Chronological markers: this scene fits like a deleted scene from season 1 episode 1, around 10:00.
March 23, 2019 - 08:32 pm
In the living room of the apartment, the electric light flickers a little when I turn it on, while I leave my bag on the entrance console, amidst the sound of my keys. It's been a hard day at work, but at least it's over for today. I'm about to take off my jacket, which has my name - Rin - tagged on it, but something draws my eye to the console. A typical paper from The City telecommunications services, and I frown, looking closer.
The last thing I expected tonight was a telegram. Let alone a telegram from Klaus. I look at it anyway, with a form of apprehension linked to the fact that he never sends telegrams. The message starts with "My father died, please come and stay for a while", and then gets lost in words that I don't understand.
I sigh. Great. I sigh again. Shit.
*Crack!*
Through a slash of light, I split space-time right where I am, and I disappear from the the living room, leaving the TV on.
I've known Klaus for – let me count – ten years. He often led me on a merry dance, way too often. But this time it's not his fault. A least I hope so. He's that kind of guy with whom you remake the world, with whom you share the best laughs, the most absurd nights and the worst bullshit. One of those who sometimes - often - require your literal support, with the strength of your arms. Fortunately, I don't have many people like him around me. Or many people at all. Having to hide having power, in personal and professional life, does not help in any way. At least he understands that.
We understood very quickly that we shared this 'peculiarity', when we met, and we never really tried to understand why. If I learned anything from Klaus, it's a form of letting-go. There is only one thing we have realized. An administrative detail for you perhaps. We were born on the same day. At the same time.
*Crack!*
I reappear on the edge of Klaus's room's window, in Hargreeves Mansion. It was my usual drop-off point, back when he was still sleeping here more often, on the days he couldn't find another place. Over time, he stopped coming here completely: I think the last time was three years ago.
I look inside. I see him slumped on his bed, his body contorted like a rag doll, beneath his surreal posters and all the words he's written on the wall for years. He has his bad-day face and he looks like he hasn't slept in days. However, he must have heard me coming, because his eyes roam the window with jerky movements. My arrivals through space are discreet. But he has always been able to sense them. Possibly because I'm not the first he's known to do this.
We never spoke in depth about his gone brother, the one who could do certain things in common with me. To be honest, Klaus was always too high, carefree or both to even question why I could do this too. We didn't care. All we ever wanted was to have a good time together, and think about anything but family. But I feel like tonight is going to be a different vibe.
"Hey there, Rin", he says, his cheek crushed against an old furry pillow.
"I know, it's late... Is it late?"
His words get lost on the crumpled sheet, as I jump onto the floor and look around. I always felt that he had tried to feel comfortable, in this room made up of two former other rooms. But right now it's a disastrous mess, with disgusting bottles, clothes and tissues strewn everywhere. Beyond the disarray, each object is telling stories about Klaus's life here. I walk towards the bed and check the hospital wristband on his forearm, where the Umbrella tatoo is too.
"Rehab? Emergency room?".
He groans and sits up, rubbing his face with his right hand.
"Yeah, both", he sighs. "It's been... hard.
I stand next to the bed and let his hand fall limply back onto the sheet, as he continues.
"At first I felt euphoric but now... it all comes back to me... like a boomerang".
I didn't know Reginald Hargreeves. We always managed to prevent that from happening. Mostly, what I know, I learnt it by other means than Klaus's voice. I don't know everything about their relationship, but I know enough to comprehend his temporary euphoria. And at the same time, I know the feeling you get when you lose someone: like missing a step, and never being able to take it again. No matter who. He looks up and blinks, struggling to maintain steady eye contact:
"Have you heard about what happened?"
"I watched TV", I say. "Everyone did. Do you know... 'how' it happened?"
Klaus manages to push himself sitting on the edge of the bed, more or less with dignity, and he shrugs.
"Some kind of heart failure. Damn it, I don't fucking want to be here".
"Do you feel sad?"
He shakes his head in a disturbed way, avoiding my gaze.
"I know how I'm supposed to feel at the moment. Yeah, I should be sad..."
His voice is quiet and strained, probably because he's high as a kite.
"I'm... I'm angry... relieved... I also kind of want to burst with joy".
He completes his words with a gesture, clearly struggling with a range of conflicting emotions. I stay for a moment without saying anything, and I look at the walls and the ceiling.
"This house is going to be crowded again".
"Yeah," he sighs, "I know. I'm such an idiot for coming. All I wanted was to find a quiet place to chill, to hang out with you, listen to good old retro sounds and..."
He huffs in frustration.
"But the Universe seems to deny me any happiness".
I pat his back.
"Life is rollercoaster, and the brakes are broken".
Before you ask, there is no 'love' between Klaus and me, not of the kind you could conventionally imagine anyway. But some sort of 'deep affection', yeah. Maybe because of everything we've been through. But now, holly-cow, when was his last shower? He gazes at me with eyes calling exaggeratedly to pity.
"Can you stay here for a while?", he says. "There's like 'a hundred' spare rooms in this stupid place, you could sleep wherever you want".
Perhaps my face involuntarily expresses how little the proposition tempts me.
"It might not occur to you, but I'm working this week".
Sometimes it annoys me that Klaus is so out of touch with reality.
"Come on, the bus is super convenient and the drivers listens to bossa music".
I huff in exasperation.
"My grandmother is going to be on her own".
"Hey, you can go see her, this damn mansion isn't a prison. Well... not anymore..."
Although being 30, I live at my grandmother's. It's cheaper for two people, and neither of us is alone. Seeing that his arguments leave me unmoved, Klaus instantly switches to strategy of pity.
"My life's a train wreck, Rin, I can barely tell the days apart anymore. And they're going to ask me to... 'participate'".
Unfortunately, I see that Klaus is not just 'pretending': there is something sincere and somewhat disoriented, behind his ordinary theatricality. He looks away and mutters under his breath:
"I'm sorry..."
I sigh. If I just blow him off on the day his father died, what kind of human would I be?
"Nah, don't be sorry", I say. "Shit happens".
I sigh again, and again.
"How long?"
"I... I don't know. A couple of days? A week? Honestly I don't know".
I sit down on the bed, my eyes staring into space.
"I'll need to get some clothes. And my toothbrush".
I think I just accepted. Klaus's eyes light up like Christmas. He's hopeless, but I'm used to his mood swings.
"You're the best, Rin", he chuckles. "I know I can't be easy..."
"Indeed".
I smile though, and I leave my purple scarf on the edge of the bed. I didn't realize at first, but now I can hear many sounds coming for the other parts of the house. I guess that some of his siblings already started to gather here for 'spending time all together'. I gaze at Klaus. In the corridor, approaching voices and footsteps can be heard. He stiffens, about to say something, but...
"Klaus?"
A female voice rings out in the corridor through the door.
"I heard you coming home earlier. Are you here?"
Klaus looks nervous now, and he whispers:
"Alison, always the first on the scene, damn, nothing ever changes, right?"
An indistinct voice whispers something to her, and Klaus adds, his jaws clenched:
"Shit, Diego".
Before I can say anything, he has already swallowed three pills. I don't care if his siblings come in: if I have to stay here for a week, they will eventually have to deal with me in the house, sooner or later. I never met Allison. Klaus barely talks about her, but I read the tabloids at the hairdresser from time to time, like everyone else. She doesn't make me shy.
"Klaus?" she calls out again, as if she expects the worst. "Can you answer me, damn it?"
Finally, reluctantly, he responds in a sigh :
"Yeah, the door isn't locked".
Immediately, Allison appears, relieved, quickly followed by who I identify as Diego. They both spot me, and everything about my body language expresses apology. I'm sorry for being here on a terrible familial moment. Sorry for the state Klaus is in.
"I'm Rin".
This is by far the most helpful thing I can say, right now. And none of Allison or Diego see fit to introduce themselves in return. As Klaus's friend, I must be classified as a mindless junkie. Diego looks at the mess on the ground with deep criticism. Allison then walks up to Klaus and crosses her arms, overlooking him.
"What happened to you?"
He looks at her with empty eyes. I wait for a few seconds. And since he's still sulking, I sigh and speak for him:
"Post-rehab return to reality".
Allison lets out a sigh of disappointment, and Diego a little laugh of disdain.
"Honestly, that's his problem, he says. "I don't really care what this idiot does to himslef".
But Allison doesn't take it quite the same way.
"Seriously, Klaus? You're just out and you've already relapsed?"
Her tone is firm and stern. Klaus rolls his eyes, trying to avoid her gaze.
"Don't lecture me about something you don't understand", he says in a whisper.
I don't talk anymore. I am the displaced one in that house. Diego frowns, as about to speak, but Allison quickly held up a hand to silence him.
"Klaus", she says, her tone artificially soothing. "I...I know it's hard for you being sober. But damn it's not ~the right time~ to do this to us! And you can't keep living like this."
Diego looks at Allison with eyes as sharp as blades. The relationship between them seems to be anything but cordial.
"Allison, you really don't give a shit about him, do you?".
I have good reason to think that Klaus isn't even listening, and that he won't even remember seeing them, tomorrow.
"Listen", I venture to say. "Klaus asked for me to stay here for a while. I know this is not the best moment but... if I can be of any help about him and if you all don't mind... I will stay..."
Allison and Diego both turn to look at me, their expressions torn, and I know what's on their mind. On one hand, they don't want me to stay: after all, this is supposed to be an austere family reunion, not a house party... but on the other hand, they can't deny the fact that I'm possibly able to force their brother to stay 'somewhat afloat'. After a few seconds of tense silence, Diego mutters something inaudible and Allison eventually nods.
"Fine," she says as she stands up.
"Try to get him on his feet for the eulogy, because Luther will definitely want one".
I nod yes, a little taken aback by the situation I was thrown into in just fifteen minutes of time.
"Thank you. I... I won't be a bother".
"You're not the bother", she retorts, but her voice is softer when talking to me.
"Klaus is".
A little nervously, she takes out a cigarette and lights it. For her either, the situation is not simple.
"When is... the funeral speech?", I ask very cautiously.
Allison tilts towards the ceiling.
"Well, it was supposed to be tomorrow... but I'm not sure anymore. It's all going to depend on this idiot's ability to stand on his feet".
I nod. Unfortunately, as far as Klaus is concerned, 'standing on his feet' often means 'being high enough to not be down'. But - unexpectedly - in the middle of the slight silence that settled in his messy room, we hear him say:
"Fine. I'll stay sober until we're done with all this shit".
His voice almost too quiet to hear, but Allison and Diego seem to take it as a promise. And believing Klaus' promises when he's stone is really a mistake. They walk towards the door, on the go, but Allison turns to me one last time, taking another drag from her cigarette.
"Dinner is in thirty minutes. Mom cooked".
And on this invitation which sounds more like an ultimatum, she closes the door behind them.
As soon as they are gone, Klaus relaxes significantly and his attitude turns mischievous again.
"It's brilliant, what you told them".
"That I'm going to be your nanny for a week?".
Klaus lets out a little amused chuckle and say:
"That's... not that far from the truth, actually".
But I'm not really in the mood to laugh. I don't know if Klaus realizes it, but now he will have to try and stand by his words.
"You promised Allison to get sober", I tell him a little abruptly. "Listen I can do my best to help, but... there are things over which I am powerless".
"Come on", he interjects, "your power is super cool. 'Crack!', you disappear from here. 'Crack!', you reappear over there. Crack!', you collect the burgers at Berty's. 'Crack!' You're a freakin' instant emo delivery service."
"I'm not emo."
I sigh. I wasn't talking about 'that' power, but Klaus' neurons are unplugged plugs. Yet after a moment, he seems to understand as his expression switches to a more anxious one.
"Yeah I know what I'll get if I sober up. Tonight, 'they' probably won't rest in peace".
We both know what he's talking about. Who. And Klaus' problem is not only the dead that he can see, but also the memories haunting him. Maybe his siblings would see me as a bad person, but even if I don't condone Klaus being on drugs, the truth is that I don't blame him either, because I understand the reasons behind. He shakes his head, now looking away.
"I'll try not to burden you with all this, I'm a fucking shame."
I shake my head.
"You telegrammed me, I came, I'm okay to be caught in a spiral".
The corner of Klaus's mouth turns upward, his expression becoming indescribable.
"Thanks, Rin," he whispers, and as I finally stand up among the clutter, I pull him up onto his feet as well.
"I told you. That's my true power: to be able to stand you".
"There's no way it's a better power! 'Crack!', you jump to the convenience store downstairs. 'Crack!', you bring back the beers..."
He lets out a small laugh, then he rubs his eyes, wearing a somewhat pensive expression.
"My brother Five... he could do that as well".
I put my hands in my pockets.
"Yeah, you already told me so, once..."
I shake my head. I always knew that one day Klaus would make these kinds of connections. Better late than never. He scratches his head.
"The others, since you stay. They will understand that you are like us. Exactly like us".
"'Exactly'... not".
I shake my head because that's not true, even if Klaus is right: they'll know eventually. I roll up my left sleeve, and I reveal my forearm: fair-skinned, spotless, without any umbrella tattoo. Fourty-three children were born on October 1st, 1989, from mothers unaware they were pregnants before, and Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of them. However, I was never adopted by him, and that makes a pretty big difference in our lives indeed.
Klause's face turns to a somewhat solemn expression as his gaze tries to fixate on my bare forearm. He lightly brushes his finger over my untattooed skin, just once. Though he has witnessed this countless times before, he never truly pondered it until now. I know how tattoos feel. I have plenty too. But this one above his wrist, I know it pierced his skin and made it itch like fire more than any other.
He doesn't say anything for a moment, and I stare at him. Because today his father is dead. And all this past is behind him too. His gaze is lost, I can't tell where, and he finally whispers:
"I wish I had your life. I really do".
I don't say anything. I let him get drunk on his dreams, for once. My eyes briefly linger one last time on the umbrella tattoo on his left forearm, contrasting its absence on mine. My heart aches for Klaus, for the entire Hargreeves family. I'm sorry for their loss, today. And sorry to feel that it also means a kind of freedom now.
"Klaus, you are not a fucking shame right now".
I smile, as more noises are heard in the household.
"It's too bad that it won't last".
Notes:
You got it now, I chose to inject Rin into the plot of The Umbrella Academy season 1, from this starting point at the begining of episode 1. What if some events seen in the series were actually caused by some of Rin's actions in deleted scene? Let's see what we do with this!
Have you noticed that phones are deliberately absent from the TUA series?
Any comment will make my day!