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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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.