Heartbeat (Envy x Reader)

Heartbeat

You were running, running away from the people who had been your friends for years. You didn't have a clue where you were going, except that it had to be far away from them. As you jumped between pipes and rounded corner after corner, you tried not to think about the looks on their faces when they realized what you were doing: shock, anger, sadness, betrayal. Hurting them was the last thing you wanted. After all, the other state alchemists had been like a family to you since your parents died. But you had no choice. They would have killed him.

"He's a heartless monster, (f/n)!" Mustang had yelled after you. But you didn't stop running.

You rounded a corner and paused, listening. Once you determined that you weren't being chased, you leaned against the wall to catch your breath. "It's okay," you whispered. "You're safe..."

No sooner had you uttered those words than a horde of immortal soldiers emerged from the hallway to your right. You pushed off the wall and ran as fast as you could in the opposite direction, but it was no good. You were tired, and even on a good day these things would be faster than you. You stopped for a brief second and stomped on the floor, covering it with a thin layer of ice. Glancing back, you saw the creatures slipping and sliding as they tried to follow you. "That should at least slow them down," you thought.

You stopped when you came to a large intersection and looked around. There were six different hallways to choose from, and you had no idea which one would lead you out of this underground labyrinth. The moans of the immortal soldiers were growing louder behind you; you didn't have much time left. "Which way do I go?" you yelled, but there was no answer. Still, the moaning grew louder. They were almost at the intersection. You desperately looked down at your hands and screamed, "ENVY!", but the tiny creature only whimpered in response.

"Why couldn't you just let me die?" he cried softly.

You growled in frustration. "Idiot! It's because I...because you're my..." Your what? At that moment, you were at a loss for words. Forgetting the monsters behind you, you tried to articulate your reason for saving his life. "I...ahh!"

You gasped as an immortal soldier tackled you, knocking you to the ground. You watched helplessly as Envy was thrown from your hands and landed on the floor a dozen feet away. Kicking the monster off of you, you jumped to your feet and started shooting ice blasts at the rest of the horde. You glanced over your shoulder at Envy, and almost froze with fear. An immortal had broken off from the group and was heading straight for him. Envy, still in despair, didn't look like he was going to do anything to protect himself.

You threw up an ice wall to stall the rest of the immortals and sprinted over to Envy. But you were too late. The immortal was only inches from him. All you had time to do was throw your arm between them, and then the creature's teeth sank into your flesh. You managed to let out a horrible, blood-curdling scream before you passed out from the pain.

Envy didn't understand it, but when he heard you scream, something snapped inside him. He had been prepared to die; he had wanted it. But then you came along, and you just had to save him, not once but twice now. Suddenly, he knew he had to live, because that was the only way he could save you.

When you awoke, Envy was sprinting through the tunnels with you in his arms. He had absorbed the immortal soldier that bit you, enabling him to take on the appearance of a human again. After that, he made short work of the rest of them, and was now trying to get you some help before you bled to death.

You blinked a few times to bring everything into focus. "E-Envy?" you whispered.

"Don't talk, you idiot. We have to get you to a doctor." Despite his harsh words, you could see the concern clearly in his eyes.

"Stop," you said weakly. "I can f-fix it."

Envy regarded you skeptically, but he did as you asked. He set you down on the stone floor so that you were leaning against a wall. Summoning the last of your strength, you covered the wound in ice so that it wouldn't bleed anymore. Dropping your hands in your lap, you looked up at Envy and smiled weakly. "See," you said, "all better."

For a moment, relief flashed in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by anger. "Why did you do that, huh?" he screamed. "Do you have a death wish or something? You almost got yourself killed!"

"I...I had to save you," you replied softly.

He grabbed your shoulders, pushing you against the wall. "Why? I didn't ask for your help! I wanted to die!"

Frustration boiled within you, giving you a burst of energy. You pushed his hands off you. "Really Envy?" you yelled back. "After all we've been through, you expect me to just let you die? We're friends!"

"Friends? Us? Look at me! Mustang was right, I'm a heartless monster! And you're just a worthless human!"

You could tell he regretted the words as soon as he said them, and deep down, you knew he didn't mean it. Envy always pretended to hate humans, but after spending a few months with him, you learned the truth. He was jealous, because humans had people who cared about them. That was all Envy really wanted. Still, it made you angry. "How could you say that?" Your voice was cold as ice.

"I...I didn't mean...It's complicated," he growled. "You don't understand."

"Explain it to me then! If you're so heartless, you could have just let that thing eat me! But you didn't! You have to at least care a little bit!"

"I don't! I can't!"

"Yes, you can, Envy! I know you can!"

"Stupid human! Why can't you get it through your head? I'm a homunculus! I'm not supposed to feel the way I do about you!"

"Then why did you save me?" you spat.

"Idiot! I'm in love with you!"

Envy froze, completely in shock from his own words. Meanwhile, your brain was firing on all cylinders, trying to process what just happened. "You...love me?"

He looked you in the eyes and whispered, "Yes."

Suddenly, you realized what you were trying to say earlier. No, it didn't make sense. Yes, it was a taboo. And yes, you were (f/n) (l/n), the state alchemist, the Ice Princess with a frozen heart. But despite all of that...

"I love you too, Envy."

You had fallen in love with a homunculus.

Envy's eyes widened in disbelief. But then he smiled, not his usual mischievous smirk, but a genuine smile. "Well, glad we got that out of the way." Then he leaned in and gently brushed his lips against yours.

He pulled away, admiring the blush that still managed to appear on your cheeks despite the massive blood loss, before wrapping his arms around you. Once again overcome with exhaustion, you leaned your head against his chest and closed your eyes. But they snapped back open when you heard something that couldn't possibly be there. You pressed your cheek against him, and even though it was impossible, you definitely felt it: that gentle *thump thump* that exists within every human, but not in homunculi.

"Envy?" you whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I can feel your heartbeat."

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"Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart." - Disney's Frozen