Greed's Start (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Greed's Start

Greed had known that he was different from the other homunculi at a very early age. Well, if one could call it that.

Little after he was first created, Father entrusted him and his siblings to fulfill their duties.

So far, there were only Pride, Lust, and himself and they all made up one perfect family... yeah right.

Greed felt as if Father was purposefully stifling him with these duties that solely benefited him and not his children.

Greed wanted more and while he expressed his sentiment with his older siblings, he only got rejected and reprimanded by Pride. Lust advised him to shut up and never speak about that again. Not having anyone on his side was frustrating, and although Greed won't admit it, it did hurt.

He made a habit of sneaking off and going into the public. Not to follow any orders, but simply to participate within society. How dull. Father was right, these humans were petty, small, and insignificant. Why would someone like Greed even set foot among such low beings?

That's what he used to think, until he got a human for himself. He was small and plain looking, but oh the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about his homeland, his dreams, his family and friends. Well, Greed couldn't get enough of that. Another soul who wanted more. Maybe not exactly the things Greed wanted, but he could respect the avarice of this person.

Back at home, Envy was made. There was a sliver of hope that this new sibling of theirs would have similar thoughts to Greed, but he was wrong. Very wrong. Envy the Jealous found the opportunity to get on Father's good side and snitched on him when he found out about Greed's human.

Father called him and scolded him as if he were a human child. He was told to leave that human and that peculiar hobby of his alone. He was to attend to his original duties, nothing more and that was final.

But did he? Nah. He learned to mistrust his family including the new additions; Gluttony and Sloth. He would slack off on his duties in search for his human and other small creatures like him.

With his handsome face and charm, humans were eager to please him and follow him to the end and he loved it. He loved being wanted and was quite frankly addicted to it.

His misguided heart and avarice had led him into feeding his addiction through money, power, and sex. Yet, he wanted more because it was never enough.

He didn't realize it wasn't power and money he wanted, it was the need for closeness, the need to be seen and cared for. Something that his family didn't or couldn't provide.

So he left. Well, it wasn't like he officially announced he was quitting the 'family business', it was more like he didn't go back to that place and avoided his siblings as much as possible.

For a hundred years he left and within those years he found out how easily humans died. His first human had left at such a young age. He had only lived for three decades. Greed didn't understand what 'grief' was and drowned himself in more frivolous activities to distract him from these feelings. Again, it wasn't enough.

Now he was alone with a bottle in hand and that poison inside him that could never really intoxicate him. He let out a sigh, the way humans did and threw the bottle against a wall.

What has his life come to? Should he go back and ask Father for forgiveness? Give him another chance?

Ugh, just thinking about it left him nauseous. What a sad, sad excuse he was to be Greed.

After a few minutes, or even a few hours, the greedy homunculus left the building and walked past the temporary place he stayed at and never looked back.

Eventually he found himself in the city of Dublith and within it, he found a shabby old bar.

On the front, it had faint lettering. Greed could make out of the word 'Devil'. He laughed, for the first time in a while, he let out a laugh, but it was filled with bitterness because the true devil was standing right before it.

He slowly strode in, the heels of his shoes clicking as he passed dusty floors, cabinets, and other miscellaneous items.

The place had been abandoned. He found it funny how he could relate to something like an old bar.

He stopped in the center of the room, hands on hips, and a thoughtful expression on his face.

"This place needs a serious makeover." He said outloud.

He walked outside again and took another look at the faded lettering.

This place, he decided, was his now. His nest; The Devil's Nest.

Oh, he really liked the sound of that. He grinned as if it was the best thing he had ever came up with.

That's how it started. That's how he met Martel, Roa, Dolcetto, Bido, and the others.

-

As he faded into oblivion, he watched the expression on Ling's, Edward's, and Lan Fan's faces.

He knew that feeling too well, but he was selfish. Selfish enough to sacrifice himself in place of Ling just so he could be considered a hero, just so others could see that maybe he wasn't so bad. That he was their friend.

That's all he ever wanted after all.

With one final image of the Devil's Nest and how it started, he disappeared with a smile and a thank you to his friends. All of his friends.

A/N: This little story has been in my notes for a while. Greed had such an amazing arc. He is my favorite character of the FMAB series and can y'alls blame me?

Anyway, I feel like a new person.

Hope you guys like it!