No time, not proofed so don't bother to point out Typos. Thanks for that ahead of time! Anyway, next chapter for all you lovely folks. This fic has turned into quite the monster, especially considering it started as a one-shot. Thanks so much for reading, reviewing and keeping up the interest!

Chapter 19

"My, he's in a good mood." Tucker chuckled as Archer hummed softly to himself and overlooked his latest project. The man was all prepared for the eventual arrival of their newest chimera pet. Archer even had Tucker transmute a real bed for the woman so she wouldn't have to sleep on the floor. Though, he did still have it inside a set of iron bars that he had Kimblee help with. Speaking of the Crimson Alchemist, "Don't you think its nice?"

"Shut up, Tucker." Kimblee grumbled and rested his head in his arms. This thing with Archer and his chimera was starting to become a problem. Sure, the man had put on a great show in front of Mustang the other day when giving his 'report' about being attacked by the intruder (read, Archer lying through his teeth to avoid her capture) but the moment it was over he turned into a giddy school girl. The man had rushed right over to Tucker's and started decorating the lab like he was a house wife preparing for a dinner party.

He even had one of the chimera loose and following him around like a puppy.

"Why are we doing this again?" Kimblee groaned. The little chimera thing growled at Kimblee and the alchemist pointed an angry finger in its direction. "And why did you let that out?"

"I let him out because I want to see how well trained he is." Archer tapped the side of his thigh and the beast sat down next to his leg. Archer smiled and pat it on the head. If only everyone in his unit or control was that obedient. "Clearly he's passing with flying colors."

"And my other question?" Kimblee held his hand out and raised an eyebrow waiting for the answer. "We're capturing her for experiments, not making a B&B."

"She's a lady." Archer shrugged and looked down at the bed again. Tucker must have lost his sense of comfort along with his body. There was no way that mattress was proper, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

Kimblee rolled his eyes. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"She's more likely to behave if we treat her well, than if we treat her poorly."

"She wants to kill me and probably you now, too. I think you could put her up in a five class hotel and she'd still not cooperate." Kimblee huffed. Archer was staring at the bed again. As if it was going to jump up and move or something. Kimblee got a smirk on his face. "Hey Archer."

"What?" The man mumbled over his shoulder. He was trying to think of what else he could do to sway Ms. Marta to their side. The confinement would be required at first, but Archer was hoping to entice her, so to speak, like he had Kimblee and Tucker. Archer looked over his shoulder when Kimblee didn't reply. "What?"

"Want to test out the bed?"

Tucker hummed happily as the sound of Kimblee being smothered by a pillow to the face played loudly in the background. Ah, another normal day in the lab.

"Is there something wrong, sir?" Hawkeye inquired as her Colonel sat at his desk staring at the wall. "You're not still mad about that joke are you?"

"No, that's not it." Though, Roy had been furious when Fuery let it slip that the rumors of him and Archer were an in-office joke. Roy had calmed down thanks to other matters of importance interfering- such as a mysterious intruder on base and the coincidence of Archer and Kimblee being attacked by said intruder. "I just feel like I'm missing something important."

"Well, there haven't been any signs of the intruder lately, sir. They think he's in hiding to catch us off guard later."

Roy nodded. "Makes sense, however I can't get rid of this feeling that Archer's involved in this somehow."

"He did seem like he was lying with his report." Hawkeye added thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should talk to Major Armstrong and see if he's noticed anything different?"

"That sounds like a good plan, Lieutenant." Roy nodded and stood up from his seat. "Let's do that."

Little did Roy know what a mistake that was. Sitting across from Armstrong about an hour later, Roy realized that he still had no clue what was going on but he did know now that Archer had Shou Tucker hidden away in a lab. How perfectly wonderful. "And why didn't you mention this earlier?"

"I probably wouldn't have even mentioned it now if I didn't think it could be related to the intruder problem." The Major sighed. If he would have known about archer being this unpredictable he wouldn't have hidden any of it from Mustang in the first place. "I was trying to find out what he was doing before I reported anything concretely."

Roy sighed and almost bit his knuckle. "It's alright, Major. I understand."

"Armstrong."

"Yes, sir?"

"Watch him." Roy stood from his seat and wrapped his knuckle on the table to signal Hawkeye to follow him out. "Find out what the hell he needs those chimera for."

"Yes, sir!" Armstrong saluted before heading off to perform his daily duties. This time, Colonel Mustang would be very well informed.

Kimblee whistled happily as he and Archer walked home from the lab. It was a weekday so Kimblee couldn't stay the night, but he was entitled to visit and hang-out until ten o'clock when Archer went to bed. He may have had a face full of feathers and a few loose ones still in his hair, but Archer had been successfully distracted from thoughts of Marta and his mind was back where it belonged: Kimblee. "So, got any plans tonight?"

"I was thinking of actually listening to the radio tonight." Archer spoke. "Assuming a certain someone is quiet enough that I can hear it."

"Ah, but the news is so boring." Kimblee laughed and threw an arm around Archer's shoulders. It fit there snugly and Kimblee couldn't think of a better place for his arm to be. "You should thank me for making it entertaining by talking."

"I'm not going to listen to the news." Archer frowned and checked his watch. If they kept up their current walking pace, he should be able to catch the program easily. "And no, your comments did not make it entertaining regardless." Archer paused and smirked. "Though you falling asleep in the middle was pretty amusing."

"That was one time."

"You were still drooling on my couch."

Kimblee pulled his arm in tighter in a threat of a headlock if the subject wasn't dropped. Though, he did enjoy that tiny smile that was on Archer's face from the teasing. This was, nice. Not explosion nice, but good none-the-less. "So, what program are you going to listen to, then?"

Archer muttered something softly.

"Can't hear that." Kimblee laughed. "What, scared I'm going to tease you?"

Archer lifted an eyebrow. "In a word? Yes."

"It's not like you want to listen to some kid's show." Kimblee laughed and Archer stared at him. Kimblee stopped; Archer's eyes were narrowed and angry. Kimblee raised his hands up in a defensive state and waved them. "Not that it would be a problem if you did. That'd be completely fine…and what?"

Archer started to laugh abruptly and shoved Kimblee in the shoulder. "You should see your face!"

Kimblee stared for a moment longer before laughing softly himself. It was a joke. Archer had just joked with him. Kimblee laughed louder. "Okay, you got me."

"I have to take it when I can." Archer smirked.

Kimblee stopped laughing and licked his lips. He loved it when Archer set himself up this easy. "Don't know why when I'll give it any time you want."

Archer rolled his eyes and shook his head. Kimblee just had to ruin the moment by turning the conversation sexual. Ah well, Archer brushed off his shoulder and began to walk again. "Yes, yes. Now let's go or I really will miss my program."

Kimblee sighed when Archer stopped playing, but trotted up to throw his arms around Archer from the back anyway. It reminded him of the first real time they went out drinking together and he hung from the man's back like this. Then, Archer had been stiff and uncomfortable, but now the man barely flinched when Kimblee jumped him. At least that was a step in the right direction. "Now what program are we going to listen to?"

"Do you promise to be quiet the entire performance?"

"Yes."

"It's a drama that's starting tonight." Archer hummed. "Should be about an hour or two at most."

Kimblee pulled off to the side so that they could continue walking more easily. He made sure to keep at least one arm still around Archer's shoulder. "What's it about?"

"I forget the title, but it should be about a detective and a serial killer."

Kimblee snorted. "Ironic subject matter, don't you think?"

"When you factor in that it's about two people who don't use alchemy at all, it does make for something slightly more interesting." Archer chuckled. "There's also a love story."

"So now it's the same stuff we do everyday and even more boring." Kimblee laughed.

"You promised you'd be quiet."

"So I did." Kimblee hummed. "But I didn't promise I'd stay sober."

Archer rolled his eyes and stuck his key in the door when they arrived in front of his home. He had a feeling that a certain Crimson Alchemist was going to forget his promise as his inhibitions started to deteriorate. Ah well, Archer had a radio in his bathroom and a lock on the door. If worse came to worse, a nice long soak in the tub with Kimblee locked out wouldn't be too bad.

And if Kimblee decided to break in, Archer had a gun in the shower.