Across Space and Time (Five Hargreeves)

Chapter 3

As they stood outside in the rain Greta clung to Five under the umbrella he was holding, terrified that if she let go she would return to the where she had come from. Five surprisingly didn't mind the girl clinging onto his arm. He supposed it was just due to him having spent so much time alone in the apocalypse and that it was just nice to feel another person's touch.

"Did something happen?" Grace asked confused as to why everyone was so sombre. The siblings all looked at her confused "Dad died. Remember?" Allison asked.

"Oh, yes. Of course" Grace said turning to face the ground.

"Is mom okay?" Allison asked concerned.

"Yeah, yeah she's fine," Diego said dismissively "She just needs to rest. You know, recharge." Pogo walked forward and turned to face Luther. "Whenever you're ready, dear boy" Pogo prompted.

Luther inhaled deeply before opening the urn and pouring the ashes (very unceremoniously) onto the ground. "Probably would've been better with some wind" he admitted.

"Does anyone wish to speak?" Pogo asked the group. Everyone shuffled awkwardly. "Very well" Pogo sighed "in all regards, Sir Reginald Hargreeves made me what I am today. For that alone, I shall forever be in his debt. He was my master and my friend, and I shall miss him very much. He leaves behind a complicated legacy-"

"He was a monster," Diego said cutting Pogo off. Klaus chuckled, knowing full well a fight was bound to break out amongst his brothers. "He was a bad person and a worse father" Diego continued "and the world's better off without him."

"Diego" Allison warned.

"My name is Number Two" Diego replied "you know why? Because our father couldn't be bothered to give us actual names. He had mom do it."

"Would anyone like something to eat?" Grace asked innocently.

"No, it's okay mom" Vanya replied.

"Oh, okay" Grace nodded.

"Look, you wanna pay your respects?" Diego asked stepping forward "go ahead. But at least be honest about the kind of man he was."

"You should stop talking now," Luther said in a low voice.

Diego's eyes narrowed "you know, you of all people should be on my side here, Number One."

"I am warning you," Luther said stepping forward.

"After everything, he did to you?" Diego said ignoring his brother "he had to ship you a million miles away."

"Diego, stop talking," Luther said getting increasingly angrier.

"That's how much he couldn't stand the sight of you," Diego said poking his brother in the chest. That's when Luther threw the first punch. Greta clung to Five tighter. All this violence and aggression was making her increasingly scared. Pogo called for the two boys to stop but they ignored his request, continuing to attack each other.

"Hit him! Hit him!" Klaus cheered, causing his sisters to look at him with annoyance. Five getting fed up with his brothers declared "we don't have time for this" and took off into the house, towing Greta along with him.

It wasn't until they reached the kitchen when Five noticed Greta's rapid breathing and fearful look on her face. "You okay?" he asked, knowing full well that she was not. Greta nodded. Five rolled his eyes and sighed before walking over to the girl and ushering her into a dining chair. "Just breathe okay" Five offered, really not used to these types of situations.

Five grabbed a glass and poured a glass of water before placing it in front of Greta. "Drink this," he said, "it'll make you feel better." Greta picked up the glass and gulped the water down rapidly. This seemed to calm her down slightly.

"Sorry about my brothers" Five apologised, pulling up the chair next to Greta's "they can be a bit... much at times. But you don't have to worry about them hurting you. They wouldn't dare. Their anger is directed solely at each other." Greta remained silent. "So where are you from?" Five asked trying to get the girl talking but to no avail.

"You don't talk much do you?" Five joked.

"I'm sorry," Greta said meekly. Five cursed himself for liking her voice a little too much for his liking.

"Don't apologise. It's nothing to be sorry for" Five shrugged.

"Sorry" Greta apologised again.

"What did I just say?" Five smiled. Greta looked down into her glass bashfully. "You want to say it again don't you?" Five asked to which Greta nodded shyly. Five let out a soft chuckle before hearing the clamouring footsteps of Klaus entering the room.

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Klaus asked before sitting at the head of the table.

"What do you want?" Five asked bluntly.

"Wha- can't I just want to spend time with my long lost bro?" Klaus asked offended. Five rolled his eyes and began to scourer the kitchen cupboards. It was then Allison who came down, heels clicking along the floor.

"Where's Vanya?" She asked.

"Oh, she's gone" Klaus informed.

"That's unfortunate," Five said absentmindedly, making his way over to the dining table.

"Yeah" Allison agreed.

"An entire square block. Forty-two bedrooms, nineteen bathrooms" Five said, placed the coffee pot on the table "but no, not a single drop of coffee."

"Dad hated caffeine," Allison said confused.

"Well, he hated children too and he had plenty of us" Klaus laughed.

"I'm taking the car" Five decided.

"Where are you going? Klaus asked suspiciously.

"To get a decent cup of coffee" Five said, eyes narrowing.

"Do you even know how to drive?" Allison accused.

"I know how to do everything," Five said sternly. He looked at Greta who was staring down at her glass, tracing the rim with her finger. He walked over to her before taking her hand and spacial jumping them both to the car. 

Greta landed in the passenger seat eye wide and looking slightly paler than before. "Sorry about that" Five apologised "I know your first spacial jump can be a bit... nauseating." And with that Five started the engine of the car and veered into traffic.