It was a typical busy day in the market of Resembool. Some people were mulling about browsing the stalls and shops, mothers were pulling along their children, those in the stalls were shouting their various deals and wares. It wasn't painfully loud, what with the town having a diminutive population compared to most places, but it was still quite a lot to take in. Alphonse smiled as he and Envy marched their way into the space, the younger brother taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly. It still felt so fresh to have a body again, he felt he'd never get used to it. Still smiling, he turned to face Envy, looking over his shoulder at the homunculus.

"We're here! Stay close by me so you don't get lost, ok? If there's something you want to look at, let me know."

That last part caught Envy a little off-guard. Something he wanted to look at? He wasn't sure if this place would have much that interested him…Nevertheless he nodded, going up to Alphonse's side as they headed deeper into the market. Al almost offered to hold Envy's hand, even if just out of comfort, but he decided against it. He'd probably think he was being treated like a child. Then again, it probably wouldn't hurt for Envy to embrace some childish aspects. Considering he probably didn't have a childhood with Father. Hell, he wasn't sure if Envy was born an adult or if he grew up to be this way. Maybe that was a question for later.

Envy meanwhile felt very out of place. Arms crossed across his chest, he looked about the space and at the various people around them. They all looked so…normal. He stuck out like a sore thumb, and it was obvious as some of the people around gave him strange looks while he saw others greeting Al warmly. Course it was no surprise, since Al was part of the team that saved the whole country. Envy looked down at the ground as Al made his first stop, staying close to the man and avoiding looking at anyone else. Al noticed this, and one could tell he was thinking as he made his payment for the goods and started walking again.

"Envy, what would you think about getting some new clothes? It'd be better than wearing just one outfit every day, and we can even get you some pajamas of your own!" He offered. Envy raised an eyebrow at the thought. His own clothes? It was true he never wore anything outside of his usual outfit when he wasn't in disguise. "Um…I guess? I never had other clothes before…"

"Good! Then that will be our next stop." He nodded, heading to a large clothing store with Envy following closely behind. It was a bit difficult to shop for Envy, first having to figure out his size before they began to find some clothes that would suit him. Envy tended to more male clothing, but he had to admit…some of the skirts and blouses in this store looked pretty good. Shaking his head, he continued to look around the shop at the different styles of clothes, Al assuring him that he could get whatever he wanted as long as it was appropriate and in his size.

He had to wonder what 'appropriate' meant, but he wasn't about to question it. After getting a few more outfits, some underwear to go with them, and a set of emerald green pajamas with gold trim, he felt he was ready.

"You're sure this isn't too much? It's quite a lot…" He asked, feeling a bit self-conscious about how much Al was willing to spend on him. Al chuckled with a smile. "It will be fine. You deserve a bit of a treat for being so well-behaved thus far. We haven't had to talk to you much about any problems, you've been doing your chores very well and without complaint, I don't see why you shouldn't get a little something for all of that. And don't worry. It's not coming out of your allowance." He gave a wink at the last part as the clerk bagged up the clothing and gave the bags to the two of them. Al took two of them, and Envy took one just to help out a bit.

Envy thought about that, and nodded slightly. That made sense…he followed Al outside the store and continued to stay by him through the rest of the shopping. However, there was one other thing that caught his eye as they walked around. In the window of a toy store, he saw a stand of very fluffy-looking teddy bears. Hm…wait, no! He wasn't a child! Why was he even considering such things! But…they looked so nice and soft…and he never had any toys or anything of his own when he was with Father. He was born an adult and immediately sent out to complete Father's goals. But…

He looked over at Al, who was busy at another stand looking at something else Ed told him to get. Which gave Envy ample opportunity to go inside the store and pick up one of the teddy bears. Indeed, they were very soft as he hugged it to his chest, resting his chin on it and sighing. He glanced out the window to Al, debating if he should ask for this since he hadn't gotten his allowance money yet. But…it would be so embarrassing, asking for something like this. He couldn't do it. Checking around the store, the attendant seemed busy with other customers, a child who was throwing a massive tantrum over not getting a toy and the mother trying to calm them down. Good…he stuffed the bear into the bag he was carrying, stuffing him down under the clothes before hurrying out of the store.

It was then that Al noticed Envy was in fact, not nearby, and he looked around the space before sighing in relief as he found him. "Envy, there you are! I told you to stay by me!" He scolded lightly. Envy blushed, his legs shivering some as he looked at Al. "A-ah, right. Sorry. I-I got distracted by something." He really hoped Al wouldn't spank him out in public, and it seemed Al could tell that was what Envy was thinking as his face softened a little.

"Hm…" He thought. If Ed were here, Envy might have been in for a longer scolding or a sharp smack to remind him to behave. But…Al knew he was too soft to do it, and it was a rather small offense. And Envy's first one. Surely there was no harm in foregoing punishment this time.

"Well, we're nearly done anyway. Just one more stop to go and we can leave. Just…stay by me, ok?" He asked, and when Envy nodded fervently, he nodded himself and began to lead the way to the last stop of the day. Envy sighed in relief as he was led, feeling like he dodged a bullet there. Granted, he felt like he wasn't completely off the hook considering he stole from the toy store, but surely if he could get the teddy up to his room and just stow it away whenever Ed or Al came in he would be fine. But…how long could he keep that up before the secret came out?

A new feeling began to bubble inside him. It was…almost like fear, but worse. Guilt, maybe? He never felt that before. It was awful. Maybe he should tell Al now? He seemed reluctant to punish him for wandering off, maybe he'd be let off the hook since they were in public? Or he'd just wait until they were home where Ed would take care of it. Oh…that would be even worse. He could just imagine that horrid brush smacking him over and over again until he was bawling like a baby, and the burning it left in his bottom whenever he sat down.

He assumed he must have been making some type of face, as he heard Al calling to him. "Envy? Envy are you okay?"

"H-huh? Yeah, yeah I'm here."

"You were making a face like you were in pain. Are you sure?"

Here it was. He could come out with it and tell Alphonse what he did and hope that he would just make him return the bear or go back to pay for it. But…whenever he opened his mouth nothing would come out. He started to shift in place, a light blush on his face as he looked up at the younger Elric and tried to find his voice.

"I…I-I'm alright. Just…wanna go home." There, he at least got something out. Granted it wasn't the truth, but it was something. Al gave him a look of concern, debating if he should insist on Envy telling the truth, but he decided against it. Envy had to make his own decisions, and he would learn in time which ones were the right ones.

"Ok, if you say so. We're almost done." He smiled softly at the homunculus before turning back to the shopkeeper and paying for the items he needed. Once that was finally over, he pat Envy on the shoulder and smiled at him. "Alright Envy. Let's go home." Envy nodded, eager to go and get himself out of the public eye, even as the guilt inside continued to boil in his stomach.

When they got home it wasn't much better. Al greeted Ed in the living area, and the brothers went over what was bought as Envy took the bag he had been carrying upstairs to his room. Dammit…if Ed or Al caught him now he'd be in for it. And he didn't feel good at all inside. His stomach was starting to hurt, and his chest felt tight. Placing the bag on the bed and taking out the bear, he tried hugging it close to him, hoping it could take some of the bad feeling away.

It didn't. If anything it made the feeling worse. He stole it, he lied, and worst of all he felt Al would be so disappointed in him if he found out. He had praised him for not making any trouble, and what did he go and do? Possibly the worst thing he could do aside from killing someone. The guilt inside him gave way to anger. Not at Ed, or Al, or the bear, but himself. He was so STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!

In a fit of rage he threw the bear against the wall, the stuffed toy harmlessly bouncing off of it onto the floor before Envy gave a primal scream and began to pound the bed with his fists. Why wouldn't this feeling go away!? He never felt like this before! Ever! He caused chaos for fun back when Father was alive! Why was this any different!? Soon enough he wore himself out, just as he heard frantic footsteps up the stairs and both brothers burst into his room, worried looks on their faces.

"Envy? Envy what's wrong!?" Al asked, going to his side immediately and rubbing his back gently. Ed stood in place in the doorway, before spotting the bear on the ground on the other side of the room. He went over to it, and picked it up curiously.

"Al? Did you get this for him?" He asked. Al looked up from trying to comfort Envy, and also looked confused. "No, I don't remember getting that for him…" As they spoke Envy could be heard sobbing into the bed, clutching the comforter tightly in his fists. It didn't take much for the brothers to put two-and-two together, and they nodded to each other as Ed carried the bear over to the bed and sat down on it next to the sobbing homunculus, Al still kneeling on the other side of him rubbing his back in soothing circles.

The time for talk would come later. For now, they waited for Envy to make the first move.