Ben Hargreeves | Number 6

They had averted the apocalypse.

Or, really, they had averted this apocalypse, which was experienced by Five, and which the Commission had been determined to see happen at the hands of Vanya.

Allison had bundled Vanya up in a cloud of cashmere and chanel and whisked her off to LA, unwilling to remain away from her daughter and even less willing to leave Vanya in the hands of any of her 'emotionally constipated, idiot brothers'.

Luther had wanted to go with them, but Allison only let him come on the understanding that he couldn't live with her and Vanya yet. He had betrayed Vanya terribly and that would take time to heal.

With Luther, Allison and Vanya gone, about ninety percent of the horrendous tension left with them. Ben was dead and couldn't feel anything, but even he had felt the constant tension of walking on eggshells.

And it left the four of them in the house.

Sir was dead (still) and hadn't bothered with trying to haunt Klaus (yay), which meant that there was no real reason to avoid the old house, aside from years of trauma and nightmares, which had never been enough to stop any of them doing anything.

Klaus moved back into his room. Diego moved back into his. Five moved into another room, well away from everyone else because he was trying to learn to how to be a person but it was a long, slow process and he needed space and quiet more than the rest of them.

Ben... was still dead.

But since they were doing this thing, Ben decided to start where his nightmares were oriented.

The cellar. Not Vanya's basement, but the old, converted cellar, where it was always cool and damp and there was no possibility of bringing down a building if They got out.

Which was why, some half an hour later, there was the terrifying, inhuman shrieking of the Horror having been unleashed. And, even more strangely, it was a scream that echoed as ripples through the spirit plane, ghosts fleeing and energy twisting, centred back down on that cellar.

"Father."

"Number six. What is it?"

Six stepped into the office, pulling at his blazer. He was starting to shoot up, nothing like his brothers, but the sleeves were getting too short and he was going to need new clothes soon. "I have a request for a new addition to my uniform."

Sir Reginald looked up. He didn't often bother looking at them, so Six assumed this meant that he had his attention and permission to continue. "A leather coat, with a hood, because it will help to deflect blood, be easy to rinse off and keep clean and provide weather protection."

"Your current uniform suffices." Sir Reginald's head went down again.

"The zip keeps getting stuck. Because it's difficult to clean zippers. The coat would help minimise that. The zipper's been an issue a few times before and after missions." He tried to keep his voice calm, unemotional. Father listened more if he felt the discussion was based in logic and not passion.

"A valid comment. I will consider it." The hand with the pen paused. "Anything else, Number Six?"

"No, sir!" He took a step back. "Thank you for listening to me, Father."

Sir Reginald made a small noise and Six scampered off, grinning from ear to ear.

Two and Four were going to be so jealous.