THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
fractured || five hargreeves x reader

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: THIS IS ONLY PHASE ONE

Written By: peachyhxlland

°•.☆.•°

Viktor and Reginald were on a road trip, their shared mission to find Ben or, at the very least, attempt to contact him. The journey was long and uncomfortably silent, the tension between them thick in the confined space of the car. Reginald, who was driving, decided to break the monotony by turning on the radio and filling the car with the soothing strains of an elegant aria.

Viktor, sitting in the passenger seat, immediately frowned. He wasn't in the mood for music, especially not classical. Annoyed, he leaned over and changed the station to something more to his taste. Reginald was caught off guard, glanced at him but quickly switched it back. Viktor, stubborn as ever, changed it once more. The two went back and forth in a silent battle over the stereo, neither willing to concede.

Frustrated, Viktor had enough. He used his powers to fry the stereo, rendering it useless. The music stopped abruptly, leaving an awkward silence in its wake. Reginald glanced at him, a hint of irritation in his expression as Viktor turned away, watching the scenery through the window.

"Well, that was certainly uncalled for," Reginald commented, his voice laced with mild annoyance.

"Was it?" Viktor shot back sarcastically, barely sparing him a glance.

Reginald exhaled and shifted the conversation. "Trying to save Ben is a fool's errand," he said, his tone pragmatic. "If you look at the variables, the odds of success are vanishingly small."

"That's because the only variables you consider are black and white," Viktor retorted. "There's gray in the world. I live in that space."

Reginald considered his words, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. After a pause, he spoke. "You're different than your siblings," He stated. "I suspect that the other Hargreeves was afraid of that. And of you."

Viktor sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Yeah, he was. And it screwed me up for a long time." He turned to face Reginald. "You say you're not the same as him? I doubt it, but now's your chance to prove it."

Reginald hummed thoughtfully, his expression unreadable.

As the car neared its destination, Viktor furrowed his brows, recognizing the place. The inn where Ben and Jennifer were supposed to be loomed ahead. He nodded towards it, a mix of anticipation and trepidation in his voice. "This is it."

Reginald parked the car, the line of vehicles behind him coming to a halt as his men stepped out, ready to assist. He and Viktor exited their car, their eyes scanning the dilapidated inn that, according to Reginald's sources, had been the last known location of Ben and Jennifer. The building looked abandoned and damaged.

"What is all this?" Viktor asked, his tone a mix of confusion and concern as Reginald pulled out a device, scanning the area for traces of Ben and Jennifer's powers.

"This is the Cleanse, my boy," Reginald replied, his voice heavy with a grim certainty.

The two approached the inn, the silence around them unsettling. "My monitoring station recorded a magnitude 6.3 seismic event," Reginald explained. "And the epicenter... is right here."

Reginald moved briskly towards the inn's entrance, his device beeping softly in his hand. Viktor followed, glancing around at the eerie scene. The ground was littered with dead birds, their lifeless forms adding to the ominous atmosphere. The sight of the destruction caused by Ben and Jennifer left Viktor feeling uneasy, a gnawing doubt creeping into his mind.

As they stepped inside, the inn was in shambles. Furniture was overturned, walls cracked, and debris was scattered across the floor. Viktor's mind flashed back to Dallas in the 60s, the time he had unintentionally killed the FBI agents. The sense of déjà vu made his stomach turn.

Viktor's eyes landed on the receptionist's body, leaning back in his chair behind the front desk. His eyes were bulging, surrounded by a black substance that stained his face. His mouth hung open, the same black liquid dripping from his chin. His chest had burst open, the grotesque sight eliciting a gasp of horror from Viktor. "What the hell?" He muttered, a mix of horror and disgust washing over him.

"You still think you can save Ben?" Reginald's voice was calm but pointed. "This is only phase one. His mind has been hijacked. His body is merely a vessel. The Cleanse will slowly take full control."

Viktor turned to Reginald, determination flickering in his eyes. "I can still try. We have to catch up to him." He glanced back at the grotesque scene before them. "If he and Jennifer did this, then I'll try to take the Durango out of Ben."

Reginald raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. "Didn't you listen, child? If Marigold and Durango come into contact, destruction will come."

"I need to try," Viktor insisted, his voice resolute. "He's my brother. I can't let him die. Not again. Let me at least try."

Reginald regarded Viktor for a moment, then sighed heavily. "You have 10 minutes to convince him."

Viktor wasn't sure if 10 minutes would be enough, but he was grateful for the chance. "Thank you." He said while nodding, his voice filled with quiet resolve

°•○●○•°

Viktor and Reginald managed to catch up with Ben and Jennifer sooner than expected since the pair hadn't gotten far from the inn. Their stolen car pulled into J&J's Tires Tire Service, a small, run-down gas station on the outskirts of town. Ben, standing next to the stolen car, was filling the tank while Jennifer sat patiently inside. One of Reginald's men, keeping a discreet distance, quickly relayed their location to Reginald.

As Ben finished and leaned in to kiss Jennifer, Viktor quickly exited the car. "Ben!" Viktor called out, his tone filled with urgency.

Ben stiffened, slowly turning to see Viktor standing there, sunlight reflecting off his serious expression. Beside him was Reginald, his presence looming like a dark cloud. "Viktor..." Ben whispered, shock written all over his face. His eyes then narrowed as they locked onto Reginald. "Dad..."

Jennifer, confused and growing more anxious, stayed in the car. When she noticed the other vehicles pulling up behind Reginald's, she instinctively gripped the seat tighter, her heart racing.

Viktor glanced at Reginald, his gaze stern. "We still have our deal, right?"

Reginald gave a reluctant nod. "Yes," He confirmed. "But you're running out of time. If you're going to act, do it now."

Ben's stance shifted, his body tense. "How did you find us?" He demanded, his voice hard, his guard fully up.

Viktor, unfazed, replied, "You two haven't exactly been subtle."

Ben smirked, a defiant edge to his expression. "What can I say? I've been in prison the last few years."

Viktor's face twisted in irritation and disgust. "Not that, you perv," He shot back. "I'm talking about the 6.3 on the Richter scale." His eyes flicked to Jennifer, who was visibly scared, then back to Ben. "You two are set to end the world in about 48 hours."

"Twenty-four, actually." Reginald corrected sharply, causing Viktor to shoot him a glare.

"Shut up!" Viktor snapped before refocusing on Ben.

Ben scoffed, his expression turning to disbelief. "Are you serious? You're with Dad now?"

"Ben, listen!" Viktor's voice grew more insistent. "There's something happening to you. It's called the Cleanse. It's like a virus—it's taking over your body, and—"

"Bullshit," Ben interrupted, shaking his head. "I feel great. Never felt better."

"That's exactly what's wrong," Viktor argued. "Whatever you're feeling, it's not real. It's only going to get worse."

Ben's eyes blazed with a mix of defiance and bitterness. "You're right. Something is happening inside of me. I'm finally happy, and you miserable assholes can't stand it."

"Ben! I'm trying to help you!" Viktor's voice cracked with emotion. "You need to get away from Jennifer right now!"

"You want to help me? Leave us alone!" Ben snapped, his patience gone.

"Ben!" Viktor yelled, making a decisive move. He rushed towards Ben, grabbing his arm, attempting to use his powers to extract the Durango energy. But Ben was quicker. He yanked his arm away, his tentacles bursting forth and flinging Viktor aside.

Jennifer gasped, watching in horror as Viktor hit the ground. The bright daylight illuminated every tense moment, as the confrontation escalated, making the danger palpable. Reginald stood silent, his eyes calculating.

Viktor groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, brushing off the dust from his clothes. The midday sun bore down on the scene, casting sharp shadows as he steadied himself. His eyes glanced at Reginald and he noticed his henchmen were ready to shoot both Ben and Jennifer. Reginald sighed and gave him a nod. Viktor nodded back before locking his gaze on Ben, whose tentacles writhed in the air, ready for another attack.

"Ben, don't make me do this," Viktor warned, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air.

Ben smirked, his eyes dark with a mixture of confidence and something more dangerous. "You've already lost, Viktor. Just walk away."

But Viktor didn't back down. With a deep breath, he extended his hands, an orange glow emanating from his fingertips as he tapped into his power. The air around them seemed to hum with energy. Ben lunged, his tentacles whipping through the air toward Viktor. Viktor reacted quickly, sending a wave of energy forward, pushing the tentacles back just enough to sidestep the attack. He shot a glance toward Jennifer, who was still frozen in the car, her eyes wide with fear.

"Stay down, Ben," Viktor pleaded one last time.

Ben didn't listen and instead, he sent his tentacles hurtling towards Viktor again. This time, Viktor dodged with more agility, using his power to create a barrier between them. The ground trembled as the force of their abilities collided.

Viktor seized the opportunity. With a swift motion, he sent a concentrated blast of energy directly at Ben, knocking him back several feet. Ben hit the ground hard, the impact momentarily dazing him.

"Ben!" Viktor shouted, hoping to reach him, but Ben staggered to his feet, stubbornly refusing to stay down. His tentacles shot out once more, but Viktor anticipated the move. He rolled to the side and sent another powerful blast, this time aiming for Ben's center.

The force of the hit sent Ben sprawling across the pavement, his tentacles slackening as he lay still. Viktor cautiously approached, his heart pounding. He knelt beside his brother, placing a hand on his shoulder. Viktor checked for a pulse and found it steady, though Ben was unconscious.

Reginald, who had been watching from a distance, finally stepped forward. "He's alive," Viktor confirmed his voice firm. "But he needs help."

Jennifer trembled as she slowly opened the car door and stepped out, her eyes darting between the two brothers. "Is... is he going to be okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Viktor nodded, though his expression was grim. "We have to get him somewhere safe. Just stay your distance from Ben for now."

Jennifer grew more confused. "But..."

"This is both for your safety, okay? Don't worry." Viktor reassured before turning to face Reginald. "And this isn't over." He looked at Reginald, his eyes narrowing. "And you are going to help."

Reginald's gaze flickered. "You are one stubborn lad, my boy." But he gave in and let out a tired sigh. "Let's move quickly."

Together, they worked to lift Ben into the backseat of the car. Viktor sat beside him, keeping a close watch as Jennifer was placed in a different car to keep her away from Ben momentarily. The cars behind them began to pull away, following Reginald's lead.