THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
fragments || five hargreeves x reader

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THANKS FOR EXISTING

Written By: peachyhxlland

°•.☆.•°

"You know, I'm starting to get the feeling Dad's avoiding us." Five said as the car where Grace and Reginald were at finally disappeared. Lila scratched the back of her head, sighing. "Hate to be the boring one, guys, but, uh, it's time we get the hell out of here." She started walking away but stopped when Five spoke up. "When you say 'we' who exactly are you referring to?"

"Not a lot of ambiguity in that sentence."

"Listen, I don't know who you are or where you came from, but whatever it is, I'd advise you to return posthaste."

"She's right, Five. We gotta get outta here." Diego whispered to Five.

"I just saved your life, you kinder-shit." Lila hissed at Five angrily. "If I hadn't stepped in, all that would be left of you is a blazer and some bloody socks."

"And that's the problem. You're too good. You ask too many questions. You know too much. And you fight like you know what you're doing." Five replied back earning a nod from Diego. "He's got a point."

"So I know how to handle myself, and that makes me the bad guy?"

"Whoever you are, you're in my way. If I see you again, I will kill you." Five warned Lila before looking at you who was silent all throughout the conversation between him and Lila. Five grabbed your wrist and walked away with you. Lila scoffed and turned around to follow you both but stopped when Diego didn't move. "Diego, we need to go."

"I was getting my ass handed to me back there. You helped Five, not me. Why?"

"Because he's a kid and you're a man." Lila excused.

"(Y/n) could've helped him."

"But she was on the ground and instead helped you. A kid helped you who's a man."

"Because you helped Five."

"You're a man, Diego. Bloody act like one."

Diego sighed, silently nodding, before walking away. Lila closed her eyes, completely feeling guilt and regret. "Diego, I... I... We shouldn't—"

"You know what?" Diego said, stopping on his tracks, and facing Lila. "I'm used to dealing with liars, Lila, but I like it better when I know what they're lying about." He said before walking away again.

"Oh, come on, Diego. Really? You're just gonna walk away?" When Diego didn't stop running to follow you and Five, Lila called out his name one more time. "Diego." With no luck, Lila sighed and walked in a different direction.

You, Diego, and Five made it back to Elliott's place without Lila. It was night and you could really use some sleep. Nico's sleeping peacefully, Elliott's on a chair, passed out with Luther. Yeah, you were surprised that Luther was here. Diego and Five talked outside for a moment while you were ready to head to your bed until you stopped and looked at Elliott.

"Elliott?" You shook him to wake him up. The man suddenly sat up and screamed but you covered his mouth with your palm. "It's me. Sorry for that."

Once you removed your hand, Elliott sighed in relief. "Geez! You scared me. I thought I was about to get kidnapped."

"I said I was sorry." You frowned. "Also, a kidnapper wouldn't shake you for you to wake up just to kidnap you."

Elliott nodded. "Fair point. What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were finding your father with your siblings?"

"Just came back. I was about to sleep but I..."

"Hmm?"

You sat down beside him and sighed heavily. "I just need someone to talk to. I mean I could talk to Nico but... I don't want him to be bothered all the time. He might get annoyed already."

"What about Five or Diego?" Elliott yawned.

"I could but..." You hesitated as you looked away. "They would understand but I need to talk to someone who's still normal and sane here."

"Bold of you to assume that I'm still sane after knowing that people like you and your siblings are real but sure."

You gave him a look before chuckling softly. "Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't have believed it too if I was normal. Apparently, I'm not."

"At least you have siblings who aren't normal too. You have a family."

You looked at him as you leaned your elbows on your thighs and rest your chin on your hands. "Elliott, we're your family too, y'know. You became a family when you accepted me into your home. Even Nico."

Scratching the back of his head, Elliott chuckled. "I'm... flattered. That you consider me as a family. Me and Nico, we're just ordinary."

"So? Being ordinary doesn't exclude you from being in a weird family. Besides, you're pretty weird too."

Elliott wanted to laugh but he forced himself not too so he wouldn't wake everyone up. He sighed before patting your back. "You know, I've always dreamed about having a kid. I thought it would be annoying to have a kid who would wake you up when they have nightmares. But, it kinds feels nice now that I think about it."

Elliott ruffled your hair, smiling. "You and Nico coming to my life felt like I experienced having children. Except you two are old already. One's 18, and the other one is probably 30 who's in a 16-year-old body. But it felt nice."

You gave him a side hug. "Thanks for being here, Elliott. Thanks for existing. If you weren't here, I would've been homeless."

"Thank you too, kid."

°•○●○•°

You stirred in your sleep as you heard sizzling in the kitchen. You can hear men talking loudly, disturbing your sleep. You only slept for like 3 hours or 2. Maybe 1. You couldn't really tell. Suddenly, your face was hit by a flying pillow. You shot up, glaring at Nico who has a smug grin. "Morning."

"I fucking hate you. I was sleeping, you big idiot."

"It's morning."

"So?"

"So, you gotta get up and eat. I also didn't notice Lila. Where is she?"

"No idea. I think she went on a different way. Five hates her and Diego's upset with her."

Nico nodded in understanding. "Well, that's good. Never trusted her anyway."

"Oh really?"

"I followed her one night. She went to a pet shop just to retrieve a gold key on an aquarium."

"She's a crazy lady."

"I think she's probably planning on something."

"Alright, Nico. You're like a paranoid grandpa."

Nico scoffed with a smile. "Get out of bed. Your siblings are probably talking about something important. You might wanna know what that is. Luther's also cooking."

You sighed and got out of the bed, scratching your head. "At least it isn't Elliott who cooked. I love Elliott but I hate his cooking."

Nico laughed and threw his bath towel straight at you. You managed to catch with your powers earning a jump from Nico. You looked at your towel and it dropped on your shoulders. Nico blinked. "I think I'll have to get used to you having powers."

"Don't worry." You yawned. "I'm also not used to have these powers."

When Nico left, you looked at a window and saw the sun shining towards you. You shielded your eyes to avoid the sunlight hitting your face and eyes.

You went to the bathroom and took a bath real quick. Once you were done, you quickly put your clothes on, you know, the uniform and hoodie. You were about to open the bathroom door when you stared at the knob. Thinking about your powers, your eyes glowed red and the mist-like figures formed your hands. You raised your hand up and tried to open the door.

"I won't let you stop until you open the door, Number Eight. It's a simple task. Open the door."

Your red glowing eyes flickered.

"Five more hours and then you can get out of the room."

You closed your hand into a fist, hesitating to open the bathroom door. Your hand reached for the knob again but stopped inches away as your heart rate raced. Your hands shook as you stared at the knob. A loud knock broke your stare and gave you a jump. "Hey, you alright?" Nico asked.

"I, uh, yeah! C-Can you, um, open the door?"

"You stuck?"

"J-Just open it. Please..."

Nico blinked twice in confusion before opening the door. He found you frozen on your spot as tears streamed down on your face. "Hey, hey, hey." Nico pulled you out of the bathroom and wiped your tears away. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

You didn't even notice there were tears. You nodded as you touched your cheek-stained with tears. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I didn't notice there were tears."

"You sure you are okay?"

"Yeah. Let's join the others." You gave Nico a small smile before wiping your tears again and joined the others. Nico sighed and followed along.

"No, no, no, I don't understand. They keep following me." Diego said to Luther as he paced around the room while Five's leaning against a wall, one hand inside his pocket and his other hand was holding a yellow cup. You noticed Luther's robe. 'That looks familiar. It's like Elliott's...'

"Wait, who?" Luther asked.

"Those Dutch sociopaths."

"I thought they're Swedish?" You asked as you walked towards a table and grabbed a cup.

"They are and Diego's just an idiot." Five said. "Hired guns paid to eradicate us before we do any more damage to this timeline."

"Yeah, but why now? I mean, I'm..." Diego snapped his fingers. "I'm fine for three months until you showed up."

"Yeah, I was here for a year and no one messed with me." Luther agreed along.

Diego and Luther turned to you who was pouring yourself from coffee. You looked up and blinked. "Oh, don't look at me. I didn't really mind when he showed up."

"Even if it was my fault, which it isn't, we only have six days before the end of the world, and the closest anyone's gotten to Dad was that driveway at the consulate."

Luther froze on his spot when he realized something. "Well... that's not exactly true."

You paused on your sipping and you looked at Luther with Five and Diego. "What do you mean?" Five questioned.

"I saw him."

°•○●○•°

Lila entered The Handler's room in a huff and slammed the door behind her. "Did you set me up?"

"Sweetie, really?"

"Those Nordic shitwits? You said they were Commission. You said they were on our side. Well, I was in the process of executing our mission, the mission that you gave me, and they got in the way."

"Oh, my."

"And now my cover's blown. Five wants to kill me, (Y/n) will be harder to execute now, and I don't know what the hell it is you're after."

The Handler stopped what she was doing to look up at Lila. "Did you bring me what I asked for?"

Lila brought out Diego's knife from her dress and threw it on her mother's table. "Here. Diego's knife."

"Sit."

"No."

"Yes, you're bleeding, and all that rage is bad for your complexion. Sit."

Lila sighed. "Fine, but I'm not done being mad at you." Lila sat beside the Handler as the older woman stood up to bring out the medical supplies. "You're right." The Handler said earning a look from Lila. "I have been lying to you."

The Handler sat back down beside Lila and poured alcohol on Lila's open wound on her arm. "Commission... has no idea... that we're here."

"So, what are we doing here?"

"We are... making something right... that has been wrong for a very, very long time." The Handler grabbed a bandage and covered Lila's wound.

"Just about done with your riddles, Mum."

"Oh, are you just about done now? You've done a couple of missions, now you know everything? Huh? Is that it? Huh? Big Lila, all in charge, not trusting her mother, her mother who yanked her out of that horrid little slum, her mother who rescued her from gin-addled, neglectful parents, her mother who taught her how to live, how to love, how to survive?"

Lila shook her head in disbelief. "You just said you lied."

"You lied to them and they lied to me and everybody lies to everyone else. Grow up, buttercup." The Handler slapped the bandage on her arm. "Ow." Lila winced.

The Handler sighed. "If I thought you needed to know the truth, I would've told you the truth, but you didn't, and so I didn't, and everything worked out just fine."

"No, it hasn't. I lost Five and didn't kill the girl."

"Is he dead?" The Handler's eyes widened.

"No. But he kicked me out of his merry little band." Lila noticed something on the Handler's forehead. "Ugh. Your wound is weeping."

"Oh." The Handler sighed as Lila gave her a tissue. "Oh, my dear, that... that's not a problem at all."

"Why not?"

The Handler went to the other table to fix her wound. "Well, because... I have a very busy day scheduled for us."

-•-°-•-°-☆

All chapters were made and ready to publish. The chapters will be published every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm (Philippine Time).

Thanks for existing, guys. Love you 3000.