Chapter 31: Party for Five

[Third Person's PoV] 

"Nathan, Nathan, Nathan, Nathan!" Klaus kept calling as they made their way inside.

Nathan sighed, "What, Klaus?"

"You got games on your phone?"

Nathan shot him a side-eye before rubbing his forehead. "What's wrong with *your* phone?"

"Had to sell it for drug money."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "If I give you my phone, will you leave me alone?"

"Yep!" Klaus replied, wiggling his fingers excitedly.

Nathan reluctantly handed over his phone. As the others headed toward the kitchen, Klaus grinned, "Headphones too, please!"

Nathan snapped his fingers, summoning a pair of headphones to keep Klaus occupied.

Meanwhile, Luther retreated to his room, locking the door behind him, while the others gathered around the kitchen table.

"Well, that went smoothly," Diego said, leaning back in his seat.

Allison glanced at Nathan. "Would you really have been able to bring him back? If we all agreed?"

Nathan scoffed. "What, having second thoughts about saying no?"

Allison sighed. "It's just... what Vanya said earlier got me thinking. Even when the old man was alive, we were all adults, doing our own thing. So, would it really have hurt us if he came back?"

Five cut in, "He'd already lived his life. He was ancient. Why drag him back for a few more years?"

"I'm not saying I want him back," Allison clarified, raising her hands. "It was just a thought."

Diego crossed his arms, looking impatient. "We've talked about the old man more than he deserved. Either we change the subject, or I'm out."

"Fine," Nathan said, grinning. "How about we turn this funeral into something else?"

"Like what?" Ben asked, intrigued.

"A celebration," Nathan suggested, his eyes landing on Five. "For Five's return."

Diego's frown softened into a smile. "Now *that* I can get behind."

"I'm up for it," Allison nodded, and soon everyone agreed.

Nathan clapped his hands, and in an instant, banners and decorations appeared, filling the room. By the kitchen entrance, a sign read: "Welcome Home, Five," with doodles of Five's face scattered around. On the table, a cake appeared with the words "Glad to Have You Back" written in frosting over a poorly drawn likeness of Five.

Five looked around, his deadpan expression slowly turning into a smile. "Okay, you guys are being ridiculous."

Ben grinned, raising a glass. "Think of this as us making up for missing forty-five of your birthdays."

Five chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Then I expect forty-five presents from each of you. Double for Christmas."

"Yeah, no."

"No way in hell."

"I don't have that kind of cash."

Everyone refused in unison, causing Five to shake his head with a smirk.

Diego stood up, grabbing a beer from the fridge. Popping it open, he raised it toward Five. "Welcome home, hermano."

He took a sip, then thrust the bottle in the air. "To Five!"

"To Five!" The rest echoed, raising their drinks.

Five looked around at his family, shaking his head. "You guys are so corny. How do you do this without feeling embarrassed?"

And so, the small party for Five kicked off, lasting well into the night.

"Well, I can't drink too much since I'm driving," Diego said, setting his drink down.

Ben glanced around at his siblings before turning to Jennifer. "Jennifer and I are heading out early. Got a long day tomorrow."

"Make sure you wear a condom!" Nathan called out as they left, causing both Ben and Jennifer to turn bright red.

Allison raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smirk. "Were they...?"

"Oh, definitely," Nathan grinned. "And fun fact, did you know horniness is also an emotion I can feel?"

Diego clapped him on the back. "Congrats, man. At least you don't have E.D."

Nathan shot him a glare. "I meant with my empathic abilities, you idiot."

"Anyway, I should head out too." Diego began gathering his stuff, and the rest of the group followed suit, deciding to call it a night.

As Five prepared to leave, Nathan stopped him. "And where do you think you're going?"

"Explain to me how in this mansion, with all these rooms, there isn't a single grain of coffee to be found?" Five replied, exasperated.

Nathan smirked. "Alright, alright, calm down, old man. I'll get you some coffee. All you had to do was ask."

Five scoffed. "This is how I know you're an amateur. You can't just *create* coffee. It's an art. The process, the anticipation—ordering it, watching it brew, smelling it as it fills the room, pouring it into a cup and watching the steam rise. That's what I'm craving right now. I'm going to a nearby diner for a cup. You coming?"

"You know what, sure," Nathan said, snatching his phone back from Klaus' hands.

Klaus froze for a second, then bolted after Diego, who had just exited and gotten into his car.

Without hesitation, Klaus dove through an open window, startling Diego. "What the hell are you doing?" Diego asked, wide-eyed.

"No time for questions! Step on it! This might be the last time you see your favorite brother! Just drive!" Klaus urged, looking panicked.

Nathan glanced at his phone and froze, his eye twitching. Klaus had made a *Pornhub* account on his phone under the username *Rogue_Eagle99* and had spent the entire evening watching gay porn.

"KLAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUSSSSS!!" Nathan roared, shaking the house with his fury.

Klaus' face paled as he clutched the car seat. "Please, Diego! I beg you! Just drive!!"

"What the hell did you do!?" Diego asked as he turned the key in the ignition and floored it.

Nathan, still seething, crushed his phone in his hand. "He was using my phone to watch porn," he spat venomously.

Five chuckled, clearly entertained. "Well, that explains the headphones and why he was so quiet. Still joining me, or...?"

Nathan sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, I'm coming. If I see Klaus right now, I might beat him to a pulp."

The two headed out, eventually finding themselves at a small diner, sitting at the counter.

"Two black coffees," Five ordered.

The older woman behind the counter glanced at Nathan and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's what your son wants?"

Nathan covered his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter, while Five stared ahead, stone-faced.

Patting Five's head, Nathan grinned. "Yeah, my son's got a weird obsession with coffee. Two cups, please."

The woman smiled warmly. "Coming right up."

Five smacked Nathan's hand away, his eyes narrowing. "Do that again, and I'll literally kill you."

Nathan raised his hands in mock surrender, clearly amused. "Whatever you say, my son, don't worry after this you can even stay up after midnight"

"I seriously hate you" Five said glaring at Nathan. 

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