapping out of it, completely dumbfounded.
"What do you mean, alright? Why in the world are you listening to me?" the sin demanded, not even attempting to hide the confusion in his voice. Pride opened his bedroom window before climbing out, very thankful that it was on the ground floor, something that wasn't the case back home.
"Because I want to go home, and this is my only chance…" Selim said quietly as he stalked through the yard towards the fence before walking up and down it quickly. There had to be some sort of hole or opening, something like back home…
Pride was silent the entire time, until Selim was able to find a hole in the fence behind several bushed, just the right size to fit though. It wasn't like the small boy wanted to be back on the streets, struggling to survive, but he didn't have a choice… He didn't… Even if the psychiatrics or father or any of the homunculus found out who he really was, it still wouldn't get him back home… and he was starting to reconsider his earlier assumption about moth- Mrs. Bradley not noticing who he was. Even if Pride was lying to her, she could still tell the difference between the sin's lies and his.
Running quickly down the streets, Selim tried to put as much distance between himself and Pride's house. He had to get far, far away as quick as he possibly could… or else he might be tempted to go back.
Yay, new chapter. Selim is once again on the run, and Pride is moody and confused. I hope his decision to leave didn't seem too sudden or out of character. I tried to make it make sense… it does in my head.
Well, please review.