SONG: Hey You - Pink Floyd

"Allison!" Klaus exclaimed, "Wow, is that you?" he asked as she made her way to the desk he was standing at.

"Should I give you two some space?" I asked, not wanting to feel out of place again, but Klaus waved a hand at me.

"No, no, you're okay," he said without actually looking at me, then held his arms out to Allison, "Hey, come here," he said, moving in to hug her, "Long time. Too long. Hey, I was hoping to see you, actually because I wanted to get your autograph. Add it to my collection!" he said, folding his hands under his chin and I smiled, biting my lip to cover the laugh that wanted to escape them. What was pretty unsettling was even though Allison was tall, Klaus was still taller. Allison also noticed the band on his wrist, tugging at it.

"Just out of rehab?" she asked. I knew he must've been some kind of addict.

"No, no. No, no, no, no. No. I'm done with all that," he sighed, moving away from Allison and covering the band on his wrist with his sleeve, "I just came down here to prove to myself that the old man was really gone," he said, faking some tremor in his voice at the end, "And he is! He's dead! Yeah!" he clapped like he was happy about it, grinning ear to ear. I wondered why he seemed so happy about his dad being dead. Even from all the shit Vanya had told me, she was still upset that he was gone, "You know how I know? Because if he were alive, not one of us would be allowed to set foot in this room," Klaus looked from Allison to me, "He was always in here, our whole childhood, plotting his next torment," he looked back to her as he sat down in the swivel chair, "Right?" he chuckled, "Remember how he used to look at us? That scowl?" he pointed up at the portrait directly behind and above him, "Thank Christ he's not our real father so we couldn't inherit those cold, dead eyes!" he exclaimed, putting his finger up to his eyes to widen them as he glanced from me to Allison with a scream, making Allison and I both chuckle a bit, "Number Three!"

"Get out of his chair," I heard a deep and unfamiliar voice behind me, turning to see an even taller, big man wearing a large coat.

"What is with the tall genes in this family. You guys aren't even actually related," I muttered to myself. The man held himself in such a way that seemed like he would be the leader of the team, with a stoic expression on his face. He didn't seem nearly as fun as Klaus. He took a couple steps into the room, glancing at me for less than a second before looking back at Klaus and Allison. I turned so I could try to face all of them, but more so Klaus. So far, he was the most interesting.

"Oh, wow, Luther!" Klaus exclaimed. So that must be the guy Allison was talking about. I noticed a small smile grace her lips as she looked at him and had to take a double take glancing between the two, "Wow, you really, uh..." Klaus started, standing from the chair, "You really filled out over the years, huh?" He said, flexing both biceps as if to reference Luther's humongous torso, specifically his bulging arms.

"Klaus..." Luther spoke in an almost warning tone.

"I-Save the lecture. I was already leaving," Klaus told him, pointing in every direction, "Come on, Luce. We should leave these guys to... Talk amongst themselves," he said. I couldn't help but feel a warmth inside that he told me to come with him, meaning I was already accepted by at least two members of the Academy, hopefully three if Allison was on board. I wasn't sure I wanted Batman wannabe's approval and Luther just seemed like a scary giant. As Klaus was on his way out, me a little bit behind him, Luther held his arm out, stopping Klaus in his tracks.

"Drop it," he said, looking at the addict.

"Exsqueeze me?" Klaus asked, raising his eyebrows at the tall man.

"Do it. Now," they stared at each other for a hot moment before Klaus roughly pulled away from Luther, a scowl on his features.

"All right. All right. It's just an advance on our inheritance!" he explained as he emptied his pockets, full of random items he must have gathered from this room and maybe other places in the house. I watched Allison laugh to herself behind him as she looked down at the floor, "That's all it is!" he dropped the last of what was in his pockets and moved closer to Luther, "No need to get your little panties in a bunch," he said in a whiney tone as if making fun of his brother, before making his way to the door.

"I'm-I'm gonna go with him so I don't impose on you two," I said to Allison and Luther, looking at Luther, "It was nice to meet you," I said as genuinely as I could before following after Klaus. When I walked out of the room, I saw him stuffing something into his coat and raised an eyebrow at it, but decided it was none of my business. I started to run up to him before pausing. That would be weird, wouldn't it? We just met.

"Are you coming or not?" he called without even looking at me as he began to make his way down the stairs. I smiled and followed happily.

"So, what's your poison?" I asked, trying to get to know him better.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, little Lucy," he said, patting me on the head. I rolled my eyes at him and pointed towards the wrist with the band.

"It's okay, you know. Everyone has an addiction to something... My poison's asking nosy questions," I joked and he smiled.

"Yeah, you do seem to do that," he agreed, glancing at me from the side, before shaking his head, "Everything and anything," he said out of the blue.

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Anything I can put into my body without dying, I do," he shrugged. I nodded at the explanation, opened my mouth to ask another question, then shut it, realizing if I come on too strong, it'll just make him like me less.

"I should go find Vanya," I said, smiling at him, "It was nice to meet you, Klaus."

"Wish I could say the same," he said, but the cheeky grin on his face told me he was lying. I grinned back and stuck my tongue out at him before turning in the opposite direction of him and going to look for my friend. I found her in the room the blonde lady was sitting in, with a book in her hand. I went and sat next to her on the large sofa, looking at her. She had seemed deep in thought before I sat down, and now she just looked confused.

"I think I met everyone... Ish," I said and she smiled softly.

"And?" she asked.

"Klaus is pretty cool," her eyebrows raised at that.

"Klaus?"

"Yeah, he's funny," she laughed light-heartedly.

"You just have a weird sense of humor."

"Maybe."

It didn't take too long before the rest of the family members made their way into the room. The wannabe Batman came in, behind him Klaus following. I waved my hand at the unknown to get his attention. He cocked an eyebrow at me, obviously not in the mood.

"Are you... Diego?" I asked, trying to recall the names from Vanya's stories. He simply nodded at me, making his way to the seat their mum had been sitting in earlier. He moved it to his convenience before sitting down, "And what's your thing again? I can't remember," I asked, though if I was being honest, I was pretty sure he was the one who could throw knives real well.

"I have impeccable aim. I never miss my target," he said, seeming like he was trying too hard to be cool. I nodded, knowing I had been correct in my assumption.

"Oh, so you're like a Knife Magician?" I asked, really not trying to start a fight, but if one started I'd be fine with it, considering what he said to Vanya earlier. He scowled and I could see the all too familiar emotion of rage in his eyes.

"Diego, chill out," I heard Allison as she made her way into the room, followed by Luther. They both took their own seats as they entered. We all sat in an awkward silence for a while until Luther spoke from his spot on the sofa.

"Um..." he stood, "I guess we should get this started. So, I figured we could have a sort of memorial service in the courtyard at sundown. Say a few words, just at Dad's favorite spot."

"Dad had a favorite spot?" Allison asked.

"Yeah, you know, under the oak tree," Luther said, though the looks on everyone's faces told me they did not know. I looked back at Klaus, who was in his own little world clinking glasses together to make his perfect drink or some shit like that. He now seemed done making his little concoction and grabbed the glass, carefully walking into the room with the rest of us.

"We used to sit there all the time. None of you ever did that?"

"Will there be refreshments?" Klaus asked as he made his way in front of us and I realized there were two drinks in his hand, a fag in the other, and he was wearing a skirt, "Tea?" he looked at me and Vanya, "Scones?" he then looked back to Luther, "Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner," I squished my nose up at that. It didn't sound very appetizing.

"What? No. And put that out. You know Dad didn't allow smoking in here," Luther replied as Klaus took a hit from the fag.

"Is that my skirt?" Allison asked as Klaus twirled around the room in it.

"What? Oh, yeah, this. I found it in your room. It's a little dated, I know, but it's very breathy on the bits," he said, blowing out smoke before gesturing to his crotch area. I felt heat rush to my cheeks as I thought about the "bits" he was talking about, and looked down at my feet instead of at him.

"Listen up. Still some important things that we need to discuss, all right?" Luther's voice boomed through the room.

"Like what?" Diego asked, not seeming interested in this family meeting whatsoever.

"Like the way he died," my ears perked up at that.

"And here we go," Diego nodded.

"I don't understand. I thought they said it was a heart attack," Vanya spoke as Klaus took a seat beside me, sandwiching me in between the two. He glanced at me from the side once more as he blew out some smoke, offering me the fag. I shook my head, looking back at Luther.

"Yeah, according to the coroner," he replied.

"Well, wouldn't they know?" Vanya asked.

"Theoretically," Luther said.

"Theoretically?" Allison asked.

"That's what he said, didn't you hear the man?" I muttered just loud enough to be heard.

"I'm just saying, at the very least, something happened. The last time that I talked to Dad, he sounded strange."

"Oh, quelle surprise," Klaus spoke while gurgling his drink beside me, making me jump and look over at him, watching some of whatever the alcoholic beverage he was drinking drip down his chin.

"Strange how?" Allison asked.

"He sounded on edge. Told me I should be careful who to trust," Luther shrugged.

"Luther, he was a paranoid, bitter old man who was starting to lose what was left of his marbles," Diego spoke softly while standing from his seat.

"No. He must have known something was going to happen," Luther said, clearly in some kind of denial about his dad's death, which is understandable, "Look, I know you don't like to do it, but I need you to talk to Dad," he said to Klaus, who everyone turned to look at. I heard Allison scoff, and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I can't just call Dad in the afterlife and be like Dad, could you just... Stop playing tennis with Hitler for a moment and take a quick call?" Klaus explained, sitting up.

"Since when? That's your thing."

"I'm not in the right... Frame of mind."

"You're high?" Allison asked.

"Yeah! Yeah!" Klaus laughed, "I mean, how are you not, listening to this nonsense," he leaned back once again.

"Well, sober up, this is important," Klaus sighed at Luther, "Then there's the issue of the missing monocle."

"Who gives a shit about a stupid monocle?" Diego muttered just loud enough for us to hear.

"Exactly," Luther agreed, turning to his brother, "It's worthless. So whoever took it, I think it was personal. Someone close to him. Someone with a grudge."

"Where are you going with this?" Klaus asked, furrowed brows on his face as I looked around the room through the thick tension.

"Oh, isn't it obvious, Klaus? He thinks one of us killed Dad," Diego said, grinning at Luther before dropping it as Luther grunted, not arguing, but instead looking around at everyone sitting in the room. And suddenly this family meeting got a lot more family and a lot less appropriate of me to be there.

"You do?" Klaus asked, though it sounded more like a statement than a question.

"How could you think that?" Vanya asked, hurt written all throughout her words.

"Great job, Luther. Way to lead," Diego congratulated before leaving the room.

"That's not what I'm saying."

"You're crazy, man. You're crazy," Klaus said, standing from the sofa, "Crazy," he said, grabbing something from the side table.

"I'm not finished," Luther defended.

"Okay, well, sorry, I'm just gonna go murder Mom. Be right back," Klaus finished as he left the room and I suppressed a laugh with a small smile. Vanya stood from the sofa, looking at me with a look that told me I should probably follow her, so I did.

"I didn't--" Luther sighed. I didn't hear anything else he said as I had already left the room by then.

I walked with Vanya, who had her hands up by her head as she rubbed her temples, pacing the main entryway/foyer area.

"Vanya-" I started, but stopped when she looked at me.

"Luce, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have even asked you to come. If I'd have know he was going to-"

"Vanya, it's okay," I cut her short, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I'm glad you asked me to come. Overall, this has still been a... pleasant experience for me," I said, rubbing small circles into her sleeve. She nodded and looked down, "Do you need some space?" I asked. I never enjoyed overstepping my boundaries if I could help it. Yeah, I was nosy, but if someone needed me to leave them alone, I'd be glad to give them the space they needed.

"I... I don't know. I feel bad asking you to come and then leaving you all alone," she rubbed her own arms up and down.

"Don't. I can find something to do; this house is definitely big enough. I just wanna do whatever's best for Vanya right now," I said, tapping her forehead as if to try and get it through her head that that's what I want, even though I knew I couldn't physically do that.

"Are you sure?" she asked, looking back at me.

"Positive. Let's just plan meeting back up sometime in the next hour or so, how about that?" I asked and she nodded.

"Okay. I just want a little time to think is all," she explained.

"I hear ya' girl. I'll be around. You know the code," I winked at her, to which she smiled before I wrapped my arms around her in a tight embrace, "More exploring. Woo hoo!" I exclaimed as I left the room.

I looked around for a little while, exploring some rooms I could only dream of living in one day before I found my way back to the living room we had previously been in, only up higher. I heard someone talking, very, very frustratedly. I looked over the balcony like railing to see Klaus speaking to an urn. Of course, it's Klaus.

"You know, if I was murdered and if one of my sons--adopted sons--happened to be able to commune with the dead, I might think about," he laughed, turning away from the urn, "I don't know, I don't know," he looked back at the urn, "manifesting!" I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh, not wanting him to know I was here just yet, "Do the whole big angry ghost lecture. Tell everyone who done it and find eternal peace," he raised his arms to the sky for a split moment before dropping them, "Eternal peace is probably overrated," he said. Nothing from the urn or even around the urn.

Klaus then simply began to turn in circles as if expecting a ghost to be there with every next spin he made. I watched him for a while more as he continued talking to the urn. I could only assume he could, you know, talk to dead people. It was only until he pointed at the urn with a shout, yelling, "You always were a stubborn bastard!" that I made myself known.

"You know it's not polite to speak ill of the dead," I said from my place on the balcony, watching him jump a bit and look up at me before laughing.

"Hey, you. How-how long you been there?" he asked in what I could only assume was nervous fashion. I grinned.

"Long enough," I shrugged, looking around. I found a staircase that lead down and into the room and made my way to it, quickly gliding down the stairs, "So, you talk to dead people, huh?" I questioned.

"Yep," he replied, popping the p. I nodded.

"That's pretty cool," I smiled. He nodded.

"Hey, I don't know about you, but I need a drink," he said, reaching across the counter for a bottle of alcohol and knocking over the urn instead as ashes came spilling out. He quickly backed up, grabbing onto the hair on the top of his head as he glanced back at me with wide eyes, then began laughing. I rolled my eyes at him and pointed.

"I'm not helping you clean this up," I said, turning on my heel to leave the room, but didn't make it more than two feet before I felt his hand wrap around my wrist. I turned back to him, pausing as we locked eye contact. His eyes were honestly gorgeous. I wasn't sure why, but I had been expecting them to be brown, but now that I could see them properly, I could clearly tell they were a nice shade of green with flecks of hazel. They were so mesmerizing, I couldn't bring myself to look away from him.

Until he let go.