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[superbitter]

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☈ called and called but you never picked up (soulmates)

[channellings]

How long has he been lying on the ground for? Klaus isn't sure, doesn't even really want to move and find out, but he knows that if he stays there much longer, one of three things could happen: one, someone steps on him. Two, someone calls an ambulance. (He's covered in blood, after all.) Or three – which is probably the worst – a police officer shows up and takes him away. If that happens, there's a likely chance he'll be at the precinct for far longer than he'd like. So, in spite of himself, he cracks his eyes open, glances around a brief moment, eyelashes fluttering rapidly as color ever-so-slightly begins to bleed back into his vision.

Oh, thank God. Because it means he is back in his normal timeline, that everything is (hopefully) back to normal and whenever he gets back to the academy— No, he thinks, don't get ahead of yourself just yet. He has no idea if something's fucked up or if this is some alternate timeline to the one he was wanting to find. Until he knows, he won't hold his breath, lest he ends up turning blue.

The trek back home is a long one. Quiet, the bustling noises of people and cars and other city sounds aside, although those are all things he takes comfort in. More stuff that reminds him he might have found the right place. As much as he's kicking himself for destroying the briefcase, it's better this way, better that no one else happens across it and does a time-hop into someplace they've got no idea what they're doing. Five will be pissed about it, he'll deal with that wrath later, though.

Rather than come through the front door like a normal person, Klaus's planning for a back or side entrance and once he's inside, his next immediate idea is a shower. Except after he gets into the bathroom, he finds it's far more difficult to stand than he remembers, meaning sitting in the tub will have to do.

Which is what he does, soaking in the water until it's cold, until his fingers are completely wrinkled. Slowly but surely, his sight is becoming more normal too, solidifying his assumption that he's somehow made it back to the proper time. Good, because he wants so badly to find Diego, but... not right this second. Not while he's still immediately recovering from that. What does he even call it besides ‘war?’

His room looks the exact same as he'd left it; messy and scattered, warm, familiar— He makes a beeline for the bed, slumps down on the edge of it, puts his face in his hands and breathes deep, doing everything he can to gather his thoughts, to keep himself together. It's okay, everything is fine now (even though it actually isn't).

It also hasn't dawned on him yet that there are definitely bloody footprints all down the hallway he'd traipsed through. Another bridge that'll need crossing when it comes.

[superbitter]

He and Luther are watching over Five in his little apartment when it happens. One moment, the world is beautiful and bright, the way he's always known it to be and the next, the colours have dulled. It takes all over three seconds for Diego to realise what that means and his breath catches in his chest so hard he stumbles into his dresser, gasping.

Number Two can hear Number One's voice but he can't make out the words, drowned out by the unimaginable pain that takes over his brain and brings tears to his eyes. When he's finally able to breathe again, it's to Luther informing him that he has a message from Eudora and he knows it has something to do with Klaus.

The rug is pulled out from beneath him once more when he finds the hotel room empty aside from Eudora's body, bleeding out into the shitty carpet. And there's no sign of Klaus.

He's useless to everyone, curled up in his bed and staring blankly at the wall while the world goes on around him. Everything looks dull in a way he's never known and he doesn't know how he's going to keep on going without Klaus.

Unlike when the colour left, it creeps back in slowly. So slowly that he doesn't notice it at first. He's not sure exactly what it is that catches his eye but when he notices the vibrancy, he sits up so quickly his head spins and he almost falls as he races out into the hall.

It was Mum's dress; the bright pink one with the black polka dots and she's mopping up... blood?

"Klaus?" Grace doesn't even look up at him. The panic is in full force and he races to his soul mate's room. "Oh shit. Klaus!"

[channellings]

He's vaguely aware of the footsteps in the corridor, takes note of the soft swishing sounds accompanying them. While it's something familiar, something he's heard a million times before, he can't quite put his finger on it, can't discern that noise from the faint, lingering ring in his ears. What finally does break him from the stupor is an actual voice, one he knows all too well.

Shit. Klaus isn't quite ready to face his brother yet, unsure as to how he's supposed to explain what the hell happened, where he's been and why. Despite the uncertainty though, the medium clambers upright, rushes around his room in a quick flurry of movement, ignoring the almost debilitating throb between his ears to the best of his ability. Whenever he finds pants, they go on in one swift motion and he somehow manages not tripping himself while going through the motions, but even that brief movement exacerbates the pain.

Albeit reluctantly, he stumbles backward, drops into a sit on the edge of the bed and clutches his hair, taking long, measured breathes in an attempt at calming the storm raging inside his head. One, two, three, he counts the steps, up until Number Two's right outside the bedroom door.

And the moment it opens the rest of the way, his attention flickers toward his brother, half-lidded eyes watching him, considering. God, it's so nice seeing everything in color, it practically makes the time-jump worth it just to see him. (Almost, that is.)

“Diego,” comes the quiet response. Then he's attempting to stand once more, moving toward the other man, regardless of any remaining dizziness.

[superbitter]

He doesn't knock, just pushes the door open with a trembling hand, unsure if this is an illusion and he's only seeing the colour because he wants to and that he'll open the door and Klaus won't be behind it.

But there he is, as beautiful as ever and he's... He's hurting. Diego can see that much just from looking at him for half a second.

"Klaus. You..." His brown eyes well up with tears at the sight of him. He brings both arms up to wrap around him and pull him close. "I thought you were dead."

[channellings]

Klaus wouldn't have expected him to knock, either. They'd lived together long enough, they all knew the risks of opening a door without making certain it was safe to do so, but he's so extraordinarily glad Diego didn't wait.

Even if he is obviously hurting, he looks uninjured (a bullet scar marring the skin of his left shoulderblade notwithstanding) and somehow softer, lacking his usual makeup, standing there with slightly damp curls plastered against his forehead and cheeks.

I almost was, is what he wants to say, except Diego's crying and— “Oh, Diego, it... it's okay.” He cinches both arms around his brother, squeezes him tight, buries into the spot where his neck meets his shoulder. “I'm fine, yeah? D-Don't cry.” Funny that he says it when his own eyes are beginning to well up, too.

[superbitter]

Diego's arms are tight around Klaus' lithe frame, holding him close. Each breath is shaky and he never wants to let his soul mate go.

"It's not, Klaus. I... I went to the hotel and you were gone and 'Dora... Eudora is gone and I thought you were dead!" Pulling back, Diego curls both hands around Klaus' face and watches his eyes fill with tears as well. "What happened?"

[channellings]

It's grounding, reassuring. If it were possible, Klaus would hold him tighter, but he's still a little wary, still unsure of whether this moment might be a dream or not.

But then Diego's talking about the hotel, about Eudora, withdrawing and reaching to clutch his face instead. Much as he wants to keep himself together, it just won't be possible, not when he's being held so gently. Patch is... “Gone? No, I—” he pauses, glances toward the door then reaches his hands up to carefully hold Diego's wrists, “—I'm sorry, I fucked up.” And now he's a real ridiculous mess, crying like this.

[superbitter]

"No. No, you didn't. She should have waited for me." Diego chokes on his tears and looks down at the ground for a moment. "She... They shot her." Frowning further, Diego looks back up at Klaus and runs his thumb under his eyes to catch the tears.

"They were after Five. Whoever these people are, the people who killed Patch." He presses a kiss against Klaus' lips before pressing his forehead against his. "What happened to you?"

[channellings]

Of course they did, fucking hitmen. God, seeing Diego like this, it sincerely hurts, makes Klaus's heart ache in ways he'd thought impossible after Ben's death. He shakes his head, gives a faint sniffle then lifts one of his hands higher, gently rubbing his knuckles across Diego's cheeks.

“Yeah, they... they tried to get information.” Succeeded even, hours of torture later. He exhales a breathy little whimper, cups Diego's nape to draw him closer during the kiss, only relenting so their foreheads can meet once he breaks it off to speak again. “After Patch saved me, I just. Escaped as fast as I could. Stole some of their shit along the way.”

[superbitter]

Diego's thumb keeps brushing over Klaus' cheek even as he cups his face and holds him close, just breathing him in and memorising the blue of his eyes, bare of their usual eyeliner, which is odd in and of itself.

"What happened, Klaus? Why did my colours fade? I thought you were dead."

[channellings]

He doesn't want to say, he really would prefer they just skip right past the nitty-gritty details, but. That's not fair to Diego and honestly? Maybe Klaus selfishly wants to tell him, anyway.

“To be fair? I genuinely thought I was going to die, haha!” Except it's not something he should be laughing about at all. “They had this briefcase. I stole it and I... time-jumped? You know, like Five does?”

[superbitter]

"That's not funny, Klaus." Diego looks anything except entertained by the comment about dying and he stares at his soul mate for a long moment. Wait, Klaus time jumped? Was that why his colours had dulled so much, because Klaus no longer lived in their time?

"You... Where did you go?"

[channellings]

“N-No, it's not.” So, why'd he make the stupid comment? “Sorry,” he murmurs, nudging his forehead more intently against Diego's and heaving a sigh. Afterward, Klaus withdraws, still holding one of Diego's wrists, his other hand flicking toward the door, telekinetic energy effectively pushing it shut.

With some semblance of privacy to the room, he admits barely above a whisper, “Vietnam.”

Vampire AU

[bestfuneralever]

Klaus is little more than a scrawny twig when Reginald drags him into the mansion that is bigger than anything he thinks he’s ever seen in his life. This guy is the kind of rich even the rich dream about being. He wonders where all the money comes from, but the old man is intimidating as all hell, so he keeps his mouth shut about it.

He’s introduced to the others, and it’s explained he’s really here for Diego, who had recently had a mishap on the job that ended with a new set of teeth. Klaus knew the drill, Reginald had explained it to him when he made the offer, after all. All Klaus could think of was the money he was being promised. It would be the easiest money he’d made in his whole life, and he doesn’t even have to do anything for it. No different than having blood drawn at the hospital, was it?

The first few days are rough as he’s forced into detox, but by the third day, he’s more exhausted than he is sick. He’s not sure if it’s the remnants of detox or the ghosts keeping him awake that has him so tired, but he can barely stay awake through breakfast. He’s allowed to go lie down for a bit though and he takes the opportunity immediately.

Except it’s only been a few days and this place is huge. He gets a little lost and tries the door for what he thinks is his room, but immediately realizes it’s not his when he sees Diego on the other side.

“Oh, um... sorry, I just— I was trying to find my room and I got... turned around, I guess...” he bites his lip sheepishly, and hopes the slow sweep of his eyes up the other’s body isn’t too noticeable. He can’t help it, the guy is just drop-dead pretty.

[superbitter]

Diego didn't really remember the mission that turned his life upside down but he did remember waking up with sore gums and a desperate thirst that couldn't be quenched. Father had tried to feed him, tried to keep the thirst quenched but the blood he'd gotten his hands on wasn't enough. Which meant he had no choice but to go to the registry and find a donor.

At least, that's what he told Diego and he was in no mood to question it. As soon as he'd found out that there was a donor in the house, Diego couldn't wait to meet him.

He just didn't expect it to be when said donor accidentally walked into his room instead of his own.

"Are you...?" Number Two takes a deep, shuddering breath. "You smell... so good." He reaches out to touch, stopping barely an inch away. "So good."

[bestfuneralever]

"Klaus," he offers his name at the abandoned question, an awkward smile tracing his lips. "O-oh, um, well, that's--" He leans back when Diego reaches out to touch him, a nervous giggle escaping as he reaches up to gently push the other man's hand away. "flattering? I think?" He isn't a fan of sudden touches from nowhere, mostly because of the ghosts, but he's not sure anyone has figured out that's something he's cursed with yet. Klaus didn't think it was all that important to note, so he just never mentioned it to Hargreeves. He links his hands behind his back and rocks on his heels a bit. "So, um..." He's so out of his element in this house, it's been a long time since he's been this sober. "Iiii'm not sure if you can feed from me yet. Your Dad was trying to...purify the blood in my system." That sure is a better way to frame detox, isn't it?

[superbitter]

Diego pulls his hand back as if he's been burned and he steps back quickly, putting distance between them immediately. His control isn't nearly strong enough to be left alone with someone and he wonders where Dad is and why this man, Klaus, is allowed to wander around the house alone.

"You shouldn't be here. We... we shouldn't be alone together." Because Diego is just so. fucking. thirsty. He's pale and shaky, cheeks sunken and dark rings around his eyes and his gums hurt with the changing structure within them. Mom keeps assuring him it's just his fangs growing in but that doesn't stop them from hurting. "I-I... I c-can't control it."

[bestfuneralever]

His eyes widen owlishly at the sudden movement of the other man, surprised and a little confused. There's a flash of understanding when Diego explains, though. "Oh... shit, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was-- that new." But then, wouldn't that make sense, with the way Hargreeves had just snatched him up off the street? Klaus had tried to explain he wasn't on any registry, but the old man just wouldn't listen. He'd made his mind up, and that was that, apparently. "I'll just-" he makes a vague motion over his shoulder behind him. "go find my room. Sorry for being a temptation or-- whatever." He says that last bit with a much lighter air than it should probably be taken with-- everything's a joke if you try hard enough, though, and Klaus doesn't know any better way to protect himself than with a shield of jokes and sarcasm.

[superbitter]

The idea of Klaus leaving is almost as painful as the burning in his throat and Diego’s blocking the door before he even realises he’s thought about doing it. He knows what it must look like, the predator trapping its prey, and he immediately goes sheepish, ducking his head and stepping out of the way once more.

“S-sorry. I’m... still adjusting and everything is... it’s so h-hard.” So hard, in fact, that his stutter is back and he feels like a scared little boy all over again despite not being a child anymore. “I... it’s been three weeks.” Diego is new new to this life. He wonders if dad told Klaus that to begin with; that he’d be a donor for a fledgling vampire.

[bestfuneralever]

He lets out a surprised squeak when Diego is suddenly blocking the way out. Not really from fear, although it could easily be taken that way. There's something so incredibly endearing about the way he shies away-- Klaus thinks he's...embarrassed? by the obviously innate and new instincts he hasn't figure out how to keep under his own control yet. He can only imagine how awful it is, to be so driven by something like that.

"Aw, jeeze, man... and I'm just standing here like a fucking temptation." He bites his lip. "Seriously, I can go. I don't wanna like-- fuck you up for, like, existing in your space."

[superbitter]

The shakes that Diego has been experiencing only get worse with Klaus in front of him and he knows that he should let the other guy leave before he does something stupid and hurts the guy. But he also doesn't want to let him go.

"If it's any consolation, everyone's a temptation." Diego takes a deep breath through his nose and sighs softly, eyes fluttering shut. "Not as much as you though."

[bestfuneralever]

Klaus can see the familiar twitch of withdrawal in him and he bites his lip again. He feels for the guy, really, he does. He was only going through the exact same thing himself, but Klaus doesn't know how to help him. Or more specifically, he knows exactly how to, but even someone as largely oblivious as him can't ignore the warning signs, the alarm bells, and the fact that this vampire doesn't know how to keep himself in check.

"Flattering, really. Um.." He takes one step backwards, then two, toward the door. "I'm gonna go lay down and... I'll see you later, okay?" That was the best plan. He shouldn't be alone with Diego on his own. And he was still so exhausted. He just needed to rest, and it would all be better later. Hopefully.

[superbitter]

Diego nods but doesn't say anything else because if he does, he may try and argue for Klaus to stay. As soon as he's gone, Diego presses is forehead against the door and just tries to breathe and convince himself not to follow.

---

It was two days later that Reginald finally deemed Klaus ready for Diego to finally feed off of him and the two of them had only just been left alone after a supervised feed and Diego...

... Diego felt better than he had in weeks. There's colour back in his cheeks and he feels less like he's about to keel over and die. Again.

"How do you feel?" He runs his thumb over the dressing on Klaus' arm, concern lacing his voice. "Does it hurt?"

[bestfuneralever]

The idea of the feeding process was such a fantasy until today. Sure, he knew it was coming, that was the whole deal, right? But as it drew closer and closer, he got a little more anxious about it. And then it was time and.... honestly? It was pretty fucking painless. Okay, so there was a little pain, razor-sharp teeth cutting your wrist would do that, but... still. It wasn't the crazy horror story he'd worked up into his head. Diego may be new, but he was careful. Considerate. And he was maybe over-cautious, but that probably wasn't exactly a bad thing. Klaus is surprised that Hargreeves lets them have the time alone after it's done, but... maybe he supposes that the vampire and his living bloodbag might need to know each other. OR maybe it's something else all together. Reginald kind of gives Klaus the creeps, if he's honest. Like the guy looks at everything as a social experiment. It's creepy. "Hey, lookatchu with color in your cheeks," he grins, but it fades into something softer and his eyes drop down to his wrist, where Grace had wrapped and bandaged it and now Diego's thumb is running over it so carefully, like he might break him if he isn't careful with him. "A little, but it's not that bad. I think you did really good... I don't feel lightheaded or anything, like you took too much or whatever." That's gotta be a good sign.

[superbitter]

The feeling Diego has reminds him of when they'd get to have a big roast dinner and cake on their birthday, the kind where afterwards they were full and sleepy and everything felt satisfying.

He also feels warm. He hasn't felt warm since he woke up and Mum told him he was something different.

"I feel warm." It's strange to realise that underneath this gauze is the perfect imprint of Diego's teeth. He wonders if it'll bruise or leave a scar. "Did it hurt when I did it?" There'd been rumours that vampiric saliva had the ability to thin the blood and numb the area for a short period of time but nothing to base it on. "Good. I don't want to hurt you."