Next Door

Disclaimer: Oh I so do wish I owned FMA…then Envy would do –bleep- and maybe –bleep- to Ed then they could –bleep-

Jessie: -Twitch-

Joh: -Smiles- Feel free to fill in the blanks.

Warnings: Language, yaoi, stuff

0o0o0oo0

Detention sucks.

Especially when you have Mustang as a teacher. You know, I think he has a real psychotic streak going on. Or at the very least, sadistic. He should get that checked out before it becomes an issue.

Said sadist was sitting comfortably at his desk with his feet propped up and a book open in his hand.

I glared at him as I continued scrubbing the desks with unnecessary vigor. Feeling my murderous aura, he looked up and smirked.

"How many desks have you finished, Elric? Only three? Shame, you have at least 27 more to go." He chuckled before returning to his book.

See what I mean about sadistic?

I grumbled darkly to myself as I rubbed various doodles off the desk. As I moved on to the third desk I began to curse the man sitting at the front of the classroom and curse the fact that my hand was starting to cramp.

I swear my teachers are insane. I sighed to myself as I scrubbed viciously at a particularly amusing doodle of Mustang drawn with an oversized head and donkey ears. Underneath the words 'JACKASS' were scribbled. Too bad I had to erase it. Ah, well, it will always remain in my heart and memories.

But back to the topic of the insane people in my life. First, my science teacher. I'm not even sure what to make of him. Is he even allowed to smoke in school? Well, since it's first period he's half asleep and usually just grumbles about his lack of girlfriends for the period.

Although I heard that he does that even when he's fully awake.

My gym teacher scares the shit out of me, to be honest. He's not mean or anything…just…muscular. And in a bad way. A really bad way. So just picture 7-foot guy with bulging muscles who leaks tears of joy every time he sees his students. Shudder.

And as I've already mentioned, my English teacher is Mustang AKA greasy bastard.

Then there's Envy. He's probably the craziest out of all the freaks I know (which is saying something since Armstrong is pretty damn weird).

I blinked when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. Startled, I dropped the rag I was using and glanced up at Mustang. Man, I didn't even hear him approach me! Either I was so caught up in my angsting and didn't hear him or I'm going deaf from listening to my music too loud. Either one's possible.

It was then that I realized that I was nearly done. Wow, I must have really been deep in thought…

"I'm packing up. I expect you to finish the last two desks even when I'm gone." Mustang told me firmly.

I glared at him before dropping my gaze back to the half clean desk. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

"Just because I'm leaving doesn't mean you can go home."

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

"I expect to see these desks spotless tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

"Want another weeks worth of detentions?"

I got the hint. I shut up, although I was tempted to say 'yeah, sure, whatever' just to piss him off.

His hand dropped from my shoulder and brushed down my back, lingering a second too long. I stiffened but he was gone before I could even turn around.

0o0

"Damn perverts." I grumbled, kicking at a rock s I trudged my way up my house. I stopped to fish my keys out of my pockets once I reached my front steps. I looked up as my fingers brushed the cold metal in my pocket and frowned.

My eyes landed on a pair of scruffy combat boots and followed up the legs sprouting out of the boots. Long legs clothed in black faded jeans connected to a baggy white shirt with a black bone drawn across the chest. My frown darkened as my eyes traced the long green hair that framed the sharp, pale face of my archenemy.

"What the hell are you doing outside of my house?" I demanded, eyes narrowing.

Envy grinned as he leaned back against the door, blocking my way. "We have a tutoring session, right?"

"…No…no we don't."

He pouted mockingly and crossed his arms, the chains around his wrists clinking. "Come on Eddie…Tuesdays and Fridays, remember?"

I glowered at him before pushing him aside and unlocking the door. "Fine, whatever. Let's make this quick." I grumbled, ignoring his smug smile.

Envy pranced into my home behind me, humming song under his breath as he dumped his bag on the couch. I winced as he brushed past me and caught a whiff of smoke. "Envy, I think we should make a set of rules if you're gonna seriously come over for tutoring two times a week."

The green-haired demon flopped down on the couch and kicked his feet up on the coffee table, eyeing me with a bemused look.

"One, don't smoke before coming over. I don't want you stinking my house up. Two, don't touch me. Three, don't raid my fridge." I dropped my bag in the armchair to the right of the sofa and pulled out a few notebooks. "Think you can do that?"

"I'll try." He answered flatly, slouching back into the seat.

I sighed and set out a few blank notebooks on the low table. "Okay, what do you need help in?"

He shrugged, eyes skimming across the family pictures hung up on the walls. "Everything." He raised a hand and pointed out a certain picture. "Is that you dad?"

I scowled as I glanced at the photo. In it a young Al and me were grinning widely and leaning against a tall man with dark blonde hair and a beard. He was smiling grimly, eyes looking old and distant.

"It's an old picture." I muttered.

"Where's your dad now?"

"Why the fuck do you care?" I snapped, glaring at him. He turned and stared at me with a guarded look before rolling his shoulders in what I supposed was supposed to be a shrug.

"I just haven't seen your dad yet. He must get home late." Envy said blankly.

"He hasn't been home in a month." I told him, scorn lacing my tone.

Envy snickered softly. "A no show then?"

I stared at him, my anger fading into just a numb tingling feeling. "Yeah…I guess so." I replied dully, wishing he would just drop the subject. It was odd he was so curious about it. Envy seemed the type who honestly didn't give a shit about other people's personal life.

And to my immense relief he did drop it. He nodded, satisfied with what I told him. I studied his thoughtful expression and was tempted to ask him why he seemed so interested but decided against it.

I had a feeling that if I did ask I wouldn't get any answers.

0o0

Al's smile wavered as he clutched the phone to his ear, straining to hear the words being spoken through the static. "Dad? Dad, you still there?"

I rolled my eyes and flipped through the channels, a bored expression set into my features. About time that bastard gave us a call.

I glanced up to see Al give a soft sigh of relief. "When are you coming home?" he asked, eyes brightening hopefully.

Al always asked that question whenever he got around to calling us. "Hope he never comes back." I muttered darkly.

Al apparently heard me for he turned his head to give me a disapproving look. "Soon?" he asked, raising his voice.

There was a moment of silence as my brother listened intently to the response. "Two weeks? Really?" Al broke off, a frown darting across his lips. "What do you mean 'maybe'?"

I snorted. That sounded just like him, the inconsiderate shit. God forbid our 'father' would have to tear himself away from work to (gasp) look after his two kids!

"Okay…yeah…I love you too…." Al said dully before pulling the phone away and giving me a sideways glance. "Do you want to talk to Ed? Dad? Hello?" Al stared at the phone before shaking his head and hanging it up.

"Sorry. He hung up before I finished talking." Al sent me an apologetic look as if it was his fault.

"I didn't want to talk to him anyway." I spat, switching off the T.V and heading up the stairs.

"He said he might come home in two weeks." Al called up after me.

I didn't bother answering that. Instead I slammed the door to my room and slumped down to the floor. I didn't want him to come back. I really didn't. in my opinion things were fine the way they were. But Al missed him. The only reason I would ever ask him to come home would be for Al's sake.

I bit my lip and turned my head to stare out the window. Envy had his music on, pumping the air with loud guitar solos. He was sitting at his desk, tilting his chair back so that it rested on the back two legs. His head was shaking in time with the beats, dark hair swishing in his eyes.

The tutoring session hadn't been that bad. For the most part Envy had kept his hands to himself and actually paid attention (somewhat). Although, I had a theory that the only reason he was so cooperative today was that he had something on his mind, bothering him.

I watched him blow out a ring of smoke as he pulled the cigarette away from his lips.

"Turn down the fucking music!" a voice (I assumed it was his aunt) screeched at him from behind his locked door.

Envy turned to cast an amused glance at the door before returning his attention to the smoke in his fingers. He reached over to the black iPod speakers perched on the desk and turned it up a few notches.

I growled. That music was starting to give me a headache. Irritably I stomped over to the window and pulled the window shut with a snap.

He glanced in my direction, eyes lazy and lips quirked in a small grin. He held my gaze for a moment before I shook my head and drew the curtains, hiding Envy from sight.

0o0o0o0

Joh: Okay, I think I know where I'm going with this story now. It's starting to make sense.

Jessie: Joh is sorry for the long wait!

Joh: I was working on finals and stuff.

Jessie: Finals are a killer. –Sighs-

Joh: Damn right…