duke_of_illusions | domesticity

"Dodo was the tub you pushed me into. The bed we landed on. The carriage. The sky. Frequently the ropes themselves, or the cooling breeze. That straw palette you were imprisoned on. We've immersed ourselves in his world together before."

Al finds himself smiling, touched.

"You're right. Since the beginning it's been like that."

"He likes having his ruff scratched- gently."

Barma murmurs.

Al brushes a kiss against Barma's jaw and takes a step, kneeling down at Dodo's side and holding out his good hand.

His head bumps into Al's hand.

Barma smiles, and reaches down to show him how he likes to be scratched.

Al strokes him gently, then follows Barma's fingers, finding the itchy places. The heaviness is gradually leaving his shoulders.

The bird is almost twice Al's size- and contrives to look so sweetly stupid as it fluffs up, cock's it's head, and nearly tumbles over in pleasure.

Al can't help but laugh, warm and fond, leaning in and spoiling him with soft, loving murmurs and all the petting he could ask for.

"Dodo, you lump."

Barma murmurs, indulgently, going to put tea on and leaving Al to his pet.

It's very calming, and so normal it's therapeutic. Al doesn't forget that Dodo is a chain, but by the time tea is done he's cuddled up to Dodo's side, finding places deep in the fluffy feathers to rub and gently scratch.

He's more relaxed than he's ever been since the attack.

"Here, give him these."

He offers him the bowl of sugar cubes, stealing just enough to doctor their tea. The bird holds his beak open.

Al beams back at him, then slips one into Dodo's beak, careful of his fingers.

"I didn't know birds could have sugar."

"They shouldn't."

He admits.

"But it takes more than that to kill a chain."

Dodo is painstakingly gentle, careful of Al.

Al kisses his fingertips, and then touches them to Dodo's beak.

"You two seem an odd pair, but you work so well together."

"I hardly get to see him with other people. He hides- especially from Jack."

"Really?"

Al leans into the giant chain. It seems that he's not only a cuddler when it comes to Rufus.

"Then I'm glad you're not shy with me, Dodo. You're very sweet."

He gives him another sugar cube, gentle.

Al will find himself preened, in that case. It may be a little disconcerting, having a beak larger than his head ruffling through his hair, so Barma glances over to interfere if he needs to.

"Can you stay?"

Al just laughs. It tickles a bit, and the tugs feel odd, but he knows Dodo won't hurt him.

"I really want to," he admits. More than anything, right now.

"Good."

Breathing softly.

"Are you all right?"

A touch of concern.

"It's just- a bit of a shock. I'm trying to think of ways to protect you. I know it's mostly irrational, but the idea of keeping you close for a little while is wildly relieving."

"I'm going to be okay," Al tells him, soft and serious. He is. He knows that now.

"I'll heal from this. I got away before anything really happened."

"Still."

Offering him the teacup.

Al takes it with a grateful smile, settles.

"... I've had a lot of things happen to me before this, too. Some of them were worse."

He trails off, closed away a bit.

"Yes,"

He agrees,

"But the violation of an attempted sexual assault is a distinct experience. I have had my wrist, ribs, and jaw broken by an aggressor, and if I were forced to relive either that or the rape, I'd personally choose the more violent assault."

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