A/N: I'm on time? Seriously? I knew I could do it. I think this is the first time I've actually updated when I said I would. That's so great. Now you don't have to wait. Here is the rest of the last chapter...or I guess now it's its own chapter...yeah...
There is a little bit of humor in here. I just can't help myself. Things are about to get pretty dark and we need that little bit of light every now and then. That's how I feel about it anyway but you really can't trust anything I say. I change my plans every few seconds. XD
We've got some friendly interaction from chaos and some not so friendly interaction from Virgil so maybe some of it will be fun.
Well I'll stop talking and let you get on with it.
Warning: No Wilhelm! D:
Disclaimer: Xenosaga doesn't belong to me.
The world of pretend is a cage, not a cocoon. We can only lie to ourselves for so long. -Meredith Grey
Abnormally Attracted to Sin
Chapter 11
Metronome
"Professor," chaos said softly, trying to calm the elderly man down.
The professor wasn't having it.
"Professor, I don't know where Scott is."
"Of course you do! All of you young whippersnappers take up for one another! I demand to know this very instant where he is!"
chaos sighed and ran a hand through his silver hair. He'd been trying for the past two hours to convince the professor that he had absolutely no idea where Scott was. The two had apparently gotten into a fight earlier over Erde Kaiser and the assistant had apparently walked off. That didn't surprise chaos, really. Professor was a stubborn man and wanted things his way. Scott's leaving wasn't something he wanted and there was no telling what kind of havoc Professor would wreak if chaos wasn't acting as a buffer between him and the lab's door. chaos had originally tried to keep Professor from the door until Scott came back but it seemed that the assistant needed more time away than he had originally hoped. He didn't want to think about what would happen if Scott didn't come back.
"Professor, please calm down. I'm sure that Scott will return soon-"
His sentence was cut short by the sound of the lab doors sliding open. chaos spun around, hoping that the young assistant would come in and end the professor's tirade. The opening doors didn't reveal the assistant chaos had been looking for and instead of Scott, Tony and Jr. walked in. Disappointment filled him at the sight of them. He got over it quickly, finding relief in the fact that he wouldn't be alone with Professor anymore. He smiled at them and tried to hide his tiredness as best he could.
"Tony, Jr., what are you two doing here?" He greeted, walking over to meet them.
"Wow chaos, you look like shit," Jr. observed, he looked past his friend to the elderly man behind him.
"What have you been doing to him, Professor?"
"Yeah, you alright chaos?" Tony asked worriedly.
"I'm fine," chaos nodded, motioning over to the professor. "Professor seems to be having a tough time though."
Professor seemed completely unfazed by the new additions to the lab and immediately started in on them.
"You two! Over there! Where is Assistant Scott?"
Tony and Jr. exchanged quick glances before shrugging.
"I haven't seen him," Jr. answered.
"The only people I've seen tonight are the Little Master and Hammer."
"Bah!" The professor shouted, picking up a tool and shaking it viciously.
"Professor, put that down..." chaos started, preparing to catch the object should he decide to throw it.
"He throws his little tantrum and leaves the room! I can't complete this without an assistant! Bring me Assistant #2!"
"Sounds like you're the one throwing the tantrum," Jr. muttered. chaos bumped into Jr., letting him know that his comment wasn't helping anything.
"Uh...Professor, Allen isn't here anymore," Tony said.
"What? Now where has he run off to?"
"Professor, Allen wasn't an employee of the ship," chaos explained. "He works for Vector's First R&D division. He and Shion went back to work a long time ago."
Professor seemed to be getting more and more flustered by the moment. He set his tool down and began toward the lab doors.
"Professor, I'm sure Scott will come back soon. He just needs some time to himself. You know he always comes back. Can't you wait until he does?" chaos persuaded, trying to keep the world safe from the eccentric professor.
"Yeah, chill out Professor," Jr. said, "He'll come back."
Professor seemed to consider it for a moment, stopping half-way on his journey to the doors. "Fine, but I require a replacement. Bring me Assistant #3!"
"Who is Assistant #3?" Jr. asked, already exasperated with the situation. How chaos had managed to deal with the man this long was beyond him.
"He means KOS-MOS," chaos answered.
"KOS-MOS?" Jr. shouted, "Oh fuck, no way Professor! The last time she was your 'assistant' she blew holes all over the Elsa and my Durandal! Even if she was here you wouldn't be getting her back!"
Professor didn't appreciate Jr.'s outburst and marched over to the variant.
"Young man, did anyone ever teach you to speak to your elders? What a rude child!"
Oh god. chaos stepped between Professor and Jr., acting as a buffer to now protect Professor from the red dragon.
"Professor," chaos said quickly, "This is Jr., you remember Jr."
"Of course I remember this boy! I remember that he curses like a sailor and that he's the rudest child I've ever met."
"I'm not a child you old lunatic!" Jr. shouted from behind chaos. "I'm your boss!"
That caught the professor's attention. The elderly scientist stared a Jr. for a moment. The professor took a few steps closer to chaos and bent down to get a better look at Jr.
"Strange," Professor said, rubbing his chin. "What about that Captain Matthews?"
"I'm his boss!"
Confusion twisted the Professor's face as he shook his head. "I remember you being much taller. Did you shrink? Perhaps you dyed your hair?"
"You're thinking of Master Gaignun, Professor," Tony answered, "This is his son."
Professor pulled himself upright and nodded. "That is right. Your father is my boss not you, boy."
"Jr. is our boss too, Professor," chaos added urgently, pushing Jr. farther behind him. "You could get fired for talking like that."
"Fired? I don't even remember hiring this idiot! One minute he's got me looking for 'dream fragments' and the next he's on the Elsa!"
Professor waved the matter off, returning to the occurrence that had him upset before. "Enough! This experiment must be completed tonight! I require an assistant so you will either find Assistant Scott, return an old assistant, or become an assistant!"
"Professor," chaos begged, "Can't it wait? Just until tomorrow? It's getting late."
The professor wouldn't take no for an answer. Tony and chaos tried to convince him but he ignored them. Jr. was tired of arguing. For the first time in days he wanted to sleep. He would've left already if it weren't for chaos. He looked exhausted and Jr. wondered how long he'd been trying to save the world from Professor. Tony and chaos were still at it. Jr. was about to join the club when the doors to the lab opened. Everyone turned their heads, hoping to see Scott walk into the lab and rescue them all from this situation.
"Hammer what are you doing here? I thought I left you in the cabin!" Tony yelled, walking over to the not-quite sober navigator.
Hammer frowned and pointed a finger at him. "Hey! Shut up! Effryone's down here! I wanna be down here too!"
The navigator swung his head to chaos and smiled. "chaos! I've been lookin' effrywhere for you!"
Hammer ran to chaos and threw his arms around the boy in a lazy hug.
"Hammer?" chaos chuckled, patting his back awkwardly, "I'm very happy to see you too...?"
Tony growled and pulled the drunken man off of him. "Dude, back off!"
"Hey Hammer, what are doing?" Jr. laughed, "You already screwed up his bike, touch chaos again and he might kill you."
Hammer blinked down at Jr. and nodded. "Oh! Alright, Little Master, I'll keep it a secret." Hammer brought a hand to his lips and nodded.
"What?" Jr. laughed again, glancing over at chaos. "He's really messed up."
Professor let out a frustrated noise, regaining everyone's attention. "Young man! Have you seen Assistant Scott?"
Hammer looked curiously at the professor and nodded.
"Seriously?" Tony asked, doubtful.
Hammer nodded furiously at Tony's tone and glared at him.
"Well where is he?"
Hammer thought about it for a moment. He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling, as if trying to remember. After a few seconds of thought he shrugged his shoulders. "He's always in the lab with Professor."
Tony's palm smacked against his forehead.
"Hello! Foundation to Hammer!" Jr. shouted.
"Hammer, let's get you back to the cabin," chaos sighed, walking over to him.
"None of you will leave until I have my assistant!" Professor shouted.
"Professor, all night with this shit!" Jr. shouted back. He was tired, irritated, and wanted to get the fuck out of this lab as soon as possible. Professor was serious and there was no way any of them were getting out any time soon. Not until Scott returned. chaos was trying to talk their way out of the lab but it wasn't working. Jr. decided to think of another way. Whatever it was it would have to make the professor happy, or at least got his mind off of Scott. He looked over at the Elsa's drunken navigator and found the idea he was looking for.
"Hey Hammer," Jr. started, "You know what?"
Hammer looked down at Jr. and shook his head.
"Professor can't find Scott and he really, really needs an assistant. You're good at helping people with machines, right?"
A brilliant smile broke out across Hammer's face and he nodded excitedly.
"Jr., you didn't..." chaos whispered.
"Shut up, chaos!" Jr. whispered back. "Scott's not coming back and we need to get out of here. The way he's acting, he won't remember anything anyway."
"I'll help you professor!" Hammer exclaimed, running over to the scientist. "I built an entire AGWS from scrap material and I've rejected numerous offers from Vector themselves! I'm waay too good for them!"
Professor turned to Hammer. He stared at the young navigator for a moment, assessing him. His assessment was interrupted when Tony grabbed Hammer by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back.
"Are you stupid or something? You'll never get out of here if you become an assistant! Remember what happened to Allen?"
Hammer nodded, a serious expression on his face. He faced Professor again, expected to retract his previous offer.
"Tony wants to be an assistant too!" He exclaimed instead, pointing to the man behind him.
"I what?"
"Fantastic! I've been in need of a pilot for just this experiment! Both of you, come with me!"
"Hey wait! I didn't agree to-"
"Silence! Assistant #4! Bring Assistant #5 over here please!"
"Wha-hey! Wait, I-"
But Hammer was already dragging Tony to Professor.
"Oh no, Jr., we can't just leave them," chaos said, making his way over to help his crew. He didn't get very far because Jr. grabbed his arm and began tugging him toward the exit.
"chaos, come on! You've been babysitting Professor Lunatic all day. Escape while you've got the chance!"
Jr. could see how distressed chaos was about it, torn between rest and a raving professor. He'd been dealing with the professor all day and obviously didn't want anyone else to have to go through the same exhausting thing. But he was spent, and it didn't take much more to coax the boy out of the door and away from the lab.
"Doesn't he have anything better to do?" Virgil complained, leaning against one of Michtam's crystal walls. "He just can't wait for him to show up."
Albedo shrugged a little, not really paying attention to Virgil's petulance. The motion was enough. Virgil kept his focus on the Black Testament instead of the White one.
"What's he going to do when he gets here? Does he think that if brings him back to this place he'll just forget about the fact that the guy murdered his entire family?"
"Greed does not wish for him to forget."
"Huh. How does he plan on getting him in bed then?"
That sentence surprised Albedo a bit. His eyes never wavered from Rubedo's form and his voice didn't give away his disbelief as he responded.
"He does not wish to 'bed' the cyborg. It is his companionship he desires."
He heard Virgil's snicker, "Yeah sure, a companion. More like a cyberonic fuck toy."
Albedo shook his head, "No, a companion."
Virgil gave him a dissenting look. "Yeah? That what you want the kid for? A companion? Give me a break."
Virgil pushed himself from the wall and walked the few steps that separated him from Albedo. Albedo's gaze never lifted, glued on the crystalline image of his brother. Albedo wanted to appear like nothing could bring him out of the trance Jr. had over him. Snapping him out of his calm, apathetic casing was always so satisfying. Virgil walked around him and the crystal he sat upon to look over his shoulder to the image displaying on the floor.
"Hell, if I'd known there were going to be so many faggots here I would've laid a few-"
He'd anticipated Albedo's snapping before Albedo had made the motion. Virgil easily sidestepped Albedo's punch and grabbed hold of his arm, twisting it behind his back. He grinned at the Testament as he forced him down onto his knees.
"Weren't expecting that? What's wrong? You've gone all soft and predictable on me. You've been spending too much time jerking off to that prepubescent brother of yours."
Albedo teleported, freeing himself from Virgil's grasp. He was so surprised by the vanishing act that he didn't have to register what had happened before Albedo was behind him, arm around his neck, choking him. Virgil made to swing his arm around but Albedo caught it and with one powerful yank, he ripped the limb from his body. Virgil didn't have time to scream or make any other noise before Albedo brought up his arm and snapped his neck. Virgil's body went limp and Albedo dropped him to the floor. A Testament's body was an indestructible thing and Virgil's began involuntarily healing itself immediately. A new arm grew from his shoulder and the bones in his neck started rearranging themselves. Albedo's attack didn't end there however and Virgil felt the Testament on his back. Virgil prepared himself for another blow but it didn't come. It wasn't until Virgil's bones were completely healed that he felt Albedo's fist smash against them, shattering them into tiny pieces again. Virgil hadn't yet recovered from the pain of the last attack and the new pain that shot through him kept him from concentrating enough to escape. And so it continued, Virgil would heal and Albedo would smash into him again. The White Testament laughed and leaned down to whisper words to Virgil's ear.
"What's that I smell on you Addict?" Albedo asked, slamming his fist into Virgil again.
"Jealousy? No envy. The crude wrench that unhinges jaws best left shut."
Virgil fought against the pain in order to find some sort of escape but Albedo slammed into him again and he lost that battle.
"Where lies your companion?" Albedo taunted, "In death did you part? Is it the envy, that sorrow that eats at your soul, at your flesh?"
Albedo finally stood up, ending his assault on Virgil. The Blue Testament managed to pick himself up off the floor. Pain like razor edged waves sliced into him from all sides as he did. When the pain finally dissipated enough for him to regain himself he looked around, expecting another attack. He was wrong. Albedo sat peacefully on his crystal bench, staring down at the image of his brother again.
"Add envy to your list of sins, Gluttony," Albedo spoke. Virgil could feel the wicked smile in Albedo's words. "Your body reeks of it."
"It was a matter of national security."
"It was not."
"A matter of life or death?"
"Jr."
"It was chaos! Another moment in there and I would have shot someone. You saved lives today. You're a hero."
chaos smiled, "I guess so."
It hadn't been a complete lie. Jr. had been fed up with the entire thing. That was why he always made it a point to stay away from that part of the hangar unless absolutely necessary. Professor was useful but unpredictable most of the time and if he wasn't in the middle of something, he'd grab the first person he could find to occupy his time. The Elsa's bar was a safe distance from the professor's lab. The booth served as a makeshift bed as Jr. stretched out on it.
"You can make it up to Tony later," he said through a yawn.
"You should be making it up to Tony," chaos adverted, scooting toward the booth's edge to make room for Jr.
"You're just dying to get me in bed with someone, aren't you chaos?"
chaos chuckled at the ridiculous question. He pushed himself up from the booth and made his way to the bar. Jr. watched him for a moment before flipping himself over to face the back of the booth.
"You didn't take your medicine, did you?" chaos called from the bar.
"No and don't start with me, I've had a long day."
To his surprise, chaos didn't scold him. Jr. kept waiting for some kind of reprimand or coaxing to take the capsule he had thrown away. chaos didn't say a word. Instead of nagging, Jr. heard a small thud against the table. Curious, he flipped back over to find a glass sitting in front of him. Jr. pushed himself into a seated position and picked it up.
"Alcohol?" He looked from it to chaos suspiciously. "What's your game, chaos?"
chaos shook his head. "No game, it's just your ordinary, everyday glass of Scotch."
Jr. stared at it a little longer. "There's no way. Gaignun said- chaos, what are you-?"
"Jr.," chaos laughed, "it's just alcohol. I'm not trying to trick you. I asked about your medicine beforehand so that I would know whether or not you were able to have it."
Jr. considered what he'd said. He swirled the drink around in its glass.
"I won't get in trouble for drinking this?"
"I won't tell if you won't."
"Isn't that lying?"
"Not unless Gaignun asks."
"If he does?"
"He won't. Not unless you tell him." chaos shrugged, "For all he knows it was mine. I'm the one who got up to get it."
"Heh," Jr. raised his glass up to chaos. "Yeah and you look like you need a few glasses yourself."
"You can blame it on me if you need to. It is my fault. We were specifcally instructed not to give you alcohol."
Jr. nodded in agreement. "You're a horrible role model, chaos. I should really stop hanging around you. I'll end up all polite and kind."
chaos watched Jr. gulp down his drink. He slammed the glass down and gave chaos a smile. "That was beautiful. I need fifteen more of those and I'll be feeling great."
chaos took the glass from Jr. and shook his head. "Bad day? I heard something went wrong on the Bridge."
The grimace chaos received as a response was all the answer he needed. He pushed himself up from the table and went back to the bar. Jr. got up and followed him this time.
"Let's just say that things didn't go the way I'd planned."
chaos ordered another drink from Adonis and passed it to Jr. They each took a bench and sat down. Jr. finished his glass before he was completely seated. chaos, with another shake of his head, ordered another for him.
"Looks like you're feeling better now."
Jr. nodded, "Yeah. I just kinda...blacked out, I guess."
Jr. regretted his choice of words the moment they left his mouth. chaos' expression was worried but thankfully he didn't ask anything else.
"That's not good, Jr.," he said simply, handing him another glass.
"Yeah, well...that's the price I pay."
Jr. downed another drink and handed chaos his empty glass.
"Hey chaos," Jr. started, trying to change the subject. "Why are you still up? You're so tired. I can tell just by looking at you that you're gonna fall over any minute."
"I can't sleep yet, Jr." chaos said, "I'm going to wait up for Tony and Hammer to get back. Maybe I'll go look for Scott soon. We're not working tomorrow anyway. Captain Matthews won't be back from his concert for a while so..."
"Concert?" Jr. asked, "What the hell is Matthews doing at a concert?"
"You didn't know?"
"No way! You've got to be kidding me. Who authorized that?"
"Mary, while you were recovering."
"Of course she did."
chaos shook his head, a tired smile on his lips. "Well, we are ahead of schedule. He's almost finished paying off his debt, so I guess he wanted to celebrate..." chaos paused for a minute, "...celebrate almost being out of debt."
They both laughed.
"Yeah, well, you were overdue for a vacation anyway."
chaos placed his elbows on the table and leaned over the counter a bit.
"What were you doing out so late, Jr.? Aren't you tired as well? It'll be morning in just a few hours. I don't think anyone would scold you for sleeping in late since you've been ill."
"I needed a walk. I've been cooped up too long, you know? It's suffocating."
Jr. accepted the next glass chaos handed him. It hadn't been exactly what he had expected, but it had calmed him down nonetheless. The alcohol chaos was giving him was more than making up for the horrible day he'd had. He took a sip of his drink. Well, maybe the whole day hadn't been completely horrible. It had been a little crazy ever since Hammer had flown down the road in Tony's hover bike but it had cleared his mind. Even his confrontation with Professor earlier had eased it somehow. Things were falling back into place. Life was becoming normal again. He smiled and downed the rest of his drink. 'That reminds me,' he thought. He turned up to look at his best friend.
"Hey chaos? Did you know that we have a cathedral on the foundation?"
"A cathedral?" chaos thought about if for a moment before answering, "Yes, I think I heard something about a while ago. Why do you ask?"
chaos' answer lifted a giant weight off of Jr.'s mind. So he wasn't crazy. There was a cathedral there afterall. He mentally kicked himself for being so paranoid. What was he afraid of? The boogeyman didn't exist and even if he did, Jr. wouldn't find him in a cathedral. He was eager to go back now that he'd settled his mind.
"I didn't know we had one. Not one that amazing. It's so awesome, chaos. Have you seen it? It looks like a miniature of the ones on Lost Jerusalem. It's crazy how I didn't know about it."
"I'm not so sure if it's that amazing, Jr."
"Why not?" Jr. asked, slightly offended. "Of course, it's in an abandoned sector right now. It's strange, actually. Everything around it is destroyed but it didn't seem to be touched at all."
That seemed to interest chaos. He passed Jr. another drink before asking, "Really? It wasn't damaged in any way?"
Jr. shook his head, "I know, it's crazy but I was there. I almost went inside too. Before KOS-MOS used the Hilbert Effect, the Gnosis were materializing through everything so the inside might be a little messed up. Now that I think about it, the roof might have been smashed in. I couldn't really see since it's so dark out."
"I think the night has been playing tricks on you, Jr." chaos said, playfully. "Are you sure you didn't need that medicine?"
"Come on," Jr. said, pushing his empty glass toward his friend. "I'll take you there tomorrow. You'll see it for yourself. Then I'll get to hear an apology."
It was quite a load off for Jr. now that chaos had confirmed its existence. But the more Jr. thought about it, the more he couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong. That feeling, that strange, ominous feeling, like someone breathing down his neck or hiding in his shadow… The cathedral had embodied that for him at exactly that moment. It towered over him, staring him down, baiting him towards the door only to snap him up in a trap once he entered. His paranoia was really getting to him. He rubbed his temples to stave off an oncoming headache. He was going to have to see the doctor tomorrow; he might as well get something for anxiety.
As chaos passed him another drink a completely different thought flickered through his mind. He'd been ill for a while now. He tried to count the days but failed due to his disorientation. He thought about asking chaos but decided not to. Jr. knew it had to have been somewhere around a week. Shouldn't he be better by now? He blinked at his reflection in his glass. Jr. should have been completely healed by now. U.R.T.V.'s weren't indestructible and could be harmed just as easily as a human could but they healed almost twice as fast. The doctor had said that the scan of his brain had been a good one, so why was he still having nightmares and hallucinations?
'You're just being paranoid,' he told himself but something inside of him rejected that statement. It was more than that. It was way more than that. But that was impossible. He'd checked himself. Albedo was dead. He knew better than anyone. He'd been there. He'd been right there. He'd done it. He'd killed him with his own two hands. It was his fault so...he knew.
"The world is better off without him anyway."
"You think so?"
Oh no. Jr.'s eyes went wide and the hands around his glass dropped instantly. He'd said it out loud. Jr.'s heart sank into his stomach where he drowned it with liquor. He'd said it out loud and chaos knew exactly who he'd been thinking about. chaos always knew, he'd probably just been waiting for Jr. to crack. Jr. reluctantly placed the empty glass down.
"But what about you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he lied, turning away from his best friend to stare at the HaKox machine. He really didn't want to talk about it. Not to Gaignun, not to chaos, not to anyone. It didn't matter. It was over. The whole thing was over and Albedo was dead. Nothing was going to change that.
"Jr., you can't keep running from it."
"I'm not running from anything, chaos," Jr. bit back, still facing away from him. "I'm not a goddamn coward, alright?"
"Jr., you know that's not what I meant," chaos replied, soothingly. "You can't keep it locked inside of you. It will destroy you, you know that."
"I can handle myself."
A few moments passed in silence. Jr. couldn't talk about it and he wasn't going to try. Jr. wasn't sure how long the silence was, just that he planned on being quiet for as long as it took for chaos to get the message.
"It's ok to grieve, Jr."
His words stabbed into Jr. with flawless precision. Like a dam being broken, his words opened Jr.'s mind for the flood of unpleasant memories he kept impounded inside. He tried to block them out and was on the defensive immediately.
"He was a monster. People don't grieve monsters. People don't grieve psychopaths. You don't grieve someone who tried to destroy everyone and everything near you! You don't grieve people like that chaos, you just don't."
He knew what a monstrous creation his other half had been. Talking about it wasn't going to make him forget. It wasn't going to make anything better. Another bout of silence passed between the two of them. Jr. continued his staring contest with the machine. chaos continued his silence. This had been a bad idea, another one to add to his string of bad ideas. Jr. would have a necklace full of stupidity soon.
"Every death that affects us...it diminishes us a little. It chips away at the structure of our essence. No matter how horrible the person had been in life, that's not what we remember."
chaos paused and Jr. couldn't help himself. HaKox won the contest as Jr. finally gave up and faced him. chaos wasn't looking at him though, instead the dark boy's gaze was focused on his gloved hands.
"And so we grieve. Not so much for the death as for ourselves."
chaos raised his tired eyes to the redhead and gave him that melancholy smile.
"We need to grieve, Jr. You're forcing yourself to remember all of the things he did to mask your pain, I can see it. The guilt you won't allow yourself to feel is only shaming you more."
Jr. sighed and laid his head on the bar's counter. He was too tired to think. He didn't even want to try to find the effort for thought. He folded his arms under his head, tilting it toward chaos. He wanted to tell him that it wasn't true. Jr. wanted to sit up and prove to chaos that he didn't need to grieve because he simply didn't care. He wanted to push himself up and show him how much he didn't miss Albedo. How thankful he was for Albedo's death. Albedo was a monster. Albedo was a ferocious beast. He was ruthless and he would destroy whatever Jr. touched. Albedo was sin and darkness and death and disaster.
chaos had given Jr. alcohol but not enough to impair him. He wasn't going to win that easily.
"Someone had to stop him," was Jr.'s answer.
And that was it. That was all he could take. He didn't want to discuss this anymore. If anyone else had talked to him like that…
Jr. pushed himself up with a groan. He needed to get away again. Hadn't that been the point of his earlier departure, to be alone? And here he was, surrounding himself with people again.
"I've got to get out of here," he said, refusing to look his angelic friend in the eyes. "It's way too late. You should sleep too."
chaos looked as if he wanted to say more but he didn't. He nodded instead and stood up from his stool.
"Thank you, Jr., for saving me from Professor."
Jr. yawned and nodded, "Anytime, chaos. I'm not afraid of that old guy. He gives you any more problems let me know."
He stretched until the bones in his back popped before sliding off the stool. When he landed on his feet he shook his head. The room was spinning more than it should have been. Maybe he'd misjudged the amount of liquor chaos had given him afterall. He heard a whispered laugh and felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, Jr. I'll walk you to your room."
Virgil angrily tried to rub away the lingering pain from Albedo's attack. Healing his body didn't stop the sharp aching. It had been foolish of him not to expect such a vicious attack from Albedo. He was Albedo. It was easy to forget sometimes. He seemed more like a statue molded permanently into the spot he sat.
"How is he?"
Virgil dropped the hand on his neck and straightened up a little at the voice.
"He's about to leave again."
"You can tell?"
"You can't?"
Kevin materialized behind Virgil. The Testament's footsteps echoed gently off the surrounding crystal as he moved. They stood far off from Albedo though they didn't need to. They could have been talking right beside him and the White Testament would not have heard a single word. He was too lost in his own little world, in Rubedo's world.
"He tenses up," Virgil explained, "It's like he's going to physically run there when he gets the chance."
Virgil watched Albedo for a few moments longer before looking over to Kevin. "What's it to you?"
"Is he right?" Kevin asked, ignoring Virgil's question. "About your being envious?"
Virgil crossed his arms and fixed Kevin with a glare. "What?"
"Why else would you spend so much time with him?"
"Look who's talking," Virgil grunted, annoyed already with Kevin's presence and insinuations. "You came here too. Afraid you're not Wilhelm's golden boy anymore?"
Kevin didn't respond right away, his gaze connected to Albedo's form.
"I don't trust him," he said finally.
Virgil grinned. "That's the same as saying you don't trust Wilhelm, isn't it?"
Kevin was silent again.
"What is he doing?" Kevin asked, refusing to answer Virgil again.
"He's made a screen out of the crystal. It's like watching a vid and why don't you just ask him? I'm not his keeper."
"You are the only one he's civil towards."
Virgil's laugh was sharp enough to cut through their crystal surroundings. "I'm not so sure."
The two of them watched Albedo for a few still moments before Virgil spoke.
"Why don't you know already? Doesn't Wilhelm tell you everything?"
Kevin flinched a little and Virgil understood. The problem Kevin had was not Albedo's game or the fact that Wilhelm had granted him special permission. Wilhelm wasn't telling Kevin the details and it was making the Testament uneasy.
Virgil found a wall to lean against. He wasn't sure why he'd been upset. It just...irked him. Albedo always got his way. Hell, he might even pull this off. The Blue Testament remembered the last few nightmares Albedo had conjured. If he managed to make his twin fall in love with him it would be a miracle. He didn't understand Albedo's plan or his actions or why he had even agreed to something that seemed so impossible. He'd probably just end up destroying the kid. It would be oh so fulfilling to watch the immortal fail. But if Kevin was truly jealous then he might try to ruin Albedo's game prematurely and that wouldn't be much fun. Virgil wasn't sure if there was anything in the rules that prohibited Kevin from intervening. He was fuzzy on them himself but he was certain Kevin knew them. The Testament hung on Wilhelm's every word and could recite every syllable Wilhelm had ever spoken. If it wasn't Albedo's fault directly it wouldn't be as satisfying. He needed to try and sway Kevin from it.
"If you're thinking about sabotaging him," Virgil said, gaining Kevin's attention finally, "then don't. He's doing a good job of that all on his own."
"Is that so?"
Virgil nodded. "He's just torturing him. I'll be surprised if the kid makes it out alive."
The Blue Testament sighed and dropped his arms. It was time. Albedo's posture had changed and now he seemed tense with excitement, trying to hold himself back for that perfect moment.
"I don't get what he's trying to do. I don't understand him but who does?"
They were silent again, caught up in the show Albedo was providing. It was almost suspenseful, watching him. Virgil kept thinking he was going to leave but he never did. Albedo was on edge, just a few seconds more...
"His brother," Kevin replied as Albedo disappeared from view.
It was dark, still night but Jr. could make out the front of the cathedral as soon as his hover car entered the district. In a few hours the artificial sun would start to rise. The cathedral lights continued to shine despite that, illuminating its steps and it windows. It was baiting him, but Jr. didn't care. He had to find out. He had to know what was behind those doors. He absolutely had to.
Jr. hadn't been able to sleep. chaos' words just wouldn't leave him alone. They were all he'd thought about and maybe he was right. Jr. hadn't been allowing himself to think about what had happened. If his mind lingered on it too long he found something to occupy him immediately. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want anything to do with it. It was over. It didn't matter and it was too easy to pretend that it hadn't happened.
The hover car pulled to a stop in front of the church. There it was, bidding him to come. Jr. opened the door and made his way up the steps. If there was nothing behind these doors then he'd have to give in. His skepticism and paranoia were all in his head and he'd willingly take whatever medicine was thrown at him.
"You look like you've just lost your best friend, Rubedo."
He winced at the unwanted memory and drew in a shaky breath. He turned his blue eyes to the doors with determination strong enough to melt the stone. What was he afraid of? That Albedo might be behind the door? That he might drag him in and pick him apart? Jr. pressed one hand against the door. Was that truly what he was afraid of or was it something else?
The night air was still around him. Silence coated him like a heavy blanket. The lights streamed false warmth onto him, promising safety with stale sweetness. This was it; the moment of truth. Whatever was behind this door...Jr. would have to accept it. His search for reality was going to end right here, right now in the pitch black of predawn. Jr. kept telling himself of the things he knew, but...what did he really know? Nothing and that had to change. Now. His fractured heart beat like a broken metronome for his unbalanced mind and punctured breaths. Time to find out.
Jr. placed his other hand against the doors and pushed.
A/N: I know how Jr. feels. HaKox owns me all the time. C:
Well it's finally done. I hope you all enjoyed it.
Now the next chapter will be a nightmare. There's no way I can possibly put it off any longer. It's going to happen so those of you impatient for one won't have to wait much longer...at least I don't think. I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again but I'm on a roll and anything could happen. It should be up by at least the end of October.
Reviews are my muse so inspire it up, people!