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Chapter 1
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The tale of Libitina Hargreeves; The Twilight
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(First chapter is in Libitina's P.o.V, all others are third person.)
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I was on a job when I heard the news. On my way to my boss's for a briefing, I passed a television store. A picture of a sickeningly familiar face popped up. I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Nice going old man..." I sighed as I pulled out my buzzing phone. Five messages total. One from my boss and the rest from some people who consider me their friend. All, however, had asked me more or less of the same questions.
Have you heard?
Are you okay?
Are you going to take time off?
It had been so long...Did I really need to go back? The grey-haired bastard wasn't worth it but being able to spit on his grave was something that would make the trip more enjoyable. I smirked to myself as I dialed the only number I had on speed dial.
"Are you almost here?" my employer asked. I noticed his impatient tone and simply clicked my tongue.
"Family emergency. I'm postponing the job," I answered quickly. The man on the other end went silent for a moment.
"What the hell am I paying you for, then?" He was clearly upset. My eyes tore away from the station informing me of the fantastic news.
"My plane ticket and before you start to worry your ass off, know that I'll come back with some valuables," I felt my lips curve into a sly smile. My boss chuckled heartily.
"You're a strange one, Hargreeves. Just make sure you come back in time to do the job," he demanded with a somewhat concerned tone. I rolled my eyes. This man had been my client many times before so he should know better than to underestimate me...
"Right," I scoffed before hanging up. I didn't usually end important conversation's like that but I didn't want to miss this opportunity. Plus, if he's really unsatisfied, I already had a big enough bounty hanging over my head. What's a couple thousand more dollars?
I bit my bottom lip as I made my way to the apartment I stayed at when in town. I wasted no time getting on my computer and seeing how much a flight back home would cost. It would take a chunk of my budget but I didn't mind. Only a right idiot would do something like this...Then again, only a right idiot would live like me.
I paid for a flight the next day and began to pack my bags. My idea was to get there early, snatch some of the old geezer's valuables and sell them. Maybe if I was fast enough, I could take some things from the others. I'm sure one of my siblings has an item worth selling. Allison, most definitely.
I could barely sleep that night. Not because I wasn't tired or I was excited, but because I was nervous. Going back home also meant getting to see them again...Most of them, anyway...
Our little superhero gang was down two members, last time I checked. Ben was dead and we never found Five. A lot of us presumed he was dead too, poor brat. I wondered what the others would look like. It had been a long while since I actually talked to any of the other "freaks". For the most part, I knew what Luther and Allison were doing. How could I not with Allison's picture being plastered everywhere and me being reminded of Luther's stupid face every time I looked at the moon? If any of them knew what I did now, they'd probably start caring. I never meant anything to them so why should now be different?
It was settled. I would go, take some shit, then leave. Not my best plan but, hey, who's gonna judge? This wasn't going to be a job, it would be a side quest. Soon after deciding what I would do once home, I drifted off to sleep. Random thoughts of old adventures filled my head. Nightmares, really.
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The Next Day...
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I sighed as I walked out of the airport and breathed in the fresh air. It was no different than the air in Southport but it was something. The sea smell wasn't as noticeable. Being back home was weird. I was one of the first to leave and ever since I moved to the UK, I had changed quite a bit. My curly platinum blonde hair was now dyed black with cheap box colour, I had quite a few piercings, not to mention my proof of identity branded onto the left side of my neck.
Needless to say, my sense of style had changed.
When I got to the doors, I stared at the stained glass windows. They haunted me, reminding me of me what I once was. Putting my hand on the door I hesitated. A dry chuckle unconsciously escaped my throat as my other hand moved towards my forehead, a headache forming. I groaned gently.
"Of all the times to wuss out..." I mumbled as a cool sweat formed on my skin. To calm myself, I took a deep breath.
Then, I walked in.
My breath hitched as I reminisced about the past. The building brought back so many memories but the signs of unstoppable ageing made me feel much better. Small cracks formed in the dustless walls and the wooden floors creaked after going unused for years. The old man never did anything to keep the place in check, so that only meant the monkey and robot were still around.
The nostalgia really hit when I found the blonde android in the kitchen. The robot I once called mother.
She was smiling but I could see the desolation and confusion in her eyes as she washed the dishes. I slowly approached her from behind and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Mum...Are you okay?" I asked, eyebrows furrowing. The woman was silent as she turned around, her bright smile never fading nor faltering.
"I'm fine, dear, don't worry. It's not like your character to be concerned," she giggled while her eyes twinkled. "It's so good to see you again, Libitina."
I sighed, "No one calls me that, anymore...Not in a long time, at least." I managed to sneak a hint of sadness into my voice. Grace simply tilted her head.
"What should I call you then?" she lightly chuckled. I let my eyes fall to the ground.
"Do you want a cookie? I just pulled some out of the oven and I'm sure you would love them. Maybe you could slip one into Hades' cage," she winked before turning back around to finish the dishes. I gave her a confused stare.
"Mum...Hades died when I was twelve...Are you sure you're okay?" I asked again, a bit more forceful this time. The robot simply began to hum.
"I'm just peachy," she whipped down a cup. I narrowed my eyes before backing away. Mum's behaviour was off but I wasn't one to judge. She had just lost her...Actually, I don't know what the old man was to her. Creator? Husband? Hell...more questions. Just what I needed.
I searched the house and managed to run into Pogo, the talking monkey who was more of a father to us than the geezer ever was. He commented on my piercings, and my hair like I knew he would.
"That mark on your neck...Oh, dear," he mumbled as he noticed the branding. A feeling that was probably shame or guilt filled my chest.
"It's not a big deal, Pogo," I quickly pulled my dark hair over my shoulder to cover the mark.
"On the contrary. I'd say that being a mercenary is quite the accomplishment," his frown caused my heart to drop. I was hoping no one would know who I was. A simple in and out job...Kind of stupid to think that I wouldn't see any family at my father's funeral.
"I was wishing for a reset in life. You know, fell down and picked myself back up. This just so happens to be the one job that would take me," a somber smile tugged at my lips. Pogo raised an eyebrow.
"I hope things are better, now," he returned my smile with one of his own. I smirked before excusing myself from the conversation. I made my way upstairs. Since Pogo didn't mention any of the others, I guessed I was the first to arrive. That miracle gave me time to check in on the status of my old bedroom. Only when I entered my childhood room did the past hit me in the face like a brick.
I whistled as I looked around, "Damn...This place hasn't changed." I noticed that everything I didn't take with me was left in the room: my old art books, the empty snake cage, my journal.
I raised an eyebrow as my eyes lingered on the red-covered book. Mum had picked them up for us. I know some of the others simply put them away but I actually wrote in mine. I picked it up and flipped through the pages.
My eyes feasted upon the echoes of the past. Old doodles, my shitty handwriting, and some quotes I got from books that were stolen from the old codger's study.
I remembered asking all of my siblings to swipe me a few. All of them refused, of course, but I managed to persuade Five to snatch one after telling him there might be something on how to time travel. There wasn't and he got pretty pissed, but I took the blame when we were caught.
Five would never do me another favour after that. I chuckled as I looked back fondly. My smile faltered whenever I remembered that Five was long gone. He most likely wasn't coming back. Ben definitely wasn't.
"No use crying over the past, now," I sighed as I closed the book then tossed it into an empty bin next to my vanity. I patted my knees before standing up.
"Right...What I really came here to do," I mumbled before making my way to the office of the bastard who 'raised' me. Sir Reginald Hargreeves is better off dead.
Once I got to his place of work, I began to scan the shelves. The head honcho would probably find some sort of worth in some of the dusty books that the old man collected. I picked a few then set them on his desk.
"What do we have here...?" I smirked slyly as I found a small box with a few gold rings in it.
I bit my lip, "Oh, you old hack...This is simply too much. I couldn't." I faked a swoon before snatching the box and stuffing it into my jacket.
After a few minutes of searching, I found enough things to satisfy me and my boss. I had knickknacks and priceless shit stuffed into my jacket, my pants pocket, and even my bra. I figured if I were to take something, might as well take it all. As soon as I stood back up, smiling from my haul, I heard someone enter the room.
"Who the hell are you?"
I spun around, recognition clear on my face. I grinned, running up to the familiar face and hugging him. He was a good six inches taller than me but I still managed to push him back a bit with the force of my hug. The brunette held his hands up, afraid to touch me.
"Wait...Libby?" I heard the shock in his voice as he gasped.
"Are you brain dead? Who else would it be?" I asked with a short giggle.
"Good to see you, Klaus," I said with genuine happiness. My brother lowered his hands onto my back and I felt his warmth. I missed this airhead the most.
"You...You've changed...like a lot!" he stuttered as he backed up to get a good look at me. My eyes skimmed his form at the same time.
"You have, too. Have you finally gotten taller than me or am I just wasted again?" I quipped. Klaus laughed.
"I finally beat you. Always said I would," he grinned. I nodded, unable to stop grinning. Klaus' eyes darted around the room, a smile tugging at his lips as he smiled knowingly.
"You've cleaned this place out, haven't you?" he clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest.
Klaus was the only sibling who somehow always knew when I had stolen or dabbled in mischief. Most of the time he joined and I ended up taking the blame. Mum always said that's just what I was good at; helping people get out of trouble. The irony of that statement made me laugh.
"I saved you some things," I nodded towards the desk, brow raised precariously. Klaus grinned.
"So gracious," he put a hand to his chest and planted a princely kiss on the back of my hand. I snorted in amusemnt and slung my arm slung over his shoulder to bring him down to my level for a side hug. Our laughter drew in my second-favourite sister...which I guess makes her my least favourite sister. Huh.
"Klaus," Allison walked in. I watched her eyes widen as they fell on me. "Libby...?" she muttered. I flashed her a nervous smile.
"Uh...yeah...Hi, Allison," I mumbled. Klaus walked over to the chair in front of the old man's picture. His name still felt like a curse after all these years.
The picture-perfect woman raised an eyebrow, "What are you two doing in here?" Klaus jazzily waved his hands in my direction.
"Just catching up with my dear sister. Is there something wrong with that?" he utilized those goddamned puppy-dog eyes he mastered as a kid. I rolled my own and shoved him off me with an amused snort.
"You're in Dad's chair."
I didn't turn around but waited for the voice to walk into my field of vision. I looked up Luther. When I say I looked up, I mean I looked up. The blonde had grown like three feet and that's just height! His arms would make a bodybuilder jealous and I don't mean that in a creepy-incest way.
"Who the hell are you?" he spat, confusion clear.
"That's exactly what I said!" Klaus grinned as he waved his hands ecstatically. Luther shot him a look that told him to "shut up".
"I'm sorry but you have to leave. This is for family only and-" I scoffed as I shook my head, interrupting Luther.
"I am family, you clot," I grumbled. The blonde giant creased his golden brows in confusion before turning to see Klaus and Allison's amused expressions. He pointed at me with his thumb.
"Our dear Libitina has changed a lot, hasn't she?" Klaus said, resting his arms behind his head. Luther widened his eyes a bit and looked to Allison for confirmation. She nodded, prompting me to shake my head disappointedly. Luther's jaw dropped.
"Oh, my gosh, Libitina, I'm so sorry-"
"I'm gonna stop you right there, Space Monkey," I put a hand up and made the giant stop talking. I sighed.
"First of all, you're a giant. A brainless giant, at that. Second of all, don't call me Libitina. It's Libby or whatever the hell you want to call me but not my full name." The moment Luther's brows scrunched, I began stepping towards the door.
"You've got to stop doing that," I spat, face falling into a tired glare. Apparently, during my rant, Pogo walked in and observed my movements like the observant little genius he is.
"Pockets," he raised his chin slightly.
"What do you mean?" I asked the monkey with feigned innocence. Pogo gave me an unamused look that made me actually feel guilty for stealing. I didn't feel bad that it was from the old dead man, I felt bad because he would have to put everything back afterwards. He had worked hard enough. I groaned as I dumped out everything. Watches, rings, everything...It all clattered to the floor. There was silence for a moment.
"Dad just died and you want to steal from him?" The high and mighty giant suddenly went on the offensive. I scoffed.
"Oh, please, brother, I'm begging for your forgiveness," my hands came up in a prayer position as I spoke with the same tone of innocent as that of a god-fearing child. Klaus's chuckle included a snort. Luther's ridiculing eyes rolled so far into his head I thought (or prayed) that he was about to pass out.
My toes helped me reach his height so I could frown mere inches from his stupid face, "Drop the holier-than-thou act, Number One. I've been falling from grace since I left home. Don't start acting like you give a shit, now."
"Lib," Allison stepped towards me but I quickly moved out of her reach.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," I snapped with clenched fists before spinning and scurrying out the door.
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Third P.o.V...
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The gathered Hargreeves children stood in the foyer. Klaus sighed, "Maybe we should go get her." All of his siblings stared at him. The hesitancy in Luther's eyes was clear to see.
"Why are we so worried about Libby?" Vanya, his all too ordinary sister, asked.
"Libitina-" "Libby," Allison corrected Luther.
"Libby has changed a lot," he stared with a not-so-subtle glare of annoyance. Vanya confusedly stared between her siblings.
"She's basically female Diego, now," Klaus clarified. Diego, clad in a black bodysuit and leather, rolled his eyes.
"She's goth," Luther put simply. Allison hit his arm and shot him a dangerous glare. Luther shrugged, "Can't say I'm wrong."
He wasn't and they didn't.
"Go get your drug buddy, Klaus," Diego grumbled. Klaus shook his head and sighed, a single hand running through his dishevelled hair.
"Leave my hobbies out of this," he sighed exhaustedly. With a twirl, he turned to the staircase and began to make his way to the upper level of the house. "It's not my fault if she breaks something or brings this place down!"
When he got to Libby's room, he failed to remember the one rule she had for her siblings. Knock upon entering. As he opened the door, all he heard was a small gasp followed by something flying towards his head. With a girlish yelp, he ducked and barely avoided getting hit in the face with a glass ashtray. Libby sighed as she furrowed her brows in either concern or anger.
"Don't sneak up on me," she deadpanned, her body tense as she refused to move for a moment. Once calm, she casually inspected her brother's limbs and squished his face to check for any collateral damage. The shaggy-haired man chuckled dryly at her fussing.
"Clearly...I don't remember you being able to react that fast," he admitted nervously.
Libby was always jumpy. When they were younger, she'd hate hide and seek because when someone jumped out at her, she'd break down.
Something's sharpened our little viper's fangs, Klaus thought with a slight smirk. The raven-haired female crouching in front of him sighed and dropped her hands to rest on her knees.
"Times are a-changing brother dear," she quipped with a light-hearted tone that didn't quite match her hollow expression. With a wave of her hand, the glass sunm into her shadow and disappeared. She let out a satisfied hum then waltzed out her door.
"Where are you going?" Klaus asked, nearly slipping on the polished floors as he chased after her.
"I assume you came to get me for the funeral? Well, I'm not going to miss the opportunity to spit on daddy dearest's grave," Libby's voice was sarcastic and held a large amount of spite. Klaus cackled and draped an arm around his sister's shoulder. It took her a few steps to get used to the added weight as they stumbled down the hall.
"Ever the optimist," the brunette poked her arm with a childish grin on his face. She couldn't help but smile at his antics.