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[devoutish]

Yeah?

[That's it, that's all you get.]

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[devoutish]

[Alfie opens his mouth to ask if he's okay, and that immediately feels like a mistake. It feels like the heavy, dank air rushes into him, and he clamps his mouth shut again immediately. Instead, he knocks his arm against Royce's to get his attention, then makes the sign in the thieves' guild sign language. All right?]

[bywolves]

[ There's a bit of him that feels relief at seeing the familiar language. It helps, but not enough. Royce shakes his head, stepping back and away, trying to pull Alfie with him. ]

No. Can't. [ Is his reply, jerkily and unsteadily signed. He's going to throw up. Violence like this hasn't ever bothered him but there's so much pain in this building, so much that reminds him of the things he was carefully trying to forget and not deal with, while his emotions are clear.

He needs to leave, but his loyalty won't let him ditch Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

[It's the type of violence that gets Alfie. He's shot men, he's killed men, he's even tortured men - but killing and torturing innocent people in a cult ritual? Dismembering their bodies and decorating a building with them? He wonders how many of these people were still alive when they were skinned and ripped apart. He wonders how many of them were children.

On impulse, he takes Royce by the shoulders and spins him around, shoving him gently back towards the door. Go.]

[bywolves]

[ Impulse. It's easy enough to just let Alfie direct his movements like he always does. Royce stumbles out of the building, stomach rolling, and into the snow. He actually just crouches outside the door, bringing his arms up to cover his head, eyes closed. Deep breaths.

Royce doesn't throw up. But he can't breathe, and his chest is tight and he's horrified in a way he didn't think he could be. He wonders if it's selfish. He wonders if it's understandable. Right now, though, he's useless. He's cold and curled up outside the skyscraper, flashing back through memories of Alphonse snipping off fingers one by one, torture like the men and women and children inside this building probably had to suffer.

He'll be outside for a while. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie searches as well as he can, but mostly, he tries to set the bodies to rights. Fixing them completely is impossible - there's no way to figure out which remains belong together - but he gathers some of them up and stumbles for the door. Royce will see him pop out and carry the remains over to the grave that somebody else had started.]

[bywolves]

[ The fright doesn't go away. The pain in his chest, the trauma - it sticks, and nothing he does gets rid of it. But eventually, Alfie comes out of the building, carrying the remains of - someone, something, and Royce can't just let him do this on his own.

Unsteadily, Royce pulls himself to his feet, and if Alfie's going back in, he'll follow. He's pale and silent and his hood is up, his breathing alarmingly shallow, but he follows. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie spends some time kneeling at the grave first, making sure everything he adds is properly buried and he doesn't accidentally uncover or otherwise disturb anything else. When he's done with that, he gets unsteadily to his feet, flexing his fingers as he stares down at the pile of dirt and snow. After a moment of silence, he starts to murmur a prayer. It won't be one that's familiar to Royce, but he'll probably be able to recognize Hebrew by now.]

[bywolves]

[ He helps, if Alfie will let him. He helps bury them, careful and quiet, and when Alfie murmurs, Royce closes his eyes and bows his head. Sure, he doesn't recognize the prayer specifically, but he does register what it is. ]

[devoutish]

[When he's done, he still doesn't move. It's a good solid minute before he finally speaks up.]

Royce.

[Just saying his name takes effort.]

[bywolves]

I'm here. [ Royce answers, moving closer. His breath is still shallow and he's shivering, but otherwise he's steady, curling up against Alfie's side. ]

[devoutish]

It gets better the further up you go. Better--

[Better still isn't good, but it's something.]

Less bodies and all that, is what I'm telling you.

[bywolves]

I'm fine. [ Royce says - he's not, but he is surprisingly functional for being halfway through a panic attack. Taking Alfie's hand, Royce manages: ] We should bury what we can.

[devoutish]

More, then?

[He looks back towards the skyscraper.]

[bywolves]

Yeah. Yeah, just. A few.

[ He can't keep going without trying. Has to make it up to the people who didn't survive what he did. ]

[devoutish]

You don't have to come.

[bywolves]

I do. They didn't survive. They didn't magically get their fingers and tongues back at the end.

[ His gloved hands flex. ] Come on.

[devoutish]

Not your fault.

[He won't make Royce stay outside, but he'll try not to let him feel guilty, either.]

The survivors can't blame themselves for things like this, mate.

[bywolves]

I know. I don't. But I owe it to them.

[devoutish]

[He starts to reach for Royce's hand, then hesitates. He was just touching bones and body parts, after all; maybe Royce doesn't want to hold his hand.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce closes the distance, holding Alfie's hand. It's fine. Royce is going to be touching bones and body parts, himself, pretty soon. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie squeezes it, and then starts heading slowly back towards the building. He'll be more prepared, this time.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce is also more prepared. He can shut himself off to it, and focusing on the task rather than the bodies themselves makes it easier to get through it. He'll follow Alfie's lead, burying the remains carefully and respectfully.

By the end of it, he can almost feel an ache in his fingers, his tongue. ]

[devoutish]

[After their third trip, Alfie sags heavily against Royce, turning his head away from the slightly larger grave pile.]

I'm done. No more today.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ Royce mumbles, wrapping his arm around Alfie's waist. ]

Let's go find a place to stay for the night.

[devoutish]

We need to cross that bridge.

[He's staring up at the skyscraper.]