It was dark when Jr. woke next.

He blinked a few times to adjust, almost not believing that his eyes were open- but they were, and it really was that dark. His mind was fighting, straining against the fog to try and figure out where the hell he was.

"What happened?" Jr. mumbled to himself. Just a second too late, he realized it was probably pretty stupid to make noise. He was more likely than not in enemy territory.

Not that making noise mattered, if he wasn't dead yet.

Memories began to return to him in blurry pieces. That messed up video- the ambush- that weird kid-

"Rubedo. What a pleasant surprise."

Albedo was not a part of any of these memories.

Jr. hadn't seen him in years, but that voice was unmistakable. "Albedo?!"

Jr. shot up, far too fast for his aching head, and hissed at the sudden pain that shot throughout his body. As the blankets that had been covering him fell back, however, he realized he had bigger problems.

"GAH!"

Jr. closed his eyes.

He took a deep breath.

"Albedo, why am I naked?"

"Your clothes were sopping wet," he leaned his head against his hand, clearly amused. "I couldn't let you catch cold."

Jr.'s eyes widened with recognition. That was right. Richard had been attempting to drown him. That, however, was the last thing he remembered.

He didn't know why he was here, or what Albedo had to do with any of this. The simplest solution might be to simply ask, but Jr. didn't want to. The less they spoke, the better. Albedo was a monster, now- working for the cruelest people in the galaxy.

"Aren't you going to ask?"

Colorful clothes were dangling from Albedo's raised hand. Jr. scowled. He wasn't about to beg to have his own goddamn clothes back.

But Albedo didn't seem violent right now, and Jr. did need those back if he wanted any hope of escaping.

"Hand 'em over." Jr. ordered, with as much authority as he could muster in this state. To his relief, Albedo complied, laughing all the while.

"And turn around!" he added hastily, ears flashing scarlet. Albedo must have been in an extremely good mood, because he did.

"Ah, but you haven't aged a day since you left," he cooed. Jr. decided to ignore him, because he figured it was the only thing he could do and stay sane.

Jr. couldn't help but notice, once his clothes were securely back on his body, that he was still missing his guns. His fingers traced over the empty holsters.

"It was your previous captor who confiscated your weapons." When Albedo had turned back around, Jr. didn't know, but he hoped it was later rather than sooner. "And I will return them, for good behavior."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Jr. asked with what was supposed to be punch, but ended up more like breathlessness. He doubled over, lungs suddenly empty.

His mind spun. Was this Albedo's handiwork? Had he done something while Jr. was unconscious?!

A clawed hand came to rest on his back. Jr. tried to push him off, but his body wasn't responding any longer. Panic spiked through him.

"They nearly drowned you," Albedo's voice was almost gentle in his ear. "It took quite a bit to resuscitate you at all, Rubedo."

"Bastard," Jr. gasped. "What'd you- do?"

Albedo's grip was too firm to break from. He guided Jr. back to the soft surface he had woken on- a bed, he now realized- and sat him down.

"Their antics were amusing," Albedo sighed, "but amateurish."

With a jolt, Jr. remembered saying the same about the drowning trap.

He chose not to share.

"But how did you…" How did Jr. end up here, wherever here was, with Albedo?

"He had something of mine. Most know better than to anger me." Albedo's smile was thin, catlike. "You are a distinct exception, Rubedo."

That was a pointed reminder. However cooperative Albedo was being, it was still Albedo- cruel, dangerous Albedo.

"Don't touch me," Jr. snarled. He batted Albedo's arms away.

Jr. hadn't seen him in fourteen years- not since Miltia. He'd disappeared so effectively after Miltia Jr. half suspected he'd found a way to die. Instead Albedo had grown, of course, like Gaignun had. He was tall, now, towering over Jr., with the childish round face Jr. remembered hewn into a chiseled jawline. His eyes were the same purple shade, narrow and sly, hidden behind his lashes.

"It's really you, isn't it?" Jr. heard himself ask suddenly, still staring up at Albedo's new face. Jr. regretted it immediately- sounding pathetic and childish- and clamped his mouth shut, looking away.

"Rubedo," Albedo cooed. "Oh, Rubedo. I know you recognize me."

His palm pressed to Jr.'s chest, insistent. Jr.'s heartbeat knocked against him.

"Did you think me dead?" he whispered, voice low. "A mere night terror?"

"I'm warning you." Jr.'s voice was low now too, deep. "Back off."

"Don't tell me you haven't missed me," Albedo's voice was silky. Jr.'s newly fastened boot crashed into his chest.

Albedo stumbled backwards, laughing all the while. Jr.'s head was still swimming. His lungs felt shallow, and he had been overexerted by that one kick alone. That drowning torture had done a real number on his body.

Then there was the Albedo problem. He was the last person Jr. wanted to be alone with after so long. Jr. shivered realizing how long he'd been unconscious, left to Albedo's mercy. He was lucky if the bastard really hadn't done anything to him.

He could feel U-DO's waves on Albedo, like nausea in his stomach and searing heat on his face. Albedo was a threat. Jr. had seen what he did to Gaignun on Miltia.

He must have taken Jr. for a reason, and Jr. didn't plan on sticking around to find out what it was.

He blinked the exhaustion and dizziness away. He had to plan.

Short term goals: get Albedo away from him, figure out where he was. Long term goals: get his pistols back, get the hell out of here.

"Where have you taken me?" Jr. demanded.

"Cruel, Rubedo… abusing me so and still asking questions. Not even a thank you?"

"What would I have to thank you for?" Jr. spat. For kidnapping him? No thanks. "And answer me, or I'll…"

He couldn't think of a good enough threat. Luckily, Albedo decided to indulge him.

"You don't recognize it, Rubedo?" Albedo leaned back against the wall, eyes glinting. He really did look like some creature of the night like that. "This, the site of our estrangement so long ago… Where you bid me adieu."

Jr.'s eyes widened. "The Song…"

So he was back on that monstrous contraption, one of Mizrahi's terrible toys. Albedo had a real sick sense of humor, to hang around here even fourteen years later.

How the hell was Jr. supposed to get out of here? He didn't suppose it would have escape pods. Albedo's craft needed two pilots. Maybe he could commandeer the ship, but that would require overpowering Albedo, which was easier said than done. It really seemed like he was stuck.

"Dammit," he said under his breath. The long-term plan wasn't looking so hot.

That just left more questions, though. Where did Albedo get the Song? How was it operational?

"Why am I here?" Jr. growled. He tried to stand, but his vision was blurring again. He pressed a hand to the back of his head, where it ached and stung.

Albedo tsked. "How roughly they've treated you…"

It was coming back, slowly. Hermann had clobbered him unconscious shortly after boarding their ship.

"Albedo," he repeated, "Why am I here?"

"Why, Rubedo," Albedo's grin lengthened, pointy and dangerous. "You've been rescued."

"You bastard!" Jr. gritted his teeth. "So you have kidnapped me. The others-"

His heart raced. Were they alright? Did Richard and Hermann hurt them? Did his friends know where Jr. was? He didn't want them to come rescue him. Albedo was surely planning some kind of trap. Who knew what he wanted?

"Oh, they're looking for you. Our brother is still shouting at me." Albedo shook his head. "Always with the yelling, that Nigredo. Doesn't know how to say please."

"You-!" Jr. couldn't access his link with his head aching like this. At least Gaignun knew Jr. was alive, if not that he shouldn't try and be a hero about this. "Is this your idea of a prank?!"

He could see Albedo finding this funny, tittering about the foolish mortals so concerned for one another.

Albedo, however, tilted his head.

"Rubedo," he said. "I saved you."

The realization hit Jr. with so much force he might well have a second concussion.

Albedo had strongarmed him away from that psychotic little sadist. He'd laid Jr. down in bed, dried his wet clothes and kept watch over him after he almost drowned.

Even more than that, Jr. could still feel the echoes of their link, close as they were. He knew Albedo better than anyone, and he knew what it meant when his eyes shimmered like that, when his voice resonated like that.

Albedo was telling the truth.

"Why?" Jr. choked. This wasn't really Albedo. It was U-DO, taken refuge in his brother's body- or some horrifying amalgamation, Albedo's most violent streaks given destructive force and his worst fears provoked. Why would he do this?

There had to be some practical purpose- Jr. was a hostage, or he was being held captive. The others didn't stand a chance against U-DO without his red dragon.

Albedo clicked his tongue. "Still no 'thank you'."

"Albedo…!" Jr. wasn't in the mood for games. He needed to know what he was dealing with, here!

Suddenly Albedo was close, too close. Jr. could see more than just purple in his eyes, the streaks of magenta tearing through clouds of violet.

"I don't share, Rubedo." He said, voice low. "Your pain will be at my hands."

"Bastard!" Jr. attempted to push him away again, more feebly this time, overcome with a coughing fit. Albedo just laughed.

"Still so weak…"

Albedo swept away, his cape flapping behind him.

"You'll regret this!" Jr. shouted, flinging his arm out. His legs shook too much to stand.

Albedo turned back from the door with a languid smile.

"Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own, Rubedo," he said. "In pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still."