"Gaignun. Hey, Gaignun!"
Jr.'s voice. Again. It was a comfort this time, a nice change of pace from the rasped sound of their infected brother's ranting to him about himself. It was unnerving how much Albedo knew about him; he considered that imprint of a dream and wondered if there had been more information tacked on, more of what he couldn't understand. He didn't think his feelings were so extreme, yet...
"No need to yell. I'm standing right here." Gaignun seemed to snap out of the trancelike state that had him too quiet during Jr.'s briefing. The smaller U.R.T.V. stared up at Gaignun in disbelief, furrowing his brows. He always had such an attitude, Gaignun thought.
"Don't give me that crap, you were staring off into literal space, ignoring every word I said!" Jr. shook his head, turning around. "What happened to you? You pass out, then you disappear for a few hours and now-"
"Are you that worried, Little Master?" The moniker was almost teasing. "I did not know my presence was so needed. Perhaps you ought to stay in the office with me then, instead of being out in the field keeping everyone safe, commanding the ship, fighting for what you think is right. Would that make you feel better?"
"Don't mock me, asshole," Jr. shot back, looking over his shoulder to scrutinize the other. "You've got this attitude I don't like, and I know it's 'cause of whatever you ran off to do. We've got work to be done here, we can't have the guy who runs the business go AWOL for a few hours without at least telling someone what you're gonna do."
"So you approved my leave just to yell at me for it, is that correct?" Gaignun still held an air of amusement. "You just can't decide what you want today, can you?"
"Will you knock it off already?! I'm tired of this, whatever game you think you're playing!" Jr. drew one of two pistols and pointed it at Gaignun. He seemed more agitated than usual, as though affected by what bothered Gaignun rather than his own annoyance. Gaignun stared down the barrel, unafraid. "You better not be lying to me, you dick. I know when you're planning something, I've lived with you long enough. The question is, are you planning something good? Or something bad?" He cocked it back then, loading a bullet into the chamber. "Well? I've had my fair share of backstabbing. Don't think I won't hesitate to stop another one."
Gaignun stared at his brother for a long moment. Jr. and Albedo were almost complete opposites, one colorful and confident, full of life and anger, the other driven mad yet filled with spite and a deranged happiness that kept him from being angry for too long. He supposed they had their similarities too, both as clingy as he was to a past they could no longer relive. He wanted to stay trapped in the days where the three of them were unaffected by U-DO, too carefree to give a damn about what they were, or what their true purposes were. The days before they figured out Albedo's sick gift. "You wound me, Rubedo." Using their old titles usually meant they were really getting into it. Despite being one to creep into Gaignun's room from time to time, seeking solace in the comfortable arms of someone he knew far too well, Jr. was always starting things, almost always on edge with him. It never seemed that way to anyone else, of course. They bickered as brothers did, and no-one suspected much when they spent most of their time separated. "If you truly believe that then shoot me where I stand. But know that I did not do anything that would jeopardize you, myself, or the Foundation. And if you still don't trust me, that appears to be your own issue."
The response garnered a rather annoyed huff as Jr. relented, popping the bullet out of the chamber and catching it in one swift motion. After pushing his pistol back into the holster, he ran a hand through his hair. "That's what I wanna hear. I just don't like the idea of you lying to me to get me to shut up. And I still wanna know just where you went."
"I think this is a discussion for another time. I have a business to run, you have your mission to keep MOMO under our jurisdiction. We can't let her or the rest of those she accompanies fall into the enemy hands, nor anyone else's. Of course, I am also at your disposal, but I'm not too handy with the steel. Not like you." Gaignun could fight, he knew he could. He could wield a firearm, he had impressive aim and could take on an army if needed, yet the thought of battle physically unnerved him. It wasn't something he wanted to do, not since he'd murdered his infected brothers, protecting the Link Master just as he was designed to.
Surprisingly, Jr. laughed at that. The statement was so foreign coming from Gaignun's mouth. "You been watching old movies too, little bro?"
"I've spent some of my free time perusing. You're very persuasive when it comes to things like that." Gaignun offered Jr. a small smile in return, ignoring the feeling gnawing at him. He hated lying to Jr., he hated his very existence, yet he could not simply kill himself, not yet. Soon his time would come and all would be revealed. He hoped that when it did, Jr. would feel no sorrow. The last thing he wanted was to make him physically and mentally hurt. The last thought radiated from him and into Jr.'s head, the sentiment calming the elder down somewhat.
"Heh, at least someone listens." Jr. snorted softly before becoming somewhat solemn once again. "No more surprise missions, not unless you run 'em by me. Completely, too. Not just 'I gotta go', yanno? Keep it straight with me." Jr.'s gaze was too strong, nearly piercing Gaignun's very core, as if knowing what went on in his head.
"I'll do my best to refrain from any sudden disappearances, only if you calm down some. It's beginning to bother me, how much your mood changes when regarding my loyalty." He felt wrong speaking the statement. It left a rotten taste in his mouth. "You knew I was leaving. I told you. It doesn't matter where I go, so long as I come back. Your suspicions are beginning to rub me the wrong way."
Jr. was even more disbelieving about this; it wasn't often that Gaignun would tell him what made him angry, as he almost never was. It made his chest tighten, heaving a sigh from it. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, okay? I'm just worried is all. You were gone long enough to make me worry." There was something childish about the statement. "An' when I get worried, you know how active my imagination can get... the last thing I need is to lose you or your trust, and I guess that goes for me too, huh."
"Looks like you understand where I am coming from now." Gaignun dipped his head in a mock bow to excuse himself, to which Jr. relented, making his way back down to the bridge and seeming placated enough to leave him entirely alone.
"You must feel so bad, lying to him like that." Albedo's voice rang out in his head, followed by a howl of laughter. "How blissfully ignorant he is." Gaignun cringed at that, a frown settling on his face as he returned to his office.
"How much do you plan to eavesdrop in on? Surely this life can't be so interesting that you devote all of your precious braincells to our petty disagreements."
"I have time before my plan comes into fruition. I like to listen in while I occupy my time with these... well, here." Albedo giggled. "Let me show you..."
Gaignun's vision was suddenly blurred, fading into something that wasn't quite darkness. He turned, but it wasn't himself moving. No, it was Albedo's arms he looked down into, horror overcoming him as he watched the lifeless Realian in Albedo's arms become broken, her head wrenched in a direction it was most certainly not made to go. He responded with an overwhelming feeling of horror, something that made Albedo giggle. "This Kirschwasser was nothing to me, nothing but a toy for me to play with. Don't get so upset."
In Albedo's mind, Gaignun suddenly felt childish. The twins harbored that trait, staying true to their childish mentalities despite the growth in both age and character. Maybe things had never really changed. "Nigredo," Albedo's voice echoes, drifting into something more singsong. "Would you have really stayed with me? If it weren't for Rubedo?"
The question was so faint, so strange. "I told you I wanted to."
"You couldn't though, you wouldn't stay with someone who wanted you dead. You let yourself be hurt by me, made him carry you away. It's not my fault. It was never my fault, not really. You don't understand- It isn't my f-"
Silence. Gaignun felt himself suddenly aware, suddenly back on the Durandal as he was before. Albedo had silenced their connection, putting up a wall that broke the link between them. Gaignun waited for a long moment, processing what had just happened, then slowly began to calm himself. He couldn't let Albedo -who was affiliated with U-TIC, something he had accidentally let slip into their close connection just then- overpower him, not yet. It wouldn't do any of them any good if his use fizzled out so early.
Gaignun was grateful for the silence. It lasted long enough for him to get his work done, to nearly forget about as the hour drew near for him to recharge, to close his eyes and see nothing but the sharp violet gaze that pierced his heart just as Jr.'s had only hours before. "I won't help you with the 100-series," Gaignun spoke through the link that was not so closely blocked off. It seemed as though Albedo's bout of insanity had subsided enough to let him back in. "But I can help you with your true desire. Your hatred-powered obsession of your own. You cry for Rubedo, and yet, you crave his destruction."
"At least I'm not daydreaming about-"
"Enough."
"You always did have an air of bossiness around you, Nigredo. It almost makes it too easy to bend the knee to you. But, as you wish. That's what you want to hear, isn't it...?" Albedo's words echoed into silence once more, but Gaignun could still feel him there, watching. Waiting. Gaignun took the small victory with him to sleep, his dreams nothing but blackness as the hours wasted away.