Chapter Text
When the first of the siblings to arrive knocked on the door that morning, (Y/N) had already been waiting in her room for hours. She'd thought the best way to introduce herself to the siblings was to welcome them individually as soon as they entered the house, but when she peeks up the stairs and sees a giant man with a grieving face and watery eyes, she immediately backs down. She runs back to her room trying not to make too much noise, and locks herself, heart pounding like a drum.
-Miss (Y/N), are you all right?- Pogo asks as the girl tries to control her hasty breathing.
-Yes. I think I’ll wait for Klaus to arrive, maybe it'll be easier for all of us when he’s here.
-Okay, miss- Pogo walks to the stairs-. Although I doubt it.
(Y/N) looks in the mirror for the hundredth time that day, sitting on the edge of the chair, to examine her hair. She isn't used to tying it, she doesn't like it, but right now it seems like a wonderful idea. She tries to pick up her mane in a ponytail, but to her chagrin, she looks even more scruffy; so she tries to do some braids. But as she’s never done them before, she fails miserably at the task.
She tiptoes to her door and slowly opens it, looking for Grace so she can help her, but she isn't in her usual spot. She hurries to close the door after hearing footsteps coming up the stairs, a tall girl with curls emerging from them. She is breathless: With someone as stunning and elegant as that woman, she couldn’t present herself with what appeared to be a nest for hair.
-Miss (Y/N)- Pogo’s calls her again as she combs her hair-, Mr Klaus has arrived.
She freezes, the comb sliding down her fingers and landing gently on her lap. Her cheeks turn red and hot as her eyes glow.
-Ummm… Have they all arrived yet?- she presses her ear against the door, whispering.
-No, Miss Vanya’s missing.
-Great!- she was just buying time.- I’ll wait until she arrives… And then gather them in the living room, so I can talk to everyone.
-Yes, Miss.
She keeps trying to straighten her hair, but the more she brushes it, the more it fluffs and tangles. It's a nightmare. She just wants to make a good first impression, especially in the circumstances the family's going through.
She feels it has only been a few minutes when Pogo suddenly opens her door.
-Miss (Y/N), everyone’s waiting for you in the living room.
-So fast?- she turns pale.
-Let’s go.
And without waiting for an answer, the chimp starts walking down the stairs. On edge, the girl picks up a tie-dye scarf hanging from one of her plants and follows him, trying to tie it around her hair.
They reach the ground floor and walk to the living room, where she can hear voices and the clink of glass. She stops behind a bookshelf, trying to make up an excuse.
-Miss Voss, there will never be a good time to do this, go and talk to them.
-I knew I’d have to introduce myself eventually, but I would have preferred Mr Hargreeves do it. Besides, this isn’t the best time to meet us.
Pogo sees her with stern eyes and points to the room, motioning for her to move.
-I can’t,- she's out of breath, hands sweating-. If I go in there, the buff one will kill me.
-All right, let me do it for you then.
-What…?
Before the girl can finish the sentence, the chimpanzee's already walking towards the siblings, who are sitting in awkward silence.
-Children, there’s someone you must meet- Pogo turns to where (Y/N)'s hiding.
- Ich kann dies tun (I can do this)- she whispers to herself as she shyly emerges from her hiding place.
As soon as she comes out from behind the bookcase, sunlight illuminating her body, she can see the siblings stiffen and adopt a defensive position.
-Good evening- her accent's thicker than she’d expected.
Her eyes scan the room, searching for a familiar face, desperately trying to rely on him. She stops at the bar where her old friend is pouring some kind of mixture into a glass; he hasn’t even noticed her yet.
-My name's (Y/N) Voss- she hopes to be speaking understandable English-. Your father took me under his wing three years ago, and I’ve been living with him ever since. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.
She looks back at the bar, but he's so distracted in his own world he doesn't even notice her presence.
-And it’s good to see you again… Klaus- she almost shouts his name so he can hear her.
The man raises his head at the mention of his name, almost dropping the bottle in his hand when his eyes focus on the source of the voice. She looks like the sun between all the dullness of the room, almost like a fever dream.
-(Y/N)?- he sounds impressed-. The (Y/N) Voss?
-The one and only.
-Hey!
Klaus leaves what he's holding on the counter and goes to hug his friend with a wide smile. He has to control himself, heart pounding heavily against his chest, her scent giving him an odd peaceful feeling.
-What are you doing here?-she feels butterflies as he kisses her cheek affectionately-. Look at you, you glow like a goddess!
-Thank you. I like your skirt- she laughs as he turns in circles to model.
-It looks better on me than Allison. It’s a little dated, I know, but it’s very… Breathy on the bits.
-Wait!- the previous mention interrupts-. Klaus, you know her?
-Of course, sis! This…- He puts an arm around her shoulders-, is my great friend and rehab sister, (Y/N) Voss, the hippiest bitch since Janice Joplin.
-Rehab?- Diego asks worriedly-. Great, we barely stand one junkie in this house and now we have to deal with two.
-Oh, no! I’ve been clean for almost four years, my medical record can confirm it. Your father had Grace check me every month since I arrived. Though, I can’t say the same for Klaus- she turns to see him with concern, taking his wrist-. Schätzen (little treasure, endearment term) , you just got out of rehab again.
-What can I say, love?- he turns, ashamed, waking back to the bar-. I’m a lost cause... By the way, how did you get here?
-I came looking for you three years ago... I got in some trouble and had nowhere to go- she admits, embarrassed-. Then I remembered you gave me your address the day I left rehab.
-Which kind of trouble?- Luther asks, distrustful.
-Let’s just say some people have a special interest in my talents.
-Talents?- Diego is as irritated as Luther.
-Oh, you must see what this girl can do!- Klaus sits down beside Vanya with a bottle full of liquor-. Sunshine, show them.
She turns to see Pogo for approval and the chimp nods. (Y/N) closes her eyes, and when she opens them again her orbs have turned golden. To the amazement of the siblings, they all hear a male voice coming from the stairs and seconds later, the reason they are all reunited there enters the room:
-Dad!?- Luther almost screamed.
-What the fuck?- Diego stands up, impressed.
-Isn’t it amazing!?- Klaus points at the man, still holding the bottle-. You can even touch it!
-What?- Allison stares at her father with confused eyes.
-Miss (Y/N) can create illusions- Pogo walks to her-. They are so realistic, you can touch, hear, smell, and even taste them.
-She also controls emotions- Klaus takes a sip from the bottle-. She could make you fall in love with her in a blink of an eye.
-I have to touch the person first- (Y/N)’s eyes are still shinning-. Besides, it’s more like an exchange: I give an emotion, and I absorb what the other person was feeling before.
-So you’re like us?- the illusion disappears as Luther speaks.
-Of course she’s like us! Why would Dad take her in if not?- Diego's angry.
-I can’t believe he found another one- Vanya's upset but tries to dissimulate it.
-He didn’t find another- Allison scuffs-. She just showed up at the door and he took the opportunity.
-And are you staying?- Vanya asks-. I mean, Dad’s no longer here.
-Mr. Hargreeves was very clear about letting Miss (Y/N) stay in the house even after his death. She was included in his will, like you all.
-She can keep the money, the house and everything else if she wants- Diego speaks-. I don’t think anyone here wants it… Except for One , maybe.
-I think we have a priority problem here- Luther stands in the middle of the room as (Y/N) sits down on the floor, between Klaus’s legs-. First, what are we doing with Dad?
Everyone looks at him confused.
-I mean… I figured we could have a sort of memorial service in the courtyard at sundown. Say a few words, just at Dad’s favourite spot.
-Dad had a favourite spot?
-Oh, yeah- (Y/N) answers with a smile-. Under the oak tree, he used to read there all the time. Sometimes we had tea.
Luther looks at her irritated. He considered that a special spot for him and his father, but now this stranger is stealing it from him.
-Right.
-Will there be refreshments?- Klaus is braiding his friend’s hair, a cigarette between his lips-. Tea? Scones? Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner.
His fingers tremble slightly, fearing he'll hurt her. He would rather hug her as close to him as possible but doesn't want to bother her with his clinginess. On her side, (Y/N) is sure this is a dream, it feels surreal having him so close.
-What? No!- Luther is about to lose his patience-. And put that out. Dad didn’t allow smoking in here. Now listen up, there are some important things we need to discuss, all right?
-Like what?
-Like the way he died.
-And here we go- Diego starts playing with a knife.
-I don’t understand- (Y/N) thinks Vanya’s voice is like the one of a deer in the lights-. I thought they said it was a heart attack.
-Yeah, according to the coroner.
-Well, wouldn’t they know?
-Theoretically.
-Theoretically?- Allison asks in a mocking tone.
-I’m just saying, at the very least, something happened. The last time I talked to Dad, he sounded strange.
-Oh, quelle surprise!
-Strange how?
-He sounded on edge. Told me I should be careful who to trust.
Luther looks at (Y/N) with suspicion, and the others follow. The girl is so distracted by the feeling of Klaus’s fingers on her skin, she doesn't notice until her friend speaks.
-Hey, don’t you dare point a finger at (Y/N). She’s a ray of sunshine, just look at her!- he hugs her, defensive-. She wouldn't even kill a bug.
-Your father was truly kind to me, why would I want to hurt him?
-Miss Voss had a close relationship with Mr Hargreeves, she was very affected by his death- Pogo defends her, but this only makes the siblings look at her with a raised eyebrow-. A friend-like relationship, I mean.
-Luther, listen- Diego stands up, bored-. Dad was a paranoid, bitter old man who was starting to lose what was left of his marbles. Besides, if Junkie No. 2 here had tried to harm him, don’t you think Mom would have stopped her?
-He must have known something was going to happen- Luther keeps insisting, then turns to Klaus-. Look, I know you don’t like to do it, but I need you to talk to Dad.
Klaus gives him a cynical look while Allison scoffs.
-I can’t just call Dad in the afterlife and be like, “Dad, could you just… Stop playing tennis with Hitler for a moment and take a quick call?”
-Since when?- Luther is upset-. That’s your thing... Unless you are trying to protect someone.
-I didn’t kill Sir Reginald- (Y/N)'s a bit hurt.
-No! It’s just that I’m not in the right… Frame of mind!
-You’re high?
-Yeah!- he smirks. Yeah! I mean, how are you not, listening to this nonsense?
-Well, sober up, this is important- Luther points at (Y/N)-. You, can’t you make him feel better so he can talk to our Dad?
-I could, but I’m not forcing Klaus to do something he hates.
-Thanks, love- he kisses her on the forehead, and she can’t help but smile dreamily at the nickname.
-Do you know at least where's Dad’s monocle?- Luther's getting more violent towards her.
-Who gives a shit about a stupid monocle?- Diego whispers.
-Exactly- Luther keeps looking at (Y/N)-. It’s worthless. So whoever took it, I think it was personal. Someone close to him. Someone with a grudge or interest.
-Where are you going with this?- Klaus tends to be untroubled while high, but the implications in his brother's words are bothering him.
-Oh, isn’t it obvious, Klaus?- Diego interrupts-. He thinks your girlfriend killed Dad… Or one of us, perhaps.
-I’m not his girlfriend- (Y/N) whispers with a red face-. And I didn’t kill Mr Hargreeves.
-I know, sunshine, don't worry- Klaus reassures her, softly squeezing her shoulders.
-Wait, one of us?- Allison glares at One.
-How could you think that?- Vanya is offended.
-Great job, Luther. Way to lead- Diego mocks him before leaving the room.
-That’s not what I’m saying…
-You’re crazy, man. You’re crazy- Klaus stands up, taking (Y/N)'s hand and a bottle-. Crazy.
-I’ve not finished.
-Okay, sorry. We’re just gonna go murder Mom. We’ll be right back.
-That’s not what I was saying- Luther tries to apologize- I didn’t…
But Vanya, Klaus, and (Y/N) have already left the room, leaving him alone with Allison.