LIVING WITHOUT POWERS was something that Althea never imagined she would have to do. Granted, living without her sister wasn't something she imagined either.

After Lola vanished, eventually she took Althea's powers with her. It was undoubtedly startling to say the least when one day, Althea could reverse a window shattering and the next, she could only rewind a tv with a remote.

Althea did adapt, of course, but it was hard and it just further solidified that the bond with her sister had been unbelievably shattered. She was still clueless as to how to retrieve her sister—or if she even could—and it was always a devastating thought.

But with change comes growth, at least that's how it's supposed to happen.

"You'll do fine," Althea assured into the phone that was pressed between her ear and her shoulder as she attempted to stir a pot on the stove. "Because I heard it and it was good."

Shifting to hold the phone now, Althea quirked an eyebrow knowing she couldn't possibly be seen.

"You do this everytime, Vanya," Althea hummed, tapping her fingers against the counter. "You psych yourself out before you even get there. You know, go to this audition and then maybe I give you some of this homemade spaghetti I'm making." After a moment, Althea faked a gasp. "You haven't even tried it! I'm hanging up, you'll do great!"

Ending the call, Althea tossed her phone on the counter and turned towards her haphazard arrangement of pans.

Truthfully, how she managed to befriend Vanya Hargreeves still felt elusive to her. They went out for tea at one of her book signings and now they were actually close friends.

Althea would hardly believe it if it hadn't happened to herself, though she wasn't complaining either. She didn't have many friends herself, save for a few of her neighbors and even then they weren't necessarily 'friendly' so much as they dealt with her.

"Dammit," she huffed suddenly realizing she overcooked her pasta. Scrambling to assemble the soggy noodles and the messily made "tomato sauce", Althea eventually fashioned herself a plate.

Electing to wash dishes later when she could bother with it, she took a seat on her couch and turned the TV on to watch while she ate away—the spaghetti was terrible, mind you, but Althea was hungry.

She was unsure how much time had passed before her program was rudely interrupted with a broadcast. Althea scowled for only a moment before she realized just what the news was trying to tell her.

Sir Reginald Hargreeves was dead.

So much for an appetite now.

______________________

"Thank you. For driving me," Vanya said from the passenger seat as Althea took a momentary glance away from the road to note the fretful expression on Vanya's face.

Althea knew that Reginald Hargreeves was anything but warm and loving. That didn't mean Vanya wasn't entitled to mourn the only father figure she ever knew. 'Father figure' felt more appropriate to Althea, simply because calling a man who traumatized seven kids he had purchased a 'father' felt too forgiving.

Althea shook her head. "It's fine, really. If you hadn't asked, I would have offered," she explained. If Vanya wanted to attend Hargreeves' funeral, Althea wanted to offer any support she could.

"Still," Vanya insisted, leaning her head towards the window to look out at the dreary neighborhood that surrounded them. "Thank you."

Althea hummed in response, offering a small yet comforting smile. It was then that the car returned to a bearable silence, the radio only echoing faint melodic tones.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before Althea pulled over to the curb—a few cars away from the infamous Umbrella Academy. Even from the outside, there was a certain ominous energy to large building that made Althea sink in her seat.

"I guess this is it," she exhaled, turning the car off to look at Vanya. Vanya stared out the window for a moment, unmoving, and Althea knew she was feeling anxious. "Hey." Reaching out, she took Vanya's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "You can do this."

Vanya looked back at Althea, her nervous gaze seeming to soften ever so slightly with Althea's reassurance.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come in with me?" Vanya asked a second time. She'd already suggested that Althea should join her before they even started to drive down here. "I haven't seen my siblings in 12 years, it's— I don't really know if they'll even want me here."

Althea couldn't help but frown before she switched to a more sympathetic smile. "Oh Vanya, this is a family affair, they can't kick you out," she said. "Me, however? I don't think they'd like me intruding." Vanya didn't seem to favor that answer but she also knew Althea had a good point. "But! I'll be at that coffee shop down on the corner if you happen to want to runaway."

Even if Althea was only half-joking, she still managed to elicit a slight laugh from Vanya to temporarily dispel her worries.

"Alright, I'll see you afterwards."

Althea watched as Vanya exited the car, a slight air of anxiety still surrounding her as she began towards the academy. The redhead couldn't help but let out a sigh, leaning forward to rest her chin against the wheel.

"Please let this go well for her," she pleaded to an unknown deity before straightening up and retrieving a book from the glovebox. Book in hand, she exited her car and started for the aforementioned café on the corner.

When she entered, she found the establishment to be surprisingly quaint. There weren't a lot of patrons but it wasn't outright empty either.

Satisfied with the spot, Althea ordered herself a a caramel latte—and a scone because she was starving—before finding a table by one of the store windows to sit at.

She stayed that way for awhile, drinking her coffee and reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Personally, Dorian Gray seemed like something of a loon but Althea only played around with that thought until she had to go up and order a refill.

It didn't take too long before her coffee was made and slid across the counter for her to pick up. Procuring her drink, she turned on her heel to start back towards her table when someone slammed into her.

"Hey!" She exclaimed as she staggered back, brows furrowing as she watched the shorter man rush out of the coffee shop. He seemed squirrelly, in a hurry almost. Althea pouted. "He didn't even apologize."

Nearing the door, she peered out to watch the man continue down the street and throw a cursory glance around a few times before turning down an alleyway.

Something felt off but Althea really couldn't pinpoint what. She then simply shrugged her shoulders and returned to her table. It seemed pointless to waste time over one measly encounter with a man she assumed she'd never see again.

Time continued to pass until the bell over the door chimed and Althea glanced up from her book to see a very disgruntled Vanya in the doorway.

"Vanya?" She called out, getting to her feet to approach her friend. "What's wrong? You're—"

"Can we get going?" Vanya questioned, clearly reeling from whatever had happened back at the funeral. "Sorry. I just, a lot's happened and I just want to get home."

Althea's face was full of concern as she gave Vanya a once-over. She wouldn't pressure Vanya to talk about, she wouldn't even ask—yet, at least. Whatever had happened clearly unsettled Vanya and she just wanted to get back to her apartment, to something familiar. "Yeah, of course. Come on."

The pair left the café, walking back to Althea's car in an uneasy silence. As soon as they were inside, Althea regarded Vanya carefully.

"Are you alright?" she questioned finally.

Vanya let out a sigh. "It's just family stuff."

"You can talk to me, you know. Well, if you want," Althea reminded as she started up the car and pulled out onto the street. "I'm here for you, if you need it."

Vanya glanced over, prompting Althea to do the same. When Vanya averted her gaze, she seemed to consider what to say—if to say anything at all.

"Do you...do you remember my brother, Five?"

"Yeah. He disappeared when you guys were thirteen, right?"

"Yeah," Vanya affirmed as Althea could only wonder where this conversation was going. When the car fell silent, Althea took a glimpse at Vanya's troubled state.

"Vanya?"

"He's back."

[ mIRACULOUSLY, i am aLive!! and here's an update, uwu!!

im on an umbrella academy kick considering s2 came out (will this book go into s2??? who knows) so here's your update! i also rly wanna write more tua fics, just gotta decide wHo i wanna write for next 🤔

anyhow! comment your thoughts, okay oKay, and if you haven't already, check out my five hargreeves book bc that book is like,,,in conjunction with this one?? yeah idk

until next time! ]