Prompt 176, Arrogance, "Brinksmanship"
Title: Brinksmanship
Author: seta_suzume
Series: manga/Brotherhood
Word Count: 484
Rating: PG
Characters: Kimblee & Ed
Summary: It was a deadly game. And who was ahead?
Warnings: none
Under his breath he said something about arrogance as he reached for the doorknob.
It was the wrong thought to let escape the protective confines of his head.
Kimblee was quick for a guy his age.
The curse that escaped Ed's lips next was better advised, even if it didn't do him any favors. Kimblee held him pinned against the wall, but in holding each of Ed's arms against the cool surface (even closed up and presumably heated it was like touching the side of a glass of ice tea to his face, since, to a greater or lesser degree, everything in Briggs was cold), his own weaponized palms were tied up, depriving him momentarily of his greatest asset in a fight. ...He didn't mean to do anything drastic, right here within the fortress, did he? ...He wouldn't have taken the trouble to give Ed orders if there wasn't at least an opportunity for him to carry them out, would he?
The shadows of Kimblee's men loomed behind the window, easily blocking the view of whatever was about to occur within the negotiating room. Ed tried not to look into Kimblee's searching, steady eyes, opting instead to focus on the last wisps of steam drifting away from his coffee cup.
"Arrogant, hmm?" Kimblee spoke as softly as their proximity required, with a tone of threat wrapped in silk, "That may be so, but perhaps if you take a wider perspective, you'll see that you are the more arrogant one here, Fullmetal. I make my way in the world by slipping through the cracks and putting on masks, but you expect to regain everything you've lost brazenly bulldozing your way through life. And now to think that you've found some sort of way to outfox me-"
Ed began to protest, but Kimblee shushed him with a cutting glance and subtle shake of his head, "Yes, you think you have. It's not in your nature either to bend to authority or to compromise your morals. You've agreed to my commands because you have a plan and I've accepted that agreement not because I take it at face value, but because I'm interested in seeing what you're going to try."
Was it worth it anymore to bother trying to keep his mouth shut? Ed steeled himself to meet Kimblee's eyes again. Based on what he'd said, the crazy alchemist intended on keeping him alive, and that was all he needed. As long as lived, he could keep on striving. "Fine, you know that much. I don't think you like wasting time any more than I do."
Kimblee backed up a step and let him go. "I'll accept that as your apology then for that last little delay. Go on," he held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture, "And when you take action," his smug smirk opened into a full-faced grin, "Hit me with your best shot."
Author: seta_suzume
Series: manga/Brotherhood
Word Count: 484
Rating: PG
Characters: Kimblee & Ed
Summary: It was a deadly game. And who was ahead?
Warnings: none
Under his breath he said something about arrogance as he reached for the doorknob.
It was the wrong thought to let escape the protective confines of his head.
Kimblee was quick for a guy his age.
The curse that escaped Ed's lips next was better advised, even if it didn't do him any favors. Kimblee held him pinned against the wall, but in holding each of Ed's arms against the cool surface (even closed up and presumably heated it was like touching the side of a glass of ice tea to his face, since, to a greater or lesser degree, everything in Briggs was cold), his own weaponized palms were tied up, depriving him momentarily of his greatest asset in a fight. ...He didn't mean to do anything drastic, right here within the fortress, did he? ...He wouldn't have taken the trouble to give Ed orders if there wasn't at least an opportunity for him to carry them out, would he?
The shadows of Kimblee's men loomed behind the window, easily blocking the view of whatever was about to occur within the negotiating room. Ed tried not to look into Kimblee's searching, steady eyes, opting instead to focus on the last wisps of steam drifting away from his coffee cup.
"Arrogant, hmm?" Kimblee spoke as softly as their proximity required, with a tone of threat wrapped in silk, "That may be so, but perhaps if you take a wider perspective, you'll see that you are the more arrogant one here, Fullmetal. I make my way in the world by slipping through the cracks and putting on masks, but you expect to regain everything you've lost brazenly bulldozing your way through life. And now to think that you've found some sort of way to outfox me-"
Ed began to protest, but Kimblee shushed him with a cutting glance and subtle shake of his head, "Yes, you think you have. It's not in your nature either to bend to authority or to compromise your morals. You've agreed to my commands because you have a plan and I've accepted that agreement not because I take it at face value, but because I'm interested in seeing what you're going to try."
Was it worth it anymore to bother trying to keep his mouth shut? Ed steeled himself to meet Kimblee's eyes again. Based on what he'd said, the crazy alchemist intended on keeping him alive, and that was all he needed. As long as lived, he could keep on striving. "Fine, you know that much. I don't think you like wasting time any more than I do."
Kimblee backed up a step and let him go. "I'll accept that as your apology then for that last little delay. Go on," he held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture, "And when you take action," his smug smirk opened into a full-faced grin, "Hit me with your best shot."