Number 4 was special.

They all were, but Reginald never made them feel that way. And though Pogo was eternally grateful for the life that had been given him, this was one of those little things he disagreed with the man's position on.

Four took it the hardest, always trying and trying to live up to the expectations that were set before him, always failing to reach them and always made to feel lesser for it, both by his siblings and by his father.

Pogo had never looked on at the boy in domination, as his first brother did; with cruelty, as his father did; with indifference as his 'little' brother did; with judgement as his 'elder' sister did; with the frightened curiosity his 'younger' sister did; nor with the obligation to which his second brother did; with the friendship Number 6 gave to him, or even with the disappointment the boy was trained to believe he deserved.

No, Pogo watched Klaus with kindness.

He had done nothing to deserve the opposite, and because the boy had hardly any light in his life at all, Pogo gave him kindness.

A smile here, a sweet there, always when his father wasn't watching. A pat on the back for a job well done, a gentle scolding with positive feedback when he did something foolish as young boys often will. Silent praise Pogo hoped Klaus could see in his eyes.

It wasn't enough to deter the boy from his fate of drugs and misery and hard, hard lessons, but still, Pogo was kind.

A gentle hug, rare as they were, went a long way with the touch-starved child, as did a cool cloth on his forehead when Klaus went through withdrawal.

He encouraged the boy when he was down, helped him back to his feet. Asked him, never accused him, when items of value went missing from the house.

Pogo knew the lives the children led. He knew his role in their downfall. He knew the destruction they would one day bring about to the world. But right now, they were children, just children, and until the moment he died, he would do whatever it took to ensure that they, especially Number 4, knew, that he loved them.

And that they were special.