(Hey, so, look who's back for one more chapter. Feels like it would've worked earlier in the story, but here we are.)
Ling sat trying to meditate. The good thing was it was hard to be uncomfortable in his own consciousness, and was easier when he literally couldn't control his own body. The bad news was the swirling souls that moaned and formed a few sentences, but didn't seem to have awareness anymore, were very distracting. Also admittedly somewhat disturbing, but after what he'd seen of Envy and Gluttony, Greed looked like the least disturbing homuculous he could get.
"Hey kid!"
And there he was. Ling focused back in. "Yeah?"
"Why do I keep randomly losing souls? I haven't even been doing anything."
Ling didn't even need to answer. His mind immediately went to the times he passed out, or came close, and waited for people to give him food.
"Hold on," Greed said. "You mean you're not faking? I thought you were just mooching off people for free food."
"Well, that too," Ling admitted. "But why would I fake it in the blood of your brother's stomach? There's definitely no food there." Ed's boot didn't count.
"No it doesn't," Greed agreed. "Well great. I'm not losing any more souls to that. Now what?"
"Get some food?" Ling suggested, mentally shrugging.
Greed smiled. "Great a chance to get out of here."
He started walking down the tunnel towards one of the exits. It would spit them out in Central. The only problem was, it would spit them out near the bar Greed had robbed not that long ago.
Ling frowned. "Uh . . . Greed?"
"Relax, no one's going to see us. And if they do, they won't remember us."
"Look! It's the theif!"
"Won't remember us huh?"
"Shut up prince!"
Ling laughed. This had gone exactly as he expected. They'd gotten out of the tunnels, and there was no one in the alley they entered on to. However, Greed turned onto the main street where the entrance to the bar was. Someone was still posted outside and he certainly did remember Greed.
As it turned out, he wasn't that interested in chasing Greed. At the end of the block Ling saw him turn around and head back to guarding the entrance. Ling was about to suggest they stop running when Greed whipped around a corner and promptly slammed into a lamp post.
They hit the ground, and Ling actually felt the concrete beneath them. He didn't usually feel anything when Greed was in control. He didn't get his hopes up too high, but he experimentally wiggled his fingers. They moved! They'd responded! He was blinking too. He didn't need to mentally blink. Ling got up, feeling a little wobbly after not being in control for so long. Still, his body was his again. Greed was completely silent. Knocked out maybe? Ling still couldn't access his Philosopher's Stone though. Figured. Even unconscious Greed would keep the stone to himself, and Ling still needed to eat.
So he went to a nearby store, grabbed several sandwiches, and started towards the train station. He was sure Greed would wake up eventually, but he was also sure he had at least a couple hours. By then they could be pretty far away. If Greed didn't want to go to Xing then, Ling had at least inconvenienced him. He was wrong though. As soon as Ling reached the train station, Greed started to wake up. Ling tried to keep moving, but Greed was slowly making his way back into control. Ling doubled over, swaying slightly, and felt the connection with his body fade.
"Now, what are you doing?" Greed asked, looking around.
"Getting a snack," Ling answered.
He would've lifted his back of sandwiches, half of which he'd already eaten, but Greed was in control.
Greed scoffed. "Yeah, and I'm sure you needed to go to the train station for that. Nice try."
Greed spun around and walked out. He took a sandwich out of the bag, and began eating it.