Like I said in Future, I've been out of this fandom months ago. Sorry, but it seems I can't write without sufficient support. But well, today I was bored and read this fic on my phone and I liked it, even though it's been ages since I've seen FMA. So I dug in my com and found this which I wrote long ago. I spent effort ( a lot) on it and all so I thought it was kind of a waste to leave it there when maybe someone can enjoy reading it. So here it is.

C

Cross-dressing & Complications

Setting: Practice Studio

This was it. He would have to act – be Juliet, not just in front of Edward, but everyone.

Envy inhaled, walking to the middle as Miss Harper announced, "Envy, you will start from the beginning of the aftermath of Romeo's departure." He knew she was staring at him with sharp eyes. "I'll give you one minute."

The aftermath of Romeo's departure- the scene where Juliet broke down and cried. Envy exhaled slowly, allowing his eyes to slip closed. He could do this. He would do this. For Edward. For Winry.

He allowed the moments he had experienced to wash over him. Those moments of sadness, melancholy, fear. He remembered when Winry had gotten shot, when he had cried after Mustang had called him a monster, the feeling of betrayal he had felt yesterday, the feeling of abandonment at that look of disgust, feeling lost, useless, lonely; all alone.

Hurt stirred in his heart, and Envy bit his lip. He saw in his mind's eye the possibility of Winry not having survived the attack, of Edward and Ling leaving for the other world and never coming back, of his mother hating him when she found out her son was not human; just like that bastard.

And then he thought of Juliet. He thought of the girl, in love with a man whom she couldn't be with, her feelings at having been practically abandoned. He thought of how hurt she would feel when the people she thought she could trust – her parents, rejected her, threatened to disown and abandon her if she didn't so as they said. He thought of the way her life had been dictated from the start, how her parents were using her as a tool, manipulating her for their own selfish wants. For their own selfish needs.

Tears pricked at Envy's eyes, as Miss Harper's voice sounded. "Time is up."

Envy opened his eyes. He looked up, and in his mind's eye, saw the image of Edward walking away from him in the empty, desolate, abandoned classroom.

The sin lowered his head, shoulders shaking as he choked. "O fortune, fortune! all men call thee fickle:" He gasped with effort, tears slipping out of his eyes. "If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him. That is renown'd for faith?"

The room was cold. Envy shivered, wrapping his arms around himself as sobs left his throat. "Be fickle, fortune; For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long," he raised his gaze, looking at something only he could see, his next words a broken whisper which spoke of the pain of heartache. "But send him back."

Silence answered him and Envy choked. He let himself fall onto the floor on his knees, squeezing his eyes shut as he sobbed, choking on the tears clogged in his throat at the scenarios he had remembered and witnessed, as pain, grief and sadness overwhelmed him with the notion of loneliness as he felt the cold air caress his trembling form in a cold embrace. Alone- what if he ended up alone? He didn't want to be alone anymore. Envy sobbed. He didn't.

The silence lingered around his lonely form for a while more, before he heard Miss Harper's voice, tinged with hesitation. "Ho, daughter! Are you up?"

Envy gasped softly, looking up. Who is't that calls?" His voice was cracked from crying. "is it my lady mother? Is she not down so late, or up so early?" He bit his lip, moving his gaze down.
"What unaccustom'd cause procures her hither?"

There was a surprised gasp. "Why, how now, Juliet!"

He looked away, not wanting her to see his tearful eyes and tear streaked face. "Madam, I am not well."

"Evermore weeping for your cousin's death? What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?" Elizabeth's voice was stern but sympathetic. She crouched down, and Envy looked up reluctantly as she placed a gentle hand on his wet cheek. "An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live; Therefore, have done: some grief shows much of love;" she smiled at him wryly, with sympathy in her blue eyes. "But much of grief shows still some want of wit."

Envy bit his lip, averting his gaze as he murmured, sadness in his amethyst eyes. "Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss."

"So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend Which you weep for."

Envy shook his head, sniffing. He moved to get to his feet and Miss Harper removed her hand from his cheek. He didn't look at her. "Feeling so the loss, Cannot choose but ever weep the friend."

Well, girl, thou weep'st not so much for his death," Envy reluctantly moved his gaze to meet her sharp eyes. "As that the villain lives which slaughter'd him."

"What villain, madam?"

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. "That same villain, Romeo."

Envy swallowed. He moved to the side, "Villain and he be many miles asunder-" he clutched a hand to his hurt heart, "God Pardon him! I do, with all my heart;" the sin let out a soft sigh, lowering his gaze in melancholy "And yet, no man like he doth grieve my heart."

Elizabeth looked at him, and spoke with surprising resentment in her voice. "That is, because the traitor murderer lives." She didn't notice Ed and Roy looking at her in surprise.

Envy whirled around, glaring tearfully, amethyst eyes narrowed in anger and a desire for revenge. "Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands:" he thrust his hands out, fists trembling,
"Would none but I might venge my cousin's death!"

"We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not:" Elizabeth smiled almost slyly.
"Then weep no more. I'll send to one in Mantua, Where that same banish'd runagate doth live, Shall give him such an unaccustom'd dram," she moved forward towards Envy. "That he shall soon keep Tybalt company:
And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied."

Envy nodded. "Indeed, I never shall be satisfied With Romeo, till I behold him-dead- Is my poor heart for a kinsman vex'd." He inhaled to control his anger, then looked towards Elizabeth imploringly." Madam, if you could find out but a man To bear a poison, I would temper it; That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof, Soon sleep in quiet." The sin clenched his shaking fist, closing his eyes tightly as he turned. "O, how my heart abhors To hear him named, and cannot come to him." He snapped his eyes open, releasing a high pitched yell of frustration. "To wreak the love I bore my cousin Upon his body that slaughter'd him!"

"Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man." Elizabeth said calmly, and Envy exhaled. "But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl."

Envy turned around, resisting the urge to growl that he wasn't a girl. " And joy comes well in such a needy time:" he gave a slight smirk. "What are they, I beseech your ladyship?"

Elizabeth smiled at him. "Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; One who, to put thee from thy heaviness, Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy," her smile widened and she advanced forward, placing a hand on Envy's shoulder.
"That thou expect'st not nor I look'd not for."

Envy blinked. "Madam, in happy time, what day is that?"

"Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn, The gallant, young and noble gentleman," Elizabeth's eyes were shining with pride as she spoke, "The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church, Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride."

Envy's eyes widened and he recoiled from her, shooting her a resentful glare with tearful eyes. "Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride." He scoffed at the very notion, placing a hand on his hip and looking away from Elizabeth's sharp eyes, drawling sarcastically. "I wonder at this haste; that I must wed Ere he, that should be husband, comes to woo."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed and she stepped forward and Envy snapped his gaze back to her, growling, "I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear," he gave a mocking sneer, amethyst eyes glinting, "It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris. These are news indeed!"

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed even further. Hearing the sound of footsteps, she spoke bitingly, " Here comes your father; tell him so yourself, And see how he will take it at your hands."

Envy scoffed. He gritted his teeth, not even bothering to hold back the tears of frustration and betrayal.

Roy walked into the scene with a frown on his face. "When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew; But for the sunset of my brother's son It rains downright." Envy heard his solemn, regretful voice, and clenched his teeth as he felt the black haired man's eye on him. He raised a hand to furiously dab away the tears on his cheeks. "How now! a conduit, girl? what, still in tears?
Evermore showering? In one little body Thou counterfeit'st a bark, a sea, a wind; For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea," there was no pity in his dry voice. "Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs; Who, raging with thy tears, and they with them," Envy dug his nails into his palm, turning and narrowing hateful purple eyes at the one who had called him a monster. "Without a sudden calm, will overset Thy tempest-tossed body."

Roy smirked, turning to Elizabeth. "How now, wife! Have you deliver'd to her our decree?"

Elizabeth nodded promptly, reminding Roy of the past, "Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks." She gave a small snort. "I would the fool were married to her grave!"

Roy blinked. He frowned, moving towards Elizabeth." Soft! take me with you, take me with you, wife." The Fuhrer spread his hands, shaking his head, "How! will she none? doth she not give us thanks? Is she not proud? doth she not count her blest," he directed a glare at the fuming Envy, "Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?

Envy sneered, stomping forward. "Not proud, you have; but thankful, that you have:" he spat, glowering at that dark eye, "Proud can I never be of what I hate;
But thankful even for hate, that is meant love."

Roy raised his eyebrow at him, lips curled into a mocking smirk. How now, how now, chop-logic! What is this?" He fixed his hard gaze on Envy," 'Proud,' and 'I thank you,' and 'I thank you not;'" his one eye narrowed And yet 'not proud,' mistress minion, you, Thank me no thankings, nor, proud me no prouds."

Envy had to fight to remain silent as Roy continued mercilessly, "But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next, To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church," he looked up stonily as the dark haired man stared down at him with that cold black eye. "Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither."

Envy shook his head furiously, glaring in defiance and Roy's eye narrowed. His hand shot out as he bellowed at Envy with the volume and proficiency of one of his occupation. "Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage! "You tallow-face!

Elizabeth's eyes widened and she moved forward quickly to place a placating hand on Roy's heaving shoulder. "Fie, fie! What, are you mad?"

Roy gave her a glare which took her almost by surprise, but he didn't push her hand away.

Envy grinded his teeth and forced himself to drop to his knees. "Good father, I beseech you on my knees," He would not bow down to the bastard. "Hear me with patience but to speak a word."

"Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!" Envy glared as Roy yelled at him. The Fuhrer thrust a commanding finger at his knelt form," I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look me in the face."

Envy opened his mouth to retort, but Roy didn't give him a chance. "Speak not, reply not, do not answer me;" the sin found himself hating Capulet's character almost as much as he hated the bastard playing him. He watched as Roy gave him a scornful glower, retrieving his hand and clenching his fist hard. "My fingers itch."

He turned to Elizabeth, and spoke to her with a softer tone laced with traces of anger. "Wife, we scarce thought us blest That God had lent us but this only child;" he snapped his gaze to Envy, who was glaring at him hatefully on his knees. "But now I see this one is one too much, And that we have a curse in having her:" his black eye narrowed and he shouted angrily, "Out on her, hilding!"

There was a pause, in which Elizabeth realized she was playing two roles in this scene. Well. She hadn't intended for it to go this far.

She inhaled, then stepped forward, speaking in a higher voice, "God in heaven bless her! You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so."

Roy blinked. He then seemed to remember, and turned, raising an eyebrow at her, a scornful tone to his voice, "And why, my lady wisdom?" Elizabeth moved to speak, but he said, "Hold your tongue, Good prudence; smatter with your gossips, go."

"I speak no treason." Elizabeth implored.

"O, God ye god-den." Roy retorted sarcastically.

"May not one speak?"Elizabeth countered dryly, annoyance in her voice.

"Peace, you mumbling fool!" Roy glowered at her, and she stared unflinchingly back. "Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl; For here we need it not."

Elizabeth shook her head, sighing as she returned to her other role. She would have to get someone else to play one of the characters. "You are too hot."

"God's bread! it makes me mad: Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play," Roy was pacing, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Alone, in company, still my care hath been To have her match'd."

"And having now provided A gentleman of noble parentage," Roy turned, glaring at Envy coldly, "Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly train'd, Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts, Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man."

"And then to have a wretched puling fool," he scowled in disgust. "A whining mammet, in her fortune's tender."

"To answer 'I'll not wed; I cannot love," the Fuhrer imitated sarcastically as he fixed his hard gaze on the trembling Envy. "I am too young; I pray you, pardon me.'"

"But, as you will not wed, I'll pardon you: Graze where you will you shall not house with me:" Roy narrowed his dark eye, "Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest."

The Flame Alchemist snorted. "Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise:
An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend;" he raised a mocking eyebrow at the sin, "And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets."

Envy tasted blood as Roy turned. "For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee, Nor what is mine shall never do thee good:" Roy gave him one last condescending look, "Trust to't, bethink you; I'll not be forsworn."

The Fuhrer walked away.

"Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, that sees into the bottom of my grief?" Envy turned his gaze, staring pleadingly at the silent Elizabeth. "O, sweet my mother, cast me not away! Delay this marriage for a month, a week; Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed,' he swallowed, "In that dim monument where Tybalt lies."

"Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word:" Elizabeth had to muster up frostily at the distraught expression on Envy's face, "Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee."

She walked out of the scene, then paused and turned back. "Envy. You can stop."

Envy exhaled. He rose to his feet, standing with feet apart, a hand on his hip as he cupped a hand to his ear. "Argh. My ears ring with his shouting."

"Some impression has been done on me by thee," Elizabeth smiled as she walked towards him, clapping her hands. "Everyone, a round of applause for Envy."

Her words seemed to shake their audience out of their still, shocked state and they put their hands together, clapping loudly and making encouraging sounds which caused Envy to flush.

"That rhymed." Russell said in amusement as he clapped his hands. "But what happened to the statue yesterday?"

"Very impressive." Ling said, smiling and clapping his hands.

"Yeah." Edward agreed with a smile.

"Thou flatter me," Envy replied with a smirk. He made a show of bowing, sweeping his arm across. "I extend gratitude's deepest bounds to thee, my Lady."

Elizabeth grinned, surprising her class and Roy, "Thou art most welcome, Envy."

Envy stood back up with a smirk. Speaking in Shakespearean language- or some rendition of it anyway; was surprisingly pretty fun.

Elizabeth cleared her throat, and said with amusement in her voice, "Make haste, Sir Mustang, and join us 'ere."

"As my Lady wishes." Roy replied with a smirk and moved to Elizabeth's side.

"Splendid performance, Envy," Elizabeth seemed to have reverted back to normal English. She smiled at him fondly. "I'm very impressed at how much you've improved from yesterday."

Envy grinned at her, "Thanks. I had help."

"From who, if I may ask?"

Envy blinked. He turned his gaze to the shorter alchemist in the room, who smiled at him. "Edward."

Elizabeth looked slightly surprised, but she nodded, "Ah. Edward turned out to be an impressive actor as well." She said with a smile as Roy raised an eyebrow at Ed, who stared back.

"Yup, and he spent his time practicing with me," Envy smiled, "He has talent I think."

"He does have potential." Elizabeth agreed. She then shifted her gaze to Roy. "You as well, Mr Mustang. Your portrayal of Capulet, Juliet's Father, was quite realistic." She said with a wry smile on her lips. "From what I could see. I was pleasantly surprised."

"Thank you, Elizabeth." Roy said smoothly with a smile. "I'd like to say you're a great actress yourself."

The blonde woman couldn't help but flush slightly at the compliment. "Thank you, Roy." She said, smiling, "But I'm afraid Juliet's Mother's personality is rather similar to my own."

"Nevertheless, you did a good job." Roy told her. He turned to Envy, smirking, "Your act was rather believable as well."

Envy snorted. "So was yours." He retorted and walked away.

"What you starin' at?" He settled onto the floor, raising an eyebrow at Russell.

Russell smirked. "Ah my lovely Juliet," he reached forward to clasp Envy's hand eagerly. "How have I loathed the time which parted me from thee!"

Envy twitched but didn't get the chance to speak. "And thou shalt be parted from my Juliet forevermore should thou not halt thy cunning plans," Ling grinned almost evilly at Russell. His sword was in his hand. His metal sword. "Nay, or doth thou wish for a quicker death by my noble hands?"

Russell grimaced and let go of Envy's hand reluctantly as Ling opened his eyes. "Ah, I have been deprived of this chance to kill boredom." Greed said disappointedly.

"You're scary." Russell said, backing away.

Greed nodded with a smirk, "Thou art right to fear me." His indigo eyes narrowed. "Tempt not a desperate man."

"Desperate? I do object!" Russell protested.

Greed blinked. "Ah. Thou speak'st right. Thy desperation overwhelms mine," The homunculus shrugged, "I suppose I shalt allow thee to live thy mortal life, should thou keep thy distance from my Envy."

"I would like to reiterate again that I'm not yours." Envy growled lowly.

The homunculus blinked. "How can thou speak'st so coldly Juliet," Greed sighed, brushing back his fringe. "How shalt I heal the wound in my heart caused by thee?"

"Heal it not," Envy said dryly, disbelief in his amethyst eyes. "And let it rot."

Great, now he was making stupid rhymes. What was Greed doing speaking Shakespearean anyway? Envy watched warily as Greed smirked at him, "For eternity?"

"For eternity."

"Well. I see thy cruelty knows no bounds." Greed said smoothly.

"Speak for thyself, O greedy one." Envy retorted and turned away. He furrowed his eyebrows at Winry, who was staring at him. "What?"

Winry blinked. Then a huge grin spread across her face and the next moment Envy found his arms full of a very happy blonde, and his ears ringing. Again. "OH MY GOD EN! THAT WAS WONDERFUL! THAT WAS PERFECT! AH YOU TOOK MY BREATH AWAY WITH YOUR PORTRAYAL OF JULIET! AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCENES-"

"My ears." Envy thought helplessly. He grimaced as the hard floor dug into his back. "Owowowow! WINRY!"

Winry grinned sheepishly at him. Envy glared at her as she got off him. He sighed and got up from the hard floor, and winced as she leaned close to him, eyes shining.

"O Envy! I am enriched with thy wonderful and marvellous acting!" Winry smiled widely, happiness shining in her blue eyes, as she clasped her hands together. Envy sweatdropped as she stared dreamily at him with sparkles in her starry eyes. "O splendid, wonderful best friend of mine! Thou have put my meagre acting in forbearance to shame! Yet O Shame! Beautiful, glorious Shame! Come, come! How I welcome thee!"

Envy twitched. "What are you saying." He deadpanned. "Shame, get thee gone; And henceforth pester Winry no more."

"Fret not, my lovely Juliet," Envy blinked as Russell came in between them, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and giving a sly grin, "I shall protect thee from the vicious beast Mercutio- OWWW!"

"How will thou protect another if thou dost not protect thyself," Greed remarked, covering his mouth with a yawn. "Pathetic human; are thou not?"

"RUSSELL!" Winry glared down at the fallen Russell, eyebrow twitching. "What did you just call me?!"

"I was just fooling around – you didn't have to hit me with your wrench!" Russell grimaced rubbing his head. "Tch. Where did you get it from anyway?"

Alfonse grinned, "Thou lively fellows bring great amusement to me." He said. "Would thou not agree, Sir Elric?"

"It is with such a feeling that I do." Ed replied with a wry smirk. "Lively day, is it not, Sir Heiderich."

Alfonse smiled. "Indeed it is, Sir Elric." He replied, relief in his sea green eyes. "All's well that ends well."

Ed grinned.

"Who knows." Envy muttered to no one in particular. He glowered at Greed, who was suddenly at his side. "Don't even think it."

"Awww. Why not?"

Envy's glare increased in intensity and Greed smirked. He flicked a stray strand of purple hair, "You're no fun."

"Don't you ever get tired of pestering me." Envy scoffed.

"Oh?" Greed's eyes narrowed and his lips curled, "Would you rather I do something else?"

"Hell no." Envy snorted, glaring at the pony tailed boy. "Don't even associate me with you."

"How cruel you are to me, Envy." Greed sighed, pouting at him. Envy twitched and tried to ignore him and the way he was messing with his mind.

"Greed is not pouting, Greed is not pouting, he is just messing with my mind," the sin thought dryly to himself, eyebrow twitching as Greed didn't stop pouting and instead made his pout more pronounced – he would have looked like Ling had his eyes been closed. "Oh fuck."

"What do you want." The sin growled out. He hated when Greed was bored. It meant he would come out and bother and pester and flirt with him and fuck with his mind more fucked up than it already was.

Greed blinked innocently. Envy grimaced. Greed and 'innocent' were two words which should never go together. "Everything." He said. "But now I want a hug."

Envy stared. Hug. A hug? Hug Greed? No way.

"Why?" He asked dumbly.

"Why?" Greed scratched his head. " 'Cause I'm bored and I just realized you've never hugged me before," His lips twitched. "You've hugged everyone- well, the prince and the alchemist and the Winry girl and even Martha before. You haven't hugged me. So now I want a hug." He concluded.

"And what if I won't give you a hug?"

Greed grinned at him. He leaned forward, tapping Envy's cheek. "This is why I like you," he said, purple eyes amused, "Your every words are a challenge. I'd never get bored."

Envy stared. Greed liked him because he wasn't passive and amused him? His mind must be twisted and even more fucked up than his.

"But to answer your question," Envy watched as Greed leaned back, staring down at him in amusement. "I always have a way to get what I want."

"Right." Envy said. He shifted back in case Greed decided to hug him in front of everyone.

Elizabeth cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. She smiled at them when they looked at her. "Right. We have one scene left before everyone is free to go home for the day." She said. "The next rehearsal will be on Friday."

There was a mixture of disappointed groans and relieved sighs. Elizabeth smiled in amusement. "The last scene of the day will be the meeting between Romeo, Friar Laurence and the Nurse." She said.

"Ling, if you would please."