TOUCH | F. Hargreeves

02

TW!: Alcohol and overdose callback - not explicit

Beau never thought he would have to see all of the Hargreeves siblings in one room again, Allison's wedding possibly being the last time, so it irritated Beau when they were all gathered in the living room by Number One himself. None wanting to be there but feeling obligated anyway. Beau never was good with family, in any sense of the word, not after what his parents had caused him and not after what Reginald had done.

His mother didn't have a clue on how to raise him, her mother and Beau's grandmother had taken care of him right up until he was around four and his father decided to move his family to another city. That was only the beginning of his trauma. As his mother grew worse and so did his father.

His mother had once told him, 'It's alright to feel sad, Beau, I feel sad all the time. Do you know how to make it better? Just let it out, do everything you can. Scream, cut, hit. That's what I do.'

'Does it help?' A six-year-old Beau asked his mother.

She shrugged as she drank the rest of her bourbon, 'Sometimes. Usually just helps me feel alive. And so does alcohol. Want some?'

Young Beau had developed a drinking problem after that. When he cried; when he whined; when he complained, his mother offered him the alcohol in her glass and Beau always took it. His father soon caught on and joined in so his child would be quiet. Often Beau would be so intoxicated one of his parents would find him lying unconscious on the living room floor, they would just laugh and leave him with a blanket to protect him from the cold.

They were cruel.

The Hargreeves were different, however, they always had been. Not kind but at least they somewhat actually acted like a family.

"I guess we should get this started," Luther spoke first, choosing to be the leader of the meeting as he always tried to be. Beau and Rosie sat on the couch completely unaffected by his words, Beau sipping on his drink with an arm around his wife while Rosie stared off into space. Luther saw this and ignored them, "So, 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?" Allison frowned, unaware of what Luther was talking about. 

"You know, under the oak tree. We used to sit out there all the time," Luther said as if it should have been obvious, "None of you ever did that? Beau?" He looked to the youngest appearing boy in the room, even if he was the only one in a committed relationship anymore.

Beau hid his smirk behind his glass, "He actually let me in his office so... no." He told him bluntly and Rosie tried to repress a giggle at the drama and especially at the look on Luther's face.

Klaus walked over his own drink in hand, "Will there be refreshments? Tea? Scones? Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner."

"What? No. And put that out." Luther eyed as Klaus passed the joint to Beau's waiting hand, "Dad didn't allow smoking in here."

The pair rolled their eyes and continued to pass it back and forth, making sure to blow the smoke in his general direction. 

"Is that my skirt?" Allison pointed to the piece of clothing Klaus was shamelessly wearing.

"What? Oh, yeah, this. I found it in your room. It's a little dated, I know, but it's very breathy on the bits."

Rosie grinned as she looked over his outfit "It really suits you."

"See," Klaus pointed to the woman, "My favourite flower has taste."

"Listen up. Still, some important things that we need to discuss, all right?"