A/N For a bit of context, this is based in an AU where Kimblee was recruited fresh out of the academy just before everything kicked off in Ishval. What he knows about the Homunculi and The Plan is pretty limited to what he's managed to find out from Envy, who is the only one he's met yet. (Will I ever get bored of writing excessive amounts of Kimvy...? Probably not!)

Kimblee was aware of the presence following him far before he could see them.

It was Envy, of course. It was always Envy.

They seemed to enjoy this game, trailing Kimblee for as long as possible during his evening walk home. Kimblee couldn't really see what was so interesting about it, but there was no reason to put an end to it prematurely.

"Hi, Crimson," Envy said, appearing behind him as if from thin air.

This was part of the game; they seemed very amused (and more than a little pleased with themself) whenever they managed to catch Kimblee off guard. In reality, this was never, but Kimblee often played along, he could see no reason to disappoint them, after all.

Unfortunately, today was not one of those days where he felt like playing along. He had been forced to spend four hours of his precious afternoon in a meeting with an insufferable colleague in the marshal's office. Maes Hughes had made what could have taken thirty minutes into a whole afternoon's worth of inane discussion on the current situation in the East.

"Hello, can you hear me?" Envy hopped a little on the spot in frustration, unused to being ignored.

Kimblee rubbed a hand against his forehead. "It's been a long day," was all he said.

"Oh, sure," they muttered, with a dark look.

Kimblee sighed. Why did he always give in to Envy's every whim, he wondered? But really, there was no need for him to be in a bad mood anymore; the meeting was over and he had fulfilled all of his social working commitments for the week, Friday was a day for him to dedicate fully to his research. That was a comforting thought, it was probably why he was starting to feel happier and more relaxed. Nothing related to present company -

"Fine, I guess I'll go then. I was only here to check in on you. Father's been getting twitchy about the East, and he needs me to go down and check on Lust and that moron, Gluttony."

"You're leaving?" Kimblee asked, sharply.

"Isn't that what I just said?" Envy snapped.

Kimblee took a long breath. "I'm sorry, let's start again. Oh, Envy! How long have you been following me?"

Envy tried to hold a frown but they couldn't stop a small smirk from slipping onto their face. "You're as much of a moron as my brother," they said, playfully (Kimblee hoped).

"I wouldn't know."

"Trust me, you don't want to meet Gluttony."

"Perhaps."

"You're curious, though, aren't you?"

Envy was clearly enjoying this, they often liked to lord information over Kimblee, even though it generally didn't tend to bother him. He knew as much as he needed to, he knew who he could use his alchemy on and get away with it, and, really, what was more important than that? Although, truth be told, recently he had been trying to pry out more from Envy. It had started innocently enough, teasing out the names of all their siblings, but he kept finding that he wanted to know more, more about Envy's plan, Envy's family… more about Envy themself. It was simple curiosity, human nature, who wouldn't be fascinated by such a creature?

"I am," Kimblee admitted. "Your family is one of a kind." With Envy, flattery would get you everywhere.

"That's true, we are pretty special. Although none of the others can do this…" Red sparks danced around Envy's body and slowly engulfed them; when they receded, the familiar face of Maes Hughes was smiling down at Kimblee. It would have been impressive, had it not been the hundredth time Envy had pulled a stunt like this using their unique abilities.

"It's like you're asking me to blow you up," Kimblee grinned.

Envy's pout on Hughes' face was disturbing and ridiculous at the same time, Kimblee tried to suppress a laugh, but failed.

"What's so funny? You don't like this face? Fine…" More sparks appeared and left in their wake woman with long blonde hair and full lips. Olivier Armstrong had been considered a great beauty by many of Kimblee's colleagues, but she had never been of interest to him.

"You've picked some strange choices. You could be anyone, but you pick a man I actively dislike, and a woman I am indifferent to."

Envy looked disappointed at Kimblee's lack of awe of them. "Fine, you choose someone then."

"Pride," Kimblee threw back, a little too quickly.

"Nice try, Crimson. I am not going to tell you a single thing about him." Envy gave a sassy toss of Olivier's thick hair.

"Oh, but you just did. I didn't know Pride was a 'him', before."

Envy opened their mouth angrily, but immediately snapped it closed again. Obviously they were learning from past mistakes that speaking when angry was a sure way to let more secrets slip out.

"Choose someone else," they replied, eventually, in a smaller voice.

"Hmm," Kimblee pretended to think for a moment, "how about Envy."

"You know that's me, right? You can't trick me out of information you already have."

"I know that, I just like your face the way it is."

"Oh." Envy was quite for a while as they processed this information. Kimblee wondered what they were inferring from his words; obviously he had only meant it to boost their delicate ego, and their contemplation was making him a little uneasy.

"Anyway, you were telling me that you had to visit the East?" Kimblee said, more as a distraction than anything else.

"Mhm, I need to check on a few of our works in progress down there," Envy replied, carefully, as they shifted back to their preferred form subconsciously.

"Anything you need my help with?" Envy shot Kimblee a strange look at that comment, and he felt the need to justify it. "I've been stuck in this city for months, I thought the deal was that I get to practice my Alchemy?"

"Well yes, you do, but only on our terms."

"Your terms seem rather dull right now." Kimblee rolled his eyes, hoping his words might spur the homunculus into action. They had made many promises regarding what Kimblee would be allowed to do, but he had yet to see any of them be realised.

"Just wait a little bit longer, Crimson. It's not long now…" Envy's eyes had a far-away look, and Kimblee felt a corresponding bolt of excitement.

"Not long until what?" He knew he was being too direct, but disinterest was difficult to feign around the only person he could openly be himself around.

Envy cocked their head, considering. "Okay, I'll give you this one, Crimson. Because you're being so patient. You know about the tensions in Ishval. Right?

Of course, Kimblee had spend half of his day discussing it. It was the hot topic around Central HQ right now, and had been for at least a month. He nodded, in response.

"Good," Envy almost purred, "I thought you'd be paying attention. Well I can't say much, but we have certain… plans, involving Ishval. And it's all going to happen very - very soon."

"And these plans, do they involve me?"

"Of course, why do you think I'm telling you? You're going to have a lot to do there. A lot."

Kimblee liked the sound of that. All of his irritation stemming from his day at work seemed insignificant now. Working with Envy, and the other Homunculi, was an exciting prospect; the opportunities were almost endless. And the idea that it might all begin very soon… he could hardly wait to get started.

But for now, walking with Envy in the cool early evening, with the whole night stretching in front of them, discussing as much of the plan as they would share… well, it wasn't a bad way to pass time.