Maybe We Shouldn't Know About This (But We Do Anyway) (a UA fanfic)

XI

"Five, I think you should do it."

Luther was about to press the bell on Schneider's gate (it's a very tall metal gate, unlike Krause's wooden one) when he backed up, pushing Five forward in his place. Five looks around in bewilderment- they did not expect their twin to literally be pushing them around.

"Wha- why?"

"Between us, you're the best at hiding emotions," Luther answered. "So you should be the one pressing the bell.

"Coward." Five rolled their eyes but pressed the doorbell anyway. After a minute has passed, there was no response.

"Maybe you try again?" Klaus suggested. "Maybe Schneider didn't hear the bell."

"Maybe." Five pressed it again. This time, a door slamming sound can be heard.

"Hello?" The person inside called from over the gate. "Who's there?"

"Are you Marlo Schneider?" Five asked.

"Why do you need a Marlo Schneider?" The person asked. "Who are you?"

"I'm Five Hargreeves," Five introduced themself. "And I'm here with my twin brother Luther Hargreeves. We have a few questions with Marlo Schneider."

The gate opened to reveal a middle-aged person, the body completely blocked them from viewing inside the house. Luther looked down, this person has blond hair, green protruding eyes, this person looks a bit like Luther and a bit like Five.

"Hargreeves?" The person said. "I don't have anything to say to you- now if you excuse me."

The person is about to close the gate again, but Five stops them.

"Are you Marlo Schneider?" Five asked again. "We don't want money at all, we just want to be your acquaintance."

"I don't want to be your friend!" Schneider shot back. "You're invading my private property!"

"You're not our parent," Luther claimed. Schneider locked their eyes with Luther's, green eyes meeting blue. "You don't have to play the role of our parent. Just today and we'll be off your hair again. We don't want anything else but answers to the few questions we have, please."

Schneider looks conflicted, but the gate is opened wider.

"Please."

"Just today," Schneider points at them. Five and Luther nodded. "Who's the other one?"

"He's Klaus Hargreeves," Five answered. "Our adopted brother, not yours."

"You aren't mine, too." Luther bit his bottom lip, feeling a jab in his stomach at Schneider's remark. Luther knew to expect this- he never thought he'll actually have to.

"I see."

Schneider nodded as they opened the gate wide enough for all of them to enter and they did. They took off their shoes in front of the gate and Schneider handed them home sandals, which they wore.

Schneider's house looks nice. It has a vintage vibe in the inside as the walls are coloured primarily white with pastel pink, pastel green, and pastel blue lines decorating it. There's a 'beautiful day starts with a beautiful mood' quote written in German cursive hanged on the wall. Five, Luther, and Klaus sat on the sofa- in that order. Schneider sits on the opposite end.

"Nice house," Luther comments. Schneider didn't answer. "Yes, umm, can you tell us the story of us?"

"There's no 'us'." Schneider shook their head. "I was 14 years old in my childhood house when I suddenly gave birth to both of you. One of you- the one dubbed Number One- fractured my finger. It was painful."

Luther looks down, feeling guilty all the sudden. "That would be me and I'm sorry."

"My parents kicked me out instantly." Schneider continued, their facial expression contorted more with hatred and anger. "A man named Reginald Hargreeves came to my doorstep and asked if I'm willing to sell him the babies. I said yes, of course, I couldn't refuse. I'm absolutely uninterested to raise two children at 14. I needed money quick, I didn't thoroughly think about the proper price."

Ahh, so THAT's the reason why they're both sold for just $200.

"Your parents?" Five asked. "Do they accept you back?"

"No," Schneider shortly answered. "I've explained multiple times that you're both suddenly born and that I was still a virgin, but they didn't believe me. They thought I've been defiled."

"What happens afterwards?" Five asked. "To you?"

"Tricking people and stealing things, what else?" Schneider asked. "What can a 14-year-old kid do for themself with no financial support nor protection? I lift myself off the ground, of course, and no longer need to trick people to give me money."

"So what do you do?" Luther asked, guilt gnawing his insides as he knew he caused this person to suffer that much.

"Well, I'm a pole dancer," Schneider answered. "Doesn't sound so nice but I like it. I like having money from my own doing and I enjoy it for the most part."

"What about family?" Five asked. Schneider scoffs. "Do you have any other?"

"If they want me there, they didn't tell me," Schneider answered. "Is there anything else?"

"Wait, you're not going to ask about us?" Luther asked, confusion evident in his face along with a tinge of sadness. Klaus held his hand and squeezed his fingers.

"I don't want to know anything about you-" Schneider huffed. "I don't want to form a bond with you."

"And you won't," Five said and stood up, followed by Luther and Klaus. "Thank you for talking."

The three of them wasted no time as they walked to the door, taking off their home sandals and wear their own shoes. Schneider didn't accompany them out as they left all on their own.

"What a pleasant person," Klaus hissed. "Wouldn't even fake being glad."

"Well, we have to see it from their perspective," Five fought. "A person who at 14 suddenly gave birth to twins, one even fractured their finger. The person got kicked out for something that isn't even their fault, being forced to be a leech for a few years just to survive. I'm not saying their reaction was nice, but it was expected."

Luther didn't say anything as he hid his hands behind his back.