© Disclaimer : I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST.

THEREFORE THIS FANFICT EXIST ON THE BASIS OF NON -

PROFIT ENTERTAIN. BOTH THE CHARACTERS SOLF J. KIMBLEE

AND MILES BELONG TO ARAKAWA AND RIGHTLY SO.

WARNING : This story may contain suggestive themes and hints.

Chapter4: The Calm Before the Storm

At first the hallway was completely silent, the two Briggs' soldiers exchanging glances over several minutes but still kept their main focus locked on the two men who had emerged from the closet. Miles defiantly looked horrified at this point, had even blush begun to cross his face or was he just mad again? Solf J. Kimblee couldn't really tell as he stood up from the cold hard floor. He took a few moments before moving his hands up and down his clothes to dust off any dirt that may have been smudging his white jacket. The Crimson Alchemist couldn't afford to have any smudges of dirt ruining his white attire now. After all hadn't these just come back from the Dry Cleaners... The horror of having to wear something less appealing-or having to borrow clothes from Briggs. Oh no, would that be like having to borrow clothes from Miles? Kimblee frowned and tried to think it over but as he did his blue eyes caught ahold of a few undone buttons. Now, now, he couldn't have this, quickly his hands moved to button up his clothes and a gap escaped the mouths of the two Briggs soldiers which soon turned it to a full hearted gasp and several vigorously nods soon followed even before Miles had cried out, "It's not what you think!" there was deep desperation behind his voice.

A desperation that didn't seem to phase Kimblee who continued to frown. The Crimson Alchemist was truly more concerned and wound up by the newest imperfection of his attire. That was right, his white dress shirt appeared to no longer tucked in properly. What kind of reputation was he going to build if he couldn't even remain properly dressed for the whole day? Slowly he slide his hands down to his waist and began to casual tuck it an action that was quickly halted by a few whispers followed by Major's desperate attempts to regain control, "Kimblee will you stop! You're not helping!" the Ishvalan said.

A smug smile crossed the black haired Alchemist's face almost instantly after that and his mind began to think. So the two Briggs soldiers actually thought something was going on while the two were in the closet? Not to mention it appeared as though every minute that Miles endured of being accused of being with the black haired man only proved to further upsetting him. Was the Major going to blow a gasket? It really was quite amusing, perhaps Kimblee was finally going to be able to put Miles into his place after his threats at the hospital. After all what did the Crimson Alchemist really care of a few comments about 'why he was dating Miles' began to float around? After all the rumours were defiantly more traumatizing for the Ishvalan if anything. So in a sense the State Alchemist could handle the false accusations, because in the end this entertainment would more then make up with the annoyance of being accused of being Miles' boyfriend. With his mind settled Kimblee slowly slide his hands casually into his pockets. "What are you saying Mi-Mi, do I embarrass you?" the Crimson Alchemist questioned.

The Major froze and the two Briggs soldiers gasped, "Miles and Kimblee!" one gasped

"I always wonder why Armstrong liked having Miles around...He's the gay friend!..." the other pipped up.

"No wonder Miles was sent to the hospital! He must have wanted to vis-" the first one added only to be interrupted by the second.

"What are you talking about, he wasn't sent, he volunteered! He wanted to be with Kimblee-"

With each passing second the Major was getting redder and redder in the face, it truly was amusing to Kimblee how the Ishvalan looked like a volcano about to explode. So how long was it going to take? The Crimson Alchemist frowned a bit before he caught the cold hard gaze of Miles. A strange express that although demonstrated sheer anger seemed to also hold some sort of desperation for the Ishvalan murder to set the record straight. A record Kimblee wasn't sure he wanted to fix.

Finally the opportunity for revenge was here, why would he help the Ishvalan when he never showed any other a hint of mercy during the war? It truly was too enjoyable how in a sense the dark haired Alchemist held the Major's life in his hands and slowly he parted his lips. "Yes, he came to visit me-..." Kimblee began the Briggs soldiers eyes not parting from his face.

While in the meantime the Ishvalan was wearing a sort of dumbfounded look as if he was surprised how the Crimson Alchemist had begun the sentence and debating if perhaps the murder was going to help correct the situation. A false hope that Kimblee would soon crush with his last few words, "-And!" the Alchemist began dramatically.

"And! And!" the other two Briggs soldiers cried, trying to get every detail out.

It was funny how they seemed so interested in this matter when the murder assumed they should be siding more with Major Miles. Maybe they just found it interesting that someone as stern and cold looking as that Ishvalan could potentially be in love and with a man who had killed so many Ishvalans. Either way Solf J. Kimblee had full intention of taking advantage of both their eagerness and curiosity. "And he didn't bring me flowers!" the Alchemist explained dramatically placing his arm over his eyes to attempt the expression of a dramatic and totally cheesy cry.

"Again with those damn flowers?" Miles yelled, not thinking before he spoke, "Where am I supposed to get them up here?"

The two Briggs soldiers gasped in unison, "Major Miles has been visiting Kimblee in jail with flowers too!" there eyes locked and the two seemed to nod now jumping to strange conclusions that this apparent secret love had been going of for several years.

It was only at this point that the Ishvalan caught on to his fatal mistake and instantly he grabbed Kimblee by the collar of his shirt and began to drag him off, "Looks like they didn't get enough alone time..." one chimed up.

Miles looked about to blow a gasket again and Kimblee could only shrug as they heard the last word of the two soldiers, "But the closet is right there?..."

At this point the Crimson Alchemist kept his hands within the deep pockets of his pants as he was dragged along through the hallways. Flashes of the same familiar burly-wood coloured walls catching his gaze now and and again but no such sight could really relate to the look on the second man's face. A look that could only make the dark haired Alchemist chuckle. "Shut up Kimblee," Miles murmured the blush from his face unchanging.

He was still in disbelief of everything that had , that wasn't right... He was more accurately still in disbelief about what 'hadn't happened'. There was defiantly nothing going on between Miles and Solf J. Kimblee and he hated how the Crimson Alchemist had done nothing more then continually instigate the matter! How much more could the Major take of this insanity? He needed to gain control back of the situation and perhaps if he could out do Kimblee in these mind games that would be the answer to all these problems. A nice game of chicken, sure the black haired Alchemist seemed in control now but how much control would he have if Miles actually got those stupid flowers. That would be enough to show up that no good murder wouldn't it? Enough to say, you don't intimidate me! At the same time it would still remain deeply embarrassing and scaring to the Major, how many of his people had been slaughtered by this madman? And could they forgive him for these action?

To actually be nice to that man! It made Miles want to vomit. He was a snake ready to pounce on his prey not present them with a present for their wretched behaviour. Yet, what choice did he have? If Miles didn't play the game and allowed the Crimson Alchemist to get the best of him, wouldn't that also disgrace the memory of all those who had died? Either way he would be disappointing his people but it was either he could go down sinking or come up floating from the victory of out shining Solf J. Kimblee.

So it was really decided huh?... Major Miles lifted Kimblee up a bit and let go off him, before turning away. "It's time to finish that tour..."

By this point the black haired Alchemist could only frown in disbelief. Had the white haired Ishvalan actually calmed down? Was he really going to let everything the Crimson Alchemist said go? He wasn't going to yell again? This was truly disappointing. None the less, Kimblee slid his hands out of his pockets and lowered them to his sides nodding. "Whatever you say Miles..."

Now the only sound that dwelled within the hallway was the echo of their footsteps. A sound that seemed secluded to only them until another set of echoes joined in. Someone was coming closer, it sounded like a larger group and with each pace the second set of noises drew closer and closer. It was now only a matter of moments before the visible figures of Vato Falman, Buccaneer, Edward and Alphonese came into view. The two Elric boys or so the Crimson Alchemist assumed them to be seemed be be tied up and were being held in the hands of a macho looking man with a significant build and a unique Mohawk braided hairstyle. His black coat was open and one could clearly see his blue military uniform gleaming from underneath. So this man must have been Buccaneer, since Kimblee highly doubted the tall and scrawny looking man next to this block could be classified as a bear. Yes, the man standing next to Buccaneer defiantly had to be Falman one of Mustang's dogs with his dull sliver hair on top of lower portion of hair that was black and wearing his black coat tightly around his military uniform.

Kimblee continued to observe the two parties as they meet within the centre of the hallway. It was at this point that Major Miles took the first opportunity possible to speak, "Buccaneer, what are you doing?" the white haired Ishvalan questioned his hands neatly behind his back as he stood tall meeting the bear like man's eyes directly.

"Prisoner transfer sir..." the bear said firmly, "I'm moving the Elric brother's from the East cells to the west."

Ahh, so he'd been correct. Who else could be the Fullmetal Alchemist after all. His title seemed to fit him quite well in that bulky suit of armour. What a dedicated young boy to continually lug such a loud and clunky suit about when he travelled. After all it wasn't the most appealing attire and Kimblee was certain he'd never have the guts to show his face in public wearing something as atrocious as a warn down suit of armour! Man kids these days, did they really think they were cool in those weird outfits? Oh well, Kimblee highly doubted he could persuade the Fullmetal Alchemist to change that look, but if he could he was almost certain he could provide some key tips that would help the Elric boy down the route of becoming fashionable. Perhaps a nice-

"May I ask who this is?" Buccaneer added, interrupting the black haired Alchemist's chain of thoughts.

"This is Mister Solf J. Kimblee, he's General Raven's honoured guest," Major Miles answered keeping his cool as he spoke.

He seemed to be doing better with reacting less even though Kimblee now wore a smug expression. The short boy next to the Fullmetal Alchemist seemed to blink a bit and the Crimson Alchemist assumed that this must have been Alphonse Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist's younger brother. He defiantly fit the role, his height was a definite give away because the features could just be general, if the Fullmetal Alchemist never took of the armour how could he grantee that both had blonde hair and golden eyes-oh well it didn't really matter. At least the younger one seemed to have some fashionable sense wearing a red coat-well wearing actually clothes rather then a suit of armour. After all wouldn't it be cold to wear a suit of armour this far up North? It really didn't seem wise at all... Slowly his train of thought ended and decided to take the opportunity to speak up now. Raising his hand to grip his hat he pushed it up so his blue eyes could gaze forward directly at Buccaneer before moving to the armoured boy, "Wait did you say the Elric brother's. You mean the Fullmetal Alchemist? I see...now I understand your nickname."

Instantly Falman and Buccaneer reacted pointing to blonde haired shrimp while Major Miles eyes just gazed at the boy before he motioned to point at the the same small boy as well. "Oh...It's this one..." Kimblee could only frown a bit, he'd been certain his deductions were flawless. Perhaps he'd overanalyzed this...

The true Fullmetal Alchemist seemed to clench his teeth together, as if he was ready to attack. An expression the State Alchemist was becoming used to by this point due to Miles' many freak , it had been a simple mistake and even the dark haired Alchemist couldn't help but remain slightly dumbfounded by the truth. Wouldn't it have made so much more sense for the armoured boy to be the Fullmetal Alchemist. He was certainly dressed for the part... Kimblee's frown expanded a bit before he changed the expression into a smile and parted his lips, "Nice to meet you," the Crimson Alchemist said lifting up his hat, "I've heard much about the Fullmetal Alchemist."

The blonde seemed to be frowning at this point before adding a simple and unenthusiastic, "Hello."

Clearly the boy wasn't happy to be speaking with the white clad man at all. His manners were defiantly lacking there. Oh well, it didn't matter to Kimblee at least he'd been polite enough with his greetings. In the end that was all that mattered. He smiled slightly to himself only to catch a deeply confused frown from Miles, who then chose to interrupt, "Carry on then..."

"Will do," the answer was brief but than Buccaneer added, "Armstrong and General Raven are at the sight where the monster attacked."

"I'll had over admittedly," the Ishvalan assured, "Come on Kimblee..."

Major Miles moved to the side and began to walk around the other party. It was only at this point that the Crimson Alchemist reacted by lowering his hat back onto his head and then following after the dark skinned Ishvalan wearing the snow-blindness glasses.