The Alchemist and the Lizard

The Other Side Of The Deal

There was a loud knocking on the door and Edward quickly sat up, nearly knocking over Envy. The door was opening and seeing nowhere else to put him, Edward stuffed Envy inside his shirt. 

Mustang strode into the room, acting like he owned the place (as usual). "How are you feeling fullmetal?"

"Just fine, colonel."

"I have some questions for you."

"As always."

Mustang nodded toward his food tray from earlier. A glass still full of milk was on it. "Not thirsty?"

Edward's eye twitched. "No. Just get on with it Mustang."

The colonel sighed. "Well I was there most of the time, so you don't need to give me the full report. There's just one thing I want to know. Why was Envy there? Was he associated with the murderer in any way? An accomplice, maybe?"

Edward flexed his fingers. "I don't know."

"Oh come on Elric, you must know something. You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

"No. Envy just showed up, probably because I'm important to the homunculi and he didn't want to see me get harmed, that's all, you satisfied colonel?"

Mustang stared at the alchemist. "Hm. You're smarter than you look Fullmetal. That's all I wanted to know."

"Uh huh."

"I'll see you later, Ed. Get well."

Mustang left the room, and Edward gently took Envy out of his shirt. Cold air hit his bare stomach where Envy had been lying, and Edward silently wished Envy would stay there.

Envy looked up at Edward. "You lied for me?"

"Well, I still have to hold up my side of the deal, don't I? I can't do that if Mustang knows about everything."

"Hm."

Edward slid out of bed and stretched. "Might as well get started if we want to turn you back to normal."

"Huh?"

Edward went into the bathroom where he found his clothes, and changed into them. When he was finished he went out and put Envy into his pocket.

"Where are we going?" The green creature asked.

"You'll see. Now stay quiet."

Edward slowly opened up the window in his room and crawled out of it. Thankfully, his room was on ground level. He quietly maneuvered his way out of the hospital grounds, and walked quickly through the streets of Central towards the library.

The massive structure loomed over them as Edward walked up the steps leading into the grand building. He had been in here a few times for research on the philosopher's stone. He headed to the alchemy section and set Envy down on one of the bookshelves. 

"Try to stay hidden." Edward told Envy. "And just call out to me if you find a title you would like to look through."

Together they looked through the books of the alchemy section.

Edward was sitting at a table, pencil tucked behind his ear, looking frustrated. He tapped his finger impatiently on the book he was reading. Envy crawled up the table to Edward and sat on top of the book. "Find anything?" He asked the alchemist.

"No. I can't seem to find anything relating at all to the situation you're in." Edward paused. "I'm thinking we do some research on, uh, chimeras." Edward mumbled the last few words.

"Ohh, I see what you're thinking. Isn't there an alchemist who specializes in that area? Sherry...Shawn...Oh! Shou Tucker! The Sewing Life Alchemist."

Edward clenched his teeth. "Used to. The military did away with him for a serious crime he committed. I would rather just go to a different library."

"But pipsqueak, he had his own library full of the information I need. Let's just go over to his place."

"No, Envy."

"Why not? I need to go there if I'm ever to-"

"I don't even understand why I'm helping you! You're a homunculus. I should be squeezing information out of you, you little demon, about the other homunculi and what your plans are."

Envy narrowed his eyes. "We had a deal."

"Fuck deals! You're just a good for nothing homunculus, it would be better if you stayed the way you are now! One homunculus down, just a few more to go!" Edward threw his hands in the air. "I ought to kill you."

Envy crawled backwards, an angry look on his face. "Fine then. If that's the way you feel about me." He turned and jumped off the table. Envy picked up speed so he could not show Edward the hurt in his eyes. Tears pricked at his eyes as he ran faster and faster away from the metal boy.

Edward watched as he scurried away from the table. Why did he feel so guilty? Envy was a dirty, rotten homunculus. Nothing more.