The four drove as close to the gala as they dared. Cutting through the trees around the location, they snuck out into the crowd of arriving guests, crouching behind the numerous cars to avoid the guards. Diego moved in the lead. Following him in order were Rachel, Lila, and then Five bringing up the rear.
"So, what's the plan?" Lila asked, as Diego glanced over the car.
"We infiltrate, we identify, we extract. Double time."
Rachel and Five nodded, agreeing to the plan. Lila glanced back at Five.
"What the hell's he talking about?"
"Find the old man and get out fast."
Diego glanced back, slightly confused.
"That's what I said. On me."
Diego moved, laying low to get to the next car. Rachel followed him. She glanced back, noticing that Lila and Five had not followed. She could sense Five's annoyance. Whatever he was saying to Lila bothered her before her usual amusement set in and they followed behind their two companions.
They slipped in a side entrance from a garden that was unmanned. Mariachi music hit them as they entered. Guests milled around the room while servers offered them champagne. Diego rushed in, Lila following. Five grabbed two glasses off the nearest server before turning back and handing one to Rachel, who just grinned and took it. They moved around a large circular table in the room before stopping together. Lila grabbed her own drink as another server passed by.
"I don't see dad anywhere," Diego noted.
Rachel was quiet, sorting through the swell of emotions all around her. The champagne felt heavy in her stomach. Five grabbed her arm.
"You okay?" he asked, softly.
"Yeah, fine. Just…a lot to process. The feelings are blurring together a bit. I sense a familiar presence upstairs, at least."
Five nodded to her before looking over at Diego.
"Just keep an eye out for the Majestic Twelve. I got the upstairs. Diego, try not to do anything too stupid."
Lila chuckled while Rachel smiled. Her partner gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading off. Turning to the other two, Rachel pointed.
"I'm going to look for some members off in the next room."
Rachel wandered that way, glancing around for people who seemed they could be part of a secret group. All she really found were those enjoying the gala by chatting, eating, or drinking. As she turned to into the next room, she found herself in the ballroom where couples were dancing. She spotted Diego and Lila dancing. Rachel leaned against the wall and sipped her champagne. She smirked as she saw Lila switch to the lead, triggering memories back to their young days at the academy. They had all learned to dance. It was always chaos due to there being only three girls to five boys….
-2001:-
"I d-don't w-want to be-be the g-girl anymore!"
Diego shoved his dance partner, Klaus, away from him. Obviously, neither chose to be partners. Names were pulled out of a hat at the beginning of practice to decide who would partner with whom. It was random choice as the leader of the Umbrella Academy strongly believed that a well-rounded dancer could dance with anyone. Five and Vanya stopped their practice to avoid crashing into Diego.
Reginald Hargreeves constantly disapproving face frowned even deeper.
"Number Two! Get back in hold."
"He k-keeps s-stepping on m-my f-foot!"
"Oh, please, you just don't know how to be a classy lady," Klaus retorted.
There was a yelp from across the room as Rachel hit the floor. Luther and Allison swerved in their spinning to avoid stepping on her. Ben leaned down, reaching out to her.
"I'm so sorry! I don't know why this is so hard."
Reginald sighed audibly.
"Number Six, you have to lead the woman. A woman needs a strong partner to dance! Confidence! Look where you are going while you dance, not at your feet."
Ben looked at his father like a wounded puppy as he pulled Rachel to her feet. She patted his upper arm comfortingly.
"It's okay, Ben. You're getting better every practice."
Ben gave her a hopeful luck as Reginald struck the floor hard with the cane he always carried during their dance lessons.
"That's it. Practice is over. Competition time."
All the kids had to struggle to keep from showing any signs of protest. His competitions were all the same and happened after every practice. Once again, names were called out of a hat as well as a dance style. They had all learned four different routines in four different styles. The pair that performed their dance the best got to end their day while the rest got an hour of extra dance lessons. Just one of many ways Reginald sowed a massive sense of competition amongst his kids. The children all shuffled to the edge of the room and sat on the floor in a line. The three girls clustered together.
"I really hope I don't get Ben again," Allison whispered," I love him, but he can't dance."
Rachel grimaced at her, rubbing her sore side.
"No kidding…He's actually done surprisingly well as the female lead the last time he was with Klaus."
Vanya did her best to hide a laugh.
"Don't remind him. He was not thrilled when I pointed that out."
Reginald's cane rang out again. All children were now at attention. The man pulled out two pieces of paper.
"Klaus and Allison, show us your Paso Doble."
Allison and Klaus quickly hopped up and headed to the center of the room. The kids all heard Luther curse under his breath. Every one of them but Diego had to hide a smirk. The music started and the two took off. The paso doble was perfect for them. Allison always did so well with dancing and took on the intensity needed for this dance. Klaus was a bit loose with his interpretation, but it worked for them. They were clearly the team to beat.
"We should just give up hope now…" Ben mumbled from the far end of the room.
Five, who sat on the other side of Vanya snorted in amusement.
"Maybe you should. As long as I don't get you or Diego, I think I'll be fine."
"Now I really hope you get Luther…"
Allison, who just arrived back to sit down, gave Five a competitive smile.
"I think your confidence is unwarranted this time," she responded, trying to catch her breath.
Klaus followed behind her, sitting on Five's other side.
"Yeah, we have this in the bag. Just watch."
Reginald cleared his throat, getting the attention of the remaining children.
"Diego and Luther. Luther, you will take the female part. You have the Waltz."
A giggle ran through all the other kids. Luther sat frozen for a moment before slowly getting up. He had to grab Diego's shoulder to get him to move. The following display was wholly expected. Luther could not help but fight for the lead, their frame was loose, and they kept glaring at each other when they could, causing stepped on toes. The two were guaranteed to be doing an extra hour of training. Reginald just shook his head in visible disappointment as he pulled more paper.
"Five and Rachel. Argentine Tango."
Rachel's heart sank. It was her least favorite dance. So far, any practice for it she had with Ben and Diego ended badly. Both would get awkward about it. Ben would drop her on the sentada while Diego stumbled after any move where he had to look at her. And the end move, he always dropped her away so quickly from embarrassment. She had only gotten through the dance with Luther. Once. On the complete opposite side from Rachel's feelings was Five. He radiated confidence.
Stepping out onto the dance floor, Five pulled Rachel into the starting embrace. Rachel's eyes wandered over his shoulder. He shook her to attention.
"Hey, focus," he told her, harshly," I'd like to win for once. Allison's winning streak needs to end. When I'm not her partner, at least."
Rachel's eyes snapped to his.
"Sorry, I just don't want to be on the ground again."
"Have I dropped you before?"
"No…"
"Then just do the dance."
Five was always a strong leader, his personality lent itself well to dancing in that way. He was another of the Umbrella Academy males who struggled with following. Ben and Klaus were the only ones who did not care as much about leading versus following. Reginald was a misogynist in the sense that he never let the girls lead.
The music started and they were moving. Five held the frame easily, with Rachel holding on just enough to keep with him. Getting into the eight count was the easiest part of the entire dance, no stepped-on toes between the two. Rachel was rather good at avoiding stepping on people. When she was new to the heels, she made Klaus cry a bit by stepping on him. After that, she never stepped on anyone again. As they branched out from the eight count, Five would quietly whisper to her the next step.
"Planeo."
Since she could barely hear him over the music, she had to lip read a bit, which worked in their favor as it looked like eye contact.
"Pasada. Turn."
Then the tug of him pulling her up into sentada. Then her feet were on the ground again, back at the eight count.
"Voleo."
At that point, Rachel did not need him telling her the steps. She was comfortable as confident as he was. She was now able to meet Five's eyes instead of lip reading. They ended with her leg over his thigh, right and left arms respectively held high, noses touching. The music stopped. Rachel was taken by surprise at a new feeling radiating from Five. Pride. In her. The two broke into matching grins.
"Good job," he whispered so no one else could hear.
"It's thanks to you."
As they pulled away, they heard Klaus whistle before being hushed by Reginald. The pair separated back to their seats. Allison could be seen chewing her lip nervously while Diego's face was exceptionally sour. Rachel had to look away from the wave of jealousy that radiated off him. Vanya and Ben hopped up as Reginal announced them for the Foxtrot. Both gave Rachel high fives as they passed her. Ben did surprisingly well dancing with Vanya, but the romantic dance was rather awkward and stilted between the two. Rachel knew it was always weird for them, dancing with their siblings. She was lucky she did not have that problem.
"Next time," Rachel told Vanya as the two sat down.
Vanya smiled and shrugged. Reginald paced in front of the children, looking at each one in turn.
"Some of you need much more practice…Some of you were passable."
"Passable or…paso doble?" Klaus whispered, making half the group groan and the other half giggle.
Reginald's eyes narrowed at his son who looked away quickly with a hidden smile.
"The winners are Five and Rachel. Run along now."
The blonde's eyes widened in shock, looking between Vanya and Allison. Allison grimaced at her, trying to be a charitable loser but failing to hide her disappointment. Five exited in a familiar whoosh of energy, clearly pleased with the result. Rachel stood up and headed toward the courtyard where she would wait until Vanya and Allison were done.
-1963:-
Rachel came out of her reverie to see Lila leaving the dance floor alone. Turning, the girl could not see Diego anywhere. She managed to sense him by the center staircase after a moment. She had not expected to find him with such strong feelings of both surprise and disappointment.
As she headed toward his location, she noticed Grace walking away. In her confusion she stopped and stared. Diego met her off the side of the room as the girl looked up at him.
"Was that-?"
Diego's disturbed feelings hit her, causing Rachel to raise an eyebrow.
"Yeah…apparently dad modeled robot Grace off an old flame. Except this Grace has a Texan dialect."
Rachel's jaw dropped as she thought through that one.
"That is troubling on a number of emotional levels…She is an exact match…"
The two were silent thinking horrifying things when Diego inhaled and looked at Rachel.
"Did you see where Lila went?"
"Hm? Oh, she's in the room at the end."
As he ran off to find her, Rachel frowned. As she had gotten closer to the kitchen, she found a vague feeling of something out of the ordinary. Murderous intent. Rachel placed her empty champagne glass on a passing server's tray. She casually meandered toward the kitchens. Getting closer, she noticed the feelings getting distant. Two more hazily appeared, one from the area of the center staircase and another from the opposite end of the building. They were all upstairs now, two on one end, one on the other.
"What the hell?" she mumbled to herself, noting the building had to be made with multiple staircases.
Rachel began checking for the staircase on the far end of the building she was in, checking doors and random turns.
"God, I wish I had a map," she mused to herself, getting annoyed with the size of the building.
She felt a spike of panic from Five suddenly from an upstairs room. She picked up speed, brushing past people when the feeling relaxed. She slowed again. The panic then picked up again, this time with pain and a bit of fear mixed in. Right next to one with murderous intent.
"Well, shit."
Rachel turned into another hallway, brushing past people to try and find the staircase. She finally found it at the end of the next corridor. She felt Diego upstairs now, feeling quite like Five with two attackers on him. Rachel bound up the stairs. She sensed Lila there, moving toward Five as Rachel hit the landing. Two men in white blazers were on Diego, one choking him and the other punching him with brass knuckles. These must be the Swedes. Rachel pulled off her shoes and nailed the guy with brass knuckles on the back of the head with one of them. When he turned and came for her, she dodged a swing from him and kicked out at his knee, making him kneel to the ground. She flipped over him and bashed him over the head with her other shoe. He recovered quickly, grabbing her wrist and twisting it as he turned to face her. Rachel dropped the shoe from pain. When he was close enough, she rammed her head into his, causing him to back off and release her. She then kicked him to the end of the hall. Diego seemed to get control of the guy choking him by slamming him into the wall behind them. He then stood in front of Rachel as the man with brass knuckles stood up. He put an arm out to keep her back. He clearly wanted vengeance for the man treating him like a punching bag.
"Oh, yeah, mofo. It's just you and me. Show me what you got."
The man did not say anything, but the two were locked on to each other. As they lunged for each other, Rachel dodged them as they began fighting down the hallway, breaking windows and ceramic art. Grabbing her shoes and putting them on, the girl heard the other Swede on the floor groaning into consciousness. She gave him a swift kick to the temple to put him out again.
"I love thick heeled shoes," she breathed, tugging the hair tie out of her now messy hair.
Sighing, Rachel looked up to see Diego slamming his opponent to the ground. She belatedly realized she could have used her powers, but her instincts from The Commission kicked in quicker. She ran over to her friend and noticed him looking out the window.
"Dad," he told her.
Grabbing her hand, he tugged her down the stairs. The two of them slowed as they got in sight of the foyer, noticing guests and cops milling about. Rachel took the lead, pulling Diego around the side of the house where she sensed Five. Once they were outside, the two took off running and met the boy looking out at the cars as they drove away. Lila ran up to meet them at the same time.
"Was that him?" Diego asked Five.
"Yeah. You know, I'm starting to get the feeling Dad's avoiding us."
Lila sighed audibly, rubbing her neck.
"Hate to be the boring one, guys, but, uh, it's time we get the hell out of here."
She started walking, but no one followed. Rachel felt the anger boiling in both Five and Diego when she spoke, which made her wonder what happened. Thinking back, Rachel realized that Lila had been upstairs…yet Rachel was the one who helped Diego.
"When you say 'we,' who exactly are you referring to?" Five questioned.
"Not a lot of ambiguity in that sentence," she replied, acting confused.
But Rachel knew she was not confused. She was worried.
"Listen, I don't know who you are or where you came from, but whatever it is, I'd advise you to return posthaste."
Diego moved up to his brother as Lila began to get mad.
"She's right, Five. We gotta get outta here."
"I just saved your life, you kinder-shit. If I hadn't stepped in, all that would be left of you is a blazer and some bloody socks."
"And that's the problem. You're too good. You ask too many questions. You know too much. And you fight like you know what you're doing."
"He's got a point," Diego said, looking at Lila.
Rachel cross her arms from beside Diego. Lila was building up to annoyed anger.
"So I know how to handle myself, and that makes me the bad guy?"
"Whoever you are, you're in my way. If I see you again, I will kill you."
He meant every word. Rachel glanced at Diego. His emotions were a mess, but he didn't disagree with Five's verdict. Reaching back behind him, Five held his hand out to Rachel. She took it immediately. As they passed Lila, Rachel threw her a peace sign. It was the most she could do with her apathy toward the woman. All of Rachel's pity was for Diego, whose heart was breaking.