This Years Love - David Gray
The next morning, I woke up on a bed that wasn't my own. It was really early and still dark out. That wasn't the strange part though. The strange part was, I don't even remember going to bed to begin with. I shifted my eyes around and saw that I was in Diego's room, on his bed and turned my head to the side when I heard shuffling. Diego was sitting in a chair, tying up his boots.
"Hey." I said quietly, sitting up.
He looked to me before tying his second boot and then came over so sit beside me, but facing his headboard, "Hey, how are you?"
"I'm okay." I said through a yawn and moved my once injured ankle around, "Looks like my ankle is better. Thank god for super human healing."
Diego took my injured arm and undid the bandages. The wound was scabbed over and it was still tender, so I winced when he ran his fingers over it, "This will probably take another day or so to heal properly."
"Figures." I said and looked around his room, "Why am I in here?"
"You fell asleep on the couch last night and thought you'd be more comfortable in a bed."
"But why your room?"
"I wanted to keep you close." He said quietly, grabbing a new bandage from his night stand to rewrap my forearm.
I sighed, "Diego... I know we never out right said anything but I thought..."
"That I'd be your dirty little secret?" He didn't snap but he wasn't kind either.
"I never said that." I defended myself, clenching my fists before releasing them in defeat, "I just think that until we know for sure what this is, we shouldn't bring much attention to it. You understand, don't you?"
He nodded, "Yeah. I understand." He said and then stood up, "I have to head out. I'll see you later."
He left before I could reply and I frowned. He said he understood but his actions say otherwise. I flopped back down and stared at the ceiling. Where was he even going anyway? It was like five-o-clock in the morning. He hadn't even cleaned up if the blood on his face said anything. I hope he wasn't going to look for those two assassins on his own, that would be a suicide mission. I draped my arm across my eyes, as if that would block out my thoughts.
I don't even remember falling asleep again but when I opened my eyes, the sun was shining brightly through the window. It had to be about mid-morning. I pushed myself into a sitting position and grimaced when I saw what I was wearing. I was still wearing the pajamas I put on two nights ago – that was so gross.
I got off the bed and tested out my ankle and smiled slightly. Just like I thought, it was pretty much healed. My powers may have caused me to have a difficult childhood but being somewhat of a superhuman really had its perks. I walked down the hall to my room and was about to go in when Allison left Luther's room.
"Hey. I just got Luther. You're going to want to see this too." Allison said and kept walking.
Luther came out of his room shortly after and furrowed his brows in confusion. I shrugged, just as clueless as he was and we followed Allison down the hall and around the corner. When we got to Graces favourite spot, we saw her lifeless body sitting on a cushioned bench. Her arm was cut open and her hardware was messed with. The cross-stitching that I saw her doing last night was hanging from a string that was stitched to her hand.
I frowned and covered my mouth with my hand. It was such an awful sight to see. I knew there was something wrong with her but that doesn't mean I wanted this to happen. I looked away when I saw Luther kneel down in front of her.
"Those guys from last night... they did this to her. It has to do with Five somehow. I mean, they were looking for him." Allison said, trying to put pieces together that weren't fitting.
They weren't fitting for a good reason because those guys didn't do this to Grace. She was up here humming along to a soft melody even after those assholes escaped. I heard her and Diego... he came up to see her. I ran my hand through my messy hair as I looked back at Grace. What did you do Diego?
"I know I was arguing to turn her off but it doesn't make seeing her like this any easier." Luther said quietly, standing up.
"Poor Diego. I mean this is going to be so hard on him." Allison said before quickly turning to me, "And Malia... how are you?"
I wiped a tear that spilled from my eye and stepped away from Allison as she came over to hug me, "Don't... I mean, I'm fine. I have to go." I looked to Grace one more time, "I need to get dressed."
I left the two alone and went back to my room. I shut my door and grabbed the first thing my hand could touch and threw it at the wall. It just happened to be a snow globe and it put a hole in the wall beside my window. I took a few deep breaths to calm down and think.
I was a rational person, so think Malia think! Diego wanted Grace to stay alive just as much as me. If he did this, I'm sure he had a good reason. Maybe he saw how clueless Grace was when he came to check on her. I thought about the stitching in her hand and closed my eyes. Maybe her hardware was malfunctioning to the point that she couldn't be saved? If that was true, she could have hurt someone, not just watch them die. So maybe Diego thought he was doing the right thing, which means he must be hurting right now. I just wish he had consulted us on it.
I grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom to have a shower. It felt good to clean my body and wash my hair after the events of last night. Once I was done, I blow dried and straightened my hair, forgoing my usual waves today. I put on my black skinny jeans and grey long sleeve shirt that I tucked into my jeans at the front. I finished the look with my leather jacket and converse. I wanted to wear something that was easy to move in.
I went to the kitchen to eat breakfast after and made myself some eggs. While I was making them, I pictured Grace doing it. She always made two, sunny-side up, with a strip of bacon to make a smiley face on the plate. I hated my eggs sunny-side up but found myself making them that way anyway.
When I was done, I sat at the table in Vanya's usual spot and ate slowly. I grabbed one of the pieces of toast I made and dipped it in my yolk. I finished eating about twenty minutes later but didn't get up from my spot. I just rested my chin in my hand as I stared at the pool table that was across the room. I remember playing that game with Five almost every Saturday morning during our 'free time'. It was a good strategic game he said.
I squinted as I realized I hadn't seen Five in a while. Just as the thought crossed my mind, Diego and Luther entered the kitchen. I didn't even know Diego was back from wherever it was he went. They looked to be on a mission, though they stopped when they spotted me.
"Malia..." Diego seemed surprised to see me but I wasn't the one who took off.
"Where are you guys off to?" I asked, standing up to put my dishes in the sink.
"To find Five. He's been missing since yesterday afternoon." Luther said.
"Sounds good. Who's driving?" I asked, turning to face them as I leaned against the sink.
"I am." Diego said.
"Let's go then." I walked to the side door that lead to the alley where he was likely parked.
"Wait, you're coming?"
I looked over top of the car to my... whatever he is, as I opened up the door to the back-passenger seat, "Of course I am. I'm worried about Five too." I turned to Luther who opened up the front passenger seat door, "You don't mind do you?"
"We can use all the help we can get."
We all piled in the car as I replayed my observation, "We know those assassins haven't gotten to him. They wouldn't have come to the house last night if they had. So we can breathe a little easier knowing that at least."
"Where do you think we should look then?" Diego asked.
Luther explained that the last time he found Five, he was staking out a building while in a van that belonged to a plumbing company. After telling us where the building was, we made that our first stop. It was a solid lead considering the van he was speaking of was parked on the side of the road, across from the same building. It was a lab that produces prosthetics.
We went over to the van and Diego broke into the front seat. Both men tried to get in but bumped into each other before trying again with the same result. I rolled my eyes as Luther pointed out he was Number One and got in. Diego shook his head before breaking into the back. I rolled my eyes again but noticed a slip of paper caught in the windshield wiper. It was a parking ticket.
"Guys, he's not here and hasn't been for a while." I said, leaning in the side door to look at both of them.
"How do you know that?" Luther asked.
I held up the slip of paper, "This parking ticket was issued late last night. Any other leads?"
"I have one." Diego said, holding a thick book up to the title page.
Stamped right under the title, mixed in with a whole bunch of his chicken scratch was a stamp for the public library. I flicked my eyes to Diego's and then glance back at Luther. It was a good a place as any, I guess. Lord only know what Five was actually up too. When we got to the library and entered the foyer we looked around.
"Let's split up." Luther said as he went one way.
"Good thinking." Diego said sarcastically as he went the other.
They were both childish idiots that seemed to have a chip on their shoulder before we even left the house. They had some issues they need to work through and if it weren't for the sake of finding Five, I'd leave them on their own. Five was my priority right now though and I circled each floor swiftly until I reached the top floor. I knew I was ahead of them because I left the first floor to them and started on the second.
I was leaning up against a book shelf when they reached me fifteen minutes later. I was picking at my nails as they rounded the corner and spotted me. Luther looked down over the railing to the front foyer below.
"Five isn't here." I said.
"I didn't see any sign of him either." Luther said and went to leave.
Diego leaned back against the railing, "You want to know why I left?" He called to Luther. Luther turned back to Diego, "Do you want to know why I left the Academy?" Diego repeated.
"It's because you weren't Number One." Luther said.
Diego let loose a short chuckle, "No, it's because that's what you do when you're seventeen. You move out, become your own person, grow up." Diego directed his next question at me but didn't take his eyes off his brother, "Malia, why did you leave?"
Caught off guard at the question I stumbled through my words at first, "Oh, uh, well...I mean I guess I wanted to make my own way. Build a grown-up life and be responsible for my own accomplishments."
"See. Grown-up." Diego said to Luther.
"Oh yeah, you're a real grown up Diego." Luther scoffed.
"At least I make my own decisions. You've never had to hold down a job, pay bills..." Diego started and then relaxed more against the railing as he asked Luther curiously, "You ever even been with a girl?"
Luther looked embarrassed and I felt embarrassed for him because it was none of Diego's business, "I uh, don't know what you're talking about." Luther said.
Diego gave another short chuckle but shrugged before speaking, "Look, if you want to blame me, blame Malia, blame all of us for leaving, that's okay. But maybe it's not about why we left, maybe it's about why you stayed."
Ah, I get it. Now I know why these too have such a hostile air around them. Luther is upset that everyone left him behind to do their own thing. As Number One, Luther felt obligated to stay. At one point, I felt that obligation too and if I stayed like Luther, would I be bitter too? I'd like to think I wouldn't be but that would have been another me altogether.
I realized last night that I missed the action that came with being a part of the Umbrella Academy but I lived another life too and have no regrets. In another life, if I had stayed, I'd always be wondering what life outside the Academy would be like. I'm content with the choices I've made and proud of the person I've become. I'd have regretted not experiencing anything else, had I stayed.
"I stayed because the world needed me." Luther defended his choice.
"You stayed because you couldn't let go of the way things used to be. With the Academy, with dad, with Allison."
"Diego." I admonished quietly.
Bringing Allison into it was a low blow and I turned to Luther to apologize for him but Luther wasn't arguing. In his eyes, I saw reluctant acceptance of the truth that Diego was speaking. I kind of felt sorry for him.
"Dads dead. Mom now too. We're orphans again dude."
"No, we're not. Children aren't supposed to outlive their parents. That's a fact. Whether it happened now or in ten years, they still would have died. We're adults now, making adult decisions." I said and started walking toward the elevator, "Stop being so depressing Diego."
I stopped as I rounded the corner and raised a brow. I looked at the girls who giggled as they got into the elevator before looking back to the boy who was passed out in the corner. It was Five and he was leaning against the wall hugging a mannikin. Around him was a bunch of note books, writing utensils, and an empty bottle of vodka. He had another bottle in his hands. It looks like he wrote his notes all over the wall too. What did he get himself into?
"Guys?" I called behind me, "I know where Five is."
"Where?" Diego asked as he rounded the corner with Luther right behind him. They stopped on either side of me.
"Is he uh..." Luther started.
"Drunk as a skunk." Diego said and I could practically hear the smirk in voice.
"We should go, it's getting dark. Who's picking him up?" I asked but turned to Luther. Diego turned to him too.
Luther glanced between us before rolling his eyes and picking Five up bridal style, "Can you get Delores?" Luther asked me.
I looked at the mannikin, "That's Delores?"
Luther didn't answer and I picked the mannikin up with a frown. This explained so much. We left the library and started walking to Diego's car a few blocks down. The library didn't have parking so we had to park in a public lot two streets over. There was a shortcut through an alley which is where we were walking down now. Five had woken up and demanded to keep Delores in his arms, so I was free of that discerning task, thankfully.
The sun had finally finished setting and it gave the alley an eerie feel. Of course, that could be because I just hated alley's in general. After living in one for two years of my childhood, I tried to avoid them since they left me with a sense of nostalgia that I'd rather not feel. I looked around as I hugged myself, walking ahead of the three knuckleheads.
"We can't go back to the house incase those psychopaths go looking for him again." Luther said.
"My place is closer. No one will look for him there." I heard Diego reply as his footsteps picked up.
He was soon beside me and I looked away from him so he couldn't see my insecurities. I always played confident and self-assured when I was around him – when I was around most people – and I didn't want him to see me any different. I thought it was a weakness to show otherwise. Five was talking nonsense to Luther but I couldn't pay attention. My ears were focused on the other noises in the alley.
"Hey, you alright?" Diego asked quietly as we walked more ahead to not be heard.
"Yeah, fine." I said shortly, "Why?"
He gestured to my fingers which were gripping my arms so tight, my nails were leaving indents in my leather jacket. When I noticed, I immediately eased up and continued looking straight ahead. We've barely spoken since he walked out this morning and now, he's concerned?
"Where did you go this morning when you left?" I asked quietly.
"I had to think." He said quietly and then added, "And to see someone about a few things."
He wasn't being completely truthful; I could tell but I left it alone. His business was his business. Just because we were whatever it was we were, doesn't mean he had to share anything with me. Doesn't mean I wasn't bitter about it though. But I'm the one that told him I didn't want anyone to know what was happening. I thought he wanted the same thing too but now I'm thinking that was an over sight on my part.
"That's fine. Keep your secrets." I muttered as I stopped walking so Luther could catch up. I know Diego heard me because he stopped too and I could feel his hand hover over my shoulder before dropping to his side.
"What were you guys talking about anyway?" Five said loudly as we all started walking again.
"Two intruders attacked the academy last night." Luther answered.
"They came looking for you." Diego said over his shoulder, no longer looking at me.
"They tried to kill everyone." I added.
"So, I need you to focus. What do they want?" Diego asked.
"It's Hazel and Cha-Cha." Five muttered and I recognized the second name.
"You know I hate code names." Luther said.
"They're the best of the best besides me of course." Five explained faintly.
"The best at what?" Luther pressed.
"Delores always said she hated when I drink." Five said and then giggled, "She said it makes me surely."
"She's not wrong." I told him and then walked a little faster to get away from him, "She's a fucking mannikin." I shook my head.
"Hey!" Diego shouted, turned to Five abruptly and pointed at him. I stopped to turn around and listen too, "I need you to focus. What do this Hazel and Cha-Cha want?" Five only grinned, "We just want to protect you."
"Protect me?" Five said seriously, "I don't need your protection Diego. Do you have any idea how many people I've killed? No. I am the four fricken horsemen. The apocalypse is coming."
Five then turned over Luther's shoulder and threw up but I was more focused on what he just said. I turned and continued walking, this time with my fists clenched in my jacket pockets. The apocalypse is coming... is that what he saw in the future? I needed more information than that.
I heard them begin to walk again but didn't glance back. I needed out of this stupid alley. Why was it so long? We eventually made it back to Diego's car and he brought us to the boxing gym. Five had since passed out and I was kind of thankful. He really was annoying when drunk. He would also be able to give us more information, in a way that made sense, once he sobered up.
Five was placed on Diego's bed and Delores was placed on a chair against the wall. God was that thing ever creepy. I looked down at a sleeping Five alongside Luther and Diego. It was hard to picture him as a fifty-eight-year-old man when he was like this.
"Funny. If I didn't know he was such a prick, I'd say he looks almost adorable in his sleep." Diego said.
"Don't worry. He'll sober up eventually and be back to his normal unpleasant self." Luther said.
"You guys are so mean." I said as I sat down on the bed and ran my fingers through Fives hair.
"It's not like he's any nicer." Luther said, turning toward Diego who walked over to his dresser.
"And I can't wait for him to sober up. I need to find out what his connection is with these lunatics before someone else dies."
"All that stuff he was saying before. What do you think he meant by that?" Luther asked.
"I'm sure he'll explain in full when he wakes up." I replied, still running my hands softly through his hair.
There was a small racket coming from down the hall and Diego held up his hands, signaling for us to be quiet. We all stilled and listened as soft footsteps came closer to Diego's door. Diego pulled a knife from his holster and ran up his short flight of stairs and put his hand gently on the door knob. He looked to Luther, then to me before lifting the hand with knife and whipped the door open, ready to throw it. I didn't even have time to tell him that I sensed no danger.
"If you throw another one of those goddamn knives at me, I'm pressing charges." A high-pitched male voice snapped.
Diego dropped his hand and I giggled, "So this is a regular thing?"
Diego ignored me and opened the door further, "What do you want Al?"
An old man walked in and Diego walked back down the stairs, "I aint your secretary. Some lady called for you."
"What lady?" Diego asked. The thought of a lady calling Diego at his home made me uncomfortable but maybe it wasn't what I thought.
"I don't know. Some detective. I think she said her name was Blotch or something."
Diego looked confused, "Patch?" Then seemed to come to some sort of awareness and went back up the stairs, "She needs my help."
"She needs you to meet her at that motel." Al said, giving Diego a slip of paper.
"When?"
"A half hour ago. She said she found your brother." Al replied and then left the room.
Diego looked even more confused as he looked over at Five, "That doesn't make sense."
I then thought of something that was frightening, "Guys... I haven't seen Klaus since last night."
Diego shot out of the room without another word and Luther turned to me, "I guess I'll wait here with you two."
I didn't look at Luther, I just continued to look at the door Diego just left through. Did he leave because of Detective Patch or because of Klaus? Maybe a little bit of both. It was clear that Patch means something to him and that they were more than familiar with each other. I remember meeting her after the break in at my office eight months ago. She knew Diego enough to know it was his knife that stabbed the robber.
I didn't put much thought into it then because Diego was just a passive thought but now the idiot was in most of my thoughts to the point it was infuriating. He left to go help another woman and I was stuck here with my brothers. It could be nothing but I felt empty when Diego left, like I lost (or was losing) something that I'm not even sure I had to begin with.
I looked back down at Five and ran my fingers through his hair a few more times before getting up and walking around the boiler room that Diego made into his home. There was a shelf with a few books on it, a couple tables that held a few knick-knacks, and the desk that held a bunch of random papers, books, and tools. Aside from the cross-stitched picture on his wall of two knives forming an 'x' with his name underneath, there wasn't really anything personal in the room.
"Malia?" Luther asked. I stopped rifling through some papers and looked up at him, "Can I ask you something?"
I shrugged, "You can ask me anything, doesn't mean I'll answer."
"Why did you stay longer than everyone else?"
I leaned my hip against the desk and crossed my arms, giving Luther my full attention, "Why do you want to know?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm still trying to make sense of everything that happened when we were younger."
"You mean figure out why everyone decided to leave." Luther nodded and looked up to the cob-webbed ceiling, "I stayed longer than everyone else because I felt I'd be throwing everything Mr. Hargreeves gave me back in his face. I wanted to leave when the other did but I owed him so much but I also wasn't happy. Every time I left the house, I saw others my age going to college, going out with friends, talking to boys. It was the kind of life I was supposed to grow up to have and I wanted it. I let it eat away at me for another year before I realized something very important."
"What was that?"
I smiled softly at him, "That wanting a life of my own didn't mean I wasn't grateful to Mr. Hargreeves. It just meant that it was time to move on. So that's what I did. Doesn't mean I didn't love you guys; you'll always be my family."
Luther nodded before sitting down in the chair behind him, "I'm sorry for what I said when we were arguing about mom. About you barely being part of the family, I didn't mean it."
"Water under the bridge." I said as I went back to the bed and hopped over Five to lay down, "He might be out for a while so let's try to get some rest."