FMA: The Fly in the Web
Prompt 104 at fma_fic_contest was "web". I won third place! My lovely banner was made by melodyic_rhyme.
Title: The Fly in the Web
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/Brotherhood)
Word Count: 369
Rating: PG (creepiness, some violent imagery)
Summary: "By the time the fly sees the web, it's already too late." -old Amestrian proverb
Warnings: SPOILERS for Pride's identity and through the Briggs arc.
Author's Notes: Takes place during episode 32 of Brotherhood, which is slightly different from the equivalent chapter 64 of the manga.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist and all associated characters, settings, etc., belong to Hiromu Arakawa-san. The only profit I make from this work of fiction is my own satisfaction and, possibly, the enjoyment of others.
By the time the fly sees the web, it’s already too late.
-Old Amestrian proverb
Pride likes spiders.
He is not jealous of them, of course, nor does he admire them. Such lesser emotions have no place within him. He is a homunculus, the first that Father ever created. He is, as Father himself has said, perfect.
But he still likes spiders.
Such small, insignificant lower life forms, yet they are also a most crafty and effective predator.
He enjoys that.
He senses the Fullmetal Alchemist’s unease. Pride laughs, amused - does the boy feel pity? Does he wonder, as Roy Mustang had, how horrified the poor wife and adopted son of a homunculus would be if they discovered the fuhrer’s true identity?
Wrath pats his head, the image of a doting parent, then stands to leave, issuing one last, barely-veiled threat towards their leashed alchemist. Subtlety has never been one of Wrath’s strengths. The boy stares after him, trembling - with fear or with rage? His brother hides his feelings with greater success, but then Alphonse Elric is a suit of armor. Pride’s spiders are more expressive.
The two linger uncomfortably until his mother notices the time and apologizes for keeping them so late. Pride plays up the eager young boy act - after so many centuries, it comes quite easily to him - jumping and waving after them. They hesitate for a moment, sorrow once again present on the elder’s face, before he darts off, shouting about leaving for the north.
Pride snickers. The fool boy doesn’t even realize how loudly he has announced their plans. His mother makes some vapid comment about how pleased he must be to have met his idol, and he agrees vaguely.
So. Their sacrifices are going north, are they? Briggs is the last point on Father’s circle, the only one yet to be soaked in human blood. Envy has been making noises about sending the Crimson Alchemist there, but perhaps they will find some other occupation for him and use the north to break Edward Elric’s spirit instead.
Pride’s brief smile is sharp and cruel. Like the fly in the old saying, the Fullmetal Alchemist will not see their web until it is too late.
END
Title: The Fly in the Web
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist (manga/Brotherhood)
Word Count: 369
Rating: PG (creepiness, some violent imagery)
Summary: "By the time the fly sees the web, it's already too late." -old Amestrian proverb
Warnings: SPOILERS for Pride's identity and through the Briggs arc.
Author's Notes: Takes place during episode 32 of Brotherhood, which is slightly different from the equivalent chapter 64 of the manga.
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist and all associated characters, settings, etc., belong to Hiromu Arakawa-san. The only profit I make from this work of fiction is my own satisfaction and, possibly, the enjoyment of others.
By the time the fly sees the web, it’s already too late.
-Old Amestrian proverb
Pride likes spiders.
He is not jealous of them, of course, nor does he admire them. Such lesser emotions have no place within him. He is a homunculus, the first that Father ever created. He is, as Father himself has said, perfect.
But he still likes spiders.
Such small, insignificant lower life forms, yet they are also a most crafty and effective predator.
He enjoys that.
He senses the Fullmetal Alchemist’s unease. Pride laughs, amused - does the boy feel pity? Does he wonder, as Roy Mustang had, how horrified the poor wife and adopted son of a homunculus would be if they discovered the fuhrer’s true identity?
Wrath pats his head, the image of a doting parent, then stands to leave, issuing one last, barely-veiled threat towards their leashed alchemist. Subtlety has never been one of Wrath’s strengths. The boy stares after him, trembling - with fear or with rage? His brother hides his feelings with greater success, but then Alphonse Elric is a suit of armor. Pride’s spiders are more expressive.
The two linger uncomfortably until his mother notices the time and apologizes for keeping them so late. Pride plays up the eager young boy act - after so many centuries, it comes quite easily to him - jumping and waving after them. They hesitate for a moment, sorrow once again present on the elder’s face, before he darts off, shouting about leaving for the north.
Pride snickers. The fool boy doesn’t even realize how loudly he has announced their plans. His mother makes some vapid comment about how pleased he must be to have met his idol, and he agrees vaguely.
So. Their sacrifices are going north, are they? Briggs is the last point on Father’s circle, the only one yet to be soaked in human blood. Envy has been making noises about sending the Crimson Alchemist there, but perhaps they will find some other occupation for him and use the north to break Edward Elric’s spirit instead.
Pride’s brief smile is sharp and cruel. Like the fly in the old saying, the Fullmetal Alchemist will not see their web until it is too late.
END