"I am never stretching so suddenly like that again..." I groaned, falling into bed after a shower.
I forgot that I need to limber up my muscles before serious stretching. Or maybe I didn't before and I was just getting old, like a crusty rubber band, ready to snap.
I felt ready to snap. My siblings were hell on Earth, there was something wrong with Mom, Pogo is mourning, and Dad is dead. I had no one to turn to.
I miss being a kid...

~•~
17 Years Ago
The whistle blew loud from the top of the stairs. All seven of us began sprinting up the many flights of stairs, eager to please Dad in agility training.
Luther got to the front almost immediately. He didn't hold the position long as Diego pushed ahead. I was behind Allison, her long, curly hair flying in my face, making it difficult to see. It seemed that I would not make top three, until...

"That's not fair, Five cheated!" Diego cried after Five used his spacial jumps to take first place.

Cheating, I could work with cheating.

"No he did not, he adapted!" Our father yelled from the top of the stairs.

Adapted...

I stopped for a second, allowing just enough time for Klaus and Ben to pass me. Then, I made my move. I stretched my legs out long, long enough to step onto the upper levels of stairs. I steadied myself carefully and stepped up to the next level. Just in front of Five, who had jumped forward again.

"Now Izzy is cheating!" Klaus called from one of the lower levels.

I heard a grunt from Dad, it was one of his 'I approve' grunts. If cheating the system got me Dad's praise, I was willing to cheat everything.

I devised a new plan. I waited for Five to jump again, and once he did, I stretched my arms to his shoulders and frog leaped over him. I landed right at the top of the stairs. First place.

I didn't get any praise though. Just my father nodding and jotting some notes down. And my siblings were not too happy with how I won, needless to say I was ignored for most of that week.

Just another example of my asshole siblings, who I loved oh so dearly.
~•~

A knock on the attic door made me jump out of my reminiscing.

I got up and made my way to the door, careful to avoid the shattered glass covering the floor.

"Who is it?" I called, leaning against the door. I had a careful mental list of who I didn't want to see.

"Klaus." The voice stated.

"I thought I told you to go choke on a pill."

Klaus snickered. "Well, I didn't. Can I come in?"

Ugh, no.

"Yeah." I swung the door open to a rain water soaked Klaus. I raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't you have an umbrella?" I asked, crossing my arms and staring at his sopping hair.

"I did. Then I didn't. Life's crazy." He poked his head in and took in the glass everywhere. "What happened in here?"

"This," I gestured vaguely, "is curtesy of our 58 year old brother."

"Yikes." He stepped inside and followed me to my room. "Woah, I haven't been in here in years."

I watched him go around the room, touching photos and posters on my walls. He got to the shrine thing in the back corner and picked up the Captain Ouija action figure.

"I forgot about these." He took a closer look, "It looks nothing like me! Do I really have that giant nose?" He turned to me.

I smiled solemnly, "No, you do not."

"I knew it." He continued around the room, finally getting to the photos of me.

There were some when I was was fifteen at a photo shoot, some when I was in the middle of a mission, and others with Allison. There was even one with Klaus.

He touched the one of us together lightly and smiled. "I remember this."

I walked over next to him. "That was probably one of my favorite photo shoots. Granted all of them were shit, at least we look good."

In the photo, Klaus and I are back to back, with our arms crossed just right so you could catch a glimpse of our tattoos. I saw Klaus's hand fly to his left wrist, just out of the corner of my eye.

~•~
17 Years Ago
The buzzing of the tattoo needle filled the air. I tensed up in mental preparation for the ink about to stain my skin for the rest of my life.

I knew the design, it was simple, but it had so much meaning. It meant I was part of something. This team, this family. I was going to be strong. I wouldn't cry, because I was so strong.

But I wasn't stronger than Luther, and he had tears in his eyes, just from watching Klaus get his tattoo.

The needle hit my skin. Sharp pain prickled through my arm, and I could feel the needle vibrating against my bones. It hurt like hell, but even more so because I had to have an extra sharp needle to get the tattoo to stay in my rubbery skin.

I groaned in pain as my vision was on the verge of going double. I felt tears well up and soon enough they were sliding down my face. I had always been a cry baby, so much for being strong.

Soon enough, my tattoo was done, the circle with the umbrella design in the center. I got up and rushed over to Klaus, who was first to get his done. I hugged him and he cried into my shoulder.

We stood crying until Allison had hers done, and she joined our crying party. I wiped my cheeks at one point and saw that Diego was getting his done. He was on the verge of tears too. Then I looked to Luther, Ben, and Five. They all sat looking worried, Five even looked sick.

Thirteen and inked up, great.
~•~
"What are you thinking about?" Klaus asked quietly.

"Our tattoos." I replied shortly.

Klaus sighed, lighting up a cigarette. "I hate them. It just reminds me of our fucked up childhood."

We were quiet for a second.

"Do you think I sucked up to Dad?" I needed to know. But, I won't be surprised if the answer is yes.

"More than everyone else, yeah." He told me, blowing a smoke ring in my face. I fanned it away with a cough.

"Oh right, you and Diego are both assholes." I muttered bitterly.

"Hey, hey, hey! Hold your tongue, Izzy!" He exclaimed, chuckling. "It's better to be an honest asshole than a lying saint."

I shoved him lightly, "You most definitely are not a saint."

He swiftly made his way towards the door. He turned back and gave me a grin, "Don't hurt yourself, Izzy."

"How ominous." I retorted.

He saluted me and left through the door, narrowly avoiding stray glass strewn around the attic floor.

~•~
Later I stretched downstairs, again avoiding using the stairs for their intended purpose. No more depressed, mourning slump for me!

I found myself in the doorway to the kitchen. Little Five was rustling around the cabinets and such, looking for something or other. Klaus hadn't noticed me, he was too focused on spooning a guitar I knew he couldn't play.

"Hey shorty, what are you looking for?" I called, making my presence known.

"You know, Isabelle? I always liked you least." Little Five spat from his hunched over position. Oh, those hormones are just roaring...

Klaus snickered, "That was good."

"Hey, I get it. I was a teenager once too." I defended myself, putting my hands up in innocence.

"How are you twenty-nine and still manage to act like a ten year old?" Five questioned, finally turning to look at me.

"Has anyone seen Vanya?" Allison came sashaying into the room.

"Oh, she's gone." Klaus stated, slightly sitting up with his guitar.

"Well, that's unfortunate." Five muttered, turning back to the table carrying a old coffee maker.

"Yeah. She didn't even say goodbye..." I thought aloud, but no one seemed to notice.

"An entire square block forty-two bedrooms, nineteen bathrooms and not a single drop of coffee." Five hissed in annoyance.

"And why would there be coffee in the bathroom?" I asked slyly. I just love getting on Five's nerves.

Allison smiled lightly, but turned back to Five. "Dad hated caffeine."

"Oh, he hated children too, but he had plenty of us." Klaus laughed breathily, but quickly turned stony faced and looked at Allison.

Five rolled his eyes, "I'm taking the car."

Klaus sat up, putting the guitar between his legs. "And where are you going?"

"To get a decent cup of coffee."

I decided to chime in, "Can you even drive, short stack?"

"I can do everything." He sneered before spacial-jumping away.

"He probably can't even reach the gas." I chuckled.

Allison gave me a disapproving look, "Be nice, Izzy."

I rolled my eyes as Diego sauntered into the kitchen.

"Okay, then, I'll see you all in another ten years when Pogo dies?" He asked.

"Don't talk like that, asshole." I hissed at him. He was so awful and knew just how to make me mad.

"You really can't deal with honesty, can you, Miss I-Loved-My-Abusive-Father?" He looked at me and I could feel the steam coming out of my ears.

"Do you want to fight me? We can go right here, just say when, you moronic toad." I spat, getting my fists ready to punch some sense into him.

"Isabelle! Stop it. And Diego, keep it to yourself." Allison barked before I could insight any violence.

"Well, let's see if your next movie does well, Allison. I hope it turns out better than your marriage." He sneered, Allison merely crinkled her nose annoyance and left to go upstairs.

Diego and Klaus left together and once again I was alone. I wandered over to the cabinets and decided to make myself a 'Five Sandwich'.

I stretched to grab marshmallows, peanut butter and bread. I put the peanut butter on the bread, spreading it carefully, just like Five does every. Single. Time. Then, I grabbed a handful of marshmallows and sprinkled them on.

I put the top of my masterpiece on and picked it up.

"Let's see if this lives up to the hype..."

I took a bite.

Then immediately spit it out. It was disgusting. Actually repulsive and horrid.
The sugary marshmallow conflicted with the peanut flavor, making a weird sweet peanut taste that wasn't unlike a peanut butter cup, only much worse. And I just don't like peanut butter.

"How does he eat this shit?" I cried, running to the sink and trying to wash the taste out.

"Are you okay, Izzy?" Luther's voice came from the hall.

"Yeah, yeah. Just ate something that disagreed with me." I laughed breathlessly. "Look," I turned to him, "I'm sorry for earlier. I was feeling really emotional. And you're my brother, the only one I'm close with, I can't fight with you."

He smiled. "I can't fight with you, either."

"Are we good?" I asked, putting out a hand for an agreeing shake.

But instead, he pulled me into a hug.

"Yeah, we're definitely good."

Okay, maybe my family is okay. Everyone except for Diego. Still hate Diego.