aftercare

[duke_of_illusions]

Barma wakes up an hour or so later, yawning.

Reaching to check on Al right away.

Comments

[al_truism]

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

Al leans into it, nuzzling his fingers.

[duke_of_illusions]

"Petting you?"

Laughing.

[al_truism]

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

His eyes flutter closed.

[duke_of_illusions]

"You have such pretty hair."

Fingers scratching at his scalp.

[al_truism]

"Not in comparison."

Al gives him an admiring look.

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

[duke_of_illusions]

"Yours reminds me of his."

Earnest, kissing his bottom lip.

[al_truism]

Al smiles for him, suddenly unsteady.

"I've adopted a little one."

[duke_of_illusions]

"A little Jack?"

Curious.

[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."

[duke_of_illusions]

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

"How old?"

[al_truism]

"He's just turned eight."

Terrifyingly, Barma would be exactly right.

[duke_of_illusions]

...Al has a type.

"You're no doubt wonderful with him."

[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."

[duke_of_illusions]

"It sounds perfect."

Arms snug about him.

[al_truism]

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

Al welcomes the tight holds, relaxes into it.

[duke_of_illusions]

"Things are stressful?"

Nibbling.

[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.

[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."

[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."

[duke_of_illusions]

"Give up the ombudsmans job. It's better suited for someone aggressive and confrontational."

Kissing his forehead.

[al_truism]

"I can't lead."

His performance would say otherwise. But he's never been comfortable with it.

[duke_of_illusions]

"And yet, you have been."

Reasonable.

[al_truism]

"Only because they've needed me. We all would have fallen apart in the fires if I hadn't stepped in. Everyone was just -- suddenly there. Asking me for orders."

And he'd given them. And they had pulled through.

"My judgment has never been perfect, Ru, I-"

He looks down at his hands, shuts his eyes.

"There will come a time when things are going to go wrong. I'll make the wrong call. And someone is going to get killed, and it will be my fault."

[duke_of_illusions]

"Al, look at me."

Taking him gently by the jaw.

"I've had that happen."

He survived. He is who he is today.

[al_truism]

"I can't."

Soft, almost pleading. For once, he looks as young as he is.