CHAPTER FOURTEEN: CONNECTIONS

Sir Reginald Hargreeves was even more intimidating up close, Lotus shifted uncomfortably on her bar stool.

They were all line up along the counter while Five was offered a drink, he accepted and took a sip. Lotus sat quietly, interested in the conversation that was waiting to take place. This was either going to go well, or blow up in their faces. And from previous incidents that took place earlier, she was thinking there was more things that were going to explode.

"You seem to be the sensible one of the bunch."

"That's because I'm the oldest."

Lotus looked over, watching the slight confusion flicker across their old mans face.

"You know, technically, I'm older than you right now."

Reginald took a sip of his drink, "The other night you quoted Homer at me. Why?"

"You forced us all to learn it as kids." Five leaned back, adjusting his blazer. "In the original Greek, no less."

Lotus closed her eyes, the soft tropical music filling her ears. It was weird, being stuck in the sixties. If the world wasn't ending, she would've been excited to be there, preferably not stuck, but that wasn't their fault. It was cool to be able to get a glimpse at a life they would never get a chance to live in, to see the old styled vehicles and architecture, the fashion and the diners. That part was cool, the way society was, that part was not.

"The world ends in five days if we don't get out of the timeline."

"Worlds end. Palaeozoic, Jurassic, and so on."

Five huffed, "We can do something about this one!"

"Man's greatest flaw: the illusion of control."

"I need your help. All right? You're my last sane option." He shook his head, "Otherwise, I gotta make a deal that I really don't wanna make."

Lotus opened her eyes and turned to him, a brow raised. "What deal?"

He pursed his lips, "I'll tell you later."

That's a lie, she thought.

"What do you know about time travel?"

"In theory?"

"In practice."

Reginald nodded slowly, "I know it's akin to descending blindly into the depths of freezing waters and reappearing—"

"As an acorn." Five sighed, "I know."

"What transpired when you tried travelling before?"

"I botched it."

"How?"

Lotus tapped the counter, what a family reunion this was for the Hargreeves children.

"I jumped too far forward, got stuck in the future for 45 years in an apocalypse. Then I jumped too far backwards... except this time I brought my entire family with me."

"Maybe your appetite is disproportionate to the size of your abilities. Start small. Seconds, not decades."

"Seconds?" Five exclaimed, "Look, no offence, but I need a bit more time for what I'm trying to accomplish."

"So much can change in a matter of seconds." Reginald told him, "One could overthrow an empire. One could fall in love. An acorn doesn't become an oak overnight."

Lotus snorted, smacking the table with her hand. "Well this was a giant waste of time."

"I'm sorry I can't be of more help."

"I'm sorry too." Five pursed his lips, "I gave you such a hard time as a kid. I didn't know any better."

Reginald raised his glass, "No skin on my teeth, old man."

Five sighed, downing his drink before slipping off his stool. Lotus followed suit, trailing behind until Reginald cleared his throat. She paused, turning to face the man.

"Do you know anything about shapeshifting?"

He adjusted the monocle over his eye, "I've done some research."

She wandered back over, opting for standing instead of sitting. Five situated himself beside her, curiosity blooming.

"How much research."

Reginald shifted in his seat, "I know it is much more than just changing forms. It's not all only shifting your outer appearance and changing your voice, it's about becoming the thing you change into."

She nodded, "Okay. Anything else that I don't already know?"

"Shapeshifting is one of the most trickiest subjects. How does one form into another being? What happens when you change into a stranger?"

Lotus pursed her lips, "I can feel it more. It's not harder, but, it's unpleasant."

"And when you change into someone you know? Let's say, the man behind you."

"It's easy. I can't really feel the change anymore."

He took another swig of his drink, "It is because you are connected. The ones who you've formed a connection with will always be easier, for they feel like a second skin. When you shift, you'll always take a little piece of them with you. There are many more things you are capable of, you just have to figure them out. It's much more than just wearing the mask."

Lotus blinked slowly, nodding. Five nudged her arm and motioned to the elevator, she waved goodbye to Mr Hargreeves and followed him out. They remained silent in the elevator, carrying it out with them all the way to the parking lot.

"I'm guessing this wasn't helpful." She looked to him, "This dinner thing."

He shook his head, "No."

They stood alone, not knowing what to do next. Lotus looked around, the cool nights air feeling good on her warm skin.

"I've got to go." Five said, "There's some business I need to handle."

She frowned, "It's the deal you were talking about upstairs, isn't it?"

"It's our only option at this point."

"Fine, but just be careful, alright?"

He nodded, "Want me to drop you off at Elliott's?"

"Please. I'm not walking."

He rolled his eyes with a chuckle, slinking his arm around her as they vanished into thin air. The street in front of Morty's Television's was empty, Lotus moved away from Five and bid him goodbye.

"Wait." Five called.

She stopped and turned, "What?"

His lips formed a thin line, shaking his head. "Never mind. See you in a bit."

He vanished, she frowned before racing down the alley and swung open the door, when she made it to Elliott's open door she frowned. "Hello?"

"In here." Luther's voice trailed.

She entered, glancing around as she followed muffled voices. Her eyes widened as they landed on drops of red on the kitchen floor, she rushed the rest of the way until Luther and Diego came into frame.

"Are you guys alright?"

Luther stepped in her way, blocking her path. "You don't want to see this."

She tried peaking around him, "See what? What's going on?"

Diego sighed, "Elliott's dead."

Her jaw dropped, she shoved around Luther and spotted the dentist chair towards the railing. A figure laid on it, it's back to them. She could the blood pooled on the floor, and his bare foot hanging off of it.

"Oh my god." She whispered walking forward, gasping at the sight. He was covered in blood, mouth wide open with tools hanging out, tools even dug into his chest. "Who— why?"

Luther was on the other side, draping a green cover over him. "We just got back. Found him like this."

Her hands were shaking as she stepped back, "I'm going for a walk."

"You shouldn't go out alone." Diego chimed in, "Those guys are out there."

Lotus ignored him, walking back out the way she came and into the night. She'd go to Allison's, maybe Klaus was still there, or Vanya. She couldn't be in Elliott's apartment when he was dead. Murdered in his own home.

The only thing open by Allison's house was the diner, it was practically empty as she trailed in and sat at the counter. Her eyes were tired despite her nap, and her head was ringing more than ever.

"Can I get you anything?" A southern voice asked, she looked up to see— James? He smiled, "I saw you just the other night, didn't it?"

Lotus nodded, "I thought rich kids don't work."

"It's my cousin who has all the money." He chuckled, "I just tagged along."

All she wanted was to be alone, and of course the one person working in this stupid diner was a kid she hoped to never see again.

"It's a little late for a girl to be out by herself, don't you think?"

She glared over at him, "I think a girl can be out however late she wants to be."

"I know, but I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

Lotus groaned, sliding off her stool. "And if people controlled themselves, there wouldn't be a need to worry."

The bell dinged as she left, anger and sadness rolling off her in waves. She really liked Elliott. He was nice and funny and tried to help in anyway possible for their cause. And he was dead because of them. There was no doubt in her mind that it wasn't those three brothers, it had to be. They were crazy and probably found out they were all staying there. Elliott was dead because of them. They killed him.

Lotus frowned, giving up on her little walk. Instead of heading to Allison's, she turned and made her way back to Elliott's apartment. Her mind was clouded as she trailed back, Elliott's bloodied face burned into her head.