duke_of_illusions | aftercare

duke_of_illusions

Barma wakes up an hour or so later, yawning.

Reaching to check on Al right away.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

duke_of_illusions

"Have a little more of that soup."

Still fretting.

From:

al_truism

"Yes, sir."

He lifts the saucer to his lips and sips at it. Probably improper, but he doesn't know better.

From:

duke_of_illusions

Barma smiles, and reaches up to push a hand through Al's hair.

"Good work."

From:

al_truism

"... I love it when you do that."

Al leans into it, nuzzling his fingers.

From:

duke_of_illusions

"Petting you?"

Laughing.

From:

al_truism

"That too. But touching my hair. I love that."

His eyes flutter closed.

From:

duke_of_illusions

"You have such pretty hair."

Fingers scratching at his scalp.

From:

al_truism

"Not in comparison."

Al gives him an admiring look.

"And Jack's... oh, Jack's is incredible."

From:

duke_of_illusions

"Yours reminds me of his."

Earnest, kissing his bottom lip.

From:

al_truism

Al smiles for him, suddenly unsteady.

"I've adopted a little one."

From:

duke_of_illusions

"A little Jack?"

Curious.

From:

al_truism

"No, just- a little one. Though he's certainly something like Jack."

Al laughs and shakes his head.

"I found him in the city when it was colder. He was lost, asking for his big brother. He looked like he'd been on the street before he showed up there."

From:

duke_of_illusions

Barma barely restrains himself from making a joke about his turning out to be a mass murderer.

"How old?"

From:

al_truism

"He's just turned eight."

Terrifyingly, Barma would be exactly right.

From:

duke_of_illusions

...Al has a type.

"You're no doubt wonderful with him."

From:

al_truism

"His name is Luca. He's convinced that Negi and I will get married and have babies, and he's very adamant about that."

Al rubs his cheek against Barma's shoulder. He considers Luca to be his own, and it shows.

"I read him bedtime stories. He falls asleep on me."

From:

duke_of_illusions

"It sounds perfect."

Arms snug about him.

From:

al_truism

"He's the only thing keeping me sane right now. Him and Negi."

Al welcomes the tight holds, relaxes into it.

From:

duke_of_illusions

"Things are stressful?"

Nibbling.

From:

al_truism

Al makes a noise at the nibble, flushing and squirming a touch.

"I'm both the elected Ombudsman of the city and the commander of the only guard organization we have, mainly because the previous commander manages to mess things up beyond repair and left me as his second. Throw in the fact that the city is being roamed by carnivores bigger than some of the buildings and the fact that Ed just went through surgery on both of his automail ports and needs around-the-clock care-"

Al sounds stressed just listing it.

From:

duke_of_illusions

"...that isn't really supposed to be how an ombudsman works."

Perplexed.

"It's deliberately external to the command structure. You shouldn't have that much pressure on you."

From:

al_truism

"I know, it's a conflict of interest. But there's no one else both willing and able to do the job right now. Not that the others would put their trust in."