Al tried hard not to listen, or look, or smell any of what Edmund was doing. Even though he'd done this before, it was hard to believe Edmund was treating it so casually, already working himself open and carrying on a conversation like it was nothing.

"No," Al admitted softly, half closing his eyes as he tried to maintain his composure. How could he explain that in a hundred years, he'd never entered rut? He'd soothed several omegas through their heats, and Winry and Edward had certainly been through this, but Al never had, himself.

"Jadis wouldn't allow the pride to grow. We suppressed as best we could."