Chapter 12 : Whispers in the dark

Ed heard the window slide open softly and looked up, surprised. It was the first emotion he'd shown in days and had Al been there he would have surely been overjoyed. Ed did not feel a whole lot of joy though, as he watched the all too familiar silhouette climb over the sill and step into the light.

Actually, Ed wasn't even sure what he did feel.

Sadness, anger…fear. All flashed through him in a split second, leaving him dazed and unable to do anything but stare as the figure made his way to the bed with slow, predatory steps.

He was snapped out of his daze by an obnoxiously cheery voice, "Hi there Chibi-chan, miss me?"
Envy dropped down on the bed at his side unceremoniously, completely uncaring of the way this rattled Ed's wounded body.

The alchemist let out a pained hiss and tried to scoot away from the deranged homunculus. Envy noticed and looked down, tilting his head curiously as he took in the alchemists bruised jaw and banged up body, before sitting up straighter and snapping his fingers.

"Ah, that's right, you're hurt!" He exclaimed, a bright grin on his face. He peered down once more at the vexed alchemist before tutting softly. "You should be more careful Chibi, I won't always be there to protect you, you know."

Ed looked on in complete disbelief and indignation. His mouth opened and closed a couple of times, but no sound came out and Envy observed the alchemists reaction with silent glee, an amused glint dancing in his violet eyes. 'Any second now' he thought to himself happily, '3-2-1-'

"Envy.." Ed croaked out and the homunculus sat up straighter in anticipation.

"Yes?" He asked after a few minutes when it became apparent that Ed was not going to continue.

The wounded alchemist just sighed and looked at the older boy with dead eyes. "Just go away."

Envy frowned, this was not the reaction he'd wanted. He'd expected the alchemist to start ranting at him with his usual fire, wake up the whole hospital with his yelling, not…this.

He looked back at his chibi only to see that they younger wasn't even looking at him anymore. Instead Ed had turned to stare at the wall on the opposite side of the room, eyes vacant and unseeing.

The frown grew more pronounced. Envy did not like this, not at all. Still frowning he poked the alchemist in the side harshly, "but Eeeed," he whined, "I can't do that. I came all the way here to see you!" When this still didn't get a reaction out of the stoic alchemist Envy's tone turned more serious.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" Ed let out a sarcastic grunt and Envy let out a disappointed sigh, "fine then, if you're not happy to see me I can always go and visit someone else." And with that he hopped of the bed and started skipping to the door.

"See ya later, Chibi-chan!"

He rested his hand on the door and slowly slid it down to rest on the handle. His hand had just touched the cool metal when a hoarse voice suddenly called out to him and Envy had to suppress a grin, seems like he hadn't lost his touch completely after all.

"Wait."

Schooling his features into a perfectly innocent expression Envy turned around and tilted his head curiously. "Yes, Chibi-chan?"

He looked on with a grin as the little alchemist struggled with his words, mouth opening and closing indecisively. Deciding he could use a little extra push Envy turned to the door again, this time the response was immediate.

"I said wait!"

Ed yelled and Envy turned back around again.

"But you didn't tell me why." The homunculus reminded him with a pout and Ed felt like pulling his hair out in frustration. Here he was, the man that had haunted his every waking moment with his cruel deeds and who's face had turned every dream he'd had since their last meeting in a nightmare, in this whole world there was not a man Ed despised as much as him in that moment and yet he had the gall to waltz into his room and act like nothing was wrong?! To skip and smile and pout like a child that didn't get to play with his favorite toy?

Ed closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. It wouldn't do to attack him now. Not only were they in a hospital, a hospital full of defenseless people, but at the moment Ed himself was nothing more than one of those defenseless people. In his current state he could do nothing to stop the homunculus if he decided he wanted to go and 'play' with the other patients . Nothing at all. He was helpless once more just like- He quickly cut himself of before he could continue that train of thought. Now was not the right time for that.

Determined he opened his eyes again and glared at the deceptively childish homunculus. Even if he was helpless, even if there was nothing he could do to stop him, even if it meant 'playing' with the murderer in front of him, he would at least try.

'I owe them that at least…' he thought, silently thinking back on all those people he had failed and that had found an end at the hands of the homunculus. Their faces threatened to drown him, currents of misery trying to pull him back into that helpless place once again. Ed wouldn't let them though. 'No more.' He thought as he struggled his way back to the surface, 'No more.' The words kept repeating themselves like a mantra in his head and with his resolve finally made he broke the surface.

'No more.'

Envy watched with satisfaction as a small spark was relit in the chibi's eyes. It was not much to look at, especially when compared to the raging fire that could normally be found there, but it was a start and a start was all Envy needed.

"You wanted to talk right?" The boy asked. "Then talk."

Envy moved back to the bed slowly, a happy grin still on his face as he retook his earlier spot on the bed.

Ed watched with trepidation as the homunculus settled himself on the covers, but said nothing.

An awkward silence settled over the two, at least to Ed it felt awkward. Envy was happily bouncing up and down on the mattress a bit , humming a little tune and looking around the hospital room curiously.

Eventually Envy got bored and decided to break the silence, "It's pretty boring around here, ne?"

Ed startled and shot upright despite his injuries, he shouldn't have. The movement strained his wounded body and he could have sworn he felt his ribs cracking again under their protective covering. His hand shot to his side with a loud, pain filled hiss in reflex as he tried to alleviate the pain somewhat. He closed his eyes and tried to slow his heavy breathing somewhat until suddenly he felt cold hands close around his arm and waist, his eyes shot back open again and he saw the somewhat concerned visage of Envy fill his face. Stunned, he watched as the homunculus helped him back down in a laying position again, being careful not to jostle his injuries any further.

After he was finally somewhat comfortable again he looked back up at the other again, staring at him as he tried to figure out what he was playing at. The homunculus just stared back at him silently, an eyebrow raised as if daring him to question his uncharacteristic actions. Of course, Ed couldn't resist.

"I thought you liked it when I was in pain?"

Envy looked surprised at the question at first but then a small smirk took over his face as he thought of a response.

"I like it better when you smile."

Now it was Ed's turn to be surprised as he looked at the homunculus with disbelief.

"No, you don't." He said indignantly, offended that the sin dared say something like that after everything he'd put him through.

"I do," the green haired boy smiled and amusement danced in his eyes as he gazed at the offended boy with…longing? Ed wasn't sure what it was that he saw reflected in those violet orbs but it freaked him out.

"You don't want to hear that though." He continued softly, sadly almost and Ed now firmly believed that the meds must have gone to his head, it was the only explanation for the homunculus weird behavior.

He was about to ask him what he was going on about, when suddenly one of those long, pale fingers made its way to his lips.

"Shh." Envy shushed him, still staring down at him with that same, obscure emotion in his eyes. He glanced out the window and took in the position of the moon.

"Another time, Chibi." He promised before getting up.

"Now, you should sleep."

And before Ed could protest he was gone once more, leaving behind an opened window and one, confused Edward Elric.

An/ Happy new year everyone! I hope you all had a great time on old years eve, I know I had :D anyways first update of the new year ^^ m not exactly sure it all came out right, this chapter really just wouldn't be written for some reason . Still it wouldn't have been written at all if not for the great support this story has been getting :D So a big thank you to all of you who reviewed, faved, alerted or just plain read, you're awesome! xX