Klaus

There were many things that Klaus was aware of. Small things that occurred in the town he knew all too well. A slight shift of his walking pattern and he avoided collision with a police officer on the street. His pocketwatch clicked.

He stared at the branches of a tree and watched that same raven arrive home with a loose strip of that morning's newspaper. He became tense. He knew what came next. He glanced at himself in a shop window, pushed his curls behind his ear, and popped his collar once more. A loud slamming of the store door was his cue. He side-eyed the entrance, a figure in a dark coat rushed out. He watched him pace for a while before leaving across town. He followed.

There was no particular reason for him to be so interested in the man. He was as blind and fogged as the rest of the population on the island. But something about the way he spoke, and the way he walked struck him as odd. He could almost remember where he has seen such mannerisms but as he almost reached that door of his memories, a loud ringing sounded in his mind. Empty. He watched as the short man motioned for a stagecoach to stop. Klaus hurried closer. The man stepped inside the coach, and Klaus snuck to the other side. He waited until the horses started to trot before swinging the door open and hopping in. 

Franz made a yelp that sounded almost like a wounded animal. He looked around desperately for an escape. Klaus folded his leg, resting comfortably back.

"No need, Mr. Schwarz. I'm not here to hurt you," he assured.

Franz's eyes were wide with fear, "Not that! How did you find me? How did you--"

Klaus's eyes went cold, "I simply knew. Now, have you changed your mind?"

Franz froze, his fingers clinging to the hem of his coat. Klaus noticed the man's strange tick right away.

Klaus spoke a little softer, "My mission, the tickets. Remember?"

Franz nodded, his brow relaxing slightly. He licked his lips nervously, glancing around the coach.

He muttered quietly. "I can't stay here. I can't stay in Auchtermuchty. They will hunt me down."

Klaus raised a brow, "So does that mean we have a deal?"

He offered his hand. Franz stared at his hand for a moment before putting himself back together again. That strangely familiar posture was regained, his shoulders pulled back, his hands flat at his knees, legs perfectly balanced on the ground. Franz, despite his awkward outward appearance, resonated a confident air in the coach.

He leaned in, "No. First thing's first. This whole plan...we need boundaries, rules."

Klaus nodded, "Of course. A partnership requires trust."

Franz continued, "First, this mission. What is it exactly? You said you needed to break into the Royal Palace, but you didn't say why."

Klaus smiled, "That's for me to know, Mr. Schwarz."

Franz frowned, "I don't see how I can trust you, Klaus, if you don't give me a reason to. For all I know, you could be planning to assassinate the royal family."

"Well, rest easy in the knowledge that my plan does not require direct harm to any members of the royal family. That said, I can't promise others won't be hurt on our path. Collateral, you know."

Franz's eye twitched, "Fine. I guess I knew that much, considering your crimes against the officers of this town."

"Sometimes you have to do difficult things to get what you want, Mr. Schwarz."

"That leads me to my second point, I will not be doing such a thing. Killing I mean. You may be fine with spilling some blood here and there but I am not a killer. You hear me?" 

Klaus grinned, "No problem. But that doesn't mean I'll promise to protect you, Mr. Schwarz."

Franz nodded, " I'm aware. I'll deal with a problem like that if it comes down to it."

He shifted in his seat. Klaus tapped his leg rhythmically, "Is that all?"

Franz stiffened, "One last thing. You came to me for help because I have valuable knowledge, correct?"

"I wouldn't call it valuable, more like convenient."

"Either way, what I think and what I say is important. So you will treat it as such. No impulsivities and always sticking to a plan, got it?"

Klaus was humored by the man's sudden commanding fire. He was elated to start working with him. His shiny grin grew larger, his dimples prominent in the dimly lit coach. He reached his hand out again.

"We have a deal, Franz Schwarz."

Franz took his hand, a strong grip from a thin hand, and shook it.

"We have a deal, Klaus." 

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They arrived at the estate. Klaus noticed it seemed more depressing in the daylight. Grayer and more decayed. Franz walked with a slight limp, he noticed as well. He watched the strange German take cautious steps up to his estate.

"What's the matter?" Klaus questioned. 

Franz bit his lip, "We've been getting a lot of guests recently. Detectives. They're looking for you."

Klaus paused his ascension, "Are they here now?"

Franz listened in. After a while, he nodded.

Klaus cursed under his breath. He was exhausted, he didn't feel like getting another bullet to the chest that morning. He smacked his lips and continued to the front door. 

"No matter, I'll be a minute."

Franz frantically rushed to block his path, "No, wait! I can have them leave. Just hide somewhere for a while."

Klaus caught sight of a ledge on one of the sides of the estate. He turned his attention back to Franz and nodded. Franz straightened his coat and rested a hand on the handle of the door. He made a faint signal with his eyes to Klaus, and he hopped over the stair rail into the shrubbery. He figured he could climb the ledge up to the roof and find an open window. He waited until he was sure that the street was free of passersby before gripping onto the estate's marble structure and lifting himself. It wasn't that difficult, considering his strength did most of the work for him. He only needed to have a good grip on the structure and off he went. He swung himself onto the metal shingles of the roof. Klaus sat, perched like a gargoyle on the top. His hat slipped slightly off his head and he tilted it back, blowing a blond curl off his forehead. He lowered himself slightly, upside down, and pressed a gloved on the window beneath him. It was stuck. He sat back up and shuffled above the next window. He tried that one. No luck. He frowned and climbed higher up the estate. Klaus slid down to the backside and tried another window. This time the window shook slightly. He smiled and pushed it harder. It lifted with ease. He held onto the ledge above and pulled himself down, resting his boots on the window, before pulling himself inside. He raised himself from his landing squat and dusted himself off.

Klaus looked around the room he had landed in. It was simple. A small bed was cushioned in one corner, a mirror on a beside near the door. What did surprise him, though, was the terrified maid pressed against the wooden door. 

"Oh, hello." He tipped his hat. 

The woman had her hands pressed against her chest, to keep her rapidly beating heart in her chest where it belonged. She stayed quiet.

"Oh! I remember you! You're the maid that stitched me up a few nights ago!" He walked closer.

She squeaked and slammed a hand on the door handle, "I-I didn't tell anyone about you, I swear on my mother's grave! I kept my mouth shut! Please...please."

She sobbed quietly. Klaus's face dropped, "No. I'm not here to--oh my--here have a handkerchief."

He handed her sniffling face his handkerchief as she wiped away her tears with a shaking hand. 

"You're not go-going to k-kill me?" She hiccupped.

Klaus rubbed his forehead, "No. Your master and I work together now."

The maid's eyes lit up, "You mean, he's taking the deal? He's going to London!"

Klaus smiled weakly, "Yes...in a way. Er, what's your name?"

She sniffed and passed the handkerchief back to him, "Clara, Clara Griggs."

Klaus grinned, "Well, Ms. Griggs, any chance you could make me some tea? I'm dreadfully parched."

She nodded and slid out of the room nervously. He was struck with concern and quickly grabbed her arm before she left. She tensed and stared into his pale blue eyes. 

"Oh, and Ms. Griggs, please do not think of telling those detectives down there about me. Or I'll have you clean up the shriveled corpse of your master from these floors after you fetch that tea."

Her gaze drew cold. She bit her lip and nodded. Klaus smiled and released her, as she floated down the hallway.