"All the mystery of the universe can be solved with a decent cup of coffee."

-

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN — CREAM IN MY COFFEE

"Of course he's dead," I pressed two fingers to my temples, trying not to sigh.

"It's not exactly what I was expecting," Diego murmured, studying Harold Jenkins' body on the ground.

"The understatement of the year," Five stared at the bloodied corpse.

Knives, forks, spoons, and basically anything with a sharp edge had managed to find a spot on his body and lodged themselves firmly in his chest.

"No sign of Vanya," Klaus looked around.

Diego gestured to us, "Let's get out of here before the cops come."

"In a minute," Five said, rummaging through his pants pocket and fishing out the glass eyeball.

He inhaled sharply as he dropped down beside Vanya's boyfriend and pulled the bandage off Peabody's right eye.

Diego shifted around uncomfortably, "Come on Five, what are you-"

"Ugh, wow," Klaus interrupted, leaning forward to see what Five is doing.

I retched as Five pushed the eyeball in with a loud squish.

He looked up at us excitedly, "Same eye colour, same pupil size. Guys this is it."

"The eye I've been carrying for decades, it-" he paused. "It's found its rightful home."

I cringed back as Five pulled the upper eyelid of Jenkins' eye and yanked the eyeball out. "At least we got the guy we needed to kill to stop the apocalypse," I said, inching away slowly.

"Yay!" Klaus grinned and turned to leave. "Let's go."

Diego grabbed his shirt and pulled Klaus back to us.

I shook my head, "It can't be this easy. Where's Vanya?"

Five pulled a note from his pocket gesturing at it frantically. "Look, this is the note that I got from the Commission. The one that says 'Protect Harold Jenkins'," he pointed at the dead body. "Aka Leonard Peabody."

"Yeah," Diego nodded.

"But who killed him? Who did this?" Five pointed at the corpse aggressively.

"I have a crazy idea," Klaus perked up suddenly. "Crazy, but why don't we find Vanya-"

Five turned around and jumped away.

"-and ask her what happened?"

Diego could not stop staring at the dead body. "If Vanya got away from this asshole, she might be headed back to the Academy."

-

-

"No sign of Vanya," Five emerged from a corridor.

"She's not in any of the rooms," Diego said.

I shook my head, "No one in the kitchen."

"She's not downstairs either," Klaus reported back.

"Well, I'm out," Diego patted Klaus' shoulder as he walked past the three of us.

"Wait wait," Klaus gaped at Diego.

"Where are you going?" Five questioned. "Vanya's still out there, so are Hazel and Cha-Cha."

"I know. I'm gonna get my things and then I'm outta here," Diego turned to look at us. "I've got some unfinished business with those fools."

Diego left and Klaus sighed.

Five tilted his head and turned to Klaus, "Hey, did Dad say anything about the apocalypse when you spoke to him?"

Klaus sighed again.

"Any clues as to how it happened?"

"No. No clues. Truly terrific shave," he paused. "But no clues."

I sighed, "Anyone up for some alcohol?"

Klaus raised his hand, "Me, but come to think of it, he did mention something about my potential and how I've barely even scratched the surface of my-"

"How did he know about the apocalypse?" Five interrupted.

"I don't know, but listen," Klaus continued frantically. "This whole jumping through time thing of yours, how did you-how did you know how to do that?"

"I didn't," Five shot back.

"Well, Zero? How did you know you can pass through things and alter shadow thingies?" Klaus turned to look at me.

"Dad put me in a dark room and locked the door," I crossed my arms.

"You'd realise that if you were actually sober," Five muttered.

"Hey, I am sober," Klaus swung his hands. "I've been sober for two-almost two days now!"

"Yeah, two days," Five replied blankly.

Klaus muttered, "It feels like 45 years."

"Who are you kidding, Klaus? I've seen you fidgeting all day."

"Well, I guess we're both fighting our addictions, then," Klaus said.

"I'm not an addict," Five scowled.

"Yeah, you are," I shrugged.

Five glared at me, "Seriously, love?"

"You're addicted to a drug called the apocalypse," I looked at him. "I'm beginning to wonder if I was just one of your distraction for this whole shitshow."

"You're wrong," Five shook his head.

"First sign, denial," Klaus said in a matter-of-fact way before turning away from him.

Five jumped in front of Klaus, "You and I, we're not the same."

Klaus couldn't help to chuckle, "I've seen that look in the eye of someone who doesn't know who they are without their high anymore."

Five bit his lip.

"Trust me," he paused. "You gotta just let it go."

Five grabbed the glass eye from his pocket and chucked it across the hall. The glass shattering the moment it hits the wall.

"Figuratively, but yeah, that works, too," Klaus shrugged.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I need a drink."

-

-

The blender whirled.

Five watched as I poured the green slush into two cups sloppily and chucked in a tiny umbrella alongside a plastic straw in each cup.

"Well, do you think we really did it?"

"Think what?" I looked at my husband and sat down next to him.

"Think we actually stopped the apocalypse?"

"Yes. No. Maybe. I don't know," I sighed. "What happens now?"

"I don't know," Five replied.

He chuckled, "I'm open to suggestions."

"Maybe we can get a legal marriage certificate and shove it into Luther and Allison's faces?" I grinned.

"That actually sounds like a good idea," Five grinned.

A knock at the door interrupted our conversation.

"What now?" I groaned.

"Eh, I'll get it," Five stood up, taking his margarita with him.

There was some muttering at the door before Five appeared with Hazel behind him.

I leaned against the bar. "Are you here to kill us?" I gestured at the gun he's holding up.

"Oh, shit. Sorry, old habits," Hazel tugged his weapon back into its holster. "Well, I can understand why you might feel that way, you know-"

"Well, you attacked our house, tried to kill my family, and kidnapped my brother," Five replied.

"There's not much I can do about the past, don't forget I'm not the only killer in this room," Hazel nodded. "You got your own bloody histories."

"Margarita?" I asked, holding up the blender.

"Um, yeah sure. Thanks," he stammered.

Five took a sip of his drink as I poured the alcohol into a glass for Hazel.

"Speaking of which, the job you did in Calhoun, that shit's legendary," Hazel said. "Can't believe I'm actually sitting here talking to you, after all-"

"Hazel, why are you here?"

"Well-"

I jolted in surprise as Diego leapt from behind and kicked Hazel down.

-

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Hello people! Happy New Year!! It's my first post in 2020 yay! Completely screwed up my goal for finishing this before 2020 but hey, here's an update! :)