Alphonse/Edmund: The one where they're furries

[ironysoul]

One hundred years in feline form, and now walking on two legs feels stilted. There was a knot between his shoulders that Al knew he could stretch out if he switched to fur. He could hunker down on his haunches and reach his front paws out far, sinking into a bow that would make every nodule of his spine pop. But while King Peter hadn't expressly banned fur, Al (and for that matter, the rest of the pride) still felt like it was something frowned upon now. Lesser, than their human form. At the very least that they should be grateful for it being restored.

He flexed paws (hands) and reminded himself again that his claws wouldn't unsheathe from the tips of his fingers. A hundred years in fur, and after almost a decade being able to change, he still felt wrong in this one.

At least, in the years since the age of winter, the pride had been restored to Cair Paravel. They'd served as stewards for generations, until Jadis had banished them. Not, Al was forced to admit, that he'd have been a particularly deft housekeeper with four paws. Maybe he could have dusted with his tail. The thought made him giggle.

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[ironysoul]

Al didn’t follow Edmund around, but he was expecting an attack from behind. He darted out of the way, his legs springing underneath him. He could go faster, but he wanted to conserve his energy. He had a feeling that this would be a longer fight, and stamina was one place Al had been known to falter. So he was cautious.

He turned to face Edmund as Edmund landed, making sure to watch. He wasn’t pouncing yet, but a rough landing, on scrabbling feet, could provide an excellent window. If he leaped in before Edmund regained his footing, maybe he could immobilize his king quickly.

So he watched, alert and focused for any sign of weakness or any dropped guard. And he tried very hard not to think of Edmund as anything except his next opponent to defeat.

[just_edmund]

Edmund fought for his landing, but in this form fortunately, his balance was impeccable. He crouched low as he gained his footing, and rather than wait around to see if Al would pounce on him, he sprang right out of the landing into another launch at the big Lion. He couldn't maintain this fast pace, but a series of fast moves were less expected and gave Al less time to recover too.

If and when Al chose to use his full weight against him...that was when Edmund might falter, his body less powerful than before, and he'd never been one of the physically strongest of the Great Cats. Now, he had to dodge a direct blow, keep himself agile and moving. Which was also taxing, over time.

If Al even gave him any time.

[ironysoul]

Clever, clever! Al saw Edmund using his strategy against him. He leaned again, but this time instead of moving out of the way, he went under the height of Edmund’s jump.

He was bigger and stronger. If he got beneath Edmund he could try to flip and pin him. The longer this fight went on, the more distracted either of them could get.

He waited for his moment and then he surged up, aiming a shoulder to Edmund’s belly. He’d be vulnerable with Ed on his back, but it was worth a try. Maybe he’d take Edmund by surprise.

Al waited

[just_edmund]

Edmund velveted his paws as he clung on to Al's back. He didn't want to draw blood, although a well-timed claw (carefully applied) could be a valuable shock in a pinch. For now, he would try to use wits and speed to outpace the bigger Lion. His balance would help him stay on, and his grip was excellent, honed from years scaling narrow tree limbs.

But Al didn't try to shake him off or even roll over. There was suddenly a shoulder thrusting into Edmund's vulnerable belly. He half-gasped, half-yowled, clinging on through sheer stubbornness despite the blossom of pain. He arched to pull his underside away from Al's reach, taking the moment to catch his breath and let his muscles recover from the fast series of attacks he'd launched.

Bending his head, he churred near Al's mane in the quietest of tones. "You'll have to do better than that to shake me, darling."

[ironysoul]

Al huffs out a laugh. The last time he’d done this, his opponent had been taken completely unaware and they’d gone flying. Edmund was holding on, putting him head and shoulders above the other opponents Al had faced.

Now he had a problem. Al rolled, tying to use his speed to toss Edmund from his back. He couldn't turn to bite, couldn’t snap. His only option was to buck Edmund from his back so that he could pin him.

“You’re making this difficult, your majesty,” he grumbled, slamming hard down on the pavement and transitioning smoothly into his roll.

[just_edmund]

Head and shoulders. Well. Edmund would take that and run with it.

Rolling, Edmund growled. He sank his paws in and focused on moving with Al, hanging on, letting his body almost melt into the Lion's. It was problematic. He was distracted by the strength of him, the warmth that seemed to spill from beneath the soft fur and through his own. He had to resist his own body and those treacherous instincts. Fighting that and fighting Al at the same time was beginning to drain him. But still...he would not yield.

"Good," was all he could purr, before his back hit the ground, hard, and his skull rattled in his head. In spite of all his efforts, he could feel his paws slipping from the grasp he'd kept on Al's back. Reluctantly, he extended his claws, trying to keep a grip. He was on his back, belly-up, vulnerable; what other choice did he have?

[ironysoul]

Al was waiting for the first indication that Edmund’s grip had slipped, and when he felt it, he tried to dart away again, before Edmund could grab on. Like most cats, his skin was thick and loose, sliding over muscle and difficult to grip. His only advantage no was that Edmund didn’t know exactly what he’d do, so he had the luxury of responding to what he felt.

He hoped to leave Edmund behind, to squirm away and return to his wary circling. His king had proven very effective at seizing on, and now that Al knew that, he didn’t want to stay in this position.

With Edmund on the ground, Al was relying on his speed to tear himself away. Another lion might have pushed, flinging himself down on top of Edmund and trusting his weight to pin him, but Al was no average lion. And he was enjoying himself. He didn’t want the match with Edmund to end.

[just_edmund]

Determination alone could not keep Al within his reach. Edmund flipped over as his paws slid loose of Al's skin, dragging a hard line of claws in their wake, not enough to draw blood, just to rake fur to the surface and beneath. Fighting in Were form was not always pretty.

Al slid away. And began - dammit - circling again. Edmund, panting, would almost rather he fling himself on him and actually fight. This cat-and-cat game (for omega or not, Edmund was no mouse) was beginning to wear on him. He tsked, a reproving sound low under his rought tongue.

"You're stalling." Endurance was Al's weakness. That, at least, Edmund knew. He flopped over on his back, waving his tail, exposing his belly. The minute Al drew near, he would dart away, flipping over with his speed equal to the indomitable Lion's and finding a new place to perch. "You know you just want to pin me down. Why don't you?" Some of the old Edmund was back in his teasing, his defiance, his unrelenting will to win.

[ironysoul]

So far, they hadn’t had much sustained combat. Al was well aware that eventually, soon, he’d tire. But this was almost a recovery period, shaking around Edmund.

“Well, I have to keep your ego in check,” Al teased with his answer. “If I dont, who will?”

He circled, and waited for Edmund to lunge. His tail was the only thing belying his impatience, lashing at the tip each circuit he completed and Edmund stayed still.

[just_edmund]

The more they waited, the more Al would have an advantage. Edmund huffed to himself but knew it was inevitable. He'd have to move. He'd have to goad Al into moving. If he was smart, he could conserve his own energy in doing so.

Mischievously, he reached a paw and caught Al's tail. "No one. Absolutely no one." Who would dare pounce on the Just King?

(A herd of alphas, that's who.)

That lashing tail, though. It had been too tempting. He snagged it and pulled. No rest for the weary here.

[ironysoul]

Al let it a good natured squawk as Edmund connected with his tail, spinning to swat at the offending paw. He was careful to keep his attention tight on Edmund, his flank covered and ready to attack. This didn’t feel like a fight anymore. It felt like play, like just him and Edmund sparring the way they used to.

Al knew he had to remain focused. So he didn’t wait for Edmund to attack again. He pounced. Who would dare, indeed?

Al couldn’t let this drag out any longer. Edmund was fast and clever, yes. But so was he. And he had the advantage in strength and size. It was time to put it to use.

[just_edmund]

Edmund churred with laughter and swatted back. This did indeed feel more like play than a battle, but he still wanted to win. If only to prove a point. He might have an omega's heats now, but he could still fight with the best of the alphas.

Finally came the pounce he'd been waiting for. Mentally, he was ready for it - there just was no way to physically prepare for a full-fledged barrage from a Lion of Al's size. Edmund tried to wriggle free. He kicked up with his back legs, where most of his power originated. With each movement, he resisted the urge to simply lay back and present his neck to Al. Not an easy feat when Al smelled like every delicious thing in the world, his body hot from the fight and surging with dominant energy, while Edmund's was full of those new and frightening instincts to surrender.

He aimed his kick for Al's belly. "You're not the only one who -"

[ironysoul]

For a moment Al let Edmund think he could free himself. But as soon as he connected, he knew that he’d achieved his objective. He had the smaller cat beneath his full weight, all he had to do now was crush him.

“What was that?” He inquired innocently, around a mouthful of Edmund’s neck scruff. Tell him again, Edmund, what he wasn’t the only one to do?

As far as blows went if was exceedingly gentle, just the slightest pressure of Al’s teeth on either side of Edmund’s spine. But it would be a fatal blow if he closed his jaws. Combat won, and Edmund subdued entirely beneath him.

[just_edmund]

And just like that, his fate was sealed. It was a move he hadn't expected Al to actually use on him. Not with how chaste Al always insisted on being around him, cautious to the point of putting as much distance between them as possible. Edmund had known nuns less prudish than the alpha Lion.

But today...those were his jaws delicately hugging Edmund's neck, the killing blow that Edmund would honor in combat, while the act itself was...the most dominant Al had ever been with him. Deep in his throat, the Panther King whined. Al had won, yes, and that was a sore point for Edmund's pride. But Al had also just climbed on top of him and given him the gentlest of bites, and every sinuous bone in Edmund's body reveled in it. He couldn't be sorry he'd lost.

He didn't want it to end.

One of Edmund's hind legs twitched and he offered Al a toothy grin. "You're not the only one who won today."

[ironysoul]

Al heard that whine. His breath caught slightly. As soon as Edmund yielded, he backed off quickly, the normal, prudish lion returning.

At least Edmund’s response was more like the pushy, impudent panther Al remembered, and not the meek omega he was being replaced by. Al shook off, giving a huff that rippled his mane.

“I don’t know what you mean, Majesty,” he nudged Edmund again, following the style of his earlier greeting. Now that he’d won, he was back to being an obedient steward. One who wouldn’t think overly much about what it felt like to have his king underneath him, at his mercy.

[just_edmund]

It was strange, Edmund thought as he yielded and Al retreated to his prim starting stance. He'd have thought being around Al would make all aspects of his omega nature more intense. But it wasn't that way at all. The longer he was close to Al, the more like his old self he felt, the proud, jaunty, and incorrigible King Edmund. He ached in all sorts of ways, of course, to feel those teeth on his neck and the alpha's body holding down his own once more, in the privacy of some tent or bower. And somehow those feelings and his true self and his love for Al could all co-exist inside him at once in a kind of harmony.

He heard the announcer declare the victor - "Alphonse Elric!" - and under the cover of the cheers that followed, Edmund flipped over onto his paws and crouched low. A single moment of deference for Al's well-deserved win, while he muttered cheekily, "I didn't know you were capable of lying, Al." He knew exactly what Edmund meant by both of them winning a little. Al had his victory and his title to win...and Edmund had the reassurance that, mis-matched as they were, their bodies could not be more complementary.

Rising up proudly, he lifted his head and grinned, arching his spine and feeling it crackle as he looked out into the crowd. He caught sight of Kala then, and the look on her face was inexplicable. Cold fury, like something about this outcome had not just upset her but ruined her entire day. The outcome...or his behavior during the match? Or...Al himself?

[ironysoul]

Al caught site of Kala, her gaze fixed in both of them. He wasn’t nearly as surprised as Edmund to see the fury in her eyes, not that he’d say so. But based on what he suspected and what he’d confirmed, sniffing around as Lucy asked him...

He nosed forward, his shoulder resting against Edmund’s as they stood side to side. It was a lion gesture through, one of companionship and solidarity between packmates. Al looked directly at Kala as he leaned his weight into Edmund.

Lucy had asked him to listen and share what he learned, and to protect Edmund when opportunity arose. It was easy. But Lucy’s demands were not the only ones that weighed upon Al. The lions had held convention too — without Peter — and agreed that Kala was to be treated as an enemy combatant and no Narnian. Anyone who came up against her in the tournament was to capture. But if she died in the attempt, no tears would be she’d. Al wasn’t suited toward this kind of work — he was both relieved and sad his brother was slated to face her first.

[just_edmund]

Caught by Kala's cold stare, Edmund was suddenly aware of the pressure of Al's body against him. The shoulder-to-shoulder of pack. His chest tightened; his body gave a small but profound shudder. It was almost more intense than the full-bodied contact, that feeling of solidarity and Al literally by his side, protecting him. Breath whooshed out of his lungs in a creaky...purr.

He pressed subtly against Al. "Well-fought, friend." A slight turn of his head brought his whiskers brushing the silky ends of mane. Edmund could practically taste Al's scent that way. It was glorious. He made no overt moves to deepen the contact, just quivered with silent happiness that Al was still figuratively and literally in his camp.

They were to retreat to their separate tents to transform and redress, but Edmund couldn't let this be the last he saw of Al today. "Come to our den, after Ed's fight?" he murmured beneath his breath. The Pevensies had a very comfortable suite for their own private use, with plush sofas and cushions for lounging by the hearth, a small larder for midnight snacks, and a lavish bath chamber. They could talk with utmost discretion there.

[ironysoul]

“You too,” Al agreed, his warmth tumbling through his tone. He hesitated at Edmund’s request — every time they were together, it went badly — but maybe it would be okay. Maybe Edmund had spoken to Kala like he’d suggested, and the anger was because his king would no longer suffer her presence.

Maybe.

After a moment and one more affectionate head-chuck, Al padded back to his preparation chamber to greet his brother. This would all be over soon, and Edmund might indeed need him after the next match.

Scores reached out to compliment him on a well fought fight, but Al was characteristically modest, ducking his head sheepishly with each greeting. He hadn’t done anything unusual.

By the time he emerged, however, the next fight had already begun. Al was astonished to see the vicious blur of black harrying his brother from all sides. The crowd was already booing, and soon it was clear why — Kala shifted back to human form and fought with weapons, becoming a panther again with lightning speed to flee from Ed before he could attack. Her method, it seemed, was to stay at range, throwing sharp knives that gleamed suspiciously at his brother.

Al was just in time to see her transform again, barreling as a panther toward an opponent who was clearly dazed. Al knew his brother. He had laser focus in a fight. Nothing like this slow, dreamy creature in the ring.

Unlike Al, who’d only mimed the final blow, Kala clearly saw no reason to abide by the rules of sportsmanship. She tore into Ed’s neck, blood welling at the hinge of her jaw as she held on long after he’d collapsed.

[just_edmund]

Edmund had to say, he was proud of Al and how he'd fought. If he had to lose to anybody, Edmund was glad it'd been him. He smiled to himself, hearing so much adulation heaped Al's way, all of which Edmund agreed with whole-heartedly. His talk with Kala had left him with more questions than answers, ones he hoped Al would have, or at least help him sort through the truth of what lay behind the strange changes. He could hardly believe what they said about her was true.

The spectacle that awaited him when he returned to the royal dais, however, was one that defied belief. It wasn't specifically against the rules to transform in the middle of the fight - but it was certainly understood that the agreed-upon form should be kept, and to bring weapons against a Were who was not armed - it went against every Narnian principle. Edmund was appalled. Any pride he might have had in Kala and her skill was swept away by the unsportsmanlike behavior.

Until the moment where she began to shed unnecessary blood. The older Elric had already lost - and still, the Panther attacked him viciously. Edmund sprang to his feet - but Peter was already there, shouting for the match to stop, ordering the guards to separate the two. They had to pull Kala off of the bleeding Lion. Edmund felt like he was in shock. How could she -

"Charges will need to be drawn up," Susan said gravely beside him. Lucy looked ready to play judge, jury, and executioner right then and there, but she had a job to do, cordial in hand, and rushed to Edward's side. And Edmund...needed more than ever to talk to Al.

There were multiple matters for the Pevensies to sort out in the meantime. It was agreed upon that charges would have to wait until the conclusion of the tournament, and that until then, Kala would walk free but with increased security around her. The Pride looked in a worse state than Lucy, and the crowd was tense. The peacekeeping guards would be stretched thin. Already, Susan was at work, calling for rounds of refreshments to be dispersed while they summoned the musicians to entertain and soothe the fraught guests.

At least, Edmund reflected with a worried glance at Al, there would be no danger to Ed after Lucy treated him. Al could rest easy with his brother healed. Still, he'd be upset, and the hours would chafe between the aftermath of the match and when Edmund could finally meet with him. It seemed like another day entirely by the time they were able to escape to the privacy of the suite, where he'd requested a few moments alone with Al. The Pevensies would need to convene at some point privately as well, but the others had nodded knowingly at him when he'd asked them, and he had the room to himself when Al finally arrived.

[ironysoul]

It took Al quite some time to find Edmund. He was one of the first into the ring, before Peter officially halted the match. Technically, a violation of the tournament rules, though the look in the normally mild lion’s eyes dared anyone to comment.

Only the presence of the guard to subdue her spared Kala from a second Elric’s attack. He followed his brother to the healer’s tent, staying at his side long after Lucy had left to converse with her siblings. Recovery would take some time, even with the aid of Lucy’s tinctures, and while the flesh began to knit closed, Edward’s mind was still dazed and clouded. Whatever Kala had done, it had a lasting affect. Only time would tell how Edward recovered.

Al left his brother’s side only when Winry unceremoniously booted him from the room. It was then he heard that Kala was still free, still allowed to compete. He sought Edmund out then, but not in the mood Edmund had no doubt anticipated. “Why is she free?”

It was rare to see such rage on Al’s face. People forgot too often that the younger Elric has never shied from battle, despite his sweet demeanor.

[just_edmund]

Prepared to comfort Al, Edmund was instead met with the blast of anger that was so strange to see on Al's face. It wasn't the cold rage of Kala's stare but the heat of righteous fury that blazed in him now, apparent before he even said a word.

Edmund shut the door firmly behind them so that they would not be overheard. "There will be a trial. She's leveled serious accusations against the Lions. Conspiracy to implicate her in past and present rebellions. Threats against her life. This was a warning, she claimed."

He rubbed his forehead with one hand. His head was beginning to throb from the pressures of the day. "There's no justification for what she did out there. I can scarce believe it myself. She wishes to relearn Narnian ways. This - this is not the way."

[ironysoul]

“Why does she still walk free?”

Al wasn’t interested in Edmund’s justifications or explanations. He knew who Kala was, and he knew what he’d seen. His lips sealed shut with distaste and he crossed his arms over his chest, defensive. He’d thought Lucy and Peter would come to his side in this, and together they’d be able to sway Edmund. What justification could there possibly be? This confirmed everythingbhed been saying.

But then, Edmund was Edmund the Just. Of course he was always fair minded. But where had been that sense of fair play when Kala pulled weapons on his brother? When she poisoned him?

“Brother is still unconscious. Whatever she used on him can destroy the most powerful lions of Narnia. Do you really think she’d have something like that if she wasn’t planning to use it?” ‘How can you be on her side’ lingered, unasked.

[just_edmund]

Immediately, Edmund felt himself rising to the defense as well. He'd run with her. He'd let her scent him. She had never done anything that had given him any indication that she was capable of such savagery.

He exhaled. His drive to fight warred with his loyalty to Al, and even the beginnings of loyalty to Kala. Was this what Aslan had seen in him when he'd named him Just? "Because the truth is not known yet. There are accusations of wrongdoing on both sides. If the Pride is targeting her for imprisonment or death, that's just as bad. And there's no time for a trial right now - and even if there were, we'd need time to gather evidence."

His posture was supplicant, hands clasped in front of him, his dark eyes wide beneath the boyish bangs. He wanted desperately for Al to believe he acted as his duty called for. "I'm sorry about your brother, Al. So very sorry. It won't happen again. She has a guard at her door, another patrolling her hall. So...do the Lions." He didn't want to believe that they were implicated. But he didn't want to believe that Kala had ripped into Al's brother and poisoned him without justification.

Edmund took a tiny, hesitant step towards Al. The surge of authority that the fight had granted him seemed wavering, and yet around Al he had never wanted more to live up to his title. "Please. I cannot only favor you and your kin. Or mine. Justice will prevail, in time."

[ironysoul]

Well. The Pride was, in fact, targeting her for imprisonment or death. A fact Al wasn't eager to share with Edmund, because he was very afraid that the answer would cast doubt on the Pride. Kala wanted this, of course. She wanted to bolster her own case and make the lions look unreasonable.

At the same time, this was exactly why they'd targeted her. This, and her history. There was no way that Kala was innocent, and any reservations Al had had evaporated the moment he saw what Edmund had become. Edmund wondered if by seeing both sides, he was fulfilling his role as the Just. But Al was certain that Kala had done something to taint Edmund. She'd made her side seem more reasonable by fogging his mind. Whatever she wanted, in the long run, it wasn't in Narnia's best interests, or Aslan's. Or Edmund's.

"No one is asking for your favor besides Kala!" Al was angry, but also just sad. Was his king really this far gone? Could he not see what she'd done to him? "She wants to turn you against us. She wants to turn the panthers away from Aslan, again, and you're playing into her hands."