二十九; 「accidental voice post」

[saucey]

[The feed clicks on again and one can immediately hear the sounds of rustling fabric. There's occasional mumbling from Sakura and Neji, but otherwise there's nothing of importance.

That is, when Sasuke himself starts to stir, mumbling quietly to himself. After a couple of minutes his breathing starts to labor, his mumbling growing loud enough for his PCD to pick it up.]

Blood...everywhere... Stop it, uncle... nii-san...

Don't want...to see it...

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[al_truism]

[Al's fingers and touch remain steady and constant, a rock in the storm. He can only guess what's going through the boy's mind.]

Sasuke, listen to me. You are not alone. I am here with you. I am not going to leave.

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[saucey]

[Sasuke just shakes his head, slowly. His voice is shaking, now.]

Lying... just like him...

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[al_truism]

[There is no skip or hesitation. Al takes Sasuke's hand, leaning down, lifting it up, and runs Sasuke's fingers over the faint circular scar over his left eyebrow, where the bullet went in. His voice never changes, never hesitates.]

I'm staying, Sasuke.

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[saucey]

[He holds back a choked sob. He can't cry. Can't show anymore weakness. Buries his face into his pillow so he won't be seen.]

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[al_truism]

[Al's fingers pet through the soft spikes again, strong and steady, just keeping that constant realiable contact. There's no worry or fuss, just understanding.]

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[saucey]

[He doesn't move from that position. He continues to shake, though, as he tries to keep himself from crying anymore than he already has.]

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[al_truism]

[Al's fingers rub the back of his neck, and lays down on his side next to Sasuke, not getting terribly close, but still nearby. He flattens a hand between Sasuke's shoulder blades, in the middle of his back, rubbing slowly and gently. In the rare times Itachi was physical, and Sasuke's older self had been laying on his stomach, Itachi had touched him like that. Over time, Alphonse had adopted the gesture -- it was similar to what helped his brother calm down from nightmares.]

It's all right, I've got you.

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[saucey]

[He tensed at the touch, slightly, and stopped all movement. The gesture... brought back unwanted memories. Memories from when he had been sick as a child, and Itachi ditching his missions in favor of taking care of him. Rubbing his back and holding back his bangs as he threw up.]

Nii...san...

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[al_truism]

[The touch stayed the same for a moment, and then Alphonse rubbed in small circles instead, differentiating the touch just a little. The love and feeling was similar... but not the same.

He wished he could call Itachi. He wished he could bring him here. Sasuke needed him so badly.]

He'll come back.

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[saucey]

[Sasuke just curls up a little more at that. He doesn't want Itachi, but at the same time he does. Childish wants he'll never have unless the animus get involved again.]

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[al_truism]

[Al's eyes drift half-closed, and he keeps up with the slow, soothing rubs. Eventually his hand drifts back up and he brushes through Sasuke's hair again, a counterpoint to the soft purring of the cats and Al's steady heartbeat.]

You are loved, Sasuke.

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[saucey]

[He voice is broken and shaky, almost like he's struggling to simply answer and respond now.]

I-I... I know...

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[al_truism]

[The answer is encouraging. Up until now there hasn't been much acknowledgement. Al ruffles his hair gently.]

Do you?

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[saucey]

[All Al gets is a simple, short nod.]

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[al_truism]

[Al smiles, and scoops up Mouko, who's wobbling up his legs, and tucks her in by Sasuke's face, where she attempts to wiggle in between his neck and shoulder. Al can't help a soft giggle.]

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[saucey]

[He jumps just a little, not expecting the kitten to be in his face. He glances over, eyes red, wet, and puffy. Mouko just rubs against him, mewing softly while trying to cheer him up and reassuring him that everything's going to be okay.]

Mouko...

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[al_truism]

[... and cue Shadow coming over to attempt to eat Sasuke's hair, too, cuddling against his owner.]

See, they want you to be happy, too.

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[saucey]

H-Hey, Shadow... I want my hair...

[He forces a small smile, reaching back with a shaky hand to pet the cat.]

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[al_truism]

[Purring. Lots of it. Al rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling with a half-smile.]

... he always does that. Ever since he was a kitten.

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[saucey]

He must've had a lot of hairballs, then.

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[al_truism]

[Al makes a face.]

Uh-huh. I think he's hacked up enough to stuff a couch with. You should have seen the face Ed made the first time Shadow coughed one up on his coat.

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[saucey]

[He chokes out a forced laugh at that.]

I bet he threw a fit...

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[al_truism]

Yep, he was convinced Shadow hated him for a while.

[Al's eyes flick to the side.]

... do you want to hear the whole story?

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[saucey]

[Sasuke gives another short nod.]

Yeah.

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[al_truism]

[Al settled down a bit, half-smiling, thinking of where to begin.]

... it was very soon after I started to become friends with your older self. I was already close with Itachi, but I was just starting to get to know you.

It was late in September. It was a cold, rainy night out, and I was going home, and I heard something in a cardboard box, so I backtracked and found five kittens.

They were really little, just a few weeks. One of them had one eye still closed, and they were cold and hungry and crying. I was afraid of predators, so I stayed with them all night, but their mother didn't come back.

I knew Ed would make me put them back if I took them home. I remembered Itachi telling me that the Uchihas were very closely tied to cats, and you always had kittens underfoot growing up... and I'd never taken care of kittens that little. I didn't know how.

At about five in the morning I sent a message to Itachi to ask him if he had milk, and I showed up in Vincent's kitchen with five kittens in my jacket. Hah, he was so surprised when I started pulling them out... but he knew just what to do, and he helped me take care of them.