"They're gonna get a picture whether you like it or not. Welcome to Cali."
Klaus just considers the nosy media part of his every day life, but he does make a mental note to see what Allison's people can do to clean up anything left over from this little visit.
And while Klaus isn't too surprised by the defensiveness in his brother's tone, it does make him backpedal just slightly. He doesn't have that kind of forward, frank relationship with his brother. Not when it comes to these more emotional things, certainly. For while Klaus might be a little more willing to open up under pressure, he knows too well Diego hasn't had the same opportunity in many ways.
So Klaus lets go of Diego's hand in favor of plopping his chin into his own palm, propping his elbow up on one knee. "Ooh, badge of honor, not your first time, huh?" He smirks and gives a playful wink, even though that's not at all what Diego means, but Klaus knows too well he needs to diffuse the tension, to bring some levity back into the room. They can get into the nitty gritty shit later, when Diego's nice and drugged up and in a little less pain.
Thirty years and they still have so much to learn about one another.
"But that's not gonna stop me from being a fussy mother hen. Believe it or not, your wild, partying little brother makes a very good nursemaid. I look especially good in a little nurse's uniform. Should I go find one?"
The novelty of being on a magazine or a newspaper faded a long time ago for Diego, and the idea of appearing on either one again is beyond irritating. Although, if he were to be honest with himself, he'd realize that it's not really the paparazzi itself that he's annoyed with. He knows he had messed up. He had gotten sloppy. Now this added downside is just another consequence to his mistakes, and he hates it.
That's what he gets though, isn't it? For screwing it all up, for getting too comfortable. Learning lessons, as Reginald would call them.
The playful wink makes Diego just sigh under his breath, especially when he tells him he'll be fussing over him. Not that he's that surprised, really; Diego wouldn't say that he's close to any of his siblings, but if he had to choose someone? Klaus would definitely be the sibling he has always been closest to. They gravitated towards each other in ways that he never did with anyone else. They had protected each other in whatever ways they could figure out as children, the two with the quiet and vulnerable personalities trying to shield each other from their father's wrath. Life has molded them each differently, has forged them into different people than who they once had been - who they once could have been - but despite all those changes and all the years between them, Klaus is still who Diego falls back on.
That's why, right now, he doesn't necessarily mind having him here even if he hates the situation as a whole.
"You do that and I'm definitely hauling ass out of here, so don't." He's about to say something else when a nurse walks in, asking about his pain level and checking his vitals. Diego sounds almost monotone as he responds, as if he's reading from a script that he knows too well, because even if he's in a different city he's familiar with all the questions that these visit bring up since this is most definitely not his first rodeo, but he at least doesn't seem or sound too combative.
Except when his question about when he'll be out of here is answered with a 'why don't you get some rest, hun, we need to keep you under observation but you can ask the doctor in the morning.' For a moment Diego is ready to argue, but the nurse is already giving him a pain killer to take off the edge, because apparently his answer of one in regards to how he'd label his pain level hadn't been too convincing.
As the nurse leaves, Diego just shakes his head again. "This is bullshit."
"I would look great in a nurse uniform you know," he sighs a little, though he quiets down when the nurse comes in to check Diego's vitals. The pain killer she administers might have something to do with Klaus's own skeptical look, but she's come and gone just as quickly as the rest. Only when he's sure she's gone does he let out a dramatic sigh once again. "I have the legs for it."
For emphasis he raises one leg to rest on the bed and gives his foot a little spin near Diego's shoulder. He's careful not to jostle the bed too much.
"It is bullshit though, you're right. Hospitals are just such a drag but you know what keeps you from visiting one? Taking care of yourself. Self control. Maybe the active use of whatever few remaining braincells you have. I mean, not that I can judge you, Lady Ex took all of my brain cells away years and years ago but here we are."
He pats Diego's hand, giving it a soft squeeze whether he likes it or not. He's worried. Klaus can't help his worry, can't help the need to fix everything. He couldn't help Allison, not really, but maybe he can help Diego? He's still pouring from an empty tank but this? This he can do.
"Instead of cursing all of California, you could try sleeping. I hear it's very good for you. This gruff dude with knives told me all about it once. But just imagine, you can sleep a little now and then when you feel like the inside of Satan's asshole tomorrow and want to try and leave, at least you can say you've slept a little. Do yourself a little good, won't you? I could even spoon you, if you want. I'm a much better little spoon, but I'll concede my usual spot for tonight. For your sake."
If it didn't hurt to breathe, Diego would have probably shoved Klaus off the bed at the way he rests his leg next to him but instead he just settles for an eyeroll.
Especially as Klaus does his little lecture, and Diego just presses a button on the rail of the bed so that the bed can recline a little. The motion hurts, of course, especially considering the broken ribs, but he just can't stay laying down.
"The guy that hardly sleeps is talking to me about sleeping? Wow. Tell ya what, 'til you actually do it, you don't get to give me shit about that." He quirks his lips into a sort of smile, but it fades as quickly as it comes as he adjusts himself a little better. "Just find something on TV, we can just...pretend to watch something, I guess."
Klaus lets out a noise of surprise when the bed moves and he gives Diego a look, even though he's sure it wasn't completely intentional. He can see the pain on his brother's bruised face and that alone is enough to sober him a little more.
"Yes, yes, the guy that doesn't sleep is telling you that you look like shit. That's saying something, coming from the man who has made looking like shit into a fashion trend."
He slides away from the bed though, giving Diego more room, and he tugs up another blanket around his brother. He swipes the TV control and flips through a few channels, finally landing on some cheesy, old western.
"I'm down to pretend, but you'd better pretend with your eyes closed, mister. Imagine John Wayne sexily strutting across the back of your eyelids." He settles back into the chair beside the bed and lets out a breath. "That's the torture you deserve for scaring me, thank you very much."
Despite their relationship, and the bond they’ve been developing the last few weeks, it’s still weird for Diego to be fussed over. He’s not used to it - he doubts any of them are - but he’s definitely not used to family visits in the hospital. He’s used to someone else sitting here with him, lecturing him, trying to make him stay put. And, as much as Diego has been trying to ignore the gaping hole in his heart, it all feels like it smacks him in the face as he’s hit with yet another aspect of his life that Patch won’t be in anymore.
He tries to push the thought away, though, tries to ignore the way it gnaws away at him and almost threatens his ability to breathe properly. But thankfully Klaus talks again, and Diego forces himself back to reality. The memories of Eudora is part of the reason why Klaus’s words hit him differently than they normally would and, while he’s almost ready to roll his eyes again, for a moment he finds himself unable to muster up the energy to do so.
“Sorry,” he finally says quietly, his voice as tired and worn as he suddenly feels. “Didn’t mean to worry you.”
Klaus waves Diego off a little, though it's more to help ease his brother's discomfort than anything else. At the end of the day, he will worry about all of his siblings. He loves them all to varying degrees, but they're family. He can't help it.
"You can make it up to me by getting some rest and feeling better. And when you're back in tip-top shape I'll take some of my own medicine for once and stop giving you a hard time." He smiles a little and scoots his chair closer, if only so he can fold his arms on the bed next to Diego's shoulder and rest his head on them, not quite jostling or touching his brother, but close.
"We'll get you checked out of here tomorrow and have you home. You look like shit but it's shit we've all seen before, right?" He smiles at his brother. "I'm just glad I can help you for a change. About time, right?" He snorts. "So don't sweat it. You're getting all mushy and soft and it's incredibly uncomfortable." A joke, of course, but his eyes hold all the warmth.
His lips curve slightly into a small smile that's hardly there, but it's at least genuine. "Yeah, well. It's your fault for coming here, no one told you to show up."
It's a joke of his own, and the lack of bite in his words show it. He can't get rid of how tired he sounds - or feels - but at least he's no longer just trying to shrug this whole thing off.
For now, anyway. But Klaus mentions getting him checked out tomorrow, and that helps a lot. He hates being here with a burning passion, but if he will help him get out of here in the morning, then he can tolerate it for a few hours. He's not sure if Klaus is just saying that to appease him, or if it's the truth, but Diego plans to hold him to it, anyway. And, even if it could be a lie, it's enough to ease some of the dread he feels by being in this damn place, and he visibly relaxes.
"Thanks for being here," he finally adds after a moment, even if his gaze is on the television. Even if he's actually starting to doze off, because the painkiller is making it easy to dull out the pain enough to at least help him breathe.
"Oh, yes, you're right. I'll leave you completely alone and unidentified next time. That way I can pretend I don't know you when you get arrested for punching a nurse."
Klaus sighs a little, watching his brother's expression. He's always felt a kinship with Diego even when they hadn't quite gotten along as kids. No matter how often they squabbled or picked at one another, Klaus knew that at the end of the day, Diego was a solid presence he could rely on if he needed it. He might get an earful about it, but reliable all the same. If Klaus can be even a modicum of that for his brother now, he wants to.
He turns his head toward the TV himself, watching as horses race by and fake gunfire sounds. He smiles a little when Diego speaks, but doesn't look back at his brother, something understood between them here. "Yeah. You, too."
Maybe not for being in the hospital, but if Klaus could thank him for showing up, for dragging them all to the surface? He would. Instead, he scoots his chair closer, keeps his head on his arms, but the fingers of his hand on top reach for Diego's. Not quite holding his hand, but resting just on top. "Try and sleep."
If this had been another time, with Diego using his usual defenses, he would have probably said something stupid - like how being being alone and unidentified isn't exactly new to him. That's how life had been for him - for most of them, really.
But, while he may be somewhat doped up on pain medication, he still holds back that response because he knows damn well that it's no longer applicable. Not after stopping the world from ending; not after working together to put Vanya back together. Not with all his time in Los Angeles, trying to piece both Klaus and Allison together. The last few months haven't been easy, but they're actually becoming an actual family, and while maybe they had spent over twelve years apart, things are different now.
That's why, when Klaus settles closer, when his fingers rest on top of his, Diego doesn't pull away, or push him away. He takes it for what it is, a reassuring gesture from his brother, refusing to leave him alone, and it makes it easy to let himself doze off. He's not alone anymore, after all.
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no subject
Klaus just considers the nosy media part of his every day life, but he does make a mental note to see what Allison's people can do to clean up anything left over from this little visit.
And while Klaus isn't too surprised by the defensiveness in his brother's tone, it does make him backpedal just slightly. He doesn't have that kind of forward, frank relationship with his brother. Not when it comes to these more emotional things, certainly. For while Klaus might be a little more willing to open up under pressure, he knows too well Diego hasn't had the same opportunity in many ways.
So Klaus lets go of Diego's hand in favor of plopping his chin into his own palm, propping his elbow up on one knee. "Ooh, badge of honor, not your first time, huh?" He smirks and gives a playful wink, even though that's not at all what Diego means, but Klaus knows too well he needs to diffuse the tension, to bring some levity back into the room. They can get into the nitty gritty shit later, when Diego's nice and drugged up and in a little less pain.
Thirty years and they still have so much to learn about one another.
"But that's not gonna stop me from being a fussy mother hen. Believe it or not, your wild, partying little brother makes a very good nursemaid. I look especially good in a little nurse's uniform. Should I go find one?"
no subject
That's what he gets though, isn't it? For screwing it all up, for getting too comfortable. Learning lessons, as Reginald would call them.
The playful wink makes Diego just sigh under his breath, especially when he tells him he'll be fussing over him. Not that he's that surprised, really; Diego wouldn't say that he's close to any of his siblings, but if he had to choose someone? Klaus would definitely be the sibling he has always been closest to. They gravitated towards each other in ways that he never did with anyone else. They had protected each other in whatever ways they could figure out as children, the two with the quiet and vulnerable personalities trying to shield each other from their father's wrath. Life has molded them each differently, has forged them into different people than who they once had been - who they once could have been - but despite all those changes and all the years between them, Klaus is still who Diego falls back on.
That's why, right now, he doesn't necessarily mind having him here even if he hates the situation as a whole.
"You do that and I'm definitely hauling ass out of here, so don't." He's about to say something else when a nurse walks in, asking about his pain level and checking his vitals. Diego sounds almost monotone as he responds, as if he's reading from a script that he knows too well, because even if he's in a different city he's familiar with all the questions that these visit bring up since this is most definitely not his first rodeo, but he at least doesn't seem or sound too combative.
Except when his question about when he'll be out of here is answered with a 'why don't you get some rest, hun, we need to keep you under observation but you can ask the doctor in the morning.' For a moment Diego is ready to argue, but the nurse is already giving him a pain killer to take off the edge, because apparently his answer of one in regards to how he'd label his pain level hadn't been too convincing.
As the nurse leaves, Diego just shakes his head again. "This is bullshit."
no subject
For emphasis he raises one leg to rest on the bed and gives his foot a little spin near Diego's shoulder. He's careful not to jostle the bed too much.
"It is bullshit though, you're right. Hospitals are just such a drag but you know what keeps you from visiting one? Taking care of yourself. Self control. Maybe the active use of whatever few remaining braincells you have. I mean, not that I can judge you, Lady Ex took all of my brain cells away years and years ago but here we are."
He pats Diego's hand, giving it a soft squeeze whether he likes it or not. He's worried. Klaus can't help his worry, can't help the need to fix everything. He couldn't help Allison, not really, but maybe he can help Diego? He's still pouring from an empty tank but this? This he can do.
"Instead of cursing all of California, you could try sleeping. I hear it's very good for you. This gruff dude with knives told me all about it once. But just imagine, you can sleep a little now and then when you feel like the inside of Satan's asshole tomorrow and want to try and leave, at least you can say you've slept a little. Do yourself a little good, won't you? I could even spoon you, if you want. I'm a much better little spoon, but I'll concede my usual spot for tonight. For your sake."
no subject
Especially as Klaus does his little lecture, and Diego just presses a button on the rail of the bed so that the bed can recline a little. The motion hurts, of course, especially considering the broken ribs, but he just can't stay laying down.
"The guy that hardly sleeps is talking to me about sleeping? Wow. Tell ya what, 'til you actually do it, you don't get to give me shit about that." He quirks his lips into a sort of smile, but it fades as quickly as it comes as he adjusts himself a little better. "Just find something on TV, we can just...pretend to watch something, I guess."
no subject
"Yes, yes, the guy that doesn't sleep is telling you that you look like shit. That's saying something, coming from the man who has made looking like shit into a fashion trend."
He slides away from the bed though, giving Diego more room, and he tugs up another blanket around his brother. He swipes the TV control and flips through a few channels, finally landing on some cheesy, old western.
"I'm down to pretend, but you'd better pretend with your eyes closed, mister. Imagine John Wayne sexily strutting across the back of your eyelids." He settles back into the chair beside the bed and lets out a breath. "That's the torture you deserve for scaring me, thank you very much."
no subject
He tries to push the thought away, though, tries to ignore the way it gnaws away at him and almost threatens his ability to breathe properly. But thankfully Klaus talks again, and Diego forces himself back to reality. The memories of Eudora is part of the reason why Klaus’s words hit him differently than they normally would and, while he’s almost ready to roll his eyes again, for a moment he finds himself unable to muster up the energy to do so.
“Sorry,” he finally says quietly, his voice as tired and worn as he suddenly feels. “Didn’t mean to worry you.”
no subject
Klaus waves Diego off a little, though it's more to help ease his brother's discomfort than anything else. At the end of the day, he will worry about all of his siblings. He loves them all to varying degrees, but they're family. He can't help it.
"You can make it up to me by getting some rest and feeling better. And when you're back in tip-top shape I'll take some of my own medicine for once and stop giving you a hard time." He smiles a little and scoots his chair closer, if only so he can fold his arms on the bed next to Diego's shoulder and rest his head on them, not quite jostling or touching his brother, but close.
"We'll get you checked out of here tomorrow and have you home. You look like shit but it's shit we've all seen before, right?" He smiles at his brother. "I'm just glad I can help you for a change. About time, right?" He snorts. "So don't sweat it. You're getting all mushy and soft and it's incredibly uncomfortable." A joke, of course, but his eyes hold all the warmth.
no subject
It's a joke of his own, and the lack of bite in his words show it. He can't get rid of how tired he sounds - or feels - but at least he's no longer just trying to shrug this whole thing off.
For now, anyway. But Klaus mentions getting him checked out tomorrow, and that helps a lot. He hates being here with a burning passion, but if he will help him get out of here in the morning, then he can tolerate it for a few hours. He's not sure if Klaus is just saying that to appease him, or if it's the truth, but Diego plans to hold him to it, anyway. And, even if it could be a lie, it's enough to ease some of the dread he feels by being in this damn place, and he visibly relaxes.
"Thanks for being here," he finally adds after a moment, even if his gaze is on the television. Even if he's actually starting to doze off, because the painkiller is making it easy to dull out the pain enough to at least help him breathe.
no subject
Klaus sighs a little, watching his brother's expression. He's always felt a kinship with Diego even when they hadn't quite gotten along as kids. No matter how often they squabbled or picked at one another, Klaus knew that at the end of the day, Diego was a solid presence he could rely on if he needed it. He might get an earful about it, but reliable all the same. If Klaus can be even a modicum of that for his brother now, he wants to.
He turns his head toward the TV himself, watching as horses race by and fake gunfire sounds. He smiles a little when Diego speaks, but doesn't look back at his brother, something understood between them here. "Yeah. You, too."
Maybe not for being in the hospital, but if Klaus could thank him for showing up, for dragging them all to the surface? He would. Instead, he scoots his chair closer, keeps his head on his arms, but the fingers of his hand on top reach for Diego's. Not quite holding his hand, but resting just on top. "Try and sleep."
no subject
But, while he may be somewhat doped up on pain medication, he still holds back that response because he knows damn well that it's no longer applicable. Not after stopping the world from ending; not after working together to put Vanya back together. Not with all his time in Los Angeles, trying to piece both Klaus and Allison together. The last few months haven't been easy, but they're actually becoming an actual family, and while maybe they had spent over twelve years apart, things are different now.
That's why, when Klaus settles closer, when his fingers rest on top of his, Diego doesn't pull away, or push him away. He takes it for what it is, a reassuring gesture from his brother, refusing to leave him alone, and it makes it easy to let himself doze off. He's not alone anymore, after all.