Chapter 7 : Please, please, please, let me get what I want
The flickering light of the broken lantern created dancing shadows on the walls of the otherwise dark alley. Huddled near a large dumpster stood two men. Both were shivering from the chilly midnight winds but while one was entirely shrunk in on himself, the other stood tall and proud. The smaller male looked around anxiously, flinching as the lantern threw another crooked shadow at their feet. Finally it seemed like he couldn't take it anymore and he turned to his stoic companion.
"L-lets go," he stammered out, though whether from the cold or his own anxiety was unknown, "it's obvious he won't show." The man tried to sound confident but his act was ruined by the way he kept looking around himself shiftily.
"No," the other man grunted out, obviously not fooled by his companions false bravery. "We'll stay here and wait."
"But Brutus, I got a bad feeling about this, that guys bad news. I'm sure!" The frightened man tried to convince the other male, now known as Brutus.
"Does it really matter? We need the money and you know it. Now shut up or leave, Mark, I won't care either way." Brutus didn't even glance at his friend as he said this, instead looking up at the starlit sky, the only light they had except for the broken streetlight.
Mark hesitated and glanced around once more, like he expected a monster to step from the shadows any moment. Eventually though, he just heaved a sigh and huddled in on himself some more. He would wait.
This all Envy witnessed with a small but manic grin creeping on his face. He stretched once more, happy to finally be able to walk around in his cute form once more and languidly stepped out of the shadow he'd been hiding in. The tall one had noticed him he saw, but the little mouse still hadn't and Envy gestured for Brutus to remain silent, he saw a small flicker of worry in Brutus eyes, followed by fear before the man nodded slowly, careful to make sure his companion didn't see a thing.
Envy grinned like the cat that caught the canary and crept over till he was standing just behind the boy. Abruptly he reached out and circled the startled boy with his arms, "Boo." He whispered, and that was all it took to turn the kid into a screaming mess. Envy cackled madly, before putting a hand over the young man's mouth. "Shush, shush now. I know you're happy to see me, but we wouldn't wanna wake up the neighbors, now would we?"
The kid stilled and Envy let go, watching with an ever growing smirk as he turned around. When he saw who he'd just been screaming at the kid paled drastically and almost unconsciously stepped closer to his partner. Envy just grinned at his reaction, reveling in the fear so clearly displayed on the kids face. Enough was enough though, he needed to get back before chibi woke up and he didn't want his little alchemist to figure things out just yet. He still had so much fun planned after all.
"Well then, let's get down to business shall we?"
Ed woke up the morning after finding the remains of the philosophers stone and was happy to find he was alone in his bed. He quickly got up and went about his morning routine. On his way to the small bathroom the inn provided he saw the other beds were empty and made. Thinking the others had probably gone down to breakfast already he shrugged and continued to hurriedly prepare for the day ahead. While normally Ed would take his sweet time getting ready today was different. After they'd found the proof the homunculi were involved with the disappearances happening around town Ed had immediately wanted to go and search for him. It had already been dark by then though, and the others had convinced him to wait. Ivy had looked dead on his feet after the rough day he'd had and Ed had finally caved after being subjected to his and Al's surprisingly convincing puppy dog stares. He did get their promise they would set out as soon as possible the following morning and the two had happily agreed.
Finally finished Ed walked down to the main part of the inn, his still damp hair dangling behind him in loose waves. Quickly he got some breakfast from the elderly lady managing the bar and made his way over to the others.
"Good morning brother." Al greeted him cheerfully. Ivy just looked up and nodded at him shyly, obviously still having some troubles with the many people surrounding them.
"Morning." Ed grunted back before starting to shovel his food into his mouth at a startling speed.
"Brother!" Al exclaimed, shocked. "Don't do that, it's rude."
Ed just shrugged and ignored him, finishing of his breakfast in record time.
Seeing the others were done as well, not that Al really ate being an armor and all, he stood up and headed to the door.
"Ed! Hey wait! Where are you going?" Al scrambled to get up and hurriedly followed after his older brother, Ivy doing the same besides him.
"We're going to the majors," Ed answered in a hushed voice as soon as they caught up with him, "I want a list of all the alchemists in this town and I want it now." The way he said it made it obvious there was no questioning him on this.
Al looked at his brother with concern something in his eyes reminded him of the time they'd lost their mother, that same determination was visible in those golden orbs now and Al hesitantly put an armored hand on his brothers shoulder.
"It'll be fine." He murmured softly so only they could hear. "We'll definitely save that boy, so don't worry."
Ed heaved a deep shuddering sigh before nodding, his tense shoulders relaxing somewhat. "I know Al, it's just… Those parents, it's like Nina all over again."
"I know brother, but you need to try and relax, you can't help anyone like this."
Ed nodded stiffly once and Al let go, feeling better now that he knew his brother would be all right.
Envy just watched it all with jealous eyes, but calmed himself. His chibi wasn't the only one who needed to stay calm for the upcoming events.
He eyed the two brothers once more and felt a small smirk tugging at his lips, yes only a little longer and he'd be able to drop this pathetic disguise, and then, then he'd finally get to really play with his little alchemist again. Envys eyes flickered to their natural purple for a split second.
He could harldly wait.
In the end there appeared to live three alchemists in the town. One was a young woman named Sarah who helped out at the town hospital, using her powers to create medical supplies such as bandages and splints if they were ever needed. The others were two men, Brutus and Mark. Mark lived with Brutus as part of an apprentice ship and was the younger of the two. Brutus was a middle aged man who was held in high regard by the citizens, he specialized in combat oriented alchemy and had saved the village from bandits more than once.
None of them seemed likely to be the secret henchman of a crazed homunculi but the brothers had seen many fall to their deceptive charms and knew not to trust any of them. Until they found proof that they weren't working with the homunculi they were suspects and they'd be treated as such.
The three were now located in a shadowed alleyway near the town hall, trying to figure out what they would do, or more precisely who would get to do what.
"Let me come too!" Ivy whisper yelled at a stubborn Ed.
"No." The short alchemist seemed entirely unimpressed as he stared down the taller boy.
"But why not! Let me help!" Ivy seemed to be really upset and for once there was no fear in the boy's golden orbs only pure determination.
"Because it's dangerous. I won't risk another innocent getting hurt." Ed answered unwaveringly.
"Ivy…" Al interrupted carefully, trying not to upset the boy any further, "it might be best if you stayed at the inn while we take care of things. Brother is right, this really will be dangerous." He hesitated before continuing, "the man from the camp might even be there." He didn't need to explain what camp he meant, but instead of reacting frightened and backing down as Al had expected Ivy only seemed to grow more determined.
"I know that," he said softly looking down, "I know he might be there and..and it does scare me." Suddenly his head snapped back up and he leveled Ed with a glare, willing him with his eyes to understand. "But that's exactly why I need to go! I can't just sit by and watch as someone else goes through what happened to me! Please… please let me help!"
Al watched, stunned, as a lone tear fell from those golden eyes but the boy's hard gaze never once wavered. He couldn't help but to feel for him, this poor, orphan boy, who had finally found people who loved him only to have them ripped away again. And instead of sulking or growing bitter he still wanted to help others, even if it meant facing the one who took everything from him. Al looked once more at the glaring boy and made his decision.
"Brother?" He questioned softly.
Ed looked up from his stare down and glanced up at his armored brother. "What is it, Al?"
"I…I think we should let him come."
"What?" Ed sounded startled, obviously having expected his brother to be with him on this one.
"I think we should let him come with us." Al repeated. When he saw his brother was about to start protesting he held up his hand before continuing, "it's just, he has a point. And I'm not saying we should let him go alone or anything. There's two groups of alchemists right? He could just tag along with one of us and when it gets dangerous he can run. Ed looked like he was considering it so Al decided to give him another push. "Please brother?"
Ed looked decidedly unhappy but grunted nonetheless and Al had to hide a smile. Al : 1, Brother : 0.
The pissed off Ed turned back to Ivy who'd been watching the scene hopefully. "You'll run away when we say so?" He asked.
"Yes." Ivy nodded enthusiastically.
"And you'll do whatever we say?"
"Everything ." The boy confirmed.
Ed sighed and raked a hand through his hair, before nodding. "Fine, you're allowed to come, but you have to stay with one of us at any time and listen to everything we say, understood?"
Suddenly Ed doubled over with a grunt as a happy Ivy decided this was the right moment for a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" The boy kept repeating and Ed just hugged him back awkwardly before wrestling himself away from the other. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." He grunted, "just don't come crying to me if anything happens."
Ivy just smiled contently and nodded.
He'd gotten what he wanted.
An/: Okay so not so much action in this one but it was needed. Next chappie will definitely be more interesting though...*grins evilly*
And before anyone comments on it, no envy was not flirting with the kid at the beginning of the chapter, he justed wanted to freak him out. My dear (and hated) Envy may be many things but a cheater he is not. ( even if he doesn't technically have anything with Eddy yet). Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh but I really don't want people to misunderstand this...
Anyways thank you all for your wonderful reviews, faves,alerts and putting up with my lazy ass. See ya all next time! ~4ever.
To Sara D (anonymous reviewer) : Thank you for your wonderful (and long/detailed)review(s)! Lol, I really feel like I'm killing of the fangirls here xD…Maybe I should start putting up a warning for that… I'm glad you like my version of him though. Envy's just such a wonderfully twisted character that I couldn't bring myself to change that about him. His insanity (for lack of a better word) is what makes him such a fun character to write and love ;)
Also thanks for the advice, as you can see I have indeed changed the genre to horror. I'd been hesitating about what I should put as a secondary genre for a while, but couldn't make up my mind. I have now though ) Hope you liked this one as well, ~64