TOUCH | F. Hargreeves

27

TW!: Self-deprecating

Frozen in shock, the Hargreeves siblings couldn't believe their ears. Rosie stood before them as she usually did but now she had taken Beau's place. It was silent, uncomfortable, and Beau could finally calm himself in the stiff quiet atmosphere. It still made him terrified with the fact of them finally knowing the truth of who Rosie was and why she was but his anger quickly melted away everything else as did the feminine features wrapped around him in a blanket of comfort. None of this was about him or his fear, it was about the little girl that had been ignored and belittled every day of her life.

Rosie and Beau split into two once again, away from hiding, his surroundings came at him tenfold. The colourful lights and the techno music in the background, the piercing stares and unspoken words. Everything was pushed away at that moment and only Luther remained in Beau's furious gaze.

He was back.

"What the fuck did you do to my Vanya?!" Everyone flinched at the sudden sound of Beau's anger-filled tone, black eyes flickering crimson. No one could utter a word as jaws opened and closed with thoughts buzzing rapidly in their heads, it pained Beau to hear them all mash together in a way that lacked any comprehension. "I'm going to kill you." His statement was deathly calm and there was no room for disbelief as he stepped forward.

Five quickly stood before him, face stoic, "Beau, you're angry." He placed a hand on Beau's chest, grounding him in his moment of consuming rage.

"You're damn right I am!"

"You need to stop and think about this. You'll only regret it."

"Move, Five," Beau demanded, eyes never leaving a still shocked Luther.

"No," Five spoke strongly, "If you want to hurt them you have to go through me."

"You know I could easily do that."

"I do... but I'm hoping you won't."

Beau didn't want to hurt Five, or anyone else, but his anger was too strong to deny and he was standing in the way, "This idiot locked your sister away because he can't understand her and you want to protect him?"

"He didn't know what he was doing, he just wanted to keep everyone safe."

"And in turn caused the apocalypse!" Their eyes met and Beau's held something akin to mania, "You know I'm right."

There was no doubt in Five, Beau knew that, but there was something else stronger, more potent and he let breathe through him, "That may be but I also know you would carry the guilt for the rest of your life if you did this and I don't want that for you."

"Move." Beau tried.

"No."

Huffing in dissipating fury, Beau still wanted to let it out, "Rosie?"

"Listen to him, love."

"Fine." His natural height returned to him in a second as Beau fell into one of the seats, ignoring every set of eyes boring into him. Rosie followed after, wrapping an arm around his shoulder securely and laying her head on his shoulder. All of Beau's secrets were leaving him too quickly and at such a horrible time. It wasn't about him, it never had been, so why was everything coming to the light the one time Vanya was being noticed - even if it was for a not so good reason -? It wasn't fair. Beau supposed it was what he got for trying to play therapist for himself when he couldn't even do that for his mother. He should have known it would eventually all blow up in his face.