What Lurks Beneath

Sixteen

“Y-you were kissing me!” Ed shouted, still washing his mouth out with the blood-water.

Envy rolled his eyes. “You were dying. What would you prefer? A different face?” He reached for Ed’s face, long fingers forcing the boy to look into dark eyes. “Would you have preferred my face, Fullmetal?” Envy asked with Roy’s voice and face. He pressed his lips to Ed’s then choked on a few broken teeth as Ed’s hand - his right hand - came across and forcibly separated them.

“Don’t you ever do that again!” Ed yelled. “Don’t take his face and do that! It’s gross!”

“Gross because it’s me or gross because you really want it but are avoiding it?” Envy asked, laughing. “Come on, pipsqueak. It’s natural.”

“I hate you. I’m not gonna bed over for you because you’re wearing that shitty Colonel’s face.” Edward spat. “I wouldn’t bend over for him, either! I don’t care about getting kissed or fucked or whatever! I just want to see Alphonse!”

Envy frowned. “Alphonse is really that important to you?”

“He’s my little brother. We’re all each other has. I don’t want him to be alone in the world.” Edward said. “He’s important to me. I could die happy, right now, as long as I knew he was safe and happy.”

Envy’s frown increased. “You’ve gone through something like this before.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah. With Scar. Told him he could kill me so long as he left Alphonse alone.”

Envy watched Edward drink that foul blood-water and considered force feeding the pipsqueak meat again. But that wouldn’t solve anything other than Envy’s irritation, and probably would make things worse. He looked away from the blonde, at the small stream that was wending its way into the darkness. Would he have sacrificed his life for someone he loved, without hesitation? He immediately thought of Greed. Would he - could he - sacrifice his own life for Greed? The younger homunculus irritated the crap out of him, but he still loved him, in an odd sort of way. But to sacrifice himself?

He glanced back to Edward. He hated him. He hated him because Ed could sacrifice himself so easily. “What did Alphonse say to that?”

Ed swallowed with effort. “He punched me. Said how could we get back to normal if we’re dead? Said that we had to be alive to move forward.” He struggled to his feet and picked up the water-globe. “So let’s move forward.”

Envy frowned and stepped up to Ed’s side, following along behind.

The stream led into a wide cavern still complete with its natural beauty. Their lantern cast an eerie light over them, a pool of it allowing them to see only a few feet in front of them. They walked in silence, stopping only when Edward needed to. It wasn’t often, and Envy soon realized Ed wouldn’t stop until he was about to collapse from exhaustion. Envy had to stop waling himself to make sure Ed stopped as well. It grated on the homunculus’ nerves, but he couldn’t allow Ed to die.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Envy asked absently, watching Edward try to swallow his latest meal of raw flesh.

Ed swallowed without trying to chew to much. He couldn’t decide if this was cannibalization or not. “Hate who?”

“The Colonel.”

Ed frowned. “I don’t exactly hate him. He’s irritating. Every time he needs something done he calls me, like he can’t do it himself. Never wants to leave his comfy office, and he treats me like his pet.”

Envy smirked. “So it’s basically a normal relationship.”

“It isn’t normal. He’s a devil-spawn, I swear.”

“Mm.” Envy stood up and stretched, gesturing to the alchemist. “Come on. We have to keep going.”

Ed gave a little groan as he got to his feet, following behind the homunculus. Envy kept a grueling pace, and Envy knew that Ed was exhausted. He forced the young alchemist to walk at least another hour before Envy finally stopped them. Ed was sweating, shivering, and he looked ready to collapse. Envy too the lantern from the bot and knelt down, giving his back to Ed. “Get on.”

Ed stared at him oddly. “What?”

“Are you deaf? I said get on. I’m not going to carry you if you collapse. So get on.”

Ed couldn’t see Envy’s expression and Envy was glad he couldn’t see Ed’s. Slowly, Ed moved forward and wrapped his arms around Envy’s shoulders. Envy hooked his arms under Ed’s legs and hauled him up as he stood. Edward set his forehead against Envy’s shoulder and closed his eyes.

“Ed?” Envy asked a minute later. When Ed didn’t respond, the homunculus looked back at the blonde. Ed was asleep, still clutching to Envy. Envy gave a slight grimace, and focused his eyes forward. He had to get out of here. He was starting to go mad.

Because he’d thought that Ed looked so cute sleeping against his shoulders.

He never wanted to have those thoughts again.