[ [ i'm having a lot of trouble with technology lately, i feel like an 80 year old woman whose grandchildren told her she can listen to old country music online whenever she wants and can't figure out how to do so, so she ends up accidentally sending all her retirement money to a scam artist in ashland kentucky

warnings: language, mentioned emotional abuse and drug abuse

i love this au so fuckin much. since i'm unoriginal, i'm using hargreeves as their last name bc i can't be trusted to come up with something original

this is short bc my body hates me and won't stop hurting so,,, yeah. more will be coming soon

stay safe,
lew. ]

———————

Grace's gaze swept over the group assembled at the kitchen table. "Your father loved you all in his own way," she said, her normal smile on her face.

Several of the siblings exchanged incredulous glances.

"Um, Mom, did you forget when he locked me in a mausoleum when I said I was afraid of ghosts?" Ezra asked.

Lewis added: "Or when he literally sent me to a music school in Paris so I wouldn't distracted any of the others?"

"Hey, I couldn't stand the prick, so I literally got myself stuck in the future," Five muttered.

Logan cleared his throat. "Well, he sent me-"

"-to the moon. You've only mentioned it a million times," Bailey groaned.

——

"Not to get all Alabama on you, but like, have you ever thought 'objectively, we have some hot siblings'-"

"Don't even finish that thought. That- that's just... crossing so many lines."

——

"Sir, it wasn't that bad!" Bailey all but shouted, trying to pry off the tight grip his father had on his wrist.

"You'd better apologize to your brother, young man!"

Grace paused in the doorway, a frown tugging on her lips and first aid kit in her hand. "What happened?"

"He punched Number One in the face."

Ezra, who had been standing behind Grace, gasped loudly, pressing his bandaged hand to his chest. "Oh no! Bailey, is your hand okay?"

——

"I think we need to keep him in there."

Logan's voice echoed down the corridor, allowing Ronnie to easily figure out where his brothers were. As he got closer, more voices joined the leader's.

"But- dude, that's not right! You can't just keep him locked up like that!" Bailey protested.

"This is Lewis. The boy who cried when we would step on ants as kids," Ezra added. "Why don't we just let him out and talk to him like a normal person would do?"

"Because he attacked Ronnie! He's obviously not as harmless as he seems!"

Ronnie had to pause, touch the bandage on his throat, before continuing towards the others. As he rounded the last corner, shock at the sight made him drop his notebook and marker.

Logan saw him coming, and blocked the blond from reaching the vault. Ronnie tried like hell to get past Logan, but he couldn't.

Instead of struggling, he simply reached out towards the glass pane in the door, where he could see Lewis clearly panicking. He waited until their eyes met, then he mouthed the words, "I forgive you".