duke_of_illusions | domesticity

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."

Al's eyes widen, suddenly alive with pain.

"... Rufus. ... I didn't know you'd..."

"Shh."

Leaning down to give him a quick kiss.

"You needn't, Al. I'd rather you didn't. I want to control the amount of suffering he caused. Nothing would irritate him more than to know I can live unperturbed."

Al doesn't say anything, but he tries his damndest to blink back the tears.

"Who-?"

"No one. Some strange alternate, with no bearing on reality."

He promises him.

Al's eyes slowly widen, and he feels a wave of nausea.

"It's someone I know, isn't it?"

"Alphonse Elric, I will very rarely tell you something this directly, but you are to stop asking questions about him this instant."

He says, not leaving room for a shadow of doubt.

"I didn't bring this up to upset you further. I want you to know that your experience is valid, shared, and something that can be overcome."

Al obeys without questioning him, mostly because he's not entirely sure he could handle knowing.

He reaches up for him with both arms, wordlessly.

Barma settles down into his arms. With Al leaning against Dodo, the duck shuffles down so he can half slump against him, sipping his tea.

"It's something that happened, and something I have recovered from."

Al holds him, quiet and close, taking as much comfort from having the both of them there as Barma is.

He doesn't ask any further questions.

"... it's terrible," he whispers softly. "Everyone here seems to have gone through some form of it."

"Al, most people in the real world have gone through it too. Where there are inequalities of gender, race, class, or any sort of structure, there will be exploitation."

"That doesn't mean that it's a reality we should accept," Al whispers, blinking back tears.

"A person's body... it's theirs. It's the single physical possession that has the most value to them throughout their lives. My brother went through years of hell to make sure I could have a chance to have that."

Al shakes his head.

"To take away that choice..."

"We're trying."

He admits.

"But that's all we can do."

"... if I had to hurt someone, I'm glad that there's one less person like him in the world," he whispers.

Soft, painful.

The death still horrifies him, but this makes it easier.

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