Jr. gasped for air once the darkness retreated.
"Damn it," he cursed, "damn it!"
He'd lost Albedo again. He'd wasted his second chance. Despite the opportunity he'd received, Jr. hadn't been able to do anything.
Jr.'s hands balled into fists, shaking. How could Albedo be dead? It didn't even make sense. He couldn't die. It wasn't fair!
"…Little Master?"
Jr.'s head snapped up. There stood Mary and Shelley, among the sea of monitors and red paneling.
He was back on the Durandal.
"Mary," he said, heart suddenly rising with bitter hope, "what time is it?"
He could feel something there. Please, let this be another chance-
"1900 hours, but- Little Master, are you alright?"
The air left Jr.'s chest. His other heartbeat thumped strong there.
He was back again. He had another chance.
The rush of relief left him quickly, as Jr. turned to determination and gritted his teeth. This time, Albedo wouldn't die. Jr. wouldn't let him.
No one would stand in his way this time.
"I'm great." He said, tone even, as he looked up at the time-space anomaly pulsing above. "Just great."
"You're not-" Shelley exchanged a look with her sister. Mary's hand landed on her hip.
"You're not thinkin' of goin' and seein' him, are ya?"
"Yeah, I am." Jr. strode past them, footfalls heavy. He didn't have the patience for all this again. He could hear Mary and Shelley calling for him even as he left the bridge, and it pained him a little, but he couldn't stop now.
It was like he told Albedo last time: no more games. Jr. didn't know how many tries he had for this, and he wasn't going to lose another one to Albedo toying with him.
This time, Jr. was going to make Albedo see reason. He was gonna drag his brother back to the Durandal if it was the last thing he ever did.
"Jr.!"
He only made eye contact with MOMO briefly.
"I'm going to see him. You can't stop me."
Jr. didn't care to wait for her reply, instead hoisting himself up into his craft. As he flew, Jr. replayed the events of the past few hours in his head, thoughts slowly crystallizing.
Now that Albedo had died a second time, Jr. knew it hadn't been an accident the first. Jr. hadn't lost control of his temper, or of red dragon with U-DO so near. This was intentional. Albedo was goading him on, trying to force them into fighting.
Fine. If that damn Albedo wanted a fight, Jr. would give him a fight. Albedo would get the best fight he's ever had.
When Jr. landed, his hands were on his pistols in seconds. Albedo was there to greet him again.
"So, you made it," he said, smile wide and cruel.
"You've got no idea." Jr. muttered.
"And alone, too," Albedo observed with a tilt of his head. "No friends this time, Rubedo?"
Here he went again, taunting Jr.. He didn't need to this time. Jr. was already more than pissed off.
"I said cut the crap, Albedo." Jr. snarled. "Take me to wherever you are. I'm not in the mood for this."
"Rubedo," Albedo said with a faux gasp. "So rude-! What sort of example is that, for your younger brothers?"
Jr. leveled one of his pistols at Albedo's head.
"Don't make me repeat myself." He said. "Now, Albedo."
He hoped that Albedo wouldn't make him pull the trigger. Albedo would recover quickly, like he always did, but Jr. didn't know if he could stomach hurting his brother right now.
Albedo, thankfully, seemed amused by Jr.'s antics. He laughed raucously, pressing his forehead to the barrel of the gun and staring there into Jr.'s eyes.
"You're really getting into this, Rubedo." Albedo purred, eyes turned thin and cruel. Before Jr. could protest, the scene melted away and Jr. found himself in Albedo's makeshift throne room.
If Jr. had strode through here last time, he was tearing through the room now. He made short work of the hallway, barreling towards Albedo.
"Rubedo," Albedo began, but Jr. didn't let him finish. He wasn't in the mood for a debate.
"Stop it," he interrupted, levelling a pistol shot at one of the veinous cords. "Stop it, stop it, stop it!"
They burst one by one, buckling under each subsequent bullet. Albedo laughed, shocked, as Jr. stepped up to his throne and pressed the barrel of his pistol to Albedo's forehead again.
"It's over." Jr. said.
"What a foul mood you're in," Albedo mused, looking up at Jr. with a smile in his eyes.
"I'm having a bit of a shitty day."
Albedo's grin was lopsided. "I can tell. Such fire in your eyes… I've missed it."
"You're gonna stop whatever crap you're doing." Jr. said authoritatively. "Now."
"What a fine weapon you make… like those human implements you carry, but so much more. Never has death looked so tempting."
"I'm serious, Albedo!"
"Show me." Albedo's eyes shone. "Can you really kill me, Rubedo?"
"I'm not here to-!" Jr. almost bit his tongue off in frustration. "Damn it! I'm not gonna kill you."
"Have you forgotten, Rubedo?" Laughter bubbled up under his words. "Have you forgotten all I've done? All I intend to do? Rage burns inside of you… fill me with your rage!"
Jr.'s head felt liable to implode. What was Albedo trying to do here? He was being so stupid! If he died here, he couldn't come back! Jr. wouldn't let him die, not now, and not ever, so he could quit trying!
"Why," he growled, "do you want to die so damn bad?!"
Albedo burst into hysterical laughter.
"What I want? This is about what you want, Rubedo."
He rose then, to his full height, towering over Jr.. Even so, Jr.'s pistol remained aimed at Albedo's forehead, not faltering for a second.
"How could you possibly know what I want?" Jr. spat. Albedo had no idea what he was going through.
"You are the weapon, and I your mark," Albedo stepped forwards, as though daring him to pull the trigger. "It goes deeper than your consciousness, Rubedo. You want to rip me apart with your own two hands."
"I don't!"
"It's in your nature, Rubedo."
"Shut up." Jr. snapped. "Stop talking. You're coming back with me, Albedo. You aren't dying here."
"I hated her, you know?" Albedo leaned in, voice low, like he was sharing a secret. "That little puppet, ma petite peche. Though I suppose you were really the puppet, jerked around every time she gave you a little smile-"
"Stop changing the subject!"
"You can feel it, can't you, Rubedo?" Albedo murmured. "Your hatred… it's why you're here, after all."
"No, damn it! Damn you!" Jr. tore his pistol away from Albedo. "I don't hate you!"
Albedo laughed, like this was all a joke to him, and Jr. seethed. This was his life they were talking about!
Jr. gnashed his teeth. He knew Albedo wouldn't listen to him. He never did.
He pulled the trigger.
Albedo's body lurched back, head re-forming instantly. He was still laughing.
"What is this, Rubedo, if not hatred? Or are we so monstrous that this is our love?"
"Shut up!"
Jr. poured his anger into every attack, every squeeze of his trigger and barb of ether. If Albedo wasn't going to listen, Jr. was going to make him listen. He was going to beat it into Albedo.
Albedo answered him in turn, with ether bolts of his own and the swipe of his claws. Even in a haze of anger Jr. marked that Albedo wasn't fighting with his usual strength- he wasn't attacking or defending, only fighting enough for Jr. not to notice the oddity.
Too bad. This time, he did notice.
"Fight back!" Jr. snarled in-between bullets. "Come on! 'Rubedo, you're so weak.' 'Rubedo, you don't remember how to kill'. Have you forgotten how to fight now?!"
Albedo paused for a moment to laugh, frenzied, as his arms regenerated. Jr. didn't find it so funny.
"If you want a fight so much, then give me a damn fight!"
Albedo's head rose up, as he drew back to his full height. Albedo brushed away the blood trickling from his mouth, tongue darting out to the smeared remains.
"Anything for you, Rubedo," he said.
He lunged at Jr.
Now it was a real fight. Albedo's claws came in from all directions, lightning quick, forcing Jr. to duck and spin. If Jr. didn't know any better he might think Albedo was regenerating more quickly than before, arms coming back within seconds of being shot to shreds.
He was using the full force of his body, too, at least twice as large as Jr.'s. His leg swept underneath Jr.'s, knocking him to the ground. Jr. fired a few bullets into Albedo's head for the temporary distraction, enough time to roll to his feet again.
"That's more like it," Jr. muttered to himself. Albedo came in quickly again with flashes of lighting at his fingertips, forcing Jr. to dodge.
Albedo was relentless. He was wild, body set alight with U-DO's energy, eyes manic. The air was thick with bullets and bolts of ether traded back and forth. Jr.'s heart was pumping faster than it ever had. His eyes trained on Albedo, focus unbroken as he lost himself in the fight.
Distantly, Jr. wondered how long they could keep this up. They were URTVs, built for this very purpose, but regenerating had to take up a lot of energy. His own muscles were beginning to falter, but the adrenaline still had him on his feet.
While Jr. was thinking, Albedo's hand collided with his wrist. Albedo twisted his hand, smile wicked, before Jr. could knock his shoulder out with his other gun. The pistol from his left hand went clattering across the room.
As Jr.'s eyes followed it, wide with alarm, Albedo's boot connected with his right hand. Newly disarmed, Jr. had no choice but to duck under Albedo's grab. He cursed to himself.
Stupid bastard! Why did he have to make everything so difficult? Jr. was trying to help him!
Hand to hand combat would be impossible, considering how muscular Albedo was and how stunted Jr. was. Instead, Jr. pelted him with ice ether, forcing Albedo to stagger back. A few blasts to Albedo's eyes were enough to render him immobile, long enough for Jr. to dash and slide over to one of his pistols.
Laid on the floor, Jr. took aim at Albedo's legs. They disintegrated under him, and Albedo fell backwards to the ground with a thunk as Jr. scrambled to his feet.
Albedo wasn't moving. Jr. took the moment to catch his breath, bending over and laughing a little between gasps.
"Had enough yet?"
Albedo hummed from where he laid, breath labored. Jr. shook his head.
The adrenaline was waning. He was relieved that this was over, but now he could remember his mission. Albedo had to listen to him now.
Albedo laid his head back. "What fun."
Jr. stepped closer, shoulders heaving, as Albedo continued to babble.
"Looks like you've won, Rubedo. You get to finish this."
Jr. couldn't believe Albedo was still talking about dying. He slammed his guns back in their holsters, shaking his head.
"I didn't come to kill you! I came to save you, you idiot."
"This façade of heroism doesn't suit you at all, Rubedo." Albedo tittered. "I know what this really is… you're afraid. You don't know if you can do it. You're preparing to run again."
"No! That's not it!"
U-DO's waves were growing more powerful. Jr. dug his nails into his arms, trying to focus on the pain- anything but the fury already burning in his gut, the frustration that had been building ever since he'd landed here the first time.
Why wasn't this working? Why couldn't Albedo just shut up and listen? Jr. couldn't talk him out of it, he couldn't beat it out of him, nothing was working!
Jr. didn't to win. He didn't want any of this. All he wanted was Albedo, his little brother, living by his side as he had all those years ago. They belonged together. Jr. couldn't endure this world alone.
It rose up in Jr. quickly, building up in his throat. He wrenched his mouth shut, teeth clacking, in an attempt to swallow it down.
"It's because I care about you!"
Deep inside, he knew it was already too late. Red dragon was taking over. It was more powerful than Jr. had ever felt it before, eviscerating every part of his body. Holding it in was impossible. Jr. was burning alive.
When Jr. looked up, the entire room was drenched in swirling red flame. All of the wrath inside of him had combusted, forming an explosive mass. Even Albedo looked alarmed at the buildup of power, staring at Jr. with wide eyes.
Jr. smiled, wan. "Even after everything, I don't want you to die."
The room exploded in a burst of light and sound, before everything went dark once more.