Every Romance Ever Written - Envy/Izumi - PG-13
Title: Every Romance Ever Written
Author: theladyfeylene
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: Envy/Izumi
Rating: PG-13
Words: 3137
Beta: zinjadu
Summary: He was an arrogant, rude, temperamental bastard, but Izumi couldn't quite put him out of her mind....
Author's Note: Written for het_challenge. There is something about the boy who master calls her distant nephew that teenaged Izumi can't get out of her mind. request by t3h_toby_chan
The bedroom was directly down the hall from the bathroom. It was probably twelve steps altogether, not a long distance. But it would probably be cold. And what if Teacher was upstairs for some reason? Izumi frowned, a terry cloth towel wrapped firmly around her lean and muscular frame. It was only a little cold. Teacher would be downstairs, having her afternoon tea. Izumi could run, and make it to her room with hardly any inconvenience. And without being seen in such a state of undress and disarray. She hardly wanted Teacher to know she’d done something as silly as forget her own clothes in her bedroom.
Well, there wasn’t anything else she could do about it. Her lips set in a thin line, Izumi threw open the bathroom door and bolted into the hallway, her head down and her hand clutching the towel to her chest. Twelve steps. Just twelve steps. Izumi repeated this to herself as she ran, right up until she crashed into something that had no right being in the middle of the upstairs hallway.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
Izumi jerked her head up, the towel still clutched tightly around her and her black eyes narrowed to angry slits. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone else in the mansion, and certainly not a teenage boy! Who was currently leering at her.
“You watch where you’re going!” Izumi snapped, squaring her shoulders and glaring. She wasn’t going to let him throw her off, even if she had just crashed into him wearing nothing but a towel.
“Why should I?” he asked angrily, folding his arms. “I live here.”
Izumi blinked. Since when? She’d been training with Teacher for weeks now and there had never been any mention of anyone else living here. Izumi opened her mouth to attempt to form a retort, but a voice from the top of the stairs stopped her.
“What is going on here?”
Wonderful. Izumi adjusted her towel and tilted her head up. She wasn’t going to look unruffled.
“Your stupid apprentice doesn’t know how to watch where she’s going,” the boy said, rolling his eyes. Izumi huffed. Who was he to call her stupid?
“Now, now, none of this squabbling,” Teacher said, joining the two teenagers in the upstairs hallway. “Izumi, I see you’ve met my nephew.”
Nephew? There had never been any mention of a nephew before. But why would there have been? It wasn’t as though she and Teacher sat down and had long chats about their families. Izumi nodded her head in affirmation.
“He’s going to be staying here for a while,” Teacher went on. “I’m sure you two will be running into each other more often. Try and play nice, hmm? Izumi, I’ll expect to see you dressed and in my study within the next half hour.”
“Yes, teacher.” Izumi ducked her head once more and slipped by the still glaring boy to her room.
***
“An apprentice?” Envy was reclining on a couch in his Master’s study, one knee bent and his foot bouncing in a restless manner. “What the hell possessed you to take on an apprentice?”
“Now Envy, I’d hate to think that you’re questioning my actions.” Dante looked up, her eyes narrowed slightly and almost disappearing into the wrinkles that surrounded them. Envy hated it when her bodies got old - it made her look weak and fragile and human. And she wasn’t even that old by human standards, but it still made Envy uncomfortable.
“I just think it’s a stupid idea.” Envy shrugged. He didn’t want some stupid human running around, not when he was there. He wasn’t about to stay in the basement with Gluttony - he could hardly stand the slobbering imbecile. And there weren’t any others. Pride was busy courting Fuhrer-ship, Greed was still sealed - and would be for the rest of eternity, if Envy had any say in it - and they’d lost another Lust a couple of months ago.
“She could be useful, Envy. Besides, I’m going to need another body before too much longer.”
“And you want that one?” Envy raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t the sort of body that Dante usually went for.
“Beggars can’t be choosers.” Dante folded her hands on her desk. “I trust I don’t need to warn you to behave?”
“What the hell am I gonna do?” Envy asked with another shrug. “Like I care what you do with some stupid human?”
“Don’t allow her to suspect you’re anything other than human.”
Envy scowled; he hated having to pretend. Maybe he could just avoid her. It couldn’t be that difficult. The mansion was certainly big enough, and he tended to wander outside anyway. He didn’t like feeling as though he were trapped or closed in.
“Yeah, fine, I’ll be good.” He hopped off of the couch and stretched. At least she’d seen him in his preferred form - he would have hated having to wear another face all the time. He’d just stay the hell out of her way, and everything would be fine. He threw open the door to head anywhere but there, and came face to face with the very girl he was trying to avoid.
“Watch it,” he mumbled, turning sideways to slip out the door around her. She was still glaring at him. What the hell was her problem? This was going to be a fun month.
***
“Izumi, you need to concentrate.”
“I’m sorry, Teacher.” Izumi scowled and turned her attention to the transmutation circle in front of her. What was the matter with her? Running into Teacher’s nephew and being caught by both of them in such an embarrassing state had thrown her off. Not that Teacher had said anything, but Izumi didn’t need her to say anything.
She steeled herself and focused on the array. She could do this. It wasn’t that much more difficult than what they’d gone over last week, really. It was a simple step up, transmuting base properties before transmuting a whole. It shouldn’t be giving her this much trouble!
“I do hope that my nephew didn’t upset you.”
“What?” Izumi’s head snapped up. “No. Of course he didn’t, he just surprised me.”
“He’s a good boy,” Teacher went on. “He shouldn’t bother you any.”
“Yes, Teacher.” What else could she say to it? She hoped that he wouldn’t bother her. He seemed like a disagreeable bastard, as far as Izumi could tell. And he dressed funny.
“Now, let’s get back to the lesson.”
Izumi nodded and set her mind on her transmutations. But she couldn’t quite shake the scowling, violet-eyed boy from her mind.
***
It was raining. Envy curled himself into a wide window seat and watched the rain as it beat against the glass. There went his idea of going into town to get out of the house. He sighed and leaned his head against the wall, bored and restless. There was nothing to do!
He’d taken refuge in the library, as he could only stand to stay in ‘his’ room for so long. She had made it up to look like the one he’d had when he was human. He didn’t know why she did that, but he wished she wouldn’t. It made him feel weird. He’d even found himself pulling on a sweater out of some old force of habit against the cold. The cold didn’t even bother him!
He tilted his head lazily as he heard the door open. He wasn’t exactly in the mood for company. Especially when he saw it wasn’t his Master, it was that miserable human he’d spent the last week avoiding for the most part. Fate seemed to be against him, though, as he was constantly running into her in the hallways.
“I’m in here,” Envy snapped immediately. Maybe she’d go away.
“I’m just looking for a book.”
“Well, get it and get out.” Envy turned his attention back to the rain outside. There was a snort behind him, and he chose to ignore it. He was in a mood today - though that wasn’t unusual. He could hear her moving around behind him, pulling books down from the shelf and replacing them. How the hell long did it take to find a fucking book?
“Aren’t you done yet?” He could only keep quiet for so long.
“I found the book I was looking for,” she responded. Envy turned his head again and saw her sitting down at a desk.
“Then get the hell out!” he exclaimed.
“No.” She was staring at the open book with a look of fierce determination. She was determined alright - determined to piss him off!
“Fine! I’ll leave.” Envy threw himself out of the window seat and stood.
“It isn’t going to kill you to be in the same room as another person,” she said, looking up from her book.
“No, but it’ll piss me off to stay in the same room with you.” He wasn’t going to play nice with the girl, no matter what his Master said. He didn’t play nice with humans.
“I’m not even bothering you,” she argued.
“You don’t have to do anything to bother me!” Envy clenched his fists as he snarled at her.
“You’re miserable.”
“Miserable?” What the hell kind of insult was that? Envy’s eyebrows shot up on their own.
“You’re miserable and lonely and wretched,” she went on, her voice almost smug. What the hell did she know about him?
“I’m out of here.” Envy shook his head and stalked out of the room. If he didn’t leave now, he’d kill the stupid girl. And he didn’t want to deal with his Master’s whining if he did that.
***
Izumi was about ready to tear out her hair in frustration. The storm had passed, but a whole weekend stuck inside and constantly running into her teacher’s nephew had her at her wits end. He was foul, disagreeable, angry and insulting. And he was always there!
She didn’t understand what was wrong with him. He didn’t talk other than to insult her, he didn’t ever spend time with anyone - he didn’t even take meals with them. And she wasn’t going to ask Teacher - she didn’t want Teacher thinking she was interested or something like that! - but she was curious. Where were his parents? Maybe there’d been some sort of horrible accident. Maybe that was why he was such a jerk.
“Izumi?”
“Yes, Teacher!” Izumi sat up straightly, throwing her shoulders back.
“The weather’s cleared up, could you go into town for me and run a few errands? I’m afraid that the rain’s taken a toll on my joints.” Teacher smiled wanly and Izumi nodded. Teacher was getting older, her black hair was streaked with grey and her face was lined. Teacher certainly couldn’t go into town herself.
“Of course,” Izumi responded, standing smartly.
“Wonderful. My nephew will be going with you.”
Izumi’s face dropped. She struggled to fight it, but the knowledge that he’d be coming with her was too much.
“Why?” she asked, her jaw set firmly.
“He has things he needs to do in town,” Teacher said, smiling fondly. “Besides, you two need to spend more time together - I‘m getting rather tired of the daily shouting matches.”
“Yes, Teacher.” Izumi hung her head. It wasn’t her fault that he had such a short temper! And what was she supposed to do, just let him yell? She trudged out of the library to get ready for her short trip.
***
“We’re gonna lay some ground rules,” Envy said, the moment Izumi joined him on the porch. He was sick and tired of his Master insisting he try and get along with the stupid girl. What the hell was the point? “You don’t talk to me. You don’t look at me. You don’t even walk close to me. Got it?”
“Just shut up and lets go.” She rolled her eyes at him and started off walking. Envy followed after, grumbling under his breath. At least she was quiet as they walked towards town, strutting with her shoulders back and her head up like she was some sort of alpha bitch. Everything about her just got under Envy’s skin and irritated him. And she was always there. He couldn’t get away from her.
Halfway to town, there was a rumble of thunder in the distance. Envy glanced up, watching the sky as dark clouds rolled in.
“So much for the storm being passed,” he grumbled. Oh well. The weather matched his mood - stormy and dismal.
“We should hurry,” Izumi told him.
“Why?”
“So we can reach town before the rain hits.” She spoke as though he were an idiot. What was a little rain going to hurt? Besides, it wasn’t like it was going to rain right that second.
As though simply to spite him, there was another roll of thunder and the heavens opened wide. Alright, so it was going to rain right that second. Izumi whirled on him, glaring as though this was somehow his fault.
“What?” he asked, twitching his shoulders. It was really coming down. Envy’s clothes were already soaked, and his hair was pressed flat against his head.
“We have to get out of this,” she snapped.
“How?” They weren’t near any houses, and Envy wasn’t about to duck into some strange human’s place, anyway.
“I don’t know!” She stalked off anyway, as soaking wet as he was. He followed after her because he had nothing else to do, and his Master would yell if he just left her and went home.
“Here.” Izumi had stopped in front of one of those thick conifer trees with the low hanging branches. “We can shelter under here.”
Something, somewhere, hated him. He was stuck under a tree with one of the most irritating humans he’d ever met. It was dry under the low hanging tree branches, but that didn’t matter to him.
He hoped that the damn rain let up soon.
***
It was cold. Izumi wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. Envy didn’t seem bothered any. Wasn’t he cold? He was as soaked to the skin as she was. Izumi gritted her teeth. If he wasn’t shivering, she wasn’t about to, either. But she was cold. Frowning, Izumi inched closer to Envy, seeking some kind of body heat. Not that he gave off much…
“What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s cold,” Izumi snapped. She didn’t really want to catch pneumonia.
“Right.” Envy glared at her. “Oh, I get it,” he said suddenly, smirking.
“What?”
“Oh, come on. You get me alone, you try and snuggle up to me… you like me!” He was practically laughing now, and Izumi’s cheeks flushed. Not out of shame - she certainly didn’t like him! - but out of anger.
“I do not!”
“You do!” He was smug and smirking widely now. “No wonder you’re always running into me and trying to talk to me. And now this - come on, it's like every stupid romance story ever written. How pathetic. Go back over to your side of the tree.”
“I do not like you,” Izumi snapped. “You’re an immature, petulant, rude, arrogant…”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Envy rolled his eyes. It was clear that he didn’t believe her. Izumi scowled. She couldn’t stand him, how dare he insist that she like him! She was always thinking about because she couldn’t stand him!
“As though anyone would ever like you!” It was hurtful, yes, but Izumi didn’t care at the moment. To further prove her point, Izumi reached up and yanked his head so he was facing her. She leaned up and pressed her lips against him, kissing him angrily. He was frozen underneath her, and she pulled away triumphantly. “Nothing!” she exclaimed. “I. Don’t. Like. You.”
“What the hell did you do that for?” Envy made a face and scowled at her. “I told you to go over to your side of the tree!”
“To prove I don’t like you!”
“Oh, great tactic. Kiss me to prove you hate me, you’re really smart.” Envy rolled his eyes.
“I kissed you and it didn’t mean anything. That proves I don’t like you.”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Envy retorted. “It wasn’t even a real kiss. This is a real kiss.”
And suddenly he was kissing her again, and forcing her lips open with his tongue. His arms went around her, pressing their rain soaked bodies together. Izumi found herself flustered as he continued to kiss her, and she had to admit that she wasn’t as cold as she’d been a moment before. He wasn’t a bad kisser - not that Izumi had much to compare it to. She wasn’t exactly a blushing virgin, but a few hurried romps in the neighbor’s barn with equally unskilled partners didn’t make for much of a romantic resume. And if he had something to prove, he was doing a damn poor job of it.
“Don’t feel anything, huh?” he asked, pulling away a bit and smirking.
“Shut up,” Izumi told him, and kissed him again.
He didn’t stop kissing her, and she didn’t stop kissing him. Even when his hands went to the hem of her rain-wet blouse….
***
Well, that had been different. Envy stretched and pulled on his pants, wincing at how wet they still were. He ignored Izumi behind him. He hadn’t meant for that to happen, but it had been something to do. And his Master did want him to try and get along with the girl. She couldn’t complain now.
“That didn’t mean anything!” Izumi snapped, suddenly. Envy turned and shrugged.
“Who said it did?” It had just been sex. But humans were weird about sex sometimes, especially girls. Sure, he’d do it again if he had the chance, but it wasn’t like he had much of a sex drive.
“I just don’t want you getting any ideas,” she said as she shrugged her blouse on. “I don’t like you!”
“I don’t like you, either,” Envy replied. Izumi rolled her eyes behind him, and Envy stalked off back onto the road. “And it’s stopped raining,” he went on, “so let’s just get into town and get back. And remember, no talking to me.”
Who said sex changed things between people?
Author: theladyfeylene
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: Envy/Izumi
Rating: PG-13
Words: 3137
Beta: zinjadu
Summary: He was an arrogant, rude, temperamental bastard, but Izumi couldn't quite put him out of her mind....
Author's Note: Written for het_challenge. There is something about the boy who master calls her distant nephew that teenaged Izumi can't get out of her mind. request by t3h_toby_chan
The bedroom was directly down the hall from the bathroom. It was probably twelve steps altogether, not a long distance. But it would probably be cold. And what if Teacher was upstairs for some reason? Izumi frowned, a terry cloth towel wrapped firmly around her lean and muscular frame. It was only a little cold. Teacher would be downstairs, having her afternoon tea. Izumi could run, and make it to her room with hardly any inconvenience. And without being seen in such a state of undress and disarray. She hardly wanted Teacher to know she’d done something as silly as forget her own clothes in her bedroom.
Well, there wasn’t anything else she could do about it. Her lips set in a thin line, Izumi threw open the bathroom door and bolted into the hallway, her head down and her hand clutching the towel to her chest. Twelve steps. Just twelve steps. Izumi repeated this to herself as she ran, right up until she crashed into something that had no right being in the middle of the upstairs hallway.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
Izumi jerked her head up, the towel still clutched tightly around her and her black eyes narrowed to angry slits. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone else in the mansion, and certainly not a teenage boy! Who was currently leering at her.
“You watch where you’re going!” Izumi snapped, squaring her shoulders and glaring. She wasn’t going to let him throw her off, even if she had just crashed into him wearing nothing but a towel.
“Why should I?” he asked angrily, folding his arms. “I live here.”
Izumi blinked. Since when? She’d been training with Teacher for weeks now and there had never been any mention of anyone else living here. Izumi opened her mouth to attempt to form a retort, but a voice from the top of the stairs stopped her.
“What is going on here?”
Wonderful. Izumi adjusted her towel and tilted her head up. She wasn’t going to look unruffled.
“Your stupid apprentice doesn’t know how to watch where she’s going,” the boy said, rolling his eyes. Izumi huffed. Who was he to call her stupid?
“Now, now, none of this squabbling,” Teacher said, joining the two teenagers in the upstairs hallway. “Izumi, I see you’ve met my nephew.”
Nephew? There had never been any mention of a nephew before. But why would there have been? It wasn’t as though she and Teacher sat down and had long chats about their families. Izumi nodded her head in affirmation.
“He’s going to be staying here for a while,” Teacher went on. “I’m sure you two will be running into each other more often. Try and play nice, hmm? Izumi, I’ll expect to see you dressed and in my study within the next half hour.”
“Yes, teacher.” Izumi ducked her head once more and slipped by the still glaring boy to her room.
***
“An apprentice?” Envy was reclining on a couch in his Master’s study, one knee bent and his foot bouncing in a restless manner. “What the hell possessed you to take on an apprentice?”
“Now Envy, I’d hate to think that you’re questioning my actions.” Dante looked up, her eyes narrowed slightly and almost disappearing into the wrinkles that surrounded them. Envy hated it when her bodies got old - it made her look weak and fragile and human. And she wasn’t even that old by human standards, but it still made Envy uncomfortable.
“I just think it’s a stupid idea.” Envy shrugged. He didn’t want some stupid human running around, not when he was there. He wasn’t about to stay in the basement with Gluttony - he could hardly stand the slobbering imbecile. And there weren’t any others. Pride was busy courting Fuhrer-ship, Greed was still sealed - and would be for the rest of eternity, if Envy had any say in it - and they’d lost another Lust a couple of months ago.
“She could be useful, Envy. Besides, I’m going to need another body before too much longer.”
“And you want that one?” Envy raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t the sort of body that Dante usually went for.
“Beggars can’t be choosers.” Dante folded her hands on her desk. “I trust I don’t need to warn you to behave?”
“What the hell am I gonna do?” Envy asked with another shrug. “Like I care what you do with some stupid human?”
“Don’t allow her to suspect you’re anything other than human.”
Envy scowled; he hated having to pretend. Maybe he could just avoid her. It couldn’t be that difficult. The mansion was certainly big enough, and he tended to wander outside anyway. He didn’t like feeling as though he were trapped or closed in.
“Yeah, fine, I’ll be good.” He hopped off of the couch and stretched. At least she’d seen him in his preferred form - he would have hated having to wear another face all the time. He’d just stay the hell out of her way, and everything would be fine. He threw open the door to head anywhere but there, and came face to face with the very girl he was trying to avoid.
“Watch it,” he mumbled, turning sideways to slip out the door around her. She was still glaring at him. What the hell was her problem? This was going to be a fun month.
***
“Izumi, you need to concentrate.”
“I’m sorry, Teacher.” Izumi scowled and turned her attention to the transmutation circle in front of her. What was the matter with her? Running into Teacher’s nephew and being caught by both of them in such an embarrassing state had thrown her off. Not that Teacher had said anything, but Izumi didn’t need her to say anything.
She steeled herself and focused on the array. She could do this. It wasn’t that much more difficult than what they’d gone over last week, really. It was a simple step up, transmuting base properties before transmuting a whole. It shouldn’t be giving her this much trouble!
“I do hope that my nephew didn’t upset you.”
“What?” Izumi’s head snapped up. “No. Of course he didn’t, he just surprised me.”
“He’s a good boy,” Teacher went on. “He shouldn’t bother you any.”
“Yes, Teacher.” What else could she say to it? She hoped that he wouldn’t bother her. He seemed like a disagreeable bastard, as far as Izumi could tell. And he dressed funny.
“Now, let’s get back to the lesson.”
Izumi nodded and set her mind on her transmutations. But she couldn’t quite shake the scowling, violet-eyed boy from her mind.
***
It was raining. Envy curled himself into a wide window seat and watched the rain as it beat against the glass. There went his idea of going into town to get out of the house. He sighed and leaned his head against the wall, bored and restless. There was nothing to do!
He’d taken refuge in the library, as he could only stand to stay in ‘his’ room for so long. She had made it up to look like the one he’d had when he was human. He didn’t know why she did that, but he wished she wouldn’t. It made him feel weird. He’d even found himself pulling on a sweater out of some old force of habit against the cold. The cold didn’t even bother him!
He tilted his head lazily as he heard the door open. He wasn’t exactly in the mood for company. Especially when he saw it wasn’t his Master, it was that miserable human he’d spent the last week avoiding for the most part. Fate seemed to be against him, though, as he was constantly running into her in the hallways.
“I’m in here,” Envy snapped immediately. Maybe she’d go away.
“I’m just looking for a book.”
“Well, get it and get out.” Envy turned his attention back to the rain outside. There was a snort behind him, and he chose to ignore it. He was in a mood today - though that wasn’t unusual. He could hear her moving around behind him, pulling books down from the shelf and replacing them. How the hell long did it take to find a fucking book?
“Aren’t you done yet?” He could only keep quiet for so long.
“I found the book I was looking for,” she responded. Envy turned his head again and saw her sitting down at a desk.
“Then get the hell out!” he exclaimed.
“No.” She was staring at the open book with a look of fierce determination. She was determined alright - determined to piss him off!
“Fine! I’ll leave.” Envy threw himself out of the window seat and stood.
“It isn’t going to kill you to be in the same room as another person,” she said, looking up from her book.
“No, but it’ll piss me off to stay in the same room with you.” He wasn’t going to play nice with the girl, no matter what his Master said. He didn’t play nice with humans.
“I’m not even bothering you,” she argued.
“You don’t have to do anything to bother me!” Envy clenched his fists as he snarled at her.
“You’re miserable.”
“Miserable?” What the hell kind of insult was that? Envy’s eyebrows shot up on their own.
“You’re miserable and lonely and wretched,” she went on, her voice almost smug. What the hell did she know about him?
“I’m out of here.” Envy shook his head and stalked out of the room. If he didn’t leave now, he’d kill the stupid girl. And he didn’t want to deal with his Master’s whining if he did that.
***
Izumi was about ready to tear out her hair in frustration. The storm had passed, but a whole weekend stuck inside and constantly running into her teacher’s nephew had her at her wits end. He was foul, disagreeable, angry and insulting. And he was always there!
She didn’t understand what was wrong with him. He didn’t talk other than to insult her, he didn’t ever spend time with anyone - he didn’t even take meals with them. And she wasn’t going to ask Teacher - she didn’t want Teacher thinking she was interested or something like that! - but she was curious. Where were his parents? Maybe there’d been some sort of horrible accident. Maybe that was why he was such a jerk.
“Izumi?”
“Yes, Teacher!” Izumi sat up straightly, throwing her shoulders back.
“The weather’s cleared up, could you go into town for me and run a few errands? I’m afraid that the rain’s taken a toll on my joints.” Teacher smiled wanly and Izumi nodded. Teacher was getting older, her black hair was streaked with grey and her face was lined. Teacher certainly couldn’t go into town herself.
“Of course,” Izumi responded, standing smartly.
“Wonderful. My nephew will be going with you.”
Izumi’s face dropped. She struggled to fight it, but the knowledge that he’d be coming with her was too much.
“Why?” she asked, her jaw set firmly.
“He has things he needs to do in town,” Teacher said, smiling fondly. “Besides, you two need to spend more time together - I‘m getting rather tired of the daily shouting matches.”
“Yes, Teacher.” Izumi hung her head. It wasn’t her fault that he had such a short temper! And what was she supposed to do, just let him yell? She trudged out of the library to get ready for her short trip.
***
“We’re gonna lay some ground rules,” Envy said, the moment Izumi joined him on the porch. He was sick and tired of his Master insisting he try and get along with the stupid girl. What the hell was the point? “You don’t talk to me. You don’t look at me. You don’t even walk close to me. Got it?”
“Just shut up and lets go.” She rolled her eyes at him and started off walking. Envy followed after, grumbling under his breath. At least she was quiet as they walked towards town, strutting with her shoulders back and her head up like she was some sort of alpha bitch. Everything about her just got under Envy’s skin and irritated him. And she was always there. He couldn’t get away from her.
Halfway to town, there was a rumble of thunder in the distance. Envy glanced up, watching the sky as dark clouds rolled in.
“So much for the storm being passed,” he grumbled. Oh well. The weather matched his mood - stormy and dismal.
“We should hurry,” Izumi told him.
“Why?”
“So we can reach town before the rain hits.” She spoke as though he were an idiot. What was a little rain going to hurt? Besides, it wasn’t like it was going to rain right that second.
As though simply to spite him, there was another roll of thunder and the heavens opened wide. Alright, so it was going to rain right that second. Izumi whirled on him, glaring as though this was somehow his fault.
“What?” he asked, twitching his shoulders. It was really coming down. Envy’s clothes were already soaked, and his hair was pressed flat against his head.
“We have to get out of this,” she snapped.
“How?” They weren’t near any houses, and Envy wasn’t about to duck into some strange human’s place, anyway.
“I don’t know!” She stalked off anyway, as soaking wet as he was. He followed after her because he had nothing else to do, and his Master would yell if he just left her and went home.
“Here.” Izumi had stopped in front of one of those thick conifer trees with the low hanging branches. “We can shelter under here.”
Something, somewhere, hated him. He was stuck under a tree with one of the most irritating humans he’d ever met. It was dry under the low hanging tree branches, but that didn’t matter to him.
He hoped that the damn rain let up soon.
***
It was cold. Izumi wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. Envy didn’t seem bothered any. Wasn’t he cold? He was as soaked to the skin as she was. Izumi gritted her teeth. If he wasn’t shivering, she wasn’t about to, either. But she was cold. Frowning, Izumi inched closer to Envy, seeking some kind of body heat. Not that he gave off much…
“What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s cold,” Izumi snapped. She didn’t really want to catch pneumonia.
“Right.” Envy glared at her. “Oh, I get it,” he said suddenly, smirking.
“What?”
“Oh, come on. You get me alone, you try and snuggle up to me… you like me!” He was practically laughing now, and Izumi’s cheeks flushed. Not out of shame - she certainly didn’t like him! - but out of anger.
“I do not!”
“You do!” He was smug and smirking widely now. “No wonder you’re always running into me and trying to talk to me. And now this - come on, it's like every stupid romance story ever written. How pathetic. Go back over to your side of the tree.”
“I do not like you,” Izumi snapped. “You’re an immature, petulant, rude, arrogant…”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Envy rolled his eyes. It was clear that he didn’t believe her. Izumi scowled. She couldn’t stand him, how dare he insist that she like him! She was always thinking about because she couldn’t stand him!
“As though anyone would ever like you!” It was hurtful, yes, but Izumi didn’t care at the moment. To further prove her point, Izumi reached up and yanked his head so he was facing her. She leaned up and pressed her lips against him, kissing him angrily. He was frozen underneath her, and she pulled away triumphantly. “Nothing!” she exclaimed. “I. Don’t. Like. You.”
“What the hell did you do that for?” Envy made a face and scowled at her. “I told you to go over to your side of the tree!”
“To prove I don’t like you!”
“Oh, great tactic. Kiss me to prove you hate me, you’re really smart.” Envy rolled his eyes.
“I kissed you and it didn’t mean anything. That proves I don’t like you.”
“That doesn’t prove anything,” Envy retorted. “It wasn’t even a real kiss. This is a real kiss.”
And suddenly he was kissing her again, and forcing her lips open with his tongue. His arms went around her, pressing their rain soaked bodies together. Izumi found herself flustered as he continued to kiss her, and she had to admit that she wasn’t as cold as she’d been a moment before. He wasn’t a bad kisser - not that Izumi had much to compare it to. She wasn’t exactly a blushing virgin, but a few hurried romps in the neighbor’s barn with equally unskilled partners didn’t make for much of a romantic resume. And if he had something to prove, he was doing a damn poor job of it.
“Don’t feel anything, huh?” he asked, pulling away a bit and smirking.
“Shut up,” Izumi told him, and kissed him again.
He didn’t stop kissing her, and she didn’t stop kissing him. Even when his hands went to the hem of her rain-wet blouse….
***
Well, that had been different. Envy stretched and pulled on his pants, wincing at how wet they still were. He ignored Izumi behind him. He hadn’t meant for that to happen, but it had been something to do. And his Master did want him to try and get along with the girl. She couldn’t complain now.
“That didn’t mean anything!” Izumi snapped, suddenly. Envy turned and shrugged.
“Who said it did?” It had just been sex. But humans were weird about sex sometimes, especially girls. Sure, he’d do it again if he had the chance, but it wasn’t like he had much of a sex drive.
“I just don’t want you getting any ideas,” she said as she shrugged her blouse on. “I don’t like you!”
“I don’t like you, either,” Envy replied. Izumi rolled her eyes behind him, and Envy stalked off back onto the road. “And it’s stopped raining,” he went on, “so let’s just get into town and get back. And remember, no talking to me.”
Who said sex changed things between people?