A little break from the angst! I felt like doing something cute and a bit less intense :3

Brotherhood-verse. Obviously.

what-is-the-color-of-love: Sorry, I'm not doing a sequel, mostly cause I have no idea what I would do for it XD However, I do have tentative plans with another author for them to continue it…I won't say who just yet, just in case it falls through. But keep your eyes peeled!

Straykit: Good, that makes two of us! There's just something about describing the masks and the dancing and squee. And I know, I've been talking to xir about it :D You should try it! You should ALL try it! Thanks for reviewing~

DemonLordoftheSurface: I try ^^ And I'll definitely look at it once you post it! There's a serious shortage in Edvy fics right now And you must be doing a hell of a lot of squealing since it's daily updates xD

49. Lollipop

Ed had long since learned to ignore it when the homunculus decided to show up at the office. At first his paranoia had led him to start fights with him, but eventually sense had won out. Envy wasn't actually doing anything, and he only seemed to appear on those rare occasions when Mustang had gotten Ed to sit down and do his share of the paperwork – so it wasn't about spying.

And to be perfectly honest, Ed didn't mind the company.

However, they never spoke – Envy would just show up, watch Ed (somewhat creepily) and after some time, leave again. It was a nice little status quo, and not one he was tempted to break.

Until, of course, the one day when Envy showed up with a lollipop.

It wasn't one of the small, round ones the size of a dime – no, Envy had managed to procure a lolly roughly the size of his head, patterned with a swirl of bright rainbow colours. Already his small tongue was licking at one side, both hands wrapped around the white stick. It looked absolutely delicious.

And Ed wanted it.

"Oy."

Envy looked up, keeping his tongue on the lollipop. "Yeth?"

"Got another one of those?"

Envy shook his head. "Getcher own." He continued his happy slurping, not realizing the jealousy he was inducing in the teenager across the room – or maybe he was, and didn't care.

"I can't. I'm not allowed to leave until I'm done my paperwork."

Envy shrugged. "Not my problem."

"How is it not? You're here all the time!"

He shrugged again. "Whatever."

Ed sighed and lowered his head, trying to get some work done.

Except that bloody slurping wouldn't stop. And every now and again Envy would make a little happy sound which reminded Ed of every cute kid he'd ever known.

"You know," he said conversationally, "that's a really big lollipop."

"Mhm! I like things big."

I…didn't hear that. "Surely you don't need all of it. You'll get a sugar rush."

Envy rolled his eyes and gave Ed a rather vicious glare. "I'm not three, Fullmetal. I can handle a sugar rush. Besides," he kicked his feet with a grin, "why would you even get candy if you didn't want a sugar rush?"

Ed scowled. "Aw come on. Just lemme have a bit."

"No! It's mine! I paid for it!"

"Like hell you did."

"You're right. Well…I stole it fair and square!"

With a groan, Ed got up from the desk. "You're toting that around in front of me and making noises like a kitten at the milk, and you're talking about fair?"

"Fine, fine." Envy let out an exaggerated sigh. "I'll let you have some of my delicious, wonderful, amazing lollipop – IF!"

"If?" Ed raised an eyebrow.

"If…" Envy grinned wickedly. "You gimme a kiss."

"WHAAAT?"

"C'moon, pipsqueak! Equivalent exchange! Something sweet for something sweet!" He leered, baring all of his sharp teeth. "Besides, nobody will know."

"That's – not – you – but – YOU'RE CRAZY!"

Envy's leer dropped into a pout, complete with quivering bottom lip. "You mean you don't want to kiss me?"

"I – I – I don't wanna kiss anybody!"

"Pff. It's not a big deal."

"YEAH IT IS!"

Envy rolled his eyes, and then went back to licking his lollipop – glancing discreetly over the top of it.

Ed refused to look directly at him. "Fine."

"Sorry, what was that, pipsqueak?"

"I said fine! But only if you stop calling me a piece of lint!"

Envy chuckled. "Okay, fair deal. C'mere, you."

Ed did so. Very, very slowly.

"Chin up."

Ed did so – and pecked Envy very, very lightly on the lips. "There. Now do I get some?"

"That wasn't a kiss!"

Ed crossed his arms. "Our lips touched. And that was already weird enough, now –" The rest of his sentence was lost as Envy grabbed the back of his neck and crashed their lips together.

His first thought was that Envy's lips tasted like candy. His second thought was that he really shouldn't be enjoying this so much.

After a few moments, Envy pulled away. "There. Now that's a kiss, Fullmetal."

"Aren't we…" Ed tried to catch his breath. "Aren't we s'posed to hate each other or something?"

Envy thought for a moment. "Hm. Yeah. That poses a problem." He held up the lollipop. "But lollipops solve everything. Now shut up and eat your candy."