The Umbrella Academy is not mine.
Extra Ordinary
i
"When you were standing ni the wake of devastation
When you were waiting on the edge of the unknown
And with the cataclysm raining down
Insides crying, "save me now"
You were there, impossibly alone."
- IRIDESCENT - Linkin Park
"I think she's plotting your murder, Klaus."
"Nyeh, she couldn't hurt a fly."
"I definitely see a murderous glint in her eye."
Klaus groaned, the sound over exaggerated and drawn out as he shifted in the dumpster. The sound of stuff clanging and falling as he moved echoed in the small, metallic space, and suddenly the estranged man's head poked over the edge of the bin. Halyn's nose crinkled, her arms set firmly over her chest, and she frowned.
"Who are you talking to, Klaus?"
Klaus's gaze flickered to the fire escape, lingering momentarily before he waved the girl off, "Oh, just my own personal demons." Behind him, and hidden from Halyn's eye, an irritated Ben flipped his brother off. The necromancer snorted before he propped his arms up on the edge of the dumpster, head leaning forward to rest on the crossed appendages, "Say, Halyn," He drawled and the girl instantly felt a feeling of dread fill her stomach, "This would go much faster if you got in here and helped. The garbage water's fine!" For emphasis, he patted the bin, the noise echoing in the enclosed alley.
A rotting stench lingered in Halyn's nose as Klaus's foot slipped on a bag of rubbish, and she grimaced, "I think I'm going to pass, Klaus."
The man pouted, "Your loss." Klaus lingered for a few seconds, and his head cocked slightly to the side, "Say, where'd you get that gnarly bruise from?" Halyn's jaw clenched and his eyes widened, "I didn't do that yesterday, did I?"
"Klaus, you patted my cheek yesterday."
With a wave of his hand, Klaus shrugged, "Still, I sometimes don't know my own strength!" A borderline deranged laugh bubbled past his lips and Halyn pursed her lips.
"Just keep searching." Halyn's eyes rolled for what felt like the fiftieth time that morning as she ended the conversation.
"Just keep searching." Klaus mimicked the Sioux teen's tone, voice pitching upwards and angling towards mocking. Halyn felt her eye twitch, but she maintained silence, gaze steady as she watched her friend dive back into the dumpster, a few choice words accompanying him as he disappeared into the filth once more.
They had been out here just shy of an hour now, Klaus digging aimlessly and Halyn watching from the sidelines. Every now and then he'd pause, making some colored commentary before there'd be a moment of silence, and then he'd reply, though his response didn't always make sense. These one-sided conversations were a bit alarming to Halyn, but whenever she asked him who the fuck he was talking to, she was brushed off, as if Klaus's friend was some big secret.
A gentle breeze fluttered down the back alley, a chill tearing down Halyn's spine, and she pulled her jacket tighter around her body. She internally groaned at the time of day they were out, but the Sioux teen had done this to themselves. Knowing Five's plan for the day, she had woken up Klaus early to—hopefully—get this search over with in a timely fashion.
It didn't seem like they were going to find anything.
Halyn still felt some guilt at playing a role in those important documents disappearing, but that guilt was more so a feeling of disappointment in herself at letting Pogo down. She could care less about the loss of Sir Hargreeves personal effects, but she had always admired their simian caretaker, and knowing he might harbor any upset feelings towards Halyn made her feel all weird inside—and she didn't like it.
"Ah ha!" Klaus suddenly cried out, pulling Halyn from her thoughts, and a feeling of hope blossomed in her chest.
"Did you find it?" She dared give into the hope, leaning forward some as Klaus poked his head out of the bin once more. However, instead of holding onto the personal effects of his father, a tiny toy solider was held tightly in his hand, a bright smile on the necromancer's lips.
"Nope, but I did find this cool toy soldier!"
Hope immediately sizzled out of Halyn's chest, and she scowled at the man, "Klaus!" She groaned, "That's obviously not what we're looking for!"
"Still cool though." Klaus defended. The toy soldier danced across the side of the trash bin for a moment before the necromancer tucked it safely into one of his pockets, sticking his tongue out at Halyn defiantly.
Stay cool. Stay cool. Stay cool.
Halyn took a deep breath to try and stifle her ever growing irritation. She was suddenly regretting getting out of bed this morning. She'd rather be dealing with an irritated Five right now than a condescending Klaus. It was her own damn fault for thinking this was going to go smoothly. Nothing went smoothly when it came to Klaus.
"Dude, you sure you don't have a death wish?" Ben's legs hung from the fire escape he was sat on, voice slightly amused, as he watched a clearly frustrated Halyn attempt to not due in a clearly infuriating Klaus.
"It's not that I don't have a death wish…" The necromancer murmured his response before falling over backwards in the dumpster with a clang. Bags of rubbish broke his fall, and Klaus barely paid any mind as a tub of old Chinese food broke open behind his head, lo mein noodles slinking into his hair. Above him, Ben cringed at the filthy state of his brother.
Halyn suppressed another irritated groan that threatened to spill past her lips as Klaus—once more—began to converse with himself. She had begun to internally debate on whether or not she should just leave, as it was becoming more and more obvious their little dumpster was futile.
Those papers and other important personal effects were long gone.
"Damn it, where's dad's stuff?" Klaus's voice echoed hollowly from inside the dumpster, clanging noises reverberating around the interior as he kicked at the surrounding trash. All that did was cover him in more garbage and nastiness.
Halyn still maintained silence, eyes glaring at the metallic box that imprisoned Klaus for the moment, and Ben leaned his head on his hand, "Can we go see a movie or something? We can see if Halyn wants to come with!"
Klaus shifted in the garbage, pulling himself up into a sitting position. A noodle fell from his hair, slithering down his face and onto his chest. The necromancer barely flinched. He had experience dirtier situations before. A dive in a dumpster and a bath of old noodles was nothing too him.
"Oh, would you shut up." The necromancer poked his head out of the dumpster, shoving his hand into another bag of trash in the process. Halyn would've snapped at him for his comment if she didn't notice how he was staring at nothing on the fire escape, "I have to find whatever… priceless crap was in that priceless box so that Pogo and Halyn will get off my ass!"
Halyn clicked her tongue and from her peripherals, she watched as Five finished climbing down the ladder of the fire escape. He tossed his best friend a perplexed look, and she silently responded with a 'don't ask', unsure herself how to even explain what was going on with Klaus.
"Klaus, honey, can you tell me who the hell you're talking to?"
She tried a different approach this time, masking her irritation with a gentleness instead. Five stepped up beside the girl, shoving his hands in his pockets, and alongside Halyn, he waited for his brothers' response. He didn't really expect a straight answer, and neither did his best friend, but they were still all ears as they awaited Klaus's response.
With a wave of his hand, Klaus turned his attention to the two teens, "Oh, no one important." Above, Ben shook his head with a deep frown, a glare darkening his features as his brother tossed him a cheeky smirk, "Just a pile of trash." The necromancer suddenly kicked at a bag beneath his feet, "As I search through trash…"
Five crinkled his nose, "I'd ask what you're up to, Klaus, but then it occurred to me… I don't really care." Halyn snorted.
Klaus pulled his hand back from the bag he had shoved it into. He hardly seemed phased as drops of some unknown liquid dripped from his fingers, and Halyn felt like she was going to throw up. Beside her, Five shared a similar mentality, a gag tearing through his throat.
"That's disgusting."
"Don't I know it, buddy." Klaus laughed before wiping the gunk on his pants without a second thought. He dropped the bag he had been holding and propped his head up on the side of the garbage bin, "but hey, you should ask your girlfriend why I'm in the dumpster!"
Five pulled his gaze from Klaus, flicking it to Halyn, and the girl rolled her eyes at his questioning glance, "Don't ask." She huffed, dropping her arms to her side with a heavy sigh. Halyn's heart had fluttered at the mention of the word girlfriend, but since Five didn't comment on it, she wasn't going to either. She knew Klaus was most likely teasing the two after their little 'act' yesterday.
"Whelp, there you have it, Klaus. I won't ask."
The necromancer slumped himself over the edge of the dumpster, a pout on his lips, and both Five and Halyn reeled back at the scent that wafted off his body, "Fine, fine." He waved his hand, leftover goop flicking off his fingers, and Halyn cringed, "But, uh, you two need anymore company today? I could… clear my schedule."
Five scoffed and slipped one of his hands into Halyn's own, "Looks like you've got your hands full." The Sioux teen felt her cheeks heat at the innocent contact, and her first instinct was to pull her hand away. She shoved that feeling down, however, and gave Five's hand a quick squeeze.
"Oh, this?" Klaus peered at Halyn, holding her gaze defiantly, "No, no. I can do this whenever. I'm just-" The estranged man fell back into the dumpster, disappearing from view as he started his rummaging once more, "I just misplaced something, that's all. Oh!" He popped back up a few seconds later, a quarter of a bagel in his hands, "Found it! Thank god!" Halyn quirked a brow as Klaus caught her eye once more. He stared at her almost pleadingly, but her eyes narrowed in response, and he lifted the bagel to his lips.
There was hesitation in his eyes as he continued to maintain eye contact with Halyn, the bagel now touching his lips. She just kept staring back at him, waiting for him to crack, but instead, to her surprise—and disgust—Klaus took a big bite of the bagel. He grimaced as he swallowed, Halyn's nose crinkling, before he muttered out a pitiful, "Delicious." As crumbs dribbled down his chin.
Five's hand clenched in Halyn's, "I'm done funding your drug habit." He rolled his eyes and pulled the Sioux teen alongside him, stalking away from his brother with the girl in tow.
"Come on!" Klaus shouted at the retreating teens, and Halyn tossed him a teasing wave over her shoulder after she stumbled after Five, "You don't—maybe I just want to spend time with my brother—not you—and his girlfriend!" Ben rolled his eyes and the necromancer continued to shout down the alley, "¡Mi hermano y amiga! I love you! Even if you can't love yourselves!"
"Aw, I kind of feel bad." Halyn paused as Five brought them to a lone van for a plumbing company. She glanced over her shoulder to stare at Klaus, who was still standing in the garbage bin looking like a lost puppy.
Five tossed his gaze back to his brother for a moment before turning away, "Don't." He quipped simply, voice terse, and he dropped Halyn's hand before starting to make his way towards the driver's side.
Halyn rolled her eyes at his terse comment. Sensing his irritation at the absurdities of his brother, she changed topic, "What? Not going to open the door for your girlfriend?" She quipped lightly, dark eyes falling on her best friend, a light smile on her lips.
Pausing, the teleporter turned to face Halyn once more, lips pursed tauntingly, "Huh. Thought I broke up with you." Though his words could be taken coldly by the average person, Halyn knew Five well enough to make out the gleam in his eyes as he jested her back.
Halyn internally cringed at his words, though the smile on her lips barely faltered. She managed to breath out a shaky laugh, trying to keep up the joking air she had instigated, but her heart lurched once more.
Walked right into that one.
Regardless of his words, Five double backed and bypassed Halyn as he made his way towards the passenger side of the van. The Sioux teen watched him with mildly amused eyes, ignoring the sudden jolt she felt when his hand brushed up against hers once more. She silently chastised her weird feelings and instead focused on her best friend.
Five had reached the passenger door and was now holding it wide open for Halyn. He looked at her expectantly, brow quirked, and he gestured for her to get in. Halyn rolled her eyes at his impatience and walked towards him. Feigning a swoon, she fluttered her eyelashes at the teleporter as she climbed in, "What a gentleman."
Five clicked his tongue, "Shut up." A light blush dusted his cheeks, but before Halyn could take notice of it, he slammed her door before disappearing in a flash of light. As Halyn buckled herself in, a light chuckle slipping past her lips, he reappeared in the driver's side seat.
The keys were harshly slammed into the ignition, Five giving in to his impatience. The van had just barely turned over when Five shifted it into gear, and Halyn only had seconds to brace herself as he tore out of the alley, tires squealing against the pavement. Halyn's heart lurched into her throat as he whipped around a corner, and she could've sworn the van lifted onto two tires during the turn.
Screw the apocalypse killing me. Five's driving is going to be the death of me.
"So, who's van is this?"
As Five slowed the stolen van to a halt across the street from Meritech Prosthetics, Halyn kicked her feet up onto the dashboard, making herself comfortable as she prepared herself for the long stakeout ahead. Her head rolled towards Five, an expectant brow quirked, and she leaned further back into her seat.
Five pulled his gaze from the manufacturing company, expression scrutinizing, before facing his best friend. Halyn stared back at him, face expectant, as she chewed on a cherry dum-dum she had pulled from her pocket, "Rocco and Family Plumbing, Drain, and Toilet Specialists." The teleporter dryly responded, a sarcastic smile toying at his lips.
Halyn rolled her eyes at his aversion to her question and she tossed her companion an unamused look, "Yes, I read the company name." The Sioux teen pulled a business card from the cupholder, brown eyes glancing over its fine print before Halyn threw it at Five, "but that doesn't answer where you got it from." The card bounced off his jacket sleeve harmlessly, but he paid it little mind.
"Then you should've asked that." Five swiveled in his seat to stare back out the front window, evidently done with the conversation, and Halyn sighed, "There he is." The teleporter called out, having spotted his target, and Halyn leaned forward in her seat, "Dr. Lance Biggs."
Sure enough, in the distance, she could just make out the man she had helped Five antagonize yesterday. Standing just outside of his workplace, Dr. Biggs had paused, turning slightly to glance over his shoulder unsurely, almost as if he felt as though he was being watched. He was right, of course, and Halyn found herself subconsciously shrinking down in her seat in an effort to not be seen. Five seemed to not even care, sparing his best friend an amused glance as she huddled up, before casting his disapproving gaze on the doctor once more.
With one last unsteady look over his shoulder, Lance disappeared into the Meritech building, and Five gritted his teeth, annoyance flashing on his face. Halyn straightened back up, leaning back in her seat to make herself comfortable once more. She toyed with the book in her lap—a book Juliet had suggested to her—and mentally prepared herself for the long day ahead of her.
From the corner of her eye, she studied Five. His posture was tense, brows furrowed, and his knuckles had gone white from the tight grip he had on the steering wheel. It was obvious how desperate he had become, how following around Doctor Briggs was his last hope, as the eye he had found all those years ago was a dead end. Halyn hated seeing Five fall down this rabbit hole, so wholly consumed by this apocalypse as he chased after farfetched leads.
Halyn knew there wasn't much she could do or say to him, as they were literally at a loss for how to stop the apocalypse, and this was the sole idea Five could come up with. So, who was she to question him? He had seen far more than her; knew far more than her, and she was just as invested in stopping the supposed apocalypse as he was.
Despite the problems it had given her, she did, in fact, actually like living.
With a soft click of her tongue, the Sioux teen kicked her feet back up on the dashboard once more. She honestly didn't mind keeping Five company, and Halyn even relished being in his presence once more. Five's companionship had been something she had dreamed about—craved even—since he disappeared, and she had resigned herself long ago to the thought that they'd only be together again in her memories. But now, he was within arm's reach, and she wasn't letting him go any time soon.
Tearing her gaze from her best friend, Halyn focused on the book in her hands. Juliet had given it to her to read, and since she was going to be stuck in this van for hours, she would be wise to take advantage of the downtime to start reading it—especially if they only had six days until they all perished.
Settling in for the long haul, Halyn angled her body some so she was rested between the side of the van and the passenger seat, making herself comfy as she cracked her book open. It was called 'Twilight', and when the Sioux teen asked her friend for a summary of the book, all she got was a cheeky shrug and a 'you'll just have to read it'. Halyn would be lying if she said she wasn't at least a little intrigued—but she was also a little bit concerned.
Though Juliet was an avid bookworm and knew the value of a good book, she could be a bit cheeky with her book suggestions. Halyn wasn't quite sure if 'Twilight' was going to fall into that 'good' book category, but she was sure as hell going to find out.
After all, most books about vampires were good, right?
"Oh, shit."
Halyn had barely managed to read the first page when Five suddenly cursed, breaking the comfortable silence that had blanketed the duo. Perplexed as to what had caused her companion to become so upset, she glanced up, watching as he turned in his seat to reach into the back of the van.
Five quickly gathered the duffel bag he had dumped in the back, pulling down the zipper to reveal a stoic Delores. She stared up at him with blank eyes, and he muttered a soft, "Hey." Before moving things off of the mannequin.
A half-empty bottle of vodka was shoved into Halyn's hands, the girl blinking before she 'accidentally' let it fall to the floor. Dropping one leg down, she subtly kicked it under her seat, hoping Five hadn't noticed a thing as he focused on pulling his girlfriend from her confines.
"Sorry you were in there for so long, Delores." Five's voice was uncharacteristically soft, and he very gently helped the mannequin into a sitting position between the two, "No, I'm not drunk. I'm working." Halyn's brows furrowed at Five's sudden admonishment, and it took a few seconds for it to click that he was talking to Delores and not her.
"That half-bottle of vodka would say otherwise, Five." The Sioux teen snarked, and Five pulled his attention from Meritech to glare at her.
"You're not helping." The teleporter pulled his glare from Halyn to glance at Delores. He rolled his eyes, lips pursed, "That was an old bottle. I haven't had a sip of alcohol today."
Delores must've said something in response to Five, and he clearly wasn't happy with what she had to say. Neglecting to actually respond to her, he glared at his innominate companion. The look lasted for a few seconds before Five glanced at Halyn, the brunette sporting a quirked brow. He flashed her a tight-lipped smile, eyes narrowed, before he returned his focus to the Meritech building before them.
"Lover's spat?" Halyn teased gently, poking at his shoulder with her index finger.
Not tearing his gaze away from the prosthetics company, Five slapped her finger, "Shut up." There was a brief pause, Halyn watching him curiously. His jaw tensed ever so subtly and just as the Sioux teen made a move to return to reading her book, he spoke up, "Delores thinks I have a drinking problem." Five's tone was soft, vulnerable even.
"Well, do you?" Halyn's head cocked to the side, eyes curious, and she studied her best friend. Before he had disappeared into the future, they had snuck some alcohol here and there—they were superpowered teenagers, what did you expect?—but she wouldn't classify Five as an alcoholic. That said, forty years alone in an apocalyptic future was a surefire way to get a drinking problem.
Five clicked his tongue and rolled his shoulders. With a quick glance at Delores—and another eyeroll—he responded, "Maybe a little one."
"First step to solving a problem is admitting you have one, Five." Halyn murmured softly.
"Spare me that A.A. bullshit, Halyn." Five huffed, tossing his best friend an unamused glare, and she shrugged halfheartedly at the look, "We have more important matters to attend to." There was another pause, and the teleporter grumbled, "Yes, we're here because of the eye thing. This is the place it was made… or will be made." Despite the sigh that slipped past his lips, Halyn watched Five's shoulders further tense, "We just have to wait."
Halyn reached over, eyes soft, and she threaded her fingers with Five's. He glanced over at his best friend, green eyes filled with determination, but it was just a mask. There were cracks in his façade, and through those cracks, pain and worry shined bright. Halyn gave his hand an extra squeeze, a silent reminder that she was with him, and for a moment, hope flashed in his dark gaze.
Together, they could do anything.
'About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn't know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love—'
"She has your voice."
Halyn blinked, mind pulled away from the world of Forks as she honed back in on the world surrounding her, Five's voice drawing her back into their stakeout. The clock on the dash told her a little over an hour had passed, and as Halyn dog-eared the page of her book, she noted she had managed to make it to chapter nine. The book so far was a pretty easy read, but she wasn't sure if she was quite happy with Juliet's choice.
A cheesy vampire romance? As if.
With a soft hum, she set her brown eyes on Five, "What was that?"
Five fidgeted in his seat, fingers thrumming the steering wheel awkwardly. Halyn could've sworn she saw a light blush dusting his cheeks, but it could've been the sun that peaked out from behind some clouds. The teleporter rolled his shoulders and tried to push past the nerves that suddenly flared in his stomach, "Delores, she has your voice." He managed to speak the words once more, all too aware of the heat that lingered on the tips of his ears.
Why he was suddenly admitting this was beyond him, but the words had just kind of slipped out one second when his mind was distracted after a stolen glance at Halyn. Curled up in the passenger seat, tuned completely out of the world as she read her book, hums of content echoed in Halyn's throat every so after as she turned a page. Five's mind had momentarily gone blank at the utterly relaxed expression that graced her soft features, and he so desperately wished they could stay like this forever.
The sight had made his heart melt, chest swelling with adoration—a feeling he was slowly becoming more and more accustomed to around her— and he let himself temporarily lose himself in her relaxed features. With his guard suddenly dropped, the admission came to him too easily for his liking, but now it was out there in the open, and he couldn't take it back.
Not that he necessarily wanted to.
A lump formed in Halyn's throat at Five's revelation, and she suddenly found it hard to breath. As soon as the words had slipped past his lips, the boy had snapped his gaze back to Meritech, a futile attempt to refocus on his stakeout. Even with him facing away from her, as the Sioux teen stared openly at Five, she could make out the vulnerability that threatened to break through his hard exterior. From the way his brow was furrowed, to how his lips twitched and his flighty gaze continued to flicker between her and Meritech, Five was struggling to hold onto his composure.
Halyn took a moment to spare a glance at Delores, whose gaze was as distant as ever. This had been Five's sole companion for decades, and he had clearly projected his desire for human contact on her. The Sioux teen found herself flummoxed as she processed Five's words, unsure how to even feel—nonetheless respond to—to such a heart wrenching revelation. She was once more filled with the painful reminder of how utterly alone Five had been when he had jumped all those years ago, and a numbing ache tugged at her heartstrings.
With words still failing her, Halyn reached over for Five's hand, "Five." She murmured his name softly, painfully even, and his fingers clenched tightly around hers. He refused to look at her, however, gaze still staring firmly ahead, and the Sioux teen called for him once more, "Five."
This time, he complied with her silent command, and Halyn couldn't stand the pain that flickered in his green orbs. She shifted in her seat, scooching herself as close to her best friend as she could, the center console the only space between them. With her free hand, she moved to cup his face, thumb rubbing gently against the curve of his cheek.
"Why mine?" She questioned softly, a hint of curiosity underlying her voice.
Five hesitated in responding, already hating the vulnerable position he had placed himself in. Weakness wasn't becoming of a trained mercenary like him, and he hated how utterly small he felt. The only consolation of his given predicament was the fact that this was Halyn he was sitting before, and she had long ago established herself as someone of great importance to him—but the fragility that was currently gnawing at his stomach left him feeling sick and was a cruel reminder of the humanity Five had thought he had left behind all those years ago.
Upon seeing no sign of judgement in Halyn's brown eyes, he sighed, "You've always been my confidant; my voice of reason." Five's gaze flickered to Delores, eyes soft, "and the apocalypse wasn't going to change that." His eyes returned to the Sioux teens, "Your voice has always kept me going, and it was all I really had left of you."
"Five, I—I don't—"
"You don't have to say anything."
Five gave Halyn's hand a reassuring squeeze, lips quirked upwards ever so slightly. She attempted to match his smile, but it faltered slightly under the intensity of his gaze. There was trepidation swimming in his green eyes now, and Halyn found herself wondering why he suddenly seemed so hesitant. It was almost as if he had something more to say, but he was struggling with the words.
In the end, after a few seconds pause as the two gazed at each other, Five turned his head. The hand Halyn had cupping his cheek dropped as he returned his focus to the Meritech building, and she got the sense he wanted to end their conversation. His normal closed-off nature had returned full force, gaze hardening once more, but his fingers continued to clutch Halyn's own like a lifeline.
Still, Halyn couldn't help but dwell on his words for a little bit longer. She was the voice that had accompanied him during his time in the apocalypse? It was a lot to take in, honestly, and for the first time in a while, she found herself at an actual loss of words. Words were typically her strong suit, but here she was, tongue-tied. All she could do was stare at her best friend, and based on the way his jaw clenched, emerald gaze sneaking a quick look at her, Five could sense her staring.
Guilt clenched her heart, and though she knew the feeling was irrational, Halyn couldn't help herself. She hadn't been there for Five, so he had had to project her onto a mannequin just to keep himself semi-sane during his years of isolation, and that thought hit her pretty hard. Though there a strange gratefulness in the back of her mind for this inanimate object and the companionship she gave Five, Halyn still couldn't help but feel conflicted.
Was she meant to be flattered?
Or should she be concerned?
Five's eyes began to blur as the hours ticked by, and he lost track of just how many pedestrians he had watched go about their days, oblivious to the doomsday poised to destroy their very livelihood in the coming days. A group of young boys ran before the van, laughing jovially as they teased one another, and Five found his heart aching for his lost childhood. They suddenly slowed down before his very eyes, and the teleporter blinked, trying to draw his gaze into focus.
The three boys blurred and became distorted from view, Five's brows furrowing in confusion. The world seemed to become quieter, deadlier even, as his surroundings faded from view. And when Five looked about the van, he suddenly realized he was alone.
Halyn was gone.
It was strange, he hadn't seen her leave, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention. Anxiety suddenly flooded his veins as his gaze snapped back to outside the van, ash and debris raining from the sky. Slowly, his heart rate began to spike, breaths now coming in uneven bursts, and Five shoved the door to the van open.
The world around him had seemingly crumped in an instant, and Five couldn't help the surge of panic that tore through his body like a harsh jolt. All around him were burning buildings, husks of the society that was once mankind, and the teleporter took a few unsteady steps forward, "No…" His voice was just barely a whisper, his head whipping from side to side, "No!" Voice stronger this time, he was practically wailing.
"Five!"
A familiar voice called out to him, and Five felt his heart lurch, "Halyn!" He whirled around, trying to find the girl, "Halyn!" Finally, he laid his eyes on his best friend, and relief took the place of panic—but only for a brief moment.
Just as Five's mind questioned how and why Halyn was in the apocalypse with him, and he made a futile attempt to stumble towards the outreached hand of the girl, stone began to creep up her body.
"Five!" She cried out once more, voice laced with desperation. Five was quick to shout her name in retaliation, anguish consuming his tone, as he desperately tried to reach his best friend.
Halyn was rooted in place, soft features contorted in despair, and she was helpless to the stone that clawed its way up her body. Five felt like he was running, faster and faster, but he just wasn't fast enough. For each step he took forward, it seemed as if Halyn was moved five steps backwards, and fear gripped his heart tightly.
"Five, come back to me!"
"Halyn, I—I'm trying!"
Tears pricked the corners of Five's eyes, and his heart leapt into his throat as stone continued to consume his best friend. His hand was still outstretched towards her, agony painfully obvious on his face, and she reached back for him just as desperately. Five had even tried teleporting himself to the Sioux teen, but his powers whirred at him angrily, defying his commands and leaving him helpless to close the space between the two.
"I—I'm sorry." Five's voice cracked as the words tumbled past his lips, and he watched a tear streak down Halyn's cheek. Their fingers were so close to brushing, but fate just wouldn't let them close the mere centimeters between them, and Five cried out in misery.
"Halyn!"
With one final push, Five felt himself practically leap to close the gap, but it was too late. His hand curled around stone fingers, and he watched in absolute horror as the rest of Halyn was fully consumed by the element, his name leaving her lips in one last final cry of desperation.
"Five!"
With a jolt, Five was harshly pulled back to reality. His chest heaved, and he was painfully aware of how his eyes stung with unshed tears. His heart continued to hammer in his chest as he struggled to compose himself, and his mind homed in on a pair of soft hands that cradled his cheeks ever so gently.
Halyn watched her best friend with concerned eyes. One second she had been buried in her book, and the next she was drawn from it as Five rapidly dissolved at her side. She had instantly tried to soothe him, to pull him back from whatever nightmare his mind had sucked him into, but it had taken a few minutes to bring him back. During that time, Five's chest continued to heave, and Halyn was almost positive she could hear his heart thundering away in his chest.
"Five?" Halyn made sure her tone was soft, and she gently wiped away a tear that leaked from the corner of his eye. The contact caused the teleporter to snap his gaze towards her, and his green eyes were wide with despair and anguish.
"H-Halyn." As her name tumbled past his lips, relief coursed through Five's body, and he immediately lurched forward. His arms locked themselves around Halyn as he cradled her to his chest, and he buried his face in her hair. The strong scent of her strawberry shampoo filled his nose, and Five thought he had never smelled anything sweeter.
Five clung to the Sioux teen like a lifeline, afraid she was going to disappear at any given moment, and Halyn melted into the hug. Her own arms wrapped around his torso, fists latching onto the back of his jacket, and she murmured sweet nothings into Five's ears. Slowly but surely, his heartrate began to level out, breathing returning to normal, but neither of the two pulled away.
Halyn's own head was buried in the crook of Five's neck, and after a few moments, she boldly pressed a kiss to his pulse point. It was an innocent gesture, just a silent reminder that she was in fact there, and Five's arms tightened around her.
After a few minutes of allowing Five to clutch her like nothing else mattered in the world, Halyn gently pulled back. She allowed his arms to remain wrapped around her shoulders, her own still curled around his torso, but she had pulled away enough so that she could stare up at him. Tear tracks stained Five's cheeks and Halyn felt her heartache at the look.
She hadn't even realized Five had been crying.
She shifted one of her hands and reached up, wiping at the stray tears that dared trek down his cheeks, and she smiled up at him reassuringly, "Hey, Five, it's okay, okay? I'm right here." Though Halyn wasn't quite sure what Five had just seen, based on his reaction, she could only imagine it had something to do with the apocalypse.
Five hummed in response, his words failing him, and he trailed his own hand up to cup Halyn's cheek. She tensed slightly as his fingers brushed over her bruised jaw, but she allowed him to trace her features with his fingers if that helped him realize that she was still in front of him. Ultimately, his hand travelled back, where it threaded itself in her dark locks, and Five pressed his forehead against Halyn's.
His breath fanned against her lips as he sucked in a deep breath, shoving aside the feelings of panic his nightmare had dredged up. Instead, he focused on his best friend's gentle breathing, allowing the sound to further ground him. Just as Five felt a moment's peace wash over him, it was shattered as someone knocked on the window.
With a jolt, Halyn and Five separated, and the teleporter glared over her shoulder at the intruder. She turned, her own eyes narrowing, and just as Luther tried to open the door to the van, Five's finger slammed on the lock button. The doors clicked, Luther frowning as the passenger side door stayed shut, and he sighed heavily.
"Come on, Five, really?" He called through the glass, voice slightly muffled.
"You shouldn't be here." Five responded, face expressionless as he shoved his emotions away. Iciness flashed in his green eyes as he glared at his brother before shifting his gaze back to Meritech, a silent message that Luther should fuck off.
Luther sighed, "Five, Halyn, we need to talk." Five continued to ignore the burly man. Halyn was also in no mood to deal with Luther, and she pulled her book up, making herself comfortable in the passenger seat once more.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Halyn had barely managed to read the first line of the next chapter of her book when Luther began knocking on the window. The sound reverberated through the van and she scowled at the noise.
Leave it to Luther to be incessantly irritating.
An attempt was made to ignore the knocking noise, but Halyn's patience seemed to be running thin these days. After about a minute more of the irritating sound, she conceded and began to roll the window down. Five scowled at her as the cool March air tore through the stolen van, but she ignored him instead to snap at Luther, "What do you want?"
"I told you, I need—really, Five?" Just as Luther had begun to speak, the teleporter had locked Halyn from controlling the window, and it was now making its way back up. Frustration was evident on the spaceman's face, but his brother only smirked smugly at him.
With a frustrated eyeroll, Halyn reached over and slapped Five's hand away from the window button, "The sooner we talk to him, the sooner he leaves, okay?" She bargained with her best friend, and he huffed. The window was rolled back down to halfway.
"How'd you even find us?"
Luther shrugged and pointed to the back of the van. Halyn and Five shared a glance before they looked into the rear, eyes falling on a wild Klaus, who had somehow managed to sneak into the van before the teleporter had locked it. He was currently slow dancing with Delores, and once he felt eyes on him, he turned.
"Hey! Can't a guy and his lady get a little privacy?! We're really hitting it off back here!" Klaus nuzzled into the mannequins neck, and Halyn was positive a vein was going to burst in Five's forehead.
"Get out!" He practically snarled, throwing a can at his brother, and Klaus shrieked, "You can't be here. Halyn and I are in the middle of something!"
"Look, I'm sorry to interrupt…" Luther paused, finger waving suggestively between Halyn and Five, "whatever was—"
"What?" Five furrowed his brows together, and Halyn's face flamed as she realized just what Luther was talking about. He thought their comforting moment was something more… saucy. Upon noticing the sheepish expression on his best friend's face, it clicked for Five, and his own cheeks heated, "No, it was—we weren't—we're on a mission, okay?"
"Speaking of," Halyn glanced over her shoulder as Klaus neared, and her nose crinkled at the overwhelming smell of garbage that wafted from him, "any luck finding your one-eyed man?"
Five scowled, "No." His tone was a whisper.
"What's he talking about?" Luther frowned, eyeing his brothers, "And will you let me in?"
"No." The teleporter's response was quick, "And does it matter? It's Klaus."
Halyn felt slightly bad the necromancer was being used as a scapegoat, but the man also didn't seem the least bit fazed by his brother's offhanded comment. Instead, he looked as if he had accepted his fate and may have even agreed with Five's observation.
With a click of her tongue, Halyn peered out at Luther from behind the window, "What'd you want to talk about, Luther?"
Realizing the two weren't going to let him in the van any time soon, Luther sighed, "Um… so Grace may have had something to do with Dad's death." Halyn's brows furrowed as she remembered the footage her and Allison had discovered last night, "So I need both you and Halyn to come back to the academy, all right? It's important."
Despite her mild disdain of the man standing outside her window, Halyn found herself agreeing with him. She had disappeared before any discussion about the footage and Grace could be discussed, so it was safe to assume Luther was rounding up the family so they could have said discussion. The Sioux teen was prepared to voice her agreeance when Five's leering voice spoke before she could.
"It's important." Five mocked, jaw tense, "You have no concept of what's important."
Still lacking the ability to read a room, Klaus interjected himself back into the conversation, "Hey! Did I ever tell you guys about the time I waxed my ass with chocolate pudding?"
Halyn grimaced, "That was a sentence that never needed to be spoken."
"Oh, but my dear Halyn, the story is marvelous! Even if it was painful…"
As Klaus divulged into giggles, Halyn rolled her eyes and Five's nose crinkled in a mixture of irritation and disgust, "What are you still doing here?" Luther was the one to poise the question.
Klaus looked mildly affronted, "What? I—what? I need an excuse to hang out with my family?"
"We are trying to have a serious conversation."
"What? And I'm incapable of being serious?" The necromancer's tone took on a dramatic flair with a touch of offense, "Is that what you're saying?"
"Luther's got a point," Five reluctantly agreed and Halyn sighed, "You should get out."
"What?" Klaus's voice had pitched into upset, and his gaze flickered back and forth between his brother's before it fell to Halyn, who had stayed mostly quiet the past few minutes, "Halyn, are you just going to let them kick me out?"
Angling herself towards Klaus, Halyn regretted the move almost immediately. He had pulled out his puppy dog eyes, doing his best to feign any sort of innocence, and the Sioux teen had to steel herself to reject his disheartened look.
"Look, Klaus, it's nothing personal—"
"Oh, it's personal." Halyn punched Five's shoulder.
"As I was saying, it's nothing personal, Klaus, but we are trying to have a serious conversation." The necromancer's lip quivered, and Halyn felt her resolve crumbling, "If you think you can be serious for even five minutes, then maybe you can stay." She ended her sentence on an open-ended, hopeful note, stealing a quick glance at Five.
"No, he can't." Five deadpanned, "It's two-to-one, Klaus. You're out."
She sighed, "Sorry, buddy, my hands are tied." Halyn glanced back at Klaus, offering him a sympathetic look.
"Fine!" He all but cried, turning to pull the van door open, "I can tell where I'm not wanted." Klaus made an attempt to yank the door open, but forgot the van was locked, and instead he threw himself sideways from the force of his own pull. Blinking, he glared over at Five as he laid practically sprawled on the floor. Halyn rolled her eyes, "Well, do you want me out or not? I'm getting some mixed signals here!"
Five scowled before pressing down on the lock button, and a click resounded through the van, "Out." He hissed, and Klaus wasted no time in ripping the door open. The necromancer stumbled through the opening, turning to give his brother a loving finger, and before he could slam the back door shut, Luther stopped him.
"I love that this family is so full of love!" Klaus cried over his shoulder as he stormed off, and Halyn couldn't help but feel the slightest bit bad for not fully standing up for her friend.
The van jostled side to side as Luther struggled to slide into the back, and Five glared at him over his shoulder, "I didn't say you could get in." The bulky man slammed the back door. He attempted to make himself comfy, knees folded under his body, shoulders curved inwards as the top of his head brushed the roof of his van.
Luther scowled at his brother momentarily, but ultimately brushed off his snide remark, "What the hell are you two up to?"
"You wouldn't understand." Five scoffed dismissively, sharing a look with Halyn.
The spaceman glanced between the two teens; brows furrowed together. It was obvious they were hiding something, and Luther was hellbent on getting to the bottom of it, "Try me. Last time I checked, I'm still the leader of the family."
"And the man that put you there is dead." Halyn couldn't stop the quip as it rolled off her tongue, "I think it's time we elected new leadership." Luther's gaze hardened as the Sioux teen glared back at him, venom dripping from her words.
They were harsher than she actually intended, but it just frustrated her that whenever he wanted something to go his way, Luther had to pull the 'I'm the leader' card. It was, frankly, exhausting—and it had gotten old when they were actually teenagers. The fact that he was still playing it decades later said a lot about the growth Luther hadn't gone through, and it would be wise for the spaceman to retire it.
Five reached for Halyn's hand, giving it a quick squeeze, a subtle message to 'simmer down', but he didn't necessarily disagree with her. He glared back at his brother as well, "Well, last time I checked, I'm twenty-eight years older than you." There was a bite to Five's words, but they weren't as harsh as Halyn's had been—but she still wasn't the slightest bit apologetic.
"Thought you said you were mentally thirty-seven."
Five rolled his eyes, "Fine, I'm seven years older than you. Happy?" He flashed his teeth at Luther, the look clearly sarcastic, and the spaceman shook his head.
"You know what your problem is?" Halyn's scowl deepened at Luther's words, and Five's jaw clenched.
"Really hoping you'll tell me."
The tension in the air was thick, and it was only continuing to grow as the two brother's engaged in a pissing match, "You think you're better than us." Luther's voice was condescending with a touch of know-it-all, and Halyn could tell he felt as if he was really sticking it to Five, "You always have. Even when we were kids. But the truth is, you're just as messed up as the rest of us. We're all you have, and you know it."
Five's hand tightened around Halyn's own, and he exhaled softly, "I don't think I'm better than you, Number One. I know I am." His voice was clipped as he spoke.
Luther scoffed, "You think you're better than Halyn?" He nodded his head towards their intertwined fingers, daring Five to say something he may regret.
Swallowing thickly, Five pulled his gaze from his brother to stare into Halyn's dark eyes. He faltered for a moment as his mind struggled to come up with an answer, and Luther stared almost smugly at the teleporter, thinking he had finally outsmarted his brother.
In Luther's mind, for Five to admit he was better than Halyn was to inevitably hurt his best friend, but for Five to admit otherwise was to bruise his own ego. He had Five cornered, and the spaceman silently hoped his brother would be more considerate with his words in the future and not shut them all out like he continued to do.
"No," Five's voice was soft, and Luther had to strain his ears to hear him, "I don't think I'm better than Halyn." Unlike the last time he spoke similar words, his tone had been harsh, meant to insult, but this time, they were light and held no condescending air. Five's thumb brushed against the back of Halyn's hand, and her breath hitched as they continued to maintain intense eye contact, "I know she's better than me." Her heart swelled at his admonishment, cheeks turning rosy, and Five flashed his brother a tightlipped grin.
This wasn't a lie he was spouting to turn the tables on Luther—no, this was Five's honest viewpoint. While he thought highly of himself, he thought even higher of Halyn. And when he was younger, this may have irritated him, but as he grew up, it had become painfully obvious as to why she stood higher on the pedestal than him; in short, she deserved it.
While Five tended to do 'good' things for selfish reasons, Halyn did them out of the genuine goodness in her heart, and for the wellbeing of others. She was always lending a helping hand or a listening ear when they were kids, and never once did she seek anything in return. Meanwhile, Five had actual blood on his hands, yet Halyn still continued to think the world of him, and he'd honestly be lost without her.
They might've had a bit too co-dependent of a relationship at times, but Halyn had chosen to be his best friend, knowing all of his faults and nuances, and to him, that was enough to make him consider her better than him.
"Oh, well, uh—" It was clear Luther was not expecting that response, and he struggled for words, "I was not expecting that." He blinked.
Five rolled is eyes, "Regardless," He gritted his teeth, "I have done unimaginable things, things you couldn't even comprehend."
"Right." Luther clicked his tongue.
"Just to get back here and save you all." Five's tone had dropped, voice mildly irritated, and he shook his head in disbelief. Why was he even trying to explain all this to Luther? Clearly Number One had a giant stick up his ass, one that went far enough up to convolute his mind. Luther was too simple-minded to grasp the severity and importance of what Five and Halyn were up to, and trying to explain was proving to be futile.
An awkward silence settled over the trio, and Halyn's free hand toyed with one of the pages of her book. She chewed her lip, mind playing Five's words over and over again in the back of her head. To think Five thought she was better than him was crazy to her, and the mere thought sent a cascade of butterflies tearing through her stomach as a slightly giddy feeling left a tingling sensation in her fingertips.
Halyn was drawn from her thoughts by a sharp whistle, and she glanced up to see Klaus racing through the streets, arms full of junk food. Her nose crinkled in confusion, and a security officer chased after the necromancer, arms waving as he alternated between blowing his whistle and yelling at the man. The Sioux teen sighed heavily.
They leave Klaus alone for five minutes—
"Hey, bitches!" Klaus waved mockingly at the three in the van, only to run straight into a cab. Squealing tires filled the streets as the cab came to a screeching halt, and the driver laid on the horn, yelling obscenities at Klaus as he continued to run by. The security officer tried to match pace with the necromancer, but Klaus proved to be just as spry as ever as he tore down the street.
"Now I'm starting to wonder if that was the wisest decision." Five pursed his lips together, watching as his brother disappeared down the street, lost stolen goods in his wake as an angry security officer foolheartedly tried to keep up. Halyn shook her head.
"Oh, Klaus."
Another moment of silence lingered over the three gathered, and the scene gradually calmed down. The cab driver drove off, and eventually they couldn't hear Klaus or the security officer anymore. Luther was still seated in the back of the van, lips pursed, and Halyn watched as Five's jaw clenched and unclenched beside her.
The air in the van was heavy, irritation palpable, and Halyn angled her body towards the spaceman, "You going to try and roast Five anymore, or are you done?"
Luther furrowed his brows, "I didn't—I wasn't—" He shook his head with a sigh, "I just came to let you two know about Grace, is all."
"Well, we've been told, so you can leave." Five waved at his brother mockingly, lips pressed firmly together, before gesturing to the van's back door.
Luther's gaze flickered between the two teens, looking like he wanted to further press the issue. Shoulders deflated, he silently admitted defeat, "You two should still come, it's important."
"If it's that important, then I'm sure Number One can handle it."
"Five—"
"You've said your piece and we have work to do."
Five shifted his gaze forward, briefly catching Halyn's eye, before settling in to glare at Meritech once more. His shoulders were tense, jaw clenched, a silent sign he was not going to be saying anything further. Halyn made a move to turn herself as well, but she caught Luther's gaze.
"I don't know what you two are up to," The spaceman's voice was borderline defeated, and his gaze lingered on the bruise that marred Halyn's jaw, "but be careful, okay? We just got you two back; hate to lose you so soon."
The Sioux teen's gaze dropped to the floor at his words, a feeling of guilt panging her heart. Realizing neither were going to say anything more to him, Luther patted the back of Halyn's seat with a heavy sigh, "Okay." He spoke, drawing the word out, and the van's door was pulled open.
Halyn watched as Luther walked down the sidewalk, making his way back to the Umbrella Academy. His shoulders were curled inwards, hands tucked deep in his pockets, and the brunette groaned as she made a hesitant declaration, "I'm going with him."
Five whirled on his best friend, "What?"
There was a soft click as Halyn unlocked her door, and she gripped the handle, "Luther's right. Grace is important." Five's jaw ticked, "And I think you have things covered here." She gestured to the van and the building before them, "Not like I'm much hel—"
"Why do you suddenly care about Grace?" Five's tone was dark as he spoke, words angry, and Halyn found herself taken aback by the sudden hostility.
"Why—why wouldn't I?"
"It's not like she's your mother or anything."
Five's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, refusing to make eye contact with Halyn. The words stung her heart, and she couldn't help but openly gape at her best friend. What had gotten into him so suddenly? Why was he mad she wanted to attend the meeting about Grace? Maybe Grace wasn't her mother, but that didn't change the fact Halyn cared about the robotic woman. When away from her own parents, Grace was her primary caretaker, and she was eternally grateful for the small beam of light Grace helped shine on the darkness of the Umbrella Academy.
"Someone doesn't have to be family for me to care about them, Five." Halyn shot back tersely, words hot. A deep sense of irritation had blossomed in her chest, and instead of pushing it down, she let it out.
Someone had to do all the caring between the two of them—and Five made it pretty clear it wasn't going to be him.
Halyn's words seared Five's ears and if his grip on the steering wheel tightened any more, he was damn sure it was going to break. Frustration hung heavy over him, and any guilt that tried to rear its ugly head was shoved aside. There wasn't any room for Five to regret his words, no matter how childish he might've been being, and he struggled with why he was so upset Halyn was leaving him.
This was his stakeout after all—she had made it clear she thought the stakeout was dumb, and that she was only there for him. So, theoretically, that meant she was free to leave whenever she so desired, for whatever reason she wanted.
And when Five realized that, it was like a harsh slap to the face.
It's not like Halyn is leaving leaving you.
Halyn's voice echoed in his mind, but he was quick to realize it was coming from Delores. The mannequin was spared a searing glare from the corner of Five's eye, but he didn't reward her commentary with a verbal remark, instead shoving her voice into the depths of his mind.
Five didn't have time for a prying girlfriend-mannequin-thing right now.
Inhaling deeply, the teleporter attempted to stifle his own frustrated feelings. He was being irrational, and that thought was made abundantly clear when Five realized why he didn't want Halyn to leave him so badly—he didn't want to be alone.
Five had spent decades in isolation, and now that Halyn was back by his side, he wanted to keep her there, even if it was selfish. She was a reminder of why he was fighting so hard to stop the stupid apocalypse, but she was also her own person. Five knew Halyn cared about Grace, and Halyn knew Five cared about Grace as well—even if he struggled to actually show it.
Grace was the closest thing to a mother he had, but the apocalypse was breathing down their necks now, and it had to take priority.
A door opening pulled Five from the depts of his self-hatred, and his gaze snapped to Halyn. She was halfway out the door, shoulders tense, and he frowned. He had upset her, once more, and Five silently kicked himself, "Wait, Halyn—"
At the sound of her name, the Sioux teen turned. Her features were schooled, but Five could make out the sadness in her brown eyes, "You'll come back, right?" His voice was so small and tinged on the apologetic side, and the tiniest of smiles toyed at the corner of Halyn's lips. This was as good of an apology as she was going to get from the teleporter.
"Always, Five."
Five released the breath he hadn't realize he'd been holding.
She'll come back to him.
"Luther, wait up!"
At the sudden sound of his name cutting through the cool, March air, the burly man paused. Curiosity nipped at his mind and he turned, brows furrowed as he watched Halyn jog down the sidewalk towards him, "Halyn?" Her name left his lips like a question.
Panting slightly—man did she need to work on her cardio—Halyn came to a halt besides Luther, "I'm coming with you." Though she knew her way back to the academy on her own, as soon as Halyn had seen the bulky figure of Luther sticking out like a sore thumb in the crowds of people, she had an urge to flag him down.
It was besides her as to why she wanted to spend more time than she needed to with the spaceman, especially after he tried to roast her best friend, but here she was, walking down the sidewalk with Luther. Regardless of the fact the relationship between the two was amicable at best, Luther was just as emotionally abused during their childhood as she had been. And though that wasn't necessarily an excuse for him to be an asshole, Halyn felt as though she had to cut him a bit of slack.
Luther had spent four years alone in space, and Halyn knew all to well what affects isolation could have on the mind. She was just grateful she had her blood-family to turn to after her twelve-year long isolation ended.
"So, what uh, what made you change your mind?" Luther broke the semi-awkward silence that hung over the two, and Halyn glanced up at him.
"You weren't the only one Grace took care of." Halyn's voice was soft, and Luther nodded in understanding.
"And Five's not—"
Halyn shifted her gaze to the concrete beneath her feet, "No, he's not coming," She shrugged, "but he does care about Grace, even if he doesn't show it. There's just—" The Sioux teen paused, contemplating her next words carefully, "other things he cares more about right now. More pressing things."
"You're being cryptic, Halyn."
"I know."
Luther sighed, nostrils flaring in irritation at her secrecy, but he shoved the feeling aside, "Why can't you two let us help you with—" He made a wild gesture with his hand, Halyn quirking a brow, "whatever the hell it is you two are up to? We are still a team."
"That's a bit naïve, don't you think, Luther?" Halyn tossed back, brown eyes meeting blue. She paused on the sidewalk, ignoring the glaring passersby's that now had to sidestep her and the bulky man, "I would hardly call the Umbrella Academy a team, okay?" Her frustration was mounting, the weight of her and Five's mission weighing heavily on her shoulders, "Even in our prime we were barely one. And now we're all just—just—broken husks of who we once were."
"And how do you know we can't help?"
"Because I don't even know how to help!"
Luther seemed taken aback by Halyn's sudden admonishment, and his eyes widened as he watched her demeanor begin to crumble. The Sioux teens heart hammered in her chest, the sound echoing hollowly in her ears, and her chest heaved. She had never spoken the words allowed, or truly admitted them to herself, but now her true feelings had been revealed.
And she had revealed them to Luther of all people.
With a sardonic chuckle and a shake of her head, Halyn turned away from Luther and started towards the academy once more. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and stared up at the sky, "If Five can't figure this all out, then none of us can, Luther." Halyn spoke upon hearing his footsteps beside her.
Her gaze was lost in the clouds, mind wishing it could just be free, and Luther frowned, "Maybe we could figure it out together, you know, if you'd just—"
"There's nothing for me to tell you, Luther. At least, it's not my place to." In all honesty, Halyn wasn't sure why Five wasn't telling the rest of his family about the apocalypse that was mere days away, but she figured he had to have a good reason. He most likely felt as if they would get in the way trying to help them, and based on Luther's incessant need to know what the hell was going on so he could help, he was most likely right.
Even with good intentions in mind, the members of the Umbrella Academy were a train wreck.
Luther looked torn at Halyn's response, poised to pry once more, and she sighed, "Look, we know you're there to help if needed, and that's enough for now, okay?"
"Okay." He responded with a nod, but Halyn wasn't quite sure she believed him. Luther was just as stubborn as her and Five, and though the Sioux teen hoped this would be the last time he'd try and pry, realistically speaking, there was a brief pause on his prying at best.
It was an apocalyptic nightmare and Halyn was just ready for it to all be over.
A/N: Hey guys! So sorry this chapter took a while for me to get out. I recently have falling into Attack on Titan hell and that's all that's consume my mind lately so yeah- may have a story in the works but I want to get further ahead on this one and work on some chapters for my other stories as well xD
Sorry I have zero control over how spread out my mind gets with my fandoms lmao
Anyways, gonna try and give you guys longer chapters and break down the episodes into less parts so it doesn't feel as drawn out. I did recently go back and combine some chapters with others, which is why the chapter count may seem weird now, so yeah!
ALSO so like I've been recently accepted into veterinary school- which I'm so excited about and can't believe it?- which will start up this fall! I'm hoping to have this story completed by then because honestly, while in school, I won't have much time to write but it's been my recent passion, so I want to keep up with writing and stuff!
Hope ya'll are well and thanks for the support!
-SnowWolf22