44. — study
"Look, Crimson; I'm not a biology expert."
He knows too much already, but it's not like Envy doesn't enjoy feeding him these little bits of information. "You'll have to ask Father someday," they say flippantly, then they regret it, because he's not supposed to know that they have a Father, or siblings (they can't remember, did they let that slip too?) and really, Envy should kill him.
"Father, hm?" Kimblee's writing slows. "Maybe I will, someday, when you introduce him to me."
His smile is far too gorgeous, and he knows it, and Envy knows they can't kill him now.
34. — diary
"What do you write in there?"
Envy asks the question coyly, knowing that Kimblee, who values his privacy, won't show them.
Kimblee shows them.
Envy is almost disappointed at how easily he gave in, but looks inside the notebook. Black scrawl covers the pages; music notes, blots of ink and eraser marks leave no bit of paper untouched.
"My symphony." He's grinning; this is the most emotion that he's shown since Ishval. "You're the only one that I've ever shown. You'll like it, when it's finished."
And Envy, grinning back, agrees, if only because he's cute when he's this excited.
20. — wishing
"If you could become immortal, would you?"
Envy asks the question carelessly, not looking Kimblee in the eye, but they struggle to calm the butterflies in their stomach. If he could, would Kimblee even want to spend an eternity with them?
Kimblee shrugs. "Why wish for something that's impossible?" He smiles. "It would be boring, wouldn't it? Never having the fear of death driving you forward."
The butterflies all die at once. He doesn't know anything — how afraid Envy is, even without the fear of death, or how much they wanted him to say of course, in a heartbeat.
18. — endless
Sprawled across the bed, dark hair tangled on the pillow, Envy looks almost human.
Kimblee absently pulls Envy against his chest, letting their tired head loll against his shoulder. They feel so small, so deceptively fragile. They could strike him down now if they so choose, but he knows that they wouldn't dare to, and he feels a thrill at the thought.
It's almost paradise, living like this. He's a part of the new world order. Every day, he has work to complete, work that he's good at. And he has Envy.
Sometimes he wonders how long this can last.
31. — lies
"It's nothing, Envy."
It obviously is. It's impossible to hide the crimson blossoming out across his white suit, but he's fine; he'd been hurt more badly before and survived easily. Envy is the one that looks sick, pale, horrified.
"Envy, would you stop making that fa-" Kimblee's knees give out, to his surprise (the pain makes him feel alive, after all), and Envy lets out an adorable little shriek as he hits the ground.
He can't protest as Envy pulls him to their chest with trembling hands; Envy's too terrified, and so beautiful, and he's too tired to lie anymore.