The Beauty of Being Numb | Klaus Hargreeves x Reader

Human After All

(Y/N) had never realized how monotonous and boring her life was until Klaus disappeared. How had she survived three years doing exactly the same every day? It didn't make sense at all.

At least she had the siblings, but it didn't help much, they were too busy on their own matters and barely stayed at the Academy.

So now, she was back in the old routine: Wake up, take a bath, have breakfast, go to work, go back, and sleep. And to top it all, she couldn't sleep, so when she went to work that Thursday, she was running in five cups of coffee and a cold shower.

-Hey- Ren greets her with a pitiful smile-. Any notice from Klaus?

-No- her lower lip is bleeding, the result of her biting it too often to relieve stress-. And his family just acts as if he doesn't exist at all.

Ren doesn't know what to say, so he just hugs her and keeps watering the plants.

The hours pass and (Y/N) starts feeling sleepy. She almost bangs her forehead against the counter when Dylan enters the shop, waking her.

-Jeez, girl, are you okay?- he tries to joke with her, but she doesn't laugh-. Wha's wrong?

-It's nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night- she weakly smiles-. I'll go for your flowers.

She goes to the back of the store and takes a prep-prepared bouquet from a vase.

-There you go- Dylan pays-. Have a nice day.

-(Y/N), are you sure everything's fine?- he touches her hand-. You are really pale, have you eaten anything?

-I ate a toast in the morning.

-That's not eating! C'mon, take your lunch break and I'll accompany you to get a salad.

-No, it's really not necessary, you have to work.

-I have time and it's on the way- he smiles trying to cheer her up-. You don't want to faint, right?

(Y/N) gives in and tells Lile she's going to eat. The pair walk to a vegetarian restaurant near Dylan's work and, after he pays (he was very insisting), they sit on a huge rock across the street. The weather was nice after all.

-How's Klaus?- the boy asks as he bites his sandwich.

She gulps.

-I... I don't know.

-Did you two fight or something? Is that why you're like this?

-No, we didn't fight. I just haven't seen him...

Suddenly, a briefcase falls in front of them.

-What the...?

Both adults jump scared when it explodes and bursts in flames.

-Oh, my God!- Dylan tries to protect (Y/N), taking her hand to get away from it.

Someone screams some steps away from them and, startled, they look up thinking someone got hurt.

-Klaus!

(Y/N) breaks free of Dylan's grasp and runs to her friend, who's kneeled on the pavement, scratching the floor like if he wants to open it.

-Klaus!- she drops beside him, accidentally scratching her knees. She doesn't care-. Where the hell you were!?

She's mad at first, looking at how he gasps for air and looks lost at the floor. She thinks he's on something, like always, and it's going through the effects.

-You got any idea how worried I...- she notices his hands are bloody-, was...?

Klaus starts inconsolably crying as he curls on the floor. She can feel his agony, distressed, sadness... There were too many feelings at once.