Chapter Text
Ben perched on the back of the couch, clearly reveling in being able to talk to them, practically bursting with words, “Thank you! I’ve been meaning to say, I didn’t side with Reginald and in fact, I told Klaus something was wrong the entire time. But did he listen to me? Of course not.” Ben folded his arms, his figure a ghostly blue and gray, wavering like the surface of the ocean, the clouds boiling in a storm, the air around him cold and quiet- strangely unearthly.
“Of course he wouldn’t,” Diego shot a glare at Klaus who stuck out his tongue at him.
“And also, did you know, Five," Ben turned, eyes alight, clear joy in all their faces despite the supposed annoyance, "That the real reason Dad moved your bedroom away from everyone else's is because you snore loud enough to wake the dead.”
Five spluttered, his happiness at getting his last brother back quickly and easily melting into indignant outrage, “I do not. Ben take that back!”
Ben stuck out his tongue, nearly a perfect mirror of Klaus, “No!”
Five hissed, pointing at his ghostly brother, glimmering in the darkness on the sofa, “You’ve been hanging around with Klaus too long.”
“I mean, true, but, my point still stands.”
Klaus cackled, clapping gleefully, “You’re right, I really should’ve summoned him earlier.”
Both Ben and Five glared at him, almost mirrors of each other in that moment, “Don’t even start, Klaus-“
Klaus held up his hands, “You’re right, you’re right, go ahead.”
Five and Ben went back at it, bickering loudly. The Doctor leaned over to Vanya, curious, “Were they always like this?”
Vanya leaned back toward him and whispered, lips pulling upwards into a real small smile, “Oh, definitely. They quarreled like cats and dogs when they were feeling affectionate. Kind of like an extra love language, I think.”
The Doctor nodded knowingly, lips quirking upwards, “You’re right. I think insults are absolutely one of Five’s ways of showing love.”
Vanya snorted.