The Beating of Our Hearts Is the Only Sound

Chapter 13: Music For a Cold Night

Luther, Allison, Five, Diego, Klaus, and Dave filed into their seats. Even sitting on the aisle seat, Luther had to maneuver some to fit in the small chair. They only had a few more minutes before the concert actually started, and Klaus was just grateful they had managed to get there with any time to spare. Between getting Diego into formalwear, Five's constant disappearing, and getting Luther into the car, it really was a miracle.

     "Have you ever been to one of these before?"

     Klaus looked at Dave and shook his head. "I've never heard Vanya perform in general, much less been to one of these. So I haven't had to wear a suit." 

     "That's a shame," Dave said, elbowing him. "You look really good in one."

     Too surprised to come up with a good comeback, Klaus just grabbed Dave's hand and held it. "So do you," he grumbled back.

     They sat quiet then, listening to the drones and scales coming from the orchestra onstage. Klaus couldn't see Vanya there, so he assumed she was going to get a dramatic entrance. He was glad; she certainly deserved a big introduction after everything that had happened.

      He felt a paper tap his arm, and he looked over to see Diego passing him a program. Klaus took it, not actually very interested, and flipped through the pages. On the front, there was a picture of Vanya with her violin, the one that had been in the newspapers, as well as a message saying "In Memory of Helen Cho." Klaus handed the program to Dave, who took it and actually looked like he was reading it.

     Klaus settled into his chair more, trying to get comfortable while still sitting somewhat normal. That was certainly something he wasn't going to enjoy about this. But he closed his eyes, listening to the random and chaotic, but somehow pleasant sounds of the performers warming up. He wasn't sure how much time had passed before everything went quiet. He opened his eyes to a darkened room and a single moment of complete stillness before Vanya walked onstage and the room was filled with the sounds of clapping. It took every bit of willpower in him to not cheer and shout at the top of his lungs.

     She was wearing a nice suit and walking more confidently than Klaus had ever seen her. She turned to face the audience, eyes scanning the crowd for just a moment. When they landed on the group of them, she smiled, looking relieved and overjoyed. She bowed, then turned around to the rest of the orchestra. Klaus closed his eyes again, listening to the quiet noises of the chairs and bodies shifting. There was a quiet second, and everyone in the room held their breath until–

     The music began.

     Low, smooth, swelling notes flooded the room. It was Vanya– small, vulnerable Vanya– playing these notes that made everything else disappear. The rest of the orchestra started playing, too, strings and quiet drums, but it was still Vanya over it all. Everything else was just the background, just the support to the music she was creating.

     The sounds shifted, moving upward. It was the same rich, swelling tones, but the notes were higher and higher.

     Oh my god, Klaus thought to himself, why did I wait so long to listen to her?

     Suddenly, Vanya was playing runs. Quick, graceful phrases traveling up and down rang out through the space. Chills ran through Klaus' body.

     It was the most incredible thing Klaus had ever heard.

They all waited outside after the concert. It was a little cold, but none of them wanted to wait until they all got home to see Vanya. At that point, a few performers had begun to filter out, carrying instrument cases and dressed in black.

     They almost didn't see her when she emerged; she was hidden behind a few other performers. But when they saw her, they all rushed forward.

     "Vanya!" Allison shouted, barely giving her sister a chance to look up before pulling her into a huge hug, actually lifting her off the ground.

     "Hey," Vanya laughed, holding on to her violin case handle tightly with one hand and wrapping her other arm around Allison.

     After a moment, Allison let her go.

     "I just... I can't believe you guys actually came." Vanya shook her head a little, a smile lighting up her face.

     "Are you kidding?" Allison said. "Of course we came."

     "Congrats again, Vanya," Five said, little emotion in his words. "I enjoyed it."

     "It was amazing, Vanya," said Klaus, pushing past the others to hug her. "It was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard."

     "Stop it," Vanya said.

     Diego walked over, hesitating for a moment before patting her on the shoulder. "It's true. It was great."

     "Okay, maybe I'll believe it from you."

     Diego grumbled something as the others laughed, but he was smiling. Just a little.

     "Also," Klaus said, touching Vanya's shoulders and turning her towards him, "how have I never seen you in a suit? Because you look fantastic."

     "I guess I just never had a reason to." She shrugged. "I've never seen you in a suit, either, and I'm honestly surprised I'm seeing it now."

     Klaus laughed. "So am I."

     Vanya looked at all of them, unable to stop smiling. After another moment, she shivered a little. "Do you want to get going?"

     "Thank god, " Diego sighed, already walking to the car.

     "You guys really didn't have to wait for me." 

     "We wanted to."

     Everybody looked up at Luther when he said that. He was the last person anyone had expected to say it, and Vanya looked like she could cry. Instead, she smiled wider and stared at the ground as they walked. 

     Just as they reached the two cars in the parking lot, Dave stopped next to Vanya.

     "I'm really glad I got to hear that," he said. After a beat, he awkwardly held out his hand to shake hers.

     "Come here," she said, and pulled him into a hug. "We're friends. Trust me, we're way past the handshake level."

     Dave laughed and hugged her back.

     "Klaus! Dave! If you're riding with me, get your asses over here. I'll leave without you."

     Vanya let go of Dave. "You two should go, he definitely will leave you."

     Klaus took a wide step forward to hug Vanya one last time before stepping away and waving. "See you all back home!"

     "Bye!" Dave said.

     "Come on!"

     Klaus laughed and grabbed Dave's hand, pulling him forward until they got to the car. They climbed in, and Klaus wouldn't let go of Dave's hand. In the mirror, Diego glanced back at the two, and Klaus could have sworn he saw him smile.