—chapter thirty.

 ❛ breaking news: ellis verbeck is not a love expert. ❜  

ELODIE WAS NORMALLY QUITE GOOD about controlling her weariness levels. As a person who survived off maybe four hours a night (if she was lucky) of sleep, she had grown accustomed to easy smiles and low-budget conversations she didn't have to invest mental strength into. Things like the weather, how amazingly Ellis was doing in school, what kind of sale there was on frozen pizza last night -- easy, boring talk.

But apparently that morning had it out for her. Instead of a peaceful drive to school, she was given an emotional slap in the face by one fair-faced, barely smiling, way-too-smart-for-his-own-good little brother, the one and only Ellis Verbeck.

"I still think you should give him a fair chance."

Elodie rolled her eyes. They had been going back and forth for about ten minutes at that point, ever since she had put the car into drive -- and her patience was running thin. "Keep this behaviour up and I'm gonna have to believe the idiot himself is putting you up to this."

"You can't deflect everything I say with a bad joke."

"Wasn't joking, and I absolutely can. Been doing that all my life, I'm not stopping now 'cause you demand me to."

Ellis tore his gaze from the passing cars around them to stare at her. "You should take this a little more seriously. I'm only trying to help you here."

"And I appreciate that you think you need to help me, but really," she paused to steer her way around a sharp right turn, one she only barely scraped through. Elodie rubbed at her temple with a free hand, mumbling heavy curses at the morning traffic. "Really, I'm content, kid. Happy as all can be."

He scoffed softly. "I know for a fact that that cannot be true. Love is one of the most important things for human beings to have."

"Yeah, and why do you think I keep you around? 'Cause I'm telling you now, it's not for the unsolicited advice you keep throwing at me at way too early in the morning."

The boy did not slow at her teasing jeers. But, then again, he rarely did. Ellis was not often a confident being, but when he believed he was right on something, a different side came out. And at that moment...Elodie did not completely adore that version.

"Romantic love. That fulfillment of equal partnership, having a forever confidante, friend and lover--"

"--stop," Elodie gagged, "before you make me sick."

"Don't tell me you don't miss that."

"Can't miss what you never had," she shot back. "And c'mon, Ellie -- that sort of love isn't everything. Some people don't want that in their life and are perfectly happy!"

He furrowed his feather-light brows, watching her closely. "Do you feel that way?"

"I -- about Diego? No."

"Tsk. That's a weak comeback, even for you."

She scowled, silently wishing she had made him walk. "I don't want to talk about all the people I've loved, man. Can't we talk about our, like, childhood trauma like normal people? Or, er..."

"But you have to recognise that you do still have strong feelings towards him."

"And you really have to stop with this 'love guru' shtick, Ellie. It's making me feel like you're like...seventy thousand years older than me somehow. It's weird."

The boy's lips pursed as he contemplated her words, hesitating for a long moment before renewing the subject. "I...I am sorry to push you. But I do want you to push for this. You're often too stubborn to recognise opportunities when it come to your own happiness. I don't want you to miss out on this one."

Elodie shot him a surprised look. Sure, he had been throwing half-philosophical remarks like that at her for a while, but that wasn't what she thought she'd get hit with at not even nine in the morning. Especially not over an ex that she had only just started acknowledging again and -- dammit, she cursed to herself, Ellis probably knew way more about her mess than she meant. Wow did having a wildly perceptive brother really suck.

Eager for a chance of pace, she reached out and turned on the radio. Only instead of any other song that existed, the Verbeck siblings got blasted with the ever passionate vocals of Whitney Houston, challenging Elodie too to admit that she was still in--

"Forget the stupid radio then," she grumbled, slapping it mute just as the high notes starting. She didn't dare look at her brother, there was no way she would survive the smug smile surely building. "You, uh, want anything specific for dinner tonight?"

"Do you love him?"

"Jesu--" the car swerved and nearly threw them into traffic as she lost control. Elodie pulled angrily back at the steering wheel, gripping so tight her knuckles paled and purpled. "I -- Ellis! I'm trying to get you to school in one piece here!"

"Why are you avoiding the question?"

"I'm avoiding our sudden deaths here, buddy!" She didn't dare loosen her grip even a breath again, for fear of getting thrown off by another shocking question. "And, and...that's not something you need to worry about."

"So you do?"

"Stop it."

"Has he told you he loves you still, too?"

"Ellis."

"Are you going to see him again soon?"

"We're almost at school, fantastic! Yay, school--"

"--I'll take your ignoring as a yes?"

"You take it as a nothing young man," she hissed, pulling to a stop outside the large brown building. Her hands lifted into an aggressive 'shooing' motion. "Have a good day at school and hopefully, leave your curiosity about my non-relationships there. Okay?"

Ellis' grin only grew cheekier, to the point where he almost looked like the Cheshire cat taunting her for an answer she refused to accept. No, not accept, she reminded herself -- nothing to accept. "You can just be honest with me. I feel like I can help, here."

"You're walking home today. There's some honesty."

The door clicked open and the boy slipped out, hanging onto it just to sing, "I love you, almost as much as you love--"

"--bye!" She called, before planting it and racing forward. As Elodie pulled out of the drop-off circle, she could just see his pale little face, smirking in that tell-tale way, practically singing in her head the words from before. Cursed, haunting words that were just about to drive her mad.

And of course, not even the radio was going to help distract her that day.

The drive to work was silent, aside from her cussing out the drivers around her and grumbling about everything that really was not an issue, but she felt the desire to be over-the-top pissed over that day. She drove recklessly, but there was no part of her that could care about any of it - she just drove and held tightly to the wheel and prayed she would make it to work without blowing herself and the car up, right then and there. Because as much as it would solve some problems, Ellis still needed some sort of guardian.

Even if he pretended to be worlds smarter than her in all regards, he was not capable of full independence just yet.

Elodie parked, taking note of the few cars pulled in - though not surprising, considering the time and the fact that it was a weekday. Only a couple of regulars ever came by, and there was no real need to be at work, but she liked to be physically in office just in case there was an issue. Especially as of late with new bartenders on the job, it was better to just be present to solve any problems.

She slipped out of her car, frowning at the bad park job for only a fleeting moment before heading in. Her mind was not on anything then, at least it was trying its very best not to be, so she was really just thinking about not thinking, fiddling with her keys even as she headed through the doors. So occupied with her hands, she would not notice the frantic blonde rushing over until she was literally right in front of her - or the two new visitors amongst the regulars.

"I need your - these -- I--"

"--hey, hey, slow your roll," Elodie soothed. She took in the wild eyes and rising panic in the girl's voice, trying to piece together clues as to what was going on. Brooke was new to the place, but while she was occasionally flighty, she wouldn't scare just over any normal patron. And not that early. "What's wrong? Something missing, someone trying to hurt you?"

"N-no, just--"

"--breathe in, out, focus on doing that. Don't give yourself a heart attack."

Brooke heaved and gasped, nodding before speaking again. "There's -- there's these guys, and they keep askin' question after question and -- I did really try to be nice, but the one wouldn't stop grillin' me like a pork chop, and I think he might just want to grill me for real, Miss Verbeck!"

She held back her giggle at the increasingly rising Southern accent that came when Brooke freaked out again. She patted the girl's arm, hopefully in a comforting way though Elodie never really could be sure. "Alright. I'll sort them out, okay? How long have they been here?"

"Oh, maybe five minutes? Felt like damn near forever, but I doubt it could'a been that long," she said sheepishly.

"Alright. No worries, I'll deal with 'em. You take a five'r."

Brooke sighed gratefully and without another word to her boss, rushed towards the back door.

Elodie sighed and rolled her neck. Not how she planned on spending her morning, but hell -- all in a good day's work. She made her way over to the bar, taking note of the two gentlemen sitting in the shadowy corner. A strange place to choose considering every other seat was empty, but maybe it did make sense. Two sketchy men, barraging a bartender at ten in the morning probably didn't want their faces seen much.

"Look, guys, I don't mean to ruin your mornings but I have to ask you--" she stopped just as the one man's face finally pulled into view. Her mouth fell open and gaped like a fish, and Elodie found herself frozen for a long, long moment unable to act or speak.

"Uh..."

Diego did not smile. But the glimmer in his shadowed eyes did spark with some mischief. "Hey, Elodie."

"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise," drawled the man beside him. He was a wisp of a man with curly hair and bright eyes just the slightest bit glazed over. She recognised the look easily, and the head swaying to and fro spoke volumes too. Whoever Diego's companion was, he could easily have at least three drinks in. "This is Elodie? Might I say, Diego, you have exceptional taste."

Elodie frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Shut up," Diego grumbled and shoved an elbow into the other man's side. He didn't even glance when his brother howled and played up the assault. "I'm sorry about him."

"Who is, 'him'?"

At that, the man giggled and miraculously recovered from his injury. He extended a lily-white hand for her to shake, which she did, only to shiver at how frighteningly cold it was. "I'm Klaus, a pleasure." She didn't know if he meant that he was a pleasure, or it was a pleasure to meet her. "I take it Diego didn't mention me?"

But the name did run familiar. Klaus Hargreeves, one of her ex-boyfriend's many eccentric siblings. He had rarely talked about his family, but when he did it was always late at night after a long, arduous day, sharing the few and far between anecdotes he had had with them. Klaus had always been the oddest of his brothers, compensating for a set of nasty powers she couldn't remember. And he had always been inseparable with another one -- Bob, or Beau, or something.

Elodie dipped her head into a tentative nod. Her hand fell back to her side, tingling. "Elodie Verbeck. You're his brother, yeah? Klaus Hargreeves."

The man's smile grew wider. It looked almost wolfish. "So he has talked about me. Only good things, I hope."

She grinned slightly, oddly comfortable with his energy. "A mixture of things. He's quite the gossip, you know."

Diego rolled his eyes.

"I know," Klaus replied slyly, "the boy never shuts up! I swear he talks about a mile a minute."

"Right? And the things he's said."

"Ha -- you should hear the things he's said about you!"

And before she could frown and ask just what kind of things he might have said (joking or not), Diego jumped into the conversation. His grimace hung heavy like he had just eaten something rotten. "I'm sorry for showing up here. I just -- I needed to stop somewhere."

"Ah...so you came here just to harass my employee?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I was just asking where you were."

"She was close to tears, Diego. She prolly thought you were going to slice n'dice her in the parking lot!"

Klaus giggled and mumbled something, but not to either of them. He instead looked off to the side, as though he was talking to the air. Elodie chose not to ask about that.

"I just wanted to know," Diego said nonchalantly. "She was being evasive."

"Evasive for a goddamn good reason, I'm guessing! You can't just come in here demanding answers like that from my employees, being an asshole -- and just showing up out of the blue at all! Here, too!" She gestured around to the half-occupied room, "this is my workplace."

His gaze softened some then. Diego managed to look genuinely apologetic, even if he wouldn't verbally announce it. But while that struck a chord, it was the dark bags under his eyes that upset her, more. It looked like he hadn't got a wink since the last time they had talked, and like he wasn't ready to sleep for many, many more nights. He'd worn that look around her before. She remembered enough from before to know it wasn't a good sign.

Her heart twinged.

"I just wanted to talk," he said, lowly, trying to keep his words from the man to his right. "Can we?"

Elodie glanced over to Klaus. He was doing his very best pretending to not listen, even though he so obviously was. They made eye contact and he smiled, winking dramatically. She decided then she liked the man, strange as he was. At least he was friendly.

"Okay." She gestured loosely behind her with a jerky nod. "You okay waiting here a moment, pal?"

Klaus pouted and pondered her question for a moment. "You know, I think the only issue is that my throat is rather dry, and I'd like to whet the--"

"--don't give anything to him," Diego warned, "'cept for water. He doesn't need any more shit floatin' through his system."

"Now Diego, dearest--"

"--nope. Not today."

The man sighed and slumped on the bar stool.

Elodie, sparing only another quick second to make sure Klaus was in fact okay, stepped out behind the bar and towards the back hallways. Diego followed close behind. She paused at the doorway of her office and folded her arms. "So?"

"Are you okay?"

That wasn't what she expected him to say. At all. "Uh...I -- yeah. Why?"

"Are you okay? Good? Everything's good, Ellis is--"

"--we're both alive and well," she interrupted, waving a hand to shush him. "What's this about? Why are you asking that?"

He didn't look her in the eyes. "Nothing. We just hadn't talked, since before, and I wanted to make sure you were fine. No one bothering you or anything."

"Should someone be?!"

"No!" Diego said quickly -- too quickly. He ran a hand through his mussed locks; she didn't miss how it shook slightly. "Nothing's wrong. Just paranoid, with all this shit going on."

Her gaze flitted from him to the bar, where she could just see Klaus. He was still slumped over, but his head had lifted, aimed towards the air he was still talking to. "Stuff still goin' on with your family?"

"Yeah."

"What...kind of stuff?"

"It's complicated."

"Well, I can guess as much." She went to make a joke, something along the lines of 'you wouldn't be letting me meet your brother if there wasn't something up' but it died when she saw his face. Panic had streaked its ugly hand across his face, staining it all colours of dark and flushed and for the first time in a very long time, Diego actually looked scared. 

Elodie's hand moved from her chest and extended just enough to touch his own hand. She tapped softly. 

"If something bad's happening, you can talk to me."

Diego hesitated. His fingers twitched but didn't reach out to hers. "It's complicated," came again.

"You can trust me."

"I know."

"But...?"

"There's no but," came his mumble. He glanced up to her quickly before looking down again. "I just can't get into it, but--"

"--so there is a but."

"I'm sorry. Really," he spluttered out after seeing her crestfallen expression. "I will explain it, I just -- I can't tell you until I figure it out for myself first. But I'll tell you when I get it all fixed."

"You're really still stuck with the idea you have to deal with all this yourself? Or--" she shrugged towards where his brother gabbed away, "with Klaus? You still internalising it all, after everything I said before?"

"It's not like that. It's just too dangerous and -- I swear, I'll tell you once I know everything."

Honestly, that response was to be expected. Whatever the hell Diego was dealing with -- whether it be aliens, secret lizard mobs, or some sort of inside job one of his other oddball siblings planned, he had taken it as something he had to do alone. Funny, how some things never changed.

She nodded slowly. Her lip upper lip curled, "I get it. It's fine."

"Elodie, I..."

"Don't bother, man. It's fine." Only partly a lie. "As long as I don't have to expect your obit on the news next, I'll live with waiting."

His expression fell then from panic into something the one that had always hurt the most. Raw remorse coloured his cheeks, pulling down his eyes so the bags underneath looked twice as heavy as before. Diego's usually soft, even pretty features were stained with grief and unadulterated shame. It took all of Elodie's energy not to think about all the times before when he looked at her that way -- and even more, not to reach up and wipe his frown from his lips. She very nearly gave in, hand slipping up to rub away the worry lines, but it fell just as fast. She hid both behind her back, drawing away from his barely touching-fingers, and sighed.

"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about? Or are you just here to check up on me and leave vague promises behind?"

Diego winced. "There was something else. And I'm sorry. I want to tell you, I..."

"What's the something else?"

His frown grew deeper. "About the other night, Elodie...I didn't want to leave like that."

"It's chill," she shrugged. "Had to sleep anyways."

"Don't give me that."

"Don't give you what?"

"C'mon. Like you sleep."

"That just from knowing me, or watching me sleep, Batman?"

Diego groaned. "You know I'm trying to have a nice moment here? And I'm not watching you sleep! I would never do that!"

She shrugged, smiling slightly. "Wouldn't put it past you."

"Just listen, will you?"

"Okay, creep! I'll play along!" She played with a strand of hair and blinked up at him. "What's the nice moment you're trying to pull off here?"

"I wanted to tell you that I sti--oh, shit."

Elodie frowned. "Uh..."

But Diego wasn't with her, anymore. Not really. His back had stiffened and he had turned away from her, staring off into the distance. Elodie turned to try and make out what could have caught his eye, but all she saw was Brooke heading back inside and Klaus still...doing whatever he was doing, alone at the bar. But clearly there was something she missed, as the man didn't even flinch when she snapped her fingers or waved a hand.

"Goddammit," he cursed again. "I -- dammit, okay--"

And Elodie could only watch, stunned, as Diego pushed away from her and stormed out of their alcove. He made a beeline towards Brooke, who still looked completely shaken, pouting pink lips and all, and stopped her before anything else could be done.

"Diego!" She didn't care about anyone who heard, anymore. All that was going through her head was the single mission to stop that wannabe Batman in his tracks before he terrified her employees any more. "Diego, stop!"

But he ignored her. "What did that guy ask you? Out there, what did he ask?!"

"Uhm--"

"--what did I say about bothering my employees?!"

He didn't look at her, but at least had the decency to soften his tone to a low growl. "Sorry. I just need to know exactly what that man wanted. Word for word...please."

Behind them all, Klaus laughed and said something. Elodie missed exactly what it was in the heat of the moment, but the cackle that came after it filled in the missing pieces. Her cheeks ran hot.

Brooke was shaking under the harsh stare, but still managed to respond clearly -- an admirable action on her part. "He just asked f-for the fastest route to some motel."

"What motel?"

"The -- the one down on Hockley Road?"

"Great." Diego, seemingly satisfied, turned away from the stammering blonde and back to Klaus. He tugged on his brother's arm. "C'mon. We gotta go."

Klaus arched his brow and looked at Elodie, then back to his brother. "What did you two lovebirds do, back there? Any--" he yelped loudly as Diego flicked his head. "What's your problem?"

Elodie made the probably wise decision not to entertain his question. She rubbed Brooke's back comfortingly and glared Diego's direction. "You're just gonna come in, do all this and leave?"

Klaus snickered.

Diego's grimace spoke volumes.

"Make sure Claire's alright," Elodie hummed as an aside to Brooke, who nodded and eagerly raced away. She dropped her hands to her hips and stared down both men. "What are you trying to do?!"

"I told you, I'd explain it all later."

"Yeah, you said that, but that was before you interrogated my employee again just to ask about some guy. And now I'm not taking that excuse. It's one thing to come and go after the shit happens," she muttered, tone low to avoid any listeners about. "But it's another thing when you're...well, you're here, and I gotta watch you rush off to your imminent doom."

His lips twisted. "I swear, it's not that big of a deal."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Yeah, Diego," Klaus echoed, "you expect her to believe that!?"

Even in her anger, Elodie did appreciate the brother's help (even if it wasn't really, the sentiment was at least there). 

"I really don't have time to explain this right now. It's too much."

"I weirdly doubt that."

Diego huffed. "Can't you just believe me this time?"

"Fuck off with that pouty look. And no."

Klaus turned away again and giggled at the air. Mentally, Elodie made a reminder to ask about that when she had the chance.

"I really have to go. That -- that guy that she talked to, he's not going to just hang around. Okay? I need to deal with this, now, so I can fix this issue and we can get back to normal."

Elodie had two choices then (three, if 'asking Diego what going back to normal really meant for him' counted). And she had to pick fast. Klaus didn't offer much non-verbal advice; he seemed more interested in gaging them than whatever threat the brothers seemed to be up again. Diego was closed in and practically bouncing on the balls of his feet ready to escape and 'do what he did best'. All she really wanted to do was escape all of it, close her eyes and pretend like all the mess was just a very bad dream that she'd wake up from with a couple of calm, deep breaths and positive affirmatives. Like her therapist once taught her.

However, that wouldn't work. Things were real and she couldn't run from them. Not anymore, when she was a fully grown woman with responsibilities and a bleeding heart that wouldn't stop pushing her in a dangerous directions. And so, with a heavy sigh and a direct 'screw you' to the logical side of her brain, Elodie made up her mind.

"You're lucky I didn't get comfortable here. Hadn't even had the chance to take off my coat." Elodie pushed her hair off her shoulders and rolled her neck. "Can you gentlemen give me a moment to clear things up with my employees? Your 'guy' can wait, I'm sure."

Neither Klaus and Diego said a word. Both just watched as she rushed off to talk to a tall man holding a large tray and scurried back in less than two minutes of time.

"Alright, boys," Elodie smiled wanely. "Your car, or mine?"

If it was possible, Diego's eyes probably would have popped right out of his head and bounced onto the bar's carpet. "Are you -- you're not seriously thinking of coming."

"Thinking? I'm not thinking anything. I'm coming with you."

Klaus chortled.

"Elodie, you can't come with."

She arched a brow. "Why not?"

"It's fuckin' dangerous, for one."

"I'm sure I can handle myself," she replied smoothly. "And you're wasting your own time now."

"This does not have to involve you. It doesn't involve you."

"You're not going to change my mind. You and I both know that, Diego."

The man remained frozen for a long moment, seemingly contemplating the logistics behind her decision, debating whether or not he could make her stay behind. But before long, his shoulders slumped and he groaned. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

"D'aw. That's the spirit, Robin Hood."

"You have to listen to me, though," Diego warned, following close behind as she headed out the bar's doors. "Okay? This is seriously dangerous. I can't have you getting hurt."

To that, Elodie just chuckled and shot back a spiteful grin. "Really? Really? After all we've gone through, and you really think you need to worry about me."

He groaned.

She stuck her tongue out. 

Klaus, trailing behind the both of them, skipped in his step. "You know," he said, still as though there was another person there, "I rather like her." He paused, "I completely agree. They are adorable."

Diego looked flustered beyond belief at that comment, barely managing a 'shut it' to the curly-haired man. Elodie was tempted to tease him on it, but left the subject alone -- after all, it wasn't just a sore one for him.

"Get in," he grumbled, gesturing to the passenger seat. "You're not driving by yourself."

"I can--"

"--m'not adding an accident to today's schedule, Elodie."

She pouted, debating whether she should argue for her own driving abilities sake (which yes, was abysmal, but it was the principle of the insult!). But after a half-second of glaring, she got in nonetheless.

Klaus shuffled into the back of the car, choosing the middle seat so he could see the both of them clearly. He looked between them both and grinned. "I don't want to speak for everyone here, but I do just want to say that you two are the most infatuated, sickening, and stubborn couple I've ever met. Which is saying something, considering Luther."

The look on Diego Hargreeves face was everything and so, so much more for Elodie Verbeck.

Diego really just doesn't know how to entertain a healthy relationship here. This man just keeps coming and going and thinking he's doing the right thing when in reality, he's only pissing people off more...people being Elodie...the love of his life...who's also a stubborn ma'am...haha I don't know what I'm doing with them.

On another note, my characterization of Klaus is abysmal and I'm sorry. I wanted him to have more of a part, but I didn't want to emphasize too much and take away from other plot points. So now he's just a professional third wheel, I suppose.

Also, I don't know how to feel about Ellis here. His characterization keeps getting thrown in a loop because I'm switching between writing this and the sequel and -- well, let's say this chapter has good intentions, even if I don't know about its delivery. 

Thank you for reading; let me know what you thought!