domesticity

[duke_of_illusions]

Al had stayed over last night... and hasn't quite left this morning, either. The day is stretching on, and Barma is still beautifully comfortable, now immersed in a book, as his fingers trail through Al's hair.

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[al_truism]

Al lets his breath out.

"Someone tried to hurt me a few days ago. He had chloroform, and he snuck up behind me in the piano room."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"Good God."

Soft.

[al_truism]

"... he put cigarettes out on my arm and hand," he explains, quietly into Barma's shoulder.

His voice is very flat.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"What did he look like?"

Dodo is suddenly perched on the bed,

[al_truism]

"... short brown hair. Blue eyes. A silver earring in his left ear, and a scar over his left eyebrow. Roughly six feet tall."

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"All right. Where did you see him last."

The bird's beak clacks.

[al_truism]

"Room 1014."

He says it in a whisper.

"... Rufus, he's..."

A very deep breath.

"He's already dead."

And there are the tears, fighting to emerge.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"Good."

Instantly. And his wild, old, beautiful chain hops off the bed, landing on the ground next to them with an impact that rattles the light fixtures a little. He looks up at Al with perplexed red eyes.

[al_truism]

Still holding onto Rufus, Al looks back at Dodo, and the threat of tears fades. He gives him a tiny smile.

It's not often he gets to see him.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

The second time, after the picnic with Negi. And he's already been around longer than that flash. Dodo cocks his pretty head at him and croons.

[al_truism]

"Did Rufus call you out?" he asks softly, a touch shy.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

The bird shakes it's head. Barma hides his smile in Al's hair.

[al_truism]

"You were concerned for me?"

Quiet, but touched.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"We both are."

Barma speaks.

"He's- well, you've been rather intimate with him, indirectly."

[al_truism]

"How so?"

Al lifts his head to look back at Rufus.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"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_truism]

Al finds himself smiling, touched.

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

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"He likes having his ruff scratched- gently."

Barma murmurs.

[al_truism]

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

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

His head bumps into Al's hand.

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

[al_truism]

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

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

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_truism]

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.

[info-barma.livejournal.com]

"Dodo, you lump."

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

[al_truism]

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.