On the way to the mansion Ryder could tell things were different about Klaus, he heard the jingles of dog tags that Klaus was wearing he was tempted to ask about it but the haunted look in Klaus's eye steered him away from it.

He didn't want to leave Klaus alone so he was grateful when Klaus asked him to stay and he continued to stick to him even when they went up to his room.

Ryder was watching Klaus get dressed when he heard footsteps coming towards the room.

Five knocked on the door before stepping to the side. "You okay?" Ryder kept silent but looked at Klaus nervously. "Hey, yeah I just had a long night." Klaus gave Five a half-smile.

Five chuckles. "More than one, from the looks of it." Ryder winced at the comment but stayed silent. "Don't remember the dog tags." Ryder opened his mouth to tell Five to get lost when Klaus answered him. "They were a friend's." Ryder chanced a glance at Klaus and saw that he wasn't just a friend. "How about the new tattoo?"

Ryder sat up and moved to the edge of the bed staring at Five who just stared at him back. "You know, I don't totally remember even getting it as I said, it was a long night," Klaus spoke he either didn't notice or was trying to defuse the tension in the room.

Suddenly Five smiles, it made Ryder feel uneasy the bed shifted as Klaus sat beside Ryder. "You did it didn't you?" Klaus looked at Five confused. "What are you talking about?"

"You know, I can recognize the symptoms, Klaus." Five walked into the room and stood in front of Klaus and Ryder. "Symptoms of what?" That's when Ryder reached out to take Klaus's hand but unlike normally Klaus didn't grab his hand back he didn't even sneak a glance.

"The jet lag, the full-body itch." Klaus sighed and put his head in his hands as Five kept talking. "Headache that feels like someone shoved a box of cotton up into your nose and through the brain. You gonna tell me about it?"

That's when Klaus looked at Ryder. "Your pals, when they broke into the house and they couldn't find you, they took us hostage instead." Klaus motions to himself and Ryder.

"In return, you guys stole their briefcase?" Klaus shrugged and nodded, Ryder resisted the urge to tell Five he had no part in that. "Yeah, I thought there was money in it, or I could pawn it, and then I opened it." Ryder ignored his head telling him to stop and grabbed Klaus's hand squeezing it tightly this time Klaus didn't brush him off.

"You went where or should I say when?" Klaus sucked in a sharp breath at Five. "What difference does it make?" Five scoffed at Klaus. "What diff- uh how long where you gone?" Five looked between Ryder Klaus for some answers.

"All night," Ryder answered while Klaus said. "A year." Ryder looked at Klaus and instead of wanting to caress his cheek he kept a hold on Klaus's hand, and he didn't seem to mind.

"Hazel and Cha-Cha will do whatever they can to get the briefcase, do you have it?" Klaus tensed before shaking his head at Five. "I destroyed it." Before Five could get mad at Klaus, Ryder put his hand out making flames stick out from his fingertips daring Five to get close to Klaus.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Ryder thought his threat would stop Five but he wasn't phased at all he just yelled at Klaus from faraway instead of close up. "What do you care?"

"What do I care? I needed it, you moron, so I can get back."

Only Ryder saw the flash of hurt that came across Klaus's eyes but as quick as it appeared it was gone. "Get out Five." Five looked at Ryder looking like he was about to argue but one look from Ryder made him stop. "Get out before I turn you into ash Five."

||

After some begging from Klaus, the two of them grabbed a ride with Diego. Ryder was tense and it seemed Diego nor Ryder could look at each other in the eye.

Klaus had asked Diego to drop him off at some bar for foreign war heroes. Ryder followed Klaus in without a word but he knew something was bothering Klaus but he didn't know how to bring it up without upsetting him.

Ryder followed Klaus to see him looking at some pictures on the wall, he sensed that Klaus wanted some time alone so he gave him that. He could hear him sniffling, Ryder walked closer to him when he noticed a big guy was standing up but a smile grew when Diego patted Klaus on the back.

Ryder picked up speed when he saw the big white man talking to Diego and Klaus. "This bar? It's for vets only." Ryder was expecting Klaus to respond with what he did. "I am a vet." That's when it clicked for Ryder, the time travel that Five was talking about, and the sadness that Klaus was going through he went back in the middle of a war.

"Really?" The soldier chuckles as Diego looks at Klaus. "Where'd you serve?" Ryder tensed.

"None of your business." Ryder saw the smile that graced Diego's face. "You got balls coming in here, pretending you're one of us." Klaus scoffed and turned around to face him. "I have every right to be here, just like you do, asshole." Ryder saw that Diego had control of the white man while Ryder faced Klaus.

"Sh, look at me. It's okay." Klaus shook his and walked out towards Diego's car while Diego controlled the man.

Ryder sighed as he got into the back seat. "What's wrong with you?" Klaus rolled his eyes but he grabbed a cigarette from his jacket. "Nothing." Ryder shook his head quickly.

"No, I saw you in there that was not nothing. Tell me the truth, Klaus." Klaus sighed and let his head, rest on the cool window. "I lost someone."

"I've lost one of the only people I've only truly loved more than myself."

Ryder sucked in a breath at the admission and let it go, settling in the backseat wishing he was home, his best friend slash crush fell in love with a soldier who died.