Klaus approached the front door of his home and unlocked it with his key. The quiet atmosphere around the house confirmed what he already suspected: most humans were away, as it was well into the afternoon.
As he stepped inside, his eyes landed on his mother seated at the dining table, her attention buried in a stack of documents. The sound of the door caught her ear, and as she looked up to see Klaus entering, a soft smile began to form, her expression visibly brightening at the sight of him.
CONVERSATION
Klaus: (waving) Hi, Mom.
Natalie got up from her seat before moving to Klaus and giving him a big hug.
Natalie: How've you been, honey?
Klaus: I'm fine. How's work?
Natalie: (smiling) Work's work.
Klaus: I figured.
Natalie: What brings you home, though? Shade mentioned you were deep in training with your father.
Klaus: Yeah, I was, but I chose to take a break and spend some time with you guys.
Natalie smiled warmly.
Natalie: Look at you, being a family man.
Klaus: (smiling) Come on, Mom.
Natalie turned back toward the dining room.
Natalie: Well, I have to head back to work. You can meet up with your brother and Olivia upstairs.
Klaus was shocked by Natalie's words.
Klaus: Wait, how did you...
Natalie: (smiling) Know about Olivia? Come on, honey, this is my house. Obviously, I'd eventually run into her.
Klaus: I guess you're right.
After finishing his conversation with Natalie, Klaus turned and made his way upstairs. As he stepped into the hallway, the sound of his approaching footsteps caught the attention of Shade, who was standing nearby.
"Klaus," Shade greeted, his tone light. "You're back."
"Yeah," Klaus replied casually. "But just for a bit."
"You missed us, didn't you?" Shade teased, a playful grin forming on his face.
"Shut up," Klaus retorted, unable to hide the smile creeping onto his own.
Taking the opportunity, Klaus began to brief Shade about his training experiences, recounting everything he had learned from both his father and Siege. Shade listened intently, his expression shifting between amazement and curiosity.
"Wow," Shade said once Klaus had finished. "And you actually managed to cut the apple the same way?"
"Eventually," Klaus confirmed. "Not perfectly, but close enough to pass."
"That's seriously intense," Shade admitted, shaking his head in awe. "And the part about us being able to turn living things into light and darkness? That's insane."
"Yeah," Klaus agreed. "It definitely caught me off guard."
Inspired by Klaus' stories, Shade's enthusiasm began to grow. "Honestly, I'm starting to think I should spend a few days in training too. Hearing all this is getting me fired up."
"I'm surprised you hadn't thought of it before," Klaus said. "You're usually curious about everything."
"I had," Shade admitted, shrugging, "but I've been a little preoccupied here at home, helping mom, keeping Olivia company, especially with you gone."
Klaus frowned slightly, guilt creeping into his expression. "Oh… I didn't mean to--"
"It's not your fault, man," Shade interrupted with a light laugh. "Besides, even if I haven't been training much myself, I made sure the Abyssal Pit didn't suffer the same fate. It's been training every day for the past few months, so don't worry, I'm not exactly vulnerable."
Klaus tilted his head, confusion clear in his eyes. Shade, noticing this, couldn't help but smile. Stretching his arms out to his sides, he lowered his head completely and closed his eyes.
"Alright," Shade said with a challenging grin. "Try attacking me."
Klaus hesitated, still unsure of what Shade was planning, but decided to go along with it. Without warning, he threw a punch at high speed, aiming straight for his brother. Yet, just before his fist could make contact, it slammed into something unexpected.
A shield of darkness materialized between them, stopping Klaus' strike cold. The shield was formed from tendrils of Pure Darkness, snaking out from Shade's right sleeve and morphing into an intricate barrier. The shield's surface shimmered like liquid obsidian, sturdy yet strangely fluid. Moments later, the shield dissolved back into a formless mass and retreated into Shade's sleeve.
Shade raised his head, his smile widening. "Pretty cool, right?"
"I guess," Klaus replied, genuinely impressed.
The speed at which the Abyssal Pit had reacted to his attack was astonishing. Klaus hadn't used his Burst Speed, but he had struck with significant force and speed, yet the darkness had effortlessly kept pace.
"Now all that's left is for me to train myself and catch up," Shade said confidently. "Which is why I plan to head to Higher World for a few days soon."
"Higher World?" a voice interjected from behind them. "What's that?"
Both brothers turned to see Olivia emerging from Shade's room. Her curious gaze was fixed on them, but her appearance immediately caught Klaus off guard.
Olivia's hair, long and silken white, clung to her damp shoulders as she casually dried it with a towel. Her entire form glistened slightly, the unmistakable sign of someone fresh out of the shower. What truly startled Klaus, however, was her attire-- or rather, the lack thereof. Apart from the towel she held loosely in her hands, Olivia wore nothing else as she stood in front of the brothers, completely unbothered.
For a fleeting second, Klaus's eyes locked onto Olivia, who was completely naked, her damp skin still glistening from the shower. Her head was tilted to the side as she gently toweled her long white hair, her posture relaxed as she leaned slightly onto her right hip, allowing her curves to shift naturally with her stance. She glanced toward Shade with a calm, unassuming look, completely unaware of her own vulnerability.
Klaus, however, realized it a second too late. His face turned a bright shade of red as his mind caught up with the moment, and he quickly jerked his head away in panic.
Olivia's gaze finally landed on him. Recognition lit her expression, and she smiled. "Oh, you're back," she said casually. "Klaus, right?"
Shade, noticing her lack of clothing, let out a tired sigh. "I told you not to walk around the house like that, Liv," he stated.
Olivia looked down at herself, as if only just now registering her nudity. "Oh... apologies," she replied. "I just got out of the shower and heard voices in the hallway, so I thought I'd check it out."
"But still, we've talked about this," Shade reminded her.
"Sorry," Olivia said, still drying her hair with the towel. "Are we still going out to the supermarket?"
Despite her appearance, Olivia remained unfazed, treating the situation like a normal conversation. Shade sighed again, clearly used to her quirks.
"Yeah," he muttered.
"Wonderful," Olivia replied with a small smile, then turned and walked back into Shade's room to change.
As the door clicked shut behind her, a long pause settled between the brothers. Klaus finally glanced at Shade with a bewildered look. "She's a very... eccentric person, isn't she?"
Shade gave a tired chuckle. "Yeah," he agreed. "Also, since you were gone, I had to move her into my room."
"That's... fine," Klaus said, still trying to process what he'd seen. "Though, you two seem pretty close."
Shade smiled a little. "Haha, yeah, I suppose so," he said. "We've been hanging out a lot these past few weeks, so it makes sense. Though... mom finding out about her was kinda awkward, considering it was basically the same situation as just now."
Klaus chuckled lightly. "Wow, that must've been a difficult explanation," he said. "Though, she really seems out of touch with normal human decency, wherever she's from."
As Klaus finished, Shade's smile slowly faded as a thought crept into his mind. "Speaking of," he said more quietly, "I've been spending time with her for a while now, and honestly… I don't think she's exactly normal. Actually, I think it might go beyond that."
Klaus's expression shifted as well. "You're trying to say…"
"Yeah," Shade nodded. "That she might not be human."
A beat of silence passed between them before Klaus sighed, frustration in his tone. "Considering we're still hiding her from the gods," he said, "it makes me wonder who, or what, exactly we've just brought into our home."
"I think about that too," Shade admitted, casting a glance toward his door, where Olivia remained on the other side. "But when I look at her, I don't feel anything bad from her. She doesn't seem like she has malicious intentions either. If anything... I can't shake a certain feeling that she has this overwhelming care for something... or maybe someone."
"Whatever it is," Klaus said, "let's just hope she's as harmless as she looks."
"Fairs," Shade agreed.
Then, Klaus shifted gears. "By the way," he said, "you mentioned heading out for groceries?"
"Yeah," Shade confirmed.
"Mind if I tag along?" Klaus asked
"Not at all," Shade replied with a grin. "We'd appreciate the extra help. But just remember that it won't be easy given everything going on with us."
"I know," Klaus said. "I just want to do something human after so long."
"Fair enough," Shade nodded. "I'll be downstairs while you and Liv get ready."
Klaus raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Liv, huh?"
"Oh, shut up," Shade said, returning the smile.
Their conversation at a close, Klaus went to his room to prepare. He took a quick shower, changed into clean clothes, and soon made his way downstairs. When he arrived, he found Shade and Olivia in the living room, chatting.
As Klaus entered, Olivia looked over and smiled. "Oh, Klaus," she said, "I heard you're escorting us to retrieve various edible items."
Noticing her gaze, Klaus looked away as the memory of earlier returned. "I… guess," he said, voice low.
"Just say groceries," Shade soon corrected Olivia.
"Oh, okay," Olivia replied with a nod.
Shade glanced at Klaus. "By the way, since you're here, you can just carry Liv there in your arms, and I'll teleport through your shadow."
Klaus turned sharply. "What?"
"Is that… a problem?" Shade asked, a bit confused.
Klaus looked briefly at Olivia, then sighed. "Not really," he muttered.
Before they could leave, Natalie called them into the dining room for a quick meal. After eating together, the group finally prepared to depart.
As planned, Klaus took hold of Olivia, and at the speed of light using his Burst Speed, they instantly arrived at their destination. Shade followed a moment later, appearing through the shadow Klaus had left behind.
Once the group reconvened in a quiet corner, they stepped out of cover and began to head inside.
Klaus and Shade wore simple masks over their mouths, but kept their hoods down. Concealing too much would only make them look suspicious, defeating the purpose of blending in.
Once inside the store, the group began to move through the aisles, casually shopping together. Though they tried not to draw attention, they still caught a few stares, but those stares were directed more at Olivia instead. Her beauty, effortless and striking, drew quiet admiration wherever they went.
As they walked, Shade and Olivia talked closely, laughing and exchanging soft smiles. Klaus chimed in occasionally, but soon found himself watching them more than speaking. There was an ease to their dynamic, a natural chemistry that felt undeniable.
He was surprised by how close they'd grown in just a few weeks, but more than anything, he was happy to see his brother so at peace. Yet, as he continued to observe them, Klaus's smile dimmed, and a quiet weight settled in his chest. He could see Shade's joy so clearly, and in contrast, he was forced to confront how distant he felt from his own.
In that moment, Klaus's mind wandered, replacing Olivia with Riley, imagining the two of them laughing, teasing each other, the way they had when she'd finally coaxed him out of his room months prior. He thought about what Sol had revealed about the true nature of his Dominion-over-Inheritance. Maybe he had been wrong to believe it was affecting her. Maybe he had been wrong about doubting her feelings. But now, after everything, he wasn't even sure if things could be fixed anymore.
"You good?" Shade asked suddenly, glancing at Klaus, who had gone silent too long.
"Y-Yeah," Klaus replied. "Just… overthinking as usual."
Shade looked at Olivia, then back at Klaus. "Hey, Liv, would you mind grabbing a few things on the list from the other aisle?" he asked.
"Of course," Olivia said with a smile before taking the list and walking off.
Once she was out of earshot, Shade turned back to his brother. "Have you managed to talk to Riley since Higher World?" he asked.
"Not really," Klaus admitted. "I figured I'd give her some space."
Shade raised an eyebrow. "Bro… for three weeks?" he questioned.
Klaus exhaled, shrugging slightly. "Didn't expect the training with Siege to go on that long," he explained.
"Still," Shade continued, "you have to do something about it. And that includes Rose, too."
Klaus glanced away, realizing Shade knew more than he'd expected. "She told you about it, huh?" he muttered softly.
"You really need to start calling your friends, man," Shade advised. "It's not a good look to never put in the effort."
"I'm just not used to it," Klaus muttered.
"Well, get used to it," Shade retorted. "Or you're gonna lose the people who care about you."
A few moments later, Olivia returned with the items. Once they'd finished checking everything off the list, Klaus and Shade handed Olivia the money and let her handle the checkout. Afterward, Klaus used his speed to return home with the bags, then zipped back to retrieve Olivia, Shade appearing home shortly after via his shadow.
Later that evening, Klaus lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Shade's words lingered in his mind, echoing louder than he wanted to admit. He wanted to reach out, but part of him feared what would happen if he did. Still, he couldn't let that stop him.
Sitting up, he grabbed his phone and called Rose. The line rang a few times before she finally picked up.
"So you do know how to make a phone call," Rose answered flatly on the other end.
"Hi, Rose," Klaus greeted. "Do you have a minute?"
"Sure," Rose replied.
Klaus took a deep breath. "I wanted to start by apologizing," he explained. "You were right, I haven't been putting in enough effort into our friendship. And I'm sorry for that."
"I'm not mad about that anymore, Klaus," she said. "You realize it's been almost a month, right?"
"Right," Klaus muttered. "But I still wanted to say it. And I was wondering if you'd want to come over for dinner tomorrow. At my place."
"Ooh, dinner at your place?" Rose teased. "What a smooth way to convince me."
"So that's a yes?" Klaus asked.
"I don't see why not," Rose replied. "I'll see you then."
Klaus smiled gently. "Yeah. See you."
After Klaus cut the call, he took a moment to appreciate how well it had gone. Encouraged by the conversation with Rose, he soon began dialing another number: Riley's.
Klaus dialed her line and initiated the call. He waited as it rang, but after a few seconds, it went to voicemail. He called again, but just like before, the call went unanswered.
He began to wonder if he should just give her more time to think about things, but he was determined. He wanted to show her the effort he was willing to make to resolve their tension. With that thought in mind, he rose to his feet, changed his clothes, and left his home.
Klaus arrived at the front of another house, far from his own. He walked down the path to the front door and stopped in front of it. Taking a breath, he knocked.
"Riley?" Klaus called out, giving the door another knock.
After a moment, he called her name again. This time, he heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the door. When it opened, Riley stood there, confusion on her face.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she whispered sharply, her eyes scanning the area as if to make sure no one had noticed him. "You can't just show up here and start knocking."
"Sorry," Klaus said. "I wanted to see you, and you weren't answering your phone."
"For a good reason," Riley replied, softer than before.
A bit of silence lingered between them. Riley's eyes dropped briefly before she turned back to him. "Just get in," she said, pulling Klaus inside the house.
Klaus stepped in, his gaze drifting around the room. "You have a lovely home," he said to Riley.
"Flattery won't score you any points, Walker," Riley replied, her gaze avoiding his. "So… what do you want?"
"As I said… I wanted to say I'm sorry for everything," Klaus explained. "I know you probably don't want to hear it, but that won't stop me from saying it."
"You do realize you haven't said anything to me in three weeks," Riley said, raising an eyebrow.
"I… was training with my dad," Klaus answered softly.
"Uh huh," Riley muttered. "So… anything else?"
"Well… I also wanted to invite you to dinner tomorrow at my house," Klaus continued. "I can't explain everything now, since I don't want to disturb your evening, but I really want to show you how sorry I am for what I did that day. If you'll let me."
Riley was quiet for a moment. "And why would I say yes?" she asked.
"You don't have to," Klaus said. "But I really want you to. Please."
Riley's silence stretched as she turned her gaze away in thought. But before she could answer, a voice called from deeper inside the house.
"Riley? Who was at the door?"
Soon, a woman rounded the corner and stepped into the room where Klaus and Riley stood.
"No one, Mom," Riley replied quickly, a slight panic in her voice, revealing who the woman was.
As Riley's mother approached, her eyes settled on Klaus, and her expression shifted with recognition. "Oh," she said, smiling with surprise. "You must be Klaus. Well, rather, I know you are, from the news."
"It's… nice to meet you, ma'am," Klaus replied, his tone tinged with nervousness.
"Likewise," Riley's mother said warmly. "Riley's been talking about you nonstop for the past few weeks."
Riley's ears perked up as her face turned red. "Mom!" she exclaimed, then turned to Klaus quickly. "You know what, Klaus? I'll come to your house tomorrow for dinner. It's fine. You can go now."
"Oh no," Riley's mother added softly. "I didn't realize you two were planning a date. My bad for interrupting."
Riley shot her mother a sharp glare, frustration clear in her eyes. "Mom, ich werde so laut schreien," she muttered, which made her mother giggle in amusement.
"Er ist hübsch," her mom added casually.
Riley's eyes flicked toward Klaus, then away just as fast. "I know," she said softly.
Realizing her discomfort, Klaus took the hint. "Well, I'll be heading back," he said gently. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Riley."
"Bye," Riley said, her face almost entirely red as she avoided his gaze.
Klaus nodded, gave a small wave to her mother, and stepped out of the house. As he walked down the front steps, he could hear faint murmurs from inside, but he ignored them and vanished in a blink, heading home.
In the afternoon of the next day, Klaus got ready for the planned dinner with his family and close friends. He had already told his mother about it the day before, and she had been more than happy to help with the preparations. Klaus had initially offered to assist in the kitchen, but after a while, he realized he'd been sidelined by Natalie, who insisted on handling things herself.
As Klaus sat in the dining room with Shade and Olivia, he soon heard the doorbell ring. He stood up and went to open the door, where he found Rose on the other side.
"Hey, dream boy," Rose greeted with a smile.
"You're here early," Klaus pointed out.
"So?" Rose asked, raising a brow. "Would that be a problem?"
"Uh... not really," Klaus muttered, stepping aside to let her in.
"Hey, Nat," Rose called as she walked in, giving a wave toward the kitchen.
"Oh, hi, Rose," Natalie replied with a warm smile. "It's been far too long."
"Yeah," Rose said, glancing back at Klaus. "You can thank Klaus for that."
As Rose glanced toward the kitchen, she noticed Natalie was working alone. "Wow," she muttered to Klaus with a teasing grin. "Not surprised you couldn't handle kitchen duty."
"I was supposed to help, but I got benched," Klaus said in his defense.
"Uh-huh, sure," Rose replied, her grin lingering.
Rose started toward the kitchen, but paused when she noticed Shade sitting at the dining table. "Hey, Shade," she greeted.
Suddenly, as she walked closer, Rose's eyes landed on the unfamiliar girl beside Shade. As her gaze locked on Olivia, her jaw slowly dropped in disbelief.
"Hey, Rose," Shade replied, though Rose was no longer paying him any attention.
"Wow," Rose muttered, eyes fixed. "You must be Olivia."
"It's nice to meet you," Olivia said politely, eyeing Rose with mild confusion.
Rose blinked, still amazed. "I've heard a lot about you from Shade," she said, stepping closer. "But I had no idea you were this damn hot."
Olivia smiled bashfully. "T-Thank you," she said softly.
Rose moved in closer until their faces were directly across from each other. "Oh, we've got to be best friends," she said, grinning as she held Olivia's hands.
"O-Okay, haha," Olivia laughed nervously, slightly flinching at the closeness.
Klaus sighed from where he stood. "Didn't you say you were going to help in the kitchen?"
"Oh, relax," Rose replied, glancing over. "You're just jealous because Olivia's replacing you."
"Oh, I hope that's not a problem, Klaus?" Olivia asked, concern briefly crossing her face.
Rose saw Olivia's reaction and smiled wider. "Oh, you are just too cute," she said.
After a bit more conversation, Rose finally headed into the kitchen to help Natalie.
Klaus stayed in the dining room a while longer, chatting with Shade and Olivia. But when he noticed how little he was contributing to the conversation, he quietly slipped away, letting the two continue without him.
He entered the kitchen, where he watched his mother and Rose working side by side in silence. He offered to help again, but Natalie quickly shut him down, saying he didn't need to. Shortly after, Natalie received a work call she had to take, leaving the kitchen and heading upstairs.
Now alone, Klaus stood awkwardly for a moment before stepping closer to Rose. "Hey," he said.
"Hi," Rose replied with a light smile.
Silence settled between them as Rose continued chopping vegetables on the cutting board.
"So… Olivia, huh?" Rose said, breaking the silence. "She's nice."
"Yeah," Klaus said. "I think she and Shade have a thing, though."
"I can believe that," Rose replied with a smile, still cutting. "They look cute together. Lots of chemistry, even though she's from the future."
"Shade told you about that, huh?" Klaus asked.
"Well, someone had to," Rose said.
Another quiet moment passed.
"We also have a theory that she might not be human," Klaus added.
"I can believe that, too," Rose replied, not looking up. "She's way too stunning to be normal. Honestly, I'd be more shocked if she was."
"Huh," Klaus muttered, a small grin tugging at his lips. "I kinda expected you to be jealous of her."
Rose turned toward him with a playful smile. "Oh, bite me," she said before returning to her cutting. "I'm not like that anymore. I'm fine with not having what other people have."
The silence returned again, heavier this time. Klaus stood there, unsure of how to translate his thoughts into words. He wanted to talk more, to say something meaningful, but the reality of the moment was harder to navigate than it had been in his mind.
"Gods, you suck at confrontation," Rose finally said, still focused on the cutting board in front of her.
"What?" Klaus asked.
"I know you've been trying to say something," Rose continued. "Just say it."
"I was getting to it," Klaus replied, taking a breath. "But yeah... I just wanted to say I'm sorry again. I don't want things to be weird between us."
Rose stayed quiet for a moment as she packed the chopped vegetables into a pot. "Honestly, it's fine," she said. "You don't have to apologize anymore."
"No," Klaus said, his voice more firm now. "I do. I didn't treat you the way you deserved to be treated, and I see that now. Rose, you're the closest person I have in my life outside of my family, and that's not going to change. I know I haven't been great at showing that, but I promise I'll make more of an effort from now on."
A moment passed before Rose turned away from the pot and looked at him. Her smile was softer now. "It's okay, Klaus," she said, sincerely this time. "And I mean it. I kind of overreacted that day, to be honest. I knew you were going through a lot, but... I guess I was just upset that you didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on."
"Well, you had every right to be," Klaus admitted. "And I promise, no more shutting you out. I'll tell you everything I can, moving forward."
Rose smiled warmly. "Well, let's hope you're actually capable of that," she teased.
After her words, Rose reached out to playfully tap his shoulder, but the moment her hand moved toward him, Klaus reacted instinctively. His left hand deflected hers away while his right shot forward toward her head, stopping just inches from her face.
Rose froze, blinking at him in confusion. "Uhh... you good?" she asked.
Klaus stared at his hand, stunned by his own reflex, then quickly pulled it back and straightened his stance. "I-I'm sorry," he muttered in confusion. "I don't know where that came from. I've been training with Siege the past few days and..."
"Say no more," Rose interrupted with a knowing smirk as she turned back to the stove. "That explains everything."
As the evening went on, Rose and Natalie finished preparing dinner. Klaus and Rose then rejoined Shade and Olivia in the dining room, chatting for a while. Not long after, the doorbell rang.
"I got it," Rose offered, noticing she was closest.
She walked to the door and opened it, only to find a stranger on the other side, wearing a hoodie with the hood up and a face mask covering their mouth. Rose instinctively took a step back.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked, catching the figure's attention.
The hooded stranger turned toward her with a familiar glance. "Rose?" they said, voice uncertain.
Rose recognized the voice instantly. "Wait... Riley?" she asked, stepping aside. "What are you doing here?"
"Well..." Riley started to say.
"I invited her," Klaus said, walking out of the dining room.
"O-Oh," Rose muttered, visibly surprised. "I didn't know that."
"Yeah," Klaus replied quietly. "You don't mind, do you?"
Rose raised a brow. "Why would I mind?" she asked. "You realize I've been friends with her longer than you have, right?"
"Oh," Klaus said.
Riley pulled down her mask and lowered her hood upon entry. "Hey, Klaus," she said, giving a small wave.
"Hey," Klaus replied gently, his eyes lingering on her for a second longer before gesturing. "Come on in."
Riley stepped inside with Klaus as Rose soon closed the door and followed. The group resumed their conversations while Natalie finished preparing the meal.
Riley introduced herself to Olivia, and Shade explained that Riley had been there the day Ace rescued her. Olivia was happy to meet more of Shade's friends, especially the ones who'd helped her, so she welcomed the company without hesitation. Friendly banter filled the room as the warmth of familiarity settled among them.
Soon after, Natalie brought out the food and began setting the table for dinner.
"It smells amazing, Mrs. Walker," Riley said with a smile.
"Why, thank you… uhh…" Natalie paused, realizing she didn't know her name.
"It's Riley, ma'am," Riley offered.
Natalie smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Riley. And thank you."
"No problem," Riley replied with a grin. "Though I'm guessing Klaus had nothing to do with making this."
"Of course he didn't," Rose chimed in from across the table, grinning. "He's terrible at cooking, after all."
"I literally offered to help, multiple times," Klaus said, exasperated.
"Yeah, and your mom probably figured you'd just get in the way," Riley added, giggling and causing the others to follow suit.
"Wow, I'm actually getting bullied in my own home," Klaus muttered, only fueling more giggles around the table.
After dinner, the group lingered in the dining room, chatting for a while longer. Eventually, Klaus excused himself and made his way upstairs, climbing out onto the roof to get some air. Even with his recent shift toward appreciating company, there were still moments when he needed the quiet time alone to think. He sat in silence, eyes turned to the stars above as night fully settled over the world.
"Hey, buzzkill."
Klaus turned at the voice behind him. Riley approached and took a seat beside him, the two of them now side by side under the night sky. A calm silence settled in.
"You know..." Riley started softly, "with everything we know about reality and The End, it's kind of strange how peaceful the sky still feels."
"Yeah," Klaus agreed, eyes still lost in the stars.
A few moments passed without a word.
"Riley..." Klaus said quietly.
"Are you going to apologize for the twentieth time?" Riley replied, her gaze unmoving.
"I will if I have to," Klaus said, looking her way.
"Well, it sucks hearing that," Riley admitted. "Especially when I already know you don't feel the same way I do."
"I never said that," Klaus replied gently. "It's just... hard for me. You know that."
"I get it," Riley said. Her voice had softened, and so had her expression. "What that demon girl did, what happened to Avalon, it was unforgivable. And it hurts knowing she didn't deserve any of it."
Riley paused for a breath. "But I also know those kinds of wounds aren't something you just move on from. That's why I know my feelings don't really matter."
Klaus stayed quiet, understanding every word. He looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
"Avalon will always have a special place in my heart," he said honestly. "And you're right, it's hard to move on from something like that. But... that doesn't change how I feel about you, Riley."
At last, Riley turned her head, watching Klaus in silence as they shared a gaze.
"I like you a lot," Klaus finally admitted, his voice firm. "But the truth is... I'm not even sure I like myself right now."
Klaus took a breath, his gaze lowering. "My life's changed so much these past few months," he continued. "And the more I think about it, the more I dislike how I am right now. That's why I want to be better, not just for me, but for everyone I care about."
Klaus took another moment, his voice unwavering now as he returned his gaze to Riley's. "I'm not saying this just so you'll forgive me," he stated. "I'm saying it because I want to be the kind of person who deserves your affection."
Riley didn't look away. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as her lips curved into a smile. "You always know the right things to say, don't you?" she murmured.
Klaus slowly grew a smile of his own. "I guess," he replied.
The two glanced at one another in silence until Riley sighed softly. She then leaned in before pressing a brief kiss to Klaus's lips. Soon after, she pulled away, rising to her feet.
"We should go on a date sometime," she said as she started heading back inside. "But this time, no lions and no Tashas. Just us."
Klaus chuckled, recognizing the memory she was referencing. He watched her go, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Meanwhile, while this occurred, Shade was helping Natalie clean up in the kitchen. Rose had left early after a call from her mother, and Olivia had dozed off in the dining room, curled in one of the chairs.
As Shade dried a dish, Natalie glanced over at him with a smile. "This was a fun day, wasn't it?" she said.
"Yeah," Shade agreed. "Everyone was so lively. We should do this more often."
"I think so too," Natalie nodded. "And with Olivia here now, it's even more fun around the house."
"Yeah," Shade said again, a small smile forming. "Seeing her happy all the time never fails to put a smile on my face as well."
Natalie's smile warmed. "That's so sweet," she said. "You really care about her."
"I do," Shade admitted. "Even though she's only been here a few weeks."
"You have a kind heart, Shade," Natalie said. Soon, she paused and looked down, her voice softer. "You know, my only regret is not being your real mother."
Shade turned to her, gently setting down the dish he held. "Don't say things like that," he replied. "And even though I care about the woman who brought me into this world, that I never got to know, you'll always be my real mother in my eyes."
Natalie's expression broke into a radiant smile, her eyes misting slightly. She turned back to the sink, trying to blink the tears away as she continued her cleaning.
The next day, Shade decided it was time to return to Higher World for training. He told Olivia he'd be gone for a week, and though she would miss him, she was happy to stay behind and keep Natalie company.
Five days later, Klaus also prepared to return to training.
"Do you really have to leave too?" Natalie asked at the front door.
"I promised Dad I'd come back for more training," Klaus explained, preparing to depart.
"I'm glad you're spending time with your father," Natalie replied, hands on her hips. "But that doesn't mean I don't need some time with you, too."
"There's always time for you, Mom," Klaus said with a soft giggle. Then his voice lowered. "I just... want to be the best version of myself right now. To be the kind of son you deserve."
Natalie's face softened. She stepped forward and placed a hand on his cheek.
"Oh, honey," she said with a smile. "No matter what version of yourself you become, you will always be my hero, Klaus Walker."