19I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG.
I am no longer into FMA so I am struggling a bit for insperation but I DO LOVE THIS FIC!
As such, I will try to keep it going. If anyone has ideas please don't hesitate to review with suggestions and help me out.
Thank you.
Title: Warmth of Lies
Author: Nostalgic5947
Genre: Romance, Hurt/Comfort
Rated: T (for Kimbley and Envy's language, and YAOI)
Disclaimer: Do you see Envy snogging Ed at the end of the series? Of course not. Is Kimbley riding Miles like a cowboy? No. I rest my case.
Summary: PREQUEL to Warmth of Snow. Semi-AU after Kimbley enters Briggs! Miles is loosing his wife. Confused, he turns to an unlikely aid and takes advantage of it. Is he being honest with himself or lying? MilesKimbley, Envy+Kimbley (friendship), hints to one-sided EdEnvy
Key:
'Miles' thoughts.'
'Kimbley's thoughts.'
"Speech."
emphasis.
EMPHASIS.
*"Quotes from the past."*
Chapter 10
Edward Elric scowls as he follows his childhood friend. The young woman strides forward, ignoring the grumbling teen behind her. Alphonse worriedly follows, metal clanging as he walks. Winry ignores him too.
Light blue eyes stare ahead with determination and strength; she will NOT be stopped.
In her arms, Winry carries Zolf Kimbley's two suits, freshly washed and dried by the fire; to Winry's satisfaction, the clothes are still warm. She also carries the man's shoes; they, too, are freshly cleaned. His scarf and gloves are in the pile as well, washed and dried like everything else. Her determined stride stops outside of Major Miles' bedroom door. She takes a deep breath.
Knock knock.
She stands patiently, Edward impatient behind her and Alphonse worrying beside him. Footsteps and mutters are heard before Miles opens the door and blinks at them from behind his goggles—not that they can see it. Winry smiles.
"Morning Major Miles!" she says cheerfully. She quickly pushes past the man and hopes he does not get mad at her. He seems more amused than anything, though. She sets her clean cargo down on the desk and turns to look at Kimbley who lays in the bed across the room. He does not look much better. She sighs mournfully, "Is he eating?" Her doe eyes turn to Miles.
He shakes his head, "Not much. I was hoping he'd eat some soup this morning but..." He gestures to the sleeping figure. Winry nods.
"We should try giving him other things: fruits, warm bread... crackers?" Winry pauses again as she thinks of something, "Sweets?" She looks at Kimbley curiously, "Do you like sweets, Kimbley-san?" She seems to deflate when she receives no response.
From the doorway, Edward scuffs. Alphonse lays a hand on his shoulder and tries to keep him from saying anything that will upset Winry, or even Miles. His brother ignores him. "He deserves this, you know." Edward glares at the figure in the bed. "He brought you here, Winry, and you know damn well why. He's not a damn "gentleman"! He's not nice or kind or whatever! He's NOT!"
Winry, for a moment, is silent. She stares at Kimbley and watches him try to breath. The mucus must be going down his throat, she thinks. She always hated that as a child. Kimbley hates it too; she can tell from his expression. How, then, is Kimbley any different from her? She is convinced that he is not.
The blonde girl's hands clench into fists and, before Edward can blink, one of them brandishes a steel wrench that hits him right between the eyes. As Alphonse frets over his older brother, Miles watches Winry watch Kimbley. There is compassion in her eyes, and a deep understanding that Miles suspects would confuse even the recipient, not just him and the Elric's. Then, Winry's eyes harden and she glares at Edward. Miles steps back, quickly cross-referencing Winry with Olivier. They have that same ominous feel...
"He's more of a gentleman than you are, Ed. And he's nicer to me than you, too." Winry, dignified and self-assured, nods once to Miles, pets Kimbley's sweaty hair one last time, and walks out of the room. Alphonse gives a brisk bow before quickly dragging Edward after her. Miles sighs tiredly and closes the door after them.
When he turns back to Kimbley, Miles finally notices that 'Cat' is gone.
Envy takes a deep breath as he steps into the light. Cords and tubes line the floor of the large basement. The air is thick and dry, heavy with annoyance and disappointment. Envy swallows thickly; he is in trouble and he knows it.
He wishes he could run.
"Envy, my son..." booms a voice. Envy traces it to the high-backed chair in the center of the room. There sits a tall, thin man with long blonde hair and a matching beard. Piercing gold eyes glare down at Envy, making him shiver and quake. Yes: Father is mad.
Envy wishes he could leave.
"Come." Father waves a heavy hand and, reluctantly, Envy obeys. There is nothing else he can do. If he disobeys, Father will get angrier. If he puts this meeting off, Father will be angrier still. If he runs... Envy gulps. He tried that once, when he was young and stupid. He will NOT do it again.
Envy wishes he was not so well trained.
"Report." Father's cold voice washes over his envious child and all Envy can do is obey.
"Kimbley is still sick. He has not found Scar. Oscar Miles, the Major in Briggs, is watching over him." He is reiterating failure on Kimbley's part but since Envy knows what Father wishes to know... he has to say it.
He wishes he could protect Kimbley.
"I see..." Father is strangely silent as he contemplates this. Envy shakes as he dreads the next words out of the man/thing's mouth. He knows it will be an order.
Envy wishes he could say no.
"Alert Kimbley. Tell him... I want a bloodbath in Briggs. Now."
Envy wishes he did not care.
"But he is stil—"
"NOW!" Envy ducks his head again. There is no point in arguing.
He wishes there was.
But that is all he can do, for he will never be more than Envy.
Posted: July 11