Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: Kimbly/Archer
Author: For-chan
Artist: Daeva
Theme: #15 Never seen a bluer Sky
Warnings: fluff and shameless cuteness ♥

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Never seen a bluer Sky

"Will you return to the military?" Archer had asked.

"That depends." Kimblee had replied.

"Depends on what?"

"There are a few things I want to do. I've been locked away in a cell for a long time. If you help me, I'll help you."

Archer had agreed. It was a reasonable enough request. Unfortunately, he hadn't realized exactly what he was getting himself into. It was through his own ignorance that he ended up in his current situation. He was casually dressed, sitting on a red and white checkered blanket on the over-grown grounds of the abandoned Fuhrer's mansion on the edge of Central having a picnic with the Crimson Alchemist.

"Nice place," Kimblee commented, looking around. The mansion had been the home to the leaders of Amestris in the past. When King Bradely came into power, a newer, more secure fortress had been built and the old home was left abandoned. Over the years, wildflowers and weeds had worked their way into the once perfectly manicured lawns of the mansion. The result was a clash of stately elegance and wild beauty meshed into one. With the colorful blooms of wild violets and red roses studding the healthy green grass, it was the perfect location for a picnic. Archer had spread the blanket beneath a stand of cherry trees that provided just the right amount of shade from the bright sun.

"So, what'd you bring for lunch?" Kimblee asked, turning back to eye the picnic basket that Archer had brought along.

Archer quietly opened the basket, pulling out plates, napkins and carefully packed containers of food. A local restaurant offered fancy picnic lunches for couples and he'd merely purchased one and brought it along. Kimblee's enthusiasm didn't seem dampened in the least by the restaurant logo on the napkins and plastic containers. The alchemist reached out, peeking into a container. "Mmm, potato salad. Haven't had that in a while."

"Why a picnic?" Archer asked as he opened a container of baked chicken.

"You try being locked in a dark little room for years and years and see what kind of things you want when you get out. It's little things that you miss. Fresh air. The sky. Outside. Sun. Grass. Hell, even these girly pink flowers!" He flicked his hand towards the cherry blossoms. "What better way to take them all in than a picnic?" Kimblee shrugged, scooping a mound of potato salad onto his plate.

Archer nodded. It made sense, but it didn't make him feel any less ridiculous. Two grown men having a picnic together was just too much.

"Hey, pass that chicken," Kimblee mumbled around a mouthful of potato salad.

Archer picked up a piece of chicken before handing the container over. He made a neat little arrangement on his plate. Green salad next to the potato salad with the chicken leg he'd selected lying lengthwise across the plate and a roll on the other side of the chicken. Kimblee had a towering mound of potato salad plopped on top of the green salad. Two pieces of chicken touched the salads and a large buttered roll dripped all over the plate. Archer wondered exactly what kind of table manners Kimblee was about to display.

Kimblee set the plate in his lap and stared at it. He picked up a chicken leg and began to eat. It wasn't the savage tearing of meat that Archer was expecting. Instead, Kimblee was taking his time, looking around him as he slowly, almost contemplatively, chewed his food. Relieved, Archer turned his attention to his own meal, working his way through the green salad first, then the potato salad before moving on to the chicken. The roll was last, torn into small pieces and slowly eaten. It was all washed down with a light red wine. Archer dabbed the napkin over his lips and looked at Kimblee. The alchemist was still working on his plate of food. One piece of chicken had been cleaned to the bone. There was a sizable dent in both salads and the buttery roll was half the size it started out, but Kimblee continued to work at it slowly, still staring off into the garden as he ate.

Archer began to put the covers on containers to discourage the flies. He set his empty plate aside and began repacking the basket, leaving out the small dessert container. Every once in a while, he would glance over at Kimblee, who was completely absorbed in his study of the garden and the sky and even the fly that buzzed around his potato salad. Archer was beginning to wonder if the freedom was too much for the man and he'd lost his mind. Eventually, Kimblee cleaned his plate. He looked down at it, as though he was surprised to find it empty. He looked over at Archer.

"We got some dessert around here?"

Archer nodded, opening the last container to reveal a small cheesecake covered in fresh summer strawberries. There were two more clean plates to dish up the dessert on and he handed Kimblee a generous slice, while keeping a small piece for himself. Kimblee grinned as he took the plate and began to eat. There was less staring into space as he moved through his dessert, but each bite was still deliberate as he savored every small mouthful. Archer had never seen anybody eat like Kimblee ate. He'd thought that it would be like watching an animal eat, but he found it strangely entrancing. Kimblee glanced at him and Archer quickly turned his attention to his own small slice of cheesecake.

The next time Archer looked up, Kimblee was staring at him. "Is there a problem?"

"No," Kimblee said. "No problem at all."

Archer frowned when the other man didn't look away. He continued to stare. "Do I have food on my face?" Archer asked suspiciously, bringing his napkin up to wipe at his mouth.

Kimblee smiled. "No, nothing wrong with your face."

"Then what exactly are you staring at?"

"Your eyes." Kimblee replied simply.

"My eyes." Archer repeated.

"Yeah. I was thinking, as nice as the sky is and all, it really can't compete with your eyes."

Archer paused, staring at the man. Kimblee continued to stare back. Archer opened his mouth for a response that never came before looking away, flustered.

Kimblee set his plate down and hummed contentedly. "That was great," he announced. "Next time, let's get some sandwiches and head out to the lake."

Archer looked up. "Next time?"

"Yeah. You didn't think that one little picnic would make up for all the years that I've spent in jail did you?" Archer didn't reply, because that's exactly what he thought. Kimblee chuckled. "We're not done yet fun buns."

Archer frowned and picked up the plate, setting it back in the basket. "Wouldn't you prefer another companion?"

"Oh no, I like my current companion just fine. Don't you like me as well? You are the one who tempted me back after all." Kimblee turned towards him.

"I hardly know you," Archer pointed out. "I know of you, but I don't know much about you."

Kimblee crawled across the blanket towards him. "Don't worry. We'll have plenty of time to fix that. I promise."

Looking into Kimblee's predatory golden eyes, Archer couldn't help but feel it was more of a threat than a promise.



THE END