Phase 20

The sky was brightly lit with stars by the time the Homunculus made his way back into Resembool territory. As the destination neared, Envy made his descent from the sky -- shapeshifting back to land in a crouching position on the ground. After standing to give his traveling cloak a tug and brushing off the dust, the boy decided to make the rest of the way home on foot.

***

Envy walked up to the front door. He was about to knock when he hesitated -- wondering if he should change into something more appropriate before letting his family members see him. Before he had time to make up his mind, Envy was startled as the door was yanked opened to reveal Hohenheim on the other side.

The alchemist immediately pulled his son into a tight embrace. "Thank goodness you've returned! I was worried about you!"

Envy was momentarily caught off guard by the tone of concern from his parent. When he recovered his senses, all he could utter was, "I -- I'm sorry."

The man released his grip. "It's alright. All that matters is you're safely back home now," he said in a more subdued voice.

Hohenheim pulled his son inside. "You must be hungry. I made your favorite dish tonight. Let me go and reheat some for you." With those words the father departed to the kitchen; leaving Envy in the foyer with his siblings.

Edward crossed his arms and gave a disapproving look at the dark-haired boy. "Where have you been? You shouldn't go running around when you're not feeling well," he scolded.

"Edward is right," Alphonse agreed. "You should be at home resting, but if you need to go out you should put on something warmer so you won't catch a cold."

The short-haired blond reached out with both hands to pull at the fabric of Envy's traveling cloak -- so that the latter was bundled up and further protected from the elements.

Envy's countenance softened at Alphonse's actions -- making him dismiss the thought of telling his little brother that Homunculi didn't catch colds.

So where did you go earlier?" Alphonse asked after stepping back from his brother.

"Hopefully it wasn't to commit murder or arson." That comment earned Edward a sharp jab in the arm.

"Ow!"

"Hahaha! Very funny, Ed!"

Edward rubbed his upper arm.

"Ah! It doesn't matter where you were." Alphonse quickly changed the subject after taking note of the melancholy expression in Envy's eyes. "Like Dad said, the important thing is you're back home safe and sound. We were all worried about you," he made a gesture behind him, "especially Edward."

The other blond was swift to counter that statement. "I was not!" He folded his arms across his chest again and proceeded to leave the scene. "I'm going upstairs!"

Envy called out softly to his brother before the latter's foot could touch the first step. "Thanks, Pipsqueak."

With blinding speed, Edward's fist made impact with the side of Envy's cheek. "Don't call me 'Pipsqueak' or I'll -- " The blond didn't get to finish his threat -- watching as Envy collapsed to the floor on his side with Alphonse screaming and rushing to check up on him.

Ed blinked a few times in bewilderment.

"What happened?!" came another voice.

Edward internally cringed and straightened his posture -- a nervous look on his face as he saw his father coming from the kitchen.

Hohenheim rushed to where Envy and Alphonse were.

"I'm okay. I just tripped and fell." That was Envy's response to his father as he got up from the floor. "Is that Shepherd's Pie I smell? I'm starving." He made his way into the kitchen with Hohenheim following alongside -- a bit of concern on his face.

Back in the foyer, Alphonse glared at Edward; and the latter abashedly looked away.

***

Hohenheim was up before the sun. The man desired to cook breakfast this morning before the rest of the household woke up. He was a little late, however -- for his eldest son was already stirring the pot on the stove when he walked in.

Envy had opted for a new attire today -- sporting a pair of black sweatpants and a matching colored long-sleeved, buttoned collared shirt that was not tucked in. A surprised look appeared on the boy's face when he felt the presence of another entity in the room, but he quickly relaxed after realizing that it was his father and not someone else.

"Good morning, William. I see you beat me to the kitchen," the man said with a smile.

"Um...yes. I wanted to cook this morning."

Hohenheim's smile faded as he stepped forward to have a closer look at Envy. "Are you alright, Son? You look tired. Are you feeling unwell?" he asked in concern, taking note of the dark circles under the latter's eyes.

The Homunculus felt himself going tense under his father's watchful observation. The former's eyes started to feel wet, but his expression instantly turned cheerful in front of his parent. "Nothing's the matter. I'm fine." Envy turned away from his father's gaze and went back to stirring the contents in the pot while blinking a couple of times to clear his vision.

Hohenheim contemplated on his son for a moment, but did not press him any further. He turned his focus to the kitchen counter. "I'll help you make the coffee."

***

The kitchen table was laid out, and the morning meal sat waiting for the household.

"Father?"

Hohenheim turns to his eldest child. "Yes, Son?"

"Don't tell Edward and Alphonse that I made breakfast." He locks eyes momentarily with the man. Without waiting for a verbal confirmation, Envy exits the kitchen to go back to his room so his brothers would not suspect anything.

Back in the kitchen, the master of the house heaves a melancholy sigh.

***

After a relatively peaceful breakfast -- Ed and Al not having realized that the meal had been prepared by their brother -- Envy finds himself wandering into the library out of curiosity. Upon entry, he saw shelves lined with tomes that were piled from floor to ceiling. Sunlight poured in through the window panes. To one side of the room was a writing desk with some more books, papers, and writing tools on it. On the floor right next to the wooden desk was a bin containing large, rolled-up parchments of paper. Various sketchings and maps were tacked onto the walls.

The Homunculus becomes lost to his own thoughts, reminiscing about old times with him and his father in a similar place. The two shared a mutual love for reading and writing. They were proficient in a multitude of topics, but science and alchemy were their favorites. Parent and child would spend numerous hours in their home library or laboratory doing research and experimenting. He remembered the first time he had stumbled upon his father's research about the Philosopher's Stone and had asked him about it...

Envy shut his eyes and shook his head -- banishing those thoughts in an instant. Opening his eyes, he scanned the room -- hoping for some kind of distraction.

A book at the very top of one of the shelves catches the dark-haired boy's attention. He stretches out an arm and stands on tiptoes to get it, but is still not tall enough to reach the object. So, he places a foot on the bottom shelf -- intent on climbing up to get the book.

"William."

Envy gasps and freezes in place -- leaping away from the bookshelf at the sudden appearance of his father.

"Ah! I didn't mean to startle you, Son!" Hohenheim places both hands in front of him to placate the frightened boy.

The Homunculus' pounding heart relaxes. He had felt like a child who had been caught eating ice-cream from the kitchen freezer after hours.

Noting his son's calmer demeanor, Hohenheim continues with what he had originally meant to say before unwittingly scaring his child. "Did you come in here for something to read?" He turns to the shelf that Envy had been standing in front of a few moments ago. Amber-colored eyes travel upwards. "That book's up there pretty high. Don't fall and hurt yourself." The alchemist walks over to the shelf. "Here. Let me get it for you." He stretches out an arm.

***

A loud crash resonated throughout the house, causing Edward to briefly choke on the glass of water that he had been in the middle of consuming. When the blond's coughing fits subsided, he and Alphonse ran off to find the source of the crash.

***

The brothers run into the library, where they find Envy standing and staring with his mouth agape. They look to the spot that he was staring at.

There, buried in a mound of fallen tomes, was Hohenheim. One arm was protruding in the air -- the fingers of the hand clutching a book.

"Dad/Old Man! Are you okay?!" Alphonse and Edward simultaneously ask in panic.

Snapping out of his momentary trance, Envy starts pulling away at the mountain of books as his brothers approach and do the same. Together, the three siblings work to dig out their father.

Soon after, Hohenheim sits up -- with several tomes tumbling off his body. His hand is still clutching the book that he had aimed to retrieve. "Ah, how clumsy of me. I should take my own advice the next time I try to get something from the top of a bookshelf." After a few chuckles he gets up and hands the book to his oldest son. "Here, William. I'm sure you'll enjoy reading this."

The eldest Elric brother accepted the book with both hands and looked at the cover.

Hohenheim turns to his younger children. "So sorry for causing you all to worry."

"Humph! I was not worried about anyone!" said a disgruntled Edward. "I came in -- " The blond grabbed a random book off the floor that was closest to him, "because I wanted to get this!"

Hohenheim and Envy simultaneously blinked -- both with a funny look on their faces. Wondering what brought about the expression on his father and older brother's faces, Alphonse peered over Edward's shoulder; only to have his jaw drop.

Edward blinked back -- wondering what everyone's incredulous expression was all about. The answer became clear after he looked at the front cover of the book he was holding.

The Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Human Body

"Ahhh!" Edward threw the book at his father; who caught it in his hands before it could hit him in the face.

The elderly alchemist gave a sheepish chuckle. "A wise decision, my son." He turned the book over and began flipping through the pages. "You're not ready to read this book yet...maybe in another year or so. There are certain things in this book that are...umm -- oh!" A startled cry escaped from the alchemist's lips as he stared intently at a page in the book. His jaw dropped open and a glimmer appeared in his wide-opened eyes.

A pair of curious, purplish-black eyes glanced over at the open book -- before quickly darting away to rest on the man's face, which had begun to turn a shade of pink.

Alphonse and Edward were speechless -- their mouths agape. 

Envy walked off, but not before hooking his arms in the crook of Ed and Al's elbows and dragging them out of the library. As the door swung closed, a shout of "You pervert!" was heard loud and clear.

***

Back and forth the young man paced -- muttering under his breath with his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants. Suddenly, the blond threw his arms into the air -- rolling his eyes at the ceiling. "I can't believe this! The nerve of that old man! And right in this very house that he shared with Mom!"

"Brother, calm down! I'm sure there's a reason Dad has that book in his library."

"Oh yeah?! Like what?"

"Well, you know -- for scientific research."

"Bah!" Edward waved that comment away with one hand. "That shameless Old Man!" A memory of their father's flirtation with a certain young woman popped into his head.

"Brother, you don't really think Dad's thinking of replacing Mom. Do you?"

Edward halted in his tracks. An image of his mother appeared in his mind.

Alphonse and Envy watched as their brother's hands balled into fists -- his eyes obscured by the golden bangs from his tilted head.

"No one will ever replace Mom," Edward swore in an undertone.

Silence dominates the hallway. Alphonse goes over to place a hand on Edward's shoulder.

Envy watches them from the background -- a forlorn look in his eyes. Unbeknownst to Ed and Al as their minds are absorbed with matters concerning their parents, their older brother quietly slips out the kitchen door carrying the book that their father had given to him earlier.

***

After some persuasion from his younger brother, Edward goes outside to get some fresh air. The latter's feet begin to wander, until they bring him to the familiar residence of his childhood friend.

The back door to the Rockbell's residence swings open.

"Oh hello Edward," the elderly grandmother said in greeting. She was about to retreat from the kitchen when the sound of the door opening caught her attention. "If you're looking for Winry, I sent her off to buy some fresh ingredients for the cake we're going to bake.

"Did you need any help?" Edward volunteered -- trying to find some type of distraction.

"Oh no. We'll be fine. I saw William earlier and already asked him to help us."

Edward felt a fuse light up within him.

"But since we can't start cooking yet, I told him I'd call him back when we're ready."

The telephone rang. Pinako went into the living room to answer it, leaving Edward alone in the kitchen.

"William, William, William -- that's all everybody talks about nowadays! Sheesh!" the blond muttered to himself.

As Edward turned to leave, he caught sight of the cooking ingredients on the kitchen counter. The bottle of milk seemed to be mocking him. Edward glared at it, distinctly remembering that morning when Envy had drank the glass of milk that Winry had tried to force him to drink. The blond-haired boy marched over to the counter. He took a deep breath, grabbed the glass bottle, and gulped down its contents.

"Ugh! Nasty!" Shivers ran through his whole body as the unpleasant aftertaste took its effect.

After placing the bottle back on the counter, the boy's golden eyes became fixed with determination as he stepped outdoors.

 ***

Edward found his intended target leaning up against a tree that stood near his house. Underneath the shade of the tree beside him was Alphonse. The two seemed to be discussing some important matter, for Al's facial expression went from looking surprised to being contemplative. Edward marched up to them, interrupting their conversation.

"So there you are!" The Fullmetal Alchemist jabbed a finger in the direction of the Homunculus. A startled Envy and Alphonse turned in the direction of the voice. "Since my teacher learned her martial arts from you, I figured the two of us should have a sparring match today."

"Huh?!" Alphonse exclaimed, unsure of what suddenly sparked Edward into initiating a fight.

Edward's eyes were stern and reflected a fierce resolve.

The Homunculus looked at Edward, but made no verbal response to the challenge. In fact, he appeared as though he was only half interested in the alchemist's proposal.

Edward took a fighting stance - upper body bent forwards with the fingers of both hands extended like claws - and waited for his opponent.

Time elapsed.

Gradually, Envy set his book down and stepped into the light of the sun. He stood tall and took his position - one hand behind his back and the other one extended toward Edward - turning his body at an angle to face his challenger.

The air became still.

Alphonse held his breath -- nervous eyes darting from one brother to the other.

Just as Edward was about to launch the first strike, there came a low rumbling sound. Edward's brows furrowed as he placed both hands on his stomach, where a gurgling sound was emitting.

"J-J-Just a moment!" he says, holding up a hand. "Don't move! I'll be right back!" With those words he sprints towards their house.

"Brother?" Alphonse looks after the rapidly retreating form.

Envy blinks in curiosity at the now empty spot where Edward had been a second ago.

***

Pretty soon, the Fullmetal Alchemist returned.

"Alright! I'm back! Now let's get started!" He renews his fighting stance.

Another gurgling sound was heard as Edward crinkles his brows. "N-Not again...Stay right where you are!" He sprints off once more, kicking up a small cloud of dust.

"Brother, are you okay?!" This time Alphonse runs after him.

***

The front door stands ajar as Alphonse enters and looks around for Edward. He hears something coming from the downstairs bathroom. Al approaches and knocks on the door.

"Ed, are you in there?"

There was a flushing sound, and then the door swung open.

"Brother, are -- oomph!" Alphonse pinches his nose and wafts at the air with his hand. Edward walks past him in a slumped position -- seemingly in a daze.

"Brother, if you're not feeling well you should go upstairs and lie down."

"I'm fine, Al." His hand had just touched the knob to the front door when his body seized up again, making him dash to the bathroom once more.

***

"Ugh...what's wrong with me?" Edward asks wearily. He is currently being supported by Alphonse as they both walk out of the house.

"Ed, I told you. You need to go lie down," Alphonse insisted.

"No...I have to -- settle a score with -- aahhh!" Edward's statement ends in a scream.

"What is it?!" Alphonse watches Edward point a finger into the distance.

"He's gone! I told him to stay there! That coward!"

Indeed, there was no one at the spot where Edward was pointing to. Even the book that Envy had put down earlier was gone.

"Maybe you took too long and he thought you weren't coming back," Alphonse said, trying to put some reason into Edward's mind, but the latter clenched his fist and began loudly uttering a string of expletives.

When Edward had completed his tirade, he turned to face Alphonse, only to find the latter staring past his shoulder. It was only natural for Ed to have a look at what had captured Al's attention. So he turned around...and stared right into Envy's face.

"Aaahhh!" Edward stumbled a couple of steps backward, but managed to retain his balance and avoid falling to the ground. "So! Trying to ambush me, eh?! That's a dirty trick!" The accuser jabbed an index finger at the accused.

Instead of responding to Edward's accusation, Envy directed his attention to Alphonse. He reached out and took hold of Al's hand, placing a bottle in his palm. "Medicine from the old woman," was all Envy said before he turned and walked away -- his book tucked underneath his arm. 

Alphonse glanced at the object in his hand, then looked up at Envy's retreating form. "Thank you, Big Brother William!" he beamed.

From behind, another low grumble could be heard from Edward's stomach. "Oh no..."

***

Inside the Rockbell's kitchen, Pinako blinked several times in confusion at the empty glass bottle on the kitchen counter.

"Did I already toss out the spoiled milk?"

Phase 19     Phase 21