*Posted this on Twitter a while ago but wanted it here*
Jinx takes her time tying Vi to the chair, arranging the table, figuring out the seating. She even has time to paint the ends of Vi’s gauntlets to look like fingernails, which makes her laugh to herself.
Vi would never paint her nails, and if she did they’d just get chipped off in a day. Her big sis had never been girly, probably wouldn’t even want to be if she could. Here in the dark, Jinx lets herself examine Vi’s face half-covered by pink hair.
She’s pretty. Even without trying, and especially without the ever-present frown lines or worried eyes. With her new abilities, Jinx can even make out Vi’s freckles, and she traces over the strong line of her nose with her eyes.
Her staring is marred, however, by the dried blood under that nose. Jinx chews her lip, thinking, but she decides she’d rather have her guest cleaned up for the party. She finds a towel and some decently clean water.
It feels natural to sit on Vi’s lap like she’s a kid again and start dabbing her cheek. Vi makes a small noise of pain, but she’s still not close to waking up. Jinx finds herself being more gentle anyways.
She cleans under Vi’s nose, revealing the shape of her lips underneath. She’s clean, there’s no reason for Jinx to linger, but she sets the towel aside and runs a finger over Vi’s nose, cheekbone, jaw.
She lets her nail catch on the scar on Vi’s lip and wonders how it got there. “Did it hurt?” she whispers. A muscle in Vi’s cheek twitches and it’s only then that Jinx realizes she’s leaning in close enough to be sharing the same breaths.
She slinks off of Vi’s lap, heart stuttering in her chest. It’s dangerous to let herself get soft for Vi, especially now.
‘She doesn’t need you,’ Mylo snarls, ‘she’s replaced you.’
Jinx shakes her head.
“Vi will make her go away, you’ll see.”
She picks up her pistol, the weight of it comforting and familiar as she twirls it around her finger.
Sometime later, Quin said, about a half hour more and we’ll be there. Daffodil sniffed, her mood was now at rock bottom. She was not happy.
But at least it stopped raining and the sky had cleared. They were both dry, now that the sun had come out but, they were both sweaty and in sore need of a bath.
Quin attempted small talk but Daffodil had little if anything to say. Quin was fully aware the journey had been hard for his young bride but he’d make it up to her.
He could see the ocean now, which meant they were very close to their destination.
They rounded a hill and suddenly, a house stood before them. We’re here, Quin said. Daffodil galloped ahead, eager to dismount her horse.
They stabled the horses and walked toward the entrance of the house as Daffodil took in her surroundings noting the uunusual-lookinghouse.
It’s Bella! Daffodil exclaimed. And indeed her beloved dog was on the path waiting for her.
Oh hello there my sweet princess, she said picking up the animal and proceeded to speak in a voice obviously reserved for her dog. You’re my little itty, bitty baby girl. Yes, you are. Quin found this amusing and couldn’t resist a chuckle.
[Authors note: Again, not much of an A/N just thought this was a cute scene that deserved it’s own chapter. I mean, who wouldn’t want to dance with Klaus? Tw: Alcohol use and not much else]
-In between scenes: I think we're alone now-
"True, but think of it this way, you hit rock bottom right out the gate with the big man, now theres nowhere to go but up!" You open your mouth to argue when you hear the opening notes to "I think we're alone now". You and Klaus glance at each other then look up at the ceiling. Luther.
~Children Behave~
~That's what they say when we're together~
Klaus stares at you longingly. If this doesn't cheer you up...
"My dear Universe hopper," Klaus hops off the table and extends a hand towards you "Would you care to dance?"
You chuckle tiredly and let Klaus pull you to him. His hand not in yours is clasped on your waist and you try your hardest not to blush at the contact.
~And watch what you say~
~The don't understand and so we're~
He begins to pull you into a pseudo waltz and your stumbling over your own feet and giggling "Klaus!" You cry out, "Stop! I can't dance!"
He merely sends you a dazzling smile.
~Running just as fast as we can~
~Holding onto one another's hand~
"The point isn't to know how to dance, Schatzen. The point is have fun!" Klaus pulls you into a twirl for emphasis and you yelp in surprise.
~Trying to get away, into the night~
~And so you put your arms around me~
~ and we tumble to the ground and then you say~
"I Think we're alone now...There doesn't seem to be anyone around..." You sing along to the chorus and laugh as your dance partner grabs the urn and begins to dance with it.
~I think we're alone now...~
~The beating of our hearts is the only sound~
You take a swig of the drink sitting on the table, feeling it burn going down your throat. But also giving you the boost of confidence you needed to continue this game the two of you were playing.
~Look at the way~
~We gotta hide what we're doing~
~Cause what would they say?~
Swinging and swaying your body to the music is almost a cathartic experience, and as you're passing Klaus he sends you a dazzling grin and gives Reginalds urn a hearty kiss. You quickly pluck it out of his hands and set it back onto the table, grabbing Klaus and twirling him around with you as the lead this time.
~If they ever knew and so we're~
~Running just as fast as we can~
~Holding onto one anothers hand~
There's no rhyme or rhythm to the moves, you simply let the beat flow through you. You can't even remember what you were sad about in the first place. All you know is the music and the joy of being with him.
~Trying to get away, Into the night~
~And so you put your arms around me~
~And we tumble to the ground and then you say~
"~I think we're alone now...There doesn't seem to be anyone around...~" Klaus sings along to the chorus this time and the roles are quickly reversed, with him back as leader and quickly spinning the two of you around.
~I think we're alone now...~
~The beating of our hearts is the only sound...~
And as the song begins to fade out, Klaus decides to end it with a flourish and quickly dips you. You yelp and quickly grab onto his arms to keep yourself steady and playfully glare at him. His only response is to grin unabashedly at you and pull you back up.
"So? Feel any better?" He asks.
"Yeah." You laugh, "I'm not going to lie, this helped way more than I thought it would. Thank you."
"Anytime. Can't let my little Universe hopper stay all sad and shit, now can I?"
Before you can respond, you feel hear the crackling sounds of thunder and the rumble beneath your feet...
In Between Scenes - Alright, If it makes you happy (Post part 2, pre part 3 of AYSINH)
[Authors note: HOLY HELL UHHHH hi! So, i’ve got some ideas for the next few parts of the main story, but alas i’m pulling night shifts until sunday so you need to contend yourselves with this lovely little deleted scene from Are you sure i’m not high? TW: Suicide, cursing, drug use, panic attacks
Side note: You know that “As you wish” Scene in the princess bride? Yea it’s EXACTLY how your thinking
Also bonus points to anyone who can find the markiplier and doctor who references!]
Day 1
Being dragged along side streets and dark alleys with a man you've barely known for a couple of hours was - in a word - TERRIFYING. If you didn't know what this man was like you'd be off in freak out land assuming the worst and he was gleefully planning on robbing you of a kidney or something! Which, judging by the state of dress you were in, would explain why Klaus had chosen these dark and dangerous paths. Last thing you need right now is the police coming up and questioning you both, and the dreaded "streetwalker" question is not something you were looking forward to being asked.
Soon enough you both were outside the motel. You nearly had a heart attack when you discovered where exactly he was staying at. "What?" Klaus asked. "The front desk guy doesn't ask any questions and nobody arrests me in the middle of the night! What more could you ask for?"
"Clean sheets. Clean floors. Clean toilets." Ben listed off "Just to name a few."
"Oh, what are you going to do with a clean toilet, Ben? You'd just phase right through it."
You remain silent as the events of the last few hours finally catch up with you and as you enter the room you quietly ask to use the bathroom. Klaus waves you off and proceeds to faceplant on the bed while Ben eyes you with concern.
You close the bathroom and slowly sink down onto the floor. You think about what you've lost by coming here. About who you'll never be able to see again, where you'll never be able to go. All because you got caught up in something you weren't fully aware of yet. You can feel your breaths becoming more rapid and panicked and you aren't sure but it feels like your heart is beating out of your chest. You grip your hair so tight it hurts and you can feel your chest tightening in response. The tears start falling in full force and the hyperventilating isn't helping matters.
You don't notice someone enter the bathroom until you feel a pair of arms around you. Klaus doesn't say anything, simply hold you as you ride out your impromptu panic attack, for which you're immensely grateful. You're sure that if you tried to speak now only more tears would come out.
It isn't until maybe an hour later that you feel yourself calm down enough to try and stand up. You feel your legs wobble and klaus moves to catch you before you fall. Slowly you both make your way over to the one full sized bed - you aren't even going to question how you missed that - and He helps you under the covers. Klaus crawls in after you and you gently lay your head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. It's calming, soothing, a stark contrast to how Klaus normally acts. "How'd you find out?" You rasp. "Just...one of those feelings i had." Klaus breathes out. "Yeah?" You question. "Keep having them, please."
"Okay" klaus chuckles, "i will, if it makes you happy."
Day 28
"Where's Klaus?" Walking into the motel room you're struck by how eerily quiet it is. Aside from the sounds of ben turning the page of whatever ghost book he had at the time. Ben points to the bathroom. "What, again?"
"Listen, he's not setting fire to the curtains or getting high off of ketamine. I count this as a win." Ben has a point, but still. You knock on the door to the bathroom.
"Klaus?" You call out, "You doing alright? This is like...the 5 bath you've taken today" No response. "Klaus?" You call out and push open the door.
What you see is...shocking.
Klaus' entire upper body is sunk into the tub and all you can see are his legs and black toenail painted feet. But you aren't seeing bubbles. Klaus isn't breathing. "Oh, shit!" you drop to your knees and yank him out. Immediately Klaus starts sputtering and coughing and you breathe out a sigh of relief.
Until he starts yelling at you.
"Why did you do that! It was finally quiet, for the first time today i was able to just exist without the noise and then you...you...pulled me out of that bubble of happiness!"
"For good fucking reason, you moron! You were purposefully drowning yourself!"
"No i wasn't! Believe it or not, i know when to pull myself out of the brink of death! It comes with being me!" You aren't sure if that’s water, or tears, but for his sake you aren't going to question it. "Klaus you know if you need someone to keep things quiet to come and talk to me. I don't mind." You're begging him at this point. This kind of behavior isn't healthy and you're scared that one day he might not come back up for air. Klaus shrugs his shoulders and makes little squiggles in the water with his fingers.
"Didn't want to bug you. I know you've been looking at places to stay and jobs and-"
You quickly cut him off "All of which ended up as complete busts. Hate to say it, but i'm not in the system."
"What do you mean?" Klaus is confused. Surely you'd have to have some kind of record.
"No birth certificate, no social security card...just. Nothing!" You throw your hands out in exasperation.
"Officially, I don't exist. I got no home, no job, nothing. Face it buddy. You're stuck with me."
"Yeah? You wouldn't mind being stuck with a deadbeat who can see the dead?"
"Nah" You wave him off. "Not if it makes you happy. Now come on, this waters starting to stink and you look like a prune."
Day 43
There were fewer things in life you loathed more than going shopping. You weren't sure if it had something to do with being stuck in a pandemic for more than half the year, or just people in general. But you were more than content with online shopping. The less people you had to interact with, the better. So to find out that COVID-19 wasn't even a thought of thing in this universe felt like a breath of fresh air.
The downside? Now it meant you had no excuse to not go out in public and interact with people just so the both of you wouldn't starve. Because apparently Klaus couldn't be bothered to own a phone. Ben had asked once while you were in the grocery store one day, what it was like being in that universe, with the looming doomsday hanging over your heads here, surely yours would be the better place to live.
Klaus was silently listening while seated in the shopping cart, head down and playing with some lint on his coat, but jerked his head up when he heard you scoff loudly at Ben.
"Are you kidding me?! Between all the riots and protests, fires that have decimated almost half the country, threats of nuclear war from north korea, our president being a literal cheese puff with a rap sheet 6 miles long and GROWING, and a FUCKING GLOBAL PANDEMIC..." You're breathing hard and you can feel your shoulders shake in anger. "trust me." You whisper "I would take this universe over anything mine had to offer. Because at least here i'm with you both."
"Alright." Ben's quieter than usual "If it makes you happy..."
The rest of the trip is finished in silence as they contemplate just what exactly you went through to become so adamant on never returning home.
Day 49
"Klaus, were you expecting a package?" You had found a strange manila envelope sitting outside your motel room that morning, with "PLAY ME" written in black sharpie on the front.
"Sorry Schatz, the last thing i 'bought' were these pants." He gestures to the lace up leather pants his character is synonymous for and you merely raise an eyebrow. You choose to ignore the implications for now and focus on opening the package. Inside you find a DVD, and a handwritten note that simply says 'I'm so sorry, i never meant for this to happen.'
"Holy shit... who do you think sent it?"
"You don't think it's a snuff film, do you? Or a porno?"
You look up sharply and while Klaus is staring at the DVD you whack him across the back of the head. "OW! What was that for?!"
"For losing the single brain cell you and Ben share, now come on help me pop this into the player."
The two of you scramble around for the DVD player hooked up to the tv in the top corner of the room and as you insert the disc, you're filled with a sense of dread. What was on here? Snippets of your home life? The night you got taken away? Childhood secrets that were never caught on film? You feel Klaus slide his hand into yours and your fingers interlock together as you both sit on the bed. It helps ease a little of the anxiety you have right now.
The picture starts up, blurry and out of focus. "Hang on!" you hear a voice, high and feminine. The focus sharpens and you're struck by the image.
It's you, at Tessa's Bachelorette party. You don't even remember filming this. Shit maybe you WERE stoned that night. Hell, you can't even remember who those other people in the video were besides Tessa.
"Okkkkkayyyyy, why exactly are we filming this?" Past you questioned. "For posterior!" Someone in the back yelled. "Posterity" Tessa rolled her eyes and laughed slightly. You would never admit it to her, but you always had a tiny crush on your friend. She was just that right amount of curve and had legs for days, and she was so kind to you. Never failed to make sure you were mentally okay for the moment, kept a pack of tissues on hand in case the stress got too much and you needed something to tear up and it wasn't your fingernails.
"Okay! So this is what i would like to call a 'Fandom Cheat sheet!' The rules are simple! I'm going to list out a fandom, you're going to tell me the person you'd have a cheat day with, all characters are on the table so long as they are over age! Ready? AVENGERS!"
And that's how it went for a solid chunk of the video and it seemed harmless enough, everybody giving out the characters and their reasons for being with them. Hell even Klaus and Ben got in on it to at one point, shouting out their own characters they'd be with.
Yeah, finding out Ben has a thing for Rose Tyler was kinda shocking. Klaus having the hots for Khal Drogo however, was not.
Everything was going great until you someone shouted "Umbrella Academy!"
It went dead quiet in the motel room. All you could hear was the video and wow suddenly that corner looks really interesting why don't you just - and nope, Klaus isn't letting your hand go.
People were calling out names, Some said "Diego!" a few "Luthers" were thrown out, a chunk of "Allisons!" "Vanya!" "Ben!"
But you might have been the only one who said "Klaus."
"Really?" Tessa asked, "Why Klaus? Isn't he a little too...i dunno, immature?"
"Maybe." past you replied and wow that corner looks even more interesting than before you would really like to curl up in it and die of embarrassment now please.
"But that only adds to his charm. I empathize with his character. To be pushed aside, replaced, mocked? I know what that’s like! I mean, He gets kidnapped, tortured, sent to fucking Vietnam, to 1968 for 10 months, gains and loses one of the only people he's loved more than himself, and nobody has at any point - save Diego in the day that never was and that doesn't even count by the way! - asked if he was alright. And he still manages to make light of situations, to make people smile and laugh while the world is crumbling around him! I would kill to be around that kind of person. Because it just means we're cut from the same cloth."
Nobody says anything for a moment. "And the drugs and booze?"
You shrug your shoulders. "He got locked in a mausoleum when he was a kid because he was scared of the dead. What would YOU do to stave off the pain and trauma?"
You refuse to look, but you can hear the sound of the video fading off until it ends, probably the last good memory you had of that universe and someone had gotten a hold of it somehow. You aren't sure how or why, but you'll be forever grateful to them. But right now...you really wish you had seen this video in private. Cause you honestly don't think you can look at Klaus right now. You feel his hand tug you until you're lying with your head in his lap.
"Was that true?" He asked "The stuff you said in the video. About, you know, empathizing with me and shit?"
"Yeah. All of it. Where i'm from you're a fan favorite in a lot of circles on the internet, but a lot of people - myself included - relate to you." Klaus starts running his fingers through your hair and you slowly relax into his lap. You wave your hands around vaguely. "The whole, anxiety and depression thing i mean. Not the seeing the dead bit. Though i dunno, maybe add seeing ben to the list of shared traumas?"
"Oh ha ha" Ben grumbles but smiles anyways.
Klaus hums thoughtfully "Alright if it makes you happy"
"Yeah. yeah i think it does."
....."Wait, what was that bit about me being kidnapped and sent to Vietnam in the 60s?"
Ah, shit.
Day 54
"Alright boys read 'em an weep. Full straight!" You slam your cards down onto the table.
"Thats great and all but i'm pan and non-binary. Try again."
"No. No klaus we're talking about your poker hand not your sexuality. Though for the record, i'm pan and enby too too so you don't have much room to talk."
"Oh, in that case..." Klaus throws down his hand. "Royal flush bitches! That's 3 weeks i'm allowed to wear your clothes now!"
You and klaus had been at this all day now, a nonstop game of Texas hold 'em to determine whether or not he'd ever stop stealing your clothes. You didn't care that he was taking them, oh no. You cared that he was stretching out the collars on all your shirts and you don't even HAVE skirts anymore. It's getting to the point you've taken to hiding your clothes just so he won't wear them.
"Whaaaat?" You cry out "That's bullshit! How-" You turn your head to see Ben quickly look away and you whip your head around back at Klaus. "You cheater! You can't use Ben like that!"
"Why not? I'm simply taking advantage of the local resources!"
"Not a resource, but thanks for including me." Ben chimes in but you point your finger at him without looking "You shush, i'll deal with you later."
"I...why is it so hard for you to stop stealing my clothes? Our wardrobe is PRACTICALLY the same! You have no real reason to steal them!"
"Would you believe me if i told you they smell like you?"
You pause in your rambling "I...what?"
"Yeah! it's like...vanilla and Mangos. It's very refreshing!" You have a deadpan stare at this point and Ben is facepalming.
"Klaus with how often you wear my things, i'm lucky if they don't smell like weed."
"Well it smells like vanilla and mangos to me, come on, what's the harm? I'll let you wear my clothes! they'd make you look just...grrr!" he slips up behind you and hugs your waist, purring for good measure....ahhh shit why did you have to look into his eyes, he's got the puppy pout in full force now!
"I..." You let out a sigh "Alright, if it makes you happy, You can keep wearing my clothes.
"Yay!" He kisses your cheek and rushes over to the closet.
"But the next skirt you steal better be Allisons!"
"Yeah, sure i'll get right on that just as soon as daddy dearest drops dead!"
24 hours later
"Daddy dearest dropped dead, so guess we're ransacking your sisters closet!”
In between Scenes: Words of wisdom from Daddy Hargreeves.
[Authors note: This takes place during chapter 22 of AYSINH?, and BOY ARE YOU ALL IN FOR A TREAT! Ever want to see Klaus chew out his dad over his failings as a father? WELL STRAP ON IN AND ENJOY THE RIDE! WE ABOUT RAKE AN OLD BASTARD OVER THE COALS.]
In this scene: more info comes to light about how the reader got to the umbrella universe, we drag an old bastard and god seems to have a soft spot for us...who knew?
TW: Cursing, Depression, reference to attempted suicide
Words of wisdom from Daddy Hargreeves
The moment Klaus felt his head smack against the concrete floor of the dance club, Klaus knew he was going to die. Some things you just...know. Like how coffee is bitter, or the sound of rain sounds nice at first, but after a while really makes you have to go and pee. And Klaus, being who he is, he honestly didn't expect any sort of After-life to come with being dead. He half-expected to be joining his ghostly brother, but other that well...
Cards were up in the air on that one.
So when he awoke, in some kind of grayscale forest, it honestly threw him for a loop. Looking around Klaus could see...what looks like a farmhouse off in the distance.
The ringing of a bike bell causes Klaus to turn around and look at the...brown skinned little girl on a bike coming his way. Okay. Wasn't expecting that one, either, but he can roll with it.
"Oh! Yoo-Hoo!" Klaus calls out and the girl stops her bike a few feet away. "Hello."
"Almost didn't see you." Her words are monotone and calm. "You blend right in around here. So pale and all. They don't have any sun down there?"
"Down there? Where am I?"
"Where do you think?" Klaus heaves a sigh at her question. "I'm not sure, I'm agnostic, so-"
"Doesn't really matter." Her words take on a sharp quality mixed with a decisiveness that Klaus isn't really sure he likes all that much.
"You can't stay here." Well it isn't like Klaus wanted to be here to begin with, but these things sort of just...happen. "Why not?"
"To be blunt, I don't really like you all that much." Oh. In another life Klaus might have agreed with her, but after meeting his moon and stars he finds he isn't so fond of that little dig anymore.
"Normally I'd agree with you, but after meeting [Y/N], my sense of self worth has gone up a bit. I'm not looking for your approval." The little girls eye light up at the mention of his Universe hoppers name. "[Y/N]? Are they alright?"
"What do you care? They aren't one of yours. And anyways I thought you were supposed to love all of us?" Klaus asks and the girl scoffs and shakes her head.
"Where'd you hear that one?" The bible. Where else? "I need you so I can pick and choose. And had you not met [y/n] I would have said you just don't rub me the right way. Still don't, but they seem to be fond of you, so there must be something worth saving."
"Wait...are you like...their parent?" The little girl shrugs. "If you like. They fell here during a dark period of their life. Came so close to just ending it all. I took it upon myself to watch over them personally, make sure they're okay." Adding as an after thought, "Also, cause their universes god asked me to, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway. Time is flying, so you'd better hurry up. He's waiting for you." She points over to the barn house and Klaus' eyes trail over.
Dave. He could see him one last time! With a smile and nod of gratitude Klaus runs off to the house in search of his best friend. The little girl merely smiles and shakes her head. "Oh, [Y/N], what do you see in him?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Running from a meadow to a barbershop was - in a word - weird. And if Klaus didn't know better, he'd think this would be a weird place for Dave to be in.
But unfortunately Klaus does know better. After learning about what Reginald did, and where he ended up from his little universe hopper, Klaus was more than prepared to deal with his father one last time.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are..." He sang and slowly made his way over and sat in one of the chairs. A cloth was placed over his face. Bingo. He pulls the cloth off his face
"Hello, father." Klaus drolls. "You're late. I expected better from you Number Four-"
"Klaus." His words cause Reginald to freeze up. "What?"
"My name. Is Klaus." Reginald regards Klaus for a moment. "Listen, if you're about to give some big spiel about how you were trying to bring us all together by offing yourself, I hate to say it, old man, but I've known that since day one!" Klaus laughs in his face at this knowledge. Oh, if he had been on his own, no [y/n], no support, nothing, Klaus might have been terrified of him. But right now, Reginald was just a dusty old man, dead in the afterlife.
And Klaus had a few things to get off his chest.
"You've bullied, berated, and tortured us all our lives, for some sick, twisted, goal of yours to stop a coming apocalypse, when the truth is you caused the apocalypse to begin with!"
"I did not-" Klaus shushes him. "Oh, I'm not finished, old man. Let's run down the list, shall we?" This was something he's needed to get off his chest for years now, and he is NOT letting this opportunity pass him by! Not after what [Y/N]s told him. Klaus pushes him into the chair he was previously sitting in, Reginald looking stoic and statuesque like always.
"Luther - So desperate for your approval, he killed any chance at a normal life before it even had time to manifest. You turned into a monkey man, and punted him to the moon for 4 years - probably indefinitely if [y/n] was right,- never bothering to read his mail, not even giving him a second glance once he was gone. Did you know he writes poetry? Of course you didn't." Klaus starts pacing like a schoolteacher.
"Diego - You told him he was less than Luther, gave him such a hero complex that he has try and one up his brother constantly, and try and constantly be the leader, even when the situation doesn't even call for it."
"Allison - Complete control freak thanks to you. You forced her to use her powers so much, that she ended up using them to get whatever she wanted, and now that she understands that she's essentially used her powers for her benefit for too long, she's afraid to use them at all! She can't even see her daughter because of it!"
"Me? Oh, well, you only locked me in a tomb, ignored my pleas and begging, watched as I turned to drugs and booze to cope, never once trying to help me overcome my fear in a HEALTHY AND RATIONAL WAY! I HAVE PTSD BECAUSE OF YOUR BULLSHIT!" Klaus screams the last bit, but quickly regains composure. He doesn't know how much time he has left, and Klaus needs to get these things off his chest now, before it's too late.
"Number Five - He time travelled to the Apocalypse and got stuck there for 45 some odd years, only to be headhunted by some time travelling assassins, all to try and prove you wrong. Now, he's a 58 year old man, stuck in a 13 year old body, with an addiction to stopping the apocalypse. And maybe coffee. I look in his eyes and some days I see more of you than him. Except the difference is, Five actually loves us."
"Ben - He's dead. Thanks to you. He was so afraid of his own power that he could never control it properly, and you exploited that fear and used it for your own benefit! He would come home, crying his eyes out, covered in blood, thinking he was a monster, and you only ever told him he didn't do good enough. And when he died, instead of maybe, i don't know, comforting us, you placed the blame on our shoulders and told us to just suck less in the future."
"And Vanya- sweet, sweet, Vanya- You locked her up beneath the house when she was 4, forced her to take emotional suppressors, brainwashed her into thinking she doesn't have powers - oh don't act surprised I've known for a while now - and alienated her from us. Now, She's gonna discover her powers, but not in a healthy and natural way, and may well in fact cause the apocalypse you were so damn desperate to stop!"
Klaus' chest is heaving by the end of his little tirade. He let's out a "whew, that's better than any therapy." and places his hands on his knees, closing his eyes.
"I see you've been spending far too much time with Number Eight."
Klaus slowly stands and opens his eyes to see Reginald standing back up from the chair and coming to stand in front of him. Klaus snarls a bit, "Don't. Don't you dare call them that."
"And why shouldn't I? They've been Number Eight since long before they came here. Oh, I've been watching them for years. Their universe depicts us as characters from a television show, if my memory is correct." Confused, Klaus watches as Reginald opens a box they had sitting on one of the counters. Inside were pictures of [Y/N], snapshots of their life. Times from when they were a child, a teenager, a young adult. Attending funeral after funeral after funeral. Watching their family fall apart around them. Crying over the letter they received at being no longer welcome on either side due to their sexuality and gender. Klaus was...horrified. "How do you have these?" He asks.
"Years ago, before you children could even walk, I discovered a portal leading to another world. It showed Number Eight, a mere toddler, producing a shield the likes of which I had never seen. It was...remarkable. 10 feet wide and constantly growing. I sent people through to snapshot and record their life and send it back to me." He hands Klaus the photos. "Over the years the the shields began to die in size until they stopped forming completely. I assumed their lifestyle choices had this effect, They had a tendency to act like you, Number Four. Dramatic and insolent." Glaring a little, Klaus just flips him the bird. Reginald continues on.
"Over time, the way they lived, it sent them spiraling. They were ready to end everything. All because they couldn't cope with their own failings." "Failings?! Hang on-"
"Then one day, I found them watching our series, and suddenly the shield started manifesting again. They had no knowledge of it, of course. And I knew they had to come here."
"You aren't saying...?" Klaus let's the question hang. Reginald doesn't say anything, but he doesn't have to because the silence speaks volumes. Klaus shakes his head and smiles cynically. "Oh, just when I thought you couldn't be more of a sadistic bastard, you ripped someone out of their own universe and threw them into ours?!"
"They needed to re-discover their power. I never planned on them landing on YOU, however. The portal must have thrown them somewhere their soul would be drawn to the most. Somewhere they needed to be more than anything. And in this case..." Reginald sighs a gives Klaus a look of disgust, "...It happened to be you."
"Well, I'm glad they landed on me, cause ever since I met them, my life has become 100 times better than it ever was living with you! My siblings actually give a shit about me now, I'm finally sober, The ghosts are at bay, and The love of my life is probably cradling my head in their lap as we speak! Face it, Old man! This is one relationship you can't fuck up! And I hope whatever afterlife you encounter is a cold and lonely one you sanctimonious prick!"
And with that Reginald disappears and Klaus is left standing alone. "No, wait! Wait, please! I need to see Dave! I need to apologize!" Klaus quickly grabs the photos of you and tries to hang on only to be forcibly dragged back into the world of the living, but not before stuffing the photos in his back pocket, to pull out later.
This was something you needed to see with your own two eyes.
You've been supporting the Hargreeves for so long, It's time the Hargreeves supported you.
Because you are going to need all the support that you can get.
