CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
THE MEET AND GREET

Klaus returned ten minutes later than he promised. Till he came, Alex and Diego talked and were sitting in the car, Diego in the driver's seat and Alex sitting in the back. When Klaus came he sat in the back next to Alex, their legs touching.

Klaus had bought a bottle with him as well, which he was sipping and would sometimes give to Alex.

Diego looked back from the rear mirror, "You okay?"

Klaus just took another sip from the bottle, His head was leaning on Alex's shoulder with the said man having a hand on Klaus' knee.

"Wow," Diego said, "My brother Klaus is silent. Last time you were this quiet, we were twelve. Ran down the stairs wearing Grace's heels, tripped over, and broke your jaw. Alex and I had a good laugh."

Alex had a smile on his face at the memory.

Klaus was still quiet and was staring out the window. He could feel Alex's hot breath against his head as he looked down to look at Klaus.

"How long was it wired shut again?"

"Eight weeks." Klaus finally answered softly.

When Diego answered he had a small smile on his face, "Eight glorious weeks of bliss."

Alex kicked Diego's seat with his foot, hard. Making Diego jerk forward.

Diego glared at Alex from the rear mirror and Alex stuck his tongue out at him.

"Hey, just drop me off here." Klaus suddenly said gaining the attention of the other two people in the car.

Diego looked over and then parked the car outside, 'VFW, Lakeshore'.

Klaus got out the second the car stopped and Alex followed him.

"You sure you okay, man?"

Klaus didn't answer Diego and Closed the door when Alex got out.

Alex held Klaus' hand as the slightly drunk man stumbled and made his way into the building.

before opening the door, Klaus tightened his hold on Alex's hand and got a squeeze in return.

On the door was wroten, " Welcome To Veterans Of Foreign Wars".

As they entered they headed straight for the bar, Klaus let go of Alex's hand so he could take off his jacket and when he looked, he saw Alex had also taken off his jacket.

Klaus took to shots and gave one to Alex which he gladly took and they finished their shots quickly.

after another shot, Klaus wanted to go and see the stuff on the walls so he took Alex's hand and went to wonder.

As they were walking a photo caught Alex's eyes, "Hey," he said softly and tugged at Klaus' hand. Klaus turned his head to look at Alex, "Look at this."

Klaus came closer, on the wall was a framed photo of their unit. Klaus, Dave, and Alex standing next to each other.

Klaus laughed and touched the frame with his free hand, Alex also had a smile.

"Hey Dave," Klaus said so quietly that if Alex wasn't standing this close he wouldn't have heard.

Alex had tears in his eyes and used his free hand to wipe them off.

Klaus took a deep breath and closed his eyes, the hand against Alex's tightened. He opened his eyes and ran a hand over his face.

Suddenly a hand was placed on Alex's shoulder making the two men turn around quickly and see their brother standing behind them.

Alex sighed, "Just go away, Please."

"Not until you guys talk to me," Diego said, still not moving his hand.

"Is that a threat? You threatening us?" Diego sighed and took his hand off Alex's shoulder.

"Hey, guys," they heard another voice from behind and this time it was an older man leaning against the pool table, "This bar? It's for vets only."

"We are vets," Klaus said, not turning around. Diego turned to look at his brothers, surprised by the answer.

Alex had turned around and was leaning against the empty wall, hands crossed over his chest.

"Really?" The man Chuckled, "Where'd you serve?"

Alex snapped at the man, "None of your business."

"You have balls comin' in here, pretendin' you're one of us."

Alex snorted, making the man scowled at him.

"We have every right to be here," Klaus said and turned around to look at the man, "Just like you, Asshole."

Alex was glaring at the man, Now he's gone and upset his Klaus.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Hey. Slow down, Marine." Diego said and held a hand out to the man's chest, preventing him from coming closer.

Alex saw another man getting up from his seat and coming to stand behind the man. He pushed himself away from the wall and walked until he was standing in front of Klaus and behind Diego. Body slightly towards the other man.

"All right? My brothers just had a few too many," Diego continued, "Let's just call it a day, all go our own way,"

"Sure thing," The man nodded.

"Thank you, Klau-"

"As long as they apologize." The man said.

Klaus giggled, he was once again looking at the photo, he didn't turn to look back and it didn't seem like Alex was in the mood to apologize.

Diego looked at the man and sighed, "Fine, I'm sorry, they're sorry, we're all sorry. So, are we good?"

The man looked at Diego for some time before saying, "I wanna hear them say it." He pointed to Klaus and Alex.

"Hey man I'm just trying to-" Diego tried to reason with the older man.

"No, no," Klaus suddenly said and turned to look at the man.

Alex turned his head slightly to look at his lover, but not completely so he could see the two men from the corner of his eye.

"He's right, Diego. He's right, he's right," Klaus pointed at himself, "I'd like to apologize."

Klaus took a deep breath and stepped forward, "That you are depriving some village of their idiot!"

He shouted the last word straight in the man's face.

Before the man could throw a punch at Klaus, Alex had stepped forward and was about to do the same when a voice stopped them all.

"Stop!"

Klaus was breathing heavily and Alex had a fist in the air, ready to throw it in the man's face and his other man was holding the man's shirt.

Two old men stepped forward from outside, "Can't leave you two for a second, can I?"

Alex's fist loosened as he recognized the man's voice.

"No!" He said loudly and looked at two newcomers with wide eyes.

"And you said I was the one who got constantly in trouble." Alex knew the man was smiling from his tone.

"What!" Klaus said his eyes so wide with shock that it made Alex worry for a second, but he Became distracted when the newcomers started laughing and came closer.

In the light, it was easy to recognize the now older faces of Dave and Robert.

Alex started laughing, What a life they had.

"Jesus, you guys haven't changed at all!" Robert said as he came and pushed the rude man away.

Rude man and the Other man behind him turned and went back to what they were doing.

"You're wrinkly." Was the first thing Klaus said to his now 70-something-year-old best friend.

Robert laughed while Dave shocks his head, "Jeez, missed you too."

Alex whistled, "You got sassy."

Robert winked at Alex, "He learned from the best."

And then he hugged Alex while Dave hugged Klaus.

Diego was standing behind them, confused. "What the fuck?" he said making the four people hugging to part.

"Who's that?" Robert asked.

Alex groaned, "Our brother, Diego."

Dave nodded in greeting, "Dave."

Diego shock the older men's hands, "What?!" You could feel the confusion oozing from him.

Alex laughed, "Well, it's a long story."

★彡WORDS:1500★彡

Sup ppl,

I was gonna publish this last night but I wasn't pleased with it so I had to work on it a bit more, sorry took so long.

Happy news, this story is now #1 in Allison Hargreeves tag! I'm so happy.

I bet you guys didn't except Dave and Robert to show up, did you?

Thanks, @jacstjonh for the amazing idea.

I just came back from a symphony orchestra and I'm suwkfjwodjnwjdjssn.

Have fun!