After Mustang left, Selim managed to convince his mother to go home and rest. Once she did, he proceeded to sleep deeply himself.

Truthfully, that was probably why he woke up so early and why he felt so much better than he had before. Thankfully his body had healed already, probably before he'd even returned to Central. He knew the hospital was just keeping him there by order of the military and that they would probably release him soon. That release couldn't come quickly enough.

He wasn't sure whether he should be pleased that no one else had come into the room while he slept or not. His mother would not have been an unwelcome sight, but the solitary feeling of the otherwise empty room had an appeal all its own. After all, he hadn't really been alone since Risembool, and he really did need some time to gather his thoughts.

The guards Mustang had posted outside the room would undoubtedly still be there, but he had his space. Of course, the moment anything happened someone would come running, and really, if he thought about it, he was almost as much of a prisoner here as he'd been under his father. Suddenly the room that had seemed so large and empty before became stifling, and he wanted nothing more than to leave.

He wanted—needed—one final taste of freedom (real freedom) before he began this new phase of his life under the military. He had no difficulty in using his shadows to turn off the machines slowly, one by one. Either the guards were distracted or not very good because they didn't come in. Thankfully.

Two hours later, Roy Mustang, a small entourage of his lackeys, and one Edward Elric came to escort Selim Baker (aka Bradley) to the Baker residence. They found an empty room.

xXx

If, one month before, Edward had been in the same position that he found himself in now, he knew he would have been frantic, rushed and more-or-less freaking out. Now he found that he felt no need to hurry. After what the stuck-up Fuehrer-wannabe had said, though, the difference was understandable. He'd ditched the military not long after they'd started searching. They could conduct their rigid scans, but he had a few places in mind that he wanted to search himself.

The first area, a memorial park he and Al had passed by fairly often when they'd lived in Central, yielded no fruit, and so he continued onto the next area. Three or four tries later, he struck gold when he found a certain homunculus sitting on a hill overlooking one of the aqua ducts that flowed through the capitol city.

At first he didn't know what to do. Just walking up and demanding for Selim to follow him didn't really seem right, so he finally shrugged and took a lazy stroll up to the figure, studying him from behind as he did so.

He looked like any normal teenager should have, just a kid with no real worries out enjoying the warm, spring weather. He even had a jacket and a pair of baggy pants on and Ed was pretty sure he didn't want to know where the boy had gotten them.

Selim didn't so much as twitch as Ed walked up to him, and he was sure he had the drop on the boy until he spoke.

"It figures that you would be the one to find me," Selim muttered grumpily. His wariness peaked and he glanced at the local shadows suspiciously. One of them had to be facing this direction. When nothing obvious revealed itself, he decided to ignore it for now and instead, sat down next to the smaller figure. They both gazed out at the calm day, reveling in the slight breeze that smelled faintly of soot and grass. Central would never be home to Edward Elric, but it had a charm all its own.

"Well," Ed said as nonchalantly as he could in reply, "someone had to."

The homunculus scoffed. "I'll bet they're frantic trying to find me."

"Not really," Ed responded with a small, wry smile.

Selim turned and eyed the taller man skeptically.

"Promise," Ed said, smile turning mischievous. "They are out looking for you, but they're not in any real hurry. That's why I wanted to find you first. Had to wonder what would make General Stick-Up-His-Butt not hate you anymore."

Selim scoffed again. "Oh, he still hates me, I have no doubt. He's just not afraid of me anymore."

Edward turned and studied his reluctant companion with a raised eyebrow. "Guess that just shows how much of an idiot he still is. From what I hear, you've just learned how to use alchemy, you can still use those freaky shadows and you can still eat the country out of house and home. Why wouldn't he be afraid of you if you just got more powerful?"

For several seconds Selim didn't answer. When he did his voice was so low Edward almost couldn't hear him. "Because I lost any freedom to really use any of my powers. He suspects it at least if he hasn't heard it from Mandy. That is why he no longer fears me."

Edward had heard it that morning from Mustang, who had apparently heard it from the girl—Mandy apparently—that Selim had supposedly saved (although Ed still wasn't a hundred percent sure he believed that story).

"What do you mean?" he asked anyway, wanting to hear the homunculus' side of the tale.

The boy sighed. "I don't know why I'm telling one of my worst enemies this," he paused and glanced over at Ed with a strange, almost expectant expression, "except that I think maybe you of all people can understand." With that he turned to gaze at the aqueduct again, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his elbows on them.

"I have a container again. My freedom is what I had to give up to get Mandy's soul back. That water down there is one of my barriers. I can go no further without risking severe harm to myself. I will never be able to leave Central again."

Hearing Selim Bradley of all people say that was a bit of a shock, but the boy was right in the fact that Ed did understand to an extent. He knew homunculi and he knew what it was like to have the gate take something from him. He was grateful he had a heads up though.

"Oh," he managed to say, hoping it sounded sincere. "That's…surprising."

"You knew," Selim muttered. "Thank you General Blabbermouth." The sentence was so strange coming from him that Edward had to blink at him for several seconds, as if to make sure he was really there, before he burst out laughing.

Selim, shocked, turned to face him. "What?"

"That's a good one," Ed said breathlessly. "Although I have a billion others if you want to use them."

"What?"

The former alchemist waved his hand through the air dismissively. "Names that fit our 'Esteemed General'. You forget, I had to work under that jerk too. We weren't exactly the best of friends, you know."

Selim smirked ever so slightly. "Yes, I know. I may have to take you up on that offer at some point."

They fell into a surprisingly comfortable silence after that, each content to mull over their own thoughts.

"You're right," Edward finally said. At Selim's inquisitive look he continued. "I do understand your situation. Huh, never thought I'd say that to you. Who would have ever thought that we'd have something in common?"

Selim's expression turned dry. "You mean other than the fact that our fathers look identical, that my father got his looks and body from your father and you are probably my closest living relative?"

Edward shot him an unimpressed glare. "You know what I meant."

Surprisingly enough, that made Selim smile ever so slightly. Ed couldn't help the surprise that bubbled up in his throat. The smile wasn't cruel or angry or malicious at all. Truthfully, it seemed more sad than anything else.

"So," the former alchemist said, his voice a little more tentative. "What made you decide to give that up for a human?"

The homunculus seemed to draw in on himself, hunching into his jacket as if it would protect him.

"I don't want to talk about it."

It was Edward's turn to scoff. "Yeah, right. You wouldn't have said anything aloud in that case. Your pride wouldn't let you."

Apparently, the boy didn't appreciate the pun because he scowled. However, he must have also recognized the truth in the comment because he answered.

"I became weak," he said. "Once you drained my philosopher's stone of all its souls, I reverted back to my original form's basic functions. Because of this, I started to develop a gate. According to Truth, only humans can have gates…which makes absolutely no sense because the Earth had a gate as well, but then that gate may have been inherently different than anything you or I could ever comprehend, if only because of scale."

The scientist inside of Edward was fascinated.

"So," he said, unable to keep that note of wonder out of his voice, "you started to develop a human soul?"

"Something like that," Selim muttered.

Ed continued, unable to stop himself. "How did this come about? How did it manifest? Did you begin to gain more emotions? A conscience? Compassion?"

Selim's face continued to grow darker as Ed spoke.

"I knew this was a bad idea," he grumbled.

Edward studied him intently for several seconds. "So that's why you couldn't kill Mustang on the train, isn't it. It's why when we cornered you in Risembool you didn't kill those two bounty hunters you were running around with, and I'm guessing it's why you decided to go to that hotel they found you in, isn't it? Someone you cared for was there, weren't they?"

"Yes!" Selim yelled angrily. "I could rationalize my way out of it at the time, but..." he suddenly seemed to deflate. "I suspect you're right. I just wasn't being honest with myself. Not fully."

With that, he dropped his head onto the arms he'd rested across his knees in defeat. "It still hurts to admit, but even still…I want to be alright with that, with who I am. I don't want to have to lie to myself anymore. I think…that my pride may have been just as much of a prison as Father's word was."

Ed wasn't sure what shocked him more, the fact that Selim was acting so...un-Pride like, or that the homunculus could even admit his thoughts and conclusions at all, let alone to someone he wasn't exactly friends with.

And wasn't that the strangest thing? Edward was having a calm, philosophical discussion with a three hundred year old artificial being, and not just any being, but one he had considered one of his greatest enemies. He didn't sound or look like anything remotely dangerous now, though. Truthfully he looked…well, like a fifteen year old boy who had just had his world ripped away from him.

The former alchemist sat there dumbly for a moment, unsure of what to do. He'd never been the best person to turn to for comfort, and yet he couldn't not say anything.

"Do you regret it?"

Selim turned to look at him questioningly. "Regret what?"

"Saving that girl."

And the homunculus, for all intents and purposes, looked as if he were honestly thinking about the question.

"I told her I didn't," he finally said. "And part of me doesn't...but part of me... I don't think I'll ever be rid of either side, and I'm not sure I want to, but this struggle is exhausting."

And Ed couldn't help but laugh at that too. "That, my dear cousin, is what being a human is all about."

The homunculus actually jumped at Ed's words. "C-cousin?!"

Ed shrugged. "Close enough."

"And what brought this on?" Selim asked suspiciously.

Again, Ed shrugged. "Don't really have a reason except that you sound like you need all the support you can get."

"Why would you do that? I don't understand! Humans are so illogical!" the dark-haired boy actually wailed.

"You said so yourself, I'm probably your closest living relative. Besides, it will give me an excuse to keep an eye on you."

Ed saw Selim connect the dots in his mind because he relaxed ever so slightly, and was that disappointment? Surely not...

"For your own peace of mind."

And that statement made the emotion Edward thought he saw on the kid's face even more incredulous and unlikely.

"Something like that," he answered, then decided to change the subject.

"So, what's going to happen now?"

At that, Selim sighed again giving him that 'fine, I'll humor you' look that teenagers always seemed to know. It was an amusing expression to see on his face. "As you probably already know, I will be going into the military. They aren't really giving me a choice. I go and work for them and I can live. At least that's what Mustang said."

"Not too bad of a deal," Edward commented. "Considering."

"Of course not," Selim said bitterly. "It's only another restriction on what little freedom I've retained."

Edward frowned at that. "Yeah, about that. You never seemed like the type to care about freedom before. When did that change?"

Selim slumped even further down. "After I lost my memories, I didn't even realize how important my ability to choose was, let alone consciously acknowledge what I could do with it. Before that, all that mattered was Father's plans. I think that is how all of the Homunculi thought. Well, all except Greed, but he didn't care for freedom so much as he cared to fill that hole inside of him that represented his sin. You even said as much in your book, didn't you?"

Edward felt his eyes widen just a little at that and he raised one eyebrow. "You read our book?"

Selim smiled wryly. "Of course I read your book. It was the only one that gave me the answers I had been searching for."

Edward nodded. That made sense, he supposed. "Well, a lot of what we wrote in there was conjecture based almost exclusively on our altercations during our youth and comparison of you and the other homunculi."

"Pretty accurate guesses," Selim muttered.

"Thanks," Edward responded cheekily as the homunculus rolled his eyes.

"In any case, these last few weeks have given me a new perspective. For the first time in my 300 years of existence, I had the chance to focus on myself, on who I was and what I wanted. It…was enlightening. I am not, and I suspect that perhaps I have not been all along, who I thought I was. I never would have learned that otherwise without that freedom."

"You don't want to live for someone else, huh?" Ed asked, contemplating the words with a thoughtful expression.

Selim's brow furrowed. "No, that's not it. I…I don't mind living for other people. I just want to live for people who are truly worthy of the time and effort I wish to give. People who will reciprocate that dedication instead of those who will use it and then discard it when it becomes convenient."

"Sounds pretty proud to me," Ed said wryly, glancing over at the homunculus. Before Selim could retort, though, he continued. "Then again, pride often comes from loyalty, and loyalty can inspire pride. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. And you do still have the ability to make your own choices now, so not everything was taken from you."

Selim seemed somewhat appeased, but still didn't look as if he liked how Ed had quipped at him like that. "Perhaps not, but…"

"You still want it back," Edward couldn't help but finish as he rubbed his metallic leg absently.

"Yes," Selim whispered. "I still want it back."

More silence between them, this one thoughtful and longing.

"What is General Wannabe going to have you do?" Edward asked after several moments, deciding to speak up as he didn't like that silence and he was genuinely curious. Just where was there room in the Military for someone with Selim's…talents? Espionage? Assassination? Edward repressed a shudder.

Selim shrugged in response. "I told him that as long as they don't send me to kill anyone I'll do just about whatever they want. I don't really care at the moment and I do not see that changing."

This kid was just full of surprises today. "That doesn't seem like a stipulation you would have a problem with."

The homunculus slumped a little further. "I don't want to be Pride anymore." He frowned as if examining the thought. "I don't want to be Selim either. Truthfully, I don't know what I want, but I think that my refusing to kill humans was what gave Selim a fighting chance—why I didn't end up becoming that monster again and why I ever had a shot at freedom to begin with. Just going around killing people like I did before would be like me giving up everything I've worked for."

That, perhaps more than anything else, allowed Edward to relax. "Maybe we're more alike than I wanted to admit after all," he commented in slight annoyance. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Selim frown in annoyance.

"Please, don't remind me."

And again, Edward laughed, deeply and heartily. When he calmed down, he noticed Selim watching him with the same expression he'd had earlier. "Maybe I can give you a few Alchemy tips."

Selim rolled his eyes. "Please. I already know just about everything about Alchemy that anyone can know."

"In theory," Edward pointed out, more than pleased to be getting the better of his former rival. "Bet you'll give the other alchemists a run for their money though," he conceded before his companion could respond.

In response, Selim just smirked quietly, eyes fixed on the running water below.

"I hear they do a sort of academy training for alchemists these days," Edward continued. "Bet you'll fly through it and graduate by this time next month."

Selim looked rather pleased with that comment. "You are probably correct, if I were joining the Military immediately."

Ed paused, cocking his head to the side. "You're not?" At Selim's head shake he couldn't help but press. "How did you pull that off?"

"I simply pointed out that I'm still only fifteen."

"You're over 300," Edward replied, face deadpan.

Selim snickered. "It is funny you would say that. General Mustang said almost the exact same thing in the exact same tone. Is that why you don't like him, little alchemist? Because you're too much alike?"

That quickly, Edward's smile disappeared, replaced by a scowl. "I'm not little, I'm not an alchemist and I am not like him!"

The homunculus' smirk grew, although he didn't turn to look at the human next to him.

"I am over three hundred," Selim finally continued. "As a homunculus. I still only have fifteen years of human experience. I need more. I think they're going to need some time to prepare for me in the Military because Mustang conceded rather quickly. He just reiterated that they would be watching me in the mean time. I, of course, wouldn't have expected any differently."

"Of course," Edward said, his good humor beginning to return.

"So, do you know what you want to do now?"

The brown-haired boy snorted. "Didn't I just explain that all to you?"

"That's what's going to happen, not what you want," Ed pointed out, noting that he used the same tone that he had with his own children and wondering if Selim would catch on.

He did get Ed's connotations, but didn't seem to notice his tone. "No, I'm still not completely sure," he mumbled. "Which is why I'm just going along with their plans, I suppose."

Ed smiled. "No one ever is sure, no matter what they say."

"Speaking from experience, are you?" The former Alchemist supposed Selim could be more bitter somehow if he worked at it.

After a moment, Ed shrugged. "When I was eleven, I was sure I wanted my mom back, no matter the cost. When I was 13, I was sure I could handle being a State Alchemist, no matter what they had me do. When I was 14, I just wanted the philosopher's stone, no matter what it took to get it. I thought I was sure. I wasn't. So yeah, I'd say I'm speaking from experience."

Again the silence stretched between them, anticipatory but not uncomfortable.

"That…was not something I expected to hear from you," Selim finally said.

Edward couldn't help but chuckle a bit at that. "What can I say? I've wised up in my old age."

He could have sworn that he saw another smile on the homunculus' face, one of exasperated fondness, but it was gone in the next instant.

They continued to sit in the quiet after that, the only sound being that of children playing or people passing by on the street behind them. Funnily enough, it took the military almost another half hour to locate them. When they did, the soldiers simply walked up to them and told Selim to follow them, please.

Without so much as an argument, the homunculus did so.

Edward also stood to follow, walking behind the group that had more or less formed around Selim. He found he felt relieved that he'd decided to spare Selim all those years ago. It wasn't always that the split-second decisions he made with his heart instead of his head turned out so well. It almost hadn't turned out so well this time. And yet, something about how the situation was coming along made him glad that he could still make those kinds of decisions after everything he and Al had been through.

He had never been an optimist, but he could handle being a hopeful cynic if it gave people like Selim a chance to change.

xXx

Author's Note: What? I totally had to get an Ed perspective in there one last time. ^^;