NO. 18 LET'S BREAK THE ICE
Prompts "Just get it over with." Treading Water "Take my coat.
I decided to literally break the ice.
So Five falls through the ice.
The siblings hide at an old family cabin. During a walk Five and Viktor are reminded there was a lake…
"It's too cold. Why did we think this was a good idea?" Klaus whined.
"Got it!" Diego said triumphantly as he got the fire started.
The Hargreeves decided to go to a cabin their father owned a little way away from the city, but it was unusually cold for that time of year. There was still snow on the ground.
Reginald hardly brought the children there growing up, it stood to reason that he probably did the same with the Sparrows, so they figured they should be safe.
The cabin still looked and smelled the same as all of them remembered.
"We should make a list of what we are going to need," Allison stated. "Some of us can head into town for supplies."
While they started a list of food, toiletries and such, Five made his way outside. Coffee was on the list and that was all he cared about.
He let out a sigh, making note of the steam of his breath. He huffed a chuckle, remembering when, as kids, they used to pretend they were smoking, blowing their hot breath into the air.
"Hey," a quiet voice came from behind him. Viktor came up beside him. "You alright?"
"I'm…Not sure," Five answered, honestly. "We're alive… there's no apocalypse… but there is also no Umbrella Academy."
"It's weird," Viktor agreed.
Five looked around and headed down the steps and walked out looking around at the cabin. Viktor hesitated, but then quietly followed him.
"You know, I came here," Five confided in Viktor. "During the apocalypse. This was one of the furthest places I traveled to. To cling onto memories…"
"Like when, during hide and seek, you blinked onto an unsteady tree branch and fell, breaking your arm? Or when Diego got his head stuck in the squirrel hole of the maple tree?" Viktor asked with a small smile.
"Or when Klaus got stuck up in the tree thinking there was a bear chasing him?" Five let out a chuckle. "Or when Ben got smacked in the face with a branch during tag."
"Or when Luther stumbled into a tree knocking a bees nest down."
"The mighty Umbrella Academy against their arch nemesis," Five laughed. "Trees"
"I think almost everyone has a tree story." Viktor laughed, remembering being on the first aid end of a few of these situations. "Except Allison."
"And you."
"That's not true," Viktor reminded him. "When I tried to climb the tree to get the ball Diego lost and then was stuck there for almost 3 hours because I was afraid to get down…"
Five looked at him, remembering. He had been resting from the broken arm and wanted a philosophical conversation, but Ben was busy with Klaus. So he went to look for Viktor and no one had a clue where he was. So Five broke the bed rest rule to look for him. Then went to get the rest of them to help get him down.
"Despite the crazy times, it was nice," Viktor said. "Dad didn't have any crazy tests for any of you and I got to be a part of the fun."
Five nodded. There was an actual version of "vacation" here. But ultimately it was also when Reginald wanted to pull the children from the public eye for a while.
They walked quietly, each one mentioning good times as they thought of them.
Suddenly Viktor looked back to the house. "We should head back, I'm getting cold."
Five nodded and turned. Suddenly there was a cracking sound.
He froze.
Viktor froze.
They looked in the direction of the house realizing…
"We walked onto the lake."
How could they forget about the lake?
"All I saw was snow…" Viktor looked down.
Five nodded.
"Let's slowly make our way back…"
They took another step and there was another crack.
"Slowly," Five instructed. "The closer we get to the shoreline, the safer we will be."
Which would be a lot easier to find if it wasn't for the fact that the dock was no longer there as an indicator.
Another step.
A longer crack. Five even felt himself shift down slightly. He looked at Viktor. He needed to get him to safety.
Another step.
Better.
Another.
Craaack.
The sound seemed to run up to the right of them.
That's where it was weaker.
Five quickly pulled Viktor to the other side of him and pushed him as the ground opened up beneath him.
-UA-
"We don't need twinkies. Besides you know the sight of them is going to make Five ill" Allison was managing.
"All the more reason to get them," Diego said hunorously.
Allison was about to respond, but just as she was opening her mouth, they heard a screaming, and the sky went dark outside as the weather was starting to turn.
Wind rushed through the chimney into the room, putting out the fire.
They all turned to each other in a panic.
"Viktor!"
-UA-
They raced outside and took a view of the scene.
Viktor was floating above the ground, doused in his blue glow.
"Viktor!!" Diego shouted.
A few of the other siblings echoed calling out his name, to see if any of them could reach him.
The ground beneath Viktor broke and large pieces of ice floated up.
"Guys, where's Five?" Luther realized.
They all watched as the water came up from the ground as well.
Viktor sent some ice aside and dropped the water, leaving a hold on an unconscious Five.
Viktor slowly brought himself down, and closer to the shore line, Five floating alongside him.
Luther ran forward to grab ahold of Five and Klaus and Diego ran over to Viktor, who snapped out of his power.
"What happened?" Allison asked.
"We were walking," Viktor said as he tried to catch his breath. "And didn't realize we were on the lake. He fell through."
Luther had brought him down to the ground and Allison started CPR.
Five was frozen to the touch, his lips blue.
But after a few hard puffs and pumps to the chest he started to choke out the water that was in his system.
Luther rolled him over to the side so he could get it out.
Their older little brother started to shiver violently.
Luther lifted him in his arms.
"Let's get him inside, dry and warmed up," he said.
-UA-
Luther and Allison ran out for groceries and supplies.
Klaus helped Five out of his clothes, but there wasn't really anything besides some old academy pajamas that seemed a bit big on his small frame.
Diego restarted the fire.
Viktor wrapped a blanket around Five as he helped him sit down in front of the fire, allowing him to lean against him.
Viktor could feel Five still trembling.
He rubbed his arm over his.
"At least his color is back," Diego observed as he came back in with some tea. "Here Buddy."
Five took it and made a face. "This tastes horrible."
"It may be a bit stale."
Five grumbled something, but they couldn't tell what he said.
Suddenly the door opened. Luther and Allison came in with bags in and around their arms.
"There's some more in the back," Luther informed Diego, who ran out the door to help.
"How is he?" Allison asked.
"Warming up, but definitely need something besides this sorry excuse for tea…" Five answered, his voice not as strong as he hoped it would come out.
"Well how about this?" Allison put a travel cup of coffee in front of his face.
"Thank you," Five took it from her and started sipping it.
She gave him a smile. "I picked up some clothes for you too. Some warm clothes, sweats, but also some others."
They started to unpack the food, leaving out soup for dinner.
Five started to warm up, which only made him tired. He started to lay down and Viktor shifted so he could use his lap as a pillow.
In a few moments his breathing slowed down, cluing Viktor and Diego that he was asleep.
"How are you?" Diego finally asked Viktor.
"I'm ok." Viktor said quietly.
"You scared us," Diego confided. "We heard you scream. Then the weather changed…"
"I was scared," Viktor kept his eyes on Five. "Five suddenly was under the ice and I couldn't reach him. I panicked. I just thought about how I couldn't lose him again."
Diego nodded.
"Well he is here now. Thanks to you." Diego put an arm around his little brother's shoulder.
I like the dynamics that can be created with any sibling pairing on this show. Kudos to the writers for making this easy!
Hope you enjoyed it!
