Roy Pov
"..." Ed stood before me, hand holding a basket of simple groceries. He watched me quietly, even if I couldn't quite see it, I felt it. He had the same hateful glow in those eyes as I, and he was as powerless to act on it too. "So. You saw?"
"...Ya. Care to explain why a Homunculus is being harbored here, Fullmetal?" I asked, sharp yet as restrained as I could manage. I held a little tighter to the railing, maybe anticipating his rebuttal, or maybe something worse. How he always managed to find the worst option.
"Because Alphonse has decided to make her his new project." He sighed, walking up and turning to plop onto the porch steps. His landing was as heavy as I could imagine his thoughts were, and mine were little better. Still, my grip eased slightly. I couldn't place why, though.
"And you are just allowing it?" I turned, quirking a brow I was sure he saw.
"Seems I am. Guess the little bitch has me under some spell like Alphonse, or maybe I trust my brother." The railing creaked and a touch of his hair hit my hand. "Either way, we're stuck with the little bitch, for now."
"Hm. I am guessing you want me to keep this little... Issue from reaching high command." I knew the answer, but I wouldn't give such a promise away for nothing.
"...ya. Who knows who else is still connected to Father's plans, and who may harbor a grudge. So long as Al wants her protected, we gotta keep our mouths shut. Got it?" I could feel his glare, iconic it was, but the weight wasn't as behind it as it should. He had doubts. So did I.
"I can't keep my mouth shut for nothing but Al's pet playtoy." I turned, leaning one hand on the railing while the other rested on my hip. I tried to hold a firm position, but my nerves were too rattled.
"Listen. This matters to Alphonse, so." He let out a long sigh. "So whatever bribe I have to give ya, fine." He stood up, dusting off his coat with a sigh of resignation that left my response feeling more underhanded than I would normally use, but these were not normal times.
"I need some assurance that she isn't going to be a problem," I crossed my arms, the quiet implication heavy in the air, "and that should the time come, I'll know you are handling it."
We both stood quietly for a long time. Ed hated the very idea of killing, even for what others would call justified, but this wasn't something I could risk. Not with more of them moving, now.
"... No." His answer was quicker than I had expected.
"Ed, thi-" I was lifted off my feet before I realized he had closed the distance.
"I don't care about whatever halfcocked military horseshit your about to spee! I don't like her! You fuckin hate her! But guess what?! She's human now! Al says she's human, and I'd sooner jump first into Gluttony's stomach again than kill someone." I felt myself gulp, despite being the far more powerful of us two. Still, I knew better than to argue with the kid once he was this determined. I just gave a quiet nod before he lowered me slowly, but his hand was shaking. "Good."
"Hm. You owe me then, Fullmetal."
"Add it to my tab." He let out a sigh before heading inside with the groceries, leaving me to fume. Today was a headache I really did not need.
...
Ed pov
I felt the moment it happened. My hand had only just let go of the brass knob before the spike ran across my chest. It felt like a lightning bolt I had been all too familiar with a long time ago rushed through me all over again, but this time I was just a stop on its way.
"No way..." I started to run toward the medical room, mind racing immediately with what must have just happened. "Al?!" Did Alphonse know? Did the bast- bitch remember?! Worst of all, what had the Truth asked for in exchange? What had Envy taken?! I had my assumptions, but I had to see it for myself.
Al stirred slowly, half groggily rising from his same spot beside the bitch on the bed. His shirt had wrinkled more, and there was a distinct set of rings under his eyes. Heh, remember having those all too often when we were kids. Damnit...
"Brother...? Everything ok?" He rubbed his eye with the back of his hand, completely unaware of what was going on with Envy's soul right beside him. If only I could detect it, that could only mean one thing.
"You don't sense it?" I looked him deeply in the eye, gripping his shoulders a little tighter than maybe I should have.
"No, sense what Brother?" He gave me a puzzled look, caught between confusion and drowsiness still.
"Mm..." A soft grumbling hum came from behind him. I felt my heart thud like a drum as my gaze turned to the bitch. I felt the worst assumption come to mind immediately. She had made a deal for her powers back, somehow.
Al turned towards her, and I was caught right away between loyalty and suspicion. If I was wrong, Al would only be hurt by the implication of it. However, if I was right and hadn't acted, it would be likely one or both of us would be dead before Roy could subdue her. I thought then to my own verbal sparring match with Roy, and made a decision.
Powers or not, she was human now. That comes with some benefit of the doubt.
"Ennie?!" Al turned as he heard it and I tensed. My eyes scanned the rising body for any signs of the red electrical signs they would exude. There were none to be found.
"Not so loud..." She whined like a cat as Al hugged her tightly, Envy soon returning the gesture weakly with a small smile. She looked dazed herself, and I knew she likely didn't even remember the talk with the Truth.
"I'm so glad you recovered! Granny was worried you'd never get better." Al sniffled through some of his words, the worry palpable in his tone. I crossed my arms, stepping back and observing. I guess if she wasn't totally full of shit, it was nice to see Al finally happy again. Still, I wasn't exactly going to take my eye off her anytime soon. Not with how the two of them started looking at each other.
After all, someone's gotta watch after Al. He sure can't do it himself.