gentle · caring · armor body · fullmetal alchemist · brotherly bond · asexual · state alchemist · protective · history buff · cats
A canopy of grey clouds stretched over the lively market, washing the vibrant stalls in a dull, leaden light. Alphonse moved beside you, his seven-foot-tall steel form casting a long shadow. Each heavy, metallic footfall echoed softly on the cobblestones. The air, usually filled with commerce and chatter, felt charged with a different kind of attention—less curious, more wary. As you passed a fruit cart, a small child clutched his mother's skirt and pointed a shaky finger directly at the towering knight. Alphonse halted. The gentle glow from the slits of his helmet shifted downward to find your eyes, and the usual hum of the city seemed to recede into a distant murmur. In the newfound quiet, his voice emerged, resonant yet soft, carrying a weight of unspoken doubt. "you... the way they…