☂ 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 || 𝙵𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙶𝚁𝙴𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚂 𝚡 𝙾𝙲 || 𝐁𝐊. 𝟏 ☂

06. THE PAST & PRESENT

Elaina unlocked the door to her and Klaus's (mostly hers) shared apartment and flipped the switch by the doorway, turning on the light. She looked back at Five and leaned against the door, giving him space to walk in. He took a few steps in, taking in the sight of the apartment.

It was a small and quaint space. Posters of stars and random paintings lined the light gray walls of the living room. In the center was a small wooden coffee table in between a sofa and an armchair. A collection of vinyl records and DJ equipment sat in the far left corner, and besides that was a small shelf of books. This is what the living room mostly consisted of. 

Elaina shifted uncomfortably as Five sauntered in. It felt weirdly vulnerable having Five scrutinizing her place and her things. With her eyes still glued on him, she pulled the doorknob and shut the door behind them.

Five went up to the shelf by the window and picked up a framed picture. It was a photo of Elaina and Klaus at 22 years old, they were at a costume party by the looks of it and were dressed up as Lestat and (ironically) Claudia from Interview with the Vampire. She was laughing at the camera, with her eyes scrunched in joy as Klaus kissed her cheek, a joint in between his fingers. Five frowned slightly at this as he put the frame back. He then peered over to the window and inspected them.

He pivoted back around to look at her. "You should have locks on your windows," he mused.

She crossed her arms. "I live on the second floor," she stated.

"Rapists can climb," he retorted, taking a seat in her armchair.

Elaina rolled her eyes. "I'd like to see them try," she walked around the sofa and sat in front of him, arms still crossed. "Anyway, start talking. You have some explaining to do," she then crossed her leg for emphasis.

"I do," Five acknowledged with a sigh, looking down for a brief moment before gazing back up at her. "I've decided you're the only one I can trust," he informed her seriously.

That comment wasn't what she expected. "Well, I'm glad that hasn't changed. But, in regards to what? To what I just saw?"

He nodded. "Yes,"

"Why just me? Why not tell everybody?"

"Because you'll listen," he said indefinitely.

Elaina inhaled deeply before exhaling, preparing to hear whatever it was Five had to say until her eyes wandered down the boy's arm, seeing the blood seeping through the material of his blazer. 

"You're starting to bleed through," she commented with a nudge of her head.

He glanced down at it for a second before looking back at her. "It's nothing,"

The brunette gave him a look. "Oh shut up, you're lucky if you don't need stitches," she muttered, remembering how the steak knife sliced open his arm. "Just wait here,"

Elaina ignored his protests and stood up from her couch, marching straight to her bathroom. There she grabbed her first aid kit and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. As soon as she returned to the living room, she crouched down beside the armrest where Five's injured arm lay and opened the kit. Elaina took out some gauze, cotton balls, and medical tape.

Elaina peeked up at him briefly, shrugging as he eyed the medical supplies. "Sometimes Klaus comes home with a gash or something and doesn't remember how he got it,"

"So he lives with you?" questioned Five, rolling up his sleeve in defeat.

Elaina rocked her head in thought as she poured alcohol onto the gauze. "Sort of. We rented it together, but he usually sleeps at rehab centers or stranger's couches," she leaned over to him, cringing slightly at the sight of the weeping wound. "It's mostly just me," she stated, dabbing the alcohol gauze on the injury.