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“You don’t have a child. You’ve never even been in a relationship.”
“That’s not true.”
“So you know what it’s like to love someone like this? Like when you’re apart from her, you can’t breathe? Like you would… you would die, and I… I mean actually… die… to know that she’s okay and happy. You separate yourself from everyone and everything.”
Allison had been right though. Viktor had never let anyone in. He didn’t know how to.
Then he met Leonard. He found someone who actually saw him instead of his siblings. But Allison didn’t like that. She stated her disapproval every chance she could, looked Leonard up right after meeting him, and broke into his house.
Allison had been right about Leonard but it felt more like she hadn’t wanted Viktor to be with someone after she’d told him he couldn’t love, like she didn’t trust him to make his own decisions. She had been right but it had still hurt.
Then he met Sissy and Harlan. Allison was nowhere in sight, he wasn’t in his family’s shadows, and he couldn’t even remember all the pain he had endured. Sure, there was Carl but Carl was barely around. Viktor had his own happy world. He had a woman he loved and a boy who was basically his son. No, Harlan was Viktor’s son.
Happily ever afters never last forever.
Viktor went back to his own time with his family. Sissy and Harlan stayed behind.
Viktor found a history book. It said Sissy had died on his birthday. Viktor ripped the page out and pocketed it. It was all he had left of her.
And then Harlan came back. He came back and saved them.
"Why are you protecting this guy, huh? It's like Peabody all over again."
"Harlan is nothing like Leonard."
"Well, he's clearly got some kind of hold over you."
Viktor didn't know whether he wanted to slap Luther or cry. Harlan was nothing like Leonard. Plus, Viktor could take care of himself. He knew the signs of a Leonard and, though he didn’t want to admit it, Allison was starting to show signs. She was trying to isolate him from others, she didn’t trust him to do things himself, she made things about herself.
Viktor wanted to be wrong about Allison.
Harlan had given Viktor his powers back. Viktor woke up alone. He went to the Sparrow Academy and found out Allison had killed Harlan, had killed Viktor’s son.
“So you know what it’s like to love someone like this? Like when you’re apart from her, you can’t breathe?”
Viktor couldn’t breathe.
How could Allison do this to him? It wasn’t Harlan’s fault. It was an accident. He tried to explain it wasn't Harlan's fault but his own.
"And if you need someone to blame, I'm right here–"
"What makes you think I don't?"
No. Harlan could not have died for this.
"This wasn't about saving the world. This was about hurting me."
Viktor wanted to be wrong. He was right.
"Did killing Harlan bring Claire back?"
"Did protecting him bring Sissy back? It was just as personal for you–"
"I didn't kill anyone!"
"But you risked everyone! Do you know what that felt like? Watching you fight harder to protect the man who helped destroy my daughter than you ever did to bring her back?"
Deep breaths.
"I don't know how to bring Claire back. Okay? No one does. But I was there for you. I tried. I was–"
"To what? Help me grieve? God, this whole family is so quick to tell me to suck up my pain and so worried about fixing yours! Somebody had to pay because you never seem to. Destroy the world, kill Pogo, almost kill me, and for what? So we can all run around and clean up your mess? I'm sick of it."
It wasn't fair. What was even the point of arguing against her? She wasn't even listening to him. Had she ever listened to him? He had to try. He had to find a way to make her understand.
"Okay, I–"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Viktor choked and reached for his throat, unwanted thoughts of the time he slit Allison's throat coming to mind.
He couldn't breathe.
He couldn't breathe.
He couldn't breathe.