chapter forty-three: a mixtape for the enemy

"Oh dear God," Nova muttered to herself when she arrived in the hotel lobby.

Things were worse than she had realized. Luther was sitting at the bar with a pile of cassette tapes singing along to cheesy 80s love songs with his headphones on. The girl couldn't help but cringe at his squeaky pitch and loud voice. But that wasn't the worst part. Her eyes drifted to the other side of the bar where it looked like Diego was assembling multiple Molotov cocktails.

"Sup, Nova," Diego nodded to her when he saw Nova standing a few feet away with her arms crossed and a judgemental look on her face.

"Sup, boys. What's going on here?" Nova asked uneasily as she took a few steps closer. Luther seemed to notice her presence now and removed his headphones before waving to the girl.

"Molotov cocktails," Diego shrugged.

"None of your business," Luther said at the same time in a defensive tone. Now curious Diego and Nova rushed to the bar in order to examine the tapes laid out on the counter.

"Phil Collins..." Nova read.

"Neil Diamond..." Diego read off of another tape. "Jesus Luther, are you making a mixtape?"

"Shouldn't you be watching your kid?" Luther asked his brother before turning to Nova, "Shouldn't you be off with Five somewhere?"

"Dude, I got that parenting thing down," Diego responded.

"And Five's gone off to the Commission looking for help," Nova added.

"Now, I've been working on our defense," Diego changed the subject while gesturing to his collection of Molotov cocktails. "Now, let's talk offense, all right? What's our Sparrow plan of attack? I got the rest of the afternoon."

"Relax. Vanya and Allison handled it. Wait, Nova didn't you go with them?" Luther asked.

"It's Viktor," Diego corrected before Nova could say anything.

"What?" Luther asked in confusion.

"Vanya's Viktor now," Diego explained carefully not wanting to say anything that might upset Viktor.

"What else did I miss when I was kidnapped?" Luther asked and Nova rolled her eyes.

"Jesus, Luther. Seriously not everything is about you, all right? First, it was the moon now it's the kidnapping. Bitch, you were barely kidnapped. Relax, actual kidnapping normally involves a lot more torture," Nova interjected. "Look the Sparrows are coming here."

"For what? Tea?" Diego scoffed in disbelief. "No. No, no, no, no, no. No! No! It's time for the three of us to show 'em who's boss. Like the old days, huh? You know, bustin' heads?"

"Oh my god, Luther, is this Lionel Richie?" Nova interrupted as she picked up a different tape. "Seriously, dude?"

"What? Lionel Richie's still cool," Luther asked defensively as he snatched the tape from Nova who was laughing at him. When the two didn't say anything else he continued, "Look, I met someone, ok? And I thought, you know, maybe she'd like some curated songs that just so happen to express what's in my heart."

"When did you have time to meet someone?" Diego asked taking off Luther's headphones once again continuing the conversation. "I mean, we've been here for two days, and the only time you..."

"Oh dear god, please tell me it's not my doppelganger," Nova groaned uncomfortably disgust filling her whole body.

"What? No! No!" Luther defended himself.

"Is this a mixtape for the enemy?" Diego suddenly screeched.

"Sloane is not the enemy!" Luther exclaimed before continuing, "They are not the enemy. This is all one big misunderstanding. And if our family could just behave ourselves for once then we could all work together. And then Sloane and I can fall in love, get married, buy a dog, grow old on a porch."

"Ugh, Jesus Luther, you're pathetic," Diego muttered glancing at Nova who had a similar expression on her face. "Is Sloane the gravity one? Oh shit, you guys had gravity sex!"

"Ew! Ew! I don't want to talk about this. Alright, let's make a new rule. No one talks about their sex lives in front of me and please for the love of god nobody talk about my sex life anymore either," Nova exclaimed as she pushed herself away from the bar.

The two continued to whisper and snicker as Nova put the rest of the Molotov cocktails into the crate. Eventually, Diego followed her taking the crate out of her hands. They left the bar area and began to stash Molotovs around the lobby. Stan was waiting for them and immediately he and Diego began to bicker with each other. That is until Diego sent him to the elevator with some fake mission.

"Jesus that kid is annoying," Diego grumbled.

"You could be nicer to him, Diego," Nova pointed out and Diego gave her a confused look, "Clearly that kid just wants to get to know you. He just wants to help. I'm sure all his life Lila and whatever other adult figures he encountered dismissed him the same way you are now. Don't do that to him. Be the one adult figure that he can actually trust and be around. Trust me on this one. You know, I'm right."

"Hey! Hey, guys!" Luther came running up to the duo before Diego could reply. They both turned with questioning looks on their faces so Luther continued, "This whole Viktor thing. Well, it's a pretty big deal, right?"

"I guess, for him maybe. For us, it's more whatever," Diego shrugged as he stashed the last Molotov cocktail behind a plant on the balcony and Nova handed him the now empty crate.

"Well, should we say something? You know? I mean, make a formal gesture? Welcome him as brothers," Luther asked as the three of them made their way down the stairs.

"God, no. Just roll with it, man. Don't say anything, and don't be weird," Diego said.

"Okay, but not saying something feels weird, right? I mean..." Luther continued, "Mark the occasion somehow?"

"You just wanna throw a party," Deigo groaned.

"Why do you hate tiny sandwiches?" Luther asked his brother and Nova sensed an argument coming so she quickly stepped in.

"Luther, it doesn't need to be some big spectacle, all right? But I don't think you should say anything. If anything when you see Viktor just let him know that you are supportive of his coming out. I'm sure this is an uneasy time for him and he just needs to know that the people who love him are proud of him and are glad that he's finally living his truth and that he's happy," Nova explained. Before anyone could respond Viktor walked up to them.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Viktor asked and the three of them all glanced at each other not sure how to start this conversation.

"Luther wants to throw you a big, stupid party so you feel loved," Diego blurted out suddenly and Luther chuckled nervously.

"Oh..." Viktor responded unsure of what to say but the tiny smile on his face warmed Nova's heart.

"Do you feel loved?" Diego asked.

"And supported?" Luther jumped in quickly before glancing at Nova, "No-Nova said it was important that you also feel supported. Uh... you know we're all proud of you."

"Yeah, I...I do feel loved and supported," Viktor smiled and Nova couldn't help but grin at the siblings.

"Good," Diego nodded before clearing his throat. Emotional topics weren't exactly his strong point. "Can we all get back to saving the world now?"

"I-i uh...I really like the hair," Luther stuttered awkwardly after Diego had walked away from the group. "Is that a number ten? Yeah, that's a good choice. Really...frames your face."

"Thanks," Viktor said his small smile now a wide grin. Luther bid goodbye awkwardly before wandering off. This left Nova and Viktor alone. The girl smiled at her friend before slinging an arm around his shoulders. "You were right, Nova."

"What about?" She asked.

"For giving me the strength I needed to find myself," Viktor explained and Nova smiled softly.

"Vee, you've always had the strength. I just showed you where it was inside of you. I'm just glad to see you smile. The only time I've seen you smile that big was with...well... you know... with Sissy."

"I know, and I will always miss her. B-but I think I'm finally in a place where I can learn to be happy with myself independently. Without relying on someone emotionally," Viktor said slowly and Nova's grin grew.

"Eventually, you will find yourself someone who will love you just as much as Sissy did if not more. But until then I'm so happy you're finally ready to learn to love yourself as much as I love you and the rest of your siblings love you," Nova chirped happily hugging Viktor with both of her arms. Her friend happily squeezed her back.

"Thanks, Novie," Viktor giggled before pulling away from the girl.

With a grin, he grabbed Nova's arm and began to drag her toward the mahjong tournament happening in the lobby. On the way they came across Allison who was headed in the same direction. Together the trio found the table that Luther and Diego were sitting at. As soon as they sat down Luther wanted to go over the game plan. Unanimously they all agreed to follow Nova's lead. This surprised the girl slightly because she hadn't even nominated herself. It seemed they all trusted her the most in their own way or maybe they've all finally realized that she would remain the most clear-minded and level-headed.

Before they could discuss an actual plan the Sparrows arrived. Hastily they stood up from the table and hurried to meet the Sparrows. Nova couldn't help but notice how organized and in sync the Sparrows were. They didn't all cram into one door as they entered and they were all dressed in combat gear. As the two academies stared each other down Nova heard the snaps of cameras and saw the flashes behind them. She had forgotten for a moment that the Sparrows were local celebrities. Clearly, they had a crowd. Viktor glanced at the girl for a moment. Nova nodded giving Viktor the green light.

"Well, thanks for coming," Vikor started awkwardly.

"Oh, yeah, super glad to be here," Jayme responded sarcastically.

"Where are the rest of you?" Ben snapped quickly.

"What are you taking attendance?" Diego scoffed.

"They'll be here," Nova responded after lifting her hand slightly signaling for Diego to be quiet. "It's not important though. I believe we have business that can be handled here without them."

"Where's the briefcase?" Allison quickly butted in and Nova resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She hadn't had time to update the other Umbrellas on the briefcase situation.

"Where's our brother?" Ben snapped back.

"Maybe we should try this again before I lose my temper," Allison growled.

"Allison!" Viktor chastised in a whisper.

"I got this," Allison snapped.

"Enough," Nova said quickly and Allison stopped talking although Nova could tell it was reluctant. "Here's the deal. We don't have Marcus. We never did. And I happen to know for a fact that you don't have our briefcase."

"Who told you that?" Ben growled and Nova tilted her head studying him with an ice-cold glare.

"I don't see how that's relevant," Nova said in a menacing tone. "What is relevant is the fact that we are at a stalemate. Neither of us can uphold our end of the deal."

"So, what I'm hearing is, the deals off?" Ben asked and Nova narrowed her eyes.

"Clearly neither of us is going to get what we want. So, we're willing to stand down if you are. We have bigger problems at hand than our little feud. We need to focus on those instead of this petty meaningless cycle of revenge," Nova began and she noticed the shift in Manuela's features when she mentioned bigger problems. The girl instantly knew that her doppelganger had seen something. Before anyone could respond Diego's son came running into the room.

"Molotov this bitches!" The kid screamed with a lit cocktail in his hand.

"Stanley, not now." Diego snapped.

The kid dropped the Molotov cocktail at his feet. The flames quickly jumped and caught on the bottom of the large mahjong banner. Hotel guests clamored and scattered as they panicked. A loud blaring from the fire alarm filled the room. Ben said something to the Sparrows and birds began to shoot out of Fei's back and Christopher the cube began to spin and whirl. Nova also noticed Manuela's hands began to glow black and Sloane's glowed blue.

"Diego, get Stan out of here," Nova barely had time to call back.

The man grabbed his son and pulled him away as Ben snapped his fingers and red tendrils of energy burst out of the cube. Each one slammed into a different member of the Umbrella Academy. The pain was blinding and it forced Nova to her knees. Her vision went blurry and she tried to focus on her breathing. She couldn't hear anything over the high-pitched whine of the red energy. Through the tears in her eyes, Nova saw Allison's lips form words but the woman couldn't finish the rumor.

Nova struggled to push herself off of the floor as Christopher's energy continued to push her back down. With great effort, she unclenched her fists and flung her open hands to each side grabbing onto the life forces of each of the Umbrellas protecting them. It wasn't a second too soon because suddenly an orange wave of energy knocked her back down from behind. Her fists closed tightly as she desperately held onto her family's life forces that were trying to slip away. A scream of effort left her lips when suddenly another soul was added to her grip unintentionally but she didn't let go.

"Pull back!" Ben screamed when the wave dissipated.

As dark spots filled Nova's vision she managed to see Ben, Fei, and Christopher retreating. On the floor in front of her lay Alphonso, Jayme, and Manuela. They were all dead. Nova could feel it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luther had tackled Sloane. That at least explained the extra life force that Nova had been protecting. After that revelation Nova let the darkness overtake her.

Nova's Spotify Playlist: Nova Perez's Epic Time Travel Jams

Manu's Spotify Playlist: Manuela Hargreeves' Post-Mission Jams

First Published: 07/23/2022

Edited: 10/01/2023

Aesthetic Change: 07/02/2024

Chapter Word Count: 2,381

Book Word Count: 103,321