Jr. was back on the Durandal.

He straightened, despite the swirl of emotions tumbling inside of him. Stronger than all of it, stronger than anything he'd ever experienced before, was how he felt about Albedo.

Jr. loved Albedo. He was going to make it up to him, do everything he could for him.

There had to be a happy ending for them.

"I'm going," he said before Mary could look at him strangely, or comment on how disoriented he looked. "I'm going to him."

"L-little master!" Mary was more shocked than he'd ever seen her. She exchanged a look with Shelley, who nervously went back to her keyboard.

"Don't try and stop me," Jr. said, headed straight for the lift. Mary blocked his way.

"What on earth are you talkin' about?" She asked, arms spread wide. "You can't go alone!"

Jr. had, already. He had so many times.

"He needs me!" Jr. said, impassioned. "That's what this is about- it's always been about. I have to show him I care-"

He didn't know why he was explaining, but something in him needed to. Someone had to listen, and Mary wouldn't remember this next cycle anyways.

"Maybe you should lie down," Shelley suggested. When Mary looked back at her, Jr. took the opportunity to dash past.

"I'm sorry," he said, turning back to face them as he walked, "I really am. I've just got to keep going, I have to-"

Arms fastened around him, and all of a sudden Jr. was off his feet.

"What- hey!" Jr. thrashed, kicking at the air.

He hadn't prepared for this.

"The hell's wrong with you? Lemme go!"

"I was requested to help restrain you." Ziggy's voice explained. Jr. huffed. So that's what Shelley had been typing about.

"Hey!" he protested. "Who's in charge, here?!"

"Gaignun." Shelley said matter-of-factly. "Who would want you to rest, right now."

"That's bullshit! That's-"

Nobody was listening. Ziggy had slung Jr. over his shoulder uncaringly, and began to set off for Jr.'s room.

"Thanks, Ziggy!" Jr. heard Mary call. He cussed some more, for good measure.

What the hell was this?! He knew they wouldn't approve of him going, but they hadn't tried to stop him before. Jr. sighed, head drooping. He supposed he'd gotten overconfident. He'd done this many times, but he still had to be careful.

Knowing everyone would soon forget this didn't make it any less mortifying.

"Ziggy," Jr. attempted, "Put me down."

"No."

Jr. sighed. There wasn't much to argue with there.

"I'm your boss!"

"Please settle down."

Jr. could scream, he really could. He wasn't actually a child! Why did people keep forgetting that?

Before long, he was gently deposited on the floor. As he scrambled to his feet, Ziggy turned back with sympathy in his eyes.

"Take it easy, Jr." he said, gruff but honest. "You've been through a lot. We'll figure out what to do with Albedo."

"No!" That was the last thing Jr. wanted to hear. "You can't-"

Before he could dash to it, the door had closed and locked. Jr. cussed a lot more.

They didn't even have a chance of figuring this out. Jr. was the only one Albedo listened to. He hadn't even figured it out yet!

"Lemme out!" Jr. shouted, thumping his fist against the door. "C'mon!"

Not now! They couldn't do this now! They couldn't do this period, Jr. was supposed to be in charge here!

Jr. leaned his forehead against the door, panting. How could this be happening?

"I can't abandon him again!" he shouted in desperation. "Don't you understand?"

He was pretty damn sure no one was listening, but it still felt good to say.

Jr. pulled away from the door. He had to find a way out of here.

The first thing he did was tap at the console. Jr. was certain they'd have changed the override code already, but it didn't hurt to try.

It hurt a little to fail, though.

"Ugh!"

Jr. slammed his head down. He'd never tried avoiding Albedo entirely. What would happen if he didn't go at all? Would the time-space anomaly continue expanding?

Then what would happen? Would the time loop get worse? Would everyone begin to repeat these past few hours?

Jr. didn't want to find out. He had to stop this now.

He sighed. The security on the Durandal was pretty damn good, if he did say so himself, but Jr. knew the system in and out. It'd take him awhile, but he could probably hack through. He knew exactly where the weak points were.

Jr. would have to act fast if he didn't want them to notice- or worse, try something to fix the space-time anomaly themselves. Renewed with stubborn determination, he got to work.

It ended up not as bad as he was expecting. He just had to override the lock on his door for a little while- and his door was heavily monitored, sure, but they hadn't had enough time to change every admin password. It took awhile, but Jr. finally managed to wrench the door open.

He poked his head out, checking both sides of the hallway. No one was there. Jr. exhaled in relief.

It was almost nostalgic, sneaking around the Durandal like this. It reminded him of the time they all got arrested.

No one knew this ship better than Jr.

He was tantalizingly close to the hangar bay when he heard footsteps approaching. Jr. tore back around the corner he had just taken, pressing himself flat against the wall and holding his breath.

Please, don't have heard him.

"…Jr.?"

Jr. cussed inside of his head, thunking it against the wall. He'd been caught.

It was chaos' eyes that found him, peering around the corner with muted curiosity. "What are you doing here…?"

"chaos," Jr. exhaled. He was strangely relieved. chaos was always impossible to understand. Maybe he would be sympathetic. "Listen. It's all a misunderstanding. I'm not crazy."

chaos' expression was indulgent. "I don't think anyone thinks you're crazy."

"It doesn't matter!" Jr. shook his head, eager to change the subject. "There's something I have to do. It'd be too hard to explain, but I have to do it."

chaos always had this weird look about him, like he knew more than he should. Right now, as his teal eyes zeroed in on Jr.'s, Jr. was suddenly convinced that he knew everything- about the time loop, about him and Albedo, about everything Jr. was feeling.

"Do you think you have an answer?" he asked. "To your problem, I mean."

Jr. was overcome with the sudden urge to be honest.

"Not really," he admitted. "But I'll figure it out, I'm sure."

chaos nodded, and Jr. was struck with the feeling that he'd passed some kind of test.

"I won't tell them where you've gone," chaos offered. Jr. was nearly overcome with relief.

"Thanks," he said, headed straight for the hangar. He wasn't even surprised to find MOMO waiting there.

"I knew you'd escape," she said, though meekly. Jr. gave her the best smile he could muster right now.

"Takes more than that to keep me down," he said.

"Ziggy says you're sick."

"I'm not sick. They don't understand."

"I'd like to understand."

Fresh guilt welled up in Jr., building anew. He hated to brush off his family and friends like this, he really did. They were just trying to keep him safe, no matter how frustrating their methods were.

"One day, I'll explain, alright?" he said. "I'll come back, and I'll tell you everything."

MOMO didn't seem satisfied with that, but she did back down.

"Alright," she said. "if you promise."

"I promise," Jr. said. And he would keep his promise, even if MOMO didn't remember it.

Speeding off to the space-time anomaly was almost a relief this time. The sight of Albedo waiting for him was familiar now, just as it was to greet him and be greeted in turn.

It was almost like a routine.

"Albedo," Jr. said, "Take me to wherever you are. Let's talk."

Albedo laughed at him.

"Talk," he repeated, voice high and mocking. "You want to talk, Rubedo? Please. I know what you're really here for… you coward."

His derision was almost quaint.

"I don't wanna see any of this anymore, Albedo." Jr. said- not harshly, but not faltering either. He just had to keep steady. "Not you digging graves, or beating up Sakura, or pretending to be me- none of it. Just take me to your throne room."

Albedo blinked in barely camouflaged surprise. He must be shocked- there was no way Jr. could have known all Albedo was planning to show him.

"Just what are you doing, Rubedo?" he asked, finally.

"Levelling the playing field." Jr. said. "C'mon."

He walked first into the portal, wondering just what had come over him. Just like with chaos, he'd felt a sudden and undeniable impulse to just tell the truth.

Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea.

Jr. had never been more glad to see Albedo's twisted throne room. He made straight for Albedo once again, never breaking eye contact.

"Welcome, Rubedo." Albedo said, an eyebrow quirked. "I trust it is to your liking…?"

He was curious, Jr. could tell. He wanted to hear how Jr. knew of his plans.

"Eh," Jr. shrugged. "I've seen better."

"And yet, this is the peak of our existence," Albedo breathed, lifting his arms to the sky. "The dawn of a new age shaped by my very hand-!"

Jr. shook his head. "That's enough."

Albedo cackled. "Enough? I've only just begun, and you're having cold feet already?"

"No," Jr. said. "I've heard it all. I've asked, and listened, and you're gonna listen to me now."

Albedo seemed prodded into silence by the sheer force of Jr.'s words. Jr. stepped forwards as he continued

"You know where I've been?" he asked. "The shit I've seen? I think I'm the one beyond human comprehension, now."

Jr. stopped in his tracks, mind racing. He didn't know how he could even begin explaining all this. Would Albedo even believe him?

"I've already been here," Jr. said simply. "Four… five times, now? I watched you die, Albedo. I know it's what you're here to do."

Albedo's hand shifted to cover his mouth, thoughtful, and his eyes turned cloudy.

"Over and over again, you kept dying and it was always my fault…" Jr. felt his fists clench, nails digging into his skin. "I kept coming back, though. I realized that I didn't really come to stop you. I wanted to save you."

He had to make Albedo believe him, listen to him, but more than that Jr. needed Albedo to truly understand. Jr.'s mind raced at the very thought of it. How could he make Albedo understand with words alone? Talking was never enough between them two.

It was as the impossible task loomed over Jr. that it finally came to him, a solution so simple he couldn't believe it had taken him this long.

Jr. opened their link.

He couldn't believe he hadn't even thought of it, all this time, not since he had been racked with grief at very first. It had been fourteen years since they'd shared their thoughts. Jr. closed his eyes, focusing his energy on undoing the seal.

It was easier than he expected- familiar, almost nostalgic. Signaling Albedo was effortless, impossible to forget. He felt natural in Jr.'s mind. They belonged there, linked together.

Albedo welcomed him with open arms. Jr. realized, belatedly, that Albedo had never put any sort of block on their link at all.

It had only been Jr.

Pushing past the sting of guilt, Jr. shared everything of the past day with Albedo- every thought, sight, sound, sensation. Albedo saw the arguments, the battles, the honest words and the gentle embraces.

Albedo's head leaned into his palm. He blinked, shocked, processing it all.

"I-" he finally said. "I didn't know you-"

"I do care that much." Jr. said. He smiled, as strongly as he could.

Albedo smiled in return, though more restrained. After a moment of thought, he shifted with a light chuckle.

"…you really broke out of your own room to see me?"

"Don't get me started." Jr. grumbled.

Albedo didn't need to talk. Jr. still heard the thought that flitted across his mind.

Like a classic romance.

"Shut up," Jr. said aloud. Still, he smiled. It was nice to hear Albedo's thoughts again.

He hadn't realized how much he'd missed them.

Jr. wasn't afraid when Albedo stood and came near, despite all his pretenses of conquest and U-DO. Those were long forgotten as Albedo seated himself on the steps below his throne, patting just beside him.

Jr. took the seat.

"I did it all for you," Jr. explained. Though Albedo closed his eyes, Jr. could feel he was still listening.

"Try after try…" Jr. said, mouth feeling dry. "-and even if I can't save you, I'm going to keep on trying. Maybe I'll be here forever. Maybe it's what I deserve."

"I hardly think so." Albedo said softly. "My poor dragon…"

He took Jr. into his arms, then, holding Jr. to his broad chest. Jr.'s heart choked up. It was always him comforting Albedo, him playing the caring older brother. This was nice, too. Jr. let go of the tension in his shoulders, letting Albedo cradle him close.

"Your dues have been paid." He heard Albedo say near his ear. "Torment yourself not with sins already forgiven, Rubedo."

"I still can't save you," Jr. mumbled, chin rested on Albedo's shoulder. "I just keep failing you, over and over again. I do care, I promise."

He could feel Albedo's heart pressed against his. It beat so strongly- proof that Albedo was still alive.

Having him so near filled Jr. with a peace he hadn't felt in years. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to let go, not to be strung up with tension, to feel Albedo's heartbeat, his other half, lulling him in gentle rhythm.

"Rubedo," Albedo said, the name he said so often it must always lie on his tongue, yet with enough tender force for Jr. to fall silent. "Listen."

It was like water pouring from a faucet. Jr. could feel all Albedo was thinking- about his immortality, his infection by U-DO's waves, the conflict between their powers even now as they spoke. There was no practical way for him to survive now, after the choices he had made.

More than that, however, Jr. could feel a quiet sort of despair- once wild and frantic, screaming and clawing, but now hardened into a terrible little burden. It was something Albedo carried, so long he hardly noticed it anymore, but still so heavy, tearing at his very being.

Albedo would outlive Jr. He would bury him, and mourn him, but never join him, forced to wander the universe for all eternity. They would be forever rendered separate, the cruelest fate possible for two halves of a whole.

Albedo was pulling at Jr.'s own memories, now, and Jr. was swept with the same feeling he'd experienced in the third loop. Indulgence washed over him. He could let Albedo have what he wanted, help him find peace at last. All Albedo wanted was for it to be Jr., to rest at his firm, gentle hands.

It sank in Jr., painful, the very thing he had been dreading all this time.

This was the only way to save Albedo.

"Don't you want to come back with me?" Jr. asked, betrayed. He could feel the tears coming back, though whether they were from frustration or sadness he didn't know.

How wasn't this enough? How could Albedo still not understand?

"Rubedo-"

"No!" Jr. shouted, pushing Albedo back. "No. I'm not even gonna listen to what you have to say, because it's wrong, it's all wrong- it's bullshit! I don't know what you think this is, but of course I want you around! Haven't I proven that?"

Albedo still seemed taken aback by the assertion, or perhaps by the force of it, staring at Jr. with contemplative eyes.

"I know what it is I ask of you," Albedo said. "But please, Rubedo. It is already fait accompli. Make this your last attempt."

"It isn't! Nothing is set in stone. Damn it, Albedo, we can do whatever we want! We don't have to listen to the Yuriev Institute or U-TIC or- anyone!"

"Rubedo."

Jr. could feel the direction of Albedo's thoughts, arriving at the heat building in his body. Red dragon was eating at Albedo already, sapping his life force.

Jr. scooted backwards hastily.

"We can find a way to fix this," he said. "We have all sorts of research on the Durandal. I know a ton of scientists. There's nothing they can't do."

"And your allies would jump to such a task?" Albedo asked, an eyebrow quirked. "They think you mad already, Rubedo."

Jr. chewed on his lip. Right. This timeline hadn't gone so smoothly.

"It doesn't matter," he said, shaking his head. "We can make anything work if we both want it enough."

"This is what I want, Rubedo." Albedo said. His eyes traveled about the room, thoughtful.

Even though they were talking, even though Albedo was being honest, Jr. still felt like he was going in circles. He bit the budding frustration down.

"Don't you care about me?" Jr. argued back. "I know you do. So why? Why are you pushing me away?"

Even after all this time, he still didn't understand what Albedo was after. Like Jr. had said, there had to be a way to fix Albedo buried somewhere in the endless galaxy. Why was he so stubbornly clinging to this premature death? Why would he do this to them? They had reconciled with one another, so why couldn't they be together again?

When Albedo reached for him, Jr. wasn't strong enough to pull away. Albedo brought Jr. to him again with gentle insistence, tilting his chin up with long fingers.

Their second kiss was less desperate than their first. Albedo seemed so fragile now, like the smallest breath might blow him away. Yet, he was warm, and his lips chapped but soft, and Jr. could smell his familiar sweet notes under the omnipresent scent of blood.

Jr. made a noise of protest when Albedo pulled away, too quickly.

"Of course I do." Albedo murmured. "I've never loved anything but you, Rubedo."

"So why…?" Jr. repeated, insistent.

"Oh, Rubedo," Albedo said, tone dancing with light mockery. "I've already told you."

Back to making no damn sense. Jr. was almost nostalgic.

Albedo leaned closer, touching their foreheads together. "Rubedo, for me… live."

"Not without you." Jr. protested. "I'm not giving up, Albedo. You know how stubborn I am."

Albedo chuckled. "We both are."

"I'm the leader," Jr. argued, a small smile on his lips. "You have to listen to me. I'm older, too."

"Ah, but Rubedo," Albedo countered. "I'm taller."

"That's no fair."

"All's fair in love and war."

"Which is this?"

Albedo's eyes shone. "Is there a difference, for us?"

Jr. exhaled, heavy. "No."

His head spun. This was the longest he had ever lingered, and he had no idea what to do. He couldn't convince Albedo, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let him die, either.

Jr. was realizing, the longer he fought here, that there was nothing he wanted more than Albedo. He couldn't just return to the Durandal, pretending that none of this had ever happened and Albedo had never existed.

It was strange, considering all he had done, but Jr. couldn't imagine his life without Albedo. Even through all those years when they were apart, Jr. could feel his brother's heartbeat in his chest- a reminder that he still lived, that one day they would meet again. It had felt like a threat, then, but now Jr. knew better.

They needed each other.

"Isn't fate cruel?" Albedo asked, eyes sliding shut. He had heard Jr.'s thoughts. "One of us must live without the other."

"There has to be a solution," Jr. argued. He felt like he'd said it a million times. "I know you're scared, but there has to be something. Now we know you can die- I don't have to kill you, Albedo!"

"What a tempestuous mistress faith is…" Albedo murmured. "Or that heady drought, optimism. I know too well the machinations of fate."

"Don't be like that." Jr. was sick of assuming the worst. Even if there wasn't a solution, he was going to make this work. "I can take you back to the Durandal, and we can figure something out. We can be together."

"He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf."

"Or a boy's love," Jr. countered. "Forgot that King Lear's my favorite?"

"No. Never."

Albedo's eyes were so genuine they hurt to look at.

"What do we do, Albedo?" Jr. finally asked. They would keep arguing back and forth forever if they couldn't find some way to compromise.

"Can't live together, can't live apart…" Albedo chuckled. "What a curious conundrum we are."

Jr. huffed. He hadn't wanted to hear Albedo's droll musings right now.

Albedo sensed his dissatisfaction easily.

"I am always with you, Rubedo," he amended. His fingers came to rest on Jr.'s chest, tapping at the heart that laid there. "I am the heart in your chest, the very breath in your lungs. We are one."

"That doesn't matter if you're dead." Jr. shook his head, clutching onto Albedo's hand. "Then you won't be there- I'll never talk to you again- Albedo, I don't want to be alone-"

His thoughts spun out of his control. He must sound so pathetic, so childish.

His eyes stung with tears. Embarrassment, grief, Jr. couldn't track why anymore. He tried to blink them back.

"I guess I was afraid after all, huh?"

"You are no coward, Rubedo." Albedo said. His fingers wrapped around Jr.'s hand, squeezing it once before drawing back. "You will be brave for us both."

"Albedo-"

"Look, Rubedo."

Jr. did. He could see the space-time anomaly fracturing around them, cracking and fading into tiny pieces.

His heart seized with panic, but he could feel Albedo's beating serene. He wasn't concerned- of course he wasn't, this was what he wanted. Was there even a way to escape?

"This is the end." Albedo said. Jr. shook his head wildly, but somehow he could sense that Albedo was right. His mission was over.

There would be no other tries.

Jr. didn't regret it. Even if these attempts had been a fool's errand, he had to try. He couldn't regret a moment he'd spent with Albedo.

And yet, this time was different. Jr. didn't know what to expect as the time-space anomaly warped and bent, as hot and cold each beat at his back and the air suddenly became difficult to breathe.

"I won't let it be. I won't leave you again." Jr. insisted.

Jr. should have clung onto Albedo long before this. He should have taken Albedo's hand again, 14 years overdue, yet this time tight enough that he might never let go. Even now, he was tempted to pull Albedo close, but knew more than anything that a force of nature couldn't be hurried.

Love was no different.

The darkness was coming fast. Perhaps the anomaly always collapsed like this, and Albedo had never lived long enough for them to see it.

Jr. barely even saw it, the tornado whirling around them. Albedo was his whole world, now. Jr. lost himself in the soft glow of Albedo's violet eyes.

"Come back with me," he said, one last time, "okay?"

Albedo hesitated. Contemplation darted across his features, blurring and warping as time itself collapsed around them.

Jr. wasn't sure, but he thought he saw Albedo reaching out as the darkness swept forward, drowning the both of them together again.

Fait accompli is a French phrase, meaning "predetermined". Albedo and Jr. quote a bit of King Lear to each other as well, the full quote being: "He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath." Jr. actually references King Lear in his very first appearance in Episode I.

Thank you for reading!