The Other Side of the Gate Part 2

Out of all the things happening that night, Archer could never have expected what was to come. After fucking Kaiba, the young boy had fallen asleep, leaving Archer wide awake and bored out of his mind. But a dull knocking on the bedroom door alerted him instantly and he cautiously went to open it.

“Long time no see, Archer,” a familiar voice sneered.

No...not here. Not now! Archer thought angrily. Standing in his doorway was a person he thought he would never have to see again. “Kimblee...what the hell?”

“Is that all you can say after all this time? I’m hurt.”

“Shut up. What are you doing here? You were killed in Lior.”

“And was graciously brought here to this world. I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Colonel.”

“I am no longer a Colonel, Crimson.”

“Sadly, I can’t use my alchemy in this world. A shame, isn’t it? Don’t you remember when the smallest thing I used to touch would go boom? Ah, those were the days.”

“Either tell me your business here, or I’ll personally throw you out the window.”

Kimblee rolled his eyes. “You’re as hospitable as ever. Oh? What’s this?” He noticed Kaiba lying on the bed and walked over to him.

“Don’t touch him!” Archer warned.

The former Crimson Alchemist blinked in confusion before a knowing smirk graced his lips. “Isn’t that cute? Ruthless war-veteran Frank Archer has a new play toy.”

“He is not a play toy.”

“Don’t tell me you actually have feelings for the kid, Arch—oh-ho, that’s even more precious. You love him, don’t you?”

“Shut your goddamn mouth, Kimblee.”

“Why should I, Archer? Give me one good reason why I should.”

“What the hell is all that noise?” Kaiba grumbled from the bed. “Frank...?”

“And he calls you by your first name,” Kimblee sneered. “This is just too priceless.”

“Who is that?” Kaiba gasped, noticing the other man.

“An old friend,” Kimblee answered. “Name’s Zolf Kimblee.”

“Why are you here? How did you get in my house?”

“Your house? So he’s rich too? Nice one, Colonel.”

“Shut up!” Archer spat. “Leave here immediately before I kill you!”

“That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think? This isn’t Amestris anymore, Archer.”

“If it means getting rid of you for good, then I don’t care.”

Kaiba got up from the bed, pulling on his bathrobe, and walked up to Archer. “What is going on?”

“Go on, tell him...Frank.”

“You have no right to call me that,” Archer hissed. “I’m warning you, Kimblee.”

“Would you flip out if I...touched him like this?” Kimblee placed his hands on Kaiba’s shoulders. For a minute, all coherent thoughts left Archer’s mind. He remembered what Kimblee could do. With a yell of desperation, he pushed Kaiba away and punched Kimblee in the chest. “Whoa-ho! Calm down there! This is beyond the gate, remember? I can’t do alchemy here.”

“I don’t give a damn,” Archer said coldly. “Don’t you ever touch him like that again.”

“A little overprotective, don’t you think?” The rage on Archer’s face made Kimblee start to chuckle. “I’m sorry, but this is too funny. To think you were once the man who wanted to destroy a whole civilization for your own glory...” He received the reaction he wanted and smirked as Archer, blinded by anger, rush towards him, preparing to punch him again.

Kaiba, confused and angry for not knowing what Kimblee was talking about, ran to stop Archer. He blocked him and frowned. “That’s enough,” he said coolly.

“Move,” Archer growled threateningly.

“No.”

“Don’t make me hurt you.”

“Let it go. I don’t know what happened before you met me, but it’s in the past. I don’t care what you did or who you were. You’re different now, right?”

“I envy you for having such a sweet lover,” Kimblee mocked.

Kaiba turned to face him. “You’re as annoying as the mutt,” he spat. “Get out and don’t ever let me see your face again.”

“I never had any intention of staying here. Though I think I’ll pay the cute blonde I met on the way here a visit.” And with that, the former Crimson Alchemist left, leaving Kaiba and Archer in a very tense atmosphere.

“Thank you,” Archer mumbled. “I haven’t lost my temper like that in a long time. He just...pisses me off so much.”

Kaiba smirked. “Now you know how I feel about the mutt.”

“Your rivalry with him isn’t as bad as mine with Kimblee. He and I...we go back a long way. He died before me and still ended up in this world. What cruel hand did I draw to deserve this?”

“He’s going to go bother the mutt anyway. If the blonde he mentioned is him, that is.”

“As far as I know, not many people in this town are blonde to begin with. So I’ll assume it is Jounouchi he’s going to see.”

“Lucky him.”

“You don’t sound very sympathetic.”

“I’m not. I find it funny.”

“How so?”

“If our greatest annoyances get together...we’ll be bothered into eternity.”

Archer sighed heavily. “Kimblee’s nothing like me. He used to blow up everything in sight: people, villages, buildings. Anything he touched.”

“Is that why you were so freaked out when he touched me?”

“I knew he couldn’t perform alchemy here...but I still...lost it. He had turned countless people into bombs by just touching them and...”

“I understand, Frank. You were worried.”

The older man looked up into Kaiba’s eyes. “I feel some sympathy for Jounouchi. Kimblee doesn’t know how to love anyone. He won’t be gentle at all.”

“Are you saying you love me, Archer?”

He smiled. “Perhaps.”