ironysoul | (no subject)

Adjusting to life in Xing wasn't the most difficult thing Al had ever done. But it wasn't the easiest, either. There had been a very definite "settling in" period. Adjusting to a new culture, a new country. Without money. That had been exciting. But now, he had the backing of two major clans. The Emperor himself. And he was currently the only alchemist in Xing.

At first he hadn't liked it. He wanted to learn Alkahestry, and all the other alkahests wanted to learn was Alchemy. But now that they were settled, he'd found a good balance. Learning and teaching... in fact, he was something of a local celebrity.

But they'd worked it out now. And he really loved Xing. He loved being important, but just another person. Not an Elric. No relation to the Fullmetal Alchemist.

He was browsing in the marketplace, carefully considering fresh fruit and vegetables. They ate in the inn, mostly, but Chimera ate. A lot. And if Al didn't do the shopping, the stuff they ate wasn't very good for them. So here he was, hunting for healthy chimera snacks. And that was when the ruckus began.

Al looked up, shielding his eyes against the desert sun, and squinted at the next stall over. There was a lot of yelling in Xingese, high and fast-paced, and a tiny woman, even shorter than Al, seemed to be going wild.

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Al cringed. As eagerly as he'd pursued sensation after coming back to his body, a good knee in the balls was one he remembered from childhood -- and had no desire to experience again, even accidentally. What he couldn't figure out was how Edmund had ended up in that position, because it was basic knowledge, wasn't it? If you were pinning someone they'd go for your weak spots, and you had to be ready for it, to protect them. Al certainly wasn't letting Edmund's extremities anywhere near his own. What on earth had Edmund been trying to do, grinding into Al like that?

Well... Regardless... "Sorry! I wasn't trying for it!" Al gave him a sheepish grin, but kept him very firmly pinned, hands going halfway between Edmund's wrists and elbows to prevent him from getting any traction. He gave a shrug that was thoroughly unapologetic.

"Whatever wins, though!"

Edmund gave him a watery smile from his pinned and smarting position. "Sure, Al, sure." Al seemed like a very innocent fellow, but you never could tell with those types. In any case, Al had won pretty soundly, and Edmund was willing to cede the point.

"Very well. Next time I'll guard the goods better." He winced and rubbed his thighs together. At least the pain was helping him from getting too excited about the way Al was holding onto his arms, keeping him fixed in place. Otherwise, he'd be enjoying this way too much.

"Congratulations. You had a very lucky break." He managed a little smirk and tipped his head back to watch Al above him. Dark curls cascaded in a tumble over his forehead. "I was a bit...distracted this time." There, Edmund admitted it. He'd flirted. What was Al going to do about it?

What was Al going to do about it? Why, absolutely nothing!

In fact, Edmund's flirtations missed the mark entirely. Al, who was honestly and sincerely sorry about that little knee-genitals mix up, brightened and rolled off Edmund lightly, his whole manner alight with enthusiasm.

"Really? That's great! Were you thinking about the riddle?"

What else could Edmund possibly find distracting right now? Oh -- well, maybe the fact that he'd been wrenched from his home, pulled across dimensions to a strange world. Al winced, offering him a hand up. He liked Edmund. He hoped he hadn't put his foot in it.