Dear Reader,
Okay, just so you know I'm kinda sorta going in the direction of one of my favorite FanFics, Of Bullets and Mercury, in the sense that without the stones Envy and the others start to act differently. But that's not going to be the only reason they change. Expecially Envy. His chararcter begins to develop because Winry has made a huge impact on him. Ya, just wanted to clear that up! ENJOY!
- Ramona F.
Gathering
He lunged forward, his body moving impossibly fast, and his jaws where only inches from her, when he felt a horrible sickness in the pit of his being. He closed his eyes and let out a low moan.
" What did I say, Envy?"
He managed to open his eyes to see Dante standing in the door way, hands posed in front of her as if in prayer, and a deadly glint to her eyes. He had seen this look before, and knew it meant trouble.
A white light shone all around him, and Envy cursed himself for falling into her trap. He was over his bed, and he had all but forgotten that that damned woman had placed a human transmutation circle in every room, just in case. His was directly below his bed. Which he was positioned over right now. He could feel he was about to cough up those blasted fake stones, and he was too weak to stop himself from receding back into his preferred form. He closed his eyes and fell onto the bed, colliding with something warm and soft. He had enough time to inhale before he got sick, and he smelt that strange smell. An unknown sweetness. He got sick all over whatever it was, spilling tons of red stones from his stomach. They made dull clanking noises as they rushed from him, and he felt his power draining. He rested into the warm thing that smelt so delicious, and found soft hands fluttering over him in airy movements. He fidgeted. He hated being touched, unless he was the one making the contact. But he was too weak to protest, and he let the little hands smooth back his hair in an almost motherly way. He guessed for a moment it was Dante, finally giving him a small amount of motherly love, and he opened his eyes to look at her and tell her to get the fuck off of him. When he opened them, however, he was staring at a pair of pale blue eyes so wide with panic he thought he had finally died, and was in heaven. But then he realized, by the sick laughter coming from the other side of the dark room, and the now fading bright light, he, unfortunately hadn't died, but was still alive. And was resting his head on the lap of the very girl who had been stabbing him with a fork.
" Get...Off..." He grumbled.
" What?" She said, her voice shaky as she leaned in closer to him, her eyes only a half an inch from his, and her long hair sweeping over his neck, causing her smell to waif to his nose and dull his senses.
" Get off of me." He sputtered.
Her eyes flashed with anger.
" Your the one on me!"
He stiffened and tried to get up, but grunted when his stomach lurched forward and he coughed. He closed his eyes, and the dark laughter from the door way moved closer.
" You see, Envy is not a normal, human being, such as you and I..." Dante cooed.
Envy felt Winry stiffen.
Shit, he thought to himself, here she goes monologueing.
" W-what is he then?" Winry whispered.
" He is a homunculus. A being created from the failed human transmutation of a once living person. He has no soul, no heart, and is a sad excuse for a life. Those red stones make him stronger, and now that he's spit them all up, he's been rendered powerless. Don't worry, he will not harm you now. And hopefully this has taught him a lesson."
Envy wanted to rip her goddamned throat out with his teeth. He hated that blasted woman. He hated the power she had over him just because she had some stupid, delicious rocks, and he hated the way he bended to her every whim just to get them from her. He wanted nothing more than to leave her and her stupid plans to create a new philosophers stone, with fake promise of giving them human lives. Envy only stuck around for the hopes of finally finishing off the Elric's and his blasted father. When he had finally succeeded he would leave her, and go somewhere quiet, like his forgotten city. Envy didn't care about becoming human. He would lay down, slowly letting his body fade away. And when he finally did die, it would be for good.
But that stupid witch had ruined his plans. She punished him when he harmed the bastards children, and wouldn't let him any where near Hohenhiem of light.
He had once believed that Dante cared for him, because she was his mother when he had been human. But now he realized he was only her puppet. They all where. And for that, he wanted to see her rot, even if that was the state she was currently in.
" How can you be so cruel?"
Envy opened his eyes, to find Winry fiercely looking up at Dante, who held the same confused expression as Envy. He could feel her body shaking with rage, and she clutched his shoulders with her small hands. He frowned at her strange emotions, and looked about himself, trying to get up. He cried out as he felt a sharp stinging in his thigh. Blood was smeared around the many puncture wounds around his ouroboros tattoo, and he clutched at it painfully. It would take forever to heal, now that he had lost all of his stones. He glared up as the girl who was now defending him.
Human women, he thought, such fickle creatures.
" He was about to kill you, you foolish girl. Do not think for a fraction of a second he wasn't."
Envy agreed with her, he had been about to tear the girl apart. Perhaps swallow her whole.
" Even so... how can you say that about someone? He's a person! He has a soul, and a heart!"
Envy let out a bitter laugh, despite himself, and Dante looked down at him with her cold eyes.
" Get yourself cleaned up and come see me." she said coldly. She gave a curt nod to Wrath, who was somewhere in the room. Her face seemed to soften when she looked back down to Winry, and she smiled. " You too. I expect to see you dressed and well fed." But it didn't reach her eyes.
She left like she had come, quiet and cold, shutting the door behind her.
Envy finally let out a hiss of pain when she left, and Winry's hand went to the back of his head, lifting it gently as she replaced her soft lap with a pillow. He felt her move beside him, and heard the wet rocks clank together. She made a little noise in the back of her throat and Envy snickered through his pain. He must have thrown up all over her. He opened his eyes, delighted in seeing her expression when she looked down at herself and saw the disgusting mess he had made, only to growl in anger. She was looking down at where she had stabbed him, and her face was that of horror and regret.
" I'm sorry." She whispered.
" What the hell are you talking about!" He snapped.
She looked up at him with those wide eyes and tears pooled in them.
" I didn't mean to make you so upset. And then she...She came in and did this to you."
The rage which he had been expecting died as quickly as it came, when a tear streaked down her cheek like a comet it a night sky. Her breath came out quick and shuddering and she bit her bottom lip. Winry looked back down at his leg, and he was frozen still when she tore a piece of her white tank top and used it to blot away the blood. He hissed in pain at the contact.
" Stop that!"
She looked up at him, and all of the anguish drained from her face, replaced by anger. " I have to dress your wounds or you'll loose a lot of blood! Now hold still."
He tried to move away from her, but he winced in pain and went to clutch his burning thigh.
Envy grabbed onto her wrist, and with his now weakened strength she was almost as strong as he. He hissed at her and met her eyes, which where fierce with determination.
" Hold still!" she snapped.
Envy narrowed his eyes at her and pulled his hand away. He crossed his arms over his chest and growled in frustration and pain. A low moan came from across the room, and Envy watched as Winry nearly flew to Wrath's side.
" Wrath? Wrath, are you alright?"
Envy rolled his eyes. Humans, so caring. He wanted to get sick all over again.
" Uh...Huh?" he heard Wrath gasp. " Winry? Winry! Are you okay? Did...Where's Envy?"
" I'm here you idiot." Envy snapped before Wrath had a chance to ask again.
The little sin leapt up from his spot under the window sill and bounded over to jump on the bed and peer down at Envy. His eyes where wide with fright, and his attention was immediately drawn to his thigh. He gasped, and when he saw the stones around Envy's body he shuddered.
" How did...?"
" Dante." Envy snarled through his teeth.
Wrath nodded and shook with slight fear. The younger sin had only started eating the philosopher stones, and wasn't addicted to them yet. He didn't fully understand the burning want in Envy's stomach, or the dull ache of his gums for the power of the fake stones. He needed the delicious power they gave off, and the stones around him where useless, and making him nauseated. Their smell alone was sickly sweet, and tempting him. He closed his eyes.
The sound of clanking and slight movement beside him caused his eyes to snap open, and when he felt his head band being slightly tugged free of it's place, he hissed. Winry glared down at him, and successfully pulled out his band, placing it on the bedside table.
" What the hell do you think your doing, worm?"
She ignored him completely as she put her soft hand to his forehead, and made a concentrated face.
" Your a little warm, but nothing to worry about." she murmured, and removed her hand.
" I'm fine you idiot! It was the transmutation circle that made me sick!"
He tried in vain. She was in a whole other world, it seemed, trying desperately to take care of him. He seethed with anger, but was too tired to act out. He only laid and stewed as she ordered Wrath to get a basin of hot water, towels, and a whole bunch of other crap Envy didn't even knew they had, or how Wrath was supposed to find it all. But, somehow, the little thing came back with a large bowl of steaming water, and a first aid kit. When he handed her some fluffy black towels, Envy scowled at the sin. Winry patted him on the top of his head and he blushed, scratching the back of his head. Envy rolled his eyes.
" Now, this may sting a little." Winry warmed, a cotton swabbed poised over his wounds, dripped in something that smelled strong. Envy's sensitive nose twitched, and he sat up on his elbows, suddenly slightly nervous. He hated doctors, and really didn't like hospitals. Even the smell of something medical had him on the fritz.
" Wait, what are yo- holy shit!" he howled in pain as she brought down the stinging alcohol onto his deep cuts. When she moved the cotton over his skin he threw himself back down on the pillows and began screaming and thrashing about.
" Hold him down!" He heard her distantly instruct Wrath. The little sin did as he was told, and pressed down on Envy's tense shoulders. Envy looked up at him and was furious, He would pay later.
" Shh, it's okay now. I'm all done. It's okay." She murmured, taking a moment to throw away the cotton and dab one of the towels in the warm water, then pressing it to his leg. The relief was almost instant, and he stopped his thrashing, letting out a sigh.
She smiled down at him, and he scowled.
Her blue eyes locked onto his, and he realized when she smiled, it went up to her eyes.
A tingling went through his chest, and he clutched at it, trying to see if he had been stabbed there as well, because he felt a dull ache somewhere in the pits of where his hatred usually raged. He stared down at himself, and the feeling went as quickly as it came.
His attention was drawn back to her as she put a bandage over his wounds.
" You don't need to do that." His voice came out softer than he had meant it, and he scowled at himself. He found his throat had closed up, and he cleared it.
She looked up at him with her bright eyes questioning.
" I heal faster than you humans. I don't need them."
" Just shut up and rest. Don't move around or you'll open them back up."
She frowned and continued to patch him up. Envy closed his eyes in frustration, but felt his body relax back into his pillows. He hated himself for it.
Winry's little hands worked like magic, rubbing a strange disinfectant over his cuts while humming to herself. She wasn't disgusted at all, Envy noted. She wasn't like other girls, who would faint at the sight of blood. Or scream in the face of a dragon, who was about to swallow them up. She, instead, had found the closest weapon and defended someone she had just met. This bugged Envy to no end. What the hell was wrong with her?
" I don't understand you." He murmured.
" What is there not to understand?" She asked as she balled up the wrappers and tossed them in a pile of bloody cotton balls. The room smelt of chemicals and the slight twang of blood. He could no longer smell her delicious scent, or the stones. They had both lost their flavor.
He gestured to all of her, and she frowned.
" Um, I still don't-"
" Why are you being so nice to me! I almost ate you!"
She smiled and swished her hand in front of her, making a face like she had smelt something bad. He gaped in amazement at her indifference.
" You wouldn't have."
His jaw almost hit the floor.
" Yes I would have, you idiot!"
She narrowed her eyes at him.
" No. You wouldn't have! And stop calling me an idiot, idiot!"
He hadn't realized he had sat up, and they where merely inches from each other. Her face was all he could see, and her wide blue eyes where flaming with anger and a stubbornness that matched his own.
" What is wrong with you!" he yelled into her face.
" What's wrong with you!" She screamed back, bringing herself closer.
Winry poked him in the ribs and Envy bristled like a cat, his hair almost standing on end. The corner of his mouth twitched, and her blond eyebrows drew together as he fought to straighten it out.
She raised an eyebrow at his odd reaction, and she poked him again, harder this time.
His lips trembled as a laugh almost escaped him.
" Stop that!" He roared, his face flushing with embarrassment.
Winry continued to poke him as if he hadn't said anything and stared at him in her own amusement as he boiled in his growing anger. She was smiling like an idiot.
" Why are you so angry? You need to loosen up. God, your just like Edward."
He snapped.
Envy forgot of his burning pain ion his right leg, and launched himself at her, worming his body to straddle hers and holding her arms above her head. He brought his face down so they where only inches away from one another, and she blushed a deep crimson at the closeness. Once again he pretended he didn't notice her odd reaction, and he growled down at her.
" I'm nothing like that bastard. You hear me? Nothing!"
" W-who?" she whispered.
He tightened his grip on her wrists and he was sure he felt some of the bones shift.
" Fullmetal!" He screamed into her face, spitting on her a bit in the process.
She winced in pain and he felt Wrath's hands slap his back.
" Get off of her Envy!"
With one final look in her wide eyes, he pulled back from her, pinning himself against the far wall, digging his hands into the old wooden surface and flattening himself out. He needed to get away from her. He would kill her if he kept this up.
Winry winced as she stat up and stared down at her wrists, which where bright red with his hand marks. He watched her face go from shock, to anger as she looked up at him, her eyes a sea of hate. He smiled darkly, and stood confidentially.
" May that be a lesson to you."
She made her hands into tiny, shaking fists. Envy smiled at her anger.
" You idiot!"
He almost fell over.
" W-what?" he snarled.
She pointed to his thigh. He stood there with a dumbstruck look on his face, until he felt something warm pour down his leg. He looked down to see blood escaping from the bandages, running down his milky white legs and pooling on the floor. He sneered at his own weakness.
" Ugh! I told you not too move around! Here, lay back down!"
He rolled his eyes and stared at her, not even bothering to look as a bright white light shone from his many cuts from under the bandages. He tapped his foot impatiently as he felt the tissue pull back together, and once he felt it was finally finished, he began ripping off the bandages.
" No! Stop, you'll-"
She jumped off the bed and put her hands over the bandages, stopping his hands from making any progress. He glared down at her and ground his teeth together, then managed to slap her small hands away without breaking any of her slender fingers. He ripped off the first bloody bandage and her protests died off in her throat. Now Winry was staring dumbly at his bloody tattoo and flawless skin.
" See? I told you I healed faster." He smiled proudly at his leg.
He was surprised when she reached out with cautious fingers, and brushed his tattoo. It was, surprisingly, a sensitive spot, and he bristled just as he had when she had poked him. He gritted his teeth at her and crouched down, so they where now at eye level.
She looked horrible.
Her shirt was not only ripped, and covered in his blood, but also was sticking to her from sweat and, he guessed, his spit. Her pants where in worse condition. He grabbed her bruised wrist as gently as he could, and stood her up, dragging her to the small bathroom. She tried to pull away, but when he flicked on the light, she stopped her squirming, and made a small " Oh" sound. He pushed her inside, and before he shut the door, he met her eyes with his own.
" Wash up. Wrath will bring you something to change into."
She blushed again, and looked around herself at the electrically lighted bathroom, the lights very bright in contrast to the darkness of his room. She met his eyes, and he found the smile in her blue orbs. He wanted desperately to get away get away from them.
" Thanks."
He bared his teeth and slammed the door. He hoped she didn't think he was letting her wash up out of kindness. Had she forgotten that Dante had specifically said for her to be clean? Or did her human ears not hear that? Envy swallowed his frustration and realized he was holding onto the door handle too tightly, and the glass had begun to give way under his grip. He released it with a shaking hand and made a fist in the air, his knuckles popping loudly.
He turned his attention to Wrath, who was staring at him with wide eyes. Envy pointed a finger at him, and Wrath jumped a bit. He held back a dark chuckle, and decided to keep a straight face.
" Watch this door and listen out for her. If she escapes, I'm holding you fully responsible."
When he saw Wrath's shaky nod, he walked over to his bed side table and grabbed his head band. After securing it in place, he left the room, making his way down the dark halls like a shadow. He wasn't in the mood to hear his masters chattering, but he had no choice. She had what he wanted.
Winry stared at the door, listening to the green haired menace's foot steps fade. She had heard everything through the paper thin door. Envy's threat had been like a bucket of ice water being poured over her.
She had to get out of here.
She looked around herself frantically. But what was the use? There where no windows. And even if she grabbed a weapon, Envy could easily beat her. He had proved his strength only moments ago, and his strange powers. Winry doubted she could even raise a hand to Wrath. He was different from Envy. He was kind and gentle. Not at all like the other boy. At least, Winry thought he was a boy. Or was he a man?
Winry balled her hands into fists when she remembered her captors violet gaze on her. The thought sent a chill down her spine, and made her stomach turn upside down.
He was rude, crude, and possibly even more devious than Edward!
But he reminded her so much of him, it scared her. Sure, they didn't look a thing alike, Edward was short and tan, while Envy was tall and pale. But the confused rage behind those eyes, and his determination...It was strange. And when she had compared them out loud? Envy's reaction couldn't have been closer to the dramatics of her childhood friend. Typical Edward.
Winry sighed heavily and looked down at herself. She was glad he had allowed her to freshen up. She was sure she was beginning to smell. And he had vomited rocks on her earlier...Which had been a little more than alarming. But not so much as when he transformed into a dragon. She shivered, remembering the white light that enclosed around his body, and when it faded she was staring into the eyes of a roaring beast. He had been about to eat little Wrath, who had just been trying to protect her. She couldn't stop herself from picking up that fork and doing what she did. Only when that woman came in did she fully realize what she was doing.
That woman. She probably gave Winry the chills more than Envy did.
It was probably her eyes. Her cold, calculating eyes that seemed to stare into her when she spoke. And the way she had spoken about Envy? Sure, he wasn't the nicest of guys, but to say he had no heart? No soul? In Winry's book that was unforgivable. She felt a burning resentment for that woman, and could see in Envy's pain stricken eyes that he held an old hatred for her. She seemed to have a possessive control over him that Winry couldn't place, but she was sure it had something to do with those red stones that had actually come from his mouth. Winry hadn't been very disgusted by him throwing up on her, she wasn't a sissy girly girl, she had helped attach a fake arm to each and every one of Edwards nerves for Christs sake! But the way the woman had spoken about Envy, how she looked down at him with those chilling eyes...That had disgusted Winry. She couldn't believe this was the "master" Wrath had spoken about. The one who had fed them and had given them names. Who was she? What was she?
Winry thought deeply as she stripped off her shirt and pants, turning on the beautiful glass knob to the large tub. She watched the water pour into the cold porcelain surface, and almost didn't hear the light knock on her door.
" Y-yes?" She scrambled around for something to cover herself up with, and came up short as she realized she had nothing! Not even a towel!
The door slightly opened, and she held her breath.
Wrath stood in the door way with his eyes closed very tightly, and he was holding out a black towel and a robe in his out stretched hand. Winry couldn't help but smile at his cuteness.
" Thank you Wrath." she smiled and slipped on the robe.
He opened his eyes and blushed, looking down at his feet, shuffling them a bit.
" It's no problem..." He sniffled and looked up at her, his large purple eyes full of concern.
" What's wrong sweetie?" She asked.
" Please don't hate Envy! It's not his fault he's so mean all the time."
Winry gritted her teeth at the mention of that green haired lunatic. But she smiled for Wrath.
" Why do you say that?" She asked, dodging his request.
" Mommy says the stones make him like that. But I think he's just sad..."
" Sad?" she tilted her head to the side.
The idea of Envy, the Envy she had met, being sad about anything really didn't seem possible. And the fact the Wrath, who she had clearly seen was terrified of the sin, was sticking up for him, confused her.
" Ya...He's just really lonely."
She scowled.
" Just because he's lonely doesn't give him the right to be mean!"
Wrath sighed and looked up at her, and her heart just melted.
" Just try, okay?"
She stared down at the little boy, who clearly had bruises on his arms from the big bully. And she felt her heart go out to the poor little guy. She dropped her towel and wrapped her arms around him.
" Alright. I'll try." She lied into his hair.
He snuggled into her and she smiled. He was so sweet. How could he not have a soul?
" Wrath, what that lady, your master, said about humunculie not having a soul...was that true?"
Wrath stiffened, and looked up at her.
" Mommy says we don't...And so does Envy. So...I guess. But Master promised us that after she's done with her plan she'll give us souls, and then we'll be human!" He got excited and smiled up at her with his wide eyes.
Winry's eyebrows pulled together.
" What plan?"
His excitement faded.
" Mommy says I shouldn't tell you."
Mommy?
" You have a mother?"
He brightened. " Yes! She's beautiful! You can meet her later. She'll like you."
Winry frowned slightly, and was about to speak when she remembered the tub.
She turned off the water just before it spilled over and Wrath giggled, then left her to her bath. She sighed in both frustration and relief as she dropped her silky robe and lowered herself into the tub. Her sore muscles relaxed, and she momentarily forgot where she was. She lost herself in the delight of the warm water over her skin, and the feeling of being fresh. She dunked her head under, and wanted nothing more than to just lay at the bottom of the vast tub and sleep. But her lungs ached for air and she released the oxygen she had stored. Bubbles tickled her face, and she resurfaced. Her golden hair was now dark from the water, and floated around her like a curtain. She kept her mouth a chin in the water, and brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping them protectively around herself.
Edward was coming from her. She forced herself to believe it.
But she had seen the city. It looked like non other she had even seen, and she could have sworn the sky was made of rock. Where the hell was she?
Winry scrubbed her body with a delightful smelling purple soap, and washed her hair with a even finer smelling white liquid in an expensive looking antique, glass jar. It smelled of a dark floral scent she couldn't name, or remember where she had smelt it before. But it brought a strange calmness over her like no other.
Once she was finished she dried herself off and made her way back to the dark lit room, only to find Wrath playing on the floor with some little figures that looked like the ones she remembered seeing Ed and Al play with when they where little. Alchemy. She smiled at the fond memories, and found herself staring down at him with an almost pained expression. Wrath looked up at her with a smile, that quickly faded when he saw her face.
" What's wrong?"
She started, and found her smile again, " Oh, nothing. You just reminded me of someone."
" Edward?"
She stared at him, and he smiled. " There's a dress for you to wear on the bed."
Winry frowned as her attention was drawn to the dark bed, and fell apoun a long craft of silk, that she could have recall seeing before. She walked over and picked up the light blue silk in her hands. She had seen this! That woman had been sewing it last night. She had made this? For her? Winry highly doubted that. Something this beautifully crafted wasn't meant for a clumsy, scrawny mechanic. She wasn't pretty enough.
" I can't wear this! It's beautiful!"
" Of coarse you can!" Wrath smiled and pranced over, lifting up the dress as high as he could.
" It's perfect Winry! It's the same color as your eyes!"
Winry blew her drying bangs out of her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
She really had no other choice, did she? And walking around in her robe wasn't an option.
Winry carefully removed the light silk from his hands, and held the dress at arms length, as if it was a snake. She eyed it like it might bite.
" Here goes." She sighed.
After a few minutes of figuring out how to get the damned zipper to work, and trying in vein to stop herself from blushing, Winry emerged from the bathroom and stood, hands on hips, glaring at Wrath. His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. Her angry face faltered at bit and she flushed.
" Oh god, does it look that bad?"
Why couldn't she have sewn her some pants? Winry hated dresses! She always looked out of place, and always managed to destroy them. Somehow. Wherether it was oil grease of tearing the hem, the dress was trash by the end of the day. And how did anyone expect her to walk in this! Sure, it was flowing, and summery, not a gown or anything, but it reached to her bare feet and flowed thinly around her as she walked, and the thin straps did nothing to keep the chill that clung to mansion- at least she thought she was in a mansion- out. She desperately wanted a sweater and a pair of sweat pants!
" Your beautiful!" He bounded over to her and wrapped his arms around her middle, a habit of his. She smiled and patted the top of his head and enclosed him in her arms, relishing in the warmth he radiated. How could someone so warm and kind not have a soul? He was alive!
A knock on the door made her jump out of her skin, and the door creaked open slowly enough to make her mind jump and her imagination race as to what could be standing there.
A woman from her memories who she had remembered to be long dead stood in the door way. She wore a long black dress resembling her own, and long black gloves that went up her arms.
Trisha Elric.
" T-Trisha?" Winry whispered.
" Mommy!" Wrath smiled and detached himself from her, running up to the woman and giving her the same treatment. The woman looked down at him and smiled softly, smoothing his hair.
" Hello darling. And how are you?"
Winry almost fell down from the shock.
And then she remembered something that cold woman had said...Something about human transmutation. Her blue eyes went wide with realization.
She wasn't looking at Edward and Alphonse's actual mom. She was looking at the thing Granny Ponako had called a monster. The thing that had been the result of Alphonse loosing his body and Ed his arm and leg. But they had said it hadn't looked a thing like their mother...But this woman standing before her was the spitting image! Winry couldn't help but walk over to her and reach out. Before she could touch the memories surface, a gloved hand came out and touched her outstretched fingers.
She met the dark blue depths of Trisha Elric, and the pale woman smiled. But it was sad and collected. Not at all warm like the woman from her memories.
" I'm sorry...But my name is Sloth."
Winry's heart sank. She looked up at the woman who had been like a second mother to her, and she could help but hold onto her fingers. Winry smiled as best as she could.
" I'm Winry. Pleased to meet you."
Sloth smiled warmer, " Yes, I know. Wrath has told me so much about you."
Wrath blushed, " Mommy!"
Sloth laughed, and the sound was like rain. Winry found herself laughing a bit too, and she realized she was still holding onto Sloth's hand.
" Sorry." She blushed and held her hand behind her back. Sloth only smiled, a little warmer this time.
" It's alright. I realize I must look...A little familiar to you."
Winry looked up at her and couldn't stop the sadness that swelled into her heart.
" The Master would like to see you." Sloth smiled and gestured out to the hallway, easily stepping aside with Wrath still attached to her hip. He let go and did a cartwheel excitedly down the hallway, into the darkness. Winry was surprised by his sudden outburst, and found herself smiling.
" This way Winry!" He called from somewhere in the darkness.
As if on cue, lights where turned on from over head, revealing a long hallway of wood paneled floors and lavishly decorated walls. Winry marveled at them for a moment before Sloth glided past her, and she found she was being left behind. She followed the skipping boy and the floating woman until she was brought to a door down the hall. It was darker in this part of the hall, even though the lights where now on. Winry got goosebumps, and she folded her arms over herself. While she was shivering, she didn't notice a wrap being placed over her shoulders from behind. She jumped and turned to find another woman standing behind her.
She was a vision of loveliness, with black waved hair and a sculpted heart shaped face, with blood red lips and matching red eyes. Her voluptuous body was accentuated by the black dress she wore, and her long gloved fingers gracefully dropped a black cover up on Winry's shoulders. The tall beauty smiled down at Winry, and Winry found herself smiling back.
" It's a little chilly in here." The woman said in a voice smooth as silk.
" Yes, it's freezing! How can you stand it?"
" I'm Lust. And you are?" She answered with a question, and raised her sculpted eyebrow.
" Winry! Winry Rockbell." Winry outstretched her hand. The woman smiled and lightly shook it. Her grip was surprisingly firm but gentle. Winry heard a faint sucking sound, and looked down to find a fat bald man standing beside the woman. He was sucking on his hand and looking up at her with glowing red eyes. She bristled a bit.
" Can I, Lust?" He whined.
Lust's face became angry and she lightly smacked the little man on the top of his head.
" You will not touch her Gluttony."
Winry got shivers. But not from the cold.
Gluttony whined and rocked on his heals like a baby.
Lust sighed and turned her attention to something behind Winry. She was a great deal taller than her, and could see clear over her head.
" Better get a move on, she's getting impatient."
Winry jumped as Lust hooked her arm through hers in a very friendly manner, and they almost glided down the hall together, coming to a large door. Gluttony pushed it open for the two, and Winry's eye's adjusted to the darkness.
It was the room she had been brought to before, and the woman was sitting in her chair, sewing once again. She looked like a horrible ice queen, and her servants where the pale, strangely dressed homunculus surrounding her.
Sloth was sitting in a old couch she hadn't noticed before, with Wrath beside her, laying into her slightly. The little boy smiled slightly when he saw Winry, but stopped himself. Sloth motioned for her to come sit down, and Lust guided her to the couch. It was only when she sat between Wrath and Lust, that she saw him.
He was leaning against the window sill, sitting just as he had in his room. His face was...Calm. Collected, and deep in thought. He didn't notice her come in, and she doubted anyone could break that concentration. Once again, she was reminded of Ed.
" Ah Lust, welcome back. And how's Ishbal?" The woman smiled.
" Boring, as usual. I'm glad to be home."
The woman laughed and fixed her gaze on the room, sighing.
" I do miss Greed. It worries me when he runs off like this."
" Ha. He's been gone for decades. I wonder why you haven't ended him by now."
Envy's voice cut through the atmosphere like a knife, and despite the warm cover up and fire, Winry shivered. She heard Lust sigh beside her.
" I see you've all met Winry." The woman said, ignoring him.
Envy sneered at Winry from the darkness, and she felt her heart go into her throat.
" She's with us now. I don't want anyone harming her."
Her statement seemed to be directed more at Envy than anyone else. He snickered darkly.
" Come on Dante, why don't you tell us why? We're dying to here your newest plan." On the last statement his voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Dante. So, that's her name.
" Silence Envy!" She snapped impatiently.
The sin stopped his snickering, but kept his evil grin. He glared at the back of the woman's head. Winry could see his hands clench then unclench. She took that as his tick for when he was angry or irritated.
" I just wanted to let you all know that we'll be leaving for the summer home in a month. It's getting terribly cold in here, and I can hardly stand it. This will give us some time to...Recuperate." She smiled at some strange joke Winry didn't understand.
What was going on? Where were they going?
" Good. I'm getting sick of this place." Envy said as he stretched and put his arms behind his head. Winry realized now that he was the only one who had spoken at all, besides Lust. But she had been asked a question. He was like that one kid in class who would act out for attention. The class clown. That or the others where afraid, and Envy was anything but scared of Dante. Heck, Winry even found herself snapping into attention when the woman spoke. But not him. She was once more reminded of Edward, who hated authority. And Dante appeared to be the authority around this place.
" And Wrath, how is your training coming along?" Dante asked the boy.
He shivered, and Winry wanted to wrap her arm around him.
" Um...F-fine I guess."
Envy snorted, " He's horrible. Worst student I ever had."
Winry's eyebrows pulled together. Student?
" He's terrible at stealth, can't keep his balance, and isn't fast enough. If there where grades in assassin school, he'd get a big, fat F." Envy snorted.
Oh, Winry thought to herself. So Envy's training him. The green haired teen didn't seem like he was capable of teaching anything, let alone stealth. Even though, she had to admit, he had been like a shadow the night he had taken her. Thinking about it gave her goose bumps.
" Maybe the problem lies with the teacher, and not the pupil." Dante said coldly.
Envy bristled.
" I'm the best. The kid just doesn't have what it takes."
Dante smiled and finally put down her needle. " Maybe so." She looked up at Wrath with her cold, dead eyes that seemed to pierce through him. " Maybe you aren't needed after all."
Silence hit the room like an anvil. Even Envy was taken back. His face dropped from it's lop sided smirk, and he was glaring at his Master. Now Winry understood. She understood completely.
" Your just a bully." Winry whispered.
The other sins looked at her with wide eyes. All except for Envy.
" What?" Dante hissed.
Winry stood and pointed a finger at the cold queen.
" How are you any different from them?"
She answered with a question, something she had picked up.
Dante glared at her and a small smile formed on her frosty lips.
" Your bold. I like that. But don't let it become a nuisance," she snapped her fingers, " Envy, I believe you're in charge of her. Show Winry to her room." A small glint came to Dante's eye.
Envy's jaw flexed and unflexed as he made his way over to Winry. Surprisingly, his grasp was gentle, but firm, and she found she was on her feet, being pulled from the little meeting room. She looked back one last time, to see Dante smirking at Envy. Winry could have sworn she heard her say something before the door was shut. Like, " Good boy."
The lights seemed to be dimmer in the hall way, and the chill in the air was almost glacial. She snuggled into her cover up and was almost grateful for Envy's touch. His warmth was impossibly cozy, and she couldn't stop herself from walking closer to him. She didn't know if he noticed or not. He was so focused on walking he didn't seem to see anything else but the hallway, and his eyes where tight with frustration.
" She really gets to you, doesn't she?"
Envy shuddered suddenly, and stopped walking. He looked down at his hand which was still wrapped around her wrist, and let go as if it where scalding him. He looked into her eyes with a scowl, and she couldn't help but get lost in the beauty of their amethyst depths. She slapped herself mentally, scolding herself. Snap out of it Winry! But she couldn't stop. She felt like a fly, trapped in the web of his beautiful eyes.
He looked down at her with an amused expression.
" Nice dress."
She blinked in surprise, instantly reddening in the cheeks and breaking free of his hypnotic gaze. She reminded herself to refrain from looking into his eyes directly. Oh, right, he was waiting for her to answer and she was just staring up at him like an idiot! She tucked a furious stray hair behind her ear that just wouldn't stay put. To no avail, it fell from place.
" Um, thanks."
" You look cold." His smile became darker, and she didn't understand what he meant, or what he was looking at. It certainty wasn't her face. She got butterflies, and she tried to calm herself.
" Well, it's freezing in here."
Why is he just staring at me like that?
He shrugged, his strange amusement fading as quickly as it had come.
" It's always like that during the summer. Guess I'm used to it. That or your feeble human body is weaker than I thought." He sneered.
Winry rolled her eyes at his statement and walked past him. He made an annoyed sound and walked beside her. His intimidation on her was slipping away fast, and she found him to be as annoying as Edward. Minus the height.
" So, what time is it anyway?" She asked, looking around the hallway.
" Who knows? There's no way of telling around here."
Her stomach grumbled and she blushed. Envy looked at her and snickered.
" You and your humanity."
" Well excuse me! Someone interrupted my breakfast!"
He growled down at her, his smile fading, " If you hadn't run your big mouth, then you would be well fed. Think about that the next time you insult me!"
She laughed, remembering her joke.
" Shut up." He growled.
" You should have seen your face!" She giggled and stopped walking, bending over slightly.
Envy's anger was simmering now, and he raised his shoulders slightly.
" Enough!"
Winry wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and she stopped laughing.
After a few minutes all was quiet, until she giggled; " But you do look like a pa-"
" I do not!" He snapped.
She raised an eyebrow at him and glared.
He's just like Edward, she thought. Except his per peeve was being called short.
" Stupid human..." He mumbled, finally turning away and stomping down the hall.
" Stop calling me a human, you jerk!" She placed her hands on her hips and stomped her foot.
He rounded on her and glared, while she just shook with anger and stayed in place.
" I'll call you what I wish, human." He sneered.
" Fine then, homunculus." She taunted back, using the same tone.
Both crossed their arms over their chests, and turned their noses away from one another in anger. They stood like that for a good solid ten minutes before her stomach growled impatiently.
" You really need to loosen up..." She grumbled, still not giving up.
" And you really need to get some intelligence." He quipped.
She glared at him in anger, and then her stomach gurgled again.
" Do you want food or not?" He snapped.
She shut her mouth and briskly nodded. She felt like she might get sick if she didn't eat soon.
" Then shut your mouth and follow me."
Envy took off at a fast pace, and she desperately wanted to grab onto him to keep up, but stopped herself. He would probably snap her fingers off or yell at her. And she was too hungry to fight at that moment. He led her down the hall, and down a winding stair case that led to a large parlor. There was a giant door, and judging by the windows on either side of it, she guessed that was the entrance. She made a mental note of how to get their from the hall, and continued to follow the green haired teen. She had time to study his hair color now that they where in a better light, and it was, in fact, a dark green. She smiled to herself. Green with envy...And then she remembered the dragon. It had also been green.
" Is that what you really look like?"
He was ahead of her, so she had no idea to tell what his expression looked like. But, guessing from his body language, she could tell she must have hit some chord. He clenched and unclenched his fists and she saw the muscles on his shoulders ripple. For a moment, Winry marveled in his well defined body.
She slapped herself again and screamed into her head of how foolish she was being.
" I have the power to shape shift."
He did that annoying thing where he dodged her question, but his statement had stunned her.
Her mind swam with the possibilities.
" So you can look like anyone you want?" she asked, not trying to contain the excitement in her voice. What an amazing ability!
Suddenly it was no longer Envy walking before her, but a short, blond haired, golden eyed boy she thought she'd never see again. Her heart became warm when he turned and gave her his trademark smile, revealing his perfect teeth.
" Edward?" She whispered.
She couldn't help but reach out and carefully put her fingers on the side of his face. He felt like Edward. And he was most definitely real.
" Nope."
The voice came out like Envy's and she couldn't help but shutter. She withdrew her hand and cradled it to her chest as if she had been burned.
" There, that's better." he smirked an all too Envy smile, in the voice of Edward.
" You can do voices to?"
" Yep." He smiled widely and spun on his heals, when he stopped, he was suddenly a handsome, tall dark haired man with dark eyes.
Mustang!
She marveled at his ability.
" Wow." She breathed as she looked him up and down.
" You like that? You'll love this..."
He smiled and spun again, this time taking on the form of Winry herself.
" Your me!" She giggled and clapped.
And he was. Long blond hair, dress, and all. Except his expression was completely his own, with his side ways smirk. He ran a hand through his long blond hair and smirked, looking down at himself. She couldn't help but blush at the way he was touching her body...His body...She was so confused.
" Endowed you are my dear." His voice purred from her lips, and suddenly she was looking at Envy's eyes in her face. She let out a silent scream of alarm in her head.
At her expression he snickered, and it just didn't look right coming from her face.
Suddenly the bright light flashed again, starting from his head down. He was himself again, standing with his hands on his hips, smiling confidently at her.
" Does it...Hurt?"
He frowned. " Of coarse not! Why would I do it so much if it hurt?"
He had a point, and she felt stupid for having asked.
" Are all of you able to do this?"
His smile widened and his chest puffed out in pride.
" Nope, just yours truly." he smirked and placed a hand on his chest.
Winry stared at him for a moment, and was suddenly aware of how handsome he was.
She had a hard time believing this was his true form.
Her mind was swirling with questions.
Why was she here?
Who was this mysterious Dante? And what power did she have over the homunculus?
And why the hell did she find herself blushing at that green haired weirdo!
He was the one who had brought her here after all. Taken her away from Edward and Alphonse in the dead of night like some monster from a fairy tale. Now she found herself in a strange place, and surrounded by even stranger characters.
Winry barely noticed when he came to stand close to her, his face inches from her down cast gaze. She looked up at him and jumped lightly. She looked up to see his demeanor was...Calm. Not at all twisted or evil. And how lovely he looked to her, with his soft eyes and delicate features. He was very handsome. She blushed. No way could he be real.
Those amethyst eyes where just too beautiful.
She tried in vein to pry her eyes away from his, but they held her in place.
Wrath's words rung in her head.
" Mommy says the stones make him like that. But I think he's just sad..."
And it was true. His eyes where seas of despair and anguish now. Not malice.
Envy had coughed up a lot of those strange stones that morning. Maybe Wrath was right. And maybe the stones had an affect on all of the humunculie. Maybe that was how Dante was controlling them! Winry couldn't be sure. Her assumptions where put on halt when she felt Envy's hands touch her face. She blushed despite herself.
He brought a finger up to a stray piece of hair that hand fallen in her face, and brushed it behind her ear slowly, dragging his knuckles down the side of her cheek and giving her a glorious sensation down her spine. He held her chin between his thumb and index finger, and tilted her head up slightly. Her eyes became wide with anticipation and fright. Oh god! What is he doing? She screamed in her head. She couldn't help the way her lips twitched slightly as his breath stirred over them, filling her senses with his delicious, unknown sent. She couldn't help the awakening of something foreign to her in the pit of her stomach that engulfed her senses. Winry looked up into his violet eyes, to see they where suddenly filled with amusement. And...Was he snickering!
" Humans are so easily led on."
The quickening pace of her heart halted to a stop. Her face drained of all it's color as realization hit her in the face like a bucket of cold water.
The thoughts she had been having about him possibly having a soul, let alone a heart, where suddenly thrown from her mind along with her assumptions. She was no longer feeling light headed, warm, or fuzzy. Now all she saw staring at her where the cold eyes of a dragon who had tricked her, and was now snickering- yes, snickering!- at his own, sick joke.
A new feeling was a blaze inside her now. Anger. Sheer, uncontrollable anger. She lost her appetite. Winry wished she had a big wrench to clock him over the head with.
Without a word, she took a step back from him, ripping her face from his firm grasp. His dark emerald eyebrows pulled together, and his amused expression faltered slightly. She didn't give him time to respond. She turned on her heals and ran back the way she had come.
She almost didn't hear him shout, " What did I say?"
Winry kept her head down as she ran up the stairs. She held onto her warm wrap and let the dread she had been holding back sweep onto her like a blanket of terror. She clutched at her heart.
They weren't coming. They had forgotten about her.
Winry would just have to escape herself!
But how?
She bumped into something, and she looked up to find Lust staring down at her with a confused expression. The tall beauty raised an arched eyebrow at the blond teen. Her black lips tugging slightly.
" Something troubling you?" The raven haired woman asked nonchalantly.
" I hate men!" Winry shouted, hiding her face in her hands.
Not only was she embarrassed that she let herself fall into Envy's trap, and then to hear him openly joke about it, but she was also angry at the Elric's. Particularity the eldest. Who had been leading her on her entire life!
She felt a firm hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to see understanding red eyes.
" Tell me about it."
Okay, when it says " She has what he wanted" or whatever, don't be thinking no nasty thoughts! He means A) the philosophers stones and B) She has say whether or not he can kill Edward. so he has to listen to her or he won't get his revenge, even if he hates her guts! All poor Envy really wants is a mommy. * Cries for him* it's okay Envy! I love you! Oh, and if your senseing Lust and Winry girl bonding, then your right. And NO Lust and Envy will not and have not done anything. They're more like bickering brother and sister. Lol you'll see in the next chapter. It's probably the funniest so far. * Envy snickers from behind me* Oh, and I do love that word. Snicker...Sorry if I over use it * Sweat drops*