CHAPTER THREE.
' MUSIC CONNECTS... '

    FOR A MOMENT, Harley almost forgot it had been years since Diego and her last spoke, that was until Luther raised from the sofa, making it squeak with relief once his weight is lifted off. His gloved hands wipe at his thick coat as he looks over the occupants in the room, all but one being his family. Harley knows as soon as they lock gazes, that he's going to give her all sorts of backlash for her being present in a supposed family meeting. It had been the same when they were kids, and it was frustrating to know he hadn't changed any.

"Diego," Luther snarls, keeping his hard eyes on Harley as she groans and sags back into the sofa know what's to come. Vanya's sat to her left, awaiting her brother's outbreak anxiously with her hands clamped between her legs. As soon as Luther opens his mouth, Allison rolls her eyes, keeping her finger tapping on the side of her whiskey glass. Folding his arms over his chest, Diego's jaw grinds because he knows exactly where this is going. "Why is she here?" The largest sibling questions with a gravelly unpleased tone.

"Because I asked her to stay," Diego snaps back, "Harley's been in our life since we were kids—"

Luther looks to his brother, "She's been in your life since we were kids. Not ours. She isn't apart of the family."

Allison sighs heavily, her eyelids falling closed, "Luther, Harley's been close with us for years. Now is not the time to start getting picky."

Huffing, Luther moves his gaze back to Harley, who's sat watching awkwardly, "I don't want you here. You didn't know dad."

Diego barks out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief, "None of us knew dad and no one cares what you want, Luther. We're not following your rules anymore. She's staying, whether you like it or not," He scoffed, "Get on with whatever you called us here for and leave Harley alone, she's never done anything to you."

Harley hears Klaus snicker at the back of the room and she can't help but smirk as Luther tries to argue back, but can't think of a suitable response, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence.

Now refusing to cast his eye upon Harley, Luther begun the meeting, his tone lowering compared to his previous frustration, "So, I figured we could have a sort of memorial service in the courtyard at sundown... Say a few words, just as dad's favourite spot."

Allison head tilts, "Dad had a favourite spot?"

"Yeah," Luther nods, "You know, under the oak tree," His eyes flick over each of his siblings, noticing their oblivious expressions, "We used to sit out there all the time. None of you ever did that?"

Of course they never did, Luther was always his father's favourite hence why he's so set on delving deeper into his death. None of his siblings reciprocate his curiosity because, quite frankly, they couldn't care less.

Before anyone can answer, Klaus moves towards the group, one hand holder a glass of alcohol whilst the other harbours a burning cigarette, "Will there be refreshments?" He asks, "Tea? Scones? Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner."

"What? No," Luther scoffs, glaring at the tobacco pinched between his brothers fingers, "And put that out. You know dad didn't allow smoking in here."

As Klaus rolls his eyes, Allison jabs her finger at his attire, "Is that my skirt?"

"What?" He whirls around, moving to stand in front of Harley as he looks down at the long leather skirt hiding his legs, "Oh, yeah, this. I found it in your room. It's a little dated, I know, but it's very breathy on the bits."

"Listen up," Luther calls roughly, "There are still some things we need to discuss."

Diego mutters, "Like what?"

"Like the way he died," Luther replies.

"And here we go," Diego drawls.

"I don't understand. I thought they said it was a heart attack," Vanya says as Klaus drops down on the sofa between her and Harley, his hip banging into Harley's and she hisses, nudging her elbow into his gut to get him to shuffle up slightly. He sends her a dopey smile before moving and folding his legs.

"Yeah, according to the coroner," Luther nods.

"Well, wouldn't they know?" Vanya counters.

"Theoretically," He hums.

Allison sits forward curiously, "Theoretically?"

"I'm just saying, at the very least, something happened. The last time that I talked to dad, he sounded strange."

Klaus lays his head back against the back of the sofa as he gargles, "Oh! Quelle surprise!"

"Strange how?" Allison asks.

"He sounded on edge. Told me I should be careful who to trust," Luther shrugs, not entirely sure of what his father meant. Harley doesn't fail to miss how his eyes flicked momentarily to her as he spoke.

"Luther, he was a paranoid, bitter old man who was starting to lose what was left of his marbles," Diego pushes up from the armchair.

"No. He must have known something was going to happen," Luther insists, "Look..." His eyes move to Klaus, "I know you don't like to do it, but I need you to talk to dad."

At the same time, Harley and Allison release scoffs of disbelief whilst Klaus gawks at his brother in surprise, mentioning at his own chest to see if he's being serious. Now the questions was arising of why Luther invited all his siblings home, was it just to play murder mystery and use their powers for his own benefits?

"I can't just call dad in the afterlife and be like—" He sits up, shaking his head, "—'Dad, could you just... stopping playing tennis with Hitler for a moment and take a quick call?'"

"Since when?" Luther questions harshly, "That's your thing."

"I'm not in the right... frame of mind," Klaus mumbles, waving his hand up towards his head.

"You're high?" Allison snaps, eyebrows raising.

Klaus laughs, "Yeah! Yeah!" His eyes flick over his shoulder to Harley, who's glaring at him knowingly with her arms folded over her chest. He stares at her for a moment before looking back to his siblings, "I mean, how are you not, listening to all this nonsense?" He flops back against the sofa, muttering nothings under his breath.

"Well, sober up, this is important," Luther scowls making Klaus groan, "Then there's the issue of the missing monocle."

"Who gives a shit about a stupid monocle?" Diego murmurs and Harley tilts her head as she watches him closely. He's hiding something and she can tell almost the second he brushes off the topic of the monocle. He was never the type to ignore the chance of a mystery.

"Exactly. It's worthless. So whoever took it, I think it was personal," Luther theorises, "Someone close to him. Someone with a grudge."

"Where are you going with this?" Klaus huffs, his mouth hanging open in confusion.

"Well, isn't it obvious, Klaus?" Diego chuckles dryly, turning to look up at his brother, "He thinks one of us killed dad."

Shocked that his thoughts were exposed so soon, Luther gasps quietly, his brain wracking for something to say to try and convince himself and his family otherwise, but they all knew better. He looks over at the rest of the occupants in the room, his eyes lingering on each one as his lips hang ajar.

Klaus gasps in realisation, being able to read his brother like a book, "You do!"

"How could you think that?" Vanya hisses quietly.

"Great job, Luther," Diego smirks, drawling his words sarcastically, "Way to lead." He shakes his head, disappearing from in front of his brother and leaving the living room entirely.

"That's not what I'm saying—" Luther tries.

"You're crazy, man! You're crazy." Klaus declares, standing from the sofa and collecting his drink, "Crazy."

"I'm not finished—"

"Okay, well, sorry, I'm just gonna go murder mom! Be right back," Klaus rolls his eyes, turning his back on his brother as he leaves the room as well, Vanya following soon after.

"That's not what I was saying," Luther argues, "I didn't—"

Harley says seated as Allison's heels click past and into the hallway too, leaving just Luther and her looking at each other in a tense silence. She raises up slowly, still being nowhere near his height. She sighs heavily, "You need to find a better way to voice your opinions, like seriously." She advises with a monotone voice whilst stepping towards the doorway to leave him to simmer in his own thoughts.

"Harley," He calls after her, his tone deflated and slightly frustrated that he's having to turn to her for help with his own siblings.

She comes a stop, looking over her shoulder.

"Would you... talk to Diego?" He requests, his body turning towards her, "Get him to listen to me? He's too stubborn and you always used to—"

"No. We're not children anymore," She shakes her head defiantly, "I'm not making Diego do anything he doesn't want to. You need to learn how to talk to him yourself. And if you're gonna ask someone for help with your own issues, make sure to show some respect to that someone beforehand," She shoots him one last look before disappearing from his sight completely.

   HOURS LATER, and all the Hargreeves have found themself comfortable in separate rooms. The only one of the siblings who isn't alone, is Diego, and he couldn't be more thankful that he'd found himself someone to rely. Someone as amazing as Harley. She was always his. Always there for him. As much as she loved his siblings, she'd never chose one of them over him. And even after all these years, it's still the same.

He's laid out across one of the sofas, his head resting on an arm rest whilst his fingers fiddle with the usual knife. Harley's sat on the floor, her back pressed against the side of the sofa by his legs. Her knees are pulled up to her chest and she's making a single red spark dance between her hands. As the comfortable silence looms over them, Diego watches the delicate electricity as it dances between her palms. He'd always been fascinated by her powers, mainly because she was special outside of the family and was left to navigate her gifts by herself. Some nights, he'd wake up and find her sleeping with a single spark on her fingertip as a source of light. She never liked the dark.

She knows there's so much to talk about, but bringing it all up on a day like this, probably isn't the greatest idea. Diego hates have soft talks as it is, let alone when he's pissed at his brother and distracted by his father's death.

Suddenly, the low hum of music carries over the balcony above and into the large living room. As the noise breaks their comforting silence, Diego squeezes his eyes shut in frustration and Harley let her electricity sparkle out. But as the music is turned up, it soon becomes clear to them that it isn't one of his siblings trying to be annoying.

I Think We're Alone Now blasts throughout the house, and Diego's eyes widen with nostalgia. Harley looks over her shoulder at him, noticing his expression and smirking. He returns the action and sends his knife flying through the air into the stuffed boars head on the wall. A second later, he bounces up from the sofa and slowly moves towards the living room doors, closing them sneakily before whirling around and smiling mischievously at Harley.

He moves towards her, his arms extending down as his hips rock to the beat of the music. She rolls her eyes, smacking her palms against his and letting him pull her up. And before she knows, they're both dancing in sync next to one another. They both used to create dances up on the rooftop with music blasting out of Harley's radio and it appears neither of them having forgotten the dozens of routines.

Upstairs, Luther dances in his room, Allison in hers. At the bottom of the stairs, Vanya rocks back and forth whilst Klaus slides around in the kitchen with his father's urn under his arm. And then, in the living room, Harley and Diego dance side by side, looking like a dance duo up on a stage. And for the first time in all of today, all the siblings are smiling at the same time.

With his body bouncing, Diego throws out a hook towards Harley and she jumps towards him, her chest beating up as he jerks back his arms, mimicking him reeling her in. Laughing, she bounds into his chest and he catches her, his hands squeezing her waist.

But before she can take in the feeling of his hands on her, a loud rumble of thunder has both of them freezing. They look towards the window, only to see that the sky has taken a dark blue colour. The sun's hidden behind big black clouds. In the courtyard, the pair can spot some sort of abnormal cloud that looks like a bundle of blue lightning.

With his palms still planted on her waist, Diego looks down at Harley before realising where his hands and he quickly lets go and moves towards the back door towards the courtyard. She follows after him, shivering at the coldness of no longer feeling his touch.

He throws open the double doors and immediately strong wind blows against them. The rest of the siblings, except Klaus, rush out behind them, their urgent steps slowly as they take in the sight before them. A few metres from the ground, right in the centre of the yard, is a pulsating blue pulse. It's making leaves blow in every direction and it doesn't appear to be getting any smaller. Harley steps forward, her foot moving past of Diego but before she can go any further, his arm sticks out and his hand pushes against her stomach, moving her back behind him.

"What is it?" Vanya calls loudly due to the intensity of the blue cloud.

"Don't get too close," Allison advises, gripping Luther's arm.

"Yeah, no shit," Diego shouts.

"Looks like some sort of temporal anomaly," Luther guesses, "Either that or a miniature black hole. One of the two."

"Pretty big difference there, Paul Bunyan," Diego yells.

"Out of the way!" Klaus' voice calls out as he barges through the group with a fire extinguisher in his grasp. He tries to use it, but after realising he doesn't know how, he soon gives up and throw the entire red can towards the glowing blue anomaly. As soon as it hits the blue shield, it disappears and Klaus' shoulders fall.

"What is that going to do?" Allison screeches.

"I don't know," Klaus throws his arms into the air, "Do you have a better idea?"

The blue electricity cackles and Harley's eyes narrow as it looks as though an old man is right in the centre of tension.

"Everyone get behind me!" Luther orders, shoving Klaus backwards.

"Yeah, get behind us," Diego agrees, nudging Harley back slightly so she's beside Klaus. She has to fight to roll her eyes at his intent on beating Luther.

"I vote for running, c'mon!" Klaus pleads, his hands grabbing Harley's arms and trying to drag her back, "Come on!"

She shakes her head, raising her voice to shout, "Klaus, stop."

Swallowing thickly, he does as he's told, but keeps his fingers tightly wrapped around her bicep as some form of comfort. Because if something happens to him, then it'll happen to her too. At least he won't be alone.

Suddenly, the blue field flickers out as the old man drops a few metres down onto the yard floor. The thunder fades and day light returns as the family and Harley warily approach the floor laying face down on the concrete slabs.

The man begins to shakily stand up and as soon as he lifts his head, Harley realises. Number Five. He's stood before them all in an oversized and scuffed suit with his hair in his state. But he looks exactly the same as when he disappeared, not a day older.

"Does anyone else see..." As he slowly release Harley, Klaus is the first to speak and the rest are stunned into silence, "...little number five, or is that just me?"

The familiar boy in front of them all looks just as perplexed and he looks down at his attire before huffing, "Shit."

Harley's lips are parted as she looks over at Diego and he glances down at her, a small shocked smirk on his face as they stare at one another in bewilderment. He always used to joke about his brother, Number Five, returning one day when they're fifty. He's only twenty one years early.

😛
short chapter
not at all proof read
because i did it on the way to footy xxx

(friends that dance together eventually fu—)

word count,
2837