The Beating of Our Hearts Is the Only Sound

Chapter 10: A Moment of Weakness

WARNING: Frequent references to drugs/alcohol

Klaus woke up, covered in sweat and shaking. It was mid-day, he had just been trying to take a nap when Hargreeves finally decided to show up.

     You're my greatest disappointment, Number Four.

     He threw himself out of bed, fighting away a wave of nausea and dizziness. He didn't want this. This is why he didn't want to be sober. He knew this was a moment of weakness, that he'd regret this within hours but he just couldn't do this.

     He was checking every drawer and hidden space, the pockets to every item of clothing. He barely felt the things in his hands before throwing them across the room. Nothing nothing nothing. Everything was a mess now, things thrown around into a ridiculous pile in the middle of the room.

     "Klaus, what the hell are you doing?"

     For a moment, he thought it was Ben. But he turned around and saw–

     "What are you doing?" Diego asked again, but it was obvious he had put it together. "You're looking for drugs, aren't you?"

     "It's none of your damn business!" Klaus snapped. "Just please–"

     "It is my damn business, you idiot. I'm not letting you do this to yourself."

     "It's not up to you, asshole."

     Diego leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Well, I'm not leaving you alone until you get out of this."

     "Asshole," Klaus said again, collapsing onto the floor. He would have kept looking, but he knew Diego wouldn't just stop at this. He'd definitely go to physical intervention and Klaus didn't exactly feel like getting punched or put in a headlock at the moment. Covering his face with shaky hands, he sighed.

     "Yeah." Diego smirked. "So, you gonna tell me what's really going on? What happened?"

     "Sobriety is overrated."

     "Okay."

     Klaus could feel him staring, unconvinced. "I talked to Dad," he muttered finally.

     "You talked to Dad?"

     "That is indeed what I said, dear brother."

     "So, you talked to Dad, and now... sobriety's overrated?"

     "Pretty much."

     "What did he say to you?" He actually seemed concerned.

     Klaus didn't want to talk about it to anyone, and Diego was probably the last person he would have picked. But his brother's eyes were boring into his skull, so he sighed again.

     "Well, for one, he knew about the apocalypse."

     Diego laughed angrily. "Of course the bastard did."

     "He wouldn't say how he died. Just that he had to bring us all back–" Klaus cut himself off suddenly.

     "What?"

     "Holy shit."

     "What?"

     "I think Dad killed himself. To get us all to be together."

     "That's ridiculous."

     Klaus sighed. He didn't feel like arguing or defending his point. He did feel like getting shitfaced, but that apparently wasn't an option.

     After a moment, Diego spoke again. "So you think Dad killed himself. And that's why you're being an idiot?"

     "I don't want to talk about the rest."

     "Klaus, Dad was an asshole. Anything he said–"

     "He was right."

     "About what?"

     Klaus mimicked their dad's voice. "You're my greatest disappointment, Number Four."

     Diego took a step into the room. "Klaus–"

     "Shut up."

     "Just–"

     "Shut up!" Klaus threw something that he grabbed off the floor, hitting the wall next to Diego. "Just shut up, okay? It's true. I know that. I just feel like shit and I don't ever want to think about Dad or the stupid apocalypse or a single goddamn dead person ever again." He paused, laughing to himself. "Except maybe Ben."

     There was a moment of silence. Diego stared at Klaus, who just stared at the spot on the wall where whatever he had thrown had hit. He was wondering if it had chipped the paint a little or he was just imagining it.

     "Stand up," Diego said suddenly.

     "What?"

     "Stand up." Diego held his hand out and Klaus took it cautiously. He pulled his brother up and grabbed him by the shoulder.

     "I'm standing."

     And Diego hugged him. Klaus leaned into him, letting the moment happen.

     When he pulled away, Diego still held onto his shoulder. "I care about you, okay, bro?"

     "Okay, bro," Klaus replied, imitating his voice.

     "I'm proud of you for doing this. You've worked so hard. Don't throw it away because our asshole dad saying some stupid shit."

     Klaus nodded.

     "Yeah, well, I still don't trust you. So we're gonna go get lunch."

     "It's three o'clock in the afternoon."

     "Hungry?"

     "Yeah."

     Diego smacked his shoulder and pushed him out of the room, smiling. "Is Ben coming?"

     "I don't see him right now, but I'll let you know."

     "Great."

     Klaus couldn't help but smile, just a little. "Great."