Five's no stranger to nightmares. At all. He had nightmares even before the Apocalypse. It took him a while to realize. But his nightmares are focusing on the same thing. And that's losing his siblings. Even since he was a little kid and their father sent them on that mission, he had nightmares about losing his family. And then he had been stupid and overconfident and time traveled in the future. And his nightmares turned into reality when he discovered his siblings' dead bodies.
He had lived in that nightmare for years and years. And then he had managed to get back to them. Yes. He was back being 13. But at least he got his siblings back. Only to lose them two times in a span of two weeks. But then he got them back because for once his father gave him a piece of useful advice. He had killed the Handler and then he and his family managed to return back in 2019. A 2019 without Apocalypse. That sounds like a happy ending. Right? Wrong. His family may be happy to be back. Hell. He was happy as well. But only when he's awake. When he's asleep the nightmares are back, with new scenarios because of the past happenings.
Because of that Five tries to sleep less and less. It's easy because he has his faithful companion. The coffee. As long as he drinks a lot of coffee then he would not need to go to sleep. It worked for a couple of weeks. Until his siblings had seen the bruising under his eyes. That's when they realized that he wasn't sleeping. So they hide the coffee away from him. They think that they would help him like this. But they are wrong. They made it worse on him. And because he doesn't have his coffee anymore, he's forced to sleep. At least he had learned to be quiet when he wokes up from nightmares. Unfortunately, some of the nightmares are so gruesome, that when he wakes up, he's sick. At least his siblings don't know about him. He would hate it for them to see him so weak and vulnerable. So pathetic. Then one day Viktor suggested for them to go on a road trip.
"Have fun. I will wait for you here when you decide to return"Five told them. Because no way in hell he would go with them and risk having a nightmare with them witnessing.
"Yeah no. If I have to go then you have to go as well Five", Luther told him.
"Not going to happen, "Five said as he crossed his arms and looked pointedly at his siblings.
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"I hate you all", Five said from where he was in the backseat of the car.
"Yeah. We heard it before. Nothing new" Diego said.
"Cheer up little Five. You would see that it would be funny. We need a little break and relaxation after everything" Klaus said cheerfully as he was driving the car.
"You more than everyone else," Ben said and Klaus transmitted the message.
Somehow. Five doesn't know how. They had managed to convince him to come on the stupid road trip. Because not all of them could fit in a car they took two cars. Diego's car where Five was with the said man, Klaus, and Ben. And behind them was Allison's car, with her, Luther, and Viktor. They said that would be funny. He doubts so.
They had driven for several hours, and it was the middle of nowhere. Five didn't ask them where it was the first destination and he didn't care. But because they were still in the middle of nowhere, he figured that they still have a long way until the first destination. It was starting to get dark and they were still not in a civilization. "Did we get lost"
"Of course no little Fivey. There are a few more miles until we got there. Why don't you take a nap and we will wake you up when we got there"
"Not a chance"Five said immediately. "Plus. What's the point of sleeping now, when I will be able to sleep when we got there"He hopes that they would have separate rooms in the hotel or motel.
"Because... Where we are going, the city is more lively at night" Diego answered.
"Los Angeles"
Five snorted. "Yeah. Because they would let a kid in casinos or clubs"
"You are saying this like it would be hard for you to get inside," Ben said. He was corporal now. Because it would be easier to talk with him like this, than having Klaus transmit everything he says.
"Fair point"
It was quiet again. The only sound was coming from the car engine. Not even the radio was on. Five felt his eyes growing heavy. He hadn't managed to sleep properly last night because of another nightmare. And now the moving car was lulling him to sleep. Five tried to fight off the urge to sleep, but he wasn't successful.
Diego looked beside him when he felt a weight falling on his shoulder and he saw Five asleep with his head on his shoulder.
"Awww. The baby had fallen asleep"Klaus cooed.
"Klaus pay attention to the road", Ben scolded him from where he was sitting in the passenger seat. He may be a ghost and Klaus may have the ability to come back from the dead. But Diego nor Five are not dead or have the ability to revive.
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Five knew that it was coming. It always does. The nightmares, that he always forgets when he wokes up, but still remain with the smell of blood and putrid bodies that makes him sick. One hour after Five had fallen asleep, he started to twitch, gaining Diego's attention. Diego looked worriedly at his brother. What was wrong? Does he have a nightmare? Is he feeling sick? He was about to wake him up. But then he was still. Maybe it was nothing. Wrong. Because a few seconds later Five woke up and threw up on the car floor.
"Wah. Klaus. Pullover"Diego shouted as he rubbed Five back, who coughed and choked. "Easy. Easy. You are alright"When Klaus pulled over Diego go out of the car and he helped Five out from the car as well. Five fell on the ground and he continued to throw up bile. Diego brushed the hair, that was growing longer, from his brother's face with one hand and rubbed his back with the other. "Alright. It's alright. You are ok", he crooned. A couple of minutes later he stopped but he was still not moving, as he panted. "Five. You alright, buddy? No, wait. This is a stupid question. You are not alright. "
"I'm fine", he said his voice hoarse.
"Yeah. I can see this"Diego looked up as he heard someone approaching him, to see Viktor. The other car stopped behind his own and everyone was out and looking worried. He grabbed the water and tissues from his brother. "Go. I handled it", he said.
Diego poured some water on the tissues and he used it to wipe Five's mouth. He must be out of it if he didn't protest. Luckily he didn't throw up on himself. Or on Diego. "Here. Drink some water", he said helped him drink the remaining water as he threw the tissues away.
"Why didn't you say that you are sick?'Diego scolded him. But his tone was gentle and not harsh.
"I'm not sick. "
"Yeah. Right?"
"I'm not", Five said with a glare. Which wasn't frightening at all with how pale he was.
"Then what happened?"
"I had a nightmare. They are pretty nasty. They always make me throw up" Even if he doesn't remember them, he has a feeling that they are about his siblings being dead.
Diego looked worriedly at his little brother. Just how horrible his nightmares are that makes him throw up like this. "Do you want to talk about with?"
Five shook his head. Of course. The stubborn little shit. "Five..."
"I don't want to talk about them, because I don't remember them. I never do. I know that they are bad because when I woke up, I woke up with the smell of blood and putrid bodies."
Shit. "It's alright. It was just a nightmare. It wasn't real" Diego said as he ran a hand through Five hair. "How long did you have them?"
"Pretty much all my life"
"Shit Five. Why didn't you say anything?"
Five didn't say anything. And Diego figured it out immediately. Five didn't say anything because he would make him look weak or pathetic. Which was far from true. But this is Five he was talking about. Diego sighed and he pulled his little brother, closer to him, until he was on his lap, making him squeak. So adorable.
"What are you doing, you idiot?"Five asked as he pushed on Diego's chest to get away from him. But Diego wrapped his arms tightly around him and trapped him against his chest.
"Five. Listen to me and listen close. You don't need to hide things from us. Stop hiding when you are hurt, sick, or having a nightmare. For goodness sake, you are not being weak or childish if come to us for help. We are your family. We love you and we want to help you" Five perked up when he heard Diego say that they love him. Really? Because the way they acted with him, didn't show that they love him that much.
As if hearing Five thoughts Diego ran his fingers through his little brother's hair. "I know that we acted like shits with you, even since you come back. And we gave you motive to doubt our love. And I'm very sorry. The others are sorry too. I promise that I..we love you. Very much and you can come to us. Alright?"
Five nodded after a few seconds of hesitance before he made himself comfortable against Diego's chest. He knew that they should return back on the road. But a few minutes of cool fresh air would not hurt. Diego didn't protest as he kept Five in his arms and he looked at his little brother who looked more relaxed as he pressed a short kiss on top of his head. When Five started to shiver, he urged him to get up. The others had cleaned the car in their absence. But the smell was still there. So worried that Five would get sick again, because of the smell, Diego and Five changed places with Luther and Viktor, and they climbed in the backseat of Allison's car.
"Are you alright Five?"Allison asked
"I'm fine"
Allison looked at Diego and her brother nodded, that yes Five was alright. Or he would be alright. Satisfied, she started back the car and started to drive again.
Diego wrapped an arm around Five shoulders and pulled him closer. Five rolled his eyes but he still snuggled against Diego's chest. Diego knew that Five was afraid of going back to sleep. So he started a talk about him, asking him what he wanted to see first once they would arrive in Los Angels. And how he would hide from the security once he would blink inside the casinos or clubs. And Five entertained him with his explanations. He could be stealthy and fall off the radar. He could have as much fun there as his siblings, even if he looks like a 13-year-old, and people would give him weird looks. He even told him how he would sneak out alcohol from the bar. Deigo smiled as he listened to him and for once he didn't scold him that alcohol is not good for him.
He knew that this was temporary. That once Five would fall asleep there's an 85% chance that he would have nightmares again. But Five can't just stop sleeping. It's not healthy. And Diego would find a way. There are non-adictive pills that can help. If that doesn't work, he would give him the addictive one too, if necessary. Only that with that he would monitor him to not become Klaus 2.0. Or he can always cuddle with his brother, Who knows? Maybe if someone sleeps beside him, he would feel safe and not have a nightmare anymore. Yes. He had one when he slept on his shoulder in the car. But it's a difference between a comfy bed and a moving car. He doesn't know yet. But he swears to God that he would cure his brother from his nightmares.