A/N – Okay, first of all, woah! This story is being so well received and I am all for continuing this for you all. I already have this whole thing planned out and believe me, there is more to come from all the siblings. Don't worry either – Klaus is going to be making his appearance shortly. Also, mentioning this now, but this entire story is going to unedited until its completion when I'll finally go back and edit previous chapters for a well-rounded story. Comment what you think's happened to Klaus and what you've theorized his new potential to be – I'd love to hear what you all think so far into this story. Also, thank you, everyone, who is sharing my love for Klaus – for some unknown reason, people just can't agree that he's 'Best Boy 10/10'. Without further ado, here is chapter two!

Chapter 2: Uncaring, Unlovable

Ben had searched everywhere.

He looked up and down streets, around alleyways even in dumpsters. He asked around more than a few times, but no one knew where the fourth Hargreaves sibling was. The boy stopped by a small little diner he and Klaus had gone to a few times since going back in time – nothing. Ben ran around like a crazed child for hours until he was stopped by an older couple. The two asked him if he had anywhere to go, as in, was he homeless? When the boy questioned why they would think that, they promptly pointed to his attire.

Of course, Ben had elected to stay in his pajamas that day and was roaming around the city looking like an escaped orphan.

After politely telling them that he did, in fact, have a home, Ben asked them if they'd seen his brother anywhere. They had thought long and hard, giving him multiple children's descriptions but none matched Number Four. He bid them farewell and walked towards a neighboring park – he was tired, and his legs ached, might as well take a quick break.

Ben sat down on the park bench with a heavy heart, hands balled into fists pressing deeply into his cheekbones. He looked down at his shoes, furrowing his eyebrows in concentration. He failed his brother, continuing to fail him the more he sat on this bench. Still, the black-haired boy couldn't find the energy to move from his position. The street lights had turned on only fifteen minutes ago, reacting to the sun starting to move down the horizon. Ben looked to the sky, wondering where on earth his brother could be.

It's like Klaus had disappeared.

The monsters of his dark side pulsed underneath his chest, curling tighter around his organs in response to the thought. Ben grimaced at the feeling – that's one thing he hadn't missed about being alive; feeling the creatures under his skin gave him the heebie-jeebies'. They wanted out, to find Klaus themselves without Ben's body to keep them buddle uptight, bound to him. The battle for control all day pushed the dark-haired boy towards exhaustion, himself and the monsters fueled with one goal: find Klaus.

Yet, he's failed.

The park was emptying of children and dog-walkers as the night progressed. Ben guessed that it was getting to be about eight o'clock now – dinner's already been served back home and, knowing his siblings, they were probably going to be up for another two or three hours. With no more rules of bedtimes, everyone's night owl took its throne.

A sudden thought crossed his mind. What if Klaus had left early this morning and just didn't tell anyone? What if he's already back home?

Ben shot up from the park bench, scaring a few pigeons a few feet from him near a trashcan. He paid them no heed, dashing back home. He put effort into every step, running around civilians and jaywalking to get around busy cross sections as the nightlife was starting up. The monsters settled for the most part but created a bit of anxious anticipation as to what they'll find upon going home.

He barely even stopped at the front doors, opening and closing them within two seconds each. Ben took only a moment to catch his breath before marching through the house – while he didn't like his father, he did respect the fact that Sir Hargreaves didn't like running in his house. The dark-haired boy approached the bar, hearing conversing there. The boy didn't even get two feet into the room before Diego saw him.

"Hey Ben, you still looking for Klaus?" The other boy raised his eyebrow, a beer in hand. Five, who was behind the bar, gave his brother an odd look.

Ben's face fell at the realization of it all. Klaus wasn't here. He was still out there, somewhere – maybe in danger – and here he was wasting his time. "I'm so stupid." He found himself mumbling out.

Diego, noticing the shift, promptly hopped off the stool he'd been sitting on, "Well, that's not very reassuring."

"I'm assuming that Klaus is still missing." Five concluded, propped up against the bar with a martini in his hand, slurping it down without a care in the world.

"Yeah." Ben's mouth felt dry and he found that he couldn't meet his brothers' eyes.

Number Two glanced between the shortest of his siblings and Five still staring boredly, "Ben, maybe he's at a… friend's house?"

Silence filled the room before Five promptly huffed out a laugh. Diego shot the boy a look, watching him tip back the rest of his drink. "Klaus? Friends?" The time-traveler snorted, "Yeah, that's a theory we can all debunk."

Diego crossed his arms, almost itching for a knife, "You know, Five, this could actually be something serious."

"It could." Five agreed, walking around the bar before leaning against the walls, "However, we don't really have anything to go on, now do we?"

Ben shook his head, "I'm going to go check the security tapes, see if I can find something."

Two nodded, moving to stand with him, "I'll go with you."

He gave his brother a look, watching him already start moving to where the tapes were located. Ben couldn't decide whether he appreciated Diego deciding to help him or if he was offended. As he started walking, he decided that it was both. Appreciation for the extra help – he's been running all over town, a little help was nice and all but… him being offended comes from what happened earlier that day.

While Diego had only told him that Klaus' disappearance was normal and not at all something they should be concerned with, it still meant that he cared enough to go out of his way for his brother.

Ben followed in silence, taking the only available seat at the desk before his brother had the chance. Diego simply stood beside him, hovering a bit while his eyes desperately searched the screen. The dark-haired boy pressed a button that turned the recorded security film backward, looking at the screen with an intense stare. Both he and his brother fell silent, watching the tape.

At seven that night, their father went upstairs after dinner but, due to the reversed film, Ben got to see him go downstairs to eat dinner around six. Luther and Allison disappeared out the door at about two and Vanya went to her room a little while before then. Diego and Five hung around in multiple spots in the house after Ben had left a little bit before noon. The day continued going backward, showing everyone waking up various times during that morning.

Still, no sign of Klaus.

They continued to watch with nothing really showing up. Time reversed, and everyone was back in their beds sleeping away. The previous day showed, going back to yesterday's morning before Ben decided to stop the film. The boy took a deep breath, almost giving up entirely.

"Do you think Dad still videos our rooms?" Diego suggested.

"I don't think so," Ben stated quietly, already clicking over to the individual cameras of located in his siblings' bedrooms. Surprisingly, it clicked on, showing live footage of Klaus' bedroom. Without a word, he pressed the same button from before, watching time reverse. He sped it up for most of the day as he already knew that Klaus wasn't at home when he woke up.

It's not until about midnight that the camera suddenly stutters, placing Klaus out of his window. Ben quickly slows down the reverse sped but continues to watch with worry plaguing his heart. Klaus is seen dressing in something nice, having pulled himself from his bed only thirty minutes before he crawled down the fire escape.

He could feel Diego's hand plop down on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly. "Face the facts, Ben." The other boy sighed out, releasing his hold, "Klaus is still the same as he was before. A year's time isn't enough to stop his cravings."

"You're wrong." Ben hissed out, twisting his chair around to face his brother. The monsters shifted underneath his skin, happy to oblige in any attacks the boy might want to pursue. He held them at bay, keeping his anger somewhat under control.

Diego raised his hands in defense before motioning to the pause camera film, "The proof is right there in front of you. Klaus is popping pills again."

He stood up abruptly, "No, he wouldn't!"

"I'm not going to fight you on this." Diego sighed heavily, as if out of energy, "Stop painting Klaus out to be this… nevermind."

He snarled at the other boy, pointing an accusing finger at him, "You and every other person in this house all think the same about him – that he's just going to be a junkie forever!"

"That's not entirely true." Number Two crossed his arms defensibly, "W-W-We… We-e-" He choked on his words, the stutter that was so prominent in his speech coming back to bite him in the ass at the one moment he needed it the most.

"No! It is true! And it's because you don't care!" Ben's hands flared out in front of him, taking a moment to collect himself as to not accidentally release his creatures, "None of you bothered to find him or cared enough to even worry about Klaus when he was kidnapped by Hazel and Cha-Cha. You didn't have to watch him struggle while they accidentally forced him to detox."

Diego, for the most part, stayed silent. He swallowed thickly, eyes not meeting the shorter of the two. He had tried to form some kind of apology, but his mouth wouldn't work. The room seemed smaller and fueled by tension. Ben took his time calming down, unsure of where this anger originated from – he used to be a good-natured kid the first time around, but now he's quick to get mad.

"I'm going to get something to eat." Ben excused himself, walking out of the room as quickly as possible. He didn't want to think about what he'd just said because it would just make him mad again. However, he couldn't get Klaus out of his head.

"Where are you?" Ben found himself thinking, more worried than ever.