Chapter 23 - No Return

Wrath did not understand it.

Even dead, Fullmetal proved a problem.

What was more, Fullmetal had killed the homunculi.

Pride hadn't returned from the tunnels, and there was no sign of Sloth.

Sloth, Pride, Envy, Gluttony, and Lust.

Wrath and Greed were the only ones left.

And Father didn't seem to care.

Wrath hated him.

But perhaps hate was too mild a word for what he felt.

oOo

Ed didn't have a will, but it was easy enough to divide up his belongings. The Ishvalan books went with Miles and to his people, while the Alchemy books went to Ling.

Ed didn't own much else, save for Nina and Elicia's artwork that papered his bedroom walls.

Maes couldn't bring himself to take those down.

He felt like he was living in a fog most days. Grief weighed on his shoulders like a leadened blanket, and it was difficult to remain present.

Especially at work.

Elicia and Nina were sad, but perhaps Edward's leaving before his death hadn't been such a bad thing. They were still doing well at home and it was really only late in the night the girls cried.

He was entirely certain they understood that Ed wasn't coming home. Even Nina who did understand what death was.

Persephone waited at the door, day and night, waiting for Edward to return.

Maes didn't know how to explain to her that he never would.

oOo

Ling had moved South to train with Izumi Curtis in alchemy. With nothing else to do, he poured himself into training, and was endlessly grateful that Izumi pushed him both mentally as well as physically.

He knew that he was both running away from the memory of Ed; and running headlong toward it.

And with such self-destructive behaviour, Ling failed to see a reason he shouldn't round out the effort.

"Hello, Greed."

The homunculus stiffened on the sofa, "What the fuck do you want?"

Ling had come in through the window, and at that greeting, made himself at home, sitting on the sofa beside him. "You were Ed's friend, I thought I would check up on you."

"How kind of you," Greed said sardonically.

"Ed cared about you," Ling pressed. "I want to know if you're okay."

Greed looked at him over his tinted glasses and raised a brow, "And if I'm not?"

Ling shrugged, "Not sure, but I'm a friend if you need one."

Greed smiled, then moved in a motion so fast, it was all Ling could do to hold his ground and brace for impact.

But Greed didn't harm him, instead, the Homunculus invaded his personal space. With a snick of his claws, he cut the ribbon Ling used for his hair and dragged his still clawed hand through the ebony strands that fell around his shoulders.

"I don't have friends. I have possessions, and if you're offering, I will take you all and then some."

Ling rolled his eyes but didn't pull away, trying to feel out the meaning behind his words.

He had asked Ed why he befriended Greed on more than one occasion.

Finally, Ed had said bluntly, Because he loves everything he, quote on quote, owns, and doesn't understand himself well enough to see that. He suffers for it. I can't imagine all that he's lost in the two hundred years of his life but he still wants immortality. He wants it still because he has never lived a day where there wasn't someone worth loving, worth living for.

To him, tomorrow is as valuable as yesterday no matter what happened or will happen. Hard not to admire that, especially when you see past his bravado to see how much hurt he carries with him. He doesn't love and let go. He continues to love and never forgets.

He is perhaps the bravest person I know.

Those words had made Ling realize, age gap or no, human or no, Greed had been Ed's first love.

Ling hadn't pointed it out, not because he couldn't share or because he was jealous, but because if Greed ever realised there was a shred of hope Ed would choose Greed over Ling, well…

Ling didn't think a two hundred year old being was beyond assassination and Ling had quite enough of that shit for one lifetime.

Greed fisted Ling's hair in his hand and yanked his head back, "Why aren't you fighting me?"

"Is that what you want? Ed said you were a great sparring partner."

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you? Hurt you?"

"You protect what's yours."

Greed's fist tightened further and Ling winced, "Why are you here?"

"Because you knew him longer than I did and I fucking miss him. Seeing Envy, Enyo , every day." They looked so fucking similar with their golden hair and eyes. "I— Ed liked you and I thought maybe I could like you too."

Greed released his hair, and pulled him into a hug.

Ling was surprised but hugged him back. The souls that writhed beneath Greed's skin were quieter than the other homunculi's souls had been, touching them, Ling could sense their united weariness.

Greed did not say comforting words, and yet, they were comforting all the same. "Congratulations then, Prince Ling Yao, you belong to me now."

Ling understood suddenly why Greed attracted so many to him, why Ed had trusted him when he was a child.

What Greed offered was belonging, shelter, and a type of radical acceptance that Greed would take you as you were, unflinchingly of any fables or history, he would accept all of you, exactly as you were.

And as lonely and broken-edged as Ling felt, he could think of nothing he needed more than that.

oOo

Ed walked in the dark most nights, days… the two blurring together.

It was not particularly hard to destroy the circle but he was careful to peak above ground to ensure no earth tremors would be noticed by anyone or possibly cause any structural problems.

He dyed his black with alchemy and while the first month he had to hunt for food, he had been able to sell a few of his kills so he could simply buy food as he moved round the circle.

Around the country.

Which is the reason he didn't use light in the tunnel, he needed the money more for food than light in a tunnel that was monochrome in the extreme.

He went East, knowing those tunnels to be fresher.

He did end up finding lanterns when he reached a place where the mines connected different lines of tunnels. He grabbed a lantern and a can of oil and continued on.

This turned out to be a rather large mistake.

oOo

Father was furious. Pride was delayed and though Father could still sense him, he was short six of his children, of that six, he could only sense one nearby.

"Wrath," he intoned to his youngest. "Bring Greed home."

Wrath was quiet for a moment, "Where is Pride?"

He sounded as if he already knew the answer.

Father closed his eyes, "Delayed. He is delayed."

When next he opened his eyes, Wrath was gone.

oOo

It was only after years of sparing with Greed and the other chimaeras he was able to keep up with Pride's strikes.

"Impressive, little alchemist—"

"I am not little!" Ed yelled. Clapping, he couldn't see the ouroboros tattoo but it didn't matter, he knew the array now, the theory, and the intention needed. He at the boy, headless of the shadow hands wrapping around him. Ed placed his palm over Selim Bradley's forehead, the boy's eyes going wide in horror and confusion as his shadows flaked away into the next reality.

Pride screamed.

oOo

AN: Thoughts, indo-raptors, or feedback, pretty please?