Thea had decided on a whim that her apartment needed a thorough spring cleaning. It wasn't like her place was a mess, in fact, it was quite the opposite. Thea Hargreeves was what one would call a sufferer of slight OCD tendencies and liked - or more like needed - her surroundings to be clean and tidy at all times. She wasn't this way as a child, especially not sharing a room with the likes of Klaus, who she was sure still didn't know how to use a vacuum cleaner.
It was only as she got older, and she'd begun paying for her own place and realising just how bloody expensive it was to be a functioning adult that her compulsive attention to detail and keeping everything tidy fully blossomed.
So, here she stood, surrounded by the hundreds of books she'd pulled from her bookshelves while dusting and all the boxes containing her memories in, hands on her hips and slightly regretting even starting such a monstrous task. She huffed, blowing the pale strand of hair from her face where it'd fallen from its messy bun.
Eyeing the boxes, her gaze caught a pastel blue photo album, and almost as though in a daze, the girl walked across her laminate flooring, stepping over piles of books as she went toward the box. She crouched down to retrieve the album, her fingers squeezing the book tightly not believing she'd forgotten about it until now.
Shakily, she walked over to sit on her sofa, disregarding the mess that surrounded her, too caught up in the small square photo album she held. With tentative hands, she opened up the cover to reveal the first page, where a frayed polaroid was displayed in the centre. The picture was of two children, both sleeping and wrapped within a large, fluffy pink duvet. The girl looked pale and flushed while the boy was frowning even in his sleep, though his arms were wrapped around her waist tightly, as though protecting her from the world and assuring himself she was still with him.
Thea's eyes watered at the photo, her mind flashing back the day the photo was taken...
The two children slept peacefully despite the swarm of blankets that covered them and the constant sniffles of the smaller girl, both of them were comfortable and safe within each other's arms.
That was until they heard a laugh which startled them awake and the sound of a camera shutter following shortly after. Confused, the girl groaned and rubbed her tired eyes, leaning on her elbow and peering over the pink duvet to see her twin laughing as he held a large camera in his hands.
The boy beside her groaned at the high-pitched giggles and his eyes fluttered open, peering into the sudden light in confusion. Thea smiled at her brother fondly, ruffling his messy bed-head, knowing her own probably wasn't much better. Five frowned and swatted at her playful hands, though his eyes shone with amusement as he gazed at her own messy blonde locks.
At the continued sound of laughing, both children sat up and stared at the intruder unimpressed at having been woken up.
"Klaus, what the hell do you want?" Five muttered darkly, squinting his eyes at his brother.
Klaus grinned cheekily at the two, waving a small square polaroid in his hand mockingly, "Just capturing this memorable moment of two teeny tiny pipsqueaks sleeping like babies."
Five glared at the jab at his height, though Thea just huffed, having made her peace with being so short, not caring anymore that all her siblings towered over her. Even Vanya, who was the second smallest of the Hargreeves children had a good inch or two on Thea at this point.
Thea yawned and brought her hand up to cover it politely, her sniffing reminding her of why exactly she was in bed cuddling up to Five. "Klaus, I'm tired. Did you want anything?" she asked as nicely as possible, too tired to put up with her twin's antics when she was sick.
Klaus' eyes softened at her flushed skin and red nose, walking over to the two and handing the polaroid to his sister. He ruffled her messy locks like she'd done to Five a minute ago and sent her a goofy smile. "Nope," he said, popping the 'p'. "Just wanted to see how you were doing and couldn't resist taking such a cute photo."
Thea looked down at the photo of her and Five, both asleep with peaceful expressions on their faces and smiled, humming her agreement. We certainly do look cute.
Five let out an unimpressed huff and Klaus turned to smirk at the boy, "Besides, this is my room too, you know. I could have easily stayed with you," he told them. Thea sent her twin a grateful smile, shaking her head. "No. I didn't want you getting ill too, Klausy."
"So why's Five here? Last I checked, he isn't immune to getting sick," he whined as he pointed a finger towards said boy. Five turned away, not deeming a response necessary, but Thea smiled at her two brothers, her heart warmed at both their care as she explained just why Five had stayed with her.
"I'd forgotten to take my medicine and Five brought it to me," she admitted. "I didn't like the taste because, honestly, that stuffs gross...but he said, and I quote, 'Seriously, take your medicine or I'll shove it down your throat' and refused to move until I did."
Klaus laughed at the mental image she described, Thea joining him as they both glanced at Five, noticing the slight flush on his neck as he continued staring out her bedroom window.
"You're too stubborn," Five muttered petulantly.
"Um, excuse me, pot calling the kettle black, much?" Thea shot back, smirking when he turned to her with narrowed eyes and a retort on his lips.
Klaus looked between the two and shook his head fondly, turning to leave the room, knowing that once those two began arguing there was no stopping them.
Coming back from her thoughts, Thea traced the younger Five's face with her finger fondly, her heart aching for her missing brother. It was in moments like this where Thea truly felt her heart breaking. She missed her brother more than anything - only coming second to the thought of Ben - and she still held onto the foolish belief that he'd pop in one day, rambling on about his many adventures in the future and all their problems would be forgotten.
Sighing, Thea let her gaze linger one more moment on the two children captured forever in the shiny polaroid before turning the page.
There, another picture sat, only this time it was of two children not much older than the previous, dressed up in matching Halloween costumes. Thea's previous sombre mood lightened at the fond memory behind the photo, her lips twitching at the corners as she remembered that day...
"Thea! Come on, already! We're going to be late!" a young boy shouted from the bottom of the steps. Hurried footsteps could be heard before a figure appeared on the top of the staircase, dressed up in a red and green suit, sporting a yellow cape that billowed behind her as she ran down the steps.
"Diego, we have plenty of time. Stop whining, that's not very fitting, you know," she chided, pointing to his outfit with a raised brow.
Diego huffed and turned away, muttering a 'whatever' under his breath as he adjusted his bat cowl that covered the top half of his face.
"Neither is being moody like a teenager," Thea sang and laughed when Diego went to hit her shoulder, narrowly missing as she moved back in time.
"Shut up! And p-put on your mask! You're ruining the c-costume!" Diego whined again, stuttering his words as he pointed to Thea's eye mask that she wore hanging from her neck. She hadn't wanted to wear it, it reminded her too much of her own domino mask that all the Umbrella Academy children wore.
"Calm down, bro. I'll take it seriously, okay? Here, look," she said and quickly slipped on her black mask and struck a confident pose, trying to ignore just how ridiculous her costume actually was and concentrating on pleasing her brother, who'd wanted this since last Halloween.
Matching costumes, something Thea only ever did with her twin - normally the two choosing something fitting like Mario and Luigi, Micky and Minnie, or even that one time they'd worn those ridiculous red onesies and blue wigs and gone as Thing 1 and Thing 2 - but this time she'd given in to Diego's demands of joining him in matching outfits.
This year, they were Batman and Robin.
Honestly, Thea was dumbstruck why she had to be Robin and wear the stupid gaudy outfit but just figured her brother wanted to be the cool one and went with it. Though, why she couldn't have been Catwoman or even the Joker was beyond her. Thea would have much preferred dressing up as a psychotic jester than Robin.
"We're going to be the best pair," Diego said happily, his white teeth shining as he sported a large grin. Thea smiled at her brother's excitement, the sight of his happiness making her less inclined to rip the atrocious outfit from her body and set it on fire.
As long as he's happy, it's all worth it. Thea chanted in her mind, gritting her teeth when Luther came running into the hallway holding up a large camera ready to take their photo.
Rolling her eyes, Thea sucked up her pride and moved to stand beside Diego, who was already straightening his back and puffing out his chest as though he were the real Batman.
Umbrella Academy members dressing up as fictional superheroes? Oh, the irony...
Thea stood beside him and struck a pose, her hands on her hips and a cheeky smile on her face, trying to portray the innocent sidekick to her best abilities, staring straight ahead as the camera flashed, capturing the moment forever.
Thea was laughing as she flicked to the next page, enjoying the trip down memory lane and how it brought up so many old memories she'd honestly forgotten. A fond yet melancholic smile appeared on her face as she looked at the next image, one of two blonde teens who stood confidently decked in domino masks and black catsuits, their faces holding a refined pride that defied their young ages...
"Very well done, Number Zero, Number One. You have successfully completed your first ever mission alone and have done the Umbrella Academy proud," Reginald Hargreeves spoke, his tone held authority and a hint of pride, something the two children before him had never heard coming from his lips before.
Both were speechless and simply gave their father curt nods at his praise. The man snapped the book he always wrote in shut and turned sharply to his desk, bringing out of a drawer a heavy camera. Thea wanted to raise a brow in confusion, but held back and kept her expression stoic, not wanting to ruin the moment.
"To commemorate this achievement and showcase the impressive power of the Umbrella Academy, we shall photograph you both. This will hopefully remind everybody here that we do not accept failure and that the Umbrella Academy is a force to be reckoned with."
Hargreeves' words were blunt and to the point, and Thea honestly expected nothing else, his previous pride had been replaced by expectations and orders to achieve even more. Thea held back a sigh of disappointment and continued to remain impassive.
"Now, stand tall and show just what members of the Umbrella Academy portray," Hargreeves ordered, prompting the two teens to stand tall and keep their backs straight.
Both their faces adopted stoic expressions, portraying themselves as though above everybody else and it was a mask so easily slipped into that Thea often wondered just where the line blurred between their true personalities and their Umbrella Academy personas.
The camera flashed, capturing the powerful image of the two teenage superheroes and Hargreeves gave a curt nod at the developed image before turning and leaving the room, not even spearing a second look in his children's direction.
Thea saw Luther's shoulders sag from the corner of her eye at their father's retreating back and felt her heart ache for her brother. He put too much faith in seeing the best in their father, while Thea had given up on trying to seek comfort from a man too cold-blooded to even name his own children.
She turned to her much taller brother, having to crane her neck upwards to meet his gaze, her head only reaching his abdomen. Thea linked her arm with his, smiling as he turned to her in confusion.
"How about we go see the others and tell them how badass we were earlier? I'm sure they'd love to hear how you threw that one guy so hard he flew through not one, but three brick walls," she suggested, grinning as Luther smiled in response and nodded his head.
She was happy she'd managed to take his mind from their disappointing father, wanting him to focus on the good job he'd done, and that no matter how dismissive their father would be of all his hard work, his siblings would always be there to listen to him.
Thea would always be there to listen and praise him for his achievements, no matter how small or inconsequential they were. She'd always remind Luther just how much his efforts mattered.
Thea turned the page again, a bright smile tugging at her lips at the sight of two small girls wearing summer dresses and flower crowns on their heads as they grinned up at the camera with excited grins...
It was a warm, summers day and two girls sat in the Academy garden on the lush, green grass soaking up as much sun as possible while their free time lasted.
Thea was laid on her front, concentrating on threading the stem of a daisy through another, humming quietly as she worked. A cool breeze passed by, making her blonde hair sway in the wind, and as Thea went to tuck it back behind her ear, she spotted her sister frowning as she gazed at the Academy walls.
"You know, you shouldn't frown," Thea said into the silence, catching the girl's attention as she turned to listen. "Because someone could be falling in love with your smile."
Vanya blushed at Thea's comment, tucking her brown hair behind her ear shyly, peeking up at her sister under her lashes. "I-I don't think, I mean- I don't think anyone would-"
Thea cut off Vanya's stuttering with her own words, "Don't say 'nobody would fall in love with my smile' because I call total bullshit, you have a lovely smile, Vanya. I think you should smile more," Thea told her honestly, smiling at her sister reassuringly.
"Y-You do?" Vanya asked shyly, letting her hair fall to her face to hide her embarrassed blush.
Thea hummed in reply, going back to threading her daisies, having almost finished her creation. "It always makes me smile when you do. Do you think I have a pretty smile?" she asked her sister, grinning when Vanya's eyes went wide at the question.
She giggled, "It's not a trick question, sis."
Vanya smiled and ran her fingers through the grass beneath her absentmindedly, glancing up at Thea who was concentrating on a few flowers in her hands, though Vanya wasn't sure exactly what she was doing.
"I think you have the prettiest smile," Vanya whispered, admitting it so quietly that Thea almost missed her words, but she didn't and turned to grin at her sister.
Before Vanya could run away out of awkwardness or embarrassment, Thea sprang from her sitting position and moved closer to the brunette, clutching the flowers in her hands.
Once the blonde sat in front of her sister, she leant forward and delicately placed one of the flower crowns she'd been making upon Vanya's soft hair. She followed that by placing the other crown upon her own head, grinning at their matching accessories.
"Wait there!" Thea said and quickly jumped up to run inside the Academy, leaving Vanya sitting on the grass touching the flower crown that sat upon her head with pink cheeks.
A few minutes later, Thea came running back outside dragging Allison behind her, who held a big camera in her hands. Thea let go of Allison and took Vanya's hand, turning them both to face their other sister who now held the camera by her eye ready to capture the moment.
"Say cheese!" Allison said happily.
"Cheese!" Thea and Vanya said in unison, huge grins on their faces, happy to be spending time with each other in the lovely summer sun.
Thea laughed lightly at the next photo, enjoying the memories that came with these two particular photos. Her relationship with her sisters had always been special, them being the only girls in the Academy. However, once Allison had begun becoming popular and had stopped putting in the effort to hang out with Vanya, it had put a strain on their friendship. It didn't help matters when Vanya began pulling away from them all and becoming more reclusive.
Thea looked down at the next polaroid that displayed two girls' faces close up, the photo reminiscent of a modern-day selfie...
"I just don't get it! Why can't he see that I like him in that way?" Allison whined as she continued painting Thea's nails a glittering gold. Said girl pursed her lips at her sister's question, trying to come up with a helpful answer to her current problems.
"Why not just tell him?" Thea suggested. Though she raised a brow when Allison shot her sister a disbelieving glare.
"Just tell him? Oh yeah, because that's so easy!" Allison said while waving her arm around in exasperation. Thea leant back to avoid the gold nail polish she wielded like a weapon, not really wanting her face to be covered in the sticky gloop.
"I mean, it kinda is, right? What's the worst that could happen?" Thea said uncaringly, not understanding why Allison didn't just tell Luther how she felt. The pair weren't exactly subtle in their glances at one another, and Thea was surprised their father hadn't yet figured it out.
"So why don't you do it, then?" Allison shot back, continuing to paint Thea's nails, her earlier rant forgotten. Thea raised a brow at her sister's comment.
"Me? What are you on about?" she asked.
Allison scoffed and rolled her eyes like the teenager she was, "You know what I'm talking about. You and Ben," she said as though Thea was stupid.
Thea choked on air at her comment and cursed as she felt her cheeks heating up. She glared at Allison who now wore a smug grin while watching her sister's embarrassment. "There is no me and Ben! I don't know what you're on about," she denied hotly.
Allison chuckled and sported a superior grin as though she knew something Thea didn't. She hummed disbelievingly, "Sure, just like you don't both hold hands and glance at one another at the table, or what about that one time he called you beautiful and you blushed like a-"
"Okay! Okay!" Thea cut her off, her cheeks now a dark red as she listed her and Ben's moments. She coughed and glanced away from a grinning Allison, "Okay...so maybe I might like him...but-but that doesn't mean you can't ask Luther! Don't try changing the subject!" she shouted and huffed childishly as Allison continued laughing at her.
After a few moments of listening to Allison's laughter, Thea gave up and joined in, honestly amused at both of their childishness. Allison fell into a heap against her sister's side, her wild, curly hair tickling her neck as she leant her head against Thea's shoulder.
"Boys. I honestly don't know why I like them so much," Allison drawled. Thea laughed at her sister's annoyance at her teenage hormones.
"Well, it's lucky I like both, then. Maybe I can dodge all the boy troubles and date a girl instead," Thea teased her sister who pouted at Thea's 'solution' to their boy issues.
"Yeah, well, when I'm famous I'm going to find the perfect man and if Luther still doesn't like me, then maybe I deserve better," Allison said, her chin tilted up defiantly. Thea smiled at her sister, admiring her self-respecting attitude.
A lot of people thought of Allison as stuck up or selfish, but Thea knew her sister just wanted what was best for herself and refused to take less. When something didn't go Allison's way, she was always determined to make it right and get what she wanted. Her go-get-it attitude was something Thea admired most about her sister.
"I agree. If Luther can't see what a wonderful person you are, then you can find somebody else. Though, I do think he likes you...I think he's just too caught up in Dad's stuff to do anything about it," Thea said. Allison nodded, agreeing with her observation. She was sad that the boy she liked cared more about missions than her.
"Besides, if you're truly meant to be together, life will find a way to make it happen," Thea commented, believing that philosophy to be true.
A few moments of silence passed, both girls enjoying the comfort the other offered and deep in thought, Thea glanced at her dry nails, admiring the glittering gold polish and how they shined in the light.
Allison suddenly shot up, making Thea fall sideways onto the bed, making an 'oof' sound as she did. She glanced up at her sister who was rummaging in her drawer, shouting out in glee as she held up a pink camera like a trophy.
"Found it! Let's forget all this depressing talk about boys and take a picture instead!" she suggested as she walked over to the bed, climbing on and settling herself next to Thea.
"These kinds of faces need to be seen on the cover of magazines," Allison drawled snootily, making Thea giggle, "and it's simply a crime for us to not capture our beauty."
Both girls fell into a fit of giggles at Allison's pretentious act. Allison held up the bright pink camera that was covered in stickers up in front of them, holding it backwards so that they could take a close-up photo of their faces, which were now squished together cheek-to-cheek grinning happily.
"3...2...1...say cheese!"
Thea had been laughing as she gazed at the photo of her and Allison, her mind going back to their young years as teenagers and how stereotypical her and Allison's sleepover nights used to be. She flicked the photo album onto the next page, smiling fondly at the photo displayed.
The twins stood side-by-side, both dressed up and decked in full-makeup and posing at the camera, who Thea remembered was held by their best friend...
Two teens were laying on a bed, both staring up at the ceiling as they shared a joint between them. The boy took a deep drag before passing it over to his sister, the girl doing the same and breathing out slowly, her mind calm and dazed.
The twins were both enjoying their free-time away from the hustle of the Academy and their over-demanding father.
"I'm bored," the boy drawled as he took another drag of the joint and let out a content sigh.
The girl huffed in amusement. "Klaus, when are you ever not bored?" Thea asked rhetorically.
She got an agreeing hum in reply and rolled her head to look over at her twin, her eyes roaming over his pale skin and wild curls. Thea racked her mind for something they could do, and her lips curled into a smirk as her eyes landed on their shared closet.
"I have an idea," Thea announced, making Klaus turn to her with a raised brow. "Oh yeah, and what is this grand idea, dear sister of mine?"
Thea shot up from her lying position, ignoring Klaus' whine of disapproval at her moving from his arms and walked over toward their closet, opening the doors with a flourish. Klaus sat up from the bed, his bare feet dangling over the edge as he watched his twin in amusement.
Thea turned to Klaus and gestured toward her clothes dramatically, "They're all yours, Klausy. Pick whatever you want and let's play dress-up."
Klaus grinned at her suggestion, putting out the joint in the ashtray on his bedside table and stumbling over toward Thea, running his hands over her many skirts and dresses. "You sure?" he asked quietly, his eyes taking in all the options available, not knowing which to choose first.
Thea scoffed, "Of course I am, I honestly don't know why I didn't suggest it before."
Klaus wasted no time and grabbed a pleated maroon skirt alongside a sheer lace black top, running his fingers through the soft material in wonder and grinning up at his twin. Thea smiled fondly at her brother, enjoying seeing him so free and uncaring of the strict rules often placed on them by their father.
She picked out a silver sequin dress for herself, enjoying the way it glittered in the light and complimented her pale complexion. She hurriedly changed out of her uniform and put the dress on, walking over to her dressing table and switching on her straighteners before taking out some of her favourite make-up. Thea wasn't as inclined to wear as much make-up as her sister, Allison, but she did still have enough products on hand to give someone a stellar makeover.
She turned her head at the sound of Klaus' muttering and giggled at his state. The boy was hopping around trying to get his lanky legs into the skirt, cheering in joy once it was over his hips and settled on his waist.
He turned to Thea and gestured to himself, striking a pose, "And how do I look, sis?" His voice was normal but she could hear the nervous undertone in his question, she smiled brightly at his attire and put his worries at ease.
"Dude, fuck gender roles. You rock that skirt better than I do."
The boy grinned widely at her compliment and did a small twirl with his normal dramatic flair.
"Klausy, come here. I'll do your makeup," she commented, waving her brother over. Klaus shuffled to her dresser and sat down on the extra chair.
Thea took out her mascara, concealer and eyeliner and got to work. Her and Klaus were fraternal twins, and so weren't identical, however, they had a lot of the same facial structures such as their high cheekbones and wide eyes and so Thea found it pretty easy to apply the make-up onto his face, making it look softer and bringing out his lovely eyes.
After a few minutes she was done and turned her mirror toward him, so he could check out her handiwork. Thea took her straighteners and began working on her long blonde hair, enjoying the way it became pin-straight and like the girl's in the magazine she'd once read.
Klaus continued checking himself out and Thea giggled at his muttered comments of 'hello good looking' or 'whose the man? Not me right now' and walked toward her door to peer into the hallway.
"Ben! Come here please!" she shouted, though not too loudly as his room was beside the twins' anyway. She heard shuffling before his door opened and Ben's smiling face popped out.
"What's up?" he asked as he padded along the wooden floor toward the girl he loved. Thea grinned and took his hand in hers, dragging him inside her room. Ben let out a surprised squeak at the sudden movement but smiled as he saw what exactly the twins were up to.
Klaus stood up at Ben's arrival and grinned at his best friend, Ben smiling in return, not commenting on his attire as he already knew how fluid Klaus was when it came to his tastes. Ben didn't care what his best friend wanted to wear or act like, he cared for Klaus and nothing he did could ever drive Ben away.
Thea clapped happily as she looked at her two favourite boys, "Great! So, now Ben's here, he can take our photo because we look way too good - thanks to me, by the way - to waste this opportunity!"
"Thanks to you? Please, I look this good because of me," Klaus argued with a raised chin, acting petulant, though the amused glint in his eyes set off Thea and Ben into giggles, Klaus soon joining in too.
Thea handed her camera - a pale, pastel baby-blue one that was covered in small star stickers - over to Ben, smiling at the boy who looked at her attire with a blush, thinking she looked even more beautiful than normal, something he didn't think was possible.
"Get our good angle, Benny-boy!" Klaus demanded as his sister rushed over toward him and the two of them struck a confident pose, Klaus' arm wrapped around Thea's shoulders, the girl sporting a peace sign and smiling up at the camera.
Thea turned the page and her heart stopped at the two seventeen-year-olds that were on the page. A blonde-haired girl stood beside a dark-haired boy who was grinning excitedly, his dark eyes shining in happiness.
"Why on earth did I ever agree to see this shit with you two?" Thea commented dryly as they walked down the street toward the cinema.
"Because you looooove us?" Klaus teased from beside her, jumping back and laughing as he dodged his sister's fist.
A tugging on her hand brought the girl's attention toward the boy next to her, who was wearing a fond grin as he looked down at her. "You know I really appreciate you coming, right?" Ben said, swinging their clasped hands between them as they walked, bringing a light blush onto Thea's cheeks.
Honestly, since when was it her who blushed so much and not Ben? Unacceptable...
"Whatever, I regret promising to see this nerd event with you both," she said petulantly, though both boys grinned at her comment, not taking her blunt words seriously.
"Nerd event? What does that say about you, little miss Potter-head?" Klaus jested, and Thea scoffed.
"Please, liking Harry Potter is nowhere near as nerdy as watching a Star Wars marathon that's going to last us, like, 7 hours!" Thea rambled, lifting her arms in exasperation bringing Ben's joined hand with her and making the two boys laugh at her frustration.
Ben brought up their clasped hands to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles. Klaus wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulders, the three teens finally arriving at the cinema where they were faced with a long line of fans, the buzzing noise of excited chatter meeting their ears.
Thea groaned at the size of the line, regretting every life decision she'd ever made as she stood in the blazing heat, realising they'd be here for the next few hours waiting to watch a bloody 7-hour marathon she had no interest in.
The things I do for the ones I love, I swear to god...
Klaus and Ben were eagerly debating what parts of the movie they were looking forward to most, and Thea raised a brow as she understood literally zero per cent of what they were saying.
"and the fact that you think Boba Fett isn't a good character just shows how ignorant you are to his importance to the overarching plot, he's more than just a supporting actor, okay, he-" Thea zoned out from Ben's rambling as he argued with Klaus about some guy called Bob or something and instead glanced around at the crowd, more interested in people watching.
Thea noticed there were more guys than girls, and that the majority of the crowd were wearing merchandise supporting the franchise. Thea glanced down at her denim dungarees and the striped crop top she wore, wondering if she looked out of place. She looked at Ben and Klaus and noticed they both wore Star Wars shirts too, and bit her lip.
Maybe I should show more support for something they love? She had no interest in the movie, but she realised she was being a little too negative and likely dampening the boys' exciting day.
"As adorable as your nerd talk is, I'm going to go find the bathroom. I'll be right back," Thea cut into the boys' conversation, Ben turning to her with red cheeks.
"I'm not adorable, I'm manly and c-cool and- and definitely not adorable!" Ben rambled out and Thea patted his cheek, grinning at his blush.
"Like I said, Darling. Adorable," she pecked his lips and turned away from them both, walking away to find what she was looking for.
She soon found it, and walked toward the merchandise booth, clenching her jaw as she brought out her purse and paid for the $20 shirt, her eye twitching at the insane price for something she didn't even want.
With a resigned sigh, she unbuckled her dungaree straps and pulled the shirt over her crop top, buttoning the denim straps back once it was on. The shirt displayed three figures - two men and a woman with space buns - holding guns and striking confident poses.
Thea wanted to support her boyfriend and her twin in their interests and so swallowed her pride, walking over to a guy she saw in the queue who held a dark blue polaroid camera in his hands and tapped his shoulder. When the boy turned around, Thea sent him a charming grin - one she knew was slightly flirty - and batted her lashes.
"Hi, I was wondering if you'd do me a huge favour and take mine and my brothers' photo?" she asked sweetly. The boy nodded dumbfoundedly, his ears burning as he stared at the blonde-haired beauty.
With a smile, Thea dragged the boy with her - after asking his friend to save his place in the line, of course - toward Klaus and Ben, the two boys looking toward her and the random boy with raised brows. Thea smirked at Ben's narrowed eyes and stroked her thumb along his knuckles once she stood beside him.
"Loving the shirt, sis," Klaus joked as he looked down at her new top, Ben looking down at her too with a wide grin.
That smile makes it all worthwhile.
Thea huffed and turned to them both, "Yes, well, I thought it better to have a little team spirit, and this lovely man here is going to take our photo," she said pointing towards the boy who still stood there staring at Thea with red cheeks. He nodded quickly at her words and held up his camera proudly.
Thea smiled as Ben wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her closer and grinning up at the camera in joy, his dark eyes that she loved so much were shining with happiness and Thea felt her heart beat rapidly with just how much she loved him.
The camera clicked and captured the moment as Thea stared at the love of her life with a fond smile.
Thea's eyes were shining with unshed tears at the last memory, her thumb rubbing along the photo lovingly, her eyes taking in young Ben's happy expression. A loud noise brought her out of her thoughts and she jumped in her spot.
Thea placed the open book down on her side-table beside her open window as her phone rung from the bedroom. She recognised the ringtone as the one she'd specifically set for Klaus and hurriedly got up to answer it. She left the photo album, a new spring in her step as she hopped over the multiple piles of books scattered across her apartment floor and rushed toward the ringing noise.
The wind from the open window fluttered the pages of the album, the sun shining down on the last photo displayed.
Eight young children all grinned happily at whoever had taken their photo, innocent expressions on their faces as they wrapped arms around one another, enjoying their time spent together and unknowing of all the hardships they'd face in the coming years, only relishing in the innocence of youth.
I felt bad for focusing so much more on Five, Ben and Klaus (figures, as they're my favourites) so I wanted to do something that included everybody :) I thought the photo album idea was pretty sweet, as I'm very big on keeping photos from my childhood, too.
