I love this chapter. The plot is finally moving and Kimblee and Archer get to know each other better. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 5

"So, tomorrow's the big day, right?" Kimblee asked as he locked his arm with Archer and pulled him along down the street. "Where you get to command your little troops?"

"Yes." Archer rolled his eyes and shoved his hands into the pockets of his long coat. "Which means I need some sleep. So where are we going so late at night, in plainclothes no less?"

"Don't worry, I'll get you back before midnight." Kimblee smirked. He had some fun things planned for tonight. After hearing Archer's stories of Ishbal and knowing that the man had taken blood, Kimblee had something he wanted to try. "We're in plainclothes because I don't want to get your pretty uniform dirty."

"What on earth do you have planned, Kimblee?"

"Just a little fun."

"Why do I not like the sound of this?" Archer sighed as he let himself be dragged along behind the crazy man in a pair of casual slacks. Somehow hanging out with Kimblee had weaseled its way into his daily routines. Archer could almost consider Kimblee a friend at the rate they were hanging out and getting to know each other. A homicidal, insane alchemist as a friend. How wonderful. "This is a bar."

"I know." Kimblee smirked as he brought Archer inside. "We're going to play a game."

"A game?" Archer looked sideways at the smirking man. Kimblee was up to something. "What sort of game?"

Kimblee put his hand on Archer's shoulder and leaned in close to his ear. He could feel the slight shiver come from Archer when his breath trailed on that pale skin. "Pick a target. Any pretty little thing, and we'll pick her up."

"That's it?" Archer raised an eyebrow. Kimblee wanted to pick up women? If that's all he wanted, why didn't he just say so? "What? Are we going to have a competition to see who gets her first?"

"Nope, you pick one out, I'll pick her up and we'll both have some fun." Kimblee almost licked his lips. This was going to be so enjoyable. He just hoped Archer played along. Kimblee didn't always share his personal hobbies with friends.

Was Kimblee seriously suggesting a Ménage a Trois? Archer could feel his face scrunch; that was definitely a no-go. Sure he liked Kimblee a bit more than he did before, but that was too much. "I'm not interested in your sex games, Kimblee."

Sex games? Oh! Kimblee almost laughed at the absurdity. "Trust me, you'll like this. Just pick out someone. The more degenerate the better. Less of a chance she'll be missed."

Archer made note when Kimblee's fingers started stretching and tapping on his shoulder revealing the alchemic symbols underneath. It was becoming clear that the other man was getting restless. Best to play along and see how it goes. "Fine."

Kimblee waited anxiously as they walked over to the bar to get a better look around the room. He watched those bright blue eyes scan over brunettes, blondes, red heads and the like all in their tight, skimpy outfits and reveled in the disgust. Archer was clearly not impressed by any of these floozy women; all for the better. Kimblee smirked when Archer almost outright sneered at one particular woman in a corner. "That one looks good to me, too."

"Her? She has no taste or class what-so-ever. She's the lowest of the bar pick up in a tiny miniskirt. It's repulsive." Archer shook his head as Kimblee grinned. "What?"

"Wait for me outside, I'll be back with her and then we can have some real fun."

"But-"

"Get." Kimblee shoved Archer towards the door. "Trust me."

Archer obeyed for the moment and waited outside the door before checking his watch. It was nearing nine o'clock and Kimblee had said they'd be back before midnight. He only hoped that was true. He did not want to be late tomorrow. Not only would that be unprofessional, but Mustang was sure to rub it into his face. Thankfully, the alchemist exited the bar with the woman in tow. She was drunk and giggling and became clingy when Kimblee pushed her towards Archer. "Kimblee."

"Just humor me, and then follow me." Kimblee smirked and took the woman's other arm. "This way."

Archer followed, the entire time wracking his brain for what Kimblee was up to. He wasn't honestly considering sleeping with this slut was he? If so, why did he need Archer? Was Kimblee some sort of voyeur? Or maybe he just got off when someone was watching. Archer sighed and just tried to keep his disgust at the woman gripping his arm with her painted nails as he waited to arrive at wherever Kimblee was going. After about ten minutes of walking and turning their direction into a deep alley, Kimblee came to a stop. "Is this it?"

"Yup." Kimblee wrenched the girl off of Archer's arm and flung her gracelessly into the back wall of the alley. She hit the wall with a thud and started to look at the two men with glazed eyes. She was wasted and had no clue what was going to happen to her. Perfect. "Now the fun begins."

"What are you talking about?" Archer pinched his nose with his thumb. He swore that if Kimblee suggested raping this woman he was going to beat him personally. That was distasteful and Archer did not need to rape a woman to satisfy his inner urges.

"We're going to kill her."

"What?" Archer's head whipped to the side to meet those near glowing golden eyes. "We're going to what? Are you out of your mind?"

"You know the answer to that." Kimblee smirked and put both of his hands squarely on Archer's shoulders. The woman was starting to look at the two of them with a bit more recognition, but that was alright. Fear was a good thing. "It'll be fun."

"Kimblee, we are not killing this girl."

"I know, I am. You're here to watch." Kimblee smiled in contrast to Archer's increasingly anger filled face. "You like it more than you're letting on. The anger is just to hide it."

"Don't be-" Archer was cut off as Kimblee's hands left his shoulder to grab his wrist. Kimblee threw him against the wall effectively pinning the girl between his arms. Archer could feel Kimblee's hands snake around his chest to fall on the wall. "What are you doing?"

Kimblee clapped his hands together between Archer and the woman and felt the arrays start to activate. He then slammed them into the gut of the unsuspecting woman; she didn't even have a chance to scream. Kimblee smiled as she squirmed under his palms and he grinned when Archer sucked in a deep breath. "She's going to explode."

"What?" Archer was trapped between an insane alchemist and a bomb. How did he get himself into these situations? Kimblee then grabbed his own hands and placed them against the flesh of the woman's midriff. It was crinkling beneath his fingers in and an almost intoxicating scent started to fill his nose. This woman's flesh was changing its composition right under Archer's fingers. "My God."

"Can you feel that? Kimblee moved his hands up from Archer's wrists to rest on his shoulders again; leant his chest against Archer's trembling back. The shaking was not from fear. Archer was getting exited. "She's turning into a living bomb. And no one will miss her."

Archer's pulse was rising. His blood was reacting and he was so caught up he felt himself moving his hands to trail up and follow the crinkling black. All of his inhibitions were gone in this moment of weakness; he was watching art unfold right before his eyes. This was better than a gunshot or instant death. It was slow and just... "It's beautiful."

"Yes, it is." Kimblee broke Archer from his revelry with a fierce tug backwards bringing them both to the ground. Archer moaned in pain as his rear hit the pavement, but the rest of him smacked into Kimblee who was grinning like a fool. "And now she goes..."

"Boom." Archer finished Kimblee's sentence and managed to keep himself from blinking as the pathetic excuse of a woman exploded. He felt the blood spatter on his face and he licked it from his lips. Archer could tell that this could go downhill quickly; he shouldn't get addicted to this feeling. "That was, educational."

"It was fun and you loved it." Kimblee smirked and sat there breathing hard while watching Archer. The man was fighting it, but Kimblee knew. Archer was as twisted as he was inside.

"I need a shower."

Kimblee laughed.

Archer was clean, well rested and still running on the buzz from his adventure with Kimblee. While he knew it would be unwise to indulge in that behavior on a regular basis due to the higher chance of getting caught. But he would not deny it was an experience to remember. "Isn't it a wonderful day, Major? Perfect for training. Just look at them out there all ready to go and full of potential."

Armstrong looked down at the normally snarky man as he smiled. It was a conceited, slithery sort of smile that could only be pulled off by a healthy ego. However, it was an ego and a snake that he had to work for to achieve greater goals. Armstrong puffed out his chest and let his booming, masculine voice fill the air. "That it is, sir. The weather is perfect for training and the energy of young lads!"

"I couldn't agree more." Archer looked out over the unit of men exercising and mingling before him in the field. All of them young, sturdy, healthy and ready to be molded into the perfect war machines. They were his to control and he would lead them well. As soon as his 'superior' arrived to help monitor. The Führer's will must be done, after all. "Where's Colonel Mustang? I'd hoped to get started soon."

"I believe he's finishing up some paperwork, but he should be here shortly." Armstrong nodded before flexing. "I believe he said we could begin without him."

"Sounds good." Archer smirked and started to head out. "Let's inform them that things are about to get started."

"Sir." Armstrong saluted and hoped that the Colonel would get here before Archer could get out of control. They stopped before the troops and Archer looked to him and rose an eyebrow. Ah, introductions then. "Attention!" The Major waited for all the troops to get in line and salute before assuming the attention position himself. "Good evening gentlemen!" Armstrong bellowed. "You all know why you're here so let's get started. This is Lieutenant Colonel Archer, your superior officer. Later Colonel Mustang will be joining us to evaluate. Let's do our best and listen up!"

"Thank you for that, Major Armstrong." Archer smiled and took a few steps forward. "Now, my friends. Let us get you ready to server your country and your Führer with honor."

"Sir, yes sir!"

The chorused reply from the recruits filled Archer with pride and joy. Not even Mustang could ruin the high he was riding. Hell, even Kimblee's other more annoying antics would be nothing when he was done turning these boys into men.

Kimblee was openly snarling as he looked down at the men standing shoulder to shoulder. He knew Archer would kill him for monitoring him this closely, but he was too curious about what was going on to help himself. Archer was commanding a troop of new soldiers while high from murder. How could he miss that? However by the time the alchemist got to the training field, Kimblee was greeted with a far more disgusting sight: Mustang and Archer working side by side. Contently and with surprisingly effective teamwork at that. The troops were following their every command.

The Crimson Alchemist shifted slightly from his position in the tree. Mustang was too close. He knew that they were conversing about matters that the troops weren't supposed to hear, so they had to stand side by side to keep their voices low, but. Kimblee bit his nail harshly when Archer and Mustang started matching smirks. In all likely hood, they were bitter rivals and had pissed each other off and were covering it up with emotions. Kimblee knew that.

But what he saw, was two friends coming to an agreement and communicating without speech.

Kimblee was so messed up.

Kimblee wanted to get down from the tree and stop watching and kill Mustang slowly and painfully. Mustang would die having each limb blown from his body, no each and every digit individually! Especially those fingers that were attached to the hand that was now on Archer's shoulder. A hand that didn't belong to Kimblee. However, like a train wreck, he couldn't pull his eyes from the scene and let the anger rise and fester. Kimblee wasn't even sure why he was so angry. Why did watching Archer hang out with someone else and looking content bother him so much? It wasn't something the alchemist should be getting worked up about.

Was he jealous?

Kimblee's eyes widened as his hand gripped the tree tighter; nails digging into the soft bark. He was jealous. Kimblee was mad that Archer was spending time with Mustang; any time. The alchemist wanted Archer to hang out with him and smile. He wanted Archer to tell him war stories and listen to his and drink with him. He wanted Archer to kill people with him. Kimblee wanted Archer to only pay attention to Kimblee.

Kimblee was jealous.