Bang
Kimblee's outstretched arms come together in a fast and deliberate motion and a corresponding explosion sounds in the street below. He keeps his eyes closed for a few moments, enjoying the sound, and when he finally opens them they are dark and blazing with excitement.
Envy loves watching Kimblee work. For all their posturing of superiority, Envy can only imagine what it feels like to have such raw power at their fingertips.
The air is thick with fresh smoke which billows upwards in dense black plumes. The accompanying ash coats every surrounding surface, and the stench of blood and metal and concrete mingle in a way that Envy finds pleasant.
Kimblee's chest is heaving as he tries to catch his breath. His hair whips out behind him like a streak of black ink scrawled across the smokey grey sky, and his pale face looks more alive than Envy has ever seen it. His grin is infectious and despite themself, Envy feels their own lips curling upwards in response.
If the word were in Envy's vocabulary, they might almost say that he looks handsome.
Even so, there is something truly incredible about this man, Envy thinks. He is so unlike any other human they have ever met, none of the weakness (well some, Envy concedes, but less than the others they have dealt with), and his devotion to his work is beyond compare.
Stood up here, above them, the weak and the dying, with him… Envy feels something they are unused to, something akin to joy. Perhaps it is just proximity Kimblee's elation, but Envy enjoys it just the same.
A scream of terror sounds beneath them and Envy basks in the horror of the scene playing out beneath them. A woman emerges onto the street from the rubble of a collapsed building and throws herself onto the still-smouldering corpse of what Envy assumes to be her lover. After a few more seconds more people begin to pour out behind her, each searching the dead in fear, hoping not to find any familiar faces.
Envy steals a glance at their Alchemist, enjoying the anticipation they know he feels, and feeling it along with him.
They are standing so close that when Kimblee moves to extend his arms again, Envy feels a faint brush of skin against their own. In this heightened state of sensation and emotion, it isn't as bad as Envy would have imagined…
Bang.
The screams are cut off as another violent explosion rocks the building they are stood on. A detached part of Envy wonders how safe they both are up here, obviously they could survive the fall to the street (although it is something they hope to avoid), but despite his power Kimblee is still only a human. The thought is dismissed almost immediately, Envy is enjoying this too much to dwell on Kimblee's humanity...
Kimblee exhales quickly, his breathing is fast and Envy is surprised that their own breathing seems to have quickened to match. They are aware that his gaze has shifted onto them.
Envy looks up, violet eyes meet deep, dark blue. Kimblee's face is intense; everything about this afternoon is what he lives for. Envy wishes, wishes for something to bring them the pleasure that Kimblee seems to get out of using his alchemy.
"Kiss me." Envy hears themself say. The words are out of their mouth before they can stop them.
They see Kimblee's eyes narrow slightly, although the grin remains; he is wondering if they mean it… Envy wonders too.
Carefully, but with purpose, Kimblee reaches out a hand and lays it softly on their cheek. Envy flinches ever so slightly; this is hard for them, no one has ever touched them before unless it was to cause them pain. But this, this isn't so bad.
The kiss is swift and intense, much like Kimblee's explosions. He tastes sort of smokey although Envy isn't sure if that's just because of their surroundings.
Kimblee pulls away too soon, Envy wants to follow but their pride doesn't allow it.
"So that's what it feels like…" Kimblee murmurs to himself.
A thrill shoots through Envy to know that he had been curious as well.
But still, curiosity is all it is… all it can be.
"Yeah… well that's all you get, Crimson… don't let it go to your head." Kimblee's eyes are still bright and his face is flushed slightly; Envy imagines they look similar, their face is definitely warmer than usual. But they are back in control now. In the heat of the moment they had acted on an impulse, they don't regret it, but it can't happen again.
A/N I can't stop… send help!
~My first attempt at writing something in present tense, it was fun but difficult - I keep backsliding and then finding random bits that are accidentally done in past!