Fireproof

“Séance!”

Klaus had been walking quickly through the city, he’d had a pretty fruitful night but he was eager to get home. In this part of town if someone called him “Séance” he would usually just walk away faster, however, It wasn’t an exclamation, it was an order with the added click of a gun and it stopped Klaus in his tracks. He turned back towards the alley he had just passed, he peered into the shadows attempting to find the source of the deep voice.

A large man, taller and more muscular than Klaus could ever hope to be, took a step closer. He had a shaved head and a square, unpleasant face. Fear and surprise shot through Klaus’ body but he immediately hid it and flashed a charming smile, he held out his arms, “Dominic! Long time no see!” He pointed a finger, “Prison, right?”

He laughed, unable to hide the slight shake in his voice, “When did you get out?”

“You owe me a lot of money, Séance.” He growled.

“Straight to the point! I’ve always admired that about you, Nic -” He didn’t have a chance to continue before there was a meaty hand smashed against his face and he was lifted backwards and slammed back against the wall. Nic pressed the barrel of his gun painfully into Klaus’ stomach.

He grunted and wriggled against the brute’s hand, “You didn’t even give me a chance! I can write you a check!” He said through the other man’s bruising fingers.

Nic’s hand lowered and gripped his throat, Klaus squeezed his eyes shut and attempted to claw at the thugs hands. He tried to focus - when Leon almost hurt Kenzie he had somehow been able to push the man back with some sort of telekinetic energy. That would really come in handy right about now.

“You don’t have the money.” His voice was easy like he wasn’t holding another grown man up with one arm.

“How the hell do you know that?” Klaus wheezed out, it felt like his throat was being crushed slowly.

Nic pulled his free hand up and slammed the butt of the gun into Klaus’ temple. Once. Twice. Three times. He dropped Klaus, letting him fall to the pavement gasping for breath and holding onto his head. He groaned and wheezed painfully as the world spun around him at a sickening pace. Nic turned away and calmly placed the gun into his pants, he picked up a bat from the opposite wall and smacked it against his palm. When he looked up, he had a sick smile across his blockish features.

He glared up at his old dealer, This isn’t really about the money is it?” The thug began casually walking back towards him and he started desperately trying to gain his footing. “Is this because I slept with your girlfriend?” Klaus’ legs collapsed underneath him.

He barely had time to curl up as Dominic brutally slammed the wooden bat into his body hard enough to splinter.Once. Twice. Three times he bashed him with the bat until Klaus felt his ribs cracking. Nic threw the weapon to the side and began kicking the grounded man, a sick look of satisfaction spread over his boxy features.

Klaus tried to scream but a boot to his chest caught the sound before it could escape and he started coughing instead. He pulled his body together as tightly as he could and he was about to pass out from the beating when his mind lurched -

“Kenzie!? Shit - Kenzie!” Klaus searched around the playground desperately, “She was just here!” His blood ran cold as his eyes scanned over the area and didn’t find her - he had just turned around for a second. He frantically started looking for her as his panic increased every second.

After too long of searching he finally saw her silhouette next to the small patch of woods just outside the playground. He sprinted towards her form, As he got closer he knew something was wrong - the air became colder and the hair on his arms stood up. He approached the small wooded area and found Kenzie facing away from him, he didn’t stop to look around, only grabbed her arm - “Kenzie Grace - don’t do that! You scared me!”

She didn’t look at him, the three year old had a terrified expression on her face and his eyes moved to follow her gaze - crawling towards them now was a ghost. He wasn’t afraid of the demon child, in fact, it seemed like this motivated him forward. He drug himself along the ground by broken arms with bones sticking out through the white tissue paper skin like warped extra limbs.

Despite the corpse-like appearance of this ghost - it was strong - evil seeped from it like blood and it let out a screech of joy as it saw Kenzie’s horrified expression. It opened its mouth and a long pointed tongue fell out - licking along shattered shards of teeth hungrily.

It lunged forward and wrapped a cold hand around her other wrist - Both of them screamed and Klaus threw his palm out - a weak rush of blue energy hit the entity - doing very little against this kind of evil but stunning it long enough for him to rip Kenzie’ off the ground and bolt away.

Klaus didn’t stop running with the child crying against his chest until they were nearly home and even then he turned around and scanned the area to make sure that it hadn’t followed them. He put her down, he held her face and cried with her - his mind still not comprehending what would have happened if he had not found her in time.

She was hysterical, sobbing and repeating “I’m sorry, momma..” Over and over again.

He hugged her against his chest, “Don’t apologize- I shouldn’t have looked away - I’m so sorry, baby.” The voice in his head was screaming at him- telling him what an awful father he was, how helpless and how useless he was to even take her out alone one time.

Klaus took her arm and looked her over - on her wrist where the ghost had grabbed her there were three red scratches in her skin. A hot burning anger welled up in his chest until it was almost painful.

All at once Klaus’ eyes glazed over into blackness and he went silent even as another strike went through his arms and into his face. He was suddenly out of control - like an exhausted passenger in his own body he ceased fighting the presence as it became too strong to even observe.

No longer registering the pain or the fear he reached out and gripped onto Dominic’s leg. Then like an incorporeal animal lashing out he lunged forward slipping past the bounds of a physical realm and shoved out the thug's soul. He momentarily felt the man’s body as his own but quickly dispatched it violently into the ground. Once. Twice. Three times he slammed the body into rubble until he felt the skull crack open.

He returned with a snap into his own battered body and slowly stood up, viewing the carnage from outside. Klaus was screaming and fighting as he saw what was happening in front of him but could no more break the barrier than he could have fought this man alone.

A dark, oozing, blueish black energy crackled around his hands matching the black holes in his eye sockets. Upon seeing the lost soul of his assailant weeping and trying to get back into his mangled body this dark Klaus tilted his head and raised a hand, he sneered and the soul was plunged into the earth with a tortured scream - flames arose where he disappeared into the concrete then vanished.

Klaus stood still for several moments - then once his eyes retired to their green hue he collapsed next to the bloody scene in front of him. His head snapped around looking at what he had done and he screamed. He screamed until his battered body just gave out and he was left wheezing on the pavement sobbing.

************************************************************************************************

“Number Four, what could you possibly hope to gain from this?”

Klaus’ entire body jolted, slamming his shoulder into the medical bay cabinet - he dropped the pain meds he was planning on stealing and the pills scattered around the floor. The sight of them rolling away made his stomach drop in panic - his only source of peace sprinkled on the dirty ground.

His father didn’t sound angry, more a bemused questioning of what his little experiment was doing - he certainly required a straight answer because he was probably planning on writing everything down.

“I have a headache.”

“Pain makes the self stronger. You will not be self medicating - pick those up and put them back at once. I am here to collect you for your training.”

Klaus glanced around, his body started trembling and he eyes flicked briefly to the door and he traid to calculate how fast he could run through it. His heart was thumping painfully in his chest and a nauseating sense of vertigo overwhelmed him.

He shook his head.

“Use your words, Number Four, when you address me - you are not an animal.”

He swallowed, “I have a headache, I don’t think I can train today - I- I don’t want to go back down there..”

His father contemplated him for a moment, “This aversion to your own power will only control you. You have been blessed with the potential with greatness yet you will stoop to groveling among ill gotten pharmaceuticals like a common street rat. I am very disappointed in you, Number Four - for both your lies and your childish excuses. Perhaps today will be the day you overcome this sniveling, pathetic fear. We can only hope.”

He reached out a hand as if to grab Klaus’ arm and the 13 year old slammed back into the cabinet, “I don’t wanna die again!”

“Stop this behavior at once, Number Four.” He gripped onto the child’s upper arm and pulled him forward.

“Please leave me alone!” He was sobbing, the ghosts were so loud and they never left him alone - he was so tired and he just wanted to escape. The euphoria he felt when high had become his only goal but now he was sober and it was overwhelming his senses.

As he was pulled forward he felt a terrifying separation and suddenly he pushed against the physical barrier and tumbled through his father’s eyes. He blinked, realizing that he was seeing himself - stoic and rigid with black eyes. He stepped this vessel backwards in panic, Reginald’s soul was pushing back. When he fully grasped what had happened he began to claw his way back into his own body - as he did so Reginald regained control.

Klaus tumbled backwards as his eyes returned to normal and stared at his hands, he looked up at his father who had collapsed against the med cabinet. The old man was breathing heavily - for once looking his age. Klaus had never seen him look so stunned, so weakened.

When his father’s eyes lifted to look at his son - his expression was livid. His jaw quivered and for the briefest of moments he thought he heard a guttural growl come from the old man.

He had never seen him so angry and for a moment he thought for sure he was going to reach out and slap him. Klaus cowered backwards, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. “I’m sorry - I’m so sorry - dad, please… I didn’t mean to.”

Reginald stood up straight and brushed off his vest - without a word he gripped onto his son’s arm and began to drag him away.

******************************************************************************************************

“I didn’t mean to - I was just a kid and I thought he was going to kill me again…”

Klaus finished his story but didn’t look up. He was in so much pain that he was seeing spots but he couldn’t take anything stronger than Advil - and right now he really wanted to pop every pill on the planet. For all he cared at the moment he could have tossed his sobriety down the toilet if only he ceased to remember what it felt like to host Dominic’s body - the helplessness he felt as he bashed his head into the concrete. The way he could feel the pain, for a moment as if it were his own but still separate, a duller version that he could do nothing to stop.

“That’s - awful… I’m sorry that happened to you.” Dave was on his knees peering up at the injured man soaking in the bathtub - Klaus couldn’t imagine what was going through his head and he certainly didn’t let it show which made him a little nervous. Those nerves melted away when Dave brought up a rag and wiped it against Klaus’ bruised temple. He leaned into the firefighter’s palm and his face twisted attempting not to start crying again.

What would he have done if Dave hadn’t been there?

Klaus curled up against the cold ground, he didn’t have the strength to crawl, much less stand and instead he remained next to the man he had murdered. Despite this, when a vehicle pulled up next to the alley, headlights shining painfully across his face, Klaus attempted to pull himself away - his mind convinced that there were more people coming to hurt him and he no longer felt he could trust his own powers.

“Shit!” Said a horrified voice and a moment later someone was kneeling next to Klaus.

He squinted at the face in confusion, “Dave? What are you doing here?”

Dave was already checking over his injuries, glancing over his shoulder in paranoia, “You called me. Do you remember that?”

“Huh..”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“I didn’t mean to…” Klaus couldn’t stop staring at the carnage that he had caused, the scene was looming over him and it made him want to vomit.

“I know.” Dave moved to his torso and was pressing down against his ribs.

“Ah! Shit! Just stop! Okay? Jeez… Just stop prodding me! For christ’s sake…” Klaus snapped involuntarily and doubled over protective of his middle as pain shot up through his already overwhelmed brain.

Dave lifted his hands away, “Sorry - just try not to move too much.”

Klaus cringed, “Shit - no, I’m sorry, Dave - I- Just..”

“I get it - It’s okay - “ He looked around, presumably for any witnesses or cops then turned his attention back to the injured man, “I’m going to get you out of here, okay? Just try to stay with me. It’s going to be okay.”

Klaus nodded, focusing in and hanging on to every word.

Dave was surprisingly quick to just leave the body unreported as he settled Klaus into his truck and drove away. Now Klaus was chest deep in a hot bath at Dave’s apartment, soaking the bruises and the cracked bones- Dave hadn’t left his side and was currently wiping away gently at his bloody shoulder which had taken the brunt of the beating.

He leaned in to the other man’s chest and let out a shaky exhale as Dave continued to clean his wounds. Dave let him lay against him, giving him better access to bring the rag across his back, dribbling the hot water down his aching spine.

“I love you, Dave.” He admitted a little while later - when he realized that the water was going cool and he would have to move soon.

“I love you and I can’t help it -” He choked out.

Dave poured some water over Klaus’ hair and brushed through the blood stuck into the curls, leaving a pinkish waterfall around his temples as Dave protected the other man’s eyes with his free hand.

“I know.”

Klaus’ head was leaning forward, partially out of pure exhaustion and partially to give Dave better access to his head wound and hair. He finally lifted his eyes and looked at the man taking care of him, “Did you just Han Solo me, you bastard?”

Dave stopped what he was doing and huffed with a soft smile, finally catching his gaze. “I think you guys should stay with me for a little while. At least until you’re healed up -”

“That’s cute you thought you were getting rid of me that fast.” Klaus closed his eyes and leaned over with a smirk.

“Does Kenzie know?” He asked hesitantly.

Dave reached over and unplugged the tub, pulling a large white towel off the shelves as the water started to drain. He immediately began to pat softly over Klaus’ aching body. “I talked to the chief - Kenzie knows you’re safe but I doubt she knows the specifics.”

He pulled the warm towel around Klaus’ shoulders and then very slowly and carefully helped him stand up, “If it’s okay with you, the chief and Vanya can just bring her over here sometime today.”

Klaus nodded with a wince, “Yeah - I don’t wanna be - Yeah, that’s okay.”

Klaus struggled to remain standing but Dave held him up and led him out of the tub. He didn’t have to ask and a few minutes later he was being led into the guest bedroom in a shirt and sweats from Dave’s closet.

Klaus wanted to see his daughter, he hoped that she wasn’t worried. Mostly he didn’t want to feel like a monster anymore. He didn’t have much of a chance to dwell on everything that was happening because almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, he fell unconscious.

******************************************************************************************

When he woke up again it was around sunset, he could tell by the light streaming through the windows that left a beautiful pattern on the hardwood floor. He looked around and found Vanya sitting on the edge of his bed, she was watching him patiently. In the other room he could hear Sophie and Dave having a conversation but in the guest bedroom it was calm.

“How are you feeling?” She asked as she noticed his eyes opening.

Klaus grunted in response.

“That’s fair.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper volume, “Listen, we talked to Dave but I just want to make sure that you’re okay with this. Just say the word and you guys can come to my place or I can just stay at yours. It’s not a problem.”

Klaus smiled, “That’s sweet but we’ll be okay - I want to stay here.” Then he added, “Just don’t tell Diego - Wouldn’t want him throwing a hissy fit about it.”

“You know he will.”

He hummed, “Is Kenzie here?”

“Yeah, I told her to wait until I could talk to you - I didn’t want her to immediately jump all over you.” She said with a grin.

“I can’t wait to see her - Do I look too awful or scary?”

Vanya’s face twisted, “You look… Fine..” She said unconvincingly.

“You really need to work on your lie face, Sis.”

“You look great! Strong and healthy.” She tried again.

Klaus waved a weak hand, “Okay, now it’s just getting insulting.”

Vanya laughed, “That’s the best I can do.”

“That bad, huh? Fair enough.” He sighed, “Thanks Vanny, for looking out for her.”

“No problem - I’ll send her in. Try to take it easy and call me if you need anything. I may not be the best at fighting or confrontation but I do have a girlfriend who is proficient in using axes, so...“

“Hm, girlfriend - I bet that feels good to say.”

“It does.” She patted his arm and left the room.

A few minutes later the door opened and Kenzie peeked into the unfamiliar room. Klaus lifted his head and flashed a tired smile, “Hey, pumpkin! I miss you today-”

Kenzie ran inside and moved to the other side of the bed, she climbed up and sat down on the free pillow. She pulled her knees to her chest and watched him cautiously as he stiffly rolled over onto his side to face her.

“Did you have a bad day?”

He nodded solemnly, “Yeah… I had a bad day.” He reached out and took her hand, “But don’t worry, your old man’s been through tougher scrapes than this.” He winked.

“I thought something was wrong because you didn’t come home. Jessie was worried too. Then Aunt Vanny showed up an’ she said that you were with Dave. But I told them something was wrong!”

“They didn’t want to scare you, pumpkin. Beside’s Dave’s been taking very good care of me - In fact, I was thinking we could just have a sleepover here tonight, how does that sound?”

“That’s okay - Can I sleep in here with you?”

“Definitely! We’ll get some blankets, some extra pillows - we’ll do a full blanket fort thing. Go full sleepover on this bitc- thing.”

She was still curled up around her knees, softly rocking and she seemed to be looking anywhere but at her father’s bruised face. He shifted closer, “Kenzie - look at me.”

She did.

“I’m okay - I’m not going anywhere and this will all heal up in no time. I know this is scary but we’re going to make the best of it - like we always do. Right?”

“Because we’re scarier than the spooks?”

Klaus nodded proudly, “Because we’re scarier than the spooks - that’s right. Now, come here - I’m not going to break, I promise.”

She smiled briefly and fell onto him with a big hug. It was incredibly painful since she was holding onto the shoulder which had taken the brunt of the bat, been dislocated and then replaced in the past day but he grinned and beared it.

Klaus glanced up to see Ben leaning on the doorway with his arms crossed, he was kind enough to save him “Kenzie read a whole book to me today.”

She let go of his arm and he had to stop himself from gasping, “I did!”

“What!? And I missed it?”

Ben gestured behind him, “We brought it - Kenz’ you want to go get it? You can read it to mom before dinner - I’m sure he’d love that.”

“I’ll go get it!” She said and then leapt off the bed and past her uncle.

Ben watched her go fondly before turning to his brother, “You look like shit.”

“Why thank you.” Then he added, “What did Dave tell you?”

“That you got jumped by an old dealer.”

“Did he say anything about him?”

Ben tilted his head, “He said the guy left you after you fell unconscious.”

Klaus sighed, “That’s good… Yeah, that’s what happened…”

“Okay? I’m just happy you didn’t die again - don’t get me wrong, I’d love them but we can’t afford another one.”

Klaus laughed, “Oh my god - can you even imagine?”

“I found it!” Kenzie announced as she re-entered the room holding a small cardboard children’s story book. She climbed back on the bed and plopped down with the book on her lap, “I’ll read it to you.” She stated.

“Fantastic!” Klaus shifted onto his back to alleviate some of the discomfort and sighed.

Kenzie opened the first page and cleared her throat dramatically like Ben tended to do before he read her a story.

“Ten little monsters wake from their sleep-” She began sounding every word out carefully and slowly, “--blinking in the...can- can- what’s that word?” She pointed to the book.

He glanced over, “Candlelight.”

“I knew that - ‘candlelight, in the castle deep.”

Klaus chuckled and closed his eyes, feeling safe and at home despite the events of the day.