A/N: This story has been at the back of my mind for the last month and a half. I wasn't sure how to approach this chapter. But I came up with something. This chapter builds off the events in the first three of the flashback chapters in The Lightning That Thunders (Chapters 5 to 7). I wanted to do something new as oppose to rewriting. So yeah. These are all new Ishbal scenes but they refer to older ones. Still, this chapter is on the iffy side so let me know how it works. Next chapter finishes off Ishbal, telling the story of how everything went wrong for Naminé, Kimblee, Isabelle, and Romberg. How did Romberg die?

Anyway, I want to thank those who reviewed the story since the last update: Arinlianette, UnderTheHood, kasuki101, Mitsukai, compa16, SuperYuuki, Affectionate-Sinner, and Ren Sayonia. Forgive me for updating so late!

CHAPTER 25—Mere Suspicions:

It was the next morning. Well rested or not, the military personnel were already on their feet and doing what they needed to do. Doctors and nurses were attending the wounded while the majority of soldiers headed toward their designated areas. Reluctantly, Naminé approached the border of Sector Eleven. After yesterday's fiasco, she hardly wanted to face the group but if she didn't show up, she would be in trouble. It was losing situation either way.

She rounded an abandoned building and saw that everyone else was there already, chatting in low voices. Even Romberg was present. I guess Thad's a part of our team now, she thought. That's good. "Um, morning," she called out as cheerful as possible. The men immediately stopped talking and looked at her. Yep, she thought. They must be talking about me.

Romberg broke away from the group and came over. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pecked her on her cheek. "You okay? I didn't see you last night."

"I'm fine." Naminé relaxed. Maybe they hadn't been talking about her. Romberg wasn't giving her that awkward vibe when someone heard a conversation they weren't supposed to hear. Naminé looked at Kimblee. "I'm sorry I'm late."

Kimblee shook his head. "You're not, Thomson. We were just talking about home and if we missed anything."

Romberg's hold around Naminé's waist tightened. "I said I would have missed you but you're here now." Kimblee snorted and Romberg gave him a dirty look. "Don't mind Kimblee," Romberg added. "He wishes he had someone like you."

Kimblee rolled his eyes, almost causing Naminé to laugh. "Do you miss anything, Kimblee?" She asked.

His eyes wandered over her for a split second before meeting her gaze. "I left nothing behind to miss," he finally replied. Naminé felt her heart skip a beat. He didn't mean it like that, she told herself. Yet her intuition said otherwise. Why else did Romberg's hold suddenly get too tight for comfort?

"So what's our game plan today, Major Kimblee?" One of the soldiers asked, clearly eager for action this morning.

Kimblee shrugged. "Don't really have one." It wasn't in his plan to babysit anyone. He just wanted to do what he loved to do. If they really wanted a babysitter, they could go bug Naminé. Although, after yesterday, he doubted that idea would be appealing to any of the soldiers. He looked up and saw Naminé was studying him. "What are you thinking, Thomson?"

Naminé folded her arms and looked at the soldiers around her. "Maybe we should split into smaller units or go by ourselves," she said. "Smaller units can plan for themselves and as long as we know where everyone is, I think we'll be fine."

"We would get less attention that way," someone murmured. "With less of us running around together, I mean."

Kimblee smirked. "Then it's settled," he said. "I'll go by myself. The rest of you do what you want." There was a slight murmur but the foot soldiers did what they were told.

"So tell me," Romberg asked Naminé. "Was that you doing Kimblee a favor?"

The brunette quickly shook her head, surprised that Romberg seemed bothered by the idea. "Actually, I did it for myself."

Romberg frowned. "What do you mean?"

He really doesn't it get it. She sighed. "I want to go alone." She casually looked over her shoulder to see where Kimblee had gone off to. He was going into the field by himself. Why couldn't she? Maybe they would even run into each other and work together.

Romberg pulled Naminé back into reality. "Naminé, don't be silly. You could get killed out there."

Someone yelled, "Hey, Romberg!"

Romberg turned around and saw a soldier waving him over. Behind that soldier was a small team already made. "One minute!" He faced Naminé again. "Why don't we find a group to join? You'll be safer with numbers."

Naminé sighed. It was obvious that he really believed this was for her benefit. "I've made up my mind, Thad. I'm going by myself."

"I don't like this."

She gave him a small smile. "I'll be fine."

Naminé had told him not to worry but Romberg had watched his girlfriend nearly be crushed by a falling building. If it hadn't been for Kimblee-!

Romberg ran a hand through his hair as he waited on the dinner line, holding his tray. If Naminé had been hurt by Kimblee's enthusiasm for his job, he would have had it out with the alchemist by now. But she hadn't; Kimblee had tackled her out of the way just in time. What got Romberg was what didn't happen afterward. Despite the two alchemists' questionable position on the ground, Kimblee hadn't gotten off his girlfriend. In fact, he must have been on top of her for at least a minute, doing who knew what.

Suddenly someone grabbed him by the shoulder and cut in front of him. If it hadn't been for the grin, he would have snapped.

"Mind if I 'wait on line' with you?" Isabelle grinned, holding her tray at her side.

"I don't mind," he sighed. "How are you?"

"Bored," she said. "My supervisor isn't here yet and I have nothing to do."

"Maybe you should help in a medical tent. They could always use the extra hands."

"I was thinking more of the battlefield," Isabelle said. "I hear lots of things happen out there. Like what happened between Naminé and Kimblee today?"

Romberg huffed a bit. "Nothing happened."

"Oh, so Naminé's not playing the both of you?" Romberg gave the blonde a dirty look and Isabelle smiled apologetically. "I'm kidding, okay? I just heard a few guys mention it. That's all."

Romberg looked around the dining tent. There was no sign of Kimblee and there was no sign of his girlfriend either. They couldn't be together right now, doing things that they shouldn't. It would be very stupid of them to think he would never find out. What am I thinking? I'm being irrational. But maybe he was not. "Is a month a long time?" He suddenly asked.

Isabelle laughed. "You think something happened between them while you were gone?"

"Does it sound that farfetched?"

She stopped laughing and thought about it. "I... I would hope so."

Romberg quirked an eyebrow. Just for a split second, there was a change in Isabelle's expression. "Do you know something that I don't?"

"Of course not," Isabelle lied. She had remembered something she had overheard a year ago between the two alchemists, something about Naminé like Kimblee more than Romberg. But that was the problem. It was a year ago and Isabelle was not going to ignite an argument for nothing. The blonde looked around for a way to divert the attention away from her. Finally she found one. "Roy! Over here!"

The Flame Alchemist was about to take his position at the end of the long line when he spotted a familiar face calling him over. He had no problem cutting ahead. "Hi Isabelle," he said. He nodded at Romberg. "How's it going?"

Romberg got straight to the point. "How often do you see Kimblee and Naminé together, Mustang?"

Roy blinked. "What?"

Isabelle rolled her eyes. "This is getting really ridiculous, Romberg."

"It's a fair question, isn't it?"

"Shouldn't you ask your girlfriend that?" Roy pointed out.

"Did you see something?" Romberg reiterated.

Roy sighed. Romberg seemed so far from reason. "Well, since you asked, before coming to Ishbal, the state alchemists had to meet the Fuhrer in East City. Most of us stayed at a hotel. At some point in the night, I saw Kimblee leaving Naminé's room."

Isabelle's eyes widened. "What?"

"Relax," Roy said. "Kimblee looked more pissed off than excited." The Flame Alchemist looked around the tent. "We could call him over."

"He's here?" Romberg spotted Kimblee at the entrance. He didn't see Naminé with him but maybe that was part of a cover up.

"Kimblee!" Isabelle yelled.

The Crimson Alchemist raised an eyebrow but he slowly came over. Seeing Isabelle, Romberg, and Mustang together was a bit weird and judging by the looks on their faces, he wasn't sure if he wanted to join the party. Romberg looked pissed, Mustang looked confused, and Isabelle looked like she was on the brink of devastation. Still, the line was too long and he would rather deal with them than wait. Before he could even get out a greeting, Romberg spoke.

"What were you doing in Naminé's hotel room the other night?"

Kimblee almost laughed. Was this what he actually walked into? An interrogation? "Believe or not, she wanted me to tell her a bedtime story," Kimblee replied coolly. Not like he was entirely lying; she did ask him to at some point.

Romberg frowned. "I don't."

"Suit yourself. But Naminé would tell you the same thing." Romberg wasn't even bothering to hide his hostility. From the way Romberg was acting, someone would have thought he had caught Naminé cheating on him.

"And after you got inside the room?" Isabelle asked.

"I insulted her and she kicked me out."

Isabelle seemed very satisfied by this. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "See? There's nothing to worry about."

"You could always ask Naminé," Roy suggested again.

Romberg sighed. "There's no reason to bother her," he muttered. He was trying to tell himself he was being paranoid and irrational but his mind kept insisting that something was off. Two nights ago, after saying she needed him so badly and pulling him away from dinner, Naminé hadn't kissed him the way she used to. She hadn't reacted to his touch the way she normally would. It couldn't be his imagination.

"Why are you so attached to Naminé?" Romberg asked. He felt that he needed to ask. Roy and Isabelle looked at Kimblee, expecting the usual quick and nonchalant answer. However, Kimblee hadn't been prepared for that question. "Well?"

Kimblee shrugged. "I don't know. She's an accepting person. It's what I..." He hesitated for a moment. "It's what I like about her."

That was not what Kimblee had meant to say last night. Even though Isabelle had told Romberg that there was nothing to worry about, she knew better. Now, as the two waited for Kimblee and Naminé to return to camp, it seemed that her suspicions were being confirmed. The group had unfortunately split up an hour ago. What could be taking them so long?

"Do you think they came back to camp a different way?" Romberg asked. "This isn't the only way into camp."

"But it's the most likely," Isabelle said. "You said so yourself. And let's be honest, I doubt any game of cat-and-mouse would last this long. One of them must have lost by now." Unless they're with each other and don't give a damn that we're worried.

Today, Isabelle had stepped out onto the battlefield with the intention of talking to Naminé alone. The woman needed to know what was going on and according to Naminé, there was nothing going on. For a moment, her mind had been at ease.

But then, Isabelle and Naminé stumbled upon two injured Ishbalan children and the Lightning Alchemist naturally wanted to help them, even though it was against orders. To make things worse, Romberg and Kimblee showed up. Of course Kimblee and Naminé got into a disagreement right away. She wanted to save them, he wanted to kill them. However, Isabelle had been very surprised that Naminé shocked Kimblee. That was how it all started: Kimblee's pursuit of Naminé.

"Maybe I should have gone after them," Romberg said, pacing around the military camp entrance for the umpteenth time in half an hour. "Naminé can't exactly win against Kimblee in a fight. They fought before and Kimblee domina-!"

"You actually think Kimblee blew her up?" Isabelle interrupted.

"Maybe he did! Would he care if she died?"

Isabelle narrowed her green eyes. Kimblee would care, you idiot. Just yesterday you were asking why he was so attached to her. She looked away, more irritated than before. "I'm pretty sure Naminé and Kimblee are kissing and making up right now," she muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing," she lied.

"What are you two doing here?"

Isabelle and Romberg turned around. There was Kimblee, standing there with a disinterest look on his face. Physically he looked okay which meant Naminé hadn't done much harm. Nothing could be said about the other way around though. Isabelle was about to ask him what happened but Romberg opened his mouth first. "Where's Naminé?"

"Gran is talking to her," he replied.

"Gran?" Romberg questioned.

"Yeah. We ran into him in Ishbal. He was pretty pissed off about us messing around." Romberg gave the Crimson Alchemist a funny look. Kimblee smirked. "Relax. I didn't even get a chance to put my hands on her."

"If you had hurt her-!"

"I have other things to worry about."

"Like what?"

Kimblee shrugged. "Whatever Gran decides."

Isabelle sighed. So the two alchemists had gotten in more trouble than she had hoped. Whatever Gran decided would be difficult, something that would put them at risk but also something they could manage. And once again, Naminé and Kimblee will be alone. The idea irked her. Wasn't the previous month and a half good enough for them?

The blonde grabbed Kimblee's hand and smiled at Romberg. "You mind if you excuse us?"

Romberg reached for the back of his neck. "Alright. I'll try to find Naminé. She's in Gran's tent, right, Kimblee?"

"Yeah," Kimblee replied. Once Romberg took off, he asked, "Is there a reason you're holding my hand?"

Isabelle giggled. "Why? You never held a woman's hand before?"

"I'm not exactly the romantic type."

She tightened her grip on his hand, much to his annoyance. "Come on. I want to talk to you."

Isabelle led Kimblee further into camp. She peeped into several tents before finding one that was not in use. There were a few crates piled up inside and a single table and its chair near the tent's rear. Isabelle walked in and sat on top of the table while Kimblee took a seat on top of a crate. Isabelle stared at the ground. "Remember... Remember we were Gran's first subordinates?" She asked.

"I remember. I also remember that if you didn't freeze up in real combat, Romberg might still be stationed at Briggs."

She looked up sharply. "Are you blaming me for Romberg's transfer?"

"No," he smirked. "I'm just recalling a fact. Besides having Romberg transferred was one of the best things that happened. I was able to do a lot more hands-on kind of missions. Plus me and Romberg started that stupid game."

"You guys never finished it," Isabelle said quietly. "Naminé was supposed to be your tiebreaker."

"Yeah. Funny how things work out."

"...Did you ever not want her around?"

His golden eyes narrowed a bit and she wondered if her question had been too frank. But when she heard his voice, the tension left her body. "In the beginning, yeah, I did. She completely botched that warehouse mission. She allowed herself to be captured by Daniels. Up to now, she still doesn't get the concept of strategy. But she has been improving. I can give her that much... Did you—no, do you ever want her around?"

Isabelle pursed her lips. "Why would you ask me that?"

Kimblee's smirk widened. "Because women tend to be jealous creatures. So, are you jealous of Naminé's relationship with Romberg or her relationship with, I don't know, Mustang, or perhaps her relationship with-!"

"Can you stop?" Isabelle interrupted. "You know what it is so why can't you just say it?"

Kimblee stopped smirking. "You're right. I should just say it." Before he could admit to anything, the tent flap open and a few higher-ranking officers walked it. There was an awkward moment as the officers tried to figure out why the Crimson Alchemist was alone with a female officer. Isabelle hopped off the table and made a beeline for the exit. "Excuse us, sirs," Kimblee said as he walked out behind her.

Once outside, Isabelle stopped walking and turned around. "Are you going to?" She asked.

"Right now is a bad time, don't you think?" Around them, soldiers bustled back and forth. Outside wasn't as private as the tent had been. They could easily find another tent but Kimblee wasn't going to allow a part two of the conversation. That much was obvious.

Isabelle sighed. "If you say so, Kimblee."

When was the right time to tell her? It had been on Kimblee's mind since Gran's assignment began but between the disagreements, getting shot at, killing Ishbalans, and tending to Naminé's bullet wound, he hadn't had much time to find the right words. He had admitted that he wanted her and Naminé had been okay with that. But even though he was now in her arms, it bothered him because he knew that wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear. Why had she accepted it so easily tonight when the first time, in the hotel room, she had gotten so upset? Was it because of his request to keep things simple and she believed that the wait wasn't worth avoiding the risks? This, he was beginning to realize, was anything but simple.

Hearing his name leave her lips got his heart racing, seeing her near him made the hairs on the back of his neck stand, and now, feeling her lips on his hot skin caused him to be breathless. In some ways this was greater than the anticipation after making a bomb and in some ways this was greater than the rush he got after the bomb exploded. But his mind had yet to catch up to his body. He wanted to at least let her hear it once.

"Kimblee?"

He pulled away and looked into Naminé's smoldering blue eyes, trying to see what was wrong. "Is your shoulder hurting you?" He breathed heavily.

She shook her head, a red tint appearing in her cheeks. "It's fine... I was just wondering if you could remove your shirt?"

He tried not to laugh as he did. He found it funny that she was so embarrassed about to ask. It was as if she had never asked a man to before. For all I know, she probably never had. He was about to kiss her again but she stopped him. "What is it?"

Cautious of her shoulder, she slowly pulled her top over her head. Kimblee thought she was going to stop there but he watched as she unclasped the front of her bra. His golden eyes roamed every revealed inch of skin, his arousal steadily growing. "We're going slow tonight, right, Naminé?" Although, this wasn't exactly his definition of slow.

"You want to?"

"Yeah," he replied. He was lying. He wanted to take her, relieve himself from what he had been feeling for months. But he didn't want her to wake up in the morning and regret it. He didn't want their first time to be associated with Ishbal. If they waited until Romberg was out of the picture, it would be all the better.

"Okay, Kimblee," she finally whispered.

He came back down and brushed his lips against hers. Already he could feel her hard nipples against his chest. "Call me by my first name," he asked of her. He was never really fond of his first name but maybe, hearing it from her would make it sound sweeter to his ears.

She slipped her fingers over his tensed arms, across his shoulder, before brushing her thumb over his lips. Her eyes, which had been following her hand, finally looked into his. They had been smoldering before. Now they were burning. "Kiss me, Zolf."

Kimblee crushed his lips against hers, causing her to moan. He slipped a hand underneath her back and she arched into him, pressing her body into his own. He knew exactly what he felt for her but this wasn't the right time to tell her. Right now, he just wanted to make the most of tonight.