"Think it was a good idea to leave them up there?" Ris asked, swinging her legs from her seat on top of the hood of the car. "Alone."

"It can't be all bad." Five replied, glancing at her before back at the brick wall. "Pretty shitty place to stay in."

"Hmm." Ris agreed, running her fingers though her hair. Five straightening up, looking at her. "What?" Ris asked, tucking a few strands behind her ears.

"Nothing. I…I like the hair. It's nice."

"Thanks." Ris said a small smile flickering onto her face. "Yours's got longer. Might need a haircut." she said jumping off the hood, lighting touching a few long stray bits.

Five grinned. "Might take you up on th-"

The brick wall burst as a fist rammed it's way though. Sending bits of concrete and dust to the floor on the outside. Luther poking his head though the wall.

"Seriously." Ris said, rolling her eyes. Five mockingly edging closer, laughing quietly. "I think the monkey DNA finally made its way to his brain." Five mumbled into her ear.

Ris stiffened a laugh, carefully covering it as a cough. "Come on. Be nice." she scolded weakly. The crappy motel door opening Vanya stalking out of it.

"Well, that clearly went well." Five said walking towards her. Ris remaining by the car, catching Luther peeping though the window.

Vanya walking straight past Five. She looked pissed.

"You ready to go?"
"I'm going back to the farm."
"Hey. Unacceptable, Vanya. Remember, we need to stick together."

"Oh, why, so I don't end the world again?" Vanya shot back. "Ugh, shit." Ris whispered, glaring up at Luther, shooting him a 'come on' gesture.

"Were you even gonna tell me?" Vanya asked, glancing between the two. "Any of you?"

Ris scratched her ear. "Well…"

"You know what? In my defence, no." Five interjected. "Five-" Ris started.

"All right? And can you blame me? When you...you get angry, shit blows up." he finished. Ris groaned. 'Shit Five, really?'

"Great. Are there any other family secrets you failed to mention?" Vanya said yanking open the door, getting in the car.

"A boatload, Vanya, which I don't have the luxury of sharing them with the..." Five sighed, lighting knocking on Vanya's window. Vanya didn't even look at him, gazing straight ahead as she rolled the window down.

"The clock is ticking on doomsday. Just tell me that when I need you, you'll be ready."

"I can't help you, Five." Vanya said, meeting his eyes. "I don't even know who I am."

"You're our sister." Five cried, Vanya starting up the engine. The car rumbled to life.

"And a member of the Umbrella Academy. Like it or not, that's who you are." Five insisted.

"Look, that's who I was, okay? New timeline, new me." Vanya snapped.

"That's not really how it works-"
"No, that's not how it work..."

The car sped off, leaving the two of them in the parking lot. Ris turning around at the peeping Luther. "Asshole." she said.

Luther promptly giving her the finger. "Real mature, dingus." Ris called out, shaking her head.

Five sighing to himself, following her gaze. Stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Wonder if it's too late to be un-adopted."

Ris smirked, before frowning giving him a sharp whack on the arm. "What-" Five started.

"You get angry, shit blows up?" Ris repeated, folding her arms. "Almost sixty years and you still don't know how to talk to women!"


"So, what, you just let her go?" Diego asked, Lila gently ripping of the gauze from his wound.

"Pretty much." Ris said, walking into the living room with Elliott, the two holding two cups of coffee in their hands. "We think she needed some time to…"

"Process." Five finished, walking around the room. Ris handing Five a cup of coffee. Elliott placing the other two on the coffee table.

"Vanya had a lot to process. She'll come around. I know she will." Five said taking a sip of his coffee. A smile creeping his way. Squishing it down when he spotted Lila wiggle her eyebrows, as Ris sat on the chair next to him.

"What about the guys that went after her?" Diego asked.

"The Swedes?" Ris guessed, taking a sip of her coffee. "Yeah, I mean, how do you know they won't go after her again?" Diego said, a hint of worry lacing his voice.

It was sweet, despite how much he pretended to hate Vanya, he just couldn't.

"We don't, but it's unlikely they'll come after her now that we're around." Ris said, cupping the cup between her hands.

"Mm, any idea who sent them?" Lila asked, taking her cup from the table. "Oh, I have my suspicions." Five said lightly, pointedly staring at Lila.

"Subtle." Ris breathe out to herself. Luckily no one seemed to notice.

"But right now, our priority is finding Dad and getting answers, 'cause everything else depends on it." Five said curtly.

"Which, for the record, I found him already."
"Does it really count?" Ris said smartly, glancing at his stab wound.

"And then let him go before we could have a meaningful conversation." Five said sharply.

"He stabbed me."
"I'm surprised he waited this long, Diego. We've all had the urge."

Ris snorted into her cup. Lila laughing, Elliott even cracking a grin, chuckling lightly.

"Good one." Lila said holding up her hand in a high five motion. Ris furrowed her eyebrows. 'High Five…but it's 1963?'

"Good thing I know where Dad's gonna be tonight." Five said, handing a piece of paper to Diego. "Where'd you get this?" Diego asked, showing the paper to Lila.

"Found it at his office while he was busy stabbing you." Five said lightly, Ris giving him a look. Diego chuckled sarcastically. "Hoyt Hillenkoetter and the Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas cordially invite you to a gala."

"Hold on!"
"Whoa, wait." Elliott and Ris cried. Ris jumping up, snatching the paper from Diego, reading over it.

"Hoyt Hillenkoetter? Is it really-?"

"Yeah." Ris confirmed, smiling. "It's him. It's them." she said holding out the paper to Elliott.

"Wait, you, you guys know him."

"If know you mean broke in to his office and steal stuff. Then yeah, we're great friends." Ris said lightly. Elliott giggling quietly still reading over the note.

"What?

"Long story. But, Hoyt Hillenkoetter one of the Majestic Twelve." Ris said excitedly.

Of course she was met with dubious stares.

"The hell is the Majestic Twelve?"

"Good l- Seriously? Majestic Twelve? Not ringing any bells?" Ris asked frantically. The threes shaking their heads. Ris and Elliott sharing a look.

"They-"
"Yeah."
"Bu-"
"Yeah."
"How-?"
"I know."

"Okay, what is happening?" Five snapped, glancing between the two. Who were still grinning at each other, seeming to have their mental conversation. He didn't like it that much.

"The Majestic Twelve, it's an organisation." Ris started, setting down the paper. Elliott running to his desk, rummaging into his papers. "Kinda like a…secret committee. Filled with scientists, military, espionage, deep state."

"No one knows what they really do." Elliott added. "Wait, so they're government?" Diego grunted, picking himself up.

"Shadow government." Ris answered. "Yeah, Kennedy was the first president to try to push 'em into the light, but these guys are not to be trifled with." Elliott said, pulling out the photo, he had showed her not too long ago.

Oh...Oh, here we go. Ah, right here. This, uh... Oh, right here. That's Hoyt right there." Elliott said, setting the photo on the coffee table, pointing out the man.

"And…" Ris said leaning over Five's shoulder. "That's Magnusson, Machetes, Ladenburg, Rissole, Barnes, Davidson, Holland, Wenlock, Doe and Alpin." Ris listed, pointing out each of them.

Five looking up at her, a glimmer of surprise and a hint of something she couldn't quite place.

"I think Doe's the leader, that's why I don't have an exact ID. He just appears in the photos, but that's about it." Ris mumbled, not really wanting to get her family shit into this just yet.

"I only count 11." Lila said snarkliy. "Well, that's because they've only identified 11 so far." Elliott said quietly.

"Until today." Ris replied, smiling down at the photo. It was a little creepy, how she could name everyone there. "Really?" Elliott cried. Ris nodding. "Didn't take me long."

"Who's the twelfth?" Diego asked, glancing at her.

Ris leaning back, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Take a guess."


"Should have known it was the old man." Five grumbled under his breath. Ris sighing, bending down picking up her doormat. Lifting her house key from underneath it.

"That's very dangerous." Five said instantly. "It's Dallas 1963. No one, cares." Ris said unlocking her door, giving it a hard push.

The flat was just as she left it. The odd brink between messy and tidy, Quinque's food bowl, half empty, the water gone and her mail being saved up to burn, when she felt bored.

Her murder/take down of her grandfather wall was still up. The table and chair where she and Carmichael had tea in the same place, though the chair was being used as a hanger for her wet towel.

If she were normal, she might have given a half-baked 'sorry for the mess.' But she was so tired at care. And it was Five. She lived with the slob for years, he was not one to judge.

"Nice place." Five said lightly, looking around it.

Ris scoffed. "Please, it's a shit hole, just slightly nicer than Luther's." she said, turning around smiling at the flat. It was nice, but the very though that A.J Carmichael had stepped foot here, still made her nauseous.

"No, it's…really nice." Five said, sitting down in the couch that gave him perfect view of her Wall. "You really have been busy."

Ris shrugged. "I had time." she said, bending down walking into the short hall. "Quinny? Quinque?!" she called out, walking back into the living room. "That's weird, he usual comes when I-"

"Ris!" Five shouted, jumping up from the couch. A tiny golden furry blob's teeth sinking itself deep into his jacket. "Ris!

"Quinque." Ris cooed, dropping her coat on the couch.
"QUNIQUE!"

"Just relax." Ris said walking towards them, gently taking hold of the puppy, scratching its ear. Quinque instantly unclamping, burying into her arms. Looking like a large fluffy golden ball. "See. He's sweet.

Five scowling, rubbing his sleeve. "Hmm."

"You okay?" Ris said, smiling at Five. The puppy shifting in her arms, until it was facing him. Its blue eyes glaring at him. Five glared back.

The puppy growled.
Five stared back, growling back.

"Seriously?" Ris asked, scratching the puppy's ears.

"It growled at me."
"It's a dog, Five."
"It started it."
"It. Is. A. Dog."


"No matter how many times we do it, climbing over walls in dresses, horrible and unpleasant all at once." Ris grumbled to herself, smoothing out purple dress. Crouching behind the car behind Five, watching the guests filter in.

"So, what's the plan?" Lila asked.

"We infiltrate, we identify, we extract. Double time." Diego whispered quickly. Lila furrowed her eyebrows, turning to them. "What the hell's he talking about?"

"Find the old man and get out fast." Five translated.

"That's what I said."
"No, not really." Ris replied, peeking a glance at security. "Not bad, should be easy enough going through the front door."

Diego rolled his eyes. "Got it. On me." he said, running to the next car, before straighten up and blending into the crowd. Ris had to admit, she was quite proud of him.

"After you." Lila whispered. Five glaring knifes and daggers into her. "What, I can't be polite?"

"Cut the crap. All right? My dim-witted brother might buy your bullshit, but I don't trust you for a second." Five hissed. "Oh yeah, we're doing this." Ris muttered under her breath. The last thing they needed was scene.

"O ye of little faith." Lila joked, but her light tone didn't meet her eyes.

"Stick it up your ass."


"Nice music." Ris commented lightly, the low tunes putting her slightly on edge. Similar tunes would be played across the Lab's speakers in the afternoon just before nightfall.

"I don't see Dad anywhere." Diego said, looking around the room. It was a nice place, filled with chandeliers, expensive taste and the smell of money burning. All in all, while a lot of fun, something that was unnatural and wrong.

It felt sinister. Like a cobra wrapped in the most beautiful gift box. Waiting to strike.

"Just keep an eye out for the Majestic Twelve." Five said taking another sip of his champagne, hand slipping into hers. He must have noticed she was distracted.

"Ris and I'll take the upstairs." Five said, turning to Lila and Diego. "Diego, try not to do anything too stupid." he said. Ris and Lila chuckling softly, Five gently pulled her to the other end of the house.

"You okay?" Five asked the second they were out of earshot.

"Fine. But…" Ris said, taking the glass from his hands. "I think a thirteen year old drinking champagne might set off some alarm bells."

"It's Dallas 1963. No one cares." Five said quoting her words from earlier. "You're hilarious, you should have become a comedian." Ris said dryly.

Five smirked, glancing at the stairs looking along the room. It was larger than the first one, but retained most of the details that the smaller one had.

Waiters, people chatting, the only really difference was this one had a small dance floor. With a few mostly elderly people (which just warmed Ris's heart, because who didn't love an old couple)

"Let's dance."

"Excuse me?" Ris blurted out, happy she had set down the champagne. "Let's dance." Five said glancing at her eagerly. "Dance." Ris repeated, glancing up at the stairs.

"Yes. Dance. We haven't danced since what…Brooklyn 1945?"
"New York 1947. Actually." Ris corrected smiling to herself. "But Brooklyn was my favourite." she murmured, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. "Brooklyn was beautiful."

"Yeah." Five mumbled, looking at her. "Brooklyn was amazing." he said, holding out his hand. Ris smiled, taking it. "You better not trip and make us fall again."

Five chuckled, Ris placing her hand over his shoulders. Five gently wrapping one around her waist.

The two slowly swaying to the music. It was strangely relaxing, the chatter and noise of everything seemed to be background noise, the only real sounds seeming to be the music and there breathing.

"You look nice."
"Oh no, who died?" Ris said instantly grinning at Five's deadpan expression. "Seriously?"

"Come on that was funny."
"And you said I should be the comedian."
"You're right." Ris hummed, biting her lower lip. "I am way funnier than you."

Five snorted. "Definitely, that was the best joke you told in your entire life."

"Hey!" Ris laughed, lightly smacking his shoulder making five smile. "That was mean." she giggled. "I thought you liked me when I was mean." Five said, twirling her around.

"You're always mean," Ris said cheekily. "You're just less with me." she said gently, looking up at him. Her brown eyes shining in the twinkling lights. He loved it when they did that, golden flicks seemed to shine out, the deep rich brown swirling around. Something that one could stare into and feel safe. Warm. Happy.

"I like you too much." Five whispered.

"Oh the horror."
"A truly awful predicament, Mellillla."


"Only eight of them, the rest must already be inside." Ris muttered poking her head out, walking into the hall, Five behind her.

He was tenser than before, a sort of un-understandable anguish. Ris slowly slipped her hand into his, giving his a reassuring squeeze. Five's shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Whatever it is, I'm…I'm sure it can't get worse." Ris said gently. Five took a deep breath. "I hope you're right." he said, squeezing her hand spatial jumping them inside.

'Me too.'

Thoughts?

I loved writing this!
I am super sorry for the late update! Life had been crazy lately!

This chap was meant to be longer, but...yeah...

Anyways, thank you all for reading and faving and following! Really appreciated it!

Anyways, as usual please review, like, fav, follow, PM, ect. :)

Till next time... :)