𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃
( chapter ten )
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𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐀 was sitting on one of the staircases nice the dumpster Klaus was searching in.

"Damn it, where's Dad's stuff?" Klaus groaned, throwing trash bags onto the ground.

"I hope you're going to clean that up." Alora called down to him and he waved her off.

"Can we... something? ...ocean?" Alora frowned when she heard a faint voice next to her. She looked to the side but saw nothing. Little did she know, her brother Ben was sitting next to her, shocked as she stared at him.

Alora shrugged it off and went back to watching Klaus. Ben sighed, disappointed. "Shut up!" Klaus sighed.

Alora gasped, "Is Ben here?" Klaus nodded, not really listening. "Hey, Ben." She said to the air around her.

"...Alora." His voice echoed slightly and Alora smiled.

"I'm trying to find whatever... priceless crap was in that priceless box so that Pogo will get off my ass!" Klaus kicked one of the bags.

"I'd ask what you're up to Klaus, but then it occurred to me," Five sighed as he climbed down the ladder next to Alora, who rolled her eyes. "I don't care."

"Hey!" Klaus laughed breathily. "You know, there are easier ways out of the house, buddy?"

"This one involved the least amount of talking." He jumped down from the ladder. "Or so I thought."

"Hey, why aren't you with him?" Klaus pointed up at Alora then to Five. He shrugged, "Anyway," he turned back to Five. "You need anymore company today? I could, uh... clear my schedule." Klaus took a sip of his flask.

Five looked him up and down. "Looks like you've got your hands full."

"Oh, this? No, no. I can do this whenever. I'm just—" he fell backwards into the dumpster and Alora giggled, covering her mouth. "Just misplaced something. That's all." He rifled around before he grabbed something that looked suspiciously like a glazed donut. "Oh! Found it, thank God!" He took a bite and gagged. "Delicious."

"I'm done finding your drug habit." Five said to him before looking up at Alora, who was swinging her legs back and forth. "Wanna come?"

"Does it involve shooting?" Alora asked, leaning forward on the rusty railing.

"No."

"Does it involve sitting in a car with you?"

"It involves... sitting in a van with me." Five said.

"I'm good." Alora nodded, sending him a thumbs up.

Five nodded, walking away. Klaus looked between them, gaping. "Their first fight! Can I come? Please?" He dragged out. "Maybe I just wanna hang with my brother. Not you." He looked next to him, most likely at Ben. He looked back at Five's retreating figure. "Mi hermano! I love you! Even if you can't love yourself." He spat out the dirty donut as Five turned on the engine of the stolen van and drove away.

"Anyway..." Alora said as she jogged down the stairs, coming to a stop in front of the dumpster.

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Luther stopped her and Klaus while they were walking down the street. "Hey, come on."

"Where are we going?" Alora asked as she tripped over the baggy jeans she was wearing.

"To find Five." Luther said.

"Ooh." Klaus giggled. "Alora and Five aren't friends anymore."

"What?" Luther looked down at her.

"Klaus, that is such a lie." She slightly slapped his arm. "We're still friends, I'm just..." she rubbed her eyes, tiredly, "I don't wanna do these dangerous things anymore."

Once Alora showed Luther the van, Luther knocked on the window repeatedly and climbed in, struggling due to his gigantic body. Klaus and Alora sat in the bag and Klaus picked up Delores. "I wouldn't touch that if I were you." Alora whispered to him. Klaus looked her in the eyes as he picked up the mannequin torso.

Once Luther finally got it and closed the door, he looked at Five, panting. "You okay?"

"You shouldn't be... how did you find me?" Five shook his head.

"Um.." Luther nodded back at Klaus and Alora, who waved at him, perched on the top of an upside down bucket, while the other danced with Delores.

"Hey, a little privacy, guys! We're really hitting it off back here." Klaus hugged Delores.

"Ignore him." Alora put a chip into her mouth.

Klaus' mouth dropped, "where did you find those?"

Alora didn't get the chance to answer as Five threw something at him, making the siblings laugh. "Get out! You can't be here! I'm in the middle of something."

Klaus moved forward, sticking his head into the space between the two chairs. "Any luck finding your one eyed man?"

Alora got up and also stuck her head between the chairs, just under her brother's head. Five's eyes flitted to her as he whispered quietly, "No."

"What's he talkin' about?" Luther asked.

"Does it matter? It's Klaus." Five said.

"Hey." Alora warned him, frowning. Klaus looked at Luther with his lips tucked together and wide eyes.

Five sighed, "what do you want, Luther?"

"Um..." he started, "so, grace-"

"Grace?" Alora tilted her head. "You mean mom?" Non of them ever referred to Grace actually as Grace, it was always Mom.

Luther continued, "Grace may have had something to do with Dad's death. So I need you to come back to the academy, all right? It's important."

"It's important. You have no concept of what's important." Five spoke bitterly.

"Hey!" Klaus interjected as Alora wiggled out from under his arm, her back starting to ache. "Did I ever tell you about the time I waxed my ass with chocolate pudding?" He laughed and Alora laid her forehead on his back, sighing. "It was so painful." She looked up just in time to see Five looking away, and she swore she saw a small smile. This made the corners of her lips lift up.

"What are you still doing here?" Luther asked him seriously.

"Ay, ay, ay."

"What?" Klaus leaned forward, as if he didn't hear him correctly. "What, I need an excuse to hang out with my family?"

"We're trying to have a serious conversation." Luther gestured between himself and Five. Alora leaned over Klaus and stuck her head between them.

"Excuse me? Hi, yes. Continue." She smiled, looking at him with lifted eyebrows.

"What, and I'm incapable of being serious? Is that what you're saying?" Klaus indeed continued.

"Luther's got a point, you should get out." Five agreed. All heads turned to him.

"What?" Klaus asked, outraged. Five nodded and he sighed, moving Alora off his back and opening the van door. He held out a hand for his sister and her eyes widened.

She should go with him. Right? Yes. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her out, her converse landing on the tarmac. "Fine!" Klaus yelled into the van, closing hit and marching off, dragging Alora with him.

"Ooh." Klaus looked intently at a variety store and pulled her along, stepping inside, the little bell a voice the door ringing.

"Klaus, I have no money. And I know you don't have any money, either." Alora whispered as they strolled along the aisle, Klaus picking up chips and candy as they went along. He handed Alora a packets before he picked up a few bottles of soda.

"Get ready to run." He hissed before running out the door.

"Klaus, no!" Alora yelled before running after him, food in her arms.

"Stop!" A man yelled after them as they ran across the street. "Stop, right now!" He blew his whistle.

"Hey, bitches!" Klaus shouted at the two in the van and they looked at the two, sprinting away, stolen items falling from their hands. He almost ran into a car, but it screeched to a halt and he rammed into the door, dropping all his stuff. "Out of the way, asshole!" He grabbed Alora and ran, his scarf and coat flowing behind him.

"You're a horrible influence!" She cried as she tried not to trip and eat the ground.

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