YEARS AGO
The Fire Incident
Trapped in a room engulfed by flames, Mr. Addams and little Morticia were the only ones inside. The fire grew worse with every second that passed.
Sirens echoed outside as firefighters desperately tried to extinguish the blaze, but their efforts were futile. Morticia’s eyes grew drowsy; it was getting harder to breathe. Still, she tried her best to hold on.
Mr. Addams kept trying every possible way to create a path for them to escape. Finally, he succeeded, finding a small opening.
“Come on!” Mr. Addams pulled Morticia and began leading her out of the fiery trap. But a crack echoed above them. Mr. Addams quickly noticed a massive, cracked beam falling toward them.
It was going to crush Morticia.
Instinctively, he grabbed her and threw her through the small opening, just as the beam came crashing down on him.
“No!” Morticia’s high-pitched scream pierced the air. Her father gave her one last look before taking his final breath.
“Dad!” Morticia screamed, trying to rush back, but a hand grabbed her waist, dragging her away.
“No! Let me go! My dad is still in there! Let me go!”
Once outside, Morticia saw that it was Klaus who had pulled her to safety.
“Why did you bring me out? My father is in there!” she yelled, trying to break free, but her knees gave out, and she collapsed, unconscious, onto the ground.
_
“How is she?” Klaus asked when Vincent came to sit beside him, his face heavy with concern.
“Not good,” Vincent said, clenching his jaw. “Not good at all.”
Klaus clenched his fists. Morticia had locked herself in her room, bawling her eyes out.
“She’s still blaming herself for what happened,” Vincent mumbled, his eyes full of worry for his sister. He hadn’t been home with Ava, as they were both away for work.
The guilt weighed heavily on them.
“Thank you for saving and protecting her,” Vincent said, casting a glance at Klaus. “The neighbors said you rushed in without hesitation, ignoring the danger.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Klaus muttered.
“I can’t believe she’s asthmatic now,” Vincent sighed. Silence settled between them.
“Hey, Klaus,” Vincent said softly after a while. “Whenever I’m not around, can you protect her like a big brother?”
Klaus stayed silent for a moment. “I will. Bunnie is like my sister, after all.”
Soon, Ava broke the news that Morticia was missing. Everyone started searching for her, worried because she hadn’t fully recovered from her minor injuries from the fire.
Klaus was the first to find her. She was sitting in a corner, her head buried between her knees. He texted Vincent, letting him know he’d found her and would bring her home once she was okay.
As he approached, he heard her soft cries. His heart broke seeing her like this. He sat beside her quietly.
Morticia, sensing his presence, didn’t look up.
“How long are you going to keep crying and blaming yourself for what happened?” Klaus asked.
“Go away, Klaus,” she croaked, her voice heavy with pain.
Klaus cleared his throat, unsure how to console her without triggering her emotions further. Quietly, he pulled her into his embrace.
“I saw him die,” she whispered after a long silence.
“It’s not your fault,” he said softly.
Her body shifted slightly, his words seeming to reach her. Though she continued sobbing, it eventually stopped, and she fell asleep in his arms.
Klaus stared at the girl in his arms, his mind wandering to the promise he made to Vincent.
“My little sister,” he thought. The words felt strange.
But maybe-just maybe-he had fallen in love with her without realizing it.
–
PRESENT
Klaus had crossed the line, breaking it in the worst possible way. He didn’t regret following his heart, but he regretted doing it the wrong way.
Vincent should never have found out like this. He should have have found a way to tell him before this occur.
The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to choke anyone.
“Vincent, I can explain,” Morticia stepped forward, breaking the unbearable silence. She had put her shirt back on.
Without breaking eye contact with the man he once trusted, Vincent let out a low chuckle-a sound that mocked himself.
Klaus remained silent. He knew Vincent well enough to realize that explaining or apologizing would only fuel his rage. He tried to stay calm, but he knew Vincent wouldn’t go easy on him. Klaus braced himself for what was coming.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” Vincent finally spoke, his voice heavy and cold.
Klaus clenched his jaw, prompting Vincent to take a step closer.
Morticia stepped between them, knowing how brutal her brother could be. She never expected him to find out like this, and guilt gnawed at her.
“Please, stay calm, Vince. I fell in love with him a long time ago, and-”
“Move.” Vincent’s cold eyes landed on her. Morticia bit her lip, startled by the look he gave her-a look he had never directed at her before.
He walked past her, now standing in front of Klaus, who remained still.
“What were you doing with her, huh?” Vincent asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“I love her,” Klaus replied quietly. It was all he could say.
Vincent chuckled bitterly, running a hand through his hair.
“Are you fucking serious? You got bored with all those bitches you’ve messed with and decided to fuck with my sister?”
“I’m not like that anymore,” Klaus said calmly. “I love her.”
Vincent’s fist flew toward Klaus’s face. The punch was so strong that Klaus staggered.
“Vince!” Morticia exclaimed, rushing forward to stop her brother.
“How long has this been going on?” Vincent demanded, directing his anger at Morticia.
“For a while now. It’s not his fault, so don’t hurt him,” Morticia panicked. “Please.”
“Did he sleep with you?” Vincent asked suddenly.
Klaus looked up, and Morticia swallowed hard. Face turning paled.
Her silence was answer enough.
With a loud growl, Vincent slammed his fist into the dining table.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Morty?!” Vincent yelled, his voice filled with rage.
For the first time, he yelled at her, and Morticia shrank back.
“Vincent, stop!” Klaus interjected, stepping in to shield her from her brother’s anger. “I’m sorry, okay.”
Apologizing would trigger Vincent’s rage further, redirecting it toward him-and that was exactly what Klaus wanted.
It worked. Vincent turned back to Klaus and unleashed a three hard punches, hitting him in the face, chest, and other vital areas. Klaus didn’t bother dodging, enduring the brutal assault without resistance.
“I trusted you Klaus!” Vincent held his by the neck and slammed him onto the wall. Though they were the same height, Klaus was a tiny bit builder than Vincent.
Their strength was practically same. One would wondering who was more dangerous between them.
Unlike Klaus who says harsh things, that could break anyone while angry… Vincent goes with violence.
“Why, Klaus?! Why the fuck would you-of all people-do this?!”
Klaus knew Vincent was holding back from hitting anything that might kill him, but the violence was relentless.
“Stop, Vincent!” Morticia cried out, unable to watch any longer.
He might kill him!