The Beauty of Being Numb | Klaus Hargreeves x Reader

Sinner Man

In the afternoon, when (Y/N) arrives home, she can feel the tension all over the house, making her feel uneasy. She walks to the living room, where she hears altered voices:

-What about you stoner boy?- it's Diego-. What do you got?

-Oh, so, what? You need my help, now? Oh- he imitates Luther's voice-, "Get out of the van, Klaus." "Welcome back, to the van."

-What van?

Luther scoffs.

-What's it gonna be, Klaus?

-I'm with Diego, because screw you! And if Ben were here, he'd agree with me- Klaus hisses.

She opens the sliding doors and everyone turns to see her as she walks into the room.

-What's wrong? The vibe here is unbearable

-Nothing- Diego shuts her-. So that's three...?

-Wait...

-To two- Diego raises his fingers, mockingly.

-Votes not final yet- Allison says.

-What?

-Five's not here. The whole family has to vote. We owe each other that.

-Right- Luther agrees-. We should wait.

-If the whole family gets a saying, then (Y/N) has to get one too, right?- Klaus mentions.

-No!- Diego is quick to say as Luther looks at (Y/N) divided.

-Saying about what?

-Luther wants to turn off Mom.

-But this is a family...- Diego is interrupted by the girl.

-What? Nein!- she scowls at One-. I'm not letting you do anything to Grace.

-Ha!- Diego goes to her side-. I agree she should get a vote, she's got a tattoo anyway. We might as well call her Number Eight!

Vanya feels uncomfortable at the comment, but no one notices.

-So it's four against two- Klaus drinks what's left in his glass-. That solves it.

-What? No!

-Yes, even if Five sided with you, it'll be three against four.

-Whatever.

Luther storms out the room, followed by Allison.

-Thanks- Diego mutter as she walks past (Y/N).

-She's my friend.

She sits on the couch after everyone leaves, except for Klaus, who takes a seat beside her.

-Why does he even want to disconnect Grace?

-He thinks she's guilty of Dad's death. He's delusional- he offers her some chips-. Hey, you wanna go out tonight? There's this amazing club I want to go to.

-Can't- she stands up-. It's a friend's birthday and he's having a party at his apartment.

-Oh, which friend?- he follows her upstairs.

-You don't know him.

-Then describe him.

-He's redhead, tall, grey eyes- she enters her room-. A common customer at the shop, he's a lawyer.

-Oh, when you're going

-Ren and his sister will pass for me at 7.

-And when you'll ve back?

-At 10, I think- she looks at him worried-. Can you promise to stay out of trouble while I'm gone?

-Yeah- he didn't feel comfortable with her going out without him.

-We'll go out on Friday, okay? It's a promise.

At seven o'clock, Ren and Lile beep outside the Academy, and (Y/N) says goodbye to Klaus as she runs downstairs, a gift in her hands.

-I'll be back on time to sleep, ok?- she screams at Klaus, who's watching her from the stairs-. Oh! And I prepared you a bath, you stink!

-How considerate!- he says sarcastically, she smiles-. Have fun!

She closes the door behind her and Klaus sighs. Dragging his feet, he goes to his room, undresses and takes a box with some pot blunts inside. With the headphones on and a towel around his body, he walks through the corridor towards the bathroom.

He can't stop thinking about this Dylan guy. Was he the one who was (Y/N) attracted to? The one she talked about in the car?

He enters and the scent of oranges invades him: (Y/N) had put candles all over the bathroom as well as some flowers. He smiles and gets into the tub, some rubber ducks floating on the pink and purple water, and leaves the earphones and drugs beside him. Maybe he should stop taking them, that would make (Y/N) happy, right? He could at least try.

Deciding to skip his usual night dose, he dips in the water, closing his eyes. The warmth of it reminds him of his friend: he could picture her filling the tub and putting the bath bomb in it. Lighting up the orange-scented candles. Checking the water was at his favorite temperature. She had even put in ducks as if he was a kid.

She is so sweet, so tender and loving... Why does she waste her time taking care of him? He doesn't deserve it, at least he believes that.

His pacific thoughts are interrupted by voices, those voices he so much hated and tried so hard to repress. The drugs he took in the morning were wearing off.

-Klaus!

Various screams and overlapping whispering invaded his mind. He covers his ears as if that would hushed them, but they only become louder.

-Klaus!

-Klaus!

-Klaus!

He emerges from underneath the water, gasping for air in panic. Some water spills on the floor and a rubber duck falls. He shakes, the heat of the candles not being enough to calm his chills.

He grunts and hits the water, upset, and takes a cigarette, still shaking and panting. He lights it, then puts his earphone on and turns the music.

The first verse sounds as he lays back in the tub, trying to distract himself.

"I should be better off without you. You take a pride in making me blue."

After some minutes soaking, he gets out. He turns off the candles, lets the water go, and takes a duck with him. Klaus wraps a towel around his body and another on his head.

He dances his way out of the bathroom, dancing with the toy. The music is loud he can't even hear himself breathing.

"What's the matter with you, rock? Don't you see I need you, rock?"

He enters his room, eyes shut, and dancing. The duck falls to the ground with the cigarette box and the lighter.

"The Lord said run to the Devil, the Lord said."

Klaus can see Ben talking to him from the door, but he doesn't mind and completely ignores him.

He sits on his bed, mouthing the lyrics as he stares at the band in his ring finger. As he kisses the gold piece as if it was her hand, a shadow on the floor grabs his attention. Looking up, a corpulent figure with a blue bear points him with a knife.

-That was definitely not weed- he thinks he's imagining it. The figure approaches him-. Oh, Scheisse (shit).

Something hits him in the head and everything turns black.