Chapter Text
Klaus didn’t know exactly what time it was, only that there was no light shining through the basement windows above the counter. He could hear Luther’s horrendous snores even though there were two floors between them, and the vague sound of the shower running somewhere in the mansion. The lights were off except for the lamp in the far corner, casting a warm yellow light over the empty kitchen.
The chair opposite him was occupied by Ben. A book rested in his translucent hands, almost looking like it was floating if it weren’t for the vague outline of his figure. Of course, Klaus could see him perfectly, but he knew that if someone else walked into the kitchen right now they would just see a book being held up by nothing unless they looked closer. The blue illuminating his hands and Ben’s body was flickering like lights in a power surge as Klaus struggled to not fall asleep in the warm, dim kitchen.
He jumped as a blue flash illuminated the scene and there was a thud as the book fell through Ben’s hands and onto the wooden table, Klaus’ concentration lost by the distraction of his brother’s appearance.
“Klaus?” Five said, peering at him through the dark haze of the kitchen. “What was that for?”
Klaus was puzzled. “What was what for?”
“Why’d you throw that book?”
“I didn’t – oh. That wasn’t – that wasn’t me – Ben, he -”
Five cut him off with a glare. “I swear if you say Ben threw it, I will teleport you to the top of the Eiffel Tower and drop you off it. You can’t blame everything on your maybe-hallucination.”
Klaus couldn’t even be bothered to argue anymore. It was too late. “Alright. Want some coffee?” He pushed the half-empty coffee jug over the scratched table to Five. His younger-older brother was looking very stressed, and in Klaus’ experience caffeine was the ultimate fix-all. It was like ultimate frisbee. But without a frisbee.
Unfortunately, Klaus was very used to hearing his siblings’ problems. They seemed to think him as carefree as Luther did, when he confessed drunkenly before going out and leaving Klaus to chase after him although he didn’t deserve it, setting into orbit a whole new problem in Klaus’ already busy schedule of fuck nope I’m too sober for this shit. As a result, his siblings seemed to think they were free to discuss all their problems with him. Man, they didn’t even pay him.
He turned his already wavering attention back to his little/big brother who was standing haughtily at the head of the table, looking so much like his dad that Klaus had to turn away for a second lest he flinch at the onslaught of memories attacking his caffeine-addled brain. He recognized the pose though and forced himself to listen to Five as he continued talking.
“-owever, so you need to come with me or this whole fucking thing will blow up in our faces.”
Klaus blinked. “Sorry, what was that?” Five’s mouth turned up in a comical ‘o’ shape as his eyebrows drew together.
“Were you listening to a single fucking thing I just said?”
“Well, yeah, you said something about – like, going with you or something – very Terminator, by the way, ‘come with me if you want to live’ sorta thing-“ He stopped as Five’s face turned from comical disbelief to barely-contained rage.
Maybe he should listen – Ben certainly thought so. He felt rather attacked, sitting there in flared jeans and a tucked-in vintage tee proclaiming ‘MISO HUNGRY’. Both his brothers, alive and dead, were glaring at him. He began to feel that maybe listening was something he should do. Above him the shower turned off and footsteps padded the carpet above his head. Allison, then. Her room was above his – kinda – and she had a bathroom that everyone (except Klaus) stayed out of because of the multitude of hair and makeup care products occupying every surface.
Five took a deep breath. He looked as though he was trying not to punch someone. Klaus may have only had him back for a few days, but he was so signing him up for some anger management classes when this whole apocalypse thing was over.
“I was at Griddy’s Donuts the other day- “
Klaus gasped. “Oooh! You were behind that whole murder-thing, weren’t you? I was almost worried there was a serial killer on the loose, but it’s okay, it was just our very own psycho assassin!”
Now Klaus was seriously worried he was going to punch something. “Oh my god Klaus. Someone is going to break into the house!”
Klaus stopped talking. Ben questioningly looked over at him as he stared at Five. “Is this like, a friendly visit, or is it like a friendly visit but not to us?” He thought of something. “With guns?”
“With guns.” Five confirmed desolately.
“Damn.” Klaus was quiet. “And how do you know they’re going to break in?”
“Because I went to Griddy’s Donuts and intercepted the message, and I know they’ll just send another one even though I took it, and people will still come. With guns, Klaus. So we have to go, because they’ll literally be here any minute. I don’t think I properly conveyed the urgency of this situation, Klaus. We need to get out of the house.”
Above them the sounds of shouting were starting, followed by rapid gunfire.
“AK-47’s.” Klaus muttered absently.
Five glanced at him. “What?”
“The – the gun. An AK-47. The sound it makes, it – it almost sounds like pattering feet mixed with the gun echo in the lobby. Doesn’t matter,” he said at Five’s strange look, “are we going or not?”
Five reached out a hand and Klaus looked at it disdainfully.
“Can I at least finish my coffee first?” he asked, cradling the lukewarm cup of coffee with his free hand.
“Oh, for fucks – give me your goddamn hand, Klaus.” He said, snatching his arm, and they disappeared in a flash of blue light.
