Chapter Text
Tapping her long nails at the sturdy back of the payphone receiver, Allison lost patience at the busy line of Viktor's number. Cripes, that was not a good sign.
She was at the back of an empty alley, waiting for her other siblings to bring their sorry asses to their rendezvous point, her worry about Viktor getting the best of her. Only half an hour ago, they received a notification in the newsletter from Viktor who had been radio silent forever and knew it must be big. What few words he sent them were enough to shake all the Hargreeves to the core.
I have the marigold.
Immediately, like they knew this was bound to happen no matter how many years passed, they all sprung into action. Luther and Diego abandoned their work shifts, and Lila sent the children to their grannies. Allison made sure Claire stayed over her best friend's house-- which was just in the neighborhood-- for two days before dragging the reluctant Klaus to her car.
Ben was still in the facility.
Since it was Five who knew Viktor's location, he called all the shots. He was going to confirm the situation from his networks first, and that no one should do anything stupid. Diego said the only stupid thing about it was allowing Viktor to live so far away. Lila asked if he would have offered Viktor their basement like Allison did with Klaus. The two proceeded squabbling, so Luther proposed they all meet in one place to talk, to which Five agreed to meet them in an hour.
"I don't think Viktor got the marigold on his own. He barely left Canada. It's possible this is a trap." Five reminded them.
Allison was not doing the 'stupid' for the first time in six years and finally took the initiative to call Viktor in the light of her brother's safety. Though it was not her first attempt to dial him after Luther gave her Viktor's number, the bitter memory of their last encounter in Hotel Obsidian would always make her withdraw. They both knew everything that was said and done then was meant and intentional to burn bridges.
But Allison didn't regret pushing that button. She also didn't forget that even though he could stop her, Viktor decided to trust her. Viktor allowed her to grab her future with her own hands, for which she would forever be grateful.
So, imagine her frustration over not getting hold of Viktor when it matters. Her regret washed over her when she had all the time to amend their relationship. Now it's too late. All she could do was keep faith that Viktor could handle whatever shithole he found himself in before they could get to him. That he was okay.
"Viktor, I swear if anything happens to you before I can apologize, I'm going to kill you myself." She swore under her breath when the phone remained unreachable.
"Oh, the typical Hargreeves love note," Klaus sighed, with a gloomy look from inside the car, quietly sitting there with both hands on his knees. His hair was clean cut, his features full of apprehension as he kept his eyes on the side and rear mirrors like he was expecting an attack. "So, easy to breathe a kill, but kills them to make one call for some sibling love."
"Hey, I thought we're done judging?" She snapped in his direction to which Klaus just shook his head absently.
"Sure, sure. We survived six good years, but with the impending end of the world, I'm afraid judgers will run amok in our family again."
"The world's not ending, Klaus."
"Uh-huh. With Viktor and marigold in one space, that's kind of a sure thing. Also, I don't think we should worry about him so much if he can wipe out anyone and anything like he used to. It's us we should worry about because we're outside in the middle of the night. Two defenseless human beings in an empty alley, with a nice, shiny car, and far away from any police station. Now that's just asking... that's just asking for trouble."
"Relax. I have a pepper spray."
"How many cans of pepper spray?"
"Uh, one?"
Klaus sighed like Allison never learned anything.
"Oh, sweet Allison. A can of pepper spray against three or four delinquents isn't gonna save us. If they have metal bats, knives, or guns, we're done. We could get mugged or murdered here, and no one would ever know."
Allison rolled her eyes. After their last timeline jump and everyone suddenly turned powerless, Klaus had never been the same.
A few minutes later, Allison had heard enough of that discordant tone she practically slammed the receiver back to it.
"I can't believe one of our siblings is fighting for their life and here we are stuck a country away!" She could barely contain her anger.
"Pray, be glad we're at a safe distance," Klaus said solemnly, making Allison press her eyes shut as she walked over to his side of the car. "Viktor is a precious cinnamon roll, but we all know his spirit animal is a true porcupine."
"Klaus, I told you that you could've stayed home with Claire where it's safer."
Klaus shook his head vehemently.
"Oh no, I have to come with. Viktor may be a spiny, spunky porcupine but he's still an adorable porcupine in a vast world full of piranhas. And I can't let you go alone to your doom, Allison."
"Uh, thanks."
"Also, I may be safe physically back in the basement, but internally I will be having meltdowns from worry and it's not safe for Claire-bear to see me like that. No. I'd rather I'm out here to help... if you need help...Can I have that pepper spray?"
Allison gave her brother an affectionate look.
"Viktor is gonna be happy to see you. If he's going to be resenting anyone going there, it's probably gonna be me."
"I don't think so. Viktor loves you." Klaus said in a matter-of-fact tone that had Allison heaving a deep sigh.
"I don't know... after everything between us, it's just hard to find a ground to talk it out, y'know?"
"You're out here risking your life ready to battle with only pepper spray, any of the Hargreeves is bound to forgive you."
"Yes, but I did ignore most of them for six years."
"Well, not all. But I think he'd be more disappointed if he doesn't see you in this dream team rescue. He's quiet about it, but he's always been sensitive to our presence. Our cute porcupine."
"Our relationship is not the same as before, Klaus."
"So? Why be consistent now? And this is Viktor we are talking about. "
"That's more reason I can't just approach him," Allison said meaningfully. "Why do you think it took me years just to call his number?"
"Sorry excuses, Alli. Not for long it won't matter when it's time for another end of the world. Oh well, if we die by his hands this time, I don't think I'll regret it so much than dying by Dad's hands. That's just a nail in my coffin--"
Just as she was about to tell him off about hyper-focusing on dying, a loud skidding sound of tires alerted them. Klaus sat straight, eyes wide as the crashing sounds drew nearer to their location. Then out from an alley flew trash cans and screeching stray cats scurrying away, then a familiar old van rushed past them, heading straight to a garbage bin where it smashed with an ear-splitting bang.
"Oh my god," Allison whispered just as she straightened up. Klaus had thrown himself in the backseat of their car. Lila stuck out her head from the front seat window, seemingly fine.
"Oi, what are you wankers still doing? Five already called and said we should head to the borders of the state to meet him, pronto. We should really go now because with this as Diego's ride, we might not arrive on time to see Armageddon's fun part!"
"It's a nice ride!" Diego could be heard exclaiming.
"Oh, woe me." Klaus lamented, "We're gonna die because of Diego."
"Holy shit!"
Five arrived at the scene his brother had laid to waste in a matter of an hour. From the sky view, he knew it was bad. From the level ground, the damage was colossal. Five couldn't help being reminded of the apocalypse of the future with those large chunks of what appeared to be walls, debris, and fire eating away the consumables left and right. What was once a town now looked like a forgotten war zone with structures toppled and crumbled to the ground. No one would even know it was only daybreak with the thick black smoke enveloping the atmosphere.
This place did not stand a chance the moment Viktor Hargreeves set his mind to it. But how did it happen?
Gritting his teeth, Five began looking around for any sign of life. Any sign of Viktor who was likely the only survivor of this catastrophe. He wanted to get to his brother before the authorities came around. It wouldn't do good to any countries involved to know what happened here.
"Viktor!" He called, hastily avoiding a precariously hanging piece of the wall since he could no longer blip into safety in case a falling debris happened to him, "Viktor!"
He kept his search to the direction he thought Viktor would take, all the while thinking the many shits it would mean now that they were talking marigolds and superpowers again. The future of this timeline had never looked so bleak in Five's eyes. But there was no one He was just about to turn back when he saw he was straying far from the main road onto the park when he finally found him.
Viktor was kneeling on the ground, hacking his lungs out with alarming force. Five immediately ran to his side, making sure not to surprise Viktor else his brother accidentally wiped him from existence.
"Viktor!"
Viktor turned so fast that Five had to raise both hands.
"It's just me, okay?"
Five paused as he saw his brother recognize him. There were still traces of electrifying power behind his white glazed eyes and he was still faintly glowing. Only his strick pale face told Five his brother was having a nervous breakdown.
"Five...?"
"I'm here, what happened? Are you okay?" He slowly approached and reached for Viktor's shoulder, squeezed it, and gave him a once-over. Viktor didn't look physically harmed. A mess, a little shaky and worse for wear, but he didn't look like a crazy overpowered villain who was about to atomic bomb the place.
"Five," Viktor whispered, taking in that his older brother was there, "Five, what do I do? It won't come out, I can't take it out!"
Confused, Five saw that Viktor was holding the bright spot between his chest and neck while leaning on a cracked, dirty jar as if trying to vomit whatever it was that was making him agitated.
"The essence of the marigold?"
"I-- I can't extract it from my body. I can pass it but I can never get rid of it from me..."
"How did this happen?"
Viktor looked as if he didn't know where to start.
"I don't know, they... they were my friends, they worked in my bar, they were people I know..." Viktor mumbled, his eyes shining that reminded Five this was Viktor, not the emotionless destroyer their dad had once made all his children to be. "I don't understand, but I know them for years... the bartender, the sheriff, the butcher, my patrons... We lived here. And all of a sudden CC was this different person, she said she was paid- and she made me drink this!" Viktor clutched the jar tight.
Five blinked. Sissy again? What? But he couldn't find the timing as Viktor coughed and he had to hold him up.
"Easy there..."
Viktor was unappeased. "I didn't feel right. I didn't feel good, and then she was different. But she said they were after all of us, she wasn't alone. She said she's been working all along with the others. And then they all came at once, the bar was suddenly full of the townspeople. I found the sheriff and he was suspicious too. He didn't act too surprised to see me use my... He didn't want me to leave. The whole town wanted to restrain me."
"Calm down," Five said with his mind working on the information. "Just breathe..."
"I realized the whole town was all in it. The entire town I lived in for years. And I know they called all of you here to trap you with me... I couldn't let that... I couldn't...they were all in it...I had to...I... "
"They've been watching you?" Five confirmed with a spark of something dangerous behind his eyes. Viktor clutched his chest shakily.
"They were all lying to me all this time..."
"I guess it's pointless now to look for anyone to interrogate." Five looked around the damage but was mostly concerned about Victor's state of mind. "You okay?"
"No. What do I do now, Five?"
"What do you mean? You're coming with me, we will figure this out."
"But... I have my powers back." Viktor said weakly.
Five understood what his brother meant. Viktor was talking about him being the ultimate bomb. He was always going to be the bomb of any timeline and now the hand of the clock had started moving again, they knew what would be coming next.
And Viktor looked as if his world had already ended. With a betrayal like that from people he thought he knew for six years, Five was surprised Viktor didn't end everything just to spite humanity. But to see his brother get played at, something tugged in Five's heart. The thought of a threat set against his family got his attention. But more so, to involve the last person who wanted anything to do with it, who only wanted a quiet life, and who happens to be the most dangerous of all, Five was invested to find and make someone pay.
Who were these people and what were they after? Why Viktor? Then it dawned on him. Of course, it had to be Viktor.
They were back to square one.
"Give it here."
Viktor stared up at him wordlessly. Five had his hand stretched out to his brother with a meaningful expression.
"Look. I know I don't sound like the Five you remember but six years is a long time, and time does change people. All I'm saying is if you are afraid of the future because of this power, then let me share some of the troubles with you."
Viktor gaped at him for a long time but Five was serious.
"I swear I will help you. You don't have to be alone. Give me my powers back and I swear we will have more chance of coming out of this alive."
Viktor stared at him, "Are...are you sure? You're giving up your normal life because of me...?"
"Oh, please. Normal is overrated. You didn't think I'm the kind of guy to settle down, did you?"
That somehow brought a smile to Viktor's face. It satisfied Five to some degree.
"Well, you're a CIA," Viktor said.
"Which means I work in a chain. It's like being back with the Commission, except I can't murder my superiors. Doesn't mean I will if I get my powers back." He added hastily at the reproachful look Viktor gave him, "Point is, I'm so done with public transport. Do you know how I had to hop on a Knighthawk bound to Alaska just so I could skydive to be here?"
"I don't think that's a category for normal," Viktor sniffed, but he was smiling.
"Another point. I was in a hurry, I had to pull strings and ask for favors from my bosses. The system was so trying."
"I'm sorry,"
Five made a face as he pulled Viktor up to his feet.
"Don't be. You didn't ask for this. I'll admit, Diego was kind of on point that I was a narcissistic asshole about my powers. But only because mine is legendary. I could get fine without it, yes. But I'd be a total wacko if I didn't take it back when given the chance. Besides, I want to quickly find out who's behind this. I can't be efficient if I' 'm just normal. Not if they are dangerous and I'm telling you they are. Just by the sheer number of enforcement on the field. If they can keep a whole town charade just to keep you here, that's a power we need to reckon with. So don't think you're making me choose. You're also doing me a favor, Viktor."
Viktor nodded. He wiped his damp cheeks with the sleeve of his clothes, and when he looked up at Five he was the picture of calm.
"Okay. I'll do it. Thank you, Five."
"Don't mention it. That's what brothers are for. Particularly, the only family who can have a nice discussion in the middle of this wreckage."
Viktor stared around him with a sad look.
"What if the others blame me again for this?"
"For being betrayed and attacked?"
"No. For this powers. Again. What if it's another end of the world?"
Long ago, Five would have rebuked any of his siblings for bemoaning their plight rather than acting on it. This time, he was sympathetic at the weight of those words.
"You know, Viktor, I always go with the saying we cross the bridge when we get there. Right now, everyone's worried about you. They're actually on their way to the state border just to rescue you, fuck all country restrictions. I'd take that as a positive sign because that's what families do. Get each other out of trouble, nag about it sometime, go on our separate ways, and then before long we're back together holding hands."
If Five was confident about anything under their circumstances, it was their family. Viktor seemed to consider this before nodding again.
"I have to warn you though, maybe not all our siblings will agree to get their mojos back. It will be up to them to take it or leave it at that."
"I know," Viktor nodded in understanding, his face clearing to this found new hope. "I know."
"Great. Now let's get out of here before anybody notices a town just disappeared on the map. If it was there, to begin with."
"That's a scary thought."
"What scares me is not knowing the enemy. So it's always better we all stay together until they reveal themselves."
Silence fell between them with only the crackling sound of fire eating wood. Five found his brother looking at him with wonder in his eyes.
"What?" Five asked with knitted brows.
"Nothing, just...you seem older now. Less impatient."
"Slow days in the CIA without assignment can do that to you. And I've always been older. A senior now, in fact. What better way to spend the next hundredth lifetime saving my family."
"We're not that hopeless. Or okay, we are. But are you sure?" Viktor asked again when he reached both hands for Five to take.
Five only smiled as he clasped Viktor's hands.
"What the hell. This is what I live for."
Klaus vomited on the ground after hauling himself out of Diego's van, pale as a dead fish. They hadn't been out on the road for two hours when he made such a ruckus about how his paper bag wouldn't do for his retching, not for the first time, to remove everything in his gut. They stopped the van on another empty highway of 95.
"Why is this my fault?" Diego argued, rather than asked.
"It's because you were driving like a maniac, darling," Lila patted her husband's hand, "And Klaus got a sucky stomach."
"You're the one who said we aren't speeding enough!" He retorted.
"Who drives at the speed limit on an empty highway?"
"A responsible dad! You're just angry because I'm not letting you take the wheels!"
"Water," Klaus croaked from outside.
"Jesus," Allison handed him a bottle before crossing her arms and setting her jaw tight. "You know what we can accomplish here in the middle of nowhere with all these bickerings? Your divorce papers."
"Oi!" Lila was offended, "Don't jinx us. This is what a happy marriage looks like!" Her eyes turned daggers to her husband.
"Would you all stop shouting? I got Five on the line!" Luther barrelled out from the back of the van, scratching his swollen forehead with Allison right at his rear. "Five! Five, where are you?"
"I should be asking you that! Where are you? You should be near Vermont by this time--"
"We are nowhere near any Vermont," Luther was apologetic.
"Quebec?"
"Not even close."
"Then where the hell are you guys?"
"Almost leaving Boston," Allison said, standing near Luther's ear, "It's just Klaus and the van--"
Allison could practically hear Five sigh in exasperation. "Luther will send you the location but where are you? Are you already at the border? Do you know what's happening to Viktor?"
Luther had just sent the message when there was a loud crack in the air and there was Five dragging an unsteady Viktor by the upper arm. The younger Hargreeves was still woozy from the sudden space distortion. Everybody's jaw dropped.
"This is why I didn't include all of you in that skydive mission. You all shitsuck at meeting at the rendezvous point!" Five spat. "And Klaus will faint."
"Oh no," Klaus whispered, clumsily getting to his feet, eyes transfixed on Five while Luther helped steady Viktor. "You chaos junkie! You have your powers again!"
Lila whistled. "Sorry, but this changes the nanny game." She told Diego who had fallen silent. The other siblings looked from Five to Viktor.
"Viktor?" Allison shook his shoulder, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Viktor sighed with a palm massaging his head.
"Who did this?" Luther wanted to know.
"I did." Five admitted. All eyes went to him which Five returned in disgust. "I didn't hurt him. Apparently, transferring some of the marigolds takes a toll on his body. That, or he's not a fan of roller coaster blip."
"No one's a fan," the siblings said in unison.
"Or maybe you couldn't control it," Allison threw a scathing look in Five's direction.
Five clapped his hands, his dark eyes glinting.
"Right. As expected I got all your attention. We can all throw rocks and open discussion about my and Viktor's found powers right here on this open road, or we can find a safe place to lie low and then discuss because someone is obviously behind the curtains who trapped Viktor in Canada, made him believe the small town was a safe place to stay for many years only to be betrayed by the same people who doused him in marigold, and then also tried to get us. The fun part is we don't even know who the hell it is, which puts us at a disadvantage. And I hate disadvantaged, ergo to null a checkmate, my powers." he opened his arms to tell them it was a free will.
His sudden pause after the monologue met with a deafening silence. He sighed.
"Questions?"
There was an eruption from everyone.
"Excuse me, what?" Diego was indignant.
"Betrayed by who?" Luther's mouth hangs open.
"Did you say 'townspeople'?" Klaus asked in disbelief.
"Did they hurt you anywhere?" Allison was all over him but was also careful not to close the gap she set between them.
"No. They made me drink something. It was the marigold." Viktor wouldn't meet Allison's eyes, "Then I destroyed the town."
His words had everybody hushing down. Except Lila who snorted in amusement.
"Classic." She chimed.
Five swore under his breath and pointed in the direction of the van.
"Everybody get in. We're heading back to the city."
The van ride was a full-on discussion with Five doing most of the talking at the beginning because Viktor was still a little feeble. Viktor who was sandwiched between Klaus and Lila while Five took the front with the driver, as usual. Allison made herself comfortable at the back with Luther, the two whispering with each other. They seemed to have made peace, the rest of his siblings have. Viktor would lie if he said he didn't care. He was certain Allison being here was already enough to speak about their relationship. That said, he was also surprised by how easy it was to share his side of the story with his siblings when he could, thinking at first they wouldn't show much interest. Only to be proven wrong because all of them hung to his every word.
"Your dating history is better than Luther's." Diego jabbed at his brother seated at the far back, who gave him a furtive look from the rearview mirror. "Alright, sorry. But anyone wants to discuss why Five is handing out money to only one sibling?"
"Favoritism." Klaus could care less.
"Overcompensating," Lila declared.
"Hey, you still let me pay the bill whenever we drink!" Luther complained.
"It's favoritism," Viktor confirmed with a nod, still a little too weak to show vigor in the conversation.
"We're not comparing." Five injected before they got sidetracked again, "Okay? So potential end of the world doesn't seem to interest anyone, I'll start: Apocalypse happened the first time because Viktor got upset--"
"I wasn't really--" Viktor bit his lower lip, "Okay, I was. It's because you guys suck."
"We're assholes," Klaus agreed.
Five gave a nod, "The second time the apocalypse happened it's the time and space vortex throwing us catapults like the Kugelblitz for messing with its structure. Then Reginald Hargreeves who was the one who designed this world according to his will when he found that restart button in the pocket universe. Except he didn't get to finish because Allison stabbed him in his robotic skull."
"Just like how I taught her," Diego beamed with pride. Allison's eyebrows flew up to her hairline.
"Why was he a robot?" Viktor wondered out loud.
"There's a floating cube back there too if you didn't notice." They all nodded at Lila in agreement.
"Yeah, a robot doesn't seem farfetched. But it does explain his parenting skills." Allison replied, finally joining in and making Klaus chuckle.
"Just when we thought we'd seen everything of dear old Reggie. We had to see him skin deep."
Everybody pressed their laughter in the face of the serious situation, even Five whose smile turned upside down in a heartbeat.
"Still--" Five said through gritted teeth because Christ, let him speak, "he obviously wanted to correct his mistakes by removing our powers, not counting on the possibility that the reason we got them can still exist in this timeline. The marigold."
"Do we know where it actually came from?" Luther furrowed his brows.
"Dad must've had them in the original timeline." Allison concluded, "I mean, he knew special children were getting born on the same day. He must have something to do with it too,"
"Congratulations on joining the voice of reasonable chip-ins," Five's eyes dimmed, "Chances are high because he has his prints all over this mayhem. Not to mention who else has the money and power to create a make-shift town just to keep an eye on our sibling?"
"He sounds terrifying whatever timeline." Klaus opened his paper bag and started vomiting. Viktor patted his back gently before asking, "So why reset us if he's just going to return us to normal? I mean-- our kind of normal."
"Different people, different perspectives, same brain. We're actually the only ones always staying the same." Diego pointed out that the Hargreeves were all silent again. They all know there must be a reason for that too.
"So what do we do?" Luther finally asked, "How do we stop this from happening again? This world-ending initiative?"
"Well, first you ask yourselves if you want your powers back." Five turned to them from the front, his features serious. "But I have to say that in doing so will only make you jump right into their plan the way they wanted us to get to Viktor. Getting our powers back is their agenda."
"Which you fully embraced?" Lila raised an eyebrow. He narrowed her eyes at her.
"Someone already stirred the pot and we know nothing or anyone who can give us clues of who is the enemy. We have to take initiative in the cooking or we will be roasted again." Warned their eldest in a teenager's clothing.
Another deep silence fell where the siblings, husband and wife only glanced at each other.
"Well, I'm going to have to hold back on giving out the candies," Viktor sighed, leaning back the chair looking tired, "I'm pretty poofed."
"You take your time." Five advised everyone, "But who knows how much we'll have when we don't know their next move."
"I'm not having mine back," Klaus was determined. It wasn't clear if the sounds the other made were of agreement, but after long everyone fell into their own reveries.
Viktor in particular was thinking that not many hours ago he was inside his bar, sharing jokes with his patrons and waiting for another day to pass. He didn't wonder why he felt safer with his real family.
"Five?" Viktor suddenly called from his stupor. "I think there's still someone who can give us a clue about all this crap."
That was right as he recalled it now. Someone who was supposedly on vacation.