AATS
Chapter 31
Roland

To love is to be afraid. You are frightened, deathly terrified, that something will happen to those you love. And love enslaves us all, for you cannot have love without fear.

-Marie Lu

Jr. ran out of his office and straight to Gaignun's. When he wasn't there he searched their link and found him on the bridge. He barreled out of the office and into the shuttle. He was impatient and his rudeness caught him a few looks but he didn't care. As soon as the doors opened he was running again. The short journey seemed to take hours. Gaignun turned when he heard the elevator.

"Did you see him?" Jr. shouted before the elevator had come to a full stop.

Mary was standing beside Gaignun and she turned at her Little Master's voice.

"Al-...Roland," Jr. said and he was still shouting. He stomped up to Gaignun. "You've...seen him, right?"

Gaignun nodded, concern hardening his expression.

"Yes. I told him that he needed to let you rest. Then I sent him off to deal with Vector's weapons specialist because you were supposed to be resting."

Elaborate, Jr. thought. This was all so elaborate. He looked around the bridge, pushed past Gaignun to the console. Everything had been recreated perfectly. Nothing was out of place; every panel, every shade of paint, every 100-series, even the rhythmic clicking of Shelley's fingers on the main console, was perfect.

He had to find the layers, peel them back until he found the ugly underside.

The clicking stopped as Shelley turned in her seat to look at him. All three of them were staring at him. He felt their eyes boring into him like heat lamps pouring harsh light in through his jacket. He turned to face them and realized with no small amount of horror that Albedo might be planning to do something to them.

"Little Master," Shelley said. Her usually soothing voice only managed to sharpen his panic. "Everything is running smoothly. There are plenty of us to work until you've fully recovered. We can take care of things so please rest."

"Yeah!" Mary pipped up, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We've got this, Little Master. Don't gotta worry your pretty little head bout nothin'."

Gaignun noticed his distress and the concern became more visible, leaked through their connection. You shouldn't even be here, Jr. thought. You're not here. None of you are. He looked around to each of them, trying to decide if that mattered. If he was able to convince himself that they were just figments of his imagination would it make it easier to watch Albedo rip them apart? He ran shaky fingers through his hair.

"Jr., you need to go back to your room."

"No." His reply was firm and harsh. He couldn't protect them if they sent him away.

Don't make me drag you out of here.

Gaignun meant it, but did it matter if Gaignun dragged him to his room in front of everyone like a father looking for a quiet place to punish his unruly son? Jr. wasn't sure how to play this. He didn't want to fight with anyone but would not fighting make it harder? Would convincing them that this was all a nightmare make it easier? How could he escape before something happened to them? How did he protect them if he couldn't?

Gaignun's hand was heavy on his shoulder; a silent threat.

"Ok, ok," Jr. said, giving in. "I'll go lie down for a little while."

Gaignun squeezed his shoulder slightly before pulling away.

"We'll check on you later," He said, his relief palpable.

Jr. nodded softly and made his way back to the elevator. Mary waved at him as the elevator descended, trying her best to hide her worry behind a smile. Jr. waved back, unable to return her smile.

Jr. didn't go to his room. He went back to his office and sat down at his desk. Albedo's desk was still a mess but Jr. ignored it, tried to block it from his mind. He opened his console and started going through every piece of data he had on Roland Kukai; official data, tabloids, news stories, anything available.

Roland Kukai was the twin brother of Gaignun Kukai. He had previously been the Foundation's chief weapon's specialist but upon its demilitarization worked with the Foundation's director to strengthen its defenses and had been the one to acquire Vector as one of the Foundation's chief investors. He had been described as unstable, even terrifying at times but no one had ever suggested that he was unfit for or unable to do his job. Jr. was still registered as the son of Gaignun Kukai and all of the same rumors that Jr. had heard before were present; he was the illegitimate son of Gaignun Kukai, he was secretly the son of Mary or Shelley, he was Gaignun's clone, he was an unfortunate Life Recycling orphan rescued by the generous Gaignun Kukai. He ran across a few, however, that claimed he might be Roland's son from an illicit affair or even his clone and Gaignun had adopted him to hide the fact.

Jr. sat back in his chair, hands behind his head. He'd spent all day pouring over data. He hadn't seen Albedo since that morning. His desk remained a ruined cluster of papers and holographic documents. He searched their link for Gaignun and found him with Mary and Shelley. They were all safe. Gaignun felt his prying and asked Jr. if he felt well enough to eat with them.

He didn't feel like eating but he didn't want to be away from them either. He pushed away from his console and left his office to meet them. Albedo was trying very hard to convince Jr. that this was a reality. There were so many little details. It was a lot of work to put into a nightmare. A lot of meticulous work to put into something he was going to destroy eventually.

When the door slid open onto the Durandal's kitchen Jr. was afraid that he would find Albedo on the other side. He didn't, thankfully. It was just the three of them; Gaignun, Mary and Shelley. He was relieved if not slightly confused. Gaignun only shrugged when Jr. asked.

"I haven't heard from him since this morning."

"Shame too," Mary said with a slight whine. "Master Roland always likes the French dishes. Think he'd bother to show up after I went through the trouble."

Master Roland. She said it so easily. As if she'd been saying it for years. As if she'd known him as long as she'd known Gaignun and Jr.

'You look tired, Little Master," Shelley said, ignoring her sister's pout. "Did you get any rest?"

"A little," Jr. said, as he pulled a chair back to sit down.

"Not enough by the looks of it."

"I can't sleep forever, Gaignun," Jr. shot back. It came out harsher than he'd meant.

"You'll be glad to know that the doctor said that what you're experiencing isn't unusual," Gaignun said, unbothered by Jr.'s reaction. "You will have to go back if you don't get proper rest."

"So I don't have to go back, is what you're saying."

"If you don't get a full night's sleep then you will be going back in the morning, is what I'm saying. I've already informed Roland. I don't want the two of you to start fighting again."

Mary giggled. She winked at Jr. when their eyes met.

"You two fight an awful lot."

Shelley elbowed her sister but that only made the giggling worse.

"You do," said Gaignun tiredly, raising his fork to his mouth. "Remember, you need the rest."

Jr. was completely confused by the display but he didn't press for an answer. He was tense the entire meal. He kept expecting Albedo to come into the kitchen and say or do something horrible. The kitchen would stretch and bend until it pulled them all apart or the ground would open up beneath them and swallow them whole. He worried for a second that the food was poisoned and everyone at the table would fall writhing to the floor. Nothing happened. Jr. ate in silence. When he got up to leave Gaignun reminded him, one more time, to please rest. Jr. waved him off and mumbled a quick promise before heading to his room.

Jr. began to wonder just why it was that he hadn't run into Albedo. It shouldn't have taken him all day to discuss business with a weapon's specialist. If that was actually what he had been doing. Where was the horror? When was it going to manifest?

As soon as Jr. was in his room he sat on the edge of the bed, slid out of his jacket and laid back. Maybe it wasn't a nightmare. Maybe it was just a dream. He'd made it this far in and everything seemed normal, aside from Albedo's presence. It felt too real, too familiar. The characters were too perfect. Jr. wondered if he fell asleep in his dream if he'd wake up back at the beach house thinking up ways to find the real Albedo.

Jr. pushed up, deciding that he wanted a shower. If the rest of his dreamworld was determined to stay as real as possible then he might as well stay true to his normal routine. The bathroom door slid open and as Jr. turned to the shower he finally found Albedo.

Jr. didn't have a tub in his bathroom but in this nightmare/dreamworld he did. Jr.'s new bath-shower combo sat against the far wall. Inside of it, soaking in it, staring at him as if he was expected and was terribly, horribly late, was Albedo. Their eyes met and Albedo smiled wide.

"Ah Rubedo," Albedo said. "Cruel of you to keep me waiting."

He ran a hand through his wet hair, slicking it away from his forehead. His purple eyes were over-bright and shining with laughter, as if he were enjoying the punchline of a joke that only he understood. He leaned against the inside of the tub, extending an arm over the edge and beckoning Jr. toward him.

"Come now. I've waited long enough."

Jr. rushed out of the bathroom. The door slid shut behind him and he pressed his back against it. Had Albedo been in there all day, waiting for Jr. to leave the office and find him? Jr. looked around the room and realized that it wasn't an exact replica. It was close. Jr. had missed the little differences in his haste. They stood out to him now, glaringly obvious. Everything about the room was bigger. There were two nightstands. The bookshelves held twice the amount of books, filling to burst. Jr. ran to the closet and it was bigger, had his clothes one one side and a series of gray suits on the other, Roland's suits. The door slid open and when Jr. turned he realized, with deep dread, that the bed was larger. Albedo stood in the open doorway, a towel wrapped around his waist.

This was their room; their bed, their closet, their things.

"Playing hard to get," Albedo said with a dramatic sigh, as if he expected nothing less. Jr. stepped further into the closet. Hurried fingers searched for his guns. Albedo laughed, "Oh but we've already been through this, Rubedo."

His guns were gone. Jr. stopped his search and found them in Albedo's hands. Albedo took one and twirled it around a finger, eyes still shining. He pointed the barrel of a gun at Jr., his smile absolutely wicked.

"Pregame's over."

He tossed them away. Jr. heard them land with two soft thuds somewhere on the carpet but he didn't look away from Albedo. He instantly began forming strategies to get around the room to his guns. Jr. considered using his hands to rip Albedo apart the way he'd done in the last nightmare but he wasn't sure if he could trust his power. He'd been prepared to use it last time, completely focused on that one, singular task. He wasn't confident that he could control it.

Albedo was upon him before he could decide. He grabbed Jr., dragged him from the closet and flung him harshly onto the bed. Jr. bounced from the impact straight into Albedo's chest.

Albedo's arms snaked under him as he landed, caging him in his arms. Jr.'s hands pressed against his bare chest as he resisted Albedo's attempts to bring their bodies together. Albedo chuckled. The sound rumbled against Jr.'s hands.

"Back off," Jr. said, straining against Albedo. "Now."

"Upset about your toys? Steel crutches. I've never cared for them." Albedo leaned down, disregarding Jr.'s weak attempts to keep them apart. "Pathetic distractions when I could have your flesh."

"How did you get them?"

"Oh Rubedo, I'm full of surprises."

Albedo's mouth found his. Jr. didn't melt the way he had before. He struggled. His power curled tightly inside him, begging to be released. Albedo pulled back slightly, smiling against Jr.'s lips.

"Fight me to your heart's content, Little Dragon," Albedo said. "They all fall for me eventually."

True to his word Albedo pulled away, completely surprising Jr. He sat up immediately, scrambling off the bed. Albedo relaxed back onto the bed, pulled his arms behind his head and crossed his ankles. He was still smiling, completely enjoying himself.

"Something on your mind?" He asked, laughter on the edge of his voice.

He was having fun with this. The thought struck Jr. oddly and he struggled to make sense of it, to make sense of every single thing he'd experienced since waking up.

"What the hell is all of this," Jr. waved his arms around the room. "What's your game? If you're going to fight me, then fight me. Quit screwing around."

Albedo sat up then, his smile faded slightly.

"What is this, Rubedo?"

The tone of his voice suggested that Jr. was the one confusing him. It pissed him off.

"Don't play dumb with me!" Jr. shouted. "I don't know exactly what you're trying to do but I know that this..." He waved his arms around the room. "This isn't right."

Albedo stood up and that annoying smile finally vanished. He came around the bed to Jr. The boy stiffened and searched for his guns, momentarily forgetting that Albedo had mysteriously stolen them. Albedo didn't lunge forward. Instead he reached a hand out for Jr., pulling him gently forward by the shoulder as he bent down on one knee.

"Perhaps Nigredo was right," he said and the sudden concern in his voice left Jr. surprised again. "I've been too careless with you."

He pressed a hand against the side of Jr.'s face. Jr. pulled away, refusing to be unbalanced by Albedo's strange behavior.

"I'm not about to get comfortable so that you can do...whatever it is that you're planning to do."

"There are..." Albedo's hand found the back of Jr.'s neck and pulled him closer. "An innumerable amount of things that I've planned for you, Rubedo."

Jr. tripped over his feet, stumbling into Albedo's chest.

"They'll only be painful if you want them to be."

"Why are you doing this?" Jr. demanded, pushing away from Albedo's hungry grasp. "What's the end goal here? Tell me what you want."

"I want you."

Albedo's let Jr. escape but his fingertips lingered against his throat.

"I long for you."

Jr. jerked away. He took two giant steps backward, angry blue eyes switching between looking for his guns and keeping a watch on Albedo. Albedo grinned, but it didn't stretch across his face with the same force. It was softer, echoing his earlier playful demeanor. His eyes danced with every movement, every ounce of Jr.'s resistance.

"But I've waited and will wait again, until you've healed."

He stood suddenly and the action made Jr. flinch. Albedo's every breath had Jr. on edge. He kept trying to be prepared, expecting anything and everything all at once.

"Mon Rubedo."

Albedo turned away from Jr. and walked back toward the closet. Jr. gave the chance to find his guns. He held them loosely as he watched Albedo. They felt heavy and useless after the last nightmare. Their usual comfort had been lost against Albedo's absolute invulnerability. Albedo dropped his towel when he made it to the closet and Jr. looked away instantly. Albedo's teasing laughter reached him from across the room. Jr. flushed a deep red and started to shout something when he felt clothes slamming into his face.

"Wha-" Jr. sputtered, pulling a pair of boxers and a t-shirt away from his face.

"Go on."

Jr. looked up from the clothes and found Albedo back on the bed. He lay on his side, propped up on an elbow. His towel was gone, replaced by a pair of dark boxer briefs that Jr. felt were far too tight. Albedo's half-lidded eyes traced Jr.'s body up and down. He parted his lips slightly and a small laugh slipped through them.

"I'm waiting."

Jr. threw the clothes down with a harsh, angry motion.

"Sorry to disappoint but I won't be staying," Jr. spat. He started for the door. This was insane, even for Albedo. Unless Albedo wanted to fight him, he'd spend the night in one of the guest rooms. The Durandal had plenty to spare and he refused to share this one with this naked, crazed, nightmare Albedo.

Albedo was there before he could make it. Jr. drew a gun at the same time that Albedo pressed his hand against the wall, locking the door.

"You'd leave me wanting. Is there no end to your cruelty?"

"Let me out," Jr. growled. "Wouldn't want to get careless with me again, would you?"

Albedo's eyes flashed. Jr. shot through his shoulder but it didn't stop Albedo's motion. Bullets never did. He clasped Jr.'s face in his hands and forced him to be still. His expression turned hard and serious, completely erasing any semblance of his earlier levity. He didn't try to crush Jr. between his fingers the way Jr. had expected. In fact, his hands were soft and Jr. noticed, gloveless. He had never seen Albedo without clawed gloves. When he curled his fingers under Jr.'s chin his nails were short and dull, human.

"Never," Albedo said, his voice a forceful whisper. Jr. didn't know how to respond. The emotion in Albedo's voice had completely disarmed him. "Please, Rubedo."

One of his thumbs slipped out from under Jr.'s chin and ran across his bottom lip.

"Don't...leave."

Albedo's wound had healed but there was a red trail down his shoulder that ran around the curve of his bicep to drip onto the carpet.

"Don't abandon me again."

The sentence sank deep into Jr. It ate through his anger, his confusion and soured in his gut. He lowered his arm. It was a low blow but it worked, made Jr. sick enough to stop fighting.

"That's not...fair..." Jr. said.

He set his gaze on the floor, unable to turn his head in Albedo's hands.

"All's fair in love and war."

There was no victory in his voice. It was heavy, despondent and when Jr. looked back up Albedo was bending down.

"We play at them both, dancing around endlessly, yearning one for the other in complete madness. Our war, my love, has never been fair."

He was close enough to kiss Jr. but he paused, his breath a shivering mist on Jr.'s skin.

"Why start now?"

Jr. holstered his gun and raised his hands to Albedo's wrists. Albedo allowed him to push his hands away. The agonized expression that flitted over his face hurt but Jr. didn't stop.

"I...know this isn't real," he said, eyes meeting Albedo's. "I don't understand what you expect of me or even who you are. Are you really Albedo? Is this a nightmare? When will things start to fall apart?"

"Whenever you want them to, Rubedo."

Albedo looked absolutely hopeless, as if Jr.'s actions had been a complete rejection. Jr. wasn't sure he'd meant for them to be. He didn't understand this Albedo or even where he was. Things had been simpler when they were trying to tear each other apart.

Jr. looked at the clothes he'd tossed on the floor. He turned around, picked them up and headed toward the shower.

"I'm going to shower. Don't even think about following me."

Albedo perked up a little but stayed silent, eyes glued on Jr.'s retreating form.

Jr. leaned with his back against the sink in the clothes Albedo had given him. His wet hair dripped onto the damp towel around his shoulders. He stared at the floor, arms crossed, as he considered what to do about his current situation.

He knew this world, the one he existed in currently, was not real. Albedo could dress it up as pretty as he wanted but that wouldn't make it real. He wasn't going to be able to convince Jr. that it was real either. If he was waiting for Jr. to relax enough so that he could start destroying his home then it was going to be one hell of a wait.

The desperate way Albedo had stopped him from leaving felt strange, though. Albedo hadn't tried to stop him from leaving, at least not physically. He'd pleaded with him instead of trying to force Jr. to stay. He hadn't pulled down the walls around them or transported them back to the hellish menagerie of their last nightmare. He'd simply...asked him not to leave.

They were two different people; the monster in his nightmares and the man in his bed. This playful, desperate Albedo felt different from the one who'd been tormenting him. The situation was different but that didn't mean Albedo was. If he'd managed to pull Jr.'s guns out of thin air then he was still in control. Jr. looked down at his hands, frowning at his numbers. Jr. could take back control if he had to. He flexed them, curled them into fists and dropped them to his sides. Jr. could play along for a little while. Well, he thought, remembering how effortlessly Albedo had tossed him onto the bed, to a certain extent.

If this Albedo was the same one from his nightmares and not something created from Jr.'s own imagination, then maybe he'd be able to convince him to finally tell him where he was. If Albedo had went through the trouble to recreate the entire Durandal then maybe it meant he was ready to give in. Maybe he really did want to come home.

Jr. felt for their link, sliding along the line that led him to Albedo. He'd opened that connection so much recently that he knew the feel of it almost as well as Gaignun's. Jr. had always envisioned their link like a straight line that connected them. It had always worked that way, even with the mental blocks he and Gaignun had developed, so he was surprised when Albedo's dipped suddenly where the previous painful blockage had existed. One dip turned into another until Jr. was following a rollercoaster; the link sending him through strange loops and sudden curves until he was so lost in them he'd almost forgotten the blockage. By the time he'd remembered that he should have come across it, he had slammed right into Albedo.

Jr. braced against the sink, eyes on the door. Jr. could feel him. He was...real. He was alive! He'd found him!

Jr. felt faint. He turned around, leaned over the sink, tried to get his bearings. He held onto Albedo's connection with a vice grip, afraid that if he let it go Albedo would slip away.

Rubedo?

Jr. froze, knuckles white from holding on to the sink. He sounded sleepy, as if Jr. had awoken him from a deep slumber. He pushed away from the sink and shot out of the bathroom.

Albedo had fallen asleep waiting for Jr. He rolled over, opening tired eyes against the room's light. It was strange to see Albedo so...vulnerable. He rubbed his eyes and sighed; a small little puff escaping between his lips. He looked so defenseless with the blanket pulled up over his shoulders.

"You're...alive," Jr. said, locking eyes with Albedo.

Jr. laughed, a short, wet sound. He held their connection open, eagerly hoping for some kind of feedback from Albedo, just to feel him traveling through it.

Unfortunately, was his response.

Albedo smiled, pulled the blanket back to his waist. For a moment Jr. forgot how dangerous Albedo was. He was so caught up in their connection, at the fact that it had been so easy to finally reach him. He rushed forward, climbing onto the bed. He stopped a few inches away from Albedo, staring down with wide, blue eyes.

"I've been..." Jr. resisted the urge to touch him, to make sure that he was solid. This was still a dream. It didn't matter how real Albedo felt. He was practically a phantom. Touching him wouldn't made him real. "I'm not..."

He shoved both hands into his hair, just to have some way to occupy them. He smiled down at Albedo, still in disbelief. Albedo felt it through the connection, didn't need Jr. to keep stumbling over his words. He pulled the towel away from Jr.'s neck and tossed it somewhere on the floor before pulling Jr. down into a kiss.

Jr. let him. He didn't resist, couldn't have resisted. He was lost in their link, drowning in it. Albedo pulled him down until Jr. was on top of him. Jr. followed Albedo's hands, let him lead him wherever he wanted. Jr. wanted to be there, to exist wherever Albedo wanted him.

Albedo's hands were under his shirt before Jr. registered them. His hands were hot when they slid under his shirt, found his skin. Albedo's skin felt hot everywhere Jr. touched him. He exuded heat and the fact that Jr. could feel it, could feel how alive Albedo truly was, made him dizzy. But Jr. pulled back when one of Albedo's hands slid under his stomach, as if shocked back into awareness.

"Wait," Jr. said, sitting back.

Albedo followed him and sat up, one of his hands on Jr.'s hip, as if he had expected Jr. to react this way and already had plans to talk him back down. Jr. could feel the thoughts bubbling at Albedo's side of the link. He still hadn't put up any blocks, was still living in Albedo's connection. He didn't want to put up barriers but he knew, when Albedo had finally settled, that he wouldn't be able to leave their connection free and open.

He put up a weak one, still in disbelief. When he came back to himself he was sitting in Albedo's lap. Dangerous, he thought. Albedo pressed his forehead against Jr.'s and his body decided to ignore his brain.

"What is it, Rubedo?" Albedo asked playfully. His voice was deep and dark, threatening to dissolve all of Jr.'s hesitance. He brought his free hand to the back of Jr.'s neck. "Afraid of being too loud?"

Loud. Gaignun's exhausted expression. Mary's giggling.

Jr.'s face burned bright red and he shook out of Albedo's grip. He collected what sense he had left. Albedo laughed and grabbed for him again but Jr. slipped away from him and off his lap.

"Stop...I..." Jr. shook his head. "I don't know..."

He tried to face him but found that he couldn't look Albedo in the eyes.

"I still don't understand what the hell is going on."

Jr. slid further back, creating a little more distance between them so that Albedo wouldn't be able to grab him so easily.

"Why make this place? Why not just tell me where you are?"

Albedo reached for him again but Jr. caught his wrist.

"No, answer me."

Albedo smiled; wicked, full of secrets.

"And what will you do if I don't, Rubedo?"

"I'll make you."

"Oh?"

The smile worsened and Jr. felt as if he'd fallen into a trap.

"And how will you manage that?"

Albedo pulled his wrist back and Jr. went with it.

"I've a few ideas."

"Think again," Jr. said with a growl. He let go of Albedo's wrist.

"It's all I think about," Albedo purred, leaning forward. Jr. hadn't created enough distance, had forgotten how damn tall Albedo was. He closed the gap between them effortlessly. "You. You are all consuming. Devouring me. What is left of my body, what is left of my soul. All I want, Rubedo, is to give it to you."

"If that's true," Jr. replied, eyes hard and threatening. "Then you'll tell me where to find the pieces."

Albedo chuckled, "Stop running and perhaps I'll show you."

Albedo grabbed him, pulled Jr. to his chest and fell back onto the bed.

"Wait, Albedo!"

Albedo laughed at Jr.'s struggle.

"Oh, how I've ached for this, Rubedo."

Jr. felt Albedo at the end of their link, knocking on his hastily-constructed defense.

"How little you've changed."

He relaxed his hold, allowing Jr. the space to push away.

Like a memory, hazy and unreal. I'm starved of you.

Albedo's arms were still around him, cradling Jr. in a loose embrace. He's giving me the choice, Jr. thought. Albedo was all quick seconds, taking whatever Jr. would give in the moment and pulling back again. He'd accused Jr. of running but he was doing the same thing.

Unreal? Me? What a joke, Jr. sent back.

Albedo's smile turned suddenly sweet, disarming Jr. He placed a hand against Jr.'s face, running a thumb along his cheek. Albedo acted as if it hurt to look at him, to hold him like this. Jr. felt the pang of it ringing lightly through their link.

A tragedy, Albedo corrected.

His smile faded and Jr. felt the full force of his longing. It took his breath, stuck somewhere in his chest. It hurt.

Stay with me.

He was begging again. Jr. blocked Albedo out. He couldn't handle the weight of his emotions. Hell, Jr. couldn't handle the weight of his own. Albedo didn't protest or argue. He stayed quiet, content to hold his hand against Jr.'s face as he waited for a reply.

Jr. finally dared to look up at Albedo. He looked afraid, fragile, as if Jr.'s rejection would destroy him in ways his violence never could. Yet here he was, giving Jr. the option once again. It could have been violent. He could have tried to force him to stay but he wanted Jr. to accept him. He wanted Jr. to say it. Jr. wasn't sure what he wanted. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been sure about anything. Especially where Albedo was concerned.

The only thing he knew for certain was that this was Albedo. Wherever he was really hiding, this was his mind. This was his true self, the one he wanted Jr. to see.

It didn't feel like a trap but that didn't mean Jr. was safe. He knew what his answer would be before he'd finished the thought. With a great inward sigh he held up his arm and snapped. When the lights went off it felt like a defeat. Albedo's eyes shone through the darkness, wide with delighted surprise.

Jr. braced himself, regretting his decision already. He expected Albedo to swarm him; hands, lips, deep laughter. Instead, he merely pulled Jr. closer, securing him fully into his embrace. Jr. wasn't entirely comfortable with this arrangement either but it was better than the alternative.

"Rubedo," he whispered. He said it with wonder, as if this simple act had been an old, worn-out prayer finally answered. It made Jr. want to sink further into the covers, someplace Albedo wouldn't find him. Fat chance, he thought as Albedo squeezed him closer. Jr. was against Albedo's chest for what felt like the thousandth time that night. He pressed his palm flat against Albedo's breast, over his heart. It pounded violently under his touch, as if it knew whose fingers were pressed against it.

"Rest, mon Rubedo."

As if on command, Jr.'s fingers curled and fell away. He drew his arms inward as Albedo pulled the covers over them. Jr. wanted to stay awake. He couldn't allow himself to trust Albedo so easily, so quickly but he was exhausted. Albedo could feel it. Jr. had been exhausted for months. It felt like years, like eons. Real sleep was clawing at him, pulling him into the comfort of Albedo's embrace. He was too weak to fight it so he didn't.

He'll kill me, Jr. thought as his eyes slid shut. And I'd just lie on my back and let him. What was it all for?

He still didn't have answers. If he were to wake now, in the beach house, he'd be empty handed. The thought sent electric panic through him. What if Albedo was gone. He finally had him. This was his only chance.

"Easy, mon Rubedo."

Albedo must have felt his panic through their link. Jr. felt his hands on his back, under his shirt. Their heat relaxed him, the panic softened and his eyes slid shut again.

"You won't be rid of me so easily."

It felt like a threat.

Nor you I, Jr. sent back before he finally, fully fell asleep.

A/N: I'm sorry for the slow update. We had a COVID outbreak at work and I was one of only three people not exposed. Our company decided we'd be able to handle it alone and they weren't exactly wrong but...uh...long story short, 10 co workers were down and I've worked the last 12 days straight. Everyone's fine. Most of them have returned and no one's in critical condition. I tried to work on this while I had down time but honestly I was just too exhausted to dedicate the work I needed to pour into it. It was written in sections so I hope it turned out alright and connected well. The boys have such a complicated relationship and I tried to handle the beginnings of it with some grace and delicacy but honestly, as tired as I currently am, I feel like I've just been smashing the keys with heavy club hands. Sorry if it seems rushed or the editing is even worse than usual.

Lemons next chapter! I'm not sure when it'll be up but I'm never disappearing again. So if you ever get paranoid that Ty's run off into the ether again, stop and remember that I'm actually just sobbing with my coworkers as we remind each other through tears to "get this bread".

Stay safe and healthy everyone. I'll see you next time!