Brendan has taken his frustrations out on Al far too much, true, but between the two of them, while Al may be far more Emotionally fragile, it’s Brendan that’s been the most open and invested the most into this relationship, not to mention the business partnership. I have a very very sore spot for people that stay in relationships but don’t give their all, or allow certain issues to rise or continue because they can’t be open.

Yes, Al does have many issues, and I have a feeling it’ll be even harder to deal with if it ever goes more in depth, but unfortunately, the best person to know what you need is typically (not always) yourself. Brendan is quite possibly the only person Al can trust, but he chooses not to, regardless of his issues and past pain, it’s his choice. Too often have I seen and dealt with that kind of damaging action, when saying something, or ending the relationship were obviously alternate choices.

However, you’re right. Brendan is doing far too much venting/taking out his frustrations on Al, because he has taken for granted Al’s stalwart nature, and not factored in just how much Al’s keeping inside. This really is a relationship in need of lots of work, lots more openness, and way more patience.

Knowing someone close to me is in this sort of abusive relatioship, this comment hit me hard.

You did such a good job of explaining the mechanisms of it. How it starts, how it escalates and how the abuser may not even be aware how manipulative and urtful they are being.

I think Al possible past abuse is very significant because people who grew up in abusive familys or had past abusive relationships in their formative years are especially likely to end up with a partner who has an abusive personality. Abuse victims often have very low self-esteem and think theres no one out there caring and standing up for them, when they think they are too weak to stand up for themselves.
Being in an abusive relationship offers the victim known patterns, a resolve of responsibility for their own lives and stability in a perverse way. To some that’s preferable to feeling lost and alone.
The person I mentioned earlier literally told me they prefer to endure the abuse to ending up all alone in the world.

I don’t neccissarily think that would be the case with Al though. In fact whatever happened between this point in time and his return, Al came back a diffrent man from the one were seeing here. One that has nothing to loose anymore and isn’t afraid to speak his mind or defend himself when Brandon get’s out of line. Nothing could make this clearer than the fight they had at the end of lasts chapter.

Brandon has changed as well, but I feel like he still has an unfortunate tendency to prioritize the wrong things and be dismissve of peoples feelings.

Can’t wait to see where it all goes.

I think you and I have not been reading the same comic. What ‘shit he’s been pulling’ were you referring to?

Al has his reasons for being an emotional recluse, he was hurt very badly by someone who was once close to him. Now Brendan has attacked his appearance, his age, his mental competence and ability, and followed up with condescending “What have you done for me lately?” snark.
Please remember the only reason Al is in this high pressure business venture at all is because Brendan wanted it. Al went along with the whole military contract because he was trying to please the man he loved.

When your loving partner falters, you DO NOT kick them.

But I’ve worked under pressure like this before on a multi-billion dollar proposal, and witnessed a group of people who are normally kind and respectful to each other turn into back-stabbing asses to the point I turned down the offer of being permanently hired by them after the project was over. I can only imagine it’s 40 times worse when you are doing something like that with a spouse/lover.

I am just preparing myself for the guilt and regret that we know is coming. It is going to be intense…