The thought that all of this could end, that everything could come crashing down around them based on how they deal with Vanya? It's horrifying. It makes the robotic voice on the phone feel like a knife between the ribs, separating the two of them from the happy, safe world where Patrick and Claire exist.
"I will tell her a thousand times just for you," he responds, his voice softer than before but just as energetic. "I miss you, too. But the phone's cutting off, turns out Uncle Klaus forgot his purse and he's run right out of coins. Is that your daddy? Make sure to give him a big old hug for us. Tell him we miss him. That we'll be home soon."
The robotic voice warns again and Klaus squeezes Allison, arm curled around her back, holding her tight to him. "But we gotta go, Claire-bear. Chat again soon. Hugs and kisses."
He makes a noisy little kissing sound and pulls the phone away just in time to hear a rustle, to hear Claire parrot his words back to Patrick, and he's never felt more relieved and more guilty in his life for relishing in the sound of the phone clicking back into its dock.
With his other arm free, he reaches to curl it around Allison, holding her snugly against his chest, a hand reaching to cradle the back of her head. "I'm so sorry, Allison," he murmurs, even though his own world feels like its falling apart. But he's going to have to shoulder this, for all of them. Maybe they make it through whatever this apocalypse is, maybe they get to go home. But there's so much to explain, so many hurtles now, even at home.
"I've got you. I'm not letting go, either, so don't even think about leaving." He laughs a tiny bit and presses a kiss to the side of her head. They'll have to get back inside soon, have to return to the circle of who-what-why-when-hows. They'll have to find Vanya and stop her at all costs.
"We'll fix this. I'll find a way. We'll be back home before you know it. I swear, Al, I swear."
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"I will tell her a thousand times just for you," he responds, his voice softer than before but just as energetic. "I miss you, too. But the phone's cutting off, turns out Uncle Klaus forgot his purse and he's run right out of coins. Is that your daddy? Make sure to give him a big old hug for us. Tell him we miss him. That we'll be home soon."
The robotic voice warns again and Klaus squeezes Allison, arm curled around her back, holding her tight to him. "But we gotta go, Claire-bear. Chat again soon. Hugs and kisses."
He makes a noisy little kissing sound and pulls the phone away just in time to hear a rustle, to hear Claire parrot his words back to Patrick, and he's never felt more relieved and more guilty in his life for relishing in the sound of the phone clicking back into its dock.
With his other arm free, he reaches to curl it around Allison, holding her snugly against his chest, a hand reaching to cradle the back of her head. "I'm so sorry, Allison," he murmurs, even though his own world feels like its falling apart. But he's going to have to shoulder this, for all of them. Maybe they make it through whatever this apocalypse is, maybe they get to go home. But there's so much to explain, so many hurtles now, even at home.
"I've got you. I'm not letting go, either, so don't even think about leaving." He laughs a tiny bit and presses a kiss to the side of her head. They'll have to get back inside soon, have to return to the circle of who-what-why-when-hows. They'll have to find Vanya and stop her at all costs.
"We'll fix this. I'll find a way. We'll be back home before you know it. I swear, Al, I swear."