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chapter two - "And there goes Ben's statue, hold on."

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The door swung open, the door creaked ever so slightly, being the only giveaway of how old the room was. The sheer curtains were brought shut but still allowed a far bit of the gray bluish light come through. Walking in looking around as a waves of uncomfortable nostalgia hit it as she kept looking around the room.

The room had a twin size bed up against the wall. A desk as the foot of the wooden frame. And a matching dark wooden dresser next to her bed. Different posters still hung up on the cream colored walls. Each of them had the option to paint their rooms but Luna, at ten, wanted to show off her taste in different bands and shows. A bookcase that housed her personal favorite books sat with different small knick knacks gathered around them. Leaving the top shelf to have different medals and framed photos or newspapers that housed 'The Umbrella Academy' and all their greatest achievements as a group.

It was exactly how she left it. Nothing out of place and yet it was all spotless. Nothing had a single bit of dust showing just how old it was. It was as if she was walking into a time capsule.

Walking up to her bed seeing the sheets were clean and neatly made, not a crease in sight. Dropping her black duffle bag onto the light gray duvet. Pulling the zipper open and pulling out the smaller bag that kept her toiletries in. Followed by her small jewelry box, placing it next to the small bag on the top of her dresser.

"So you're staying?"

Her head snapped towards her door. Turning around so her back was no longer facing the open door. "My manager told me I needed to take some time off. She knows my feelings with Reginald so she convinced me this break is more for physical reasons." She explained all the while Diego nodded his head slowly walking his way into the room. "I think you're losing you edge."

"I think you just haven't met Miley."

He smiled looking off to the side as the corner of his eyes creased up. She hated that smile. It brought this warmth that flooded her body. Especially the heat raise up to her cheeks. That's the reason why she hated it. Because even after all this time he was still able to cause her to feel that way. Thirteen years. Thirteen years ago they made a plan, after finally having enough about everything they went through they were done with it. Just the two of them how had been and would've been. But then something happened. Something that caused Diego to end up taking Klaus. She had spent a whole other year in that prison of a house before up and leaving with nothing but a backpack and duffle bag.

"You look good Lu, you really–"

"Don't."

"What?"

"Don't start the whole 'things weren't supposed to end that way'. I just fought my ex of two years four days ago and I'm not about to do the same with you." She spoke, keeping her voice clear and steady. Focusing on getting the words out and not working herself up. If she gets worked up then she could, or probably would, create a hail storm.

He opened his mouth the say something, ending up closing it. Taking a breath before trying again. "Luna, I-I-st-still–"

Before Diego was able to speak what he wanted to, a loud boom of thunder caught both their attention. Both met each other's eyes coming to the same realization. If Luna wasn't causing the loud thunder then what was? It was far too close and too unnatural for them to think of it to be nothing more than part of the gloomy day. The two quickly ran outside meeting the others in the small square garden area. "What the actual fuck is that?!" Luna shouted over the crash of thunder and bright lightning surrounding the purple-blue-ish ball forming in front of them.

"Don't get too close!" Allison warned, glancing around.

"Yeah, no shit!" Diego shouted back, putting his arm in front of the blue haired woman pulling her behind him.

"Looks like some sort of temporal anomaly." Luther tried to example. "English please, not all of us went to space." She added her voice laced with sarcasm. "Either that or a miniature black hole. One of the two." He tried to explain in the most simple way he could. "Pretty big difference there, Paul Bunyan" Diego remarked, causing her to laugh, quickly stopping herself by pressing her lips together.

"Out of the way!" Klaus shouted running through the now parted group. He had a bright red fire extinguisher in hand before chucking it into the black hole. She went to laugh again but then questioned why they had it if she could control fire? "Nice try honey, but what was that supposed to do?!"

"I don't know! Do you have a better idea?"

"Everyone get behind me." Luther ordered as Diego nodded his head standing by his side, "Yeah, get behind us!"

Klaus quickly hid behind Luna who had been further pulled behind the two because of him. "I vote running." Klaus announced as he continued to pull onto Luna's arm as he keeps looking over her shoulder and then hiding behind it. Her head snapped towards him, "I love you, Klausy. But momma raised not bitches." She tapped his chest twice before leaning in, "But if nothing works, we run."

Suddenly from the bright blue and purple cloud become all one bright blue color. Brighter blue lightning sparked like veins along its forum. Out of the cloud an older man started to struggle his way out. Suddenly within the blink of any of their eyes the man turned into a younger, shorter boy. Collapsing onto the stone path as the cloud that spit him out, let out one last clap of thunder before flooding in on itself. Disappearing just as fast as it appeared.

Each of the Hargreeves slowly and cautiously surrounded the teenager on the stone. Seeing the very last person any of them were expecting to see. Of course Klaus was the one to break the silence, "Does anyone else see little number Five, or is that just me?"

Luna tilted her head as her eyes blinked countless times. Questioning to herself if Rosa had hit her hard enough that she could imagine this. But Klaus' words told her that she wasn't imaging this. Looking around at the other's and seeing their same confused and shocked expressions matching her own that she was seeing the real Five. And at the sound of his voice, the same exact tone, did reality set in. "Shit."

🌇

"What's the date? The exact date?" Five asked, now walking around the kitchen down on the basement floor. Luna shrugged her shoulders, playing with the dried ends of her hair, "I've gotten punched so many times I stopped paying attention to the date." Vayna looked at her with a concerned look before answering, "The twenty-fourth."

"Of what?"

"March."

"Good."

"So, are we gonna talk about what just happened? It's been seventeen years." Luther asked with the same stern tone he used when he wanted answers then and there. Five scoffed before replying, "It's been a lot longer than that." He remarked before teleporting away to another part of the house. Coming back to the large dining table placing the items to make himself a sandwich across the surface.

"I haven't missed that."

"Where'd you go?" Diego asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"The future...It's shit by the way."

"Called it!" Both Klaus and Luna gleamed at the same time. Seeing the raised brows she simply shrugged her shoulders, "He was very convincing."

"Were you high?"

"Yes."

Five shook his head, ignoring the two, "I should've listened to the old man. You know, jumping through space is one thing, jumping through time is a toss of the dice. Nice dress," He looked at Klaus and then gave Luna a ever so small smile, "The blue fits you well."

"Aww, why thank you, Five. To be honest, it hasn't been the same since you left." She admitted smiling at him, scrunching her nose at him.

"How did you get back?" Vanya asked, sitting in the chair next to the spot on the table where Luna was leaning against. "In the end, I had to project my consciousness forward into a suspended quantum state version of myself, that exists across every instance of time." Five explained in words that Luna knew what they meant by themselves, but not in the order her placed them. Her brows knitted together as she tilted her head to the side, "Huh?" She muttered softly to herself. "That makes no sense." Diego quickly stated, his voice much louder then her own. "Well, it would if you were smarter. That isn't counted for Luna."

"How long were you there?"

"Forty-five years...give or take." Each of their eyes widened at his response. Luna tapped her middle nail on the counter top, squinting her eyes at him. Confused on how he was in a different time for more than four decades and came back looking like he hadn't aged a day. Her eyes slightly widened as she smiled, "So is this a 17 Again, or a 13 going on 30? Because I'm leaning more towards the second option." She remarked replacing her finger with her elbow.Using the finger to point at him.

"So what are you saying? That you're forty-eight?" Luther questioned with his arms crossed.

Five rolled his eyes at the large man, "No, my consciousness is fifty-eight. Apparently my body is thirteen again." As he spoke he pulled open a cabinet door pulling something out, walking over to Luna and handing it to her. Her brows frowned at the action before breaking out into a smile seeing it was a chocolate bar. Even after forty-five years he still remembered how much she loved them.

"Wait, how does that even work?" Vanya asked before slowly taking the piece of chocolate that the blue haired girl offered.

He chuckled softly, looking down with a shake of his head, "Delores kept saying the equations were off. Bet she's laughing now." His eyes looked around each of his siblings. As if he finally took a look at each of them from head to toe. Then seeing a newspaper on the table, taking hold of it,  "Guess I missed the funeral."

"How'd you know about that?"

"What part of the future do you not understand?" He remarked at the 'oldest' before letting his eyes continue to look over the words printed on the page. Letting out a small 'huh' as he tilted his head. "Heart failure, huh?" Causing both Luther and Diego to reply at the same time, except agree on separate answers. He than folding the paper back in half, tossing it back onto the table. Smirking up at the two, "Nice to see nothing's changed."

🌇

Stepping up to the door frame looking as the rain the weather app had warned about had finally come down. Pointing the end of her black umbrella out and opening it before walking out under it. Letting out a small huff when she saw Diego sculling in pouring rain as if he was in a Batman movie. Hating whenever he did something like this.

The rain was cold and heavy, clearly not letting up for a while. Within a blink the droplets above his head were now falling around him. Not hitting him once. Confused, he looked up, quickly realizing what was happening. Just about to look away going to look for her, but then the gray gloomy sky was covered with a black material. Looking towards the holder smiling softly at the sight of her. "You know you get sick that way." She remarked joining his side as the sound of the rain hitting the umbrella came above them.

"Did something happen?" Grace questioned looking around as the semi-circle was formed around Ben's statue. "Dad died, remember?" Allison softly reminded her. "Oh, yes, of course." She nodded her head slightly as all the muscles in her face frowned. "Is Mom okay?" Luna whispered, leaning her head towards Diego. "Yeah, yeah, she is fine. She just needs to rest. You know, recharge."

"Whenever you're ready, dear boy." Pogo spoke looking up at Luther. The tall man unscrewed the cup, turning it upside down and letting the ashes fall. Straight down and clumping together on the ground.

"Welp, this seems oddly fitting." She muttered, adjusting her hold on the stem of the umbrella. Diego letting out a small laugh that he tried to cover with a cough, glancing over to her. "Probably would've been better with some wind."

"Does anyone wish to speak?" Pogo asked looking around but they each stayed silent. "Very well. In all regards, Sir Reginald Hargreeves made me what I am today. For that alone, I shall forever be in his debt. He was my master and my friend, and I shall miss him very much. He leaves behind a complicated legacy─"

"He was a monster." Diego laughed humorlessly, "He was a bad person and a worse father. The world's better off without him."

"Diego." Allison tried to warn him to not go down this rant once more. But he didn't stop. "My name is Number Two, you know why? Because our father couldn't be bothered to give us actual names. He had Mom do it."

"Would anyone like something to eat?" Grace asked gleefully. Luna bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to say yes. Picking up that now wasn't the time for snacks. "No, it's okay, Mom." Vanya replied.

"Oh, okay."

"Look, you wanna pay your respects? Go ahead. But at least be honest about the kind of man he was." He finished off as Luna reached for his hand to try and calm him down. "You should stop talking now." Luther's voice caused her to look over to him, already knowing how this was going to end.

"You know, you of all people should be on my side here, Number One." He walked away from the blue girl, and from under the umbrella getting soaked. She shook her head, taking three steps and joining both Klause and Five. Only able to emotionlessly watch as the two fought for the millionth time it seemed. "Someone should really stop this." She remarked as the two men nodded their heads. Luther and Diego were now far too close with clenched fist clearly about to swing on the other. "We should stop them," Klaus repeated as she nodded before turning fully towards him,. "Yeah someone should really....Ten bucks Diego wins."

"Deal!"

The fight then began, quickly growing more and more violent. That wasn't a surprise when the group were raised to fight. Klaus had to hook his arm through Luna's and grab a hold of Five's collar to get them a step back out of the way. Earning a slap from Five to get his hand off of him.

"Come on, big boy," Diego egged on, clearly trying to get Luther going, even more than he already was.

"Hit him! Hit him!" Klaus and Luna shouted, shoulder to shoulder.

She had a smile on her face, feeling the joy and excitement of actually watching a fight. Not because she was forced to watch it to study it or because her fight was the next slot. Watching the two back on the other before Diego threw a punch and caused Luther to stumble into Ben's statue. Of course it was an accident. But everyone knew that Ben's statue was off limits, and Luna made sure of that.

"And there goes Ben's statue, hold on." She spoke walking up to the two, who were still fighting. Two large bubbles of water were formed unknowingly above their heads. The moment she got close enough to them she let the two bubbles release causing freezing cold water to soak them. The water caused the two to jump back from the shock on their skin. "Knock it off! Or next time I'll get the boulders out."

Diego suddenly and very swiftly took one of the knives from his waistband and threw it at Luther's arm, cutting it. "What did I just say?" She scolded taking her pointer finger and pushing it into his chest.

Turning and walking over to Ben's statue, her face dropping at the sight of it. It wasn't a bad break. Three breaks in total. Nothing she couldn't fix. Klaus noticed her gloom expression along with the fact that the weather had started to rain a bit harder. Walking up to her and kicking her shoe with his. Glancing over to him, licking her lips before putting on a smile. "You owe me ten bucks."

"Yeah, you and many others."

🌇

"An entire square block. Forty-two bedrooms, nineteen bathrooms, but no. Not a single drop of coffee." Five rambled about clearly upset and frustrated after going through the entire house. "The old son of a bitch hated coffee. Been looking for some since you brought it up." Luna remarked following him into the kitchen. Opting from drinking alcohol to trying coffee. Anything to help relieve the pain thumping in the back of her skull.

"Well, he hated children too, and he had plenty of us." Klaus remarked, making her laugh a little, turning towards him and leaning against the counter top.

"I'm taking the car," Five suddenly stated. "Where are you going?" Allison asked, concerned as he hasn't been around the city for years. "To get a decent cup of coffee." He replied turning to Luna, "I'll be at the doughnut shop," She smiled softly at him ignoring the sounds of Allison and Klaus going back and forth on if they should let him leave. "See if they still have my favorites." He gave her a small nod before teleporting off with the keys.

Diego came into the room interrupting the debate on if any of them should stop Five. "Alright, I guess I'll see you guys in, what, ten years? When Pogo dies?" Diego suggested causing her to raise a brow, "Not if Lu kills you first. By the looks of it she might fry you, drown you, suffocate you, and crush you all at once." Allison gestured towards the annoyed blue-haired woman. 

"Yeah, love you too, sis. Good luck on your next film. Hope it turns out better than your marriage, huh?" He retorted with a smug smile turning to leave the kitchen.

"Are ─ Are we leaving?" Klaus asked, as Luna leaned against her chair. "No, I'm leaving, me by myself- and Luna?" Diego said, making her smile softly. Grabbing her phone and wallet from the counter top. Placing them back into her back jean pocket as they wouldn't allow her to properly sit down. Even though she planned on staying the weekend she thought he could drop her off at the shop. "Oh, fabulous! I'll get my things." Klaus yelled as the two went towards the front door and he went off to get his stuff.

🌇

Luna watched as Diego's car drove off, smiling at Klaus waving bye to her in the backseat. Waving back before seeing it turn the corner. Turning to face the bright neon sign of Griddy's Doughnut Shop. Wincing as soon as her eyes hit the lights. Looking down and using both her pointer fingers to rub the inner corner of her eyes. Her head raised at the chime of the front door opening. Smiling politely at the man as he held the door open for her as she walked in. Glancing back when she heard it shut, seeing him get into his truck.

Walking up to the counter to see Five sitting alone on one of the bar stools. She sat down next to him, placing her elbows onto the counter. Looking around at the different signs that were still the same even after all these years. Feeling a nudge on her left looking at him before he nudged her once again. Looking down to see a cake doughnut with pink strawberry frosting. "Glad to see you came, Lun."

"How could I not, I've been in need of a little Eight and Five hang out." She spoke, pulling off a piece from the doughnut. She had forgotten just how much she's missed this. Not the food, not the building, but him. She had missed her level headed, sometimes psycho brother. "So, tell me about this lovely Delores." She said after licking off the small bit of frosting that stayed on her thumb.

"Luna, there's something important that I need to tell you. It was something I saw in the future–" He was cut off by the chime of the bell above the door. A group of armed men dressed in black tactical gear filled in. Aiming their guns at them. No, not them. Just Five. "That was fast." He remarked, setting his mug down on the counter. "I thought I would have more time before they found me?"

"Okay. So let's all be professional about this, yeah? On your feet and come with us. They want to talk?" Luna turned from her brother to the man speaking, keeping his aim dead on her brother. "I've got nothing to say." He responded plainly. She looked back at him with knitted brows, "Five?"

They all just ignored her. This was what one of Klaus' ghost friends must feel like. People having conversations while you sit there as if you don't exist. She wasn't scared, more lost and confused. How was it that Five had been back for no more than a handful of hours and yet he already was being held at gunpoint.

"You think I want to shoot a kid? Go home with that on my conscience?"

"Well, I wouldn't worry about that." He spoke causing Luna to take a deep heavy sigh knowing exactly what was about to happen. Being in more fights then she was alive, she knew the language. Not just the words coming out of their mouths. But seeing the way Five slyly reached over towards the three silverwears told her exactly what she needed to do. "You won't be going home." At his last word he teleported from in front of the tall dark man and onto his back driving the butter knife into his jugular.

Luna threw herself backwards, flying off the bar stool. Getting out of the way as soon as the bullets started to be fired from the dying man. The five remaining men turned towards her, looking for Five and seeing what she was about to do. Suddenly Five appears on the counter top, "Hey, assholes!" He shouted before disappearing, causing them to turn to the only person there. Just before the bullets reached she slammed her foot onto the ground causing a wall of stone to fly upwards. Having a wall that bullets go into.

Five appeared by her side knowing by her look she was pissed. "You weren't supposed to get hurt!" He shouted over the million rounds of ammo.

She tilted her head, "Five you should know by now, I won't get hurt." Suddenly all the pipes above them burst causing tons of water to drench them. As a result, the man stopped firing. "But you will explain this to me later."

The rock wall went forwards pinning and crushing three of the men against the wall behind them. While Five killed the other two men by teleporting back and forth between them. Watching him go back and forth was like a tennis match but with more blood. Leaving one man left. Who had shaklee pointed his gun down at the floor watching as his body shook from fear. Luna walked in front of him and pointed her finger up at the ceiling. Watching as the masked man slowly and hesitantly looked up. Just to be met with a chunk of the ceiling falling and crushing him to the floor.

Turning on her heel to check on Five, seeing he was already sat back at the bar. Walking up to him seeing his arm laid out on the counter top with a black machine with a green radar next to him. She frowned seeing him holding a knife up to the bend of his inner elbow. "Want a little help?" She asked, holding her palm out.

He let out a small sigh, tired from all the fighting the two had just done. After he handed her the knife she sat down next to him. "What am I looking for?"

"A tracker."

She nodded, using her free hand to feel around for the object. Not feeling anything she used her power to cause his blood to move around smiling when the object pressed against her finger tip. "Found it." She stated before taking the pointed end of the knife and sliced the skin open. Five winced in pain, looking away for a moment before watching the wound. Blood pooled out of the wound running down his arm. Placing the knife to the side she then placed both her palms on either side of the wound. Taking a small breath she focused on moving the small object out. And the small gold pill shape floats out. Flashing green lights were on either end of it. Handing it to Five as he inspected it.

The two stood up and walked out of the destroyed shop. She was thankful to leave the headache inducing flickering lights behind. He dropped the pill into a sewer grate.  "You need a ride?"

She smiled softly at him shaking her head, in one hand was the pink frosted doughnut. "Nah. I'm pretty sure Diego is gunna hear the call from the scanner and realize where it is. And if for some reason he doesn't I'll walk back to the house."

He nodded, putting his hands into his pocket about to part ways and head back to his car. She stopped him before he could, grabbing his shoulder. "Can you – I just — be careful, okay? I just got you back."