THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
fractured || five hargreeves x reader

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: LIVE FOR ME

Written By: peachyhxlland

°•.☆.•°

Your breathing became shallow as you stood amidst the chaos, staring at the remnants of a world already beyond saving. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on your chest, your mind racing to come up with a plan. Around you, the others were scrambling to do the same. Diego and Ben were bickering—again—correcting each other's ideas with sharp words while Luther positioned himself between them, trying to keep their arguments from escalating. Viktor and Allison stood off to the side, strategizing in a far more composed manner, their hushed voices contrasting the tension bubbling in Diego and Ben's discussion.

A few steps away, Lila was in deep conversation with Five, her sharp eyes darting towards the horizon as she briefly mentioned something about the subway—though you barely registered the words. Your focus shifted elsewhere.

Reginald stood apart from the group, his gaze fixed on the sky, the deep crimson glow casting shadows over his expression. He wasn't watching the destruction unfold—he was looking at his hands, his fingers rubbing together absentmindedly as if trying to hold onto something invisible. But you knew what it was.

The ashes of his wife. The last remnants of the only person he ever truly cared about.

You looked at Reginald, who was looking at the sky. His fingers rubbed against each other as if he were trying to touch his wife's ashes, which remained on his fingertips.

You clenched your jaw and turned your gaze forward, looking into the vast, broken expanse of this world. You knew what had to be done. The answer was as clear as the destruction surrounding you. You had to finish what your other self had started. But you also knew the others would never accept it. Still, it was the only choice left.

"I'm restarting the timeline..." Your voice cut through the chatter, and your back still turned to them. "The world."

The conversations died instantly. A hush fell over the group as everyone's attention snapped toward you. Ben was the first to break the silence. "Restart?" He narrowed his eyes. "Like... make a new one? Isn't that what your other self wanted?"

You finally turned to face them, your expression solemn yet unwavering. "It is, but not in the way she intended." You took a slow breath. "I'm rewriting everything. A clean slate. You can all have normal lives—your families, your friends. No powers. No more other timelines. No more end of the world."

The group shifted uneasily, but beneath the tension, there was hope—a chance for a life without disaster, without always fighting against some doomed fate and for survival... it was tempting. Slowly, they nodded, glancing at each other as if allowing themselves to believe in it.

But not Five.

His brows were furrowed, his sharp mind picking apart your words before anyone else could. His jaw tightened as realization set in. You never included yourself in this new world.

"How about you?" His voice cut through the fragile moment, making everyone pause. He stepped forward, eyes locked onto yours. "Are you coming with us in that new world?"

The others turned to you, waiting for an answer. Luther smiled, but it was nervous, uncertain. "Of course she's coming with us," He said, almost like he was trying to convince himself. He looked at you hopefully. "Right, (Y/n)?"

You stared at them, your silence stretching unbearably between you. It was all the answer they needed. Luther shook his head, his jaw tightening as panic flickered across his face. "No. Absolutely not. You're coming with us." His voice was firm, but it had a desperate edge like he was trying to will his words into reality.

Your throat tightened. "I have to restart the world, Luther, and that means I'm staying behind," You said, keeping your tone steady despite the turmoil inside you. "I'm the only one who can do this."

Luther took a step closer, hands clenching at his sides. "Then we're all staying behind!"

Your heart ached at his determination, at the way they were all looking at you like this was something they could still fight. But they couldn't. "And what about your families?" Your voice was softer now, but it cut through the tense air like a knife. "Your friends? The people who still have a chance at life?"

The light in Luther's eyes dimmed, replaced by hesitation. The others stayed quiet, shifting uneasily as your words sank in. Because they knew you were right. Five stepped forward, he didn't waver, didn't doubt. Just certainty in his voice. "Then I'll stay here with you." "Then I'll stay here with you."

You turned to face him, your chest tightening as you saw the resolve in his expression. "Five..." Your voice faltered slightly before you caught yourself, your brows furrowing. "You know I can't let you do that."

His jaw clenched. "I'm not leaving you here to die alone, (Y/n)."

Your breath hitched. "Damn it, Five!" The words came out sharper than you intended, your emotions slipping through the cracks. "I'm giving you a better life!"

"And what's the point of having that life without you?!"

Since all of this started, you saw something familiar in his expression. Fear. Not of the end of the world, not of some enemy he needed to outsmart—but of losing you.

You and Five had never fought before. Not really. Sure, you bickered, teased, and got under each other's skin. But never like this. And yet, here you were. Arguing for the first time—right at the end of the world.

Your shoulders dropped, your hands balling into fists at your sides. You exhaled slowly, steadying yourself. "I'm breaking the cycle, Five. I have to do this."

Five's lips parted slightly as if he wanted to argue, to fight you on this—but for once in his life, words failed him. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his entire body tense as if he were physically holding himself back from reaching for you.

The others watched in silence, their faces a mixture of grief and reluctant understanding. Even Luther, who had been so adamant about keeping you with them, lowered his head, the reality of your decision sinking in.

Five shook his head, his breath unsteady. "There has to be another way," He insisted, but his voice lacked its usual certainty.

"There isn't." You took a step forward, placing a hand against his cheek. He flinched slightly at the touch, his eyes locked onto yours, searching—pleading—for something, anything that would tell him you weren't serious. But you were.

A fresh tremor tore through the ground beneath your feet, cracks snaking through the ruined city, splitting the very foundations of what was left. Debris crumbled from buildings, the sky pulsed a deep crimson, and the wind howled through the emptiness like a mourning wail. You were running out of time. You turned to face the others, forcing your voice to be strong. "You all need to go. Find the subway. It's the last way out of here."

"Wait, what?" Diego asked, his brows furrowed in disbelief. "We have to ride that thing?"

"It should keep you guys occupied while I restart everything. It won't be painful, and before you know it, everything is..." You hesitated, the words feeling foreign on your tongue. "Back to normal. Like a blink of an eye, you guys won't remember anything from here. No past timelines. No end of the world. Just... a fresh start."

Klaus bit his lip and rubbed at his arm, shifting nervously. "Will... will we at least remember you?"

You opened your mouth, then closed it, unsure how to answer. "I don't know," You admitted softly.

Klaus let out a shaky breath, his eyes glistening with unshed tears before he suddenly surged forward, wrapping his arms around you in a crushing embrace. He clung to you like he was afraid you'd slip through his fingers at any moment. "I hate this," He whispered into your shoulder, his voice trembling.

You smiled sadly, hugging him back. "I know."

When he pulled away, his hands lingered on your shoulders, his expression torn between sadness and something almost hopeful. Then, as if a thought suddenly struck him, his eyes widened. "Oh!" He gasped, his grip tightening. "Your grandpa told me that he loves you."

You blinked, startled. "What?"

"He wanted me to tell you that even though you two didn't meet in this life, knowing the life you had together in other timelines... it feels like he truly lived. He hopes to see you again. And when you do, he'll welcome you with open arms."

A lump rose in your throat, a mix of sadness and comfort flooding through you. Tears burned your eyes, but not only from grief. You didn't know how Klaus had heard your grandfather—whether it was his link to the dead or some ripple from the collapsing timeline—but it didn't matter. The words had found you and they settled in your heart like a gentle embrace.

Without hesitation, you pulled Klaus into another hug, burying your face against his shoulder. "Thank you," You whispered.

When you pulled away, your gaze swept over the others, drinking in their faces—Luther's stubborn resistance, Viktor's desperate worry, Lila's sharp-edged defiance, Allison's silent plea. They weren't going to leave willingly.

Luther clenched his fists at his sides, muscles tensed like he was preparing for a fight. "There has to be another way," He muttered, more to himself than to you. His voice cracked, his resolve wavering.

"Luther," You whispered, trying to keep your own voice steady. "We're going in circles in this."

Viktor took a hesitant step forward. "(Y/n), please. You don't have to do this alone—"

"Yes, I do," You cut in, voice sharp despite the ache in your chest.

"Tough luck, (Y/n)," Lila scoffed, shaking her head. "We refuse to accept this."

Even Allison, who had stayed silent for most of the argument, finally spoke. She stepped closer, her voice softer than the others, but no less resolute. "We're not leaving you."

Your hands trembled at your sides. "You don't understand," You murmured. "If you stay... the world resets with you in it. And that means you'll be erased—forever."

"We don't care," Diego said immediately, his voice like steel. "If you're staying, so are we."

Your heart twisted painfully. They weren't going to listen. They weren't going to leave. If you don't do something now, they will all die. You closed your eyes, inhaled deeply, and then a surge of energy pulsed outward from you in a wave, invisible yet powerful. Before anyone could react, their bodies stiffened, their limbs going rigid as they were lifted off the crumbling ground.

"What the hell—?" Diego's words cut off as his body became weightless, eyes darting wildly.

Luther thrashed against the force, his sheer strength useless against your power. "(Y/n)! Don't you dare—"

"I'm sorry," You whispered, and with a flick of your wrist, they were sent hurtling through the air—straight toward the subway entrance.

"(Y/n)!" Allison's scream tore through the chaos.

"Don't fucking do this!" Lila's voice cracked in distress.

"No, no, no—(Y/n), don't do this!" Viktor shouted, eyes wide with panic as he struggled against your hold.

"(Y/n), damn it!" Five yelled. "Don't do this! Please!"

With one last push, you hurled them toward the subway entrance, the force of your power sending them crashing through the open doorway. The moment their feet hit the tiled floor, you clenched your fists, and with a sharp flick of your fingers, the entrance slammed shut behind them, sealing them inside.

Muffled shouts erupted from within, voices overlapping in panic and anger. Fists pounded against the barrier—Luther's brute force, Diego's desperate strikes, Allison's palms slamming against the cold metal. Their cries were raw, desperate.

"(Y/n)!" Allison's voice cracked as she pounded against the door.

"Let us out!" Klaus' shout was barely audible over the chaos.

Diego cursed under his breath, slamming his shoulder against the barricade. "Damn it, (Y/n)! Open the damn door!"

Inside, the subway station trembled from the sheer energy of what had just happened. The overhead lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the grimy floor. The only way out was to wait for the train at the platform. "Move!" Luther barked, shoving forward. "We need to find another way!"

But before they could react, before anyone could make a move toward the train, an enraged scream cut through the noise.

Five.

A deep, guttural sound of pure frustration tore from his throat. Five's eyes burned with defiance, his chest heaved, and his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His body tensed, and then purple energy crackled around him in the blink of an eye. A split second later, he was gone.

Viktor's breath caught, his eyes widening in horror. "Five!" He gasped, turning wildly, as if he could somehow pull him back. The others froze, their anger momentarily overshadowed by shock.

The wind howled through the ruins, thick with the scent of smoke and dust. You stood in the heart of what was left—fractured streets, broken structures, the echoes of reality on the brink of collapse. Pressing your lips together, you took a deep breath and let it out, your breath misting in the cold air. "You're probably wondering why I didn't let you join the others."

A low, contemplative hum escaped Reginald's lips, a sound more of calculation than curiosity. "I have deduced that your intention is to put an end to my existence within this world, much like you attempted in the previous timeline." His voice was steady, articulate, devoid of concern. With deliberate movements, he stood, adjusting his suit with precise, practiced motions. "However, I believe you have overlooked a critical detail, my dear child. You failed most spectacularly. Despite your efforts, I endured."

Finally, you turned to face him, your glare sharp enough to cut through steel. Your irises glowed a deep crimson, the air around you vibrating with raw energy. "I believe you are overlooking something as well, old man." You walked towards him as psionic red swirls circled your fingers. "I said I'm rewriting the world." Your voice was steady, unwavering. "That means I'm booting you out of existence. That means no more Reginald Hargreeves."

Reginald tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a measured small smile. "How dreadfully naive." He clasped his hands behind his back, regarding you with the same cool indifference he had always maintained. "You are well aware that such a feat is beyond your reach, little one. My existence is inevitable. No matter the circumstances, I will always return."

"Not this time."

The smile vanished from his face as you lifted your hand, the air between you distorting with the sheer force of your power. Before he could react, your psionic energy hoisted him off the ground, his polished shoes dangling inches above the cracked earth. Reginald's composure faltered, his eyes widening slightly as he struggled against your grip. For the first time, there was something almost resembling fear in his gaze.

"You won't be bothering me or any of us again, Mr. Monocle, sir."

Reginald's mouth parted, perhaps to offer one last retort, one final attempt to manipulate his way out. But you weren't going to give him the chance. You tightened your grip and the world trembled. And then, in a blinding surge of red energy—Reginald Hargreeves was gone. And this time, you make sure he won't be coming back.

"Goodbye, Sir Reginald Hargreeves. You won't be missed by anyone."

The wind carried away the last remnants of his presence, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the world was finally free of him. And so were you. You gazed at the red sky, the weight of solitude sinking in. You turned around and faced the horizon of the end of the world. You took a deep breath and stepped forward until your heart nearly stopped when you saw that flash of purple light, a sign of Five's teleportation.

"No—" You gasped, spinning around just in time to see him reappear a few feet away, his body trembling with effort, his expression twisted with betrayal and rage.

Five staggered slightly, the raw exertion of breaking free from your power taking its toll on him, but he didn't falter. His sharp eyes locked onto yours, filled with equal parts fury and devastation. "You are not doing this alone," He seethed.

"Five—"

"No! I don't care what happens to the world, I don't care if everything resets, I am not leaving you behind!" His voice cracked, the usual sharpness laced with something far more vulnerable.

You clenched your fists, willing yourself to be strong and not break under the weight of his gaze. "Five, if you stay, you'll be erased. I need you to live."

"I don't care!" His chest heaved as he took a step closer, his expression wild with desperation. "You think I give a damn about a new world if you're not in it? You think I want to wake up in some perfect life where you don't exist? Where I don't remember you? What's the point of saving the world when it means that I have to lose you over and over again?"

Tears blurred your vision, but you shook your head. "You have to."

"No, I don't." Five's voice softened, breaking slightly. "I choose you. Every time. In every timeline. In every life."

A violent tremor rocked the ground beneath you, and the sky above cracked like shattered glass, fragments of reality peeling away at the edges. Time was running out. Five saw it too. He knew. But he still refused to move.

Your heart clenched painfully. Swallowing back a sob, you stepped forward, reaching for him. Five's breath hitched as your hands cupped his face, your touch gentle despite the immense power thrumming beneath your skin. You offered him a sad smile, your thumb brushing softly against his skin. "I once told you that you can't protect everyone every day. We don't always get the happy ending we want," You murmured. "But we can still make sure others do."

Five's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "That's not fair. We promised... to protect each other."

"I know."

His lips parted, his entire body stilling. "Then don't do this."

You surged forward and kissed him.

It was desperate, filled with every unsaid word, every stolen moment, and every memory that would be wiped away. Five melted into you, his hands gripping your waist as if holding you tighter could stop the inevitable.

The world around you continued to collapse.

With the last ounce of strength you had, you poured your energy into one final push. Five's body tensed as your power washed over him, freezing him in place.

"No—" He choked, his fingers trying to hold onto you, but you were already slipping away.

"I love you," You whispered again, your voice breaking. "Live for me."

And with a wave of your hand, Five was thrown into the subway with the others. Five was shoved inside the subway train where the others were waiting for him. The moment he hit the ground, a chorus of panicked voices erupted. "Five!" The others rushed toward him, their faces filled with a mixture of relief and horror. Groaning, he shook off the disorientation and sat up, his breath unsteady, panic creeping in. Then, with a sharp hiss, the subway doors sealed shut.

Five's head snapped up. His stomach dropped. "No, no, no—" He scrambled to his feet and lunged for the doors, slamming his fists against them so hard his knuckles turned red. "(Y/n)!" He banged harder as if he could break through