Planning. Yes. This is what he had forgot. When he had first came to this place, Albedo had indeed created plans, depended on them. He knew his brothers, knew what both were capable of, and if he was serious about their demise (which, true to form, he didn't know), he knew that a straight-forward method would not allow him to achieve those goals. No. No, the best way to go about backstabbing a brother was as simple as that.
In the back. In the dark, in the shadows, when no one was watching and it wasn't expected.
The sunlight tearing through the gaps in the clouds and the rumble of conversation prevented most of that, but Albedo liked to think of himself, at times, as a last bullet in Russian Roulette kind of guy, rather than an empty chamber. This could work. He could make this work.
Once Nigredo was gone, things would be easier. It was so clear. (It was so covered in doubt.)
So he had cut into the trees right after parting with Yomi, slid widely around the back of the park, using the friendly 'taint' he carried and a few tricks from living with telepathic siblings to nullify his waveform the best he could. The trees didn't come as close to the bench Nigredo was resting as he would have liked, but there were some nice sized bushes there, enough to hide a few grown adults, let alone two child soldiers. It was perfect.
So carefully, slowly, using a patience that Albedo seldom showed, he quietly made his way behind the third of the trio. Yes, like he had thought; Nigredo seemed upset about something. Perhaps Albedo could take his mind off of it. That would be the... nice thing to do, after all. Brotherly affection, and all of that. The boy waited for the coast to become clear, then jumped up--looping his arms under Nigredo's and pulling him up and over the bench into the bushes behind. The youngest, per usual, had chosen a place far from the groups around the park. By the time anything was noticed....
Albedo used Nigredo's own momentum to help slam him on the ground, then promptly sat on him. There was a decent sized rock in his hand, he had found it while 'exploring' in the trees. He grinned at his brother, all bite and loss of sanity. "Hello, Nigredo,~" Albedo greeted warmly. His eyes widened suddenly, and something violent and unstable slid into his eyes. His voice became a hiss, an accusation. "What did you do this time?"
Something soft caught the boy underarm, interrupting whatever entertained sentiment in his head. The world blurred, and Nigredo found himself falling, then landing on a patch of dusty ground. It must have been overlain with a few broken twigs; ground wasn't normally so sharp, he recalled.
The thought, as well as the careful mental trails he had built up moments before, then vanished as Nigredo came to realize what had occurred. In its place welled up an overwhelming sense of irony, as though the boy should have seen the object of his thoughts arrive a second sooner. Not while staring up at Albedo in bemusement, and certainly not pinned to the ground with what looked like a rock between them.
He opened his mouth--to do what, Nigredo would never know--before snapping it shut altogether. Gone, too, was the link, as though the child had caught the instability lurking on the other end and reeled back on instinct.
The grin widened, his eyes copying the effect as the whites of his eyes shown. Despite this, he gave an impression of anger mixed in with his amusement, some tone overriding everything. Or perhaps it was simply the rock in his hand, shaking now from some unknown effort.
"Silence, then?" the boy shot out, giggling a moment after. The last was a gasp, and Albedo leaned down over Nigredo--not close, no, no, never close, but.... "How familiar, how fitting. Like last night, hm? You were so silent then, weren't you? Couldn't be bothered to answer me."
What had been his question then? Albedo couldn't remember. Fading fast were the causes and effects of the night, the sudden fear, overriding panic; the loneliness that swallowed him whole, made him move in bursts inbetween stagnation to something still there despite it all--and wasn't that what he was supposed to fix?! Nigredo was supposed to have died, then, wasn't supposed to be, but weren't they all?! None of them should ever have--!
The color in his eyes had grown gradually, brightened to a shine and then remained there, an unhealthy reminder of their differences. None of them should ever have what? Existed? No, that was incorrect. He had a point, purpose. Just as soon as some distractions were removed, he could... What? He could....
Albedo had bit through his lip without noticing, the thin line of blood trailing down. His eyes had remained fixed on Nigredo, even as they had dulled as he removed himself, shifted by his contemplations. The effect was rather like a corpse staring at you, and wasn't that far too ironic for even Albedo to use? He blinked once, returning to himself, something decisive and unfortunate in his gaze now. Something overshadowed by regret.
"You're right, Nigredo. Why should we bother speaking? It's obvious that there's nothing to discuss." Albedo hefted the rock, shifted his grip. "There's really only one thing to say, right?" His eyes narrowed, caught in something he didn't understand. Didn't want to understand. "See you in the next life," he whispered, then thrust the rock down towards Nigredo's skull.
Silence? The word resonated almost painfully in his ears. Nigredo was silent because he was struck dumb, because he had no response to that unsettling stare, because there existed a plethora of reasons but none he could voice. Could never voice.
Much like last night. The youngest hadn't answered in consideration to these very consequences, before other events overtook precedence and his attention went elsewhere. He hadn't meant to put him off. He hadn't meant to give that impression. He was sorry, so sorry, that the cause of this misfortune was himself. And that despite witnessing the growing taint in Albedo's eyes, there was nothing to say.
Nigredo swallowed, half-conscious of the weight beneath him. The tail ends of his coat were caught beneath his brother's knees; escape wouldn't be possible unless he... Could he? Eyes following the evidence of red. Their conversation was winding down, which meant the variant didn't have much time left.
The rock moved.
A loose pack of dirt lay beneath his fingers. This he grabbed and flung across the face of his assailant, in hopes of offsetting his balance. The other arm pushed against Albedo's shoulders, and with every effort he could muster, Nigredo threw the albino off.
Silence. Movement. Had Albedo expected a response, hoped for one even now? Ah, but, it didn't matter. Nigredo had responded in kind, and it was far too perfect. Eyes widened to their fullest took in the granules, tear ducts swallowing the filth. It stung, and Albedo laughed then, a loud burst that he shouldn't because he had work to do, and noise would only lessen that time, but it had stung, and so it was funny. The laughter came out harsh and sharp, something unsettling, something that still scared a part of him. Thankfully, the part was well and buried.
Nigredo pushed him off, and Albedo instantly slid into a crouch, eyes still closed like he was merely resting. He stayed there for a moment, utterly silent, gauging from the slight noise if Nigredo was getting to his feet. A play was in the back of his head, the actors running through their lines. "'This darkness suits you well'..." He first muttered. There was a moment, a pause.
"Do you not weep?!" the boy declared, a smirk trailing the end of the statement. Albedo stood slowly now.
"'Other sins only speak; murder shrieks out!" His voice dropped. "The element of water moistens the earth, but...'" Then, quick as he could be, Albedo spun his heel into where he judged Nigredo's ankles to be. "'But blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens.'" He then thrust his arm forward--if Nigredo had lost his balance, it would likely catch him in the face, if not, then his darling brother's diaphragm would have to do. The boy's eyes crept open, a hand swept across them. Sands, like the lost ones of time, fell down, and in that moment, Albedo hated.
It briefly occurred to Nigredo to cry out, to attract the rest of the world to this little display, but the shock had turned his tongue to lead. The best he could manage was a dry wheeze--leftovers from his own clod of dirt--which he ignored in favor of more desperate pursuits. Everything else was hopeless, inconsequential. If he could move outside, away from the bushes, away from his elder, perhaps this situation could be salvaged. This was his single-minded aim.
Or was that fear? He couldn't tell right now.
There was a shuffle, a pause, then another frantic burst of movement which proved much too loud. His haste gave away his presence, and thus, Albedo found him with his arm. The younger child was struck across his face, the force enough to stop him in his tracks and down again on his elbows. Escape now was unlikely. Nigredo pressed a shaky hand to his eyes (how lucky if neither bruised) while the other swung back in anticipation. He had every intent to return the damage in kind.
With palm facing outward, Nigredo struck back, once again aiming for the space between his brother's eyes.
Silence still and silence remained, and that was all Nigredo was giving him. Even when flesh caught flesh, the other boy didn't cry out, and something hardened dangerously within him. There were ways... there had to be ways... to make Nigredo cry out.
At the same time adrenaline was surging, the markings of a violent weapon tearing through him when his fist struck Nigredo's face. It wasn't a particularly forceful blow, but it had connected, unlike the past nights--the past days!--when that pleasure was stolen from him. He reveled in this, grinning, as the last traces of dirt slid from his vision. So, caught in his own antagonist musings, Nigredo's hand caught him directly where he had been aiming. Albedo took a few steps back, stunned momentarily more than in pain. No, no. Nigredo couldn't cause any pain. Not like this. The boy shook his head, then mimicked Nigredo, a hand coming up to his face. His grin widened, and he watched the other with one eye through his fingers.
Albedo laughed again. "Ah, Nigredo...." The second after the words, he brought a swinging backhand towards the side of Nigredo's face. Down, he thought. On the ground where you belong. "Will you be the shadow that follows me here? Do not haunt me." He giggled madly. "'I will throttle it.'"
Without being told, Nigredo understood. Vaguely. When he crashed into the bramble from the strength of his brother's strike, he thought he caught the birth of a reason, and having no others, the boy latched on and considered. For every returning strike, he invited a higher toll. If he didn't incapacitate, it would be given in full. Violence and volatility were the twins' signature-- This interaction was merely feeding what flames Albedo established.
And if left unchecked, Nigredo would die.
Something in his mind clicked, and the vacant fear left his eyes, favoring instead a sort of determination. The boy turned his complete attention toward his brother and slowly, carefully pulled himself to full height. He mouthed something--voice always recovered last--and for a split second, his face betrayed him. There was apology. A bitter sort of regret. The things he couldn't voice were written clearly in his eyes, albeit it was questionable if Albedo saw the intent.
It didn't last. Without warning, Nigredo shot forward and literally threw himself at the elder, the force enough to take them out of their hiding spot and into the open.
With the second strike and the effect, Nigredo's offbalance tumbling, Albedo felt something swelling behind his eyes, something that had been slow and thick the past few days. With this, it sped, tearing through him efficiently. The dangerous grin stayed as Albedo considered his options here. Crushing Nigredo's windpipe would be far too easy, far more effective than what the specter tried to do to him. But that was too much a gentle fate; too gentle for one like him, who tore through people's lives with his falsities and won them over with weighted words, only to set up their murder slowly. When, then, would Nigredo try to kill again?
Albedo remembered his training, in his body, in his bones, and with more certainty, knew of the knowledge that was being offered in him, and all the many ways he could carry this out. Bones then. One didn't have to be particular large or strong to break bones, bend them back so the ends shattered, and there were even some breaks that reverberated, twisting the nervous system to take the spine with it. An eyebrow raised, the eye underneath widening in delight, and--
Nigredo hadn't responded to his last attack, merely stood there with an odd resolved expression, and Albedo tipped his head, curious, when the strange emotion passed over the other's face. A reaction? Some kind of emotion? It was almost enough to distract. What was that there? Some line rose up, for purposes unknown... 'Only I must confess I had a hope...'
And then Albedo was propelled out of the bushes he had hid them in, a shoulder lodged under his ribs, limbs an askew mass tangled; Nigredo on top of him in the light. Anger poured newly through him, now this time would be cut short, and Albedo flailed out, uncaring what he hit with feet or fists. Some sense, some Song, overtook him, and he stopped quickly, instead reaching for the head of hair much too close within arms reach. He grabbed hold, and pulled up to look in the younger's eyes. Something was still amused in Albedo's eyes, still dangerous, but there was a touch of desperation trailing through the anger that had rose up. It was ignored, like much else the past few days.
"Are you proud of yourself, oh silent one?" The words almost came out a cough, the air still knocked from his lungs. Albedo's smile twisted, his voice sarcastic and angry. The line would be altered to fit his needs, but he was sure no one would mind. "'Cover his face. Mine eyes dazzle.'" The boy's eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip in Nigredo's hair. "'He died young.'"
The attempt to drive Nigredo's face into the ground next to him would surely be fought, but Nigredo was down now. That was half of the trouble. Especially since by now he was running on borrowed time.
True to form, Albedo recovered first, and while Nigredo braced tightly against the sudden barrage, he once again found his minutes dwindling. Sunlight and open air made for desperation; one way or another, their 'disagreement' would come to an end. Albedo, surely, wouldn't want it to be pleasant, and when he tugged at his younger brother's hair, Nigredo entertained doubt. Perhaps the nurses would arrive too late.
He locked gazes with Albedo, only to have his eyes waver and roll to one side, his attention pulled toward an anomaly resting near the albino's shoulder. Leftovers from their time in the bushes. The sight of which made the formerly distant hope build and eventually burst. Nigredo shakily reached out and felt its ends. Sharp. Not as he'd expected, but it would have to do.
What was it that his brother spoke of? The words had barely registered, but somehow, they had been enough to form an idea. And when he was pressed forcefully into the grass, Nigredo raised his fist. Slowly. And--points showing--brought it down violently against Albedo's temple.
The pair of nurses ran towards the two brothers, too shocked by the situation to even call out to them. They were followed by a pair of orderlies, who grabbed Nigredo and Albedo, pulling them apart. "What in the world has gotten into you? I've never seen a pair of siblings fight as violently as the two of you have. I don't understand the meaning of all of this!", the lead nurse shouted.
This couldn't go on, and it was too violent on both ends to let it keep going with just words to calm them down. Both nurses took prepared syringes from their pockets, sedating both of the brothers quickly. "Now, then. Are we going to have to take you back to separate buses?"
The give from Nigredo's face pressing into the dirt, that self-satisfied accomplished joy from any pain he could give his brother was cut short in an instant. Something sharp piercing the skin at his temple, the force behind it driving it further into the thin bone that resided there. There was a moment where Albedo did nothing--his vision blurred to black and everything ceased to exist momentarily--and then his hand was pulling at the branch, yanking it out from where it had lodged. Blood dripped off of it, and from the flesh, into his eye, and he glared, silent, at Nigredo. {Trying to kill me again?} The delayed healing paused for a moment longer than that, then surged forward; carefully mending what had been ruined.
The boy was allowed an open-mouthed breath of air, as if to take in the oxygen he'd lost in the regeneration, before being heaved to his feet. Somewhere in his mind, he sighed in annoyance. This again. This was familiar, and he wasn't even allowed the false pride of fighting back before being injected with their poisons, their toxins yet again. It swept through his veins, and Albedo imagined he could feel it--something that sparkled with its chemical enhancements, flitted through him like cocktail concoction set to destroy him. He didn't even know what was in it. What it would do, what it would--
The first effects were the same, and the comforting presence of U-DO that had fortified his anger receded, the emptiness bringing a painful clarity--the awful truth of his own loneliness. For a moment, caught in between both mindsets, Albedo stopped struggling, and let out a raging scream. It seemed to last too long, and by the time it had dwindled into a mournful cry, the tears had already started within his eyes.
The boy muttered to himself, not choosing a target to rant to, but nonetheless clear in the final words that he would say from the play. The memory of the lines were receding along with his own enlightenment, but he spoke the words shortly. "'I bade thee, when I was distracted of my wits, go kill my dearest friend, and thou hast done it: For let me but examine well the cause:--"
Albedo cut off abruptly, head jerking upwards to try and catch Nigredo's eyes before he glanced, panicked, tears now trailing down, to the others around him. His body shuddered, and his head dropped down; his body loosing the desire to stand upright. "The cause?" he muttered, now more to himself; playing well the part of the insane child. "What cause? Is there something that can justify it? No, no, there's no... There's no excuse for... For what I... You...." There was silence after this, then, "Tried to kill."
For which this proclamation was made could not be said. No more words issued from the boy, who had by now regressed into silence and tears.
Branches weren't meant to penetrate skin, but the one between his fingers sunk in almost effortlessly. A clean break, the pain enough to coerce a different sort altogether. His father would be proud: his youngest son was hardly the poor survivalist and in fact, had turned the odds in his favor. Not through strength and sheer tenacity, no. He wouldn't be stupid to measure his against that of his elder. Nigredo lived now due to simple luck. That was all.
Yet, despite that assurance, Nigredo remained as is, his breath bated and gaze expectant. Because even with the guarantee of endless healing, there held the chance that something could go awry. That he had, like the time before, made a mistake. Wouldn't Albedo be justified, then?
The thought was short-lived as he was yanked from the ground and pulled several paces away from his brother. Funny, he thought, watching his sleeves roll up partway. His saviors placed the blame on both. They hadn't considered to hear the sides; they hadn't tried to entertain a sense of fairness. And when he heard that despairing scream, he wondered if perhaps they shouldn't have interfered at all.
Unlike his brother, the black-haired variant eased into the transition and slowly erased what heightened reactions had brought. His breathing slowed. The desperation pounding at his ears became a diluted haze. The drugs were almost pleasant in a way, their effects similar to the minutes prior to deep sleep. If not for the circumstance, Nigredo might have surrendered consciousness. No one would blame him; the effort up to that point had been too much.
As it was, however, he fought, bringing what focus available to the leading nurse. He again opened his mouth and for once, managed a semblance of words: "Sorry."
The head nurse shook her head. These kinds of family struggles were so hard to deal with at the best of times, but when they got so personal... She sighed, a look that wasn't quite sympathy and wasn't quite anything else briefly coming over her face.
"It's all right. Just let one of us know when you're getting too upset in the future. We don't want either of you getting hurt, or trying to hurt each other." Now that things were calmer, she didn't think either of them needed to be taken elsewhere.
She nodded to the second nurse, indicating that it was fine for her to leave, then settled down on a park bench not too far away from the boys. She didn't think they would be up to much trouble, but she wanted to keep an eye on them both.
Planning. Yes. This is what he had forgot. When he had first came to this place, Albedo had indeed created plans, depended on them. He knew his brothers, knew what both were capable of, and if he was serious about their demise (which, true to form, he didn't know), he knew that a straight-forward method would not allow him to achieve those goals. No. No, the best way to go about backstabbing a brother was as simple as that.
In the back. In the dark, in the shadows, when no one was watching and it wasn't expected.
The sunlight tearing through the gaps in the clouds and the rumble of conversation prevented most of that, but Albedo liked to think of himself, at times, as a last bullet in Russian Roulette kind of guy, rather than an empty chamber. This could work. He could make this work.
Once Nigredo was gone, things would be easier. It was so clear. (It was so covered in doubt.)
So he had cut into the trees right after parting with Yomi, slid widely around the back of the park, using the friendly 'taint' he carried and a few tricks from living with telepathic siblings to nullify his waveform the best he could. The trees didn't come as close to the bench Nigredo was resting as he would have liked, but there were some nice sized bushes there, enough to hide a few grown adults, let alone two child soldiers. It was perfect.
So carefully, slowly, using a patience that Albedo seldom showed, he quietly made his way behind the third of the trio. Yes, like he had thought; Nigredo seemed upset about something. Perhaps Albedo could take his mind off of it. That would be the... nice thing to do, after all. Brotherly affection, and all of that. The boy waited for the coast to become clear, then jumped up--looping his arms under Nigredo's and pulling him up and over the bench into the bushes behind. The youngest, per usual, had chosen a place far from the groups around the park. By the time anything was noticed....
Albedo used Nigredo's own momentum to help slam him on the ground, then promptly sat on him. There was a decent sized rock in his hand, he had found it while 'exploring' in the trees. He grinned at his brother, all bite and loss of sanity. "Hello, Nigredo,~" Albedo greeted warmly. His eyes widened suddenly, and something violent and unstable slid into his eyes. His voice became a hiss, an accusation. "What did you do this time?"
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The thought, as well as the careful mental trails he had built up moments before, then vanished as Nigredo came to realize what had occurred. In its place welled up an overwhelming sense of irony, as though the boy should have seen the object of his thoughts arrive a second sooner. Not while staring up at Albedo in bemusement, and certainly not pinned to the ground with what looked like a rock between them.
He opened his mouth--to do what, Nigredo would never know--before snapping it shut altogether. Gone, too, was the link, as though the child had caught the instability lurking on the other end and reeled back on instinct.
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"Silence, then?" the boy shot out, giggling a moment after. The last was a gasp, and Albedo leaned down over Nigredo--not close, no, no, never close, but.... "How familiar, how fitting. Like last night, hm? You were so silent then, weren't you? Couldn't be bothered to answer me."
What had been his question then? Albedo couldn't remember. Fading fast were the causes and effects of the night, the sudden fear, overriding panic; the loneliness that swallowed him whole, made him move in bursts inbetween stagnation to something still there despite it all--and wasn't that what he was supposed to fix?! Nigredo was supposed to have died, then, wasn't supposed to be, but weren't they all?! None of them should ever have--!
The color in his eyes had grown gradually, brightened to a shine and then remained there, an unhealthy reminder of their differences. None of them should ever have what? Existed? No, that was incorrect. He had a point, purpose. Just as soon as some distractions were removed, he could... What? He could....
Albedo had bit through his lip without noticing, the thin line of blood trailing down. His eyes had remained fixed on Nigredo, even as they had dulled as he removed himself, shifted by his contemplations. The effect was rather like a corpse staring at you, and wasn't that far too ironic for even Albedo to use? He blinked once, returning to himself, something decisive and unfortunate in his gaze now. Something overshadowed by regret.
"You're right, Nigredo. Why should we bother speaking? It's obvious that there's nothing to discuss." Albedo hefted the rock, shifted his grip. "There's really only one thing to say, right?" His eyes narrowed, caught in something he didn't understand. Didn't want to understand. "See you in the next life," he whispered, then thrust the rock down towards Nigredo's skull.
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Much like last night. The youngest hadn't answered in consideration to these very consequences, before other events overtook precedence and his attention went elsewhere. He hadn't meant to put him off. He hadn't meant to give that impression. He was sorry, so sorry, that the cause of this misfortune was himself. And that despite witnessing the growing taint in Albedo's eyes, there was nothing to say.
Nigredo swallowed, half-conscious of the weight beneath him. The tail ends of his coat were caught beneath his brother's knees; escape wouldn't be possible unless he... Could he? Eyes following the evidence of red. Their conversation was winding down, which meant the variant didn't have much time left.
The rock moved.
A loose pack of dirt lay beneath his fingers. This he grabbed and flung across the face of his assailant, in hopes of offsetting his balance. The other arm pushed against Albedo's shoulders, and with every effort he could muster, Nigredo threw the albino off.
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Nigredo pushed him off, and Albedo instantly slid into a crouch, eyes still closed like he was merely resting. He stayed there for a moment, utterly silent, gauging from the slight noise if Nigredo was getting to his feet. A play was in the back of his head, the actors running through their lines. "'This darkness suits you well'..." He first muttered. There was a moment, a pause.
"Do you not weep?!" the boy declared, a smirk trailing the end of the statement. Albedo stood slowly now.
"'Other sins only speak; murder shrieks out!" His voice dropped. "The element of water moistens the earth, but...'" Then, quick as he could be, Albedo spun his heel into where he judged Nigredo's ankles to be. "'But blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens.'" He then thrust his arm forward--if Nigredo had lost his balance, it would likely catch him in the face, if not, then his darling brother's diaphragm would have to do. The boy's eyes crept open, a hand swept across them. Sands, like the lost ones of time, fell down, and in that moment, Albedo hated.
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Or was that fear? He couldn't tell right now.
There was a shuffle, a pause, then another frantic burst of movement which proved much too loud. His haste gave away his presence, and thus, Albedo found him with his arm. The younger child was struck across his face, the force enough to stop him in his tracks and down again on his elbows. Escape now was unlikely. Nigredo pressed a shaky hand to his eyes (how lucky if neither bruised) while the other swung back in anticipation. He had every intent to return the damage in kind.
With palm facing outward, Nigredo struck back, once again aiming for the space between his brother's eyes.
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At the same time adrenaline was surging, the markings of a violent weapon tearing through him when his fist struck Nigredo's face. It wasn't a particularly forceful blow, but it had connected, unlike the past nights--the past days!--when that pleasure was stolen from him. He reveled in this, grinning, as the last traces of dirt slid from his vision. So, caught in his own antagonist musings, Nigredo's hand caught him directly where he had been aiming. Albedo took a few steps back, stunned momentarily more than in pain. No, no. Nigredo couldn't cause any pain. Not like this. The boy shook his head, then mimicked Nigredo, a hand coming up to his face. His grin widened, and he watched the other with one eye through his fingers.
Albedo laughed again. "Ah, Nigredo...." The second after the words, he brought a swinging backhand towards the side of Nigredo's face. Down, he thought. On the ground where you belong. "Will you be the shadow that follows me here? Do not haunt me." He giggled madly. "'I will throttle it.'"
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And if left unchecked, Nigredo would die.
Something in his mind clicked, and the vacant fear left his eyes, favoring instead a sort of determination. The boy turned his complete attention toward his brother and slowly, carefully pulled himself to full height. He mouthed something--voice always recovered last--and for a split second, his face betrayed him. There was apology. A bitter sort of regret. The things he couldn't voice were written clearly in his eyes, albeit it was questionable if Albedo saw the intent.
It didn't last. Without warning, Nigredo shot forward and literally threw himself at the elder, the force enough to take them out of their hiding spot and into the open.
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Albedo remembered his training, in his body, in his bones, and with more certainty, knew of the knowledge that was being offered in him, and all the many ways he could carry this out. Bones then. One didn't have to be particular large or strong to break bones, bend them back so the ends shattered, and there were even some breaks that reverberated, twisting the nervous system to take the spine with it. An eyebrow raised, the eye underneath widening in delight, and--
Nigredo hadn't responded to his last attack, merely stood there with an odd resolved expression, and Albedo tipped his head, curious, when the strange emotion passed over the other's face. A reaction? Some kind of emotion? It was almost enough to distract. What was that there? Some line rose up, for purposes unknown... 'Only I must confess I had a hope...'
And then Albedo was propelled out of the bushes he had hid them in, a shoulder lodged under his ribs, limbs an askew mass tangled; Nigredo on top of him in the light. Anger poured newly through him, now this time would be cut short, and Albedo flailed out, uncaring what he hit with feet or fists. Some sense, some Song, overtook him, and he stopped quickly, instead reaching for the head of hair much too close within arms reach. He grabbed hold, and pulled up to look in the younger's eyes. Something was still amused in Albedo's eyes, still dangerous, but there was a touch of desperation trailing through the anger that had rose up. It was ignored, like much else the past few days.
"Are you proud of yourself, oh silent one?" The words almost came out a cough, the air still knocked from his lungs. Albedo's smile twisted, his voice sarcastic and angry. The line would be altered to fit his needs, but he was sure no one would mind. "'Cover his face. Mine eyes dazzle.'" The boy's eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip in Nigredo's hair. "'He died young.'"
The attempt to drive Nigredo's face into the ground next to him would surely be fought, but Nigredo was down now. That was half of the trouble. Especially since by now he was running on borrowed time.
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He locked gazes with Albedo, only to have his eyes waver and roll to one side, his attention pulled toward an anomaly resting near the albino's shoulder. Leftovers from their time in the bushes. The sight of which made the formerly distant hope build and eventually burst. Nigredo shakily reached out and felt its ends. Sharp. Not as he'd expected, but it would have to do.
What was it that his brother spoke of? The words had barely registered, but somehow, they had been enough to form an idea. And when he was pressed forcefully into the grass, Nigredo raised his fist. Slowly. And--points showing--brought it down violently against Albedo's temple.
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This couldn't go on, and it was too violent on both ends to let it keep going with just words to calm them down. Both nurses took prepared syringes from their pockets, sedating both of the brothers quickly. "Now, then. Are we going to have to take you back to separate buses?"
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The boy was allowed an open-mouthed breath of air, as if to take in the oxygen he'd lost in the regeneration, before being heaved to his feet. Somewhere in his mind, he sighed in annoyance. This again. This was familiar, and he wasn't even allowed the false pride of fighting back before being injected with their poisons, their toxins yet again. It swept through his veins, and Albedo imagined he could feel it--something that sparkled with its chemical enhancements, flitted through him like cocktail concoction set to destroy him. He didn't even know what was in it. What it would do, what it would--
The first effects were the same, and the comforting presence of U-DO that had fortified his anger receded, the emptiness bringing a painful clarity--the awful truth of his own loneliness. For a moment, caught in between both mindsets, Albedo stopped struggling, and let out a raging scream. It seemed to last too long, and by the time it had dwindled into a mournful cry, the tears had already started within his eyes.
The boy muttered to himself, not choosing a target to rant to, but nonetheless clear in the final words that he would say from the play. The memory of the lines were receding along with his own enlightenment, but he spoke the words shortly. "'I bade thee, when I was distracted of my wits, go kill my dearest friend, and thou hast done it: For let me but examine well the cause:--"
Albedo cut off abruptly, head jerking upwards to try and catch Nigredo's eyes before he glanced, panicked, tears now trailing down, to the others around him. His body shuddered, and his head dropped down; his body loosing the desire to stand upright. "The cause?" he muttered, now more to himself; playing well the part of the insane child. "What cause? Is there something that can justify it? No, no, there's no... There's no excuse for... For what I... You...." There was silence after this, then, "Tried to kill."
For which this proclamation was made could not be said. No more words issued from the boy, who had by now regressed into silence and tears.
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Yet, despite that assurance, Nigredo remained as is, his breath bated and gaze expectant. Because even with the guarantee of endless healing, there held the chance that something could go awry. That he had, like the time before, made a mistake. Wouldn't Albedo be justified, then?
The thought was short-lived as he was yanked from the ground and pulled several paces away from his brother. Funny, he thought, watching his sleeves roll up partway. His saviors placed the blame on both. They hadn't considered to hear the sides; they hadn't tried to entertain a sense of fairness. And when he heard that despairing scream, he wondered if perhaps they shouldn't have interfered at all.
Unlike his brother, the black-haired variant eased into the transition and slowly erased what heightened reactions had brought. His breathing slowed. The desperation pounding at his ears became a diluted haze. The drugs were almost pleasant in a way, their effects similar to the minutes prior to deep sleep. If not for the circumstance, Nigredo might have surrendered consciousness. No one would blame him; the effort up to that point had been too much.
As it was, however, he fought, bringing what focus available to the leading nurse. He again opened his mouth and for once, managed a semblance of words: "Sorry."
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"It's all right. Just let one of us know when you're getting too upset in the future. We don't want either of you getting hurt, or trying to hurt each other." Now that things were calmer, she didn't think either of them needed to be taken elsewhere.
She nodded to the second nurse, indicating that it was fine for her to leave, then settled down on a park bench not too far away from the boys. She didn't think they would be up to much trouble, but she wanted to keep an eye on them both.
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