Chapter Text
Everything is going to shit.
Envy sprints through the sewers, trying desperately to lose the bootsteps pursuing them. Wrath is MIA. Greed has jumped ship again, miserable coward that he is. Pride and Gluttony should’ve been back hours ago. Envy has no idea if Sloth has succeeded in his mission to kill the Armstrong lady but even if he has, his lazy ass wasn’t going to be coming to help them. Envy was on their own.
Were the bootsteps getting closer? Envy curses themself for not choosing a form with longer legs, but they can’t help it now. Trying to shapeshift mid-run was a recipe for them to trip, and stopping was not an option. Then they curse Mustang as he calls out another taunt. Who does this pitiful sack of flesh think he was, daring to stand up to a superior being? They’d said Wrath should’ve had the upstart executed, but noooooo. Well look who was right in the end. Of course, that won’t do them much good when they’ve been burnt to a pile of ash.
They check their Philosopher’s Stone and curse for the third time as they realize how low they are. They probably don’t have enough to transform into their giant self anymore, let alone survive another incineration. And nothing they can do seems to throw off Mustang and his lieutenant.
Darting around another corner, Envy finally catches a break, spotting a mousehole in the crumbling wall. Normally they dislike taking on animal forms, but at this point they’ll take what they can get. They hurl themselves towards it, changing midair into the form of a small rat. They land on their side and scramble to their feet as they hear Roy Mustang round the corner. He shouts something, and they scramble into the hole as another blast of fire singes their tail. They don’t stop, scrambling through the mouse tunnel towards the surface as a blast of fire erupts behind them. They hear the lieutenant and the pipsqueak shouting, something about bringing down the tunnel around them, but they don’t stop to listen, heading as far away as they can.
Eventually they reach the surface. Emerging into the streets. They listen as gunfire and more shouting rings out. From what they can gather, the Briggs soldiers have defeated most of the Central forces, and have even started to figure out how to defeat the mannequin soldiers, which scuppers their backup plan of refilling their philosopher’s stone and ambushing Mustang again.
Shifting into a dog, Envy resolves to lie low for a while, until they can regroup with Father. As they wander through the streets, doing their best not to attract suspicion, they begin to pick up gossip. Apparently Wrath had stormed the fortified position the Briggs soldiers had taken, and was later seen falling from the wall into the moat. If Envy couldn’t beat Mustang and the pipsqueak, they doubted that the half-human could, but maybe if they could get to him first, they could take his Philosopher’s Stone and recharge their own. They begin skulking through the streets towards Central Command.
As they approach, they can see the Central forces in disarray. Vehicles on fire, wounded soldiers, the works. Apparently the Briggs troops had held their own, Envy could see them moving around at the top of the staircase. It just goes to show, humans can’t do anything right.
They have to ditch the dog form. Obviously, trying to go up the stairs to Central Command as a dog would’ve attracted far too much suspicion. Instead they transform into a fly, and begin buzzing their way up towards the landing. They don’t like being an insect at the best of times, and now, when their stone is so low that being crushed could be fatal, it’s more than a little nerve wracking.
They land on top of the battlements, and take a look around the place. This is where Wrath apparently was, and looking around, it’s clear he did a number on the place. Several dead soldiers lie scattered about the place, but what really draws their eye are the two towards the eastern side. The first is a giant of a man, with a mohawk and the shattered remains of an automail arm. Envy recognised him as a high ranking Briggs soldier, although they didn’t care to remember his name. Lying next to him was some dead old guy. The old man’s eyes were closed, and he had been slashed across the stomach, and run through. Kneeling next to him and weeping was the girl bodyguard from Xing, and next to her was Greed.
Envy recalled Wrath telling them that the Xingese warriors could sense the presence of a homunculus, and they have to swallow a surge of fear. Fortunately for them, the woman is seemingly too distraught to take notice of their presence. Looking closely, they can see the old man isn’t breathing. They’d sneer if they could. It must be nice to have someone to lose.
Greed stands, slowly, and turns. His eyes lock onto them, and they freeze. Envy wants to take flight again, but is too scared. They know how fast the Xingese prince is, even before he was infused with a Philosopher’s Stone. They don’t move.
Greed leans over the parapet next to them, and whispers. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Looking for Wrath.” They skitter closer to the edge, ready to fly away if Greed turns on them.
A dark look crosses his face. “You just missed him. Why?”
Envy hesitates. “I… My stone. It’s… running low.”
“So you’re gonna stab him in the back? That’s low, even for you.”
“Oh piss off. Why do you care anyway? You hate him!”
“Exactly.” Greed narrows his eyes at Envy. “I’m going after Bradley. As for you? Stay out my way, or I’ll crush you.” To emphasize his threat, he slams his hand down next to Envy, who jumps and skitters away.”
Envy tries to come up with a response, but can’t think of anything. What can they really say, helpless as they are right now? Movement distracts them, and they see the brat prince’s girlfriend approaching. Their eyes flick from her, to the old man’s body, back to Greed.
They find their voice somehow. “I see.” They put a mocking lilt to their voice. “You’re grumpy he broke one of your toys. God, you’re pathetic. You make me-”
Before they can finish, pain explodes in their face as Greed flicks them off the balcony. Cursing, they right themselves in the air and flee.
They spend the next hour or so laying low. They shift from a bug to a cat, only a minor upgrade in their opinion. They spend most of their time near a military radio, keeping up to date with the movements of the Briggs troops and Mustang’s rebels. One of the idiot soldiers actually tries to pet them, and ends up with a clawed up hand for his troubles.
And then, red lightning shoots up to the sky. All around the city, all the way across the horizon, pillars of alchemic lightning stretch from the earth to the sky. Envy bolts as all around them, cries of fear and surprise turn to coughing and choking as the humans around them collapse. They stumble and fall, clawing at their throat. It feels as if their Philosopher’s Stone has expanded to fill their throat. Retching, they try to climb to their feet, but fail. Lying there, they watch as the last of the people die around them.
Is this really what they had worked for? It wasn’t that they cared about the dying humans, but… who were they without them? Without humans, so obviously below them, they were just… pitiful little Envy. The runt. The hideous worm.
That’s their last thought before surrendering to unconsciousness.
Jolting awake, Envy lets out a hiss of pain. They’re lying on their side in the middle of the road. Visions and sensations dance in their head: a screaming maelstrom of souls, the burning feeling as a part of them is consumed to fuel something far larger than themself, and a deep inescapable dread.
As they climb to their feet, they realize that their form has partially worn off. Green skin pokes out from under patchwork black fur, and their teeth are square and flat. With an angry hiss, they force themselves back into the form of a cat and flee.
Looking around, they realize that something must have happened while they were unconscious. Central Command is in ruin and the Briggs troops are pouring in, to the sounds of a fight. Envy stops to pick a gun off of a corpse, before transforming back into a cat and, despite their better judgement, going to investigate.
Within the crater is what is clearly a fight in progress, although in truth it more so resembles a back alley boxing match than a fight to the death. The Fullmetal pipsqueak seems to be brawling with a strange man with long golden hair and a white skirt, presumably Father, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Notable faces in the crowd are a group of chimeras, the three remaining Xingese travelers, the younger Elric in rough shape and seemingly unconscious, and almost every ranking official in the Amestrian military who wasn’t loyal to Wrath and by extension Father, including the Flame Colonel. They also make note of a man with a striking resemblance to Father, who they assume must be Van Hoenheim.
Despite the intensity of the situation, Envy can’t help but snicker as a hurricane of alchemic energy escapes from Father buffeting the humans around like rag dolls.
The laughter abruptly dies as he rises, charges Greed, and drives his hand into his stomach.
Father had created them, used them, and now he was casting his children aside. For all the many reasons Envy hates Greed, in this moment, they hate Father so much more.
They erupt into their preferred form, and bringing their stolen gun to bear, squeeze the trigger thrice.
Envy’s not a great shot. They know how to use a gun, but they don’t have the extensive training of the Hawkeye woman, or some sort of ability to make it easier, like Wrath’s ultimate eye. So it’s something of a surprise as all three bullets slam home.
Father jerks with the force of the impacts and stumbles backwards, tearing his arm out of Greed as he goes. All eyes turn to Envy. Greed, the peanut gallery, Mustang’s lieutenant, even the pipsqueak alchemist stops and stares for a moment before helping the Xingese bodyguard girl fight.
Envy flees once more.
Father is dead.
It’s been a day since the coup ended. Envy’s spent almost the entire time eavesdropping on the “heroes” in their hospital rooms in the form of a stray cat. The windows had been opened, for fresh air or some other such nonsense, and they’d jumped up and curled up on the ledge. The younger Elric brother, newly freed from the suit of armor, had tried to coax them over with promises of treats and petting, but Envy had ignored him and he wasn’t allowed out of bed. No one else paid them the slightest bit of mind. It was like this that they learned all the details.
Not only is Father dead, but so are their remaining siblings, other than Greed. They’re alone, surrounded by the creatures they despise. Even if they despised most of their siblings, it’s still a blow.
When that first night falls, they debate sneaking into the colonels room and killing him then and there, but they don’t. Even if they didn’t wake him up, his lieutenant was with him, and as much as they loathed to admit it, they weren’t sure they could beat her like this.
The real excitement comes the next day, when the Xingese child bursts into the room, catches sight of them, and stops short.
“That cat-“ She begins.
Greed puts a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I know it’s cute, but your actual friends are here too y’know. Don’t get distracted.”
“What?”
“C’mon! You didn’t hit your head, right? Ed, and Al, and all of them.” He gestures between the room’s various occupants “Go say hi!”
But, what about…”
Greed ruffles her hair and she squawks in protest. “Don’t worry so much kid, I’ll handle it.”
“Um… Alright?” She glances between Greed and Envy several times before awkwardly sidling out of the doorway and into the room.
“Mei! It’s good to see you!” The younger Elric brother pipes up.
The girl smiles back at him, and Envy’s stomach turns.
“How are you feeling Alphonse?”
Envy tunes out their conversation, turning their attention to Greed instead. He’s leaning on the wall right next to the windowsill where Envy is perching.
He knows. He has to know, with the Xing prince rattling around in his brain, there’s no way he can’t. But why would he stop the girl from blowing their cover? Envy and Greed had never seen eye to eye, even before the older homunculus had abandoned them for the humans.
Greed stretches out a hand towards them, and Envy recoils, hissing. Greed rolls his eyes.
“C’mon, I’m not gonna hurt you.”
Envy scowls at him, and he has the audacity to laugh, right in their face! Envy has half a mind to transform back and slug them right then and there, but quickly remembers where they are.
“Tell ya what. Come by my hotel room tonight. I’ll get you something to eat, if ya want.”
“Are you talking to the cat?” The Fullmetal brat asks.
Greed grins at him. “Why not? Cats are pretty smart little creatures, you know.”
Envy’d almost be flattered, if it weren’t for the fact that they weren’t really a cat. Instead they hiss at him again.
“I don’t think it likes you very much.”
Greed laughs. “Kid, everyone likes me. They just don’t know it yet.”
Ed sighs in disgust. “Lemme talk to Ling, wouldya? I’m sick of your dumb ass.”
Envy watches as Greed’s personality and body language melt away with another laugh, replaced by the prince. They hiss at him for good measure, before leaping off the windowsill and running away.
They don’t end up going that far, truthfully. It’s not like they have anywhere to go. They end up curled up at the mouth of an alleyway with a line of sight to the hospital’s front door. Hopefully being out of direct sight will be enough to stop people from selling them out for kicks.
Curling up in a patch of sunlight, they glare around at the humans going about their day. The humans are clearly still wary after the attempted coup, but life goes on, or some other bullshit saying that makes Envy want to claw their eyes out.
They pass a few unhappy hours this way, spitefully watching the humans go about their day, and hissing at any who get too close.
Finally they spot Greed, or maybe the prince, leaving the hospital. They leap to their feet and follow him.
It’s evening when Greed and Envy arrive at the hotel. Instead of walking through the front door, Envy follows Greed as he goes around the back and makes his way up the fire escape. Halfway up, he turns back and gestures at them to follow. Envy rolls their eyes and does so.
No matter how lightly they try to step, the fire escape creaks every time they put their foot down. With their newfound caution, it takes them much longer than usual to scale the building to the roof.
Greed is standing at the opposite edge, staring out over the city. Beside him is the Xingese bodyguard woman, intently watching Envy’s every move.
As they clamber onto the roof, she nudges Greed, who turns to face them. A sharp toothed grin splits his face.
“Took you long enough. Did you get heavier or something?”
Envy hisses. “What do you want?”
“Well first, I want you to change back. I’m not gonna be able to keep a straight face talking to you as a cat.”
They hesitate, glancing around the rooftops. Greed rolls his eyes.
“If I were gonna kill you, I wouldn’t have needed to lure you all the way up here to do it. I would’ve just let the Chang girl rat you out in the hospital.”
With a sigh, Envy emerges into their preferred form. They glare at Greed and the bodyguard. “Then why didn’t you?”
“Well, you’re my sibling. That makes you my possession. And I’d rather not get one of my things all banged up for no reason.”
“Oh please. We hate each other!”
Greed shrugs. “Eh. I never really hated you. I liked riling you up, sure, but it’s not like you were a saint either.”
“But… then why’d you leave?”
He sighs. “It wasn’t about you, really. It was about him.”
“Father?”
“Yeah. He was holding me back, and he was using all of us. I had bigger aspirations than being used up and tossed aside by some prick who couldn’t care less about us.”
Envy hisses in annoyance. “That’s what we were made for. He doesn’t need to care about us.”
“Creating us doesn’t excuse the way he treated us. ”
“You’ve spent too much time with humans, Greed.”
“Maybe you haven’t spent enough.”
Envy snorts in disgust, and the conversation lapses.
After a few moments of silence, Envy glances back up at Greed.
“Greed?”
“Mhm?”
“I need a favour.”
Greed raises an eyebrow. “What favour?”
Envy grabs Greed by the arm. The bodyguard stiffens, and Greed raises a second eyebrow, but neither intervene as Envy guides his arm until his fingertips are resting on his throat, just under his chin.
“I need you to kill me.”
Greed’s eyes go wide. “Woah, what?”
Envy continues unfaltering. “My stone is weak. One blow should take it out. I don’t want to die to some human. And you can do it more painlessly than if I do it myself.”
“Just hold on a second!” Greed snarls. He attempts to tug his arm out of Envy’s grasp. “Where is this coming from?”
“Father’s dead. Our plan is in ruins. What am I meant to do now?”
“Whatever you want! That bastard’s gone. Do whatever makes you happy.”
“Like what?”
“Well… you could come with me to Xing.”
The bodyguard opens her mouth to protest, but stops herself. Envy glares suspiciously at him. “Why?”
“I mean, I’m gonna be the emperor, which makes you royalty too. And it might do you some good to get out of-“
“No. Why are you offering?”
Greed sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Is it so damn hard to believe I want my only living sibling to not be miserable?”
“Yes.”
“Well too bad, because it’s the truth.”
“You’re Greed. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
He stuffs his hands into his pockets. “Well, after I nearly died, I’ve been doing some thinking. Did I thank you for that, by the way?”
“For what?”
“You saved my life, against Father.”
Envy scoffs. “I didn’t do it for you.”
“Well, either way, thanks.”
“Whatever.”
“Anyway, like I was saying. Since then I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I’ve got a good thing here. Good friends, immortality, a kingdom. What more could a guy ask for?”
Envy stares. “What are you saying? You’re… satisfied?”
“I guess I am. For now, at least.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Nothing’s impossible.”
One of them overcoming their nature? There was simply no way. Except…
Thinking about it, Gluttony often displayed both joy and sadness. Lust found joy and amusement, Pride had his cruelty, and even Sloth could be moved to hard work.
Envy has only ever known jealousy, and jealousy-fuelled rage or satisfaction. Of course, defective and worthless as they were, would be the only one of the homunculi too weak to change.
Greed is watching them, and they wish bitterly they could tear his throat out, but they have little doubt they’d lose, and wouldn’t even be killed for their trouble.
Greed clears his throat. “So, Envy?”
“What?” They snap.
“Do you want to come to Xing with me?”
“No.”
His shoulders slump, ever so slightly. “Why not?”
They pause. “I’m not… like you, Greed. Cheap trinkets and dumb pets-” they nod at the bodyguard, who bristles but doesn’t respond. “-don’t make me happy.”
“Well, what does make you happy?”
Envy mumbles something under their breath.
“What was that?”
They glare at him halfheartedly. “I… I don’t know. I don’t think I can be happy.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t! It’s… not something I’m capable of feeling..”
Greed gently pulls his hand away from Envy’s throat and places it on their shoulder instead. They cringe away uncomfortably from the touch, but don’t say anything.
“Envy, this is what I’m talking about. That old bastard kept all of us so damn busy that none of us really got to… be our own people, until he was gone.”
“We aren’t our own people! We’ve always been just extensions of him!”
“So what? You don’t even want to try? You don’t want to give actually living a single chance?”
Envy smacks Greed's hand off their shoulder, and clenches their jaw so hard it hurts, but they don’t say anything. What is there for them to say?
Greed in return sticks his hands in his pockets. “Look, all I’m saying is, give living a shot. Do whatever you want. But don’t go offing yourself just because you don’t have someone to boss you around anymore. That’d be pretty pathetic, even for you.”
Envy sneers at him in response, before transforming back into a cat and leaping down onto the fire escape.