unhingedchaos | {In a fight that's never ending

After talking things over with Dylan's dad, Klaus was set up to go to Serenity Springs to suffer through the first week of detox in a clinic where things could be more controlled. There would be weekly outpatient appointments for at least a few weeks after, but first? He had to get through the initial hurdles of detox.

Serenity Springs is a high-end sort of facility, the kind that's more like a lounge vacation that one might expect high-profile celebrities to use. Klaus... wasn't surprised when his name caused a few perked eyebrows; he was met with plenty of Hargreeves, huh? Yeah, I've heard of you. and similar such suspicions. Apparently, part of the reason Papa Lenivy chose this one was that several other clinics outright refused him. Not surprisingly, he's been in and out of several of them over the years, usually court-mandated, and usually an absolute pain in everyone's ass his entire stay. Serenity Springs dealt with a particular type of clientele on the regular, though, and they were more than ready to accommodate the former child hero turned addict just fine.

The first three days were the worst, and he felt the most alone then; so used to having the comfort of someone next to him to sink into, he found sleep particularly difficult. And that was before he really started getting in the weeds with symptoms. It was as bad as one might expect for someone so deep in the throes of addiction as Klaus has been for so long; aches and nausea might have been the most noticeable immediately, but he didn't particularly love the back-and-forth of chills and fever, either. He could barely eat, and what he did get down didn't stay for long. It was not a pretty sight, and he was glad Nick had pointed out the need for professional intervention- he wouldn't have wanted him or Dylan watching this part in live time, truthfully.

After his initial 48 hours had passed, he was allowed small amounts of phone use- it all felt so similar to jail phone calls, monitored and short communications, but he was glad for it. To hear familiar voices on the other end, even while the one he's started referring to as Nurse Ratched listens in the whole time.

From the third day forward, he was allowed visitors, of which he had... a few? He isn't great company and is certainly much more subdued than his usual self, but he's thrilled when someone stops by. Brightens up considerably when there's a knock on the door and the orderly guiding his guest leads them inside with a quiet murmur of 'Let the nurse's desk know if you need anything,' before disappearing and leaving him to his visitor.

"...hey," the greeting comes a little choked, a little raspy and weak, his smile small but there. He gives something of a spirit wave with his fingers and gestures for them to join him-- there's not much for sitting space, but there is a chair at the desk in the corner or the bed which he's currently curled up in.

Edited 2025-12-17 17:10 (UTC)

[ And after everything Mike's said about anxiety and not wanting to leave the house and all that? How he's stated that it's so hard for him, even if he's trying to actually work on it now? Yeah, he's here, standing in this doorway even if he feels like he wants to die because of it.

It's just a fair assumption he made Five bring him. He's never going to get used to that but he'll put up with it here. The only reason he doesn't say Klaus is his favorite brother is because they're too damn alike and there's no way he can show favor to anything resembling himself. But surely the guy knows that.

He points at his eyes, points at Klaus, then kind of drops his hand without finishing whatever he was going to do next with that particular move. ]

You look like shit. Or me in July. It'll feel worth it in awhile, I promise.

I feel worse than I look.

[He assures him with a coughed out laugh as he pushes himself to sit up a little more, and that's probably all the effort he'll have the energy for, for a few minutes at least.]

Yeah... reaaaally wish I could just have a little hair of the dog, yanno. [Another groan. Not the way he's supposed to be thinking, but... he doesn't care. At least it's honest? He hasn't signed himself out of the place, though- partially because he'd arranged it with Papa Lenivy not to let it be allowed, but that's besides the point!]

Nope, not happening. Not again.

[ He steps in the door and pulls it closed with some sort of final click. He doesn't even dwindle there, Mike just makes quick note of the one camera and all the blind spots. He knows how to pull bullshit without getting caught and it's today that he definitely plans bullshit. ]

We're going to make a deal here and it's going to make you feel supported, loved and wanted. Seen. Got it?

[ He clears his throat and glances at him, glances at the wall. ]

No, I know- just the misery talking, promise.

[There's something... significant about the way his baby brother steps properly into the room, the door clicking shut, those vague, starting words to... something? Klaus is too muddy-brained to deduce much, here, surface-level awareness, all the way, thanks.]

Okay...? [He shifts a little- uncomfortable how he's sitting? Maybe. Maybe he's a little nervous about where this is going now.]

Sure, yeah. It's a whole fucking misery business.

[ He steps towards him now and glances at the camera again. He hooks his ankle around the leg of the bed and just tugs it wholesale with his calves and leg muscles, until it's not in the view of the camera. He doesn't think about it, just does it, he's been working double time on making his body recover ever since he started to recover enough from the whole pregnancy and labor to do so. ]

Don't worry about getting up. Just be a proper horse and lay in your stable.

Para-amooore [He holds the band's name out, a weak "rock" hand held up for a second until, oh- shit! The whole bed just moved.]

Earthquake?! [No, just Klaus being dramatic. He does look a little queasy for a second, there. Maybe that wasn't your best plan, Mike. He sinks against the pillows heavily, but can't help the laugh at that last comment.] Okay... what... what're you doin'?

Yeah, yeah. I'm not that boyfriend of yours, I'm not making everything a music reference on purpose.

[ 'What a nerd' is the unstated period on that sentence there. He leans in closer and places a hand on Klaus' face, attempts to turn it this way or that. Looking him over, assessing what damage he might have done with that move. He knows it wasn't great, but it was necessary. Everything will be clear in a moment, in a way that reveals he's never not going to be this intense person that demands everything in the world in return for his affection and care. ]

Just tell me when it all stops moving or whatever. We've got something to do here.

You sure? I mean- that was arguably one of their biggest songs, it's- [He laughs abruptly and shakes his head.] Nevermind. You're right, he's kind of infecting my brain. [All said with the utmost fondness, though.

He doesn't flinch, barely even seems to notice the way Mike gets in his space like that- between his father, EMTs, doctors of all varieties, and being the guy that often passed out somewhere weird at a house party, he's used to being poked, prodded, studied in all sorts of ways. This was tame compared to most of what he's endured, honestly.]

What? Mike- if this is some ghost shit or whatever I- [He shakes his head, waving his hands in a very clear "no, no, no" sort of way.] I can't.... not right now, not like this. It's too much. [He drags a hand through his hair and sighs; he doesn't want to just be another disappointment, but god, he's wrecked right now.]

Can't say I've walked in your shoes with this one, but I'm here if you need anything. Except my whisky. Hands off the Johnnie Walker. Proud of you, little brother.

[Klaus has reacted to your message.]

Hey, ghost boy. I know we don't always talk a lot, and you're a little weird for my tastes, but you're super important to two of the most important people in MY life, so this feels a little necessary. I won't pretend to know what it's like. But I'm pretty sure one thing is always true: We get too comfortable in the patterns we form, whatever shape they may take, and breaking free of them is hard. Change is scary, and it's that way for a reason. But it's worth all the bullshit we have to go through to get there, to whatever new thing lies on the other side of the door once we're through the worst of it. Stay strong & listen to your therapist(s)! -K.

[Klaus has reacted to your message.]

[This one low-key made him tear up to read when he got his phone privileges back, maybe because Kaitlyn does seem to just tolerate him because of their mutual connections. She's blunt in a way that most people are afraid to be, and that means he knows she'd never bullshit him. If someone who only tolerates him can see the effort, it's got to mean something is different this time, right?]

Edited 2025-12-17 18:07 (UTC)

[A few days AFTER this, but BEFORE this decision was actually made.]

----

[He saw that last message that Mike had sent the other day, of course, he did. It's not like he had any self-control when it comes to letting phone notifications go if he's right there when they go off.

'...the prickly edge of quitting' has been on some weird loop in the back of his mind for days now, just hanging out up there, rent-free, while he went about his day. Along with other things like, 'Who said anything about quitting?' and 'Not that I can't. I can quit whenever I want. Not like I've never done it before.'

Thoughts swirl around in his head like this for days, until finally, he can't stand it, and he has to text Mike. Maybe make demands, or tell him he doesn't know what he's talking about, and no one said anything about that, ain't no quitter in this house.

That's the expectation.
Instead, the reality is more like Klaus curled up on the couch with his back shoved into the corner of one side of it, staring at his phone. Typing a little, changing his mind, and deleting it all over again.

Eventually, he does finally actually send something through: ]

y did u say that the edge of quitting thing the other day

because I can see the signs and I also know the things Nicholas expects ok if you don't soon he's going to get on it if he gets on it, in the full moon he'll get mean about it Can you actually handle that shit

[ Because it's not like Mike could! Damn. ]

it's not about him but it is too it has to be if you're actually going to be functional in a relationship

what signs

[He'll circle back to the rest, probably.
But he's kind of singularly focused right this second, give him a minute, Mike.]

i havent said nething ike that so where r u seein shit that s not there

[Today, brought to you by the letter 'D' for Denial!]

nope. not how it works. can't tell you. You'll figure it out. maybe in a bad way like i did. maybe sooner. let's hope for that one.

[ He's not trying to be unhelpful, he just knows how this would go if he actually did answer the question. ]

thats bulshit n u know it y cant u just ansrwr a fuckin ?

nope and that's why if i tell you and you're pissed and it goes wrong you hold it against me or if it goes right maybe you do too you gotta figure it out yourself. i know reginald didn't actually prep for that one but you gotta do it man. i'm not him, i'm not throwing you out i'm doing the opposite thanks

w/e nobody ever gives me real answrs 2 shit neway time 2 act like klaus is just an idiot guess ur a real harwgreves now

nope and that's why if i tell you and you're pissed and it goes wrong you hold it against me or if it goes right maybe you do too you gotta figure it out yourself. i know reginald didn't actually prep for that one but you gotta do it man. i'm not him, i'm not throwing you out i'm doing the opposite thanks Would I tell you an idiot that. twice if i told you before. you'd just tell him. you know you can't. because you're not an i d i o t.

y r u just repeating shit u alrdy said i read it thats unnecerrty

It's on purpose. ON PURPOSE BECAUSE we repeat as addicts too. remember you're not an idiot. And that I see everything

cute ha ha its a cycle bet u think ur rellay clevr huh yeahyeah ur a hackerman but what r u tlkn abt seeeing what i haent said nething liktis????

No. Not hackerman here, Nor do I think I'm clever. I think I'm the person who's saying what you don't want so you're pissed. And I don't care about people getting pissed at me so do it, but it doesn't change any shit at all.

im functionsal btw perfeclty fucking fucntional my relationships fine

[Circling back to earlier, to avoid what he's saying now, for $300, Alex.]

sure, because i haven't been the addict with nick Try again, Sally

w/e im not u this isnt ur relationship w/ him is differnnt

Sure, but the same element is there that he literally told me he won't accept for himself for long Can't beat that, when he decides something for himself he keeps it

[He stares at those last texts for several long, stretching minutes, chewing on the nail of his thumb.]

he wont hes not its fine were all 3 fine

[But he's thinking now about Nick's break-off attempt from not so long ago. That conversation had ended up going better than he anticipated. But the idea of it, of what it almost was, coupled with these very definitive statements from Mike are crawling through his mind now- What if?
What if Nick did decide that?
If Dylan couldn't handle his bullshit anymore?
What if he wasn't lucky like last time?

He doesn't notice the way he's swaying slightly in place on the couch, more of a rock side to side. Classic self-soothing actions, but he doesn't recognize it in himself at all.

What he does recognize is the panic that starts to claw its way into his chest and steal the air directly from his lungs. The way it creeps up into his throat to choke him. He's the picture of someone on the edge. The edge of what? He doesnt know yet.

the prickly edge of quitting, indeed...]

{In a fight that's never ending

{It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive, I'm not an addict, maybe that's a lie

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text @ 4:31pm, Day 5

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text @ 8:11am, Day 1

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@ Mikey Mike 💀 👻

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...this is prob getting worse before he works his way to accepting it... whoops

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as i was saying about dylan interrupting... i didn't mean for it to be RN but uhhhh lol