Alrighty guys, It's only been a little longer than expect, I'm oh so sorry, but I really wanted number two to be rewritten properly, sorry for any misspellings, & other mis-something of other misfortunes that may catch your eye (Don't worry nothing bad lol) but here ya are! #2 as I promised!
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist. Credited & created by: Hiromu Arakawa! The only ones I own are the OC...And some of the plot that was not put into the manga or series...So there! I can't get sued! Lmao.
Chapter two: The Fresh Encounter
She hummed the same melody's from behind her lips
Everyday it was the same melody, never a new one.
He was annoyed by it. Irritated by the same damn song.
He told her to stop humming, she didn't.
He threaten her, but she just spat a raspberry at him.
She didn't fear him.
She never hid her true self from him either.
So then, why was she trying to make him go away?
He was coming in close, already Kimblee & his help of soldiers were already searching the trains & areas for where his whereabouts would be. Kimblee had a pretty good Idea as he scanned the map in from of him. Then the realization hit him as he found turns in the trains route.
"Do trains slow down much when they turn?"
"Yes, sir, it'd be dangerous to attempt jump off but it's possible."
"Good, then that's where we're heading."
Kimblee placed the white hat on his head, & smirked widely as he prepared some soldiers for a trip towards the train station where he departed & headed in the direction with a lot more soldiers than he had started out with. When he had reached the destination, him & a few others followed him out to where there seemed to be an avalanche.
"Very strange. Are there usually rock slides around here?"
"Yes sir, actually this road was cut off completely because of too many of them."
Kimblee didn't seem to believe that, & walked towards the large crumbled boulders only to find a rock that seemed to stand out from out of the rumble, which he grabbed with his tattooed hand & just as he thought, it was nothing more than Alchemy. The rock had transmutation markings all over the back part, which gave him a big hint on where they were heading.
"We're heading West. Scars trying to divert us from his trail by taking the back roads through the valley. So, let's move."
"Sir!" By night fall, Kimblee was on the next train going in the other direction, knowing that the train Scar would've gotten on that afternoon would match up with his train. It took a lot of moving around just to get to this moment.
"Remember, make sure the train matches up I don't want you idiots getting in my way!"
"Right! Got it!" The Engineer did his best to speed up with the upcoming trail.
Kimblee could feel his blood boiling with excitement already.
It's been a long time since I've had this sensation I almost forgot how good it felt...
It took a second for him to be precise on his jump from his train to the other, but he did with ease landing on his feet as he opened the door to one of the carts. There in the cart he spotted a man with his face covered in a beige jacket. The man looked frantic, & immediately Kimblee assumed it was the doctor.
"Dr. Marco. I've come to apprehend you! There's no ways of escaping, you're coming with me."
He was so sure it was him, until he removed his hood & saw it was some man he had never seen before sniveling almost in tears of the sight of the Alchemist. "Who are you?"
Kimblee suddenly sensed a man coming in from the side of the cart, trying to kick him in the side, but the blue eyed man was faster, throwing the mysterious man's foot to the side as he moved back to stand face to face with his new found enemy.
"So, you must be the one known as Scar?"
Even though it had snowed the further the train went towards its direction, which seemed to follow North if Kimblee thought correctly, & just as the clouds were covering the white flakes on the ground, the moon shined through the parting mist revealing everything, from the snow to the faces of the men that stood before one another. It was then, Kimblee's pupils shortened, as well as the Ishvalan man's that seemed to recognize Kimblee's face. They both knew each other in an instant.
"You…" Scar whispered under his breath remembering about the past they both shared.
That day in Ishval. Kimblee was the one to destroy his family, which caused his brother to sacrifice his own life into saving him. Everything rush back to them, & with an angry rage of fury in the Ishvalan's eyes, & Kimblee's filled with excitement, Scar lifted his right hand & attempted to attack Kimblee hoping to explode his brains out right from his head, but the Alchemist was quick on his toes, & a large explosion from the cart let Kimblee have full range of the open cart next to them. Scar was quick, quicker than him he had to admit, since he had been in prison for 7 years he knew he was rusty, but Scar on the other hand had been killing ever since that day back in Ishval, so the circumstances were very high, & unfortunately for Kimblee he saw this coming. Out of the smoke Scar threw a large metal spear in the Crimson's direction, nailing him to one of the other carts door. Kimblee coughed up blood as he yelped in pain, but just then Scar appeared again in front of him, looking down on him like this was the end of him, but Kimblee, he had other plans.
"After what you did, Kimblee, I will give you a slow & painful death to hell."
"So unfortunate." He coughed, the scent of blood beginning to fill his lungs & mouth with every second.
"But I'm afraid, this time around you'll have to wait."
"What?"
Kimblee clapped his hands with in the blink of an eye before Scar could react & with that a huge red explosion took the train over, blinding Scar from what was now a gap between him & Kimblee.
"I hate to break up our reunion but I don't want this to end just yet. We WILL meet again! Until next time Ishvalan!"
Kimblee was definitely ready for another round, but the next time he was going to be ready, & if he remembered correctly, the direction that Scar was going in was North.
"North…Lilia's up North too."
He coughed up more blood, holding the bar that neared his death. God the feel of death near him brought him to his knees if it could, his pride was too great for words when it came to using his alchemy to kill, & feeling the pursuit of battle. It was like old times, the only thing that wasn't around was also the one woman he remembered to bring him to his knees as well. Everything was coming together so perfectly for him. Suddenly he noticed in the distance of his fade gaze he could see two engineers from his train coming to his rescue. That pissed him off more than anything that the morons didn't listen to a word he said.
"Sir! Are you alright!"
Kimblee was still panting from the wound that seem to never bleed.
"Who told you to stop that train! Get going! We're heading North! Yes, death…Is closing in. One that Kills must find pleasure in the pursuit…Because that's what it means to be alive. AT LEAST ON THIS BATTLEFIELD!"
His voice was heard throughout the valley, & the snow still fell quietly from the once again darkened sky. No moon was shown to him now, just the left over's of battle & the lingering sensation of excitement. It quivered through out his body causing him to shiver one last time before the two men began calling in dispatch for assistance, considering Kimblee had laid his head back against the wood with a pale face & blue lips turned up at the sky.
The girl sneezed couple times between the cold air & coffee that warmed up her frozen hands. It may had been cold for her, but with Miles covering her shoulder with his one arm she felt some kind of relief from the chills.
"Still not use to the cold?"
"Nope. But I love the nights here, they're so beautiful. Just think a fire against the cold icy snow flakes would look so magnificent."
"Huh?"
"I mean having a fireplace in front of us while we enjoy the view."
"Oh. Ha, sorry I thought you meant-,"
"I know. Sorry." Her lips frowned for a moment before she changed the subject to a positive one.
"Well think of it this way, in another month we'll have sun up here too! At least that should warm us up just a little bit."
"Don't bet on it though, you know we can't rely on snow storms not to screw that one up for us."
Lily groaned. "Oh…I know, don't remind me. So, I don't mean to ask this since it's none of my busy."
"Honey, everything's your business now. You're a major."
"Oh, right. I was wondering what were those alchemist boys doing up here? Were they really sent here by Alex?"
"Yep. Turns out those boys are looking for a little girl who knows a different type of Alchemy called alchehistory. It's just like alchemy but for medical purposes they say." The girl seemed puzzled.
"But, It seems too far sketched for them to come all the way North to just get the girl for medical reasons, wouldn't say?"
"That's what the General thinks, she doesn't believe them completely."
"I don't blame her, but they look like good boys, they probably won't use it for bad things."
"I hope you're right, then again you did always have a good intuition."
Miles chuckled a little sipping his black coffee, while Lilia did the same to her creamed & sugar one, "Call it a woman's intuition."
"Whatever you say." They laughed, & chatted a little longer before a soldier came calling for you both.
"Major Smith & Major Miles! General Olivia wanted to speak to you two, apparently there's a message down in the city about an incident."
"Incident?" They both looked at each other curiously before heading to the office.
"You wanted to see us Ma'am?"
"Yes, we got some reports down in the city of Briggs about another Alchemist that was injured in a fight against a wanted criminal & apparently he lost."
Lilia's bones & muscles tensed up uncontrollably, her eyes fell almost in shock to hear about another Alchemist. "Who's the alchemist?"
"His name is Zolf J. Kimblee in the report."
Her eyes were staring straight at the floor, widening with utter shock behind her strands of hair. Zolf J. Kimblee. That name rang in her ears like chiming melody. The heavy atmosphere was weighing her down. Her throat swelled with a painful lump in her throat, to the point she was holding her breath to stop herself from seeming uneasy. She never thought she'd here that name again, especially about him being free...Alive. It had to be from those crooked fools in Central. At least that what her hunch.
Kimblee? He's…He's here. In Briggs.
A familiar fire ignite within the pit of her stomach, & an overwhelming fear began to dig its roots into her chest where her heart lied still. Very still.
"How was he released from prison? I thought he was arrested for killing his commanding officers?" Miles asked.
Luckily for Lilia, Miles didn't know about Kimblee & her having an intimacy so that left her very vulnerable & scared to think that he would find out about that. There had to be a way to get to him first to warn him from saying anything about them, but at the same time she wanted to act like she didn't know him, but again, unfortunately Olivia was smarter than that & they all knew about the girl's involvement in Ishval.
"Smith! You were in the war... Didn't you know Kimbley for a while?"
She cursed to herself many times for wishing she didn't know that much, but then again it wasn't a secret, Kimblee & her went far back as she could remember.
"Yes, ma'am. But it was a very long time ago. We all thought he was going to be executed for that."
Her heart secretly sank for the pure fact that she saw Kimblee being taken away that day, guns surrounding him as he was shoved into the back of a car, leaving her there without so much as of a good-bye to her. The one girl she thought he somewhat care for, but power was only his real motive.
So she kept telling herself.
"So did I Major, but I guess we were wrong, something's going on here & I don't like it one bit. I need someone to go investigate this Zolf Kimblee." Lilia hands were still in fist from her nerves already feeling out of whack, but she made sure to keep her composure in front of her General, for she could smell fear if not hidden the right way, "You want to do this Smith?"
What could she do say?
No?
It would seem way too suspicious, & Miles didn't seem to like it either, but in the end she thought of saying yes. Lilia opened her mouth to answer but no words came out, for that familiar alarm began to sound off again, & a loud grumbling noise started to sound from under the ground of the wall of Briggs.
"What the hell?"
"What is that?" A soldier busted in through the door with a frantic look on his face, "Sir! There's enemy coming from underground!"
"What? Damn, why from underground! Get the men together, get them ready for an all out attack!"
"Yes sir!" The man quickly hurriedly off.
"Major Buccaneer & Miles I want you to follow him, I will be there shortly."
"Sir!" The two followed with out question, but Miles glanced back wondering what Olivia would do with the girl. Which at that point Lilia wondered that herself, "Sir?" The girl asked meekly.
"Smith, I want that report. Can you handle that?"
Lily was surprised at first since she was basically already given her answer, but the loud grumbling sound was starting to get to her.
"Uh, not that I'm questioning it, but are you sure you don't want me to help out with the intruder first? Ma'am?"
Olivia was close to the door when she turned back to her subordinate, "We'll handle the intruder, you just get that report."
She didn't question it at that point & smiled with a salute to her General.
"Ma'am!"
After that the superior left leaving the Major alone in the office. The smile the girl once had disappeared quickly as her heart beat faster & faster at the thought of seeing Kimblee again.
"I just can't escape it, can't I?" She muttered to herself before sighing & holding her hand to her beating heart. The sensation overwhelming Lily wasn't fear though, it was something different, maybe she was nervous, but why after 7 years?
Well, this was her chance. She needed to know.
There were a lot of things unanswered in their past so it left a huge empty hole for that Red Lotus of an alchemist, but there was only one way to find out. She had to go see him. With no struggle from herself she grabbed her paper work & hurried down to the cars, hoping that the enemy's that were infiltrating haven't gotten too far, but Briggs was a very hard fort to conquer so Lilia had a good feeling Miles & the rest of them would be okay until she got back.
"Don't die on me, Miles."
She closed the car door to her rent-a-car & drove off towards the town, hoping she could remember how to even get down their through the snow fall. It was day time though so it wasn't too bad, except for those evil nerves that wouldn't let Lily go. She couldn't tell whether she was excited to see him again, mad, or nervous, or maybe she was all the above & her body, mind, & soul couldn't make up her mind, due to the fact that their past intertwined like sewn thread through fabric.
"It's okay ole girl, it's just a small reunion, & all you have to do is get a report, tell him to keep his mouth shut about us, tell him why I left & leave. Yeah, simple. Sounds good." At least she tried attempting to fool herself into thinking that, when in reality, she was a mess.
She parked the car & exit it with a slight hesitation, looking up at the doctor's building, "oh…I don't think I can do this…" She whined on the brink of invisible tears, her legs walking into the place with no mind of caring where she was going.
"This is insane! Why the hell did she pick me for the job! Damn my big mouth for wanting to-,"
"Ma'am? Are you okay?"
"Huh? What? Oh! Hi! Sorry!" Lilia was so busy fretting she didn't realize she had already walked to the front desk.
"Hi! I'm looking for a patient that was recently taken in here, he goes by the name of Zolf J. Kimblee?"
"Oh, yes. Are you from Briggs?"
"Yes sir. I'm Major Smith come to investigate what happened. The common report."
"Ah, yes, yes I see, he's just down that hallway & down the left in B-3." The woman smiled to the receptionist & bowed, "Thank you, have a great day."
"No, thank you, enjoy your stay!" She could only hope she could 'enjoy' it without the company getting too awkward between you two, but the closer Lily came to the door, her paranoia & heart started to flutter out of control.
"Stop it! There nothing to worry about." She told herself with sweaty palms.
If there's even a speck of a God's hope in me, give me the strength to do this. What the hell am I talking about? This is insane! Why did I come here? Should I run? No, that's a stupid idea, Lily. You won't run away!
Her mind was falling out of control, but while it didn't, she turned the door knob, & opened the door slowly, only to feel that every she was feeling outside that door, had suddenly disappeared at the sight of the sleeping Alchemist. At first she was surprised to even see him laying there. The sight of him was so over baring she actually need a second before closing the door behind her, then slowly she made her way over to the chair that sat next to his bed side. She quietly sat down not making a sound at first, Lilia just wanted to watch as he slept. He never seemed so peaceful in his life, always with that stupid grin on his face that she use to tremble for, or the way his hair fell in his face. Those strands always got in the way of his face, but she couldn't help but realize he hadn't change at all in the last 7 years they've been apart; he hadn't aged at all & his hair was still as long & in the same pony tail as she remembered all those years before, the only thing she seemed to notice was that he wasn't as built as he use to be. He had lost alot of weight in prison, which left her cursing those bastards at the prison for not feeding him like they should've if they weren't going to kill him off. So, why keep him alive? What did they want with him, more importantly they must've known about her escaping from the Military so, why haven't they try killing her for the secret she knew? Just then a small groan came from the Crimson Alchemist. He seemed to be awakening from his long needed sleep from the wound the woman had yet to see. She gulped waiting in anticipation for him to open his eyes & as he did a weak gasp escaped her lips, having Kimblee look in her direction. At first his eyes widened a little getting a better look at the girl surpassing his blurred vision.
"It's…You."
"Hi." She replied strongly, attempting hard to stop her shaking hands, but failed miserably as the man she looked down at softened his gaze.
"Wow, I wasn't expecting to see you, of all people, especially with me in this condition." He joked chuckling weakly.
"I should say the same for you. I thought you were gone for good."
He chuckled again. "You can't get rid of me that easily. You of all people should know that."
Kimblee's voice slowly began to grow stern as he stared at the woman he tried not to look away from the fact that she knew exactly what he was talking about.
"What? Are you referring to the fact I left after you were arrested?" He was silent & looked towards the window; his gaze captured the snow falling off some of the pine tree outside his window, "That's up to you to tell me. I can't force you."
"Whatever. In any case, I was sent by my superior to take in the report about your encounter with Scar, so let's get to it."
Lilia was quick to pull out a pen & paper. "Oh, ho straight to the point as always."
After the report, Lily could only sigh at the predictament that the higher ups put him in, & in a way she cursed them for not preparing for something as simple as capturing a common criminal. A good one no less!
"Stupid man."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, nothing. So, w-where'd he hurt you?" She asked curiously moving her head to the side to hide the blush that suddenly consumed her cheek bones & leaving the Crimson Alchemist curious.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I am, okay! Just because we haven't seen each other in 7 years doesn't mean I stopped caring about my old companion."
Kimblee could only laugh, "Companion? Is that what you call it?"
"Shut up & show me where he injured you already."
She was demanding this one, & that's what Kimblee always found attractive about Lilia, that & the fact she was a little like him, sadistic with an addictive personality that could cause her to loose control. That was the pure Lust he had for her, the fact she could loose control at any moment drove him wild, but then again he had to keep that in the back of his mind for now. This made him want her more. He removed the blanket from his body, & stood up in front of the girl, which made her jump a little as he suddenly grabbed her hand, another gasp leaving her lips when he gently pressed her fingers tips against bandaged wound underneath his shirt, his teeth gritted & he sighed slightly from the pressure of her hand. She was stuck on the wound that she touched oh so softly, making sure not to hurt him.
As if she could.
"Does it hurt?" She asked gently, only to have an unusual, soft smirk appear on his face while that tender gaze of his that seem to be always be watching her closely. More like checking her out; the view he had was perfect from where he was standing, & he secretly enjoyed every moment of it. If only he could have her now...
"No…"
She slowly ran her finger tips gently around the wound now, this time, making him only tremble at the touch.
"No!" She jerked her hand away, jumping out of her seat to turn to the door, "I can't do this. I can't, not again."
"What? This?" She turned to him, like he was stupid. Was he joking?
"Yes, this! It's been 7 years, Zolf. After you wanted that stone so badly, you left me in Ishval, by myself! You know what they told me when you got imprisoned, when I finally went to ask the Furher?"
Kimblee, was a little intrigued to hear about the 'Furher' having a conversation with Lily, alone.
There was a sudden chill that ran up Kimblee's spine. Not out of fear, but out of irritation.
"He said he was going to have you executed for your crimes, the crimes they wanted you to do in the first place!" Lilia's hand waved towards the window referring to the direction of Central.
"We're may have been digging our own graves while we were in Ishval...But they're the ones handing us the shovels to do so..."
"No, they didn't. And who are you to judge Ms. Goody-Toe-Shoes? You were right there with me right before they told you to buzz off."
"Fuck you! That's a blatant lie! You told me to stay outside so you could discuss some, 'business'. I wasn't even fucking included remember?"
"Oh, what language for such a beautiful young lady." The once taunting look on his face disappeared within a matter of angry heart beats.
His face turned grim faster than she can blink away the twinkles forming on her brows, all the while his crossed arms never seem to move from their position, "What's got you so work up about this any ways? I recall you never having a problem with my tendencies, & little 'habits'. In fact, they use to arouse you... For 18 years you never opened your mouth, now all of a sudden-,"
"I'm with someone you idiot. After they told me you would be killed & 7 years later, I thought you were dead, my friend."
After hearing that, the whole conversation went silent, & Kimblee could only stare for a short moment before throwing up his front.
"So?"
"So, it just seems weird to me, that you're here. On, again, important business. Where I basically assigned myself, to get away from Central."
She just wouldn't stop with the social commentary.
Lilia's eyes fell sad, & her hand fell over her heart, balled up in a fist, "I…I was so scared of coming here today. I didn't want to get chosen for this, but I couldn't say 'no'. I didn't want things to get weird, & all I wanted to say when I got here was to not say anything about our past so you don't screw up what I got here." That had to of hurt him & deep down, it did, but he refused to show it, his pride & all.
"Is that so?"
"It's was nothing against you…After what I found out about the Military & after you were 'executed' I gave up & ceased my duties at Central to come to Briggs. I wanted to do things on my own at that point. I lost my thirst for that kind of a battlefield & came here where I knew I could at least get away from the creeps in central. So you see, this time away has done a lot to me, & I-, I like it here-,"
"Bull shit." He was so abrupt she was startled by his voice.
"I know you better than that even after 18 or more years of knowing you, Lilia Smith. And that thirst for killing hasn't stopped since as long as I can remember the first time we met; even being away for so long hasn't change that. I know you inside & out, because of what you are. You're just like me."
"No, I'm not."
"You were, & you still are."
"Shut up, Zolf." By this time he had stepped closer & closer to her, so close now that he was just inches away from her face as he murmured, "Fine then."
He backed away returning back to his bed to rest his sore wound.
"So, this new boy toy of yours. What's he like?"
"What?"
"I just want to know if he's taking care of you properly. I might be a little cold hearted, but I got a soft spot for watching out for you at least. So, what's he like?"
She couldn't help but blush, was he really asking her about her boyfriend? Or was he just jealous & wanted to know what her boyfriend was like? Either way it didn't matter Lilia still told him with that same pink blush covering her cheek bones, "Um, he's fine. Nice guy. H-He…Well he's a good guy what can I say?"
"Really that's all you can say about him?"
"Well, he's...A major..." She trailed off, tiddling her thumbs bashfully. Kimblee was the last person she wanted to tell this to, but...He asked her first!
"Really? An Alchemist & a Major. How intriguing." He was always so sarcastic!
But then again it was probably because of the fact that Alchemists & Majors were nearly the same rank, nearly. But Major's on the battlefield were still a rank above the alchemist themselves. Depending on the job at hand, but he forgot one thing about Lilia when he said this, she had to start over as a private again because she left Central under suspicious circumstances, lieing her way through when she was nearly found dead trying to find somewhere to hide away, to make the ones at H.Q. think that she was dead. Then, a couple years passed, she became Lt. & she worked her way up like everyone else. Through hard labor, "Um, actually…It's…Major now." She corrected smiling shyly when she shifted her eyes from her hands in her lap to Kimblee who only looked over to the dark haired woman with a surprised expression upon his face, "What?" More like confused.
"Yeah, well, they had to demote me to private six years ago, just yesterday, they promoted me back up. I had to start over when I came to Briggs because they didn't trust me in the beginning. Considering they nearly found me dead in the snow, I basically ran into Briggs by mistake & had to tell them half of the true to get them to take me in." Her gentle laugh made Kimblee slightly grin back at Lily as he thought how proud he was of his now so called superior.
"Congratulations." He stated oddly smiling.
Lily could only blush deeper when she heard him actually congratulate her, "Um, Thank you."
"I guess…That makes you my superior?" She rolled her eyes to the ceiling with a mischievous smile, "I guess so. But, don't look at me any different please, I already have that problem back at the fort."
Suddenly, a general smile came to the Crimson's face, "No problem, Major." They both laughed quietly in unison, & in one moment it seemed to make them feel, content.
Finally, she didn't feel awkward any more, & she felt that she could relax in front of him; & secretly to herself, she was somewhat happy to see him again, that is until, another familiar face made Lilia feel awkward & nervous all over again. Her eyes widened to point her eyes could've fallen right out of their sockets, & heart felt the similiar to bursting out of her chest.
"Miles!" Her voice tried to hide her surprise & a mix of what felt like fear but the fact that her voice shook left Kimblee suspicious, & wondering if this was the man she so fondly talked about.
No way...
"Hi there, everything alright in here?"
"Y-Yeah! Of course, what are you doing here?" She asked him finally with curiosity.
"The General said that you should've been back by now, so…She sent me to get you."
"Oh. Cool! Alright let me finish up the report, I got most of it, but it seems he is inspecting the area for Scar."
"And I need you Briggs Soldiers to stay out of my way. I don't need you people getting in my way of my job." Lilia's throat nearly closed up, & her pours opened up with a cold sweat down the sides of her face.
Zolf! You fucking idiot!
She looked over at him with a scary face, glaring daggers at him to the tone he used to a Briggs superior officer, not to mention she had a sixth sense that he was already figuring out that Miles was the guy that she was with. Kimblee didn't look at her though, he was too busy staring over at the dark skinned man with dark glasses to hide his eyes.
"Of course, but as you can see we Briggs soldiers don't stand by & let people just take over to their own wishes."
He stepped forward to Kimblee, reaching for his glasses, which now left Lilia's heart pounding rapidly against her chest. She felt herself hit cartiac arrest when she felt something about to happen.
No! Her head screamed, watching as Miles removed his glasses once again to reveal his blood red eyes.
Kimblee gasped underneath his breath at the realization & Miles, came real close to Kimblee's face, "Got some nerve coming in here trying to take control, you jump out of line & I'll make sure you regret it, Crimson Alchemist."
"Major!" Lilia's voice was stern & sharp under her breath as she called to her partner to back off, "That's enough."
Miles backed away slowly regaining his composer, & while doing so, Lilia handed the major her report to ease his mind, "Here, take this, I'll be out in a minute."
"Alright." Before he left, Miles placed a hand on Lilia's shoulder with distress hidden within his tender, yet firm grip, "Don't take too long."
He left with a small shut of the door, leaving Kimblee only to bust a chuckle from his chest, "Ha! An Ishvalan Huh? How interesting. Wow, to think you'd be sleeping with the same people you help destroy." That boiled her blood. How could he speak to her like that!
"Shut up Kimblee. It's not like that at all. It just sort of ended up that way!" What sounded like an exccuse only made the alchemist laugh harder.
"Wow's that. Really, I'd like to hear how a woman that was the most known for being the Nurtorious, 'White Lotus' went from being so deadly, to remorseful? You use to be as destructive as I was & now that I left for 7 years you got all sissified."
"Fuck you."
"Please, that potty mouth is getting so old. Why don't you just admit that something's wrong."
"Wrong with what?" She asked annoyed more & more each time he seemed to speak.
"Something obviously triggered you to become so weak so what was it?"
"Nothing, I just changed, that happens to people when they leave the army, after they're abandon by their partners after war. We were so close back then, you scratched my back & I scratched yours, but you have to realize something that you yourself haven't realized yet." He glared at her.
"And what would that be fancy-face?" That nickname was actually refreshing but at the same time it made Lilia angry.
That was his pet name for her, "You left me, for 7 years, no letters, no contact, not even a last good bye! I came back & you were being taken away in a car with guns to your head, & those jack asses from Central wanted me to stick around! That's why I left. I was alone, everything around me was falling apart, & you knew how unstable I was! I would've killed all of them if they had gotten in my way to save you or do anything else for that matter, so I left. You stopped caring about me after that incident, so I stopped waiting around for someone that was already pronounced dead. Those dumb-fuck's... Those Military dumb-fuck's are just screwing with us, don't you see that!" Her voice had risen at this point, causing the girl to raise from seat.
"Hey, calm down."
"No, you asked me why I left, you're mad because I disappeared on you, when you were the first one to turn your back on me because you wanted to keep that stupid red piece of jewelry you seem to cherish so dearly! That's a low blow, even for a man like you! I thought you were more than that! I thought we had an understanding of what we wanted after you decided you wanted to take my virginity! You remember that don't you?" Kimblee snapped his head back about an inch in shock hearing her bring up that subject so abruptly.
She sounded as if she had been degraded, & in anguish all this time. He could see it in her eyes, she was trying to say it all to him.
Lilia's heart still ached for the man she once cared for, & seeing him alive without even so much as a 'john dear' letter after everything they've been through together, it was becoming too much for her to stick around now. She had to get out of their before she would crack & shatter beneath herself again.
"You told me we were in this together. 'We' were going to rise above them all so that we would have the life we finally wanted. But you didn't even let me know you were okay! The Military, didn't tell me you were okay! Hell, I didn't even get so much as a 'you're on your own'! At least that would've been more of an invite than nothing!"
Finally, Lily's emotions came rising to the surface. She tried hard to not spill a single tear, but it was too late. Kimblee could already see how much he'd really hurt her.
In a way he felt guilty, & he wanted to say he was sorry, but he was so stunned to see a side of Lilia he hadn't seen a long time, even when they were together.
Hurt.
Pain.
Those words couldn't even beginning to describe the way she was expressing herself to him, & it was beginning to leave Kimblee wondering why he even came back to see her if he had done this much damage to her. Suddenly, Lilia's face fell emotionless, & with a walk towards the door, she said her farewells.
"I need to go. Miles is waiting for me."
"Lily…Wait." She didn't answer him.
She had closed the door, hiding the last of her unwanted tears into the fabric of her jacket sleeves. She didn't want Miles to know she was hurting like this, no, not for someone that she thought she wanted to be with 7 years ago because it was already over between the two Lotuses long before she came to Briggs.
Unfortunately, emotions were never that easy to erase for Lily. Something within her heart still tugged at her from the inside of her stomach when she saw him.
Why? Why did it hit her so hard?
She just hated Kimblee for bringing these types of emotions out of her, but then again, it scared her to know she could still feel this weak around him. For him. She knew she was approaching the car soon, so, in a hurry, she stopped at the rest room to wash her face of all the stress & jogged back to the car that was motoring just outside the front door. "You know I could've always just taken my car."
"One of the higher ups visited Briggs just a few hours ago & came down here with me. He said he'd return it as soon as visited Kimblee."
"What?" She looked at him again with a more annoyed look, "Are you kidding me? Who'd they send now?"
Her eye & brow twitched.
"Uh, General Raven. He came with a few of his troops to the fort to discuss some business with General Olivia."
Her face fell pale with cold sweat again, & this time it was a worse feeling than hearing about Kimblee's arrival. Raven was the one to attempt to recruit Lilia into become part of the immortal soldiers, asking her to forget about Kimblee, & that she was the one to rise above him. 'It was her destiny', he told her. Those words echoed in the back of her head.
"Is that right? Umm. Fuck."
"What?"
"What? Oh, nothing. I'm beat, I want to go back. Want some cocoa when we get back?"
"Maybe. But first, I have some odd news to tell you about what happened at Briggs."
She turned to him with a scoff before closing the car door. "Ha! Besides from the odd reunions I'm having? No, nothing could be more weird than that."
Her sarcasm only made Miles laugh a little, causing Lily to cease her annoyed state, & finally smiled to relief some type of frustration by relaxing for the meantime. Suddenly Miles put his hand behind Lily's head, letting her cheek fall into the palm of it when she turned into him. It use to calm her, the way he brushed his thumb against her jaw line, but for some reason a gut sensation tugged at her.
"You're so cute when you're frustrated." She laughed softly under her breath as she looked downward, but the Ishvalan wouldn't let her.
He lifted her chin with a use of his other hand, & pulled her into a soft kiss. Lilia slightly melted with a chill falling down her back, but for some odd reason, the fuller the kiss & physical contact progressed, the more Lily began to see Kimblee's face in her mind. It began to scare her terribly & quickly she pulled away, leaving them both panting for air.
"What's wrong?"
"Didn't you have something to tell me about Briggs?"
"Huh? Oh! Yeah! That underground enemy we found before you left to come here?" Lilia shook her head recomposing herself as they pulled away from each other & headed towards Briggs, "Mm-hm."
"Well, it turns out it was a…Artifically made Human." This was big news.
This meant Central was probably hitting Briggs now. It was way too soon, & not to mention that meant her, Miles, & Kimblee were all in danger. There were more problems building by the second. Lily could barely handle it at the moment. In the conclusion all she could do was wait for the right time to leave once again.
"Interesting. I'd like to see it if we can." She gestured.
"Well, unfortunately it was early this morning when you left, so we buried its body in the snow."
"Wow, they defeated it with ease?"
"Not so much as ease, more of being one step ahead, thanks to the full metal alchemist. I don't know why but he seemed to know what it was made of & said it couldn't be killed by just any weapon. It was immortal, they said."
So, how did they destroy it in the cold? She thought looking out the window as they finally approached the roads that led up to their base.
"Don't you worry. It's dead. Unfortunately though, Raven has said he would made himself at home here in the mean time. So, it would be better if you stay out of sight if you don't want them to know that you're here." The girl's green eyes shifted over to Miles with a small play smirk.
"Thanks. I'll make sure of that. Hopefully, but I don't think I'll be able to hide myself for long. The past just doesn't seem to want to let go of me."
"Apparently not. What was it that took so long there at the hospital? Talking about old times?"
"Not really. More of telling him to stay out of my way." Miles seemed content with that, which left Lilia to believe that the situation was over…For now.
"After we get back, the General wants the report & then she needs me to head out with her & Major Buccaneer underground where the monster was being kept. I offered for you to go & she said she needed someone that could handle as many troops as the fort can hold. She said that you'd be the right Major for the job to protect the ones on top till we'd return. I should return before anyone else, but I want to know if you'll be okay till I get back? For my own reasons." He entailed.
"Aw, that's so thoughtful of you, Miles, but I think I should be able to deal with a few men. They're usually on their best behavior."
"I agree." He laughed, finally turning the car into the hidden garage parking lot they had for their cars just inside of the Briggs walls, & with a slight chill to the face, Smith was reminded of how cold it was in the Big hard walls of the Briggs fortress, "Jeez…"
"Cold?" Miles cooed just behind her ear, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as his breath passed over as he walked along side her.
"No, just chilly."
"I see." They walked side by side in unison heading to the office as they passed by some soldiers who one of them handed them coffee. He was actually the mechanic of the fortress, & a good one at that with all the best gadgets any auto mail user or mechanic could get their hands on.
"Thanks."
"Yes, thank you."
When they got to the office, the General was readying her sword as if she was going to battle, "Sir? Is there a problem?" The girl asked.
"Turns out some of our men are missing…We had a dispatch team go down there an hour ago, & none of them have returned." Olivia exclaimed sheathing the sharpened metal near her hip.
"I'm taking Full Metal & his brother with me, since they know more about this thing than we do, &…I WILL get them to tell me what they know."
Lilia could only snicker under her breath thinking of her torturing the boys, but she felt that it wouldn't get that extreme & remain with her composer, "Ma'am, would like me to escort you all to the tunnel?"
"No, we'll be fine, just keep an eye on the men, I'm actually keeping Miles here with you so behave you two. Do I make myself clear?"
The girl blushed madly trying to cough a little to brush off her General's comment, "Of course ma'am. We wouldn't think anything less!"
"Good. Glad to hear it soldier. I'd bid you two farewell, we WILL return."
With that the soldiers saluted to their Captain & continued down the hall until they reached the small opening.
"Interesting. Have they even had people investigate down their?" Lilia asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah, I believe so. Apparently they only found another Lt.'s arm, & get this…It was Lt. Michael's."
"Fuck."
"Oh, mouth young lady." The girl only grinned up at her Major with a sudden lust, "Maybe you should shut it for me." She taunted licking her upper teeth as if craving him from afar. Miles definitely noticed & raised a playful brow at her.
"I thought we were suppose to behave."
"Who said we couldn't mentally think it?"
"Good point." With a short pause of silence between the two, Lilia only could place her hand on his with sigh of relief as she looked around the machinery around them both, "I'm ready for a nap."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, I'm beat, after all this excitement I just want to curl up in a ball &-,"
"Go."
"Huh?" She looked at Miles surprised, "What, you going to go with me & leave the men to defend for themselves?" She joked getting him to laugh again.
"No, no, I mean I'll take care of things from here while you go relax. I can only imagine how much you need a nice hot shower. I'll give you an hour if you let me take a break afterwards?"
"Hm…Tempting, very, very tempting..." She pondered it cutely with her gaze up at the ceiling & her finger pointing to her cheek, but finally she smiled with a good feeling & nodded, "Alright! You got it. There's no catch is there?"
Miles laughed heartedly before kissing her cheek gently, & placing the back of his finger over the spot where he laid the small peck, "I don't think so. Now get going."
She excitedly skipped towards her room knowing that there was nice bed & shower awaiting her at the dorm, "Oh hot water I await your sweet embrace!"
When she finally got her hand around the knob, she dove onto her sheets with a loud sigh to relax for the next 30 minutes before taking a hot shower for another shift on the job. Because she soon knew the night would come & her sleep depravation would finally cease.
"Mm, I love you pillow. You're my new best friend. If sex could be replaced with sleep I'd be probably be a lot happier. Scratch that, then I'd be dead." She laughed to herself thinking of how dumb it sounded before dozing off into a small cat nap, letting her aching muscles take that rest it had been longing for.
