You didn't really think Ed was going to get away with that, did you. : ) Speaking of Edward, feel free to consider this fic having veered off into AU land- so Ed being there in Central isn't a total continuity error. Heh. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 15

"This is such bull!" Edward snarled as he scrubbed the floor. Once he was satisfied he threw the rag in the bucket angrily and let the water splash a few drops onto the floor. Edward let them lie where they stood. "There, I'm done."

Archer hummed and tapped his finger on his desk while browsing a document or two pleasantly. Truth be told, he had finished his paperwork an hour ago but was enjoying his peace and quiet in the office while being entertained by Fullmetal. Archer had sent Kimblee off to do a few 'chores' for him; he had just made up some things he needed and the man volunteered to go get them. Archer should have realized puppy-love Kimblee would go out of his way to do whatever Archer asked of him. It was convenient when Archer wanted alone time, to say punish a brash major? "You missed a spot."

Edward pointed an angry metal finger at the bucket. Of all the freaking things they could do to punish him, he got stuck cleaning the office floors with a washrag. Couldn't this guy have been more inventive!? "Oh come on! I already cleaned the entire floor twice! With just that stupid rag!"

"Should have thought of that before you pushed your superior officers in a closet."

"Come on, it was a mistake. Mustang was the only one who was supposed to get pushed in!"

"Than you should have been more observant." Archer set the papers he was reading down and looked up at the angry boy. He still wasn't sure what the Colonel saw in this child, but then again- Archer kept a pain around due to his alchemic talents, too. Archer found himself sympathizing. "Colonel Mustang agreed that you should be punished and gave me the privilege to do so."

"Fine, and you did. I'm done. Can I go now?"

Archer looked over his desk at the floor, which was indeed sparkling. The kid didn't do a bad job. Though, since his original plan was to shoot the boy in the kneecap, Fullmetal should be grateful he got off with just cleaning. "Clean the desk tops and you may leave."

Ed bit his lip and grumbled internally but picked up the rag anyway. All things considered, he did get off pretty easy. If it had been Mustang dishing out his punishment Ed was sure it would have been far more embarrassing and public. But still, Mustang didn't give Ed the creeps. "Fine. But I'm only doing it once!"

"It's hard not knowing."

"Not knowing what, sir?" Hawkeye asked as she looked at her superior officer after setting down her own paperwork. Colonel Mustang was hunched over his desk with a surprisingly thoughtful, sober look on his face. It was so nice when the man was taking things seriously.

"What to do about this whole Archer thing. I just don't get it."

Ah yes, Hawkeye sighed to herself. The great kiss Mustang had talked about for hours after it happened. So much for her Colonel getting back to work. Even Major Armstrong had gotten sick of the ranting. First, Mustang had to go on about his confusion and how he hadn't noticed anything going on between the two Lieutenant Colonels. Then Mustang had remembered he too had kissed Archer and Kimblee had watched.

And Kimblee had gotten angry about it.

Suddenly, Roy wasn't so sure that Kimblee's hatred towards him had to do with Ishbal anymore. His Lieutenant had suggested that maybe Kimblee had been jealous and Roy replied 'of what?' She then pointed out the kiss again and the sudden rage. Roy thought of all the time he'd been spending with Archer as of late and all the times he thought he was being watched.

Suddenly things had clicked into place and Roy wanted to go bash his head into a wall. There was no way the Crimson alchemist was jealous. It was impossible; there was nothing between them to be jealous of in the first place. He and Archer weren't having a thing; they were being forced to work together by the Führer. That much was obvious. Roy's eyes widened slightly. "Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir?" Hawkeye sighed and rolled her eyes. Colonel sounded worried about something and his eyes looked like he'd just reached a revelation. Hawkeye just knew it was going to be something stupid.

"You never got the impression that Archer and I were more than coworkers, did you? I mean, if Kimblee thought that than it could be possible…"

Hawkeye held back her smirk and instead put on a delightfully 'concerned' expression laced with confusion. It was time for revenge for Colonel filling her head with improper thoughts all those weeks ago. "Didn't you know? There's been rumors of you two making out in your offices for weeks now."

Roy froze and stared long and hard at his Lieutenant. "What?"

"Now would he want the iceberg lettuce or the spinach leaves…" Kimblee trailed off as he stared at the green vegetables covered in water droplets. Archer had discretely mentioned that he wanted a salad for dinner but they were all out of ingredients. Having an act to keep up, Kimblee volunteered to run out and do the shopping without a moment's hesitation.

Which left him standing in the middle of a grocery store with a scowl on his face that scared small children because he was stuck doing these stupid chores because it was the only tactic that was working. Archer was even letting him stay over on Thursday nights now in addition to the weekend. And it was a damn good thing Archer was worth it (if he wasn't, Kimblee was definitely going to kill him for this emotional roller coaster…) or he wouldn't be here trying to remember what Archer had put on his salad the last time he made one.

Eventually, Kimblee just grabbed some of both types of lettuce and threw them on top of an assortment of vegetables he had grabbed. Archer could make his own damn salad with whatever Kimblee decided to bring him. The Crimson Alchemist yawned and went straight for the register. He was left to wander in his own thoughts once again as the woman started ringing up items.

For example, Kimblee was well aware that Archer kissed him only to keep the alchemist from killing Mustang. Kimblee wasn't an idiot no matter how dumbfounded he had been after the shock. The Crimson alchemist had been irked Archer bothered to save the man, but once he calmed he realized that a dead Colonel would mean Archer would go to jail and never see Liore as a commander of troops.

Archer wasn't the only one who wanted to see the war in Liore.

Kimblee smiled inwardly as he distracted himself of much happier thoughts. He had been so taken in by jealousy over Mustang he had almost forgotten what had attracted him to Archer in the first place. They had a shared love of war and destruction and Kimblee would give anything to see Archer in action outside of a shooting range. Just the idea of Archer giving the command to kill on sight and wipe out the enemy sent chills down his spine.

Kimblee nodded at the lady after he paid and walked out of the store with a whistle. The woman behind the counter was blushing, but Kimblee ignored her. Women were a dime a dozen and none of them really understood. Speaking of, Kimblee looked across the street to see the corner bar where he and Archer had picked up that one slut so many nights ago. Now that had been fun and Kimblee wracked his brain to remember that night.

For a few brief moments, Archer had been willingly pressed against Kimblee and let himself be touched. They had sat and laughed together on the ground covered in blood and Kimblee had never been more comfortable in his life. At the time, he hadn't thought to relish that contact or memorize the look on Archer's face. Kimblee hadn't realized then just what he was feeling. Archer had just been a friend.

Kimblee wondered what it would be like to repeat that event now, knowing full well that his affection was far from platonic. To indulge in other, more carnal desires after the adrenaline rush of murder. To take that high and just keep riding it further until they were both covered in sweat, blood and semen; completely spent of breath in the middle of a dirty alleyway. Kimblee nearly groaned and had to stop walking.

The Crimson alchemist took deep breaths to calm down and leant against a building wall. There was no point in getting all excited by himself and he still had to get over to Archer's house for dinner. Kimblee looked down at the strangely domestic bag of groceries in his hand and nearly laughed. He was getting far too carried away, too quickly. He needed to take things one step at a time, slowly, and get Archer to a point where he wanted it just as much.

Kimblee's eyes turned towards an alley way and smirked. Then again the forceful method could be fun too.