Klaus doesn't know what he expects Vanya to say, but when she apologizes for Ben, he turns to look at her with wide eyes, surprised.
"Oh, Vanny, no..." Klaus breathes, reaching a hand to squeeze her forearm. Something squeezes deep in his chest, because the pain and the fear she feels now is something he's carried with him all of his life. From the moment he summoned Ben and turned him away from that white light all those years ago, to the moment Ben faded away, Klaus could neve shake the feeling he was responsible.
"You didn't hurt him. You could never hurt him. Some spirits aren't meant to stay around as long as they have and let me tell you, Bennyboy and I go way back. If anything, I'm the one that caused him trauma over the years. I mean, can you imagine? Living with me for most of your adult life? Ugh." He rolls his eyes but he removes his hand from Vanya's arm, only to loop his own around her shoulders and tug her into his side. "So quit all that silly thinking you're doing there. You've done nothing wrong."
He pauses, thoughtful, and looks away from her for the first time. "I told Ben he didn't have to go, back when he died. I always thought it was my fault he stayed around, that I messed up the whole afterlife for him, you know? Talk about a buzzkill."
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"Oh, Vanny, no..." Klaus breathes, reaching a hand to squeeze her forearm. Something squeezes deep in his chest, because the pain and the fear she feels now is something he's carried with him all of his life. From the moment he summoned Ben and turned him away from that white light all those years ago, to the moment Ben faded away, Klaus could neve shake the feeling he was responsible.
"You didn't hurt him. You could never hurt him. Some spirits aren't meant to stay around as long as they have and let me tell you, Bennyboy and I go way back. If anything, I'm the one that caused him trauma over the years. I mean, can you imagine? Living with me for most of your adult life? Ugh." He rolls his eyes but he removes his hand from Vanya's arm, only to loop his own around her shoulders and tug her into his side. "So quit all that silly thinking you're doing there. You've done nothing wrong."
He pauses, thoughtful, and looks away from her for the first time. "I told Ben he didn't have to go, back when he died. I always thought it was my fault he stayed around, that I messed up the whole afterlife for him, you know? Talk about a buzzkill."