Chapter Text
No one knew how to react.
I mean. They all had thought no one in the family was a little. But apparently they were wrong.
Earlier that day had been normal (or as normal as their family can be).
The day before they had just time traveled back to their current day with no apocalypse in sight. So everyone was still a little tired and reeling from the events of the last week or so.
Especially one time traveling assassin.
Everyone else had gotten settled during their time in the 60's and made friends, met lovers even.
But Five he gone from one apocalypse to another. He had no break and was thoroughly drained. Drained and teetering on the edge of his sanity in more ways than one.
Today everyone had given each other space to relax and unwind. Do whatever it was they needed, but all agreed to meet later in the day to talk and regroup. Five hadn't really been paying attention during the meeting since it was mostly been petty arguments with his siblings he was staying out of.
But he'd had a headache all day and they were making it worse.
The pounding in his head growing and growing and leaving his vision getting fuzzier and fuzzier. His head was full of cotton and his body felt like it was filled with lead.
Luther had yelled one particularly loud shout for whatever reason when it happened.
Five let out the smallest, softest whimper of pain.
Everyone turned to where he was seated.
"Five?" Klaus asked, since he was closest.
The others were immediately worried but Diego, Klaus, and Allison more so since they were registered Caregivers.
"M sorry." Fives eyes shot open, immediately panicking. "M sorry. Not supposed to." Five jumped up, wobbling on his feet.
"Sorry about wha-" Allison started before a flash of blue light interrupted her.
"Shit." Diego stood.
It was obvious what had happened but no one had the guts to say it out loud. But it made perfect sense.
Since they were young their father berated them that if they were classified as Littles and that they would be rendered useless to him. Despite that fact they had no control over their classifications, they didn't get them before they were 17. Five had already disappeared and hadn't been properly classified. Everyone had assumed he was neutral, same as Luther and Victor.
But it seems they were wrong.
"Did any of you know? Or was I left out out of the loop?" Klaus stood quickly.
"I don't think he knew." Victor looked at Five's empty spot, but only received confused glances from his siblings.
"Think about it. He was never properly classified and having to survive the apocalypse probably meant he suppressed himself. Then the last 2-3 weeks he's been fighting off 2 different apocalypses with no time to breathe." Victor explained, remembering all that his brother had told him.
Everyone took in what Victor had said and realized this was probably the first time he's ever regressed.
"Victor’s right. Five is probably scared and he's alone, he needs to be found before he hurts himself. How about we split up and try and find him. Just, be gentle and careful if you do." Diego advised, directing the last sentence to Victor and Luther.
Everyone nodded in agreeable all standing up to start looking.
"I'll head up to his room and check." Klaus offered.
"I'll check the kitchen and downstairs area." Luther offered.
Everyone chose a different part of the house to split up and look, Victor staying in the living room in case he came back.
In a panic Five jumped to the first place he could think of, his room.
Now if Five were in a normal headspace he'd know that his family would go looking for him and this would be the first place they'd look. But instead Five curled up in the corner of his room trying to push away his headspace.
While Five was muttering to himself he didn't notice his door creak open and Klaus enter until he called out his name.
"No 'm sorry! 'M fine, not little. Don' hurt please." Five whimpered out.
"Oh Five no. No no no. No one's gonna hurt you alright," Klaus rushed over to Fives corner. Five flinched away before taking in Klaus's words. Klaus kneeled in front of Five, refraining from touching.
"Promise?" Five looked up.
The big part of his brain told him how pathetic he looked. Tears threatening to spill from his glassy eyes, fear etched on his face, and shaking in a tight ball in the corner.
But the all little part thought was that he wanted comfort desperately, and Klaus was offering it with (literal) open arms.
"On my life." Klaus assured.
Five had already made his decision as soon as Klaus walked in the room, but the affirmation did help. Five launched himself in Klaus's arms and clung to his shirt.
He felt himself he lifted and heard a worried sound from Klaus but was too focused on not crying. But it seemed Klaus was two-steps ahead.
"You can cry if you need to Five. It's okay, you're safe now." Klaus whispered softly to him. After that, Five was gone. Sobbing pitifully into Klaus's shoulder, releasing all his pent up stress and worries. Finally allowing himself to fully sink into little space for the first time.
When Klaus picked Five he couldn't stop a small sound of worry from eascaping his lips. The poor thing was shaking like a leaf and was as light as one too. It was obvious he was still holding back, still holding onto his big space with all his might.
"You can cry if you need to Five. It's okay, you're safe now." Klaus whispered softly to him. Bouncing his little brother in his arms as a way to help him along.
It seemed that was what he needed to hear because with no warning Five was crying into his shoulder with no restraint.
"Oh baby." Klaus cooed, letting Five finally cry like he needed to.
"Hey Klaus did you-- oh." Diego trailed off softly. He inched closer to the two and set a gentle hand on Five's back, starting to rub circles.
"Where'd you find him?" Diego asked under the cries of Five.
"In the corner shaking like a leaf and scared out of his mind." Klaus responded still bouncing him up and down, earning a sympathetic noise from Diego.
"I'll go let everyone know he's okay. You guys can come down whenever you're ready." Diego spoke gently, giving Five's one last back rub before turning to leave.
Klaus started pacing and whispering words of reassurance to make sure Five knew he was still safe. Eventually Five's cries began fade out, reducing to whimpers and hiccups that made Klaus's heart tear in two.
Klaus continued to pace the room, trying to keep Five calm and feeling safe. The pacing seemed to work but not how Klaus expected it to.
He hadn't realized how tight Five had been gripping his shirt until Five's hold loosened. Klaus glanced down to see Five drifting to sleep, snapping his eyes open before he could actually fall asleep. Klaus shushed Five and bounced him a little more, hoping to help lure him to sleep. It was obvious he needed it.
Five thankfully didn't argue, only drifting closer and closer to inevitable sleep. When Klaus felt the evened out breathing of Five against his chest he let out a sign of relief.
Klaus wasn't sure if Five would jump again once calmed down, or have a temper tantrum about going downstairs. So Klaus made his way downstairs, not okay with leaving Five alone. Klaus made a beeline for the living room where all his siblings were waiting for them.