Trigger warnings for this chapter: overdoses, nonconsensual drug use, references to sexual assault. This chapter deals with some pretty heavy topics and Klaus is not a reliable narrator and does his best not to care what happens to him. I tried to handle it all respectfully to avoid getting across the wrong message, but I'm open to constructive criticism if anyone has any.

"You don't have to do this, Klaus," Ben said half heartedly, like he knew there was no chance he'd listen.

"What are you talking about, dear brother of mine?" Klaus said, glancing back at him as he made his way down the dark empty streets. "This is all I do, right? Fuck everyone over just to have a good time?"

"You know that's not really what Vanya meant," Ben said, but he didn't sound so sure.

"Come on, Ben," Klaus said. "You know this is what I'm best at, it's where I'm meant to be, just accept it. I certainly have!"

Vanya's book. It came out while Klaus was in rehab. Thankfully he'd been able to get his hands on a copy so he could read what the world was learning about him and their family. He supposed he couldn't blame her for it, dear old dad fucked them all over; good for her, finding a way to get back at him.

And she'd been right about him, too. He was selfish and cruel, attention seeking and destructive to everyone around him. That's why he was here, completely alone and living on the streets, after all; why he'd been headed for this life since he was twelve years old at least, probably younger. This was what he deserved, where he belonged.

All he'd ever wanted was to have a good time and leave any hurt far behind, no matter the cost to anyone else. Why fight it when this was who he would always be, deep down? It was why he'd gone out and gotten high the moment he'd gotten out of rehab. Now, he just needed to find someone willing to buy him a drink or five. Time to ascend into oblivion becuase fuck everyone else, right?

He wasn't sure when Ben disappeared, but by the time he reached the bar, he was alone.

It took him no time at all to find a group of guys willing to buy him drinks. He even kindly offered to pick up the next round from the bar. See? He could be nice every once in a while. He grabbed one as the bartender filled up a tray for him, but he almost spit it out when he heard a familiar voice.

"Klaus?" Dave was there, heading over to him, and he had a huge smile on his face. "Hey, it's so good to see you. I hadn't seen you in a while, I was a bit worried."

"Yeah, no, all good," Klaus said. He was suddenly hit with how much he'd missed him, but this was the last thing he needed right now. "You know how it is. Got arrested for trying to steal snacks from a convenience store, got sent to rehab, the usual."

"Oh!" Dave said in surprise. "Does that mean you're-"

"Sober?" Klaus laughed. "Christ, no. I hit the town the moment I got out. How could I give up all of this?" he gestured with the drink in his hand, encompassing the entire room and beyond.

"You sure you're doing okay?" Dave asked, because of course he did. He always was much too perceptive.

"Are you kidding? Look at me. Never better," Klaus exclaimed, smacking his shoulder. "In fact, I've already got a prior engagement I really should get back to."

"Oh, yeah, of course," Dave said, glancing at the tray the bartender had just finished filling. "I'll let you get back to it, then. Hit me up some time. It was really great seeing you. Glad to have you back."

It was much too tempting to abandon his plans and follow Dave instead. But he needed to get wasted until he forgot his own name, with people who didn't know or care about him. He needed the danger and the excitement, and he needed to be selfish. He deserved this sort of happiness. Or, well, numbness. The closest he ever really got. He'd almost forgotten, hanging out with Dave so much, but this was where he belonged. It was better alone, his only responsibility was to himself.

Things never seemed to work out for him, thought, so of course he realized too late that one of the guys had spiked his drink. Usually, he wouldn't really care. He'd downed spiked drinks before when he was low on drugs and desperate enough for anything that might chase the ghosts away, but he'd already taken too much. He was tempted to ignore it, it didn't really matter what happened after all, but somehow he found himself seeking out Dave instead.

"Dave! Hey, buddy, old pal," Klaus slurred, stumbling into him on the dance floor.

"Klaus," Dave exclaimed, but his smile immediately turned to concern as he reached out to steady him. "Are you okay?"

"Psh, yeah, totally," Klaus said, waving a hand dismissively even as he swayed on his feet. "I was hoping to ask a teensy favor of you, is all."

"Of course, anything," Dave said much too readily, his hand on his arm comforting and Klaus couldn't help but lean into it. But that was probably just because he was really drunk.

"Well, you see, it's actually a pretty funny story," Klaus forced a laugh. "I was having a drink with those guys over in the corner there. You see them? Nevermind, it doesn't matter. But I'm pretty sure they slipped me something."

"They what?" Dave demanded and Klaus could hear the anger in his voice.

"No, no, it's totally cool, really," Klaus hurried to reassure him, unsure why he looked so grim. "Normally it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but considering everything else I've taken tonight, I am just a little bit worried about what sort of reaction it might have."

"What else did you take?" Dave asked urgently. Klaus' vision was already blurring, his attention wavering, and Dave put a hand on his shoulder to try to get him to focus again. "Klaus? What did you take?"

"I wish I knew," Klaus laughed. "So, anyway, if you could just call me an ambulance, or something, that'd be great."

"Yeah, come on, let's get you out of here," Dave said, putting his arm around his waists to support him as they made their way to the exit.

"This is nice," Klaus said, probably leaning a little too heavily against him, letting him practically carry him along. His limbs were just suddenly so heavy. "We should do this more often."

But Dave didn't say anything, he didn't even joke back. He seemed too focused on moving forward, getting through the crowd. As they pushed through the back doors into the night, he was about to get his attention, to try to lighten the mood or at least get Dave to stop looking so serious, but suddenly Ben was at his side.

"Klaus," he said urgently. "Klaus, they're coming."

"Who?" Klaus asked, before realization hit him. "Oh, shit, look out behind—"

He was cut off before he could finish his warning to Dave. They must have been hit from behind, because Klaus fell heavily to the ground and he had a dazed moment where all he could think about was how nice the cool pavement felt against his cheek. And then everything went dark.

Klaus woke with a pounding headache and a pain in his gut. He groaned and brought a hand up to press against his forehead as if that might keep his brain from breaking out of his skull.

"Musta been a wild night, huh, Ben?" Klaus said into the silence.

"Klaus?"

But that wasn't Ben's voice. And now that he was paying attention, there was an irritating beeping coming from nearby. A heart monitor. He forced his eyes open and looked around the room in confusion. He was in a hospital, and that alone would have been enough to make him feel sick with dread, but then he spotted Dave sitting in a chair next to his bed. He looked absolutely exhausted and had a black eye and a bloody lip.

"Damn," Klaus said. "What the hell happened to you?"

"You're the one in the hospital bed," Dave chuckled, but it sounded fragile, like he was barely keeping it together.

"Those guys who drugged you," Ben said, suddenly standing behind Dave. "They jumped him when he tried to get you out of there."

"Shit," Klaus said, scrubbing his hands over his face. "You weren't supposed to get involved."

"Of course I'm gonna get involved," Dave said and there was a little too much passion behind his words. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, fine. Yeah, great," Klaus said quickly.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"Oh, yeah, sure. I definitely owe you one. If you want, I could-"

"That's not what I meant," Dave interrupted. "I didn't help you because I wanted you to owe me. I'm just worried about you. You acted like it was no big deal that those guys drugged you. Does this sort of thing happen often?"

"Um," Klaus said, glanced around the room as if it might hold the answer to what he was supposed to say. He even glanced to Ben who was no help as usual. He just couldn't figure Dave out so he didn't know what answer he was looking for. It was so much easier with Diego to find the right words to get him off his back, make him uncomfortable, but with Dave, he just didn't know what to expect. He always seemed to be able to sidestep his distractions and see through his dismissiveness.

"Look," Dave said when it was clear he was struggling to reply. "It's fine, you don't have to talk about it, but you shouldn't have to go through that, either."

"It's no big deal," Klaus groaned, throwing his head back dramatically.

"Yes, it is," Dave persisted. "I know it's a dangerous world out there, but you don't have to do this alone. If you want a wing man, or something, you can let me know. Like tonight. We go to a lot of the same parties anyway. Let me help you."

He wanted to point out that he'd planned on going home with those guys anyway, that they didn't need to drug him. He wasn't even really sure why he'd gone to Dave in the first place. He'd made worse decisions in the past, after all. He wasn't an idiot, he knew how to survive on the streets, but he also didn't care about consequences. This was what he did with his life, how little disregard he had for his own wellbeing. He was a coward and a disappointment and Dave really should have seen that by now.

And yet he was still here, still trying to help him for some reason. And suddenly Klaus was just too tired to push the issue. He didn't want to admit all that to Dave, to see him look at him with disappointment like everyone else. This was the life he was meant to live, but he didn't want that for Dave. He didn't want to hurt him of all people. He wished he knew why Dave was different, why he cared. Or how long that would last.

"You're making yourself such an easy mark, you know that?" Klaus said, because, as usual, joking was so much easier.

"Only for you, babe," Dave said and, fuck, did he have any idea what that smile did to him?

He didn't know how to deal with this. He didn't know how to deal with any of it. This man was too good, too kind. He shouldn't have to put up with someone like Klaus. And to top it all off, Dave even helped him sneak out of the hospital.