There was no protocol for a sick URTV.
The scientists at the Yuriev Institute seemed surprised he could get sick at all, really, and Rubedo didn't know what to tell them. All he knew was that he was aching and tired, shaking like a leaf despite the temperature he was running.
He didn't know how many samples and tests it would take to diagnose him, but he was more than tired of being prodded at. Rubedo breathed a sigh of relief when the scientists finally decided it would be safest to quarantine him in an empty bedroom to sleep it off.
Rubedo flopped onto the bed, wrapping himself in the pile of blankets and slumping against the headboard. Ordinarily, he would be pissed to miss training, but Nigredo had barely been able to get him out of bed this morning. He hadn't seen Albedo all day, but that was hardly surprising. He'd been so weird lately, alternating between clinging to Rubedo and wanting nothing more than to be alone.
Rubedo wanted to spend time with his brothers and Sakura, but more than that he wanted sleep, and to breathe without all this gunk in his head. He was a sad, sniffling wreck, and maybe it was better if the others didn't see him like this.
Rubedo blinked slow and languid, eyes bleary. He had just made up his mind to lie back and attempt sleep when the door opened with a soft click.
"Rubedo?"
Rubedo shot forwards. He would know that voice anywhere.
"Albedo," he said numbly, throat coated with congestion.
"What are you doing here?" The door clicked shut behind Albedo. "I found you in our link. You don't… feel right. What's going on?"
"I'm just sick." Rubedo sighed. His brother had a tendency to fret. "They said I should rest for awhile."
Albedo's voice sounded liable to break. "…sick?"
"Yeah. You shouldn't be in here anyways," Rubedo muttered. "You could get sick too."
Albedo stared back with unblinking lavender eyes, and Rubedo cursed quietly. Right. If Albedo could blow his own head off and be fine, he probably couldn't actually get sick.
"Lucky," he muttered instead. "Wish I couldn't get sick. This just sucks."
As though to prove his point, a particularly violent sneeze rocked his body. Rubedo was certain he could feel his brain rattling around in his skull. He blinked, languid, and sniffled uselessly against the congestion.
By the time he had worked the glaze from his eyes, Albedo had adopted his kicked puppy look. His eyes were wide, and eyebrows knit in clear worry.
His alarm rose up through their link like quicksand, yanking at Rubedo and anchoring him in place. Rubedo swayed from the intensity of it.
Albedo looked back up at him, before shouting rather suddenly.
"If I could get sick for you, I would!"
"Aww, Albedo," Rubedo said numbly. Being sick was terrible, don't get him wrong, but he didn't want to watch his little brother suffer, either. "I'm the linkmaster. It's my job to keep everyone safe. Better me than you."
That was definitely the wrong thing to say. Albedo's eyes flooded with tears, and Rubedo chewed on the inside of his mouth. Drat.
"Don't say that!" Albedo whimpered. "You can d-die, and I can't!"
"That doesn't mean you should be in pain all the time." Rubedo huffed. "You still… feel pain, don't you?"
His head was too fuzzy for this conversation, but he was genuinely curious, and Albedo didn't look like he was leaving anytime soon.
Albedo shook his head. "But I regenerate! It's different."
"It's not." Rubedo sniffled, blinking dazedly. He could hardly focus on their conversation. "Even if you recover quickly, it still hurts. You shouldn't have to hurt. I'll protect you, I promise."
It was kind of a stupid promise right now, when he was on the verge of falling asleep and far too weak to do much more than talk. Albedo probably would've noticed the hypocrisy even without their link, staring at Rubedo incredulously.
"How c-can you, when you're like this?!" He caught himself as his voice began to raise, shifting back down to a whisper. "You can't even stand!"
"I've gotten hurt before." Rubedo grumbled. "I'm still strong."
Rubedo was their leader. He knew how to handle pain. He could work through anything. He didn't need help from anyone, much less the most delicate person he knew.
It was weird that Albedo had this special ability. He was hurt so easily- by Rubedo almost being late for training! Rubedo supposed it was balance. If Albedo was immune to physical violence, he must be weak to something else.
Albedo had begun saying something else- something about how he hadn't known, or how mind-numbingly slowly healing progressed in others- when Rubedo's head began to spin. His stomach lurched uncomfortably, and he winced in pain. Nausea rose up in him, suddenly unbearable, and he rushed to his feet.
"Rubedo!"
It had been too fast. Rubedo's hand grabbed for the wall as Albedo stared, hand outstretched hesitantly.
"It's fine," he ground through the discomfort. "I got it."
The bathroom was only on the other side of the room. That, however, didn't stop Rubedo from staggering across to it, legs weak and head spinning. He wrenched the door open with altogether too much force, and with a final retch, it all came up just before he crashed to his knees beside the toilet.
Rubedo's head throbbed painfully. He could hear Albedo's footsteps behind him, and feel the rumbling worry through their link.
"Rubedo?" he heard his brother ask fearfully.
"I can call someone from the institute," Rubedo mumbled faintly, but he wasn't sure if he could make it. It felt like the beginning of an Encephalon dive in his head, spinning and hurtling over and over.
Internally, he winced. He'd already given up on taking care of himself.
"You'd rather have someone else?" Albedo's voice was weak, and Rubedo closed his eyes, head slumping over onto the toilet seat. His heart thumped painfully tender in Rubedo's chest, with enough concern to trump even the most violent of chills. Rubedo cracked open his eyes again, desperate to see his brother despite the harsh lights.
He'd missed Albedo so much.
"No." Was the most he could muster. It made Albedo smile.
Gentle hands landed on his shoulders, holding Rubedo steady even as Albedo pulled him upright. Rubedo's knees nearly buckled under him as they stood, but Albedo wrapped his arms around Rubedo's torso, securing him in place.
When Rubedo had stopped swaying, Albedo braced him against the sink. Shivers racked his body once more, though whether they were from the revulsion of vomiting or the cold Rubedo didn't know. He hissed when cold fingers brushed against his stomach.
"Sorry." Albedo's hands had gripped the hem of Rubedo's shirt and were dragging it up, gently. "You just need to get out of this."
Rubedo's noises of protest weren't enough to dissuade him. Albedo probably knew they were half-hearted. Rubedo didn't want to be stuck in a dirty shirt, anyways. It was just so cold.
Albedo was quick. He pressed a damp towel to Rubedo's side, soaked with warm water, then pulled a new shirt over his head. Albedo's arms were strong around him- stronger than Rubedo thought anything of Albedo's could be- and Albedo lead him away, steady and supported.
"You don't have to," Rubedo mumbled. The floor swayed dangerously around as his head lolled.
"I don't mind."
Rubedo just couldn't change his mind. Albedo eased him back onto his bed, pulling the covers over him with small, clumsy fingers.
"Better?"
Rubedo nodded. The blankets weren't warm yet, but they would be soon. It felt nice to lie back and close his eyes, letting the sleep pull at him. Keeping his eyes open was a struggle- they burned and ached, and his head throbbed painfully.
Rubedo let his eyes slide shut, if only for a moment. The darkness was pure bliss. It all began to slip away, too quickly for him to realize, until he was in a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
(X)
When Rubedo awoke again, he was warm.
He blinked slowly, languidly. The pressure in his head hadn't subsided, but warm and rested, he could look around again.
It was with a sinking start that he realized he'd slept for hours. Rubedo cursed both in his head and aloud, making to sit up, when he felt the pressure on his chest pulling him back.
"Rubedo…?" Albedo's voice was a soft mumble. At the familiar sound, Rubedo's moment of panic subsided.
The arm wrapped around Rubedo's chest retracted slowly and carefully, and Albedo lifted his head from Rubedo's shoulder.
"Albedo," Rubedo said in relief. He winced at how hoarse his voice sounded.
"You were shaking." Albedo sputtered quickly, looking down from Rubedo's eyes. "I- I couldn't let you be cold."
"Thanks."
Rubedo was grateful to his brother. He was much warmer thanks to Albedo, and there was something calming about sleeping next to him. Their hearts beat slowly in sync, like a gentle lullaby, like a song the universe had crafted in two and put inside each of them.
Albedo came to his bed after nightmares, sometimes. He needed reassurance before he could go back to sleep. Though, this marked the first time they'd hugged for Rubedo's sake.
Albedo, however, still hadn't met his eyes. He buried his face into Rubedo's side, fingers tightening around Rubedo. Something terrible and frightening was on the other end of his link, but too dark and blurry for Rubedo to make out.
"What's wrong?" Rubedo mumbled. He sniffled, a little, but he was awake enough to listen now.
Albedo's voice was muffled in Rubedo's side. "It's nothing. You're sick."
"Albedo, seriously."
It never took much wheedling to make him comply.
"I couldn't look at you like that," Albedo wailed. "Cold and not moving… I had to know you were still breathing!"
Rubedo wasn't breathing then, feeling like he'd been punched in the stomach. "Albedo…"
He'd been so quiet ever since he found out Rubedo and Nigredo weren't immortal. Albedo was withdrawn and morose like he never had been before. It was more than his usual anxiety, something deeper and duller. There were parts of their link Albedo had closed off permanently.
He'd never hid this much from Rubedo.
Even when Albedo was happy, and they were together, Rubedo could feel it lurking at the back of his mind. Was this what Albedo had been thinking about? Was this why he disappeared for hours on end?
The feeling came unbidden, nagging, wondering if perhaps Rubedo had neglected his brother somehow. He'd assumed Albedo wanted time alone- or forgotten about him, because Albedo was acting weird, but so were Nigredo, and Sakura, and some days Rubedo thought he was probably the only sane person left on the planet.
Rubedo looked down at Albedo's face, frozen in fear, and understood. He had to make this right.
"I'm not gonna die from something stupid like this, Albedo," he said. It didn't help.
Instead, the dam broke.
"But you could!" Albedo argued. "If you don't regenerate, anything could kill you! You can get hurt, or sick, and it won't fix itself! You can get sick from anything! Even if you never get hit, and you do everything right, you can still die! You will die, no matter what! What does it matter if what kills you is stupid or not? It'll still kill you! You'll still die!"
His fist came down on Rubedo's chest in frustration, knocking the air out of Rubedo. Rubedo worked hard to hide his coughing fit, wheezing as quietly as he could, but Albedo still noticed.
"I'm sorry," he said hurriedly. "I wasn't thinking-"
"'s alright," Rubedo said hoarsely. "It was an accident."
He was thinking instead about Albedo's outburst. This was about his immortality after all, and his concern for Rubedo's life. Rubedo was sure it had to weigh heavily on Albedo, but he had no idea how to even start talking about it. He didn't think about death that often. He'd never been immortal, or even thought he was. How could he possibly understand?
"It's just a bug," he turned over to properly face Albedo, who blinked back at him. "I don't even have to do anything. My immune system will fight it for me. It's hard to die of sickness, nowadays."
"It doesn't matter." Albedo's eyes were burning, searing, peeling back every layer of Rubedo. "It could be sickness, or injury, or deprivation, and it wouldn't matter. You'll die no matter what you do, and I won't no matter what I do."
There it was again. Albedo was always thinking about death.
"But you'll never have to get sick," Rubedo argued. He grabbed Albedo's hands, clasping them, trying to make him see things differently. "You never have to get hurt- I don't even think I've seen you bleed, Albedo. Isn't that cool? You get to be stronger than everybody else. You get to live forever."
Rubedo was strong, but he wasn't indestructible. Albedo didn't have nearly as much offensive power, but what could an enemy facing him do? Even with everything he had, even with his red dragon power, Rubedo never wanted to fight him. He'd never admit it, aloud or in their link, but Albedo would probably win.
"Live forever…" Albedo repeated blankly. His throat bobbed visibly.
"Yeah," Rubedo said, gentle but persistent. "You could do whatever you wanted. After we defeat U-DO, you could do anything. You could read every book in the universe!"
"Forever, Rubedo?" Albedo's hands shook. "Forever?"
He tore his hands from Rubedo, turning away.
"I couldn't do that forever. You can't do anything forever! There won't be anything left! You'll die, and leave me alone. What will I do without you, Rubedo? Everyone's going to be dead! I'll be the only one left, and what will I do? I won't have you!"
"We have time together now," Rubedo sat up, a little too suddenly judging by the pain in his skull, but he had to say something. "You'll meet other people."
He could feel bald terror in their link, like an anchor, rooting Albedo in place. It wasn't moving. It was there, forever nestled in his heart- their heart.
Albedo shook his head.
"You'll be dead forever."
Rubedo sucked air in through his teeth. He sneezed, for the first time since he woke up, and his headache only worsened.
He didn't want to think about that. He couldn't stand to fixate like Albedo did.
"It happens to everyone."
"Not to me."
"We have time now."
"You're dying. Can't you see, Rubedo? Every minute is closer to your death!"
Rubedo's head spun. Being sick was bad, sure, but he didn't feel like he was dying.
"You can't be so obsessed. Just… it'll be okay, alright? Don't be stupid."
When Albedo sat up beside him, his eyes were full of tears, but his face twisted and furious.
"Rubedo, you can't even stand watching that stupid girl die!"
"Hey!" Rubedo shouted in furious desperation as Albedo stood. "Don't say things like that! Albedo!"
It was too late. Albedo had stomped away, and Rubedo was too weak to even throw something after him, let alone run. Instead, he threw himself back onto the bed.
Why'd Albedo have to bring Sakura into it? She was really nice! Rubedo knew Albedo didn't mean it, but it was still a lousy thing to say. Sakura wasn't stupid, and she wasn't dying. She was their friend.
Rubedo turned onto his side, huffing. Yeah, being sick really did suck.
(X)
Being sick was, at least, good for making Rubedo sleep. He wasn't angry for long, swallowed up by the dull ache of weariness.
He burrowed further into the blankets. It was much colder without Albedo.
Now, however, Rubedo's sleep was shallow and fitful. He woke up to sneeze, or to pull his blankets higher and shiver. He dreamt, this time- about his brothers and friends, about warm days on the cliff overlooking the beach, but about stranger things too. Not memories. Something else.
Sometimes Rubedo was alone, in the same place now transformed into a snowy tundra. The wind whipped around his ears, cold and sharp.
He couldn't see anyone around him, and no matter how far he walked, there was nothing but snow. His legs ached with every step. He needed to find someone, anyone, but he was alone. Each scream for help only invited more wind into his lungs.
Rubedo awoke from that one in shivers, tugging his blanket up over his shoulders. Other images flashed through his mind, terrifying and disconnected- graves, and limp hands, and someone's eyes, glassy and dull- purple eyes-
Rubedo shut his eyes. He turned onto his side, trying to force it all from his mind, when just before him were the very same purple eyes.
He blinked, taken aback. How long had Albedo been there?
Not long, he could feel it through their link. Albedo had been too racked with nerves to wake him, calmed instead by the slow rise and fall of Rubedo's chest.
He spoke.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have-"
"Me neither." Rubedo didn't have to wait for Albedo to finish his sentence. They shared one mind, one heart, so one apology wasn't that much more to ask.
"Please forgive me?"
"If you'll forgive me."
Albedo's hand reached for Rubedo in slow, stuttering movements, but Rubedo wasn't having it. He stood and threw himself forwards, into Albedo's arms, holding him tightly.
He'd felt in their bond how much Albedo craved closeness. Rubedo didn't want to say it, but he needed his brother right now too. Albedo's arms were small and scrawny, but they always clung to him with such grounding strength.
Albedo exhaled. His fingers scrabbled along Rubedo's back.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Almost." Rubedo wasn't nauseous anymore. He was mostly only sniffling and tired now. "I really just needed to sleep."
Albedo melted, breath slowing. "I'm so glad."
Standing this long was possible, now, but still taxing. Rubedo rested his forehead on Albedo's shoulder, closing his eyes.
"Told you I wouldn't die."
Albedo sensed his discomfort quickly, easing Rubedo back to sit on the bed. Rubedo would protest, but he was too tired for bravado. Albedo knew how sick he'd been.
His hand pressed against Rubedo's forehead, brushing back copper-colored bangs. "Your fever is gone."
"Course it is. Would you expect anything less?"
"Rubedo."
Albedo pressed his forehead against Rubedo's, gentle but insistent. Rubedo could feel Albedo's thoughts through their link. Shut up.
Rubedo wrapped his arms around his brother. It might not have been all that bad, but Albedo's worries about his sickness had been very real. There was also all the stuff about mortality, and Rubedo's death…
Rubedo shivered. He hadn't thought much about dying. He still didn't want to- he wouldn't be dead for a long time. If it was inevitable, what use was there obsessing about it?
"I'm scared too," he admitted. "All this stuff- death, and sickness- it's scary. But I'm here. We're both here."
Albedo's arms went limp around Rubedo's. He drew back, breath bated.
"It's okay. You don't have to-"
"I'll stay with you as long as I can." Rubedo's hands slid down Albedo's arms, taking ahold of his, smaller hands. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll be together. No matter what happens."
His eyes trained on Albedo's, gentle, but not budging. He wouldn't budge for Albedo. He had to be strong for the both of them, for all of them, no matter what.
Albedo's hands shook, but Rubedo still held on tight.
"I promise."