Chapter Text
Viktor finds himself alone.
It isn't a huge shock. Although he's honestly surprised that his siblings didn't just kill him.
Instead, Viktor woke up after being knocked out on stage, was told that his siblings had stopped him from destroying the world and was just... Left to go home.
Realistically he should at least be in jail for attempting to murder every person on earth. Or for the actual deaths he caused… Leonard. Pogo. Mom…
But the police certainly wouldn't have believed them. So instead he's just... Alone. And scrambling to work out what he's supposed to do next.
So it’s not surprising that he can't sleep.
His thoughts just turn over the events of the last few days. Over. And over.
It's almost 4am and instead of sleeping he's curled up on his couch. He feels nauseous, his whole body shaking even though it's perfectly warm.
There's a knock at the door but Viktor can't summon the energy to get up. Every muscle is aching.
He prays the mystery knocker will just give up and leave. Every knock on the door rattles through his head.
Eventually it stops but the relief is only short-lived. He hears the very distinct noise of someone picking his lock.
Viktor decides to just wait it out.
Worst comes to worst he has the powers to get rid of whoever's breaking into his apartment. Even if his head feels like it's about to explode.
'Ah-ha!' A gleeful voice chuckles as the door creaks open. 'Bonjour!'
Viktor minutely relaxes when he recognises his brother's voice.
'Now where's my dear, dear sist-' Klaus freezes when he steps into the room, Viktor dimly recognises that he's only dressed in sweatpants and his binder.
Klaus blinks, processing the information, Viktor feels too lousy to feel self conscious about it.
'My dearest brother.' Klaus corrects himself smoothly.
'Hey Klaus.' Viktor practically croaks. His throat suddenly feels as rough as sandpaper. 'What's going on?'
He’s fairly certain that if his siblings were going to send someone to kill him, it wouldn't be Klaus. But he can't help but be on guard.
'Well, I was in the area and I figured you could probably use the number one expert in making it through withdrawal.' Klaus says, far too cheerfully for the situation.
Viktors head feels impossibly foggy so it takes a while for him to pick out the key words. '.... Withdrawal?'
'Well yeah. Dad had you on those drugs your whole life and now you've gone cold turkey. Adrenaline can be a hell of a drug, but I bet now things have calmed down you're probably feeling pretty crappy.'
'... Yeah, kind of.' Viktor admits.
'Step one!' Klaus announces as he drops a backpack on Viktors coffee table. 'Hydration.' He continues as he pulls out a water bottle from the bag.
It's room temperature but somehow, it's the best thing Viktor has ever drank. How had he not realised he was parched?
He drains the bottle and Klaus gives him a proud smile as he takes it back. 'Hang on, I'll get you more.'
'Thanks...' Viktor nods, trying to sit up properly.
Klaus returns with the bottle full again and hands Viktor some painkillers. 'I'm going to go through your wardrobe, okay?'
He doesn't wait for confirmation that it's okay and instead just heads into Viktors room.
Viktor decides to just roll with the whirlwind that is Klaus. He doesn't have the energy to fight it right now.
He stares at the pills for a moment.
Surely Klaus wouldn't drug him like their dad...
Although it would be a smart way for his siblings to ensure he won't go off the rails again...
If they are just painkillers... Viktor decides not to take the risk and to just suffer through the headache. He takes the pills and tosses them into a nearby plant pot.
'Ben says you threw the pills out but that's fine.' Klaus says as he walks back in with his arms full of clothes.
'Ben’s here...?'
'Ben’s pretty much everywhere I go.' Klaus says with a fake pout. 'I found matching hoodies for us!' He tosses one towards Viktor.
It has the faded logo of the first orchestra he played for and it's one of the comfiest things Viktor owns. He pulls it on as Klaus puts the navy coloured version on to match. 'Hi Ben…’ Viktor says awkwardly into the apartment.
'By the window.' Klaus says, gesturing vaguely to the window. He scowls. 'I'm not! I'm being very helpful. Right, Va-...' He pauses his fight with Ben. 'Have you thought of a new name yet?'
'Haven't gotten that far.' Viktor shrugs.
Klaus raises an eyebrow. 'Really? When you think of yourself, what name comes to mind?'
For a moment, all he can think of is his dad calling him “number seven”.
He bites his tongue but forces himself to say it. He suspects that if any of their siblings will understand, it's Klaus. '...Viktor.'
'Viktor. I like it.' He grins, falling down to sit on the couch next to him. 'Keeps the V and the whole... you know, Russian theme. Hey, did I ever tell you how mom picked our names? I asked once and she said she picked traditional names based on our “country of origin”.’ He says with air quotes. ‘Means you must be Russian.'
'Huh...' Viktor frowns. That's probably something he should have already known about himself.
Maybe he should do one of those DNA profiles. Then again who knows what they'd find. Given their powers, he wonders if any of his siblings would show as 100% human on a DNA test.
'So “Klaus” is... German?'
'Probably!' He beams. 'Feeling any better?'
'Kind of... The water helped.'
'Helps flush out any of the shit left in your system too.'
'You know, you really don't have to do all of this.'
Klaus shrugs, staring up at the ceiling. 'I've been through it enough to know it sucks. Especially alone...' He trails off, lost in thought. 'Besides, I know you paid for a few rounds of rehab when dad cut me off. Consider this payback.' He chuckles.
'Alright...' Viktor leans back, staring up at the ceiling like Klaus. There's something relaxing about looking at the blank canvas. 'So come on... How bad was it?'
Klaus winces, so it must be pretty bad. 'What do you remember?'
'Getting to the Icarus Theatre was like... A lucid dream, you know? Real but... Foggy.' He sighs, shuddering at the memory. 'It was like I was just ... Watching myself go through the motions. Like I didn't have a choice...Then you all tried to jump me and I think I just went into survival mode or something.’
Klaus considers it for a moment, clearly choosing his words carefully. 'Well, I think anyone would snap in your shoes.'
He closes his eyes. ‘I almost killed Allison...'
'But you didn't.' Klaus argues, prodding Viktors ribs. 'We're all alive, barring Benny Boy of course.' He says, gesturing to the armchair, which must be where Ben has moved to. 'We didn't blow the world up. And we get some primo sibling bonding time. How fun.'
Viktor nods, exhausted. '... Hey, what's step two?'
Klaus laughs, his eyes lighting up. 'Want to see a magic trick?' He holds out his hand towards his backpack. There's a long moment where nothing happens. '.... Aw, come on man. Don't make me look dumb.'
The backpack flies off the table, hitting Klaus in the face.
'Dick!'
Viktor surprises himself by laughing. 'Ben?'
'Yup.' Klaus grumbles, digging through the bag. 'Step two! Get some sugar in your system. Do you want Hershey's or red vines?'
'Red vines.'
'Excellent choice!' Klaus passes Viktor the candy, happily digging into the chocolate.
'Its like 4am. Why are you even up?' Viktor asks as he starts to eat.
'Don't sleep much anymore.' Klaus says, sounding oddly distant and serious.
'Ghosts?'
'Something like that.' He replies wistfully, fiddling with the dog tag necklace around his neck.
Viktor almost presses for more information, but the second that the food hits his stomach, he feels himself gag. 'Nope.' He moves quickly towards the bathroom.
'Oh! Step three!' Klaus calls as he follows.
Viktor thankfully makes it in time, knees crashing onto the tile as he throws up in the toilet. Klaus sits next to him, pulling Viktors hair out of his face.
'Thanks...' Viktor mumbles when it seems to finally be over.
'Better?'
'Eh.' Viktor replied noncommittally. Klaus helps him to his feet and he brushes his teeth until all he can taste is mint. 'Step four?'
'A good nap. Come on!'
Klaus gestures for Viktor to follow him into the bedroom. He gathers as many pillows and cushions as he can find, throwing them into the bed to make it as comfy as possible.
‘Ta-da!’ He says with a flourish of jazz hands. ‘You get some sleep okay? I’ll be on the sofa.’
Viktor falls into the bed, absolutely exhausted. Klaus is hovering so he lifts up the edge of the blanket. ‘Come on.’
‘Yes.’ Klaus whispers excitedly as he kicks off his shoes and joins Viktor in the bed.
After a few moments of silence, Viktor assumes Klaus has fallen asleep. But his brother clears his throat.
'Hey.' Klaus says quietly. 'When we started this whole family reunion thing... You're the only one that didn't roll your eyes when I talked... Or made me feel like just some ... Stupid junkie.'
'You're not-'
'Ehhh. It's fine, I get it. I'm just saying... I appreciate it.'
'You're the only one who didn't actively make me feel like I was intruding every time there was a family meeting... Well, you and Five.'
‘It's fun having the little bastard back, isn't it.’ Klaus chuckles into his pillow.
‘Yeah…’ Viktor replies, starting to drift off. ‘I hope he’s okay.’