“It’s not a fairy tale, you know.”

Lust looked up, startled out of her thoughts by the voice of Sloth behind her. She frowned, still somewhat lost in something akin to a daydream. Hadn’t she said she wished to be left alone?

“What are you talking about?” Lust leaned back against the window sill and crossed her legs, fixing Sloth with a bored and uncaring look.

“You know what I’m talking about.” Sloth closed the door behind her, looking small and frail without that damned child clinging to her.

“I’m afraid I don’t.” What did the damn woman want? Other than to simply be a bother, of course.

“This.” Sloth waved one hand. “It’s not a fairy story, Lust. Your handsome Ishbalite prince isn’t going to kiss you and turn you into a human.”

“I don’t know what you’re on about,” Lust said smoothly.

“Do you think I don’t know? Do you think I haven’t followed you? Do you think I can’t see the way you look at him?” Sloth’s voice was poison. She moved across the floor, dainty and petite as a ballet dancer. “Really Lust, you don’t give me enough credit.”

Lust didn’t respond. She bit the inside of her cheek, both embarrassed at being discovered and ashamed that she had been so careless.

“Speechless?” Sloth was standing before her now. “You’re losing sight of what’s important, Lust.”

“And what is important, Sloth?” She was careful to keep her voice even and laced with boredom.

“Us,” Sloth hissed, grabbing Lust’s chin and holding it firmly. “We’re important.”

“I haven’t abandoned you,” Lust said, resenting the cold fingers against her skin.

“You’d run off with your prince in a moment if you could, wouldn’t you?” Sloth laughed, a high and unpleasant sound. “But no prince is going to run off with a monster.”

“Are we monsters now?”

Sloth’s fingers moved, tracing the lines of Lust’s face.

“Of course we are.” Sloth laughed softer this time. “And we’ll always be, if you aren’t careful.”

“You’re worked up over nothing,” Lust assured the other homunculus. It was a hollow promise, but Lust wasn’t stupid. Of course she’d leave them behind if she could. She hated them all at this point, each one caring nothing for the humanity they supposedly wanted.

“Am I?” Sloth’s hand was in her hair now, stroking and caressing. Lust allowed it, knowing full well that Sloth was looking for a fight.

“You are.” Lust smiled and cocked her shoulder. “Really. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I hope you’re not lying to me, Lust.” Sloth kissed her then, thin lips cold and soft against Lust’s. It wasn’t Sloth that she wanted, but she was in no position to fend off the advances. She allowed Sloth to kiss her, to run her fingers through her hair. Did she honestly think that this would make any difference?

“I’ve no reason to lie,” Lust assured her as Sloth’s lips moved to her neck, small and dispassionate. Lust leaned back as Sloth pulled down the front of her dress. Her lips followed her fingers, her small tongue slipping out to drag along the curves of Lust’s breasts. It was an idle distraction, nothing more. Sloth’s tongue was talented, caressing Lust’s nipples until they were hard. Lust dropped her hand to Sloth’s hair, petting it through the fabric of her glove.

Why wasn’t it a fairy tale? Didn’t the beautiful princess always get her prince in the end? Though Lust supposed she was no princess. It didn’t matter. It was her story and it would go however she wanted it to. If only it was simply a kiss that would turn her human…

One of Sloth’s hands hand worked its way under Lust’s dress. Exploratory fingers crawled up her thigh, seeking the naked flesh that rested higher. Lust spread her legs, her skirt inching up her thighs to give the other woman the access she wanted. She glanced out the window as Sloth touched her, slipping her fingers between Lust’s thighs. The sun was setting. Sloth’s fingers were cold, so were Lust’s. The stone of the wall was rough against her back, the skin of Sloth’s hands was soft.

What was she? Lust tried to shoo the question away as Sloth dipped between her thighs, her hair tickling her legs. She thought of those books that Sloth had, the ones she read to the child. They were full of damsels and knights and women under curses. Her very life was her curse, and no amount of loving words or kisses would break it. She let out a sharp moan as Sloth’s tongue entered her, her thoughts rapidly scattering before the waves of pleasure that swept her body. Her fingers tightened in Sloth’s hair, her legs tensing, the stone scraping along her bare back.

Sloth emerged from between her legs, licking her lips like a cat.

“Envy’s going to be jealous you know,” Lust teased, adjusting her dress idly.

“Envy isn’t going to care,” Sloth countered. Lust shrugged. It didn’t matter to her either way.

“The child is probably wanting you.”

“I know.” Sloth nodded. “Remember what I said, Lust.”

“Yes, yes.” Lust waved her hand in dismissal and returned her gaze to the city below. She tucked herself up into the windowsill as Sloth left, resting her chin on her knees. It wouldn’t happen again, what had just passed between her and Sloth. It wasn’t Sloth that she wanted. Her Ishbalite might not be able to break her curse, but sometimes… dear god, sometimes it felt like he could.

It was a twisted sort of fairy tale, Lust decided, but it was hers.