Summary: Five predicted that his dad would be against him time travelling. What he didn't predict was a woman trying to prevent him on the exact day. Nor her reappearance into his life 8 days before the apocalypse.
A/N: For the parts of the story that take place in season 1 and 2, Viktor will be referred to as Vanya (She/her). This is mainly because for season 2, it would be unlikely that a man like Carl would accept Viktor as a babysitter if he was a he. I just thought it should be noted before you all read this in order to avoid confusion.
DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
Space and time had a very close but complicated relationship. It was only when these two worked together that the universe could continue functioning. Space was a plain field that was never changing. It remained in one place and anyone could dance along it without much fear. Time, however, was said to be a human made concept. A construct of humans attempting to understand the unexplainable. Thus, as some cruel joke, it adapted human characteristics.
Time cares for no one. It has an infinite amount of paths and is never the same. The lines were linear. Not parallel. The tiniest of details will doom many. Or save billions more. Time is a bitch like that. Anyone that wanted to mess with it will get fucked up. Mentally and physically. Those that studied time know this yet get cocky. They believe they know better. That a concept created by humans will get owned by humans.
Five Hargreeves thought this way. That simply popping through time without interacting once was the same as space. He had been practicing his spatial jumps since he knew he had the ability to. With a few more tweaks to his technique, time wasn't out of the question. Again, the two concepts were closely linked. Fundamentally they could be controlled the same way. A master could very much exist. To rule the very concepts that ruled the universe didn't sound too bad to a thirteen-year-old boy that was chained down by his adopted family.
As the boy in question sat outside he thought about the equations he had been working on for months. Today was the day he was going to bring it up to his dad. All his equations sitting in his notebook to be reviewed by the only person he'll admit to being smarter than him. Knowing the man, he had a 50/50 chance of getting shot down immediately. His dad, though a very ambitious man, was also very cautious about the consequences.
If today didn't work, then he will ask again. Day after day he will try. Five will time travel as he pleases.
"I'm actually here..." Turning his head towards the voice that interrupted his thoughts he found a Caucasian woman in her early thirties with light brown hair inside the academy's gates. She shifted her hold on a large black briefcase to one hand and raised the hem of her vintage dress up in greeting. He noted that she had a sophisticated air to her that was reduced when he saw the burnt fabric at the bottom.
"Who are you?"
"I'm-" she cuts herself off and shakes her head, "not important right now. I don't have time for formalities. Today is April 1, 2002 right?"
"Yes? Is this some kind of April Fool's prank? Who put you up to this? Number four? Two? I'm not one for jokes like that. Try One instead. He should be in his room. Avoid the adults though. They aren't too keen on random guests. Have fun tricking the others with your mind games." He got up with the intent of blinking away.
"Wait wait! I'm not here as an April Fool's. I'm here-" She rushed forward when she lost footing in the change of terrain from gravel to grass. She fell in a way that raised her arms higher to avoid getting the briefcase hit the ground. Her main concern after landing, was in double check that her briefcase was undamaged before getting up. He made note of the odd collection of seven square symbols connected by lines and the C.C marks on the corner.
She let out a breath of relief, mumbling to herself that he couldn't fully hear. The few words he could make out were 'getting stuck' and 'hopefully not changing settings'. He tilted his head in confusion. This woman was weird.
"For a person that said she doesn't have a lot of time to explain, you certainly like to waste it frivolously." He cautiously held a hand out to help her off the ground. She reached out to him with a cracked green watch with golden rim shining in his eyes. She pulled back when she saw the reflection of light on his face. Covering the watch as she got up on her on.
"Sorry. I'm not the best on my feet. There's a reason why I'm not usually allowed to be out on the field. You're pretty much the sole special case to be allowed that privilege so fast. Not that you know what that means. Anyways! Back on schedule! I'm here to warn you that you mustn't mess with the delicate system that is time and space. You're playing a dangerous game that will leave you as an empty shell. Please, I'm begging you. Wait a bit longer to fully master your powers."
"I can't master my powers if I can't use them how I want." In the back of his mind she raised a lot of red flags. Knowing about his powers was one thing. Knowing that he was planning to time travel was another. Though he found his words coming out before he could ask any. He was more concerned about his goal for the day.
"Using your powers frivolously is only endangering yourself. Your powers are unique in your only limit being the understanding of space, time and stamina. Limitations are required to keep you safe. You can't master your powers until you realize what it is you really want."
"And what is it that I truly want?"
"To prove yourself." He scoffed.
He didn't need to prove anything to anyone. He was a part of the world famous Umbrella Academy. An elite group of kids with abilities that will change the world. His family had gone on mission calls time and time again, each time performing miracles to those they saved. He, himself, being the smartest of the bunch and most dedicated to honing his powers. Who exactly could he be proving himself to?
"Yeah I don't buy your story or whatever you want to call it."
"What? Why not?"
"Hmm, let's see. A random woman comes onto my family's secure property with no credentials. She talks as if she knows me and gives no personal information about herself. Forgive me if I seem skeptical." She half knew that her attempt to contact Five would be rejected. Though not this fast.
"Okay you make good points. Good points. I still can't really give you information but umm what if I um..."
"I'm leaving."
"Ἄνδρα μοι ἔννεπε, μοῦσα, πολύτροπον, ὃς μάλα πολλὰ!" He once more paused. Scanning her over to get more of a grip of who she was. Despite her formal attire, she didn't act as someone with a higher form of education. Not enough to recite the original Greek texts without any reference. Her accent being the closest to what he knew of the dead language.
"Homer?"
She nodded. "In the past you used this exact phrase to catch the attention of someone you thought had all the answers to your problems. Now I wish that you present me with the same opportunity. Please hear me out."
"I," he emphasized himself, "don't recall ever reciting this to anyone. Besides maybe my-"
"Dad." They said at the same time.
He scowled. "Lucky guess."
"It's not a guess. Sir Reginald Hargreeves. The man who wears the monocle. Your dad had dangerously high standards for all of you. You're thirteen and have lived your life through a funnel that he monitored consistently. Fostering family like relationships yet instilling rivalry. The word family was solely a word he pushed onto you all. One that you hold closely that you would do anything for them. You're a unique bunch I must say." She cracked a weak smile.
It was then when he noticed that she never once averted her eyes to his. Everything she said was done with true confidence. And besides the fact that she was a stranger spewing nonsense, she didn't make Five feel as if he was in danger.
"I know I'm extremely suspicious but I am not your enemy. I'm only trying to protect you."
"From what?"
"Yourself. I want to help all of you. All of those at the Umbrella academy are extraordinary children. Born of means that should never have been possible with powers that match such. But I'm here to tell you to not push yourself to the point of no return. Take it one day at a time. It's going to be hard with your personality but you will thank me in the future. Or, I guess, you wouldn't."
"I don't follow."
"I hope that you never do." Five glanced down at how tightly her shaking hands held onto the briefcase's handle. How when she first laid eyes on him, she had to choke back her emotions. She was desperate. He would think someone that came to him with a purpose would be calmer. None of this was making sense to the thirteen-year-old boy. Who was this woman? And why was did she know so much about him? Should he listen?
The mysterious woman suddenly looked away when they heard heels clicking in their direction. She lowered her voice slightly, leaning towards him. "Five, if you take away anything from this meeting you need to know that no matter where or when, I will be your ally."
"Ally for what? You didn't-"
"Five dearie? Breakfast is almost ready." Grace stepped into the backyard. Five jumped up in an attempt to cover the woman from her sight.
"Mom! I can explain! She's just-" He turned back to see that his guest was gone. Not a single trace of her. Not even a single bent piece of grass from where she fell on. For someone that disappeared often, he didn't understand the feeling of how unsettling it was. It was like she never existed.
"Everything okay honey?"
"Y-yeah. Sorry, I'll come inside in a second."
"Alrighty then. We'll see you soon." His robot mother didn't question his behaviour to continue fetching his siblings.
Five didn't immediately follow after her as he stared at the empty spot. Time was a confusing construct. Something told him that she was not of this time period. That her trying to prevent him from time travelling was one part in a grand scheme of things. However, this meeting confirmed something for him. He was capable of time travelling. He was a part of something bigger than the Umbrella Academy.
She came here to prevent him for a reason that his childish curiosity couldn't begin to imagine. He wanted to know more about his powers and capabilities. He was more than ready for it. As he picked up his fallen notebook, it was opened to the exact page of his newly refined equation. This was the last sign he needed.
As all members of the Umbrella Academy filed into the dining hall they waited to be seated. Once given permission, everyone started to chow down and do their own thing. The same Herr Carlson radio playing in the background. The same thing every day. Train, eat, study, train, wash up, eat, sleep, repeat. A schedule that their dad claimed to be perfect for them. Perfectly boring.
For the first time in forever there was something to look forward to. Five's mind focused on the woman's words. He loved the challenge. Hated not having the answer even more. He couldn't hold himself back and stabbed the meat in front of him.
"Number Five?" None of his adopted siblings moved as his dad called out to him.
"I have a question."
That day, in 2002, Five Hargreeves disappeared.
