a.n. music I add is ofc never required but if ur someone who likes to follow along or imagine, the song included is for when yall step outside :,)

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☂︎ 𝔱𝔰𝔲 | ❛ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ❜

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 was daunting. Your heart rate climbed as fast as the elevator did in height, your eyes transfixed on the glimpses of red light washing over you and Diego. It was eerily silent apart from the sound of metal grinding on metal as you were carried up.

The others offered to take a separate trip. This confused you greatly; you would have been concerned but any raised suspicions were snuffed out when you realized how cramped this elevator would be otherwise. And judging by Luther's size, you were surprised all four of them made it down in one trip. But you were grateful all the same.

Though you couldn't say why, you felt safest with Diego. But you didn't have a lot of time to dwell on it before you found yourself sitting on a large, plush couch in the middle of a magnificent living room and bar. There was a fireplace larger than even Luther, stationed directly below was a portrait of a boy and dozens of arches stretching past the second floor. The entire room, like the rest of the house you had briefly seen, was furnished with all kinds of decor made up of ivory and gold. You didn't know what was more disturbing; the plethora of animal heads everywhere or the portrait of The Monocle that loomed over you, watching you again.

It all felt like something out of an old and reoccurring dream. Every corner you ventured, you seemed to be just half a moment ahead of him; knowing just where to turn to get to the stairs, or being able to guess the difference between the door that led to the roof and the one that led to the main hall. It was no different than the phantom tug of familiarity you almost thought you felt around this man, Diego. You would have thought more on it had it not been for the fact you knew you had to have been here at least once but even that felt like a stretch.

Your fingers ran through the golden tassels outlining the pillows as Diego stood with his siblings near the bar. They had arrived from their elevator ride just as Diego and you had reached the first floor. He had promised you then and there as he guided you away from the front doors and towards the living room you sat in now that you would be walking through those doors before the end of the night. That they just had to ask you a few questions, understand a few things so you were prepared.

And once again, you found yourself surprised-you were surprised because you believed him. Even as he spoke in hushed tones with his family just a ways behind you. You could still hear them but you suspected if they truly wanted to be unheard they'd try harder. You could also hear the clinking of glass and something liquid being poured.

"There's gotta be something we can do," Allison said, sounding worried.

"Like what?" Luther countered. "We don't even know why she was in there!"

There were several noises elicited from the other three siblings; a jumble of scoffs and confused mumbles as your eyes trailed up one of the large archways, tracing the structure.

"Who gives two shits? We have to do something!"

He clears his throat and there's another small silence. One that brings their eyes to you where you remain on the couch, but you were too busy studying the portrait of Five to notice the four pairs of eyes on you. The awkward tension was still hanging in the air when Luther clears his throat again, shifting on his feet.

"I just keep thinking about what happened before we found her. And after. What she can do, ya know?"

"Yeah," Diego says, looking back over his shoulder to find you rising from the couch and crossing the room where your eyes had found several framed magazine clippings. E/c eyes trailing the masked faces of their younger selves, the curious frown etched into your features threatened a smile on Diego's face. "Yeah, that was pretty spectacular."

A relentless heat blazed up his neck and ravaged his ears when Diego felt the unwanted gaze of his siblings fall over him. Allison and Klaus were silently challenging him, a hint of amusement in their awkward silences. But it was Luther's narrowed stare that turned Diego defensive. He straightens, clearing his throat.

"What are you looking at? She could flip the world on its ass, and what can you do? Besides open a really big jar?"

"Watch it,"

"No problem," Diego shrugs, leaning his weight on the bar counter as he leans in. "As long as you're not honestly trying to suggest Dad was right for locking her up for no good reason?"

Luther grows uneasy again. His eyes trail up to the ceiling as he sighs, pretending to think. "Well, no... Maybe not for no reason,"

-"What?"

-"Luther!"

-"Dude, what is with you today?"

Luther panics, lowering his voice as he leans in urgently. "God no, I'm not saying she deserves it. Just that..." he winced, seeing the look on their faces. He couldn't blame them, but the mystery of his father's death was just too compelling to him. Those instincts he was taught from such a young age were hard to shake. And he sighs, looking at Allison as he brings back her point. "Do you ever wonder if..."

His cautious eyes landed back on you, who had now traveled along the bookshelf lining the walls. Unknowingly, you had trapped a small stack of books in your wake that was now slowly sinking up through the air. Embarrassed, you gently pushed them back into place on the shelf with a single finger where they remained.

"maybe Dad kept secrets from us for a reason? That maybe... dad knew something about her we didn't?"

Allison lets her face sink into her palms as she leans into the counter, and Klaus gapes up at his brother. But the person Luther was most worried about was Diego who scoffed with a bitter smile as he turned away. He paced to the edge of the bar table for a long moment. When he finally turned back to Luther, he looked as if someone had slapped him in the face.

He drew the knife he had been fiddling with within his hand, waving it pointedly at his brother as his lips curled up in a snarl. "Are you seriously still defending him?" Diego whips his head over his shoulder, triple checking you weren't listening before continuing in his hushed hiss. "He kidnapped this woman, kept her in our basement nearly our entire lives! Don't you have even a shred of morality left?"

"Of course I do," Luther says firmly. "Of course it's horrible, it's messed up. I'm pissed! But I also know nothing about this woman, or just what she's capable of. None of us do. All I'm saying is maybe Dad did. I mean, if it's true this AI was keeping her powers at bay-this whole time, wearing her down, causing powerful earthquakes, all of this-for twenty-eight years, then she's gotta be important. Or at least... insanely powerful."

"You sure it just doesn't seem that way? I mean, with something as boring as super-steroids, just about any superpower has gotta seem insanely powerful," Diego snarks, denying to admit he agreed with even some of what Luther was trying to say.

"You really doing this right now, huh? Number Two?"

Allison's tired scoff cuts them both off. "Uh, no, actually. I'm not about to put up with this again. You two are full-grown adults fighting like children. This is the last thing we need, and it is the last thing she needs."

"Thank you," Ben scoffs from where he lounges on one of the bar stools unseen by most.

"Allison's right," Diego nods. "What Y/n needs right now is answers. And we're gonna give them to her, as best we can. And maybe, she'll have some for us too. But she is our responsibility," His glare jumps back to Luther. "thanks to dear old dad. We owe her this."

A look comes across Klaus' face and he hums, swallowing the swig of margarita in his mouth with a wince. "What about Vanya? And Five. They need to know,"

Allison nods. "Klaus is right. They have a right to know."

"Agreed," Diego says. "But not tonight. She's been through enough, we should let her adjust. I'm thinking of taking her back to my apartment. It's not overwhelmingly far, but it's also not, you know," His glare returns to Luther. "the house she's been held captive in for thirty years."

Luther almost seemed reluctant, but he nodded, swallowing whatever thought sat on his tongue. "We can track them down tomorrow if we need to,"

"Didn't Five go out for coffee?" Klaus asked.

"Yeah, but who knows where he disappeared to this time," Allison replies. "Something's telling me he's not in any hurry to visit and share his feelings,"

There's another silence as they all contemplate this, some of them reluctantly nodding. Then Klaus nearly jumps in shock as the thought strikes him, and he even sets down his glass.

"What about Pogo? And Mom? Do they even know what's going on?" Klaus says, hesitating in a wince. "I mean, I'd be surprised if Mom knew. She is already pretty spacey as it is, but still,"

Diego shoots him a glare at the little side comment, then looks to his siblings stone-faced. "She doesn't know... She couldn't have. She'd never do anything like that,"

"And Pogo?"

A thoughtful look befell him. It was then Diego realized he hadn't seen Pogo in hours. Then again, that was pretty normal for him. But was that the problem?

"I don't know. Dad trusted him more than anyone, but then again this doesn't sound like something he'd go along with. As far as tonight, I haven't seen him since the funeral. He hasn't come down or anything,"

Allison straightened up in worry. "Oh God, you don't think he got hurt, do you? During the earthquake?"

"I didn't hear anything fall, but we better go take a look anyway," Luther says. "Allison, Klaus, and I will spread out and look. Diego, you check in on the girl. Ask her some questions, get her to your place, whatever. We'll let you know if Pogo is alright, and maybe if he knows something. You let us know if she has any extra information."

Any one of them would have had a remark ready for the man for snapping into action and order, but they were each too eager to get things taken care of. But Diego did manage to run his shoulder into Luther's as he passed, throwing him a glare.

"She has a name, you know,"

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"Y/n?"

No answer.

Your eyes were locked on the portrait above the mantelpiece, your feet rooted to the spot. That face that haunted you your entire life, staring down at you again.

"Y/n?" Diego tried again, much softer.

When he reached your side, his eyes trailed yours to the portrait he had been avoiding since his return.

"Really gone?" You croaked, turning to look at him.

When he smiled at you, he nodded. It was sad and kind. And the thought hit you. Diego had still lost his father.

"Are you..." you licked your drying lips nervously. You felt uncomfortable asking the question, but at the same time you wanted to understand. "sad?"

There was a look that flashed in his eyes at your question. Almost like he was surprised, but you couldn't be sure. You just watched as he looked back up at the painting of his father and thought long and hard. Like he's lost in many memories. Something you could understand.

"It's hard to explain," he says, turning back to you.

You nod softly and for a moment, it's just the two of you in comfortable silence. The world had not been kind to either of you, but you still found solace in this silence.

"I'm... still here. Why?" You ask finally, sounding sad and tired.

"We just want to talk,"

Diego saw the great look of exasperation in your eyes as you cocked your head at him.

"We just want to make sure you understand what you're getting into, that's all. It's a big transition. A lot has changed, and we just want to make sure you're not too overwhelmed."

Head sinking with your shoulders, you spoke with a bitter tone. "Because I will hurt people," you say, suddenly understanding. Of course that is why he was being so nice.

"Because," he said, making sure you met his gaze. "we care about you and we wanna make sure you're comfortable."

Diego was slightly shocked to see you flash him a flat, challenging look. He was actually relieved to see you were calling his bluff, and he took a steady breath.

"I care," He admitted.

It was tempting for Diego to squirm under your gaze but he appeared confident enough. You were studying him, looking for any signs of deceit. But all you saw was a vulnerability, and right now you could relate to that.

"Look, I'll take you now if you want. I've got a place not far from here. You can crash for as long as you'd like, free to leave whenever. Or you're welcome to stay here a little longer if you're not ready but--"

"I will go." You say, nodding quickly.

The ends of his lips threatened to hook upwards. He nodded. "Alright then," he says, and that building panic in your chest dwindled a little.

He's about to ask you another question, but the words die on Diego's tongue when his eyes land on yours again. There was a deep longing in them he knew he'd never understand. He realized the questions could wait, you, however, had done enough of it.

Surprising you, he turns for the door, extending his arm out for you to take.

"Do you trust me?" He asks.

For the second time tonight, Diego waited for you, his arm and essentially, his trust, out in offer.

And this time, you took it.

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The world was loud, busy, and fast. Large metal-looking monsters you recognized as cars zoomed by, ruffling your clothes. Immediately you were hit with thousands of smells, familiar and new overwhelming your senses and pulling your attention every which way. From here, the heart of the city, you had to try a little harder to see the night sky above you; craning your neck up at the thin veil of clouds stitched across the stary black of night, you grinned from ear to ear. You could hardly remember the last time you had seen the sky, and when you had, you remembered a scary grey blanket of storm clouds spitting down rain on your face. But this was clear, endless, and quiet.

It was peaceful.

Your eyes fluttered closed, your senses dialing up to eleven as your skin was hit with a powerful gust of wind that was sweeping in. Chills ran up your body at the hard winds, snaking under the jacket Diego had found for you. You shivered, and Diego grew worried.

"Cold?"

You nodded, your eyes opening again to the night sky. You were freezing, and it never felt better. Your smile remained, and more tears came. The sky was still there. And this was real.

Diego placed another hand on your arm entwined in his, and he gave you a look like he was checking on you. He was worried again.

Worried that this was too much for you and that the nippy air was too much for you. "You okay?" He asked.

What he didn't realize was it was exactly what you had been craving all these years.

With a tearful smile, you looked back at him and nodded. "Yes," you spoke truthfully.

Another smile grew on his face and once again his whispered words echoed in your mind. You were positive now you weren't meant to, but you heard every word exchanged between the siblings. Including Diego, who seemed genuinely upset on your behalf. Perhaps this was why it was so easy to trust him now.

But you didn't dwell on the thought long, your head was up in the clouds. You clung tight to his arm in fear your happiness just might make you fly. You can't get enough of the sight; the twinkling endless abyss stretching up and beyond forever, never limited by anything or anyone. The thought alone had brewed a joyous laugh bubbling up from deep within your belly. Diego, ever shocked at such a display of happiness on your part, was certain he had never heard such a heartwarming sound. It lingered in the air-in his mind, longer than he would have wanted.

But it was so infectious. And he found himself looking up with you, a warm chuckle rumbling up his chest as took it all in. It was the happiest he had been all day, and just like that, the bubble popped; for both of you.

Just feet from you both, a car slammed on its breaks to avoid a head-on collision with a distracted driver backing out into traffic. Everything happened so suddenly; the car skid to a halt and the sound of rubber wailing against pavement and the sudden blare of a horn erupted in your ears, startling you. You stumbled back suddenly, your grip on Diego's arm tightening as your wide eyes watched the two angry drivers screaming at one another from their separate cars. The second driver grumbled, sending an odd gesture with one of his fingers to the other before pulling out into traffic and everything resumed.

"It's alright," Diego said, suddenly. "Scared me too. Come on,"

You looked over at him, confused until you followed him to the edge of the sidewalk, watching curiously as he pulled a ring of keys from his pocket. He stood before a sleek black car that looked a little older than most on the street.

Diego tugged at the handle and the door parted open. Your heart pumped a little faster, and that panicky feeling briefly returned. Unsure, your eyes flew to Diego and he nodded to the empty car.

"We're just gonna drive to my place," he eased. You still lingered by the curb and Diego sighed a little. "It's just a few blocks from here. I promise you, nothing bad will happen. And even if it does, I'm here to help, okay?"

You inched further, your mind racing.

"Do you still trust me?"

Reluctantly, you nodded.

"Then c'mon. Let's get you out of here,"

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The car ride was all kinds of confusing, and yet oddly familiar like everything outside your prison. The subtle, constant hum of the engine rumbling the car and the sway of your body every time it stopped and started. It felt, again, like a distant dream you don't remember having. It was familiar to the small part of you that had faded with time; the part of you that had lived a life outside those four walls, however short. Not just the car ride, but the sounds of the city, the winds, and the night sky. All of these sensations were new and familiar all at once.

After a short while, it was almost relaxing. When the steel-grip of your nails dogging into your legs had eventually eased, your body was tempted by the swaying motions of the vehicle and the cushioned leather seats beneath you. With so many years in a synthetic prison, you couldn't remember the last time sitting felt so comfortable.

Just as you began to notice the signs of fatigue, the car pulled to a stop outside an older brick building. Diego turned the keys before ripping them from the ignition, clicking the button on his seat belt prompting you to do the same. He climbed out, hurrying out of the car, and pulled open your door. He offered his hand but you declined, stepping out onto the sidewalk. You stood gawking up at a big black and white sign reading FIGHTING LION BOXING & GYM.

Your eyes grow wide, turning alarmingly to Diego as he shuts the door behind you. The car clicks as he locks it, and his face falls into a confused frown when he sees the startled look in your eyes.

"There are lions?" You ask breathlessly.

Diego's eyes flicker once between the sign and your startled face and he breaks out in a grin, trying not to laugh.

"No," he says, shaking his head. "That's just the name of this place. I rent a room in back,"

"Oh," you sighed, sounding a little relieved. You even break out into a small smile, letting out a small nervous laugh.

"It's alright," he grinned, beckoning towards the doors. "Here, I'll show you,"

Diego stepped forward, pulling open a large wooden door with a giant papered-up window, and gestured you through. Gulping, you tried not to think about the resemblance it bore to the one in the prison. And cautiously, you stepped through.

You were greeted by a strange sight. So far, Diego had been telling the truth. There were no lions in sight. But there was a humongous square platform in the center of the even bigger room you would later learn was called a boxing arena. It was weakly roped off with three thin ropes and had posts in all four corners and up until that moment you were sure you hadn't seen something so strange. The lights hanging over it were just a little brighter than the rest in the room, and together they illuminated everything else in sight.

A desk stretched across the far left wall, and hanging over it was a smaller version of the sign you saw outside. Everything about the place was warm; from the soft yellow light illuminating the dust hanging in the air, to the mugginess of the air itself. And you weren't about to try and pinpoint what that smell was. (Sweat. Lots of sweat.)

But Diego seemed not to notice it. At least not anymore. There was a narrow hall around the corner, not much smaller than the one just beyond your prison. Instinctively, your hand curls around Diego's as you try to stave off the unnecessary panic. ...Eight. Nine. Ten, you reminded yourself, you were with him, and you trusted him. You feel his eyes studying you out of the corner of his eye, and he gives your hand a gentle squeeze.

"Hargreeves!"

You whirled your head over your shoulder, not expecting the gritty voice of a much older man. You both stopped where you stood, leaving you wedged between a row of lockers and Diego's broad chest as he turned to look him over.

The man was much older than Diego and you, and he appeared tired and grumpy, and yet you didn't feel a need to be intimidated.

"Where the hell you been?" He gripes.

Judging by Diego's reaction, there didn't seem to be a need for worry. He just looked irritated. Slightly amused, but still a little irritated.

"Family emergency," he sighs. "Won't happen again... hopefully," he mutters that last part under his breath.

The man makes an odd snorting sound with his nose. Something you don't immediately realize to be his version of a laugh.

"Yeah? What about your uh, guest," he says, nodding to you. "What'd I tell ya about visitors?"

Diego makes an odd sound almost like a nervous laugh, and he shakes his head at the man. "We're not-" Diego stops mid-sentence when the man watches him with a questioning look. His eyes dart down to your intertwined hands only once before quirking his brow up at the Hargreeves man. Why did he look so flustered, you wondered as he shakes his head and sighs.

"This is Y/n," he says finally, looking to you and gesturing between you two. "Y/n, this is Al. He owns the place."

Not knowing what else to do, you meet eyes with the man, Al. Nor do you have time to figure it out before Diego continues.

"Look, Al, she's in a bad spot. She doesn't have anywhere to go, she needed my help so I said she could crash here for a bit."

Al bristled, trying to look as abrasive as possible but he didn't have the heart to put up a fight. He just frowned, trying to look as stern as possible which wasn't too hard for him.

"Three days," he says. "That's it. Any longer and she gets put to work. I ain't running a charity here,"

A hint of a smug smile appeared on Diego's face, like a kid who knew he had just gotten his way.

"Thank you, Al," he says in an exaggerated, sugary-sweet tone.

The man waves him off in a huff before hobbling back around the corner with a grumble.

The smile still lingered on his face when Diego looked back at you. You smiled a little with him when he spoke.

"Don't worry about him," Diego says, resuming your trek down to the end of the hall. "He's all talk. Really, he's got a big soft spot,"

Nodding, you thought to yourself how familiar that sounded. But you decided not to say anything on the matter.

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I REMIND YOU TO BE CAUTIOUS OF ALL RESOURCES YOU FIND REGARDING AIDING THE UKRAINE--IF YOU SUSPECT ME OR ANYONE YOU KNOW HAS OVERLOOKED SOMETHING THEY ARE SPREADING, MAKE IT KNOWN!

HelpUkraineWin.org

'By air, land, and sea, Russia has launched a devastating attack on Ukraine, a European democracy of 44 million people. Help us stop Russian aggression The below is a collection of vetted ways to help as a foreigner.'

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wellreadblackgirl.com

'Our goal is to introduce a cohort of diverse writers to future generations - contemporary authors who are non-binary, queer, trans, and disabled. To address inequalities and improve communities through reading and reflecting on the works of Black women.'

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Asian Authors Alliance

'Asian Author Alliance is happy to present a Directory of Asian Kidlit Authors as a way to help others discover and amplify Asian voices and stories!'

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