#i imagine they meant diego and five when it comes to the out of character thing

[hihomeghere]

Carousel Club | Five Hargreeves / Reader

Word Count : 3k Summary : After being dropped into 1963, you find work at the Carousel Club as a dancer. While following a tip where Luther could be, Five sees your routine. Overwhelmed by jealousy he sneaks into your dressing room. (I do not own the umbrella academy or any of it's characters.) Warnings/Tags : Smut, cursing, piv, men being sexist (its the 1960s what do you expect?) dom!Five, Aged up!Five. A little bit of angst. Not requested.

You always trusted your husband. He was your constant in a very fucked up world. You knew he would never purposely harm you, or put you in harm's way. Sometimes that meant following him through time and space, other times it meant trusting him to not burn your dinner. So when he said he had a way out of the mess you and your in-laws had caused, of course you trusted him wholeheartedly. 

You grasped Five’s hand tightly in your own, feeling a sense of deja-vu from the last time you two tried to spacial jump. Diego gingerly held your other hand, you looked up at him giving him a curt nod. He returned the nod before looking around at the rest of his siblings. You raised your eyes to the gaping hole in the ceiling, the intricate details of the theater framing the crumbling moon. Five squeezed your hand, drawing your attention back to him. You gave him a reassuring smile, well as reassuring as you could.

Electricity crackled around the seven of you, wind whipping your hair in front of your face. Five’s grip on your hand was almost crushing, like you were his lifeline. A giant blue orb of energy appeared above your family, growing and glowing. Five strained under the pressure, his face contorting into a pained expression. The blue light enveloped you all, flickering and pulsing. 

“Hold on! It’s gonna get messy!” Five yelled as the ground shook beneath you, shutting your eyes tightly you felt yourself being pulled away from Five and Diego. You only had a moment of panic before you were thrown to the ground.

You groaned sitting up, the blue light of energy blinding you. You raised your hand shielding your eyes.

“Five!” You yelled as you got to your feet. As fleeting as the orb had appeared it disappeared, as though someone had turned an old tv off. Was that a flash, or just your imagination? You shook your head, taking in your surroundings. No Five, no siblings, no briefcase. Where the hell were you? 

You wandered down the alleyway to the main street. Your hip twinged in pain after taking the brunt of your fall. You looked around the street, the lampposts and storefront neon signs were your only light source. You sank down on a bench, letting out a deep sigh. Your eyes wandered to a newsrack, you quickly got to your feet. You ran to it, holding the sides of the glass case. 

August 1st, 1963. Dallas, Texas.

Your heart leapt into your throat. Damn it, Five. Shit, Alison. God, where were the rest of Five’s siblings?

“Honey, are you alright?” A soft voice asked, you turned your head sharply. You were met by a sweet woman’s face, big blond hair and bangs. She had a cardigan wrapped tightly around herself as she reached out to touch your shoulder. You shook your head, still coming to terms with the last five minutes. “Come on, I’m just about to go get something to eat, why don’t you join me?” She said, smiling sweetly.

“I-” You cleared your throat, “I don’t have any money.” You said, shaking your head. “Well then my treat.” She said helping you to your feet. You followed the woman down the streets of Dallas to a quaint diner. You sat down across from her, taking a look over the menu. People chattered mindlessly around you as you came to terms with your situation.

“I’ve seen that look before.” She said, setting her menu down on the table. 

“What look?” You said furrowing your eyebrows.

“That look. Every girl I work with has had that same look.” She huffed thanking the waiter as he set down a coffee cup in front of her. “Small girl in the big city, not knowing where you’re gonna stay or what you’re gonna eat. Believe me, I’ve seen that look before because I’ve felt that before.” She said reaching across the table, taking your hand in hers. “So what’s your story, sweetheart?” You took a breath, choosing your next words carefully.

“My husband and I got separated.” You whispered, “My parents didn’t agree with our marriage and so we ran away. He was supposed to meet me here in Dallas but he didn’t show.” You said, not technically a lie, Five was supposed to be here with you.

“Oh dear,” She tsked, “well you do not have to worry about that anymore. I’m so glad I found you! You can stay with me until you get back on your feet.” You smiled, hopefully Five wouldn’t make you wait much longer. 

“Thank you…” You trailed off, realizing you hadn’t caught her name.

“Autumn.” She answered, holding out her hand for you to shake.

“I’m Y/n.” You smiled, taking her hand.

“You know Y/n, I could put in a good word for you with my boss. He may seem a bit rough around the edges, but we’re always short staffed.” She shrugged. Whatever the job was you would only have it for hopefully a week tops before Five caught up with you, along with his siblings.

“I appreciate it Autumn.” You smiled, patting her hand.

-

When you arrived at Autumn's place of work you wondered if you were a little over your head. You followed Autumn into the back entrance of the nightclub. You passed by many half dressed women, putting on their makeup and outfits. 

“This way sweetheart!” Autumn called, you picked up your pace following her through the dressing room. Once on the main floor of the club you were greeted by the intense smell of cigars. Autumn had all but disappeared, you wandered through the tables. Trying to work your way to the front of the club, while also trying to avoid the men’s wandering hands at the tables. 

“Y/n!” She called from a table, you turned your head. The club was familiar, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. You were face to face with Jack Ruby, the man who would put the hit out on Lee Harvey Oswald. You gulped, straightening your shoulders you walked over to them.

“Mr. Ruby, this is Y/n she’s looking for a job.” Autumn said, clasping her hands together. Jack looked you over, a cigar dangling from his lips. 

“Y/n who?” He said leaning back in his chair. You stuttered but only for a second.

“Y/n L/n,” You said with a smile, Hargreeves might get Five or your in-laws in trouble if anyone here caught wind of that name. He puffed his cigar, leaning over to whisper something to the man next to him. He chuckled before nodding, you bit your cheek. Feeling like a piece of meat in front of these men.

“Can you start tonight?” He said, lacing his fingers together. 

“Of course.” You replied, Autumn cheered quietly beside Mr. Ruby.

“Autumn, be a dear and show her the dressing rooms. Tell ‘em I want Miss Y/n to be on stage by tomorrow night.” He said motioning with his cigar in hand. On stage? You turned sharply looking toward the stage of the nightclub, scantily clad women fanning themselves with large feather fans. 

“Yes sir Mr. Ruby!” Autumn giggled, taking your arm and walking you towards the back.

-

You sat in front of your vanity, lined by bright golden bulbs. Brushing glitter onto your eyes before adding your long eyelashes. It had been three months since you had taken on your new job, along the way you had made many friends. You felt for all the girls alongside you, it was a rough profession but it paid well. You pulled your robe close around your body, walking over to the clothing rack. You rifled through the sheer jeweled fabric before your eyes landed on the black and white body suit. You threw your outfit over your arm heading back to your vanity. You were greeted by a beautiful bouquet of red roses, Autumn standing next to them with a coy smile.

“Autumn! Who are these from?”

“A secret admirer,” she cooed her bright red lips pulling back into a smile, “Just teasing! It’s from all of us girls here,” She said as she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around your shoulders. Her cheap perfume floods your senses along with her sweet sweat.

“Y’all didn’t have to do that!” You smiled as she pulled away, she only waved you off.

“You’re one of the best here! Don’t know where you learned all your little tricks.” She said bumping your elbow with her own. She looked down at your costume in your arms. “Need help?” Autumn asked, holding out her hand. 

“Yes please.” You said handing her your suit as you lowered your robe. You held onto her shoulders stepping into the suit, you adjusted your straps as Autumn tightened your corset. You admired yourself in the mirror, since taking on your new job you had become more toned. More than when you had worked at the commission, and these clothes were definitely more flattering than your blue suits you used to wear. You took in a sharp breath as Autumn pulled through the last loops, tying the ribbon with a neat bow.

“Alright sister, you’re ready.” She said squeezing your shoulders.

“Thanks Autumn, now go take your break!” You said waving her off. 

“Y/n! You’re on next!” Shannon called from the stage door. You nodded, quickly stopping to smell the sweet scent of your roses before grabbing your tulle skirt. You tied it around your waist as you walked backstage. You picked up your red feather fans, taking a deep breath. You walked up to the closed red curtains listening to the deafening cheers and whistles. You heard the clink of the ropes being pulled back before you were blinded by the spotlights. You closed your eyes, bowing your head, your body covered by the bright red fans. 

You started your routine, swaying your hips seductively as you pulled the fans back away from your body teasing the audience. You lost yourself in the music, thankfully it was difficult to decipher anyone’s face over the shadows cast by the spotlights. You unclipped the tulle skirt, throwing it off stage. You could make out a certain group of sailors, and a rather large man standing by the bar. 

You teased the audience, covering your body with the fans before flashing them a glimpse of your shimmering body suit. You pulled the fans over your head, rotating your hips in a circular motion as you lowered into a squat. You bounced on your heels before jumping back up to your feet. You smirked as the men whistled and cheered. 

The music slowed, and faded out as you walked behind the red curtain. You dropped off your fans before heading back to your dressing room. You opened the door, shutting it behind you. 

“Who sent the roses?” Five’s voice sent a shiver down your spine. You turned your head sharply, meeting Five’s predatory gaze.

“Five!” You gasped, your heart soaring in your chest. “When did you get here?” 

“I could ask you the same thing.” He said, crossing his arms. Your smile fell off your face, what was his problem? It’s not your fault that he dropped you off in the middle of 1963 with no resources. 

“Three months ago.” You said furrowing your brows, “I’ve been looking for you this whole time!” He scoffed, clicking his tongue.

“Oh really? It looks like you’ve been getting enough attention without me.” He huffed, glaring at the bouquet of roses.

“Excuse me for finding a way to survive here.” You spit pushing past him, knocking his shoulder against yours. You took a seat in front of your vanity, pulling out your makeup kit. He stalked up behind you, towering over you. He gripped your chin, forcing you to look at him through the mirror, effectively smearing your bright red lipstick.

“You’re mine.” He sneered, his lips pulling back over his teeth. You flushed, heat pooling in your core. You stared up at him through the mirror, his fingers squeezing your lips together. “Got it?” He asked. You glared at him, a devilish thought entering your mind. 

You kept quiet, smirking as you watched a shadow pass over his features. He clenched his jaw, shaking his head as he tilted your head to look him in the eye.

“You must need a lesson.” He smirked, pulling you to your feet, you stumbled slightly in your heels. He kicked the chair away, you jumped as it thudded against the carpeted floor. His arm moved behind you, sweeping everything off of your vanity along with the roses. They crashed to the floor, the vase shattering. He pushed you against the vanity, caging you in with his arms as he slammed his hands against the mirror. He stared down at you with a wolfish grin, you felt yourself flush. Your heart started to beat faster as you squirmed under him.

“Yes sir.” You said tilting your chin up, staring at him through your lashes. He growled spinning you around, your hands splayed out in front of you on the top of the vanity. His hand connected to your ass cheek, letting out a low chuckle as you gasped. He moved your hair off of your back, his cold fingers attacking the strings of your corset. 

“Stupid- fucking- ribbon-“ he said through gritted teeth, you caught the slightly crazed look in his eye through the reflection. Your body felt on fire, three months without him made every touch that more exhilarating. As soon as the corset was loose enough he was ripping it off of your body, along with your panties. You were entirely bare in front of your fully dressed husband. He stepped back, loosening his tie as he watched you squirm in the mirror. 

“Not so confident now, dearest.” He smirked, unbuttoning the top button of his dress shirt. You breathed hard, adrenaline rushing through your veins. Your nipples hardened against the cold air in the dressing room. You heard the familiar metal on metal as he took off his belt before unzipping his pants. He walked up behind you, nosing his dick against your folds. You clenched around nothing, pushing back against him. His hand came up to the back of your skull, wrapping his fist through your hair. He stared at you through his darkened gaze, you were breathless, your lips parting slightly.

“Please,” you whined, batting your eyelashes. He forcibly thrusted all the way in, knocking the breath out of your lungs. You let out a pornagraphic moan before you covered your mouth with your hand. He grabbed your hand, pulling it away from your mouth and holding it behind your back.

“Why don’t you let everyone here know who you belong to?” He huffed in your ear, thrusting erratically into you. You gripped the desk, the only thing holding you up as Five plowed into you. “Let them know that I’m the only one who gets to fuck you like this.” You clenched around him as his words seemed to straight directly to your core. He let out a groan, loosening his grip on your hair. “Fuck you like this don’t you?” You nodded enthusiastically, your eyes rolling back into your head as his cock prodded against your g-spot.

“Yes, yes Five!” You babbled tears pricking your eyes, as he bent you over the desk. His hands flew to your hips, pulling them against his own thrusts. You could only lay there as your orgasm came crashing down. You were thankful you were on top of the vanity because there was no way your trembling legs would have been able to hold you up. 

Five’s eyebrows knit together as he arched his neck back, his hips stuttering as his orgasm quickly followed yours. Cumming with a loud shout he collapsed on top of you, your sweat causing his thin shirt to stick to your skin. He pulsed inside of you as he gingerly tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. He pulled away, peeling himself off of you. He kissed your shoulder as his softened cock slipped out of you. Your breathing was slowly coming back to normal as he tried to return your room to the state it was before he had destroyed it and you. He picked up your robe draping it over your shoulders. You sat up, feeling his cum start to drip down your thighs.

“What took you so long?” You asked, tying your robe close around your naked body.

“I just got here.” He sighed, tucking himself back into his pants. “I’m sorry I made you wait.” He turned to you, brushing his thumb over your cheek.

“I’ll always wait for you.” You sighed, wrapping your arms around his waist. He held you against his chest, resting his cheek against yours.

“At least someone will, Luther and Diego weren’t too happy about me dumping them in the past.” Five sighed. Diego and Luther were here, too?

“Where are they?” You asked, turning to Five with wide eyes. Five looked at you inquisitively, a small smile pulling on the corner of his mouth.

“Luther works for Jack Ruby, y/n. I found him in this club before I knew you worked here.” Your stomach dropped. Luther worked for Jack Ruby? That means he must have seen your numbers.

“Oh god.” You said mortified, hanging your head against Five’s chest. He chuckled, shaking his head as he lightly rubbed your back.

“Believe me, he was just as mortified as you are.” He said, “Although I must say I thoroughly enjoyed your routine.” He lowered his voice, his hands trailing down your body to rest on your butt.

“I think I could give you a private showing.” You smirked, wrapping your hand around his tie. You pulled him forward by his tie, smashing your lips against his. His hands gripped your hips, the velvety fabric smooth against his palms. 

“God I’d love that,” He let out a sigh, “but maybe we should wait until after we save the world.” 

Again? It was happening again?

“Vanya?” You asked, pulling away.

“Your guess is as good as mine.” He shrugged, “All I know is on November 25th the world ends, again.” 

“Guess it’s time for a family reunion.”

[dominik528]

Five & Lila: Enemies-to-lovers done right

As unexpected and controversial as the pairing of Five and Lila was for the final Umbrella Academy season, I have to say that the writers knocked it out of the park with the "enemies-to-lovers" development.

Now, was this romantic direction planned from the start? I highly doubt it. Even with their bathroom fight scene in season 3, with Lila obviously naked, I got absolutely no vibes of sexual tension. What I think happened was, since Castañeda and Arya broke up, the writers decided to spare them the awkwardness of continuing to play an on-screen couple, so they chose this trajectory.

When Lila and Five first meet, there is clear distrust and animosity between them, contrasting from her and Diego's bonding and quickening attraction. Five even threatens--and comes close to--killing Lila.

Then Lila's hostility grows when she learns that he's the one who killed her birth parents. After another fight, Five, calmly and reassuringly, says that he was acting under the orders of her adoptive mother, who arranged the hit and picked up the scared 4-year-old girl at the scene.

Come season 3, and Five now considers Lila as part of the family, even with Klaus pointing out how she tried to kill them a few days ago. But, of course, it's more of a begrudging allyship, seeing how the two still bicker and insult each other.

By the time season 4 rolled along, and we got the scene with Lila wiping away the sugar on Five's mustache, lingering, followed by Diego getting the wrong idea, I thought, 'Wait...' (The first hint that slipped by me was when he noticed her from afar earlier, like a scene out of a romance.) After that, I started anticipating more scenes between the two.

You can imagine my excitement by ep. 5, seeing two people who once despised and taunted each other now warming up to one another more and more, finally leading to a kiss. Yes, I had the actors' age difference in mind (Gallagher being over 18, Arya being in her 30s), but I still found myself adoring seeing Five being happy. After all, he'd grown bitter and cynical after spending over 40 years alone in a post-apocalyptic wasteland with an inanimate object for a companion, becoming a cold-hearted assassin, and only mainly showing his softer side towards Viktor. With the cottage core-like scenario at the greenhouse, I hoped that the series would end with the pair living similarly, like how Viktor tried to rebuild his life.

But then, I told myself to tamp those hopes down, considering what happened to every other relationship on this show: Viktor & Leonard, Viktor & Sissy (another unpopular ship I loved), Klaus & Dave, Allison & Ray (I was rooting for them in season 2!), Allison & Luther, Luther & Sloane (I was looking forward to them reuniting in this reset timeline☹️), and now, Diego & Lila. I'd recalled a quote from an article about Five having an "emotional arc" with Lila, giving himself a reason to live, and feared it meant that Lila was gonna get fridged.

The last 15 minutes of the show proved to be far worse than I imagined, leaving me and many viewers alike feeling empty inside.🙃For the first five episodes, I thought, 'This is enemies-to-lovers done right!' And then a chance for a satisfying conclusion to such an arc, along with long-suffering characters finding true happiness, was dashed away, just like the entire cast of Star Wars: Rogue One, and Kylo Ren and Rey in The Rise of Skywalker.💔

[abigailnussbaum]

The Umbrella Academy, S4

As a known curmudgeon I am in the weird position of feeling like I should go to bat for this season. By which I mean, it's certainly not great (my ranking is 2 > 3 > 4 > 1), but it's hardly as bad as some of the reactions are making it out to be. And a sizeable chunk of the problems with it clearly come down to depressingly familiar Netflix bullshit: it's not just that the episode order for this season has been cut down, but it's very clear that the budget was also significantly slashed. So there are no big fantastical settings like the Commission or the Marigold Hotel (the multiversal subway comes closest, but it's a single set with no site-specific characters except the leads), no ambitious set-pieces like the staggered arrivals in the sixties from the beginning of S2, not even any big dance numbers. (There's probably no better illustration of this season's reduced budget than the way the fifth episode sets up a Winter Soldier-style elevator fight for Luther, only for the doors to close so we don't get visuals, only sound.)

I also wonder how much of the negativity towards the season has to do with The Ending. Which, to be clear, is entirely fair - a bad ending tends to color your impression of everything that came before it. But is the ending of The Umbrella Academy bad, or is it just shocking?

Personally, as soon as I heard that people were up in arms about the show's conclusion, I said to myself "oh, they all die", so maybe I went in forewarned and thus wasn't as disappointed as other viewers. But I also think that in principle, this is a conclusion that makes sense for the story the show has been telling.

Every single season of The Umbrella Academy has revolved around the Hargreeves siblings preventing, by the skin of their teeth, an apocalypse that probably wouldn't have happened without their presence. They are the cause of, and solution to, all the multiverse's problems. It's hard to imagine a resolution to that situation that wouldn't involve taking them all off the board. Emotionally, too, there's a logic to this entire family going down together. This was never a "change and grow" show. The Hargreeves might make concrete changes in their lives - Viktor transitions, Luther gets married, Diego has a family - but when it comes down to it, they remain a bunch of screwed up people who can only really relate to each other, and that often very dysfunctionally. Ending the show on "I love you... but you're all such assholes" strikes, I think, the perfect note.

All that said, I certainly can't claim that S4 earns this ending or leads up to it organically. There are ideas that the season plays with - the multiversal subway, the endless versions of Five who have been trying to figure out how to get his family off the sequential apocalypse train for an infinity of time without ever figuring it out, Reginald Hargreeves's wife being a player in her own right - that should have been introduced far earlier than they are. And the way that Ben is instrumentalized to achieve the apocalypse du jour certainly leaves you feeling a certain kind of way. It is very much a case of solid premise/half-assed execution.

And having said that... isn't that basically The Umbrella Academy in a nutshell? This is a show that has retconned itself practically every season of its existence (remember when Allison rewriting the universe to her specifications was meant to be a major aspect of this season? Instead it's brought up in a single line and never mentioned again). It has always relied more on vibes than well-structured plot, on big moments than coherent plotting and follow-through. Again, I think S4, for reasons both external (that reduced budget) and internal manages that mixture less well than other seasons, but it still feels largely of a piece with what the show was and where its power came from. Personally, I tend to watch this show more for the characters, their interactions, and the gags, so let's go down the line and see how well S4 handled them:

Luther - post-S1, Luther has been a comic relief character who is defined by his sad-sackness. S4 continues in that line. I was a bit disappointed that Sloane's disappearance in the S3 finale wasn't reversed, since I really liked her and Luther's relationship. But given how much the ending of the show relies on the Hargreeves' connection to each other, that makes sense - unlike Lila, Sloane never bonded with the other Hargreeves (and didn't even seem that connected to her own siblings). I quite like the idea of Luther as a stripper who is very devoted and serious about that work, and has in fact reoriented his entire worldview so that it filters the world through the lessons of that profession, despite being very bad at it. So no complaints here.

Diego - obviously the place where the season falls down the hardest. Does it make sense that Diego, the man who named his daughter after the robot who raised him, and who was able to convince Lila that not just he, but the rest of his siblings, were her real family, would, after six years of marriage and fatherhood, completely forget to appreciate his family and be constantly on the lookout for a way out? Unfortunately, the realities of life under capitalism tell us that it is. But the way the season just leaves him in this stasis until nearly its final scenes - the way it even seems to find his dissatisfaction and detachment funny rather than tragic - is pretty depressing. Not to mention turning the most charming performer in the cast into someone whom it is genuinely unpleasant to watch.

Allison - from day one the show's most problematic character, so it's hardly a surprise that this truncated season didn't find a way to fix those problems. I think there's an attempt to paint her as "empowered" - the shift in her powers to more active and less manipulative, the more complex but ultimately healthier relationship with Claire - but it all ends up feeling pretty thin. Plus, Emmy Raver-Lampman spends the entire season in a long coat, so I'm guessing she was pregnant while shooting, which also impacts on the show's ability to do involved stuff with her character.

(As a side note, I'm not exactly sad about this, but it's interesting that the show doesn't circle back to the Luther/Allison ship. When Sloane disappeared, I thought that was the intent, since "give them each a separate love interest who eventually goes away before putting them together" is a pretty standard shipping format. Instead, they have barely a single interaction in the whole season - not even "hey, remember when you wished my wife out of existence?")

Klaus - like Luther, Klaus is a pure comic relief character, though in his case that seems to involve giving Robert Sheehan a prompt, yelling "action" and standing back. I don't love that in this season that involves spinning Klaus off into an unrelated story (though again, this is not a million miles off what previous seasons have done with him), but it's Klaus, so it's never not fun to watch.

Five & Lila - gonna make what is probably my most controversial statement in this post and say that I do not hate this development, and in fact think it makes a lot of sense. If you watched S3 and didn't come away thinking that these two had a lot more in common than Lila does with Diego, I really don't know what to tell you. And between Lila's fundamental cheerfulness, the fact that Five's cynicism has always concealed a soft, gooey center, and seven years of enforced closeness, I both buy that this would happen and am kind of into it. I also think the way they both react when they return to their own world - Five thinks he's better for Lila, while she, who chose Diego in the first place for a reason, is focused on getting her marriage back - makes a lot of sense. The real problem, as I said above, is that this is all handled in ten minutes in the series finale, instead of introducing the whole subplot much earlier and letting it play out at leisure.

Ben - definitely a mixed bag here. Character-wise, I think the season handles Ben's (thoroughly justified, given that they are not his family) disdain for the Hargreeves, and the way it's cut through with an affection that he'd really rather not feel, extremely well. And after four seasons, the revelation that none of the Hargreeves actually knew how Ben died, that their memories had been altered by Reginald after killing him in front of them, is pretty sharp (though it raises the question of why Ghost Ben never said anything to Klaus about it). But as noted above, ultimately Ben isn't a character so much as a plot token, and that can't help feeling unsatisfying.

Viktor - I really love the way Viktor's whole deal in this season both parallels and mirrors his situation at the beginning of the show. Back then, he was separate from his family but also completely at loose ends; now he's separate from them because he's figured himself out (though he's also still fundamentally a fuckup). And that makes him most able to engage with Reginald as an equal and move the story forward. It's a nice full circle for this character that doesn't ignore his fundamental Hargreeves nature.

So that's about five and a half characters out of eight handled reasonably well, a pretty decent showing for this series. I could definitely imagine a better send-off for The Umbrella Academy, but the realities of both this show and the world of streaming TV are what they are, so I'm OK with what we've gotten.

[oliwiatree]

just saw someone whining that the whole coming out thing in the umbrella academy was 'forced and out of character for everyone'

[discontinuedwritingaccount765]

Notebook l Five hargreeves ♡

ALL THE IMAGINES I WRITE ARE WRITTEN WITH THE INTENTION THAT THE CHARACTER IS OVER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN, IT WILL STAY THAT WAY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

s𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮, 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.

You knocked on his bedroom door, your bare knuckles banging against the wood. There was no answer, but he had to have been there. No one would want to be caught in the weather outside. You would know because you had been outside yourself, and the front pieces of your hair were slightly damp where the safety of your hood wasn't able to shelter it from the rain. Besides, Diego had already ratted him out and told you he'd come downstairs for coffee minutes before you had come through the front door. So you knocked again. This time there was a groan. "I'm not exactly in the mood for company," he said, his voice was muffled. "It's Y/N." You stated.

There was a moment of silence before a shuffling sound was heard, and the door unlocked and was opened, revealing a dishevelled Five. You looked behind him, noticing the equations scattered on the wall. Your suspicions were correct, it seemed. You looked up at him and smiled. "Hi." He looked down at you, quiet for a moment. "Not really a good time." He replied. His blunt tone set you off a bit. Curious, you asked the first question that came to mind. "What you working on?" You asked. He changed the subject. "Is there a reason your here?" he asked.

You sighed, disappointed you didn't get an answer, yet again though he clearly wasn't in the best of moods. "Can't I just stop by to say hello?" You said. He sighed. "Do whatever you want." He muttered and looked at your clothes. "You're soaking wet." You smiled. "Had to walk." You answered him. You walked past him and into his room. He didn't push you out, which was pretty rare for you to do, not because he wouldn't let you, but because you had never really needed an excuse to go into his bedroom. The only difference from the last time you had seen it was that there was now a double bed replacing the single that used to have been here. You didn't know why you had been staring at his bed.

"Take that off." You furrowed your eyebrows for a second, and then he looked down at your coat. You listened to him and took it off, laughing as you understood what he meant. Your shirt was dry, and you could thankfully say the same for your jeans. He went back to his desk, pulling out a notebook. You smirked. "Why bother using a notebook now?" He mimicked you. "Wouldn't want you picking up any of my bad habits, now would I?" you laughed and took a seat on the edge of his bed, watching for about two minutes as he continued writing down until he dropped the pencil and sighed.

Somehow he was always much happier when he wasn't out in the open, probably not wanting the hassle of his siblings seeing him with you and call him soft. But he was fun most of the time, something unexpected from him but true. "Do you need help with anything?" You asked, watching as he ran another hand through his hair, clearly frustrated for the second time that day. "I got it." He said. Pretty much ignoring you, you huffed. "You sure, I'm sure there's something--" Five sighed, "Seriously, I know what I'm doing; you're just distracting me," He complained.

"You're probably just forgetting something. Oh, I bet if someone went over it for you, they'd see it." You said, trying to help in whatever way you could. But he chuckled. "Oh, really?." He taunted. "Somebody like you, for instance?" He asked. You laughed in return. "Maybe." He turned back around in his chair and grabbed hold of the notebook, shutting it. And then, getting up from his seat to walk towards you, he sat beside you on the bed and handed you the book. He was still grinning. "Go through that and tell me if you understand anything from it."

You opened the notebook to the first page, being careful with your fingers not to get a paper cut. Your eyes scanned the page, trying to make sense of the carelessly written numbers as five leaned closer to you, and you couldn't figure it out. "I can't honestly remember learning any of this crap in school." You said. Five smiled. "Just admit I'm smarter than you." He spoke. His voice was soft in your ear. The sudden change in his mood caught you off guard, and your breath hitched. "You might excel a bit easier in math than I do," you admitted, tearing your eyes away from his notebook and up at his face, which was now only a couple of inches from yours. When you realised you'd been staring for a second too long, you looked away, mentally scolding yourself. Dammit.

"Okay." He said, clearly surprised by what he had done when he noticed he had done it. At least that's what you hoped. But you couldn't help but notice the disappointment laced in his voice. Was he trying to..? You stopped your head from saying the words that followed and sighed. You both sat together in silence for a couple of moments before Five decided if he was going to do something now would be the best and possibly only time he had the opportunity to do it. So he grabbed your chin and kissed you. Your lips met, and almost as soon as the kiss started, it stopped. You pushed away with your lips parted. It wasn't because you didn't want to kiss him, but he caught you off-guard, and you had frozen for the three seconds your lips pressed against his. "What are you doing?" You blurted out.

He grinned. "You were practically asking me too," he said, defending himself, except he had been lying. He wanted to see what would happen, how it would feel, and he was right. It had felt good. "No, I wasn't. That's not what I was doing." You replied. He smiled at you. "You were the one who got so close, I was surprised, that's--" He shut you up with another kiss, but this time instead of pushing him away, you kissed him back.

His hand lowered to your waist, and he pulled you in closer to him. Your heart started to pound in your chest. Five smirked into the kiss, focusing on how soft your lips felt against his, opening his eyes as you broke apart for air to admire the look on your face. And the kiss was addictive, so you kissed him this time, sneaking a hand up to softly pull on his hair. He moved his lips softly against yours. You broke apart again, expecting him to end the kiss, but he didn't. He pulled you in again and put his lips against yours for a final time. By the time the kiss had ended, butterflies had formed in your stomach, and you looked at him, admiring the green in his eyes.

A/N - I started writing this around two in the morning and then went to sleep around four only to continue it when I woke up for two hours. Anyway, sorry I've been a bit stupid about the whole uploading thing, but here it is, another imagine that was actually pretty fun to write. I couldn't decide if I wanted to make It angst or anything, so Instead, I kind of used a website to decide for me because I couldn't make my mind up. Anyway, requests are open if you would like to request anything. Have a nice day or night. :)

[carlandoxlestappen]

Dead Girl Walking | Ben Hargreeves/Five Hargreeves

Masterlist

Warning(s): past major character death.

The members of the Umbrella Academy stared in shock, as they had just been informed that their home was now the Sparrow Academy, that none of them were adopted by the billionaire, Reginald Hargreeves, and that Ben was alive, now a teenager, seeing as they accidentally teleported earlier in time.

“Dad? Who are these people?” A girl, seeming to be around 15 years old, asked quietly as she walked in, immediately moving to stand behind Reginald, who’s glare at the Umbrella Academy seemed to harden, but his posture softened, obviously not wanting to scare the girl. She had her long, bright brown hair framing her face, and with the way she stood behind Reginald, with her head down, the Hargreeves siblings couldn't see her face.

“It's nothing, sweetheart, the strangers are just leaving.” He said, surprising the Original Academy with how gentle his tone was, much more than the one he used at them when they were children.

“Yeah, he's right. Come on, babe, let's just go back to our chess game so you can beat me again,” Ben said with a happy grin, making his girlfriend finally look up, a smile covering her features, her hair gliding down her back in waves as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

The Umbrella Academy all froze, different emotions filling each and every one of them at the sight of Eloise, their Eloise. However, it worked differently with two of them, two similar emotions consuming them. For Five, it was sadness, sad that the love of his life, his soulmate, the one person he knew would always be there for him, the girl he had grieved for, was standing right in front of him, completely oblivious to who he was, and in love with someone else.

For Vanya, it was guilt, guilty that her sister, the one who always made sure she felt welcome, who baked her and their siblings cookies when they were sad, who never did anything if it meant upsetting someone, who always wished to be normal, who hated how she could bring destruction with no control over it. The girl she had murdered in cold blood right before causing the apocalypse, the girl who kept whispering “It's okay,” Even as she knew she had no chance of surviving, the girl who only worried about her sister in her last moments, a single tear running down her cheek as she had let go of her life, just wishing that her sister would know that it wasn't her fault.

 “Okay, bye dad, bye guys!” Eloise said delicately, her voice pulling strings in Five’s heart, the physically looking boy having to hold tears back, just like the rest of his siblings.

“Have fun, little one,” Reginald chuckled, always finding it amusing how her inhuman intelligence affected her personality, everything that included some kind of calculating, strategy making or difficult thinking seeming to be like a child’s game to her, which in this case it was.

“Bye sis!”

“Bye guys,”

“Bye El,”

“Bye Izzy,”

“Goodbye Ben, Eloise.” It went from all around the room, the last one coming from a deep voiced girl, who sent the tiniest of smiles at Eloise, before her face turned solemn once again. (HoYeon Jung as face claim)

***

The Hargreeves siblings had left the Academy, still in their 60′s clothes as they went to a near-by motel and took a large room for a few days, all happy that they still had money on them.

“I wasn't imagining her...right?” Diego was the first to speak up as they all sat around on beds and a couch.

“No, she's real, and she's here.” Luther stated, looking at his brother.

‘Yeah, but you gotta remember that's not Eloise.” Five said, causing Allison to turn to him.

“And what does that mean?” She asked, making him sigh.

“That is not our Eloise. Yeah she might still have her powers, and she looks the same, but she's a Hargreeves and a Sparrow, not an Umbrella. She's not the Eloise we know, she's different here, so don't just try to befriend her out of the blue. If her instincts are even half as good as our Eloise’s, which they probably are, it won't end well, for any of us.” He said firmly, shocking even himself as he managed to keep his voice steady.

His siblings all nodded, knowing he was right. She wasn't the same Eloise they knew, she was Eloise Hargreeves of the Sparrow Academy, dating Ben Hargreeves, and changing Reginald’s personallity for the better. And sure, they couldn't immediately become as close as they were, and Five knew they could never get back what they had, especially with Ben, but they would slowly work it up, all becoming friends with her. They were all desperate to just be in her life, make sure that nothing happens to her, and that they won't have to lose her again. After all, Eloise Hargreeves was the one who taught them to never give up.

[feralnumberfive]

The Rewatch Academy: Episode 4 of Season 1

“Man on the Moon”

I am in no way a good analyst so my little analysis and speculations probably sound a bit goofy or pretty wild and probably mean nothing at all. Everything I put into this post about each episode is purely what I noticed or thought, whether it’s funny or serious. I will be making jokes, so please just leave it at that (in no way am I trying to make fun of an actor and or character!) I am also in no way saying I noticed this stuff first. This is just what I noticed while rewatching these episodes

☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂

1x01 | 1x02 | 1x03 |

☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂ ☂

☂ So at that point Luther had already been alone for about five years (due to his siblings leaving when they were 18 or even 17 according to Diego), and by alone I mean he did’t have his siblings with him. I’m not counting Reginald, Grace, or Pogo because I’d imagine they weren’t the best company. There was a two year gap between Luther getting the serum and then being sent to the moon. He had already been “alone” for five years before he was sent away to be completely alone for four years. He hasn’t had really any social/outside interaction besides going on missions for almost ten years, which means Luther is an awkward dude and he hasn’t been a true leader because he hasn’t had anyone to lead. I don’t think people really realize this and I think that’s where some of the hate towards him comes from 

☂ We see that Luther looks into Allison’s and Klaus’s bedrooms as he makes his way down the hall, and I’m willing to bet he did that for all of his siblings. Makes me wonder how many times the siblings went to Five’s room to visit it or to even check with hope that he had come back  

☂ I wish I could ride my bike around my house and chug a gallon of milk :[

☂ I can’t believe that Reginald still made him wear that leather battle suit 💀

☂ Why are there posters of animal anatomy in the infirmary?

☂ Apparently it takes between two to four months to grow a full beard, so that’s  about how long Luther had been lying there

☂ *suffers through the Allison and Luther scene*

☂ “HoPe I wAsN’t BeInG tOo LoUd”

☂ Vanya and Leonard were really sweet in the beginning. Screw you Leonard

☂ It’s really sad that not one his siblings notice that Klaus is gone. Not. One. 

☂ Are you telling me that Klaus and Five are certified freaks? At least I’m sure that’s who Cha Cha is referring to, or maybe it’s Luther

☂ I tried looking up tortures in Trinidad to see if Cha Cha was referring to any specific event, but I think it’s just a random thing in the show

☂ It’s only when Diego mutters “The boy” that it reminds him either of Five’s superhero name “The Boy” or his new appearance as a teen again so it finally clicks in his head that that’s who the mystery kid is

☂ Diego admitting that he doesn’t really know how to process his feelings!

☂ He’s very protective of his family and that’s something that I love about Diego. He doesn’t know who Hazel and Cha Cha are but all he knows is that they are searching for Five for some reason and that his siblings almost got killed last night

☂ Five doesn't realize the suffering that he’s putting his family through at this point since he’s only focused on finding who’s responsible for the end of the world. It’s ironic that he’s doing all of this to keep them alive and safe and yet him not being with them almost got them killed. Five buddy, you should have included all of your siblings from the start no matter how much they annoy you

☂ Also where has Five been this entire time? He left the van at night and now it’s the next morning. He’s been following the guy but why did it take him so long to corner him?

☂ Ope, and there’s a continuation error! When Luther takes his arm out of Five’s dresser, he takes part of the wood panel with him. When it cuts back to Diego talking there’s just a fist size hole

☂ “We barely got out with our lives.” Okay but where were you, Pogo?

☂ It’s funny how quickly they revert to child-like shame when Pogo scolds them. At least they still respect him I guess

☂ Is Hazel eating potato chips with ketchup? 

☂ I think one reason why nobody notices that Klaus is gone is because none of them saw him that night during the attack. They possibly assumed he already had left the Academy??

☂ Looooove the “Shingaling” scene. They are straight up vibing

☂ I don’t know why Luther was frustrated with the van door being locked. It’s not like he could rip the door off or anything.......

☂ I have a two questions here:

Why did Diego know where to find Five based off of the book? Sure he saw that it came from the library, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be there

Wouldn’t Luther and Diego have seen the smoke coming from the Meritech building? Unless they left immediately and weren’t able to see the smoke even though they probably were still in the vicinity when it began to burn

☂ Five is holding the man’s arm to make sure that he doesn’t get away (hard to tell in the pic below though). He needs that sense of security that this lead isn’t going to escape his grasp, but I’m sure that if he were to run he wouldn’t get far when you can just teleport after him

☂ I got a nice pic of Five (also the dude on the bike that was riding behind Five as he runs up in this shot just does not care that this building is on fire) 

☂ When it shows Five on the ground, it at first starts off with light and slightly comedic music before it quickly switches over to something dramatic. I always thought it was funny that they play the light stuff as we see Five just laying there 💀

☂ You can see just how quickly Five’s face changes from shock to disbelief and disappointment as his only lead is literally blown away from him look, you can pinpoint the exact moment his heart breaks. Also Five definitely would have had hearing issues since we can see that the windows on the building behind him were shattered. He’s staring into your soul....

☂ There’s nothing really significant about this at all, but Whippets are racing dogs and in the comics Five goes to watch a dog race at one point

☂ “I hate sprinkles.” Hey, me too!

☂ I love that Griddy’s is still open despite the damage that was done to it

☂ Diego left home at 17 (which is illegal so I wonder if he was emancipated or maybe Diego ran away and Reginald didn’t care to look for him) so I wonder if the others left when they were 17 too or if they waited until they were 18 

☂ Luther I don’t really think you’re one to talk about being “grown up” my guy. In fairness none of the Umbrellas know how to be fully functioning adults, not even Five who’s about twice the age of his siblings and is almost a senior citizen

☂ “I stayed because the world needed me.” Hey that was basically Five’s reason too, but more so for getting to see his family again. Anyways, like brother, like, uh, brother! 

☂ "And things are never gonna go back to the way they used to be.” You sir just predicted the next week(s) (and technically years in the 60s) of your life and the lives of your siblings! This also applies for what happens after those weeks/years, but we haven’t gotten there yet but it’s certainly not the way things used to be!  

☂ How was Luther upset enough that he wanted Diego to stop talking after he said something genuine and a bit sad?

☂ This whole relationship talk isn’t exactly relatable......

☂ He’s just chillin’

☂ Reginald can ✨perish✨ Oh wait, he already did 

☂ Here I am taking any little scrap and running with it, but when Five says he’s going through puberty twice does that mean that he didn’t get his aging altered by The Commission? In the comics, Temps Aeternalis/Commission stopped Five’s aging but here it sounds like that didn’t happen. Since we haven’t heard anything about Five’s DNA in the tv show we don’t really know much about his aging alteration either. I think that they really do have to leave that part out due to Aidan himself, who is a growing teen, and for the fact that they would need to come up with an excuse for Five’s aging (Aidan already looks different in S2 and he’s taller too). I wish they would bring this stuff up in the show!

☂ Five deflects answering the question of what he’s the best at most likely just because he’s just distracted but also possibly because he doesn’t want his brothers to know at this point

☂ First the feral chimp smile and now this

☂ Five actually sounded serious when he was talking about how many people he has killed and how he’s the ”Four frickin’ Horsemen” which is more so an exaggeration but it still shows us that he views himself as dangerous and powerful. He revealed this to them while he was drunk, even though they don’t really understand, but I wonder if Five ever actually planned on telling his siblings what he did and how much blood he has on his hands. I feel like he would have told them after he had saved the world from the apocalypse, but yet again I could also see him brushing off questions in relation to what he just said to Luther and Diego to hide his past from his family

☂ ✨”Little Psycho”✨

☂ As eerie as all of those ghosts are, it’s a really neat scene

☂ It’s not really meant to be funny, but Klaus denying the duct tape just reminds me of a little kid refusing to go into timeout 

☂ I guess Cha Cha got out through the door next to the bathroom when Klaus was banging his head on the table?

☂ It’s a shame that Patch died right away, I really liked her

☂ Klaus, where you’re going really isn’t any better 

☂ It’s sweet that Diego puts Delores down gently and doesn’t just toss her somewhere. Even though she’s a mannequin, Diego knows that she means something to Five

☂ Well Luther I think it’s pretty self-explanatory what he meant. You just need more context 

☂ Diego: *signaling that someone, possibly a threat, is approaching and to be alert*

Luther: 🕴👁`👄’👁

☂ Even if they did think that Klaus had left the Academy before Hazel and Cha Cha attacked it, it’s sad that it took them this long to think about him

☂ Luther patting Delores is so cute

☂ Say it with me kids, “Patch deserved so much better!”

☂ My heart breaks to see Diego so heartbroken and upset, especially when he says “I gotta go, okay? I can’t be here when they come, okay?” Ugh, that gets me

☂☂☂☂☂☂☂

Feel free to comment or reblog with things you have noticed too!

[ofstoriesandstardust]

The 5 Times Luther Thinks He’s in Love With You (and the one time he actually does something about it)

A/N: I’ve never written for Luther before but I am full on simping for this man. I know he’s kinda hated in the fandom so we’ll see if this fares better then my Diego piece. No, I still haven’t finished season 2 yet. If I were to spend as much time watching TUA as I did reading and writing fan fiction about it, I would’ve finished weeks ago. This might be super out of character for Luther so hopefully this doesn’t suck. It also ended up being way longer then I had intended and is officially the longest thing I’ve ever written. I think it starts out mediocre and ends strong so there’s that. 

masterlist | prompt list

warnings: takes place post-season 2 but my own version again, Ben came back to life again because I said so, my trauma, canon childhood abuse, trauma, and reference to drugs, swearing, 

word count: 6,438

i. the time you treat his siblings like your own

The first time Luther thinks he might be in love with you is the day Klaus gets out of rehab...again. Over the last year, the Hargreeves clan has worked hard to get Klaus clean and sober, and Ben coming back to life was a big push for Klaus to get help. Unfortunately, it’s been more downs than it had been ups. As a survivor of childhood abuse yourself, you had told Luther it would take time for the mental scars their father left behind to heal and Klaus was no exception. Still, Luther had thought the process would go a little bit smoother than it had, and it killed him to watch his brother relapse again and again, and the toll it took on Diego and Ben every time he did. However, they thought this time might be different. Klaus had made a lot of progress during this last stint in rehab, progress he hadn’t made before. You coming into the Hargreeves family and becoming a rock to the siblings had brought a lot unexpected comfort to Klaus, that someone outside the family cared for him and his well-being. It had been a push he needed, and you really believed he’d stay clean this time.

Diego and Ben had volunteered to pick the seance up from rehab, with the other siblings arriving at your apartment to create some sort of semblance of a ‘welcome home’ party. You had volunteered to watch Klaus the next few weeks, knowing the Academy was no place for him to be. How could he stay sober living on the streets or at the home of all his abuse? And seeing as you didn’t drink, there was no alcohol for Klaus to even access if he wanted to. Luther had been adamant you didn’t need to go out of your way to make a space for Klaus but you had over ruled him with the support of Ben and Diego and the decision was made whether Luther liked it or not. 

Over the course of the last year or so, you had sort of tumbled into his life, crashing straight into Luther one morning as he was leaving Griddy’s. It had snowed the night before, and the street was icy, and the next thing he knew, someone had walked straight into his large frame and was tumbling towards the ground. Luther reached out, large hands wrapping around your much smaller frame, and hoisting you back up before you could hit the ground. He awkwardly cleared his throat and put you back down on the ground. “Sorry about that.” He mumbled, overwhelmed by the fact that he had stupidly almost sent the pretty girl crash-landing to the ground. 

“It was my fault, really. Shoulda been looking were I was going.” You said. Fate, however had other plans, when Ben came along the road. You turned to greet him, and his eyes drifted from you to Luther. He stopped next to you and a shit-eating smirk grew on his face. “Well, (Y/N), it looks like you’ve met my brother Luther. Luther, this is my co-worker (Y/N).” Luther had a moment of realization, understanding he had knocked into Ben’s favorite co-worker at the bookstore/cafe he talked so much about. Ben invited Luther back inside to Griddy’s as the two of you got breakfast before your shift and Luther agreed, not having a much better plan. Allison was in Manhattan with Vanya, Klaus was doing a stint in rehab, Diego was working at the gym, and Five was off god-knows-where doing god-knows-what. The breakfast was quite enjoyable, Luther observing your comfortable energy and your kind nature. You had offered your number to Luther before parting with Ben, in case “he ever needed a friend”. It wasn’t long after that, that the family had had a tumble towards rock-bottom as Klaus got out of rehab, immediately seeking the nearest drug he could get his hands on. Ben had asked you to come over and the support you offered the family through your experiences with an alcoholic mother and comfort had irrevocably changed your position and meaning to the family and to Luther. While Luther had always felt you were closest to him, the closest thing he had to a best friend, he couldn’t unsee the way you joked with Klaus, the support you offered Diego, the witty banter you’d exchange with Five, the conversations you’d have with Allison, the encouragement you offered Vanya, and the normalcy you brought Ben. He always thought that you liked them a little bit better, but every time, you were able to read that he was too far into his self-doubt, and assured him that he was and would always be your best friend. 

This time was no different. As Klaus returned to the apartment and was practically glued to your side, he felt that small piece of him rile up again, making him want to shrink to the background. As the night wore on, he felt himself retreat further and further behind the walls in which he had put up. He had hoped to get a moment alone with you, which didn’t seem promising. But luck was on his side, and an opportunity arose, which came in the form of a Mario-Kart tournament. You excused yourself and Luther from the first few rounds, asking for his help with the dishes. He felt confused, as you always stated doing the dishes helped you focus and relax. You turned the water on, beginning to wash dishes and handing them to him to dry. He did so, in silence for a few minutes, but not a bad one. “You know that Klaus staying doesn’t change how I feel about you, right?” you said quietly, as to not let the Hargreeves overhear your discussion of one of his biggest insecurities. He nodded.

“Yeah, I know.” he said in a gruff voice, looking out over the city from your window, avoiding looking at you. 

“Luther.” You said sternly and he chanced a glance at you. “You know I love your family like my own siblings and you know I would do anything for them.” He felt his stomach beginning to sink as he waited for the other shoe to drop that would never come. “But, you, you’re my best friend in the entire world. Nobody’ll ever come close.” You said, nudging his shoulder and turning back to the dishes. He looked down at you, and looked at the way your face was lit up by the light of the moon, and he looked back up the moon to where he spent so many years in isolation, hoping one day he’d get to meet someone like you. He was starting to think that he didn’t want to be just best friends anymore... and that thought scared him almost more than anything. 

ii. the time he can’t imagine his life without you

The thought that does scare him more than anything is the thought of losing you. It’s never been a thought he’s allowed to stay in his mind long; shuddering away from the thought of losing you to the cold clutches of death, the way he lost Ben, the way he had thought he lost Five. Unfortunately, he is forced to confront the thought one night. Diego shows up the Academy, clutching you in his arms, cuts and bruises littering your frame. Luther is the only home at the time, everyone else either gone, living their lives or in the case of Five, at Griddy’s. Diego sets you down in a chair and with the exception of the minor physical harm and the fact that you can’t seem to stop shaking, you seem to be alright. “I’ll explain in a minute. Where’s Mom?” Diego asks quietly. This seems to snap Luther out of his state of shock, that if Diego thought your injuries might be bad enough to have Mom look over them, he needs to present and here. 

“Diego, I told you-” you winced, a movement neither Hargreeves boy missed, “I’m fine.” 

“Even still, Mom should check you out anyways. I think she’s upstairs. Do you want me to go get her?” Luther said softly. Diego shook his head. 

“Nah, I’ll go grab her. You stay with (Y/N).” Luther nodded and took a tentative seat next to you, wanting nothing more than to reach out and pull you into his arms and quell all your fear and make you forget all this pain and-

“Oh, (Y/N), darling.” Mom’s soft voice reaches his ears. She checked you over, determining that all the injuries you sustained were minor and would heal within the next few days. 

“See, Diego. I told you I was fine.” You snapped, as Mom put a kettle on the stove to make tea for the three of you. 

“What even happened, (Y/N/N)?” Luther asked softly, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear, almost missing the way you leaned into his touch. Diego sighed and pinched the bridge of his noise. 

“I was wondering the same thing myself.” He grumbled. 

“It was just some creepy guy. I was fine.” The tension in the room is so thick one Diego’s knives could cut through it as the implications of what your sentence meant settled. A endless train of possibilities of what ifs fly through Luther’s brain that he almost misses what happens next. 

“Fine?!” Diego asks incredulous. “Fine?! (Y/N), he had a knife-”

“I had it handled!” You said indignantly. 

“You could have been killed!” Diego shouts, and the silence that follows is undeniably terrifying for all three of you. You looked to Luther, who must’ve looked like a fish out of water, gaping at you, struggling to come to terms with what Diego had just said. 

“I might not be a superhero, but I can take care of myself.” You said, voice soft now, not making eye contact with either boy. Luther looks at Diego, who is clearly ready to make another argument and Luther finds the fear growing inside of him at an alarming rate. Luther stands up abruptly, his chair toppling over behind him.

“(Y/N), you could have died.” Luther says, now growing concerned regarding your apparent lack of concern for your well-being. The fear and panic spreading through his body seems ice-cold and the thought that Diego could have brought your lifeless corpse back to the Academy instead is rooting him to his now standing position. You look up at him. 

“Okay, well I didn’t. I’m fine and here to live another day. Nothing worse then any thing you guys have done, and besides-”

“(Y/N), I could have lost you!” Luther yells, surprising all three of you. You look up at him. “After losing Ben, after losing Five, after everything that’s happened-” Luther goes quiet, choking on words he isn’t sure he means. I’m in love with you. I can’t do this without you. “I can’t lose you too.” His voice is soft and you look away from him, biting your lip.

“I’m sorry, okay? My co-worker called out, I didn’t think anything would happen. I've walked home a million times after closing, it’s never been an issue. I thought I had the situation under control.” You refuse to make eye contact with either boy, glaring a hole into the table. The silence remains for a while longer and Diego eventually excuses himself, saying you’ll finish the discussion in the morning. Mom put your tea down on the table, and you startle, seemingly forgetting the AI was still there. She leaves you and Luther alone in the kitchen with a gentle smile. Your hands are still trembling as your hands wrap around the cup, and Luther almost takes one of them in his own, but decides against it.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.” He says, softly. You look over at him, if for only a moment. He needs to start sorting of these thoughts of love he has towards you, but for right now, he’s just glad you’re still with him. 

iii. the time Diego teases him

A month or so passes between that night and the next time Luther is forced to confront his foreign feelings for you. It’s early one morning and the eldest Hargreeves boys are sitting in a comfortable silence as Grace walks around the kitchen making breakfast. Diego is the first to break the silence. “So, Luther,” he begins, a shit-eating smirk upon his face, not unlike the one Ben wore the day you and Luther met. Luther stiffens, concerned about whatever is about to come out of his brother’s mouth. As good as their relationship has been since Texas, Luther can’t help but feel like there will always be a sort of unspoken tension between the two of them that will never truly go away, residual feelings of competition leftover from their childhood. “When are you going to tell her?” Luther stares at Diego, utterly confused about what the boy might be asking. 

“Tell who what?” Luther asks, which in response, prompts Diego to roll his eyes. 

“Don’t play dumb. I see how you look at her. When are you going to tell her?” Diego says, smirking. “C’mon, you can tell me. This is a safe space.” 

“Tell who- Allison?” Luther blurts the name out, the only girl he can think of that Diego might be referring too. Diego startles at the name-drop of their sister. 

“What- no, not Allison!” Diego splutters. “Jeez, you really have no idea who I’m talking about, do you?” Luther shakes his head. “I’m talking about (Y/N).” Luther relaxes at the sound of your name and sinks back into his chair, but he’s still concerned about what Diego thinks he needs to tell you.

“What am I supposed to be telling her?” Luther asks to which Diego shoots him a look. Luther finally understands, at least, he thinks he does. “I’m not telling her about my... condition.” Luther says, the word feeling weird on his tongue. It’s an open secret the family never speaks about, sensing Luther’s insecurities. 

“That’s not- she doesn’t know?!” Diego asks, incredulously. 

“Not unless one of you told her.” Luther says, anger growing in him at the thought of one of his siblings going behind his back and telling you, his closest friend, his deepest secret and biggest insecurity. He doesn’t need you to look at him the way his siblings do, with pity. 

“Luther- Luther you have to tell her.” Diego says, his voice firm. “She has a right to know.” Luther casts a dark look at his younger brother. 

“Right to know what? Right to know how Dad mutilated my body?! Right to know that no one will ever love me because of it?!” Luther asks, the anger (and fear) seeping into his tone. Diego sits back in his chair, not breaking eye contact with the blond boy. The quiet in the kitchen settles as Grace put the plates down in front of them but unlike before, this one isn’t comfortable. It’s awkward  and there’s strong emotion radiating off of the two boys. 

“Thanks, Mom.” Diego says quietly, but Luther doesn’t say anything, not trusting his voice. “I was actually going to ask when you were going to tell the poor girl you’re in love with her.” Diego says, beginning to cut up the pancake on his plate. Luther startles and his eyes widen, looking back up from his food to face Diego. 

“I don’t-” Now it’s Luthers turn to splutter through his words, struggling to form a cohesive sentence. 

“You do, Luther, you sooo do.” Diego responds, the shit-eating grin returning to his face. Luther just stares at Diego. “I see the way you look at her. The way you drop everything to be near her, the stupid little smile you get whenever someone talks about her or she comes over, I see it.” Luther shrugs, feeling like he’s wading through concrete, trying to form a sentence in response to Diego’s too accurate statement. 

“She’s our best friend.” Luther says, shrugging with a fake nonchalant attitude. The word friend feels foreign ion his tongue and wishes he could use something else that would more accurately describe his feelings for you. 

“Sure, but I’d be concerned if Ben started looking at her the way you do.” Luther stares at Diego, the confusion returning. “Your face lights up whenever you see her.” Luther remains dumbfounded and quiet, sensing Diego had a point he wanted to get to. “I’m not the only one who thinks it either. We all see it. Sure, she’s our best friend and like a sister to us, but you, you’re in love with the girl.” Diego must take Luther’s silence as a reason to continue, because Diego puts his fork down and looks at Luther seriously. “I only bring all of this up because- well, if you don’t tell her soon, she won’t- won't stick around forever.” 

At Diego’s words, it feels as if someone has dropped a rock in Luther’s stomach and he thinks he might be sick. The thought of you leaving- “She’s a patient person, but she’s not going to wait forever for you to figure out your feelings. So if you are in love with her, and I know that you are, you need to tell her- tell her everything.” Diego stresses the last word and Luther gathers that he means his condition as well. Luther wants to shove his plate away, walk away from Diego, and lay in his bed for the rest of the day, pretending that he hadn’t been forced to confront these feelings he isn’t ready to have for you. 

Instead he mumbles out a “She’ll hate me.” Diego sighs. 

“She won't hate you. I’m pretty sure she feels the same way but you’d have to ask Vanya or Ben for that answer, Lord knows she confides in them more than me.” Luther looks back up at Diego. “Besides, even if she doesn’t feel the same way, she won’t hate you.” 

“But it will change things.” 

“Sometimes change can be a good thing.”

“Not in this family.” Luther mutters as Five makes an appearance, the blue light startling Diego. The conversation gets left there but Luther can’t help but mull over Diego’s words, wondering if he’s right. 

iiii. the time you have a fight 

You and Luther’s friendship has been struggling, he knows it just as well as you do. Ever since his conversation with Diego, Luther has been pulling into himself, retreating further and further away from you. He’s not being a good friend, he knows that, and you deserve better, and he knows that too. Still, he can’t help but feel like the only way he’ll get over his feelings is by not being around, positive he won’t ever tell you that he thinks he might be in love with you. He knows there’s no way you're in love with him too. He’s ended up at your apartment tonight, returning a book Five had borrowed. Why he couldn’t return it himself, he wasn’t sure but Five had told he owed him one after “saving his sorry ass through two apocalypses”. Now that he was here though, he thinks it was just a ploy to get him here. Even still, when you invite him in, he can’t bring himself to say no to you. The pair of you stand in the kitchen in total quiet, the distance between the too of you feeling much more like a gaping chasm than the four feet. “What did I do?” You ask, arms folded across your chest, almost like your protecting yourself from him. Luther looks up at you. “Did I do something wrong?” A pause. “Why do you hate me?” 

“I don’t hate you.” He says quickly, clearly too fast for your liking. You sigh and let your arms drop, turning away from him to put the hot water from the kettle into the two mugs in front of you. 

“You do Luther. I can see it. You don’t come over anymore, you hardly speak to me when I’m around, I did something and now you’re mad at me.” Luther remains silent, something that seems to be occurring more and more lately. “If you hate me, if you want to end our friendship, that’s fine. I’ll let you go, but at least have the decency to tell me why.” Your voice trembles on the last word and Luther is kicking himself as he struggled to find words to assure that it’s not you, it’s him. However, his tongue feels heavy and his mouth feels like it’s full of cotton and his mind is blank. He couldn’t very well tell you the truth, he’d lose you for sure, but it looks like he’s losing you anyway. You must take his silence as reason to keep pushing. “If this is about- your condition-” your voice drops on those two words and Luther stands up abruptly. 

“How do you know about that?!” He seethes. You glance up at him from where you’re staring intently at the tea steeping below you on the counter, but only briefly. 

“Allison told me. Months ago.” You responded, voice quiet. He’s in the process of figuring out all the different colorful things he’s going to say to Allison upon his return at the Academy, when you speak again. “Why didn’t you tell me Luther? I’m your best friend.” There’s that word again. Friend. The word has caused so much stress, frustration, and confusion in his life and now he’s going to lose you over it too. 

“You’d hate me.” You look up at him. 

“I could never ha-” He interrupts you, the panic and fear and anger sliding down his spine. 

“Or worse, you’d look at me like everybody else does, with pity in their eyes.” He spits the words out with so much venom, he surprises himself. It clearly surprises you as well. 

“Is that what you really think?” You finally dare to make eye contact with him for the first time the whole night and your voice is cold. He shrugs, not knowing what to say. “After all this time, after everything, that’s all you think of me?” Luther is, once again, at a loss of words and he feels the panic crawling up his throat that if he doesn’t say something soon, it’s not going to be pretty. You take his silence as apparent confirmation because the words you utter next is ones he never wanted to hear. 

“Get out.”

-

He throws the front door of the Academy open and spots Vanya coming down the stairs. They make eye contact and she shrinks back, feeling the anger radiating off of him. A pang goes through his chest, remembering the last time he felt this angry. “Where’s Allison?” He asks and Vanya nods her head towards the kitchen. He heads there and he can feel Vanya following behind him. His siblings are sitting around, clearly laughing at some sort joke Klaus has just finished telling. The room falls silent as they look over to a glowering Luther and Vanya who is shrinking behind him in the doorway. Luther’s eyes settle on Allison, who is conveniently, the furthest away from him. “What gives you the right to tell her about what Dad did?” His voice is low and and it’s Diego who understands first. 

“Oh, shit.” Diego mutters. He glances over at Ben, who looks at Klaus, who looks to Vanya. 

“Maybe we should...” Klaus says, as Diego and Ben move to stand up. 

“Sit down.” Luther says, and the three resume their position as Vanya moves behind them. Allison is looking at the table, avoiding looking at him. Five’s head swings between Luther and the rest of the siblings. 

“Did I miss something?” He asks, finally settling on Vanya and Diego. Diego shrugs. 

“Unless, you’ve been missing the heart eyes Luther makes every time (Y/N) comes around, you’re as up to speed as the rest of us.” Five snorts. Luther lets Diego’s comment slide because the only thing he can feel is the sheer betrayal he feels at Allison’s actions. Before Five can formulate a response, Luther finds himself talking. 

“What the hell, Allison!?” The girl finally makes eye contact with him. “After everything you and I have been through, what gives you the right to tell her that?! You knew, better than anyone, how I felt about that.” Allison sighs and looks away from him. 

“I’m sorry, okay? I thought she already knew, I promise. I wouldn’t intentionally tell her that if I hadn’t thought she already knew.” Luther softens, but only a little. 

“So I didn’t get a choice in the matter?! To tell the girl that I love-” His voice stops on the word, realizing what he’s just said out loud. Five’s eyes narrow and Klaus raises his eyebrows. No one else seems to be phased though, leading him to believe there’s been one too many conversations about him behind his back. Figures they’d leave Klaus and his big mouth and Five’s smart mouth out of it. 

“Like I said, I thought she knew. Why didn’t you tell her?”

“I didn’t get a chance! You got to her months before I could!” Luther exclaims, getting defensive once again. He’d rather not think about the consequences of his words just yet. 

“Wait, hold on. She’s known this for months?” Ben intervenes. Allison nods. 

“Four.” She confirmed. 

“Four months and she didn’t say anything?” Ben asks, chuckling to himself a little bit. 

“This isn’t funny.” Luther deadpans, now staring down Ben.

“It is, just a little.” Ben said, his laughter growing. It seems to click for Vanya, who joins in on Ben’s laughter. “Why’d you never tell her Luther?” He asks, still struggling to hold in his chuckles.

“I- I didn't want her to hate me, or- or think of me differently.” Luther said quietly. 

“Well that answers that then.” Vanya says. The siblings all look over to her and she shrinks back from the sudden attention. “Well, I’m just saying, if she’s known for four months, and she hasn’t said anything, and nothing’s changed, I’d say the answer’s pretty obvious.” It’s Klaus who understands next and his smirk grows. 

“In fact, one might say, to know for four months and to not say anything means there’s something more.” He says, using the voice he must’ve used when he was preaching or whatever the hell he did with his cult in the 60′s. 

“Where you going with this Klaus?” Diego asks. Its Allison who joins in next, a grin growing on her face.  

“Well aside from our brother’s new confession of undying love for the poor girl, she must feel the same to know for four months and never say anything.” 

“To let nothing change in hopes that one day you’d feel the same way for her.” Five finishes, realization dawning on his face.  

“Well, it doesn’t matter because she’s never gonna speak to me again.” Luther says, and turns from his siblings, heading back up to his room. So, he’s pretty sure he’s in love with you. So what, if it just means losing you? He’d go through a million apocalypses, swallow his feelings for you a hundred times, if it meant you’d still be in his life.  

v. the time you drop everything to be there for him

It’s been a week since you’ve spoken to Luther. Klaus and Ben keep telling him he should talk to you, to fix things, but if you can go this long without talking to him, he knows that you’re better off. You don’t need him in your life messing things up and making it harder for you. Unfortunately, late one night, fate makes the decision for him. It’s storming out and Luther hates the sounds of thunder. His heart is racing as he lays in his too small bed, arms clutching his comforter. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to drown out the images in his brain as he searches for sleep again. His nightmare keeps replaying over in his mind, the image of you and his siblings lifeless on the ground. There was so much blood. He knows it’s just a nightmare, it has to be, but fear is crawling up his throat and he thinks he might be sick. What if that was real? What if it was some suppressed memory, and everyone he’s ever cared about is just- gone? His eyes fly open as he fumbles for his phone. He still isn't really sure how to use it but he knows well enough to call you. Pleasepickuppleasepickuppleasepicku-

“H-hello?” The voice on the other line sounds groggy and somehow through his sheer panic, he feels a pang of guilt for waking you up. His mind is racing and he still can't breathe but he can't deny the relief he feels hearing your sleepy voice. “Luther? You there?” 

“Y-yeah, I’m here.” He stutters. 

“Is everything okay? It’s 3 in the morning.” 

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He can’t help the way his voice shakes, clearly giving away the reality. “I just... just needed to hear your voice, s’all.” His heart is slowing down the longer you’re on the phone with him. 

“Do you want me to come over?” As much as he wants to say yes, he shakes his head, forgetting you can’t see him. He clears his throat.

“No- no, I’ll be okay. Just a nightmare.” 

“I’m coming over. Do you want me to stay on the phone with you?” He can hear rustling in the background, visualizing you pulling your shoes on and grabbing your keys. 

“You- you don’t have to do that.” He says, even though he wants nothing more than to pull you close to him and maybe fall asleep with you in his arms. 

“Just stay on the phone with me okay Luther? I’ll be there in ten.” 

-

It’s actually 7 minutes before you’re opening the door to the Academy and rushing in. Luther’s sitting on the stairs waiting for you. He had to get out of his room but he didn’t want to go too far, not wanting to miss your arrival. The light in the foyer is on and you slowly walk towards where he’s seated. You crouch down, so that you can make eye contact with the man. He looks up at you and he realizes how much he misses you, how much he yearns to be around you. “You okay?” You ask softly. He shakes his head, finally allowing himself to be vulnerable with you. “What can I do for you?” He shrugs, still not wanting to voice how much he just wants to hold you in his arms. “C’mon, let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll make tea.” He follows you wordlessly. He sits in silence as he watches you fill the kettle and put it on the burner. You come around behind him and reach down, sliding your arms around his neck. It takes him a minute to realize you’re hugging him around his larger frame. He takes your hand and squeezes it. All too soon, the kettle starts whistling and he reluctantly lets you go. You put the hot water into two mugs and put the teabags in, letting it steep as you set the mugs down in front of the two of you. 

“Thank you.” He says, quietly. You nod.

“Of course.” You say as you take the seat next to him. “I’m always gonna be here for you, even when I’m mad at you.” He looks over at you, thoughts being brought back to your fight, if you could even call it that. “I’m not mad at you, by the way. I was upset that you felt like you couldn’t trust me, but I know that’s something that-” You draw in a breath. “Something that takes a while to build.” 

“I do. I do trust you.” He says firmly. “I trust you more than I trust anyone else.” He says honestly. “I was just- just scared.” You scoot your chair closer to his until your knees are touching and you can lean your head on his shoulder. 

“I’m not going anywhere, Luther. I promise.” He looks down at you as the truth finally settles comfortably in his heart for the first time. He’s in love with his best friend and he’s okay with it. He thinks that just maybe- you feel the same way. 

+ the one time he actually does something about it.

Luther wakes up alone the next morning. Disappointment settles in his chest, hoping you’d still be there. He gets up however, and goes about his day.  He starts to worry though, as the day goes by, and he still hasn’t heard a word from you. He thinks that maybe last night had been out of pity, or some sort of obligation to his siblings. After dinner though, he gets a text from you, asking if he wants to come over. It doesn’t say what or why, but he misses you and he thinks he’s finally ready to tell you the truth, no matter what you might say in return. In fact, for the first time in a while, he’s starting to let himself hope, a feeling that’s a bit too foreign to him. He hopes you feel the same way about him. That you’re in love with him too. He agrees, texting you that he’d be over soon. He clear his throat, standing up from the table, and put his plate in the sink, ignoring the questioning look Five shoots him. He walks to your apartment, a dopey smile on his face. He makes it to your building and he lets himself in, watching how you turn to face him from the hallway. You give him a soft smile.

“Sorry about leaving this morning without saying anything. My co-worker called out so I had to cover their opening shift and I didn’t want to wake you because you looked really peaceful so...” You trail off, a light blush forming on your cheeks. He shook his head. 

“It’s okay.” He says. The two of you stand there, just looking at each other. You startle finally. 

“OH! I was wondering if you wanted to make these cookies with me? My Dad was finally able to get his hands on some of my Grandma’s recipes and I wanted to try one out?” He nods, smiling at the excitement lighting up your face. Your grandma had passed when you were little and it had been a struggle to get the family recipes, your family getting left out of a lot of the division of property. You had once told him that you were really only connected with her through baking. He always told you she’d be proud of you and your baking. You’d always blush and look away. He nodded, remembering he was going to need to use his words if he was going to hope to have the nerves to tell you that he was in love with you. 

“Sure.” He says, moving to your kitchen. You follow him and pull the recipe up on your container as you both pull the ingredients out of their designated areas. The two of you spend so much time together that he knows his way around the kitchen like it’s the one at the Academy and the two of have baking together down to a science. You turn to music on, having made a playlist specifically for the dance parties that would happen while you’d wait for your pastry or dessert to cook. As the cookies bake in the oven, he watches with a smile as you dance around the kitchen, using the wooden spoon as a microphone. He isn’t planning it but- 

“I’m in love with you.” Your eyes widen as you slowly come to a stop. The music still playing in the background feels unnatural given what was just said and you must agree because you slowly reach over to the computer, pausing it. You reach back and look at him, eyes still wide in what he thinks is shock. He’s starting to panic now, as you just stand there, mouth open. “It- it’s okay if you don’t feel the same way.” God dammit, this is why he didn’t hope for things anymore. Damn his siblings for letting him think you might feel the same way. “It doesn’t have to change anything. I understand. I just wanted you to know.” He says, quietly. “I’m sorry, I’ll go.” He turns to leave, feeling defeated. Fate is a cruel temptress, he’s officially decided. 

“Luther- Luther wait.” You say, arm shooting out to grab his. You pull him back around to face you and he turns to see you unusually close to him. “Sorry, sorry, I panicked and froze.” You’re tumbling through your words, trying to spit them out, hardly breathing between them. He grows concerned at your state and he thinks you’re still worried about him feeling bad. 

“Seriously, (Y/N), it’s fine-” You cut him off.

“No, no it’s not.” His heart sinks, but only for a minute because suddenly you’re talking again. “I’m in love with you too Luther. I have been for a while. I just never thought you’d feel the same way and I-” Your words stop as you look up to see you two are quite close together and all he wants to do is lean down and- 

“Can I kiss you?” The words slip out before he can stop them but he’s not going to take them back. Not this time. You nod, and close the gap between the two of you. It’s short and sweet, just like you. The oven beeps, unfortunately, interrupting the moment. 

“Oh, shit.” You mumble. “I love you Luther, but if I burn these cookies, I’m gonna be pissed.” He chuckles, loving how casually that word slips out of your mouth. He lets go of your waist, where his hands had been resting. You pull the cookies out of the oven and standing back from them, looking down at them proudly. He walks over to you and pulls you close to his chest and you sigh contentedly. “I could hold you like this forever.” He says, fingers running through your hair. You hum, wrapping your arms around him under his coat. 

“I wouldn't mind it if you did.” You respond softly. Luther looks down at you, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. He finally got the girl. 

[anasticklefics]

Life-Weary

Fandom: The Umbrella Academy

Characters: The Hargreeves siblings

Anonymous said: People have been mentioning how Five was the only one who didn’t get a single hug in both seasons, and it’d be nice if he finally got one ;-; But also he’s been isolated for 45 years so he’s probably touch starved and maybe never experienced being tickled before so a sibling helps him with that?? Thank you!

Warning: This fic takes place in season 2 and has some minor spoilers spread out, so don’t read if you don’t want to be spoiled!

Words: 4 238

Five hadn’t meant to watch them. Hadn’t even realized he’d been staring until Allison caught his eye, her face peeking out between Vanya’s hair and Klaus’ shoulder, all scrunched up eyes and laughter lines.

She raised her eyebrows, a soft smile that made Five want to flee finding her lips easily. She extended a hand toward him. “Come join.”

Five took a step back. “No, thank you.”

“Five.”

“I’m good.”

Her eyebrows furrowed, smile slipping away as easily as it had arrived. “All right then.” Not entirely offended, but troubled enough for Five to know she didn’t appreciate his answer, or at least the way he’d answered her.

He wasn’t sure why he’d answered her like that. It sounded rude even to his ears, but the reunion had left him snappy; knowing it was his fault they’d all been separated in the first place.

“Sorry, I just-” Not the time or place for confessions, he realized, eyes flying to Diego and Luther. “I just don’t like hugs.”

“Everyone likes hugs,” Klaus said, untangling himself from their sisters to tilt his head at him. “You’ve just forgotten what one feels like.”

“Wait, how long has it been since you’ve been hugged?” Vanya, still not remembering anything despite them having filled her in, looked so utterly sad that Five almost felt bad for himself.

He shrugged. “Years. Whatever.”

“Oh, Five.”

He pointed at Allison. “No. Don’t come closer.”

“I’m not gonna force you to hug me,” she said, sounding actually upset now. “I just wish you hadn’t had to go through that.”

“Can we focus on the end of the world now?”

“Why are you so uncomfortable?” Diego asked, probably to rile him up, but when Five turned to catch his eye he just looked concerned.

“Because we don’t have time, Diego. Focus.”

Diego’s lips twitched, in a sneer or in amusement, but he dropped the subject and Five felt himself relax for a millisecond before some sort of hopelessness washed over him. Stupid, to get upset at other people hugging when the world was ending, but after that moment he found he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Couldn’t stop imagining arms embracing him, pulling him into a chest, a neck, a cheek. He’d never been affectionate, even before the jump. He was grateful for it. Would probably not have survived over 40 years of solitude without that preference.

But.

Well, he was only human. Terribly, desperately, teleportingly human.

“You look distressed.”

He glanced up, caught Allison’s eye. “More like stressed,” he replied, but there was no heat behind his words or his tone. It sounded hollow, which his sister of course noticed.

“Five.” She sat beside him on the couch, far enough to make it obvious she was giving him space. “Talk to me.”

“I’m not much of a sharer.”

“You used to be.” Her bangs were slightly parted, revealing a scowl. “Remember how you used to talk as kids?”

“What are you talking about?” All Five could remember of his childhood was an ever present foreboding and a chaotic group of kids. Always observing, he realized whenever he thought back on it. Never part of the actual memories. But he knew he’d had a good relationship with all of them. If anyone had been simply watching it had been Vanya. Maybe he’d manipulated his memories without meaning to. Doing it simply to survive them.

“You used to tell us everything on your mind,” Allison continued, leaning forward ever so slightly. “Remember? All your plans. Your ideas. That was why it came as such a shock to us when you finally did attempt time travelling. You hadn’t said a single thing about it.”

Five remembered feeling as if this was bigger than all of them, and thus had kept it to himself; afraid that one small discouraging comment would ruin it all.

Funny how that worked.

“That was a long time ago,” he said now, bone-weary, life-weary.

“I know that.” Allison reached out for him - his hand or knee or wrist - but retreated as if burned without making contact. His fault. “Don’t you think it would feel good to share again? Share anything?”

“Probably.” He hated how matter-of-factly he sounded. His tone so uninvested in the conversation. “But I think we have bigger things to worry about.”

“We always have bigger things to worry about,” Vanya said somewhere behind them. He hadn’t realized they weren’t alone. “That’s a weak excuse.”

He turned to frown at her, but her face, so beloved to him, made him soften. “Well, I don’t have anything better.”

“So drop the excuses.” Klaus was there too. Somehow he wasn’t surprised.

He crossed his arms. “Any other Hargreeves hiding in the shadows?”

“Uh.”

“That was a joke.”

But Diego and Luther emerged nevertheless. Jesus, he needed to stop dropping his guard if four whole people could get past him during half a conversation.

“What do you all want?” he snapped. “Last I checked you seemed too busy to even help me get us home.”

“Hey, you can’t just show up and expect us to not have made a life here,” Luther said, not raising his voice, but pointing semi-angrily at him.

He cocked an eyebrow. “The 60s gave you some balls, at least.”

“Five.” Allison’s voice was a warning, but one that was so understanding Five nearly wanted to cry. “Stop. You don’t have to be on the defense all the time.”

“And why not? It’s helped us before, hasn’t it?”

“It’s only us.”

“There are only four walls.”

Klaus was there, hands on his shoulders so suddenly he didn’t have time to move out of reach. “Relax. You’re more tense than our family dinners used to be.”

And rather than teleporting away, Five stayed, scowling, but letting his brother knead at his shoulders anyway.

“I can’t believe you touched him without his consent and he still hasn’t killed you,” Diego said, shaking his head, and his words made Klaus stop and let go and Five kind of wanted to kill Diego for it.

“Whoops. I should’ve asked. Five, can I massage you?” Klaus said it casually, but Five could sense something underneath his words. Almost as if his siblings had talked about him without him. Talked about how to best approach him.

He started to stand, unsure of why he didn’t just teleport out of the situation. “No.”

“Oh, come on. I felt you relax a bit.”

“I don’t need to relax.”

“That’s a lie.” Luther stepped forward, and had the scenario been different Five would’ve almost expected him to punch him, but Luther was Luther and merely grabbed his shoulders where Klaus’ hands had been and gently pushed him down again.

And Five stayed. Somehow he still stayed, despite feeling too many things to properly identify them, though he could easily point out the embarrassment bubbling up in the form of heat spreading over his ears.

So this was vulnerability taking form in other ways than life threatening. He didn’t love it, but he was far from hating it either.

Vanya sat down on his other side, his two sisters shielding him, while his brothers covered him. Five, the one in this room who had been a fucking assassin, and here they were taking care of him, even if it was just from his own stubbornness.

He exhaled. “I’m just tired, okay? I feel like I can trust no one and I haven’t gotten a moment of rest in over 40 years. At this point I’m not sure I even can rest.”

“You can rest around us,” Vanya said, and she did grip his hand in the way he was sure Allison had wanted to do since approaching him, and Five found himself squeezing hers back without thinking of it.

He ran his free hand through his hair. “It’s not as easy as that.”

“Sure it is.” Klaus leaned over Vanya to get a better look at him from behind the couch. “You don’t think we’d let you get hurt or something, do you?”

“Not intentionally.”

“See? You trust us.”

“I trust your intentions, not your abilities.”

Diego snorted. “If you were anyone else I’d get you for being a smartass.”

Five felt himself smirk. “But I scare you too much, of course.”

“Get over yourself. You’re like a scared rabbit. If I approach you now I’ll scare you off forever and Allison will kill me.”

Allison raised her hands. “Guilty as charged.”

“What do you have on him to get him to behave?” Klaus asked, Five momentarily forgotten. “Seriously, I’ve tried my entire life, but the only thing that works is tickling his feet, and trust me, getting to them is kind of life threatening.”

“Klaus, I will actually murder you.”

“See?”

Five rolled his eyes. “Just tickle him back. He’s just as bad as you.” More recent memories proved his point.

“But the bastard enjoys himself when I do.”

“Things haven’t changed then.”

“I seem to remember you being quite sensitive as well.” Five didn’t see Klaus’ finger pointing at him at first, but felt himself instantly straighten when he caught it. “Is that still the case, old man?”

“How should I know?” Five spat back, rather than denying it. He knew denying anything got him nowhere with this bunch.

“Oh, a challenge!” Klaus actually clapped in glee. “Let’s find out.”

Five was out of the room before they’d even moved toward him.

*

“So maybe that was the wrong approach.”

He looked up, knowing exactly what Vanya was talking about despite the hours between the interaction and his return. “You think?”

“Hey, it seemed to be going fine until the boys decided to act up.”

“The moral of every conversation with them.”

Vanya let out a laugh and settled beside him on yet another couch. No other siblings were there. Five had checked.

“You okay?”

“Just peachy.”

Vanya didn’t prod, didn’t force him to admit to anything, but the way she smiled told him she knew he wasn’t being entirely truthful.

“If it’s any consolation,” she said, running her fingers through the lengths of her hair. “I don’t think I was hugged much either before getting here.”

“I know.” A beat, and, “I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Allison said you were the closest to me back then.”

Five could barely remember it. “I think we both might’ve been a bit of an outsider. You were forced into it. I did it on my own, I guess. I was too busy imagining all these ideas coming true.” He wasn’t sure why he was talking, but found he couldn’t stop. “I’m not sure how to stop retreating even if things go back to normal and we get to lead normal lives.”

“Neither do I,” Vanya admitted. “Everything’s so overwhelming.”

Five suddenly felt a strong urge to reach out and hug her. He hadn’t felt that since- well, ever.

He crossed his arms instead, holding onto himself. “Dad sure knew how to mess us all up.” But Five could understand him now, being older and exhausted; all the vigor drained from his blood.

“I’m glad I found you all again,” she added.

“Yeah.” Had he been anyone else, he would’ve reached out for her hand. “Me too.”

She sighed, and before he knew it her head was on his shoulder, both of them small enough for it to be a natural movement. He didn’t move, forcing himself to breathe normally, and it only took her a few seconds to realize what she was doing and straighten up again.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it-” Felt nice? Felt nearly normal enough? “It’s okay.”

“I should’ve asked.”

“I’m not so fickle I can’t handle someone leaning on me.”

“I don’t want you to feel crowded.”

“I wasn’t.”

So Vanya hesitatingly lowered her head again, which Five hadn’t expected, but he found he didn’t want her to move away anyway.

*

“I’m sorry.”

Five had heard her this time, but in a way it made it harder to meet her gaze. “For?”

“For sneaking up on you like that. And getting the others rather than doing it alone.”

He shrugged. “It’s cool.”

Allison smiled, maybe at his use of words, maybe at the way he was so obviously lying. “Can I sit?”

He nodded, wondering how it had come to the point where people felt the need to ask his permission for everything. “Just don’t try to hug me.”

“I wouldn’t do that. Not after-” She cut herself off, licking her lips.

He tilted his head at her. “After?”

“Don’t get mad.”

“That’s not a good way of preventing it.”

She let out a laugh. “I guess. I just realized you probably haven’t experienced much touch in the past-”

“40 years.”

“And more. I don’t want to impose.”

One part of him - a buried, young, nostalgic part - knew boundaries usually didn’t play a big role in sibling relationships. It was all wrestling matches and tickle attacks and hands pinching cheeks while the other complained. But they hadn’t been normal siblings in years. Partly his fault. Mostly Reginald’s.

“Vanya rested her head on my shoulder earlier,” he said, unsure of why.

Allison hummed. “How was that?”

“Strangely comforting.”

“I see.”

“Maybe because it was also comforting to her.”

“Ah.” She hesitated, mouth opening and closing before forming the words. “Was it nice?”

He looked away, eyes moving, head remaining still. “It was.”

She didn’t push him for more, but Five found himself almost wishing she would. Wishing she would reach out for his hand, throwing her arms around him, holding him close despite his frantic heart. He feared he would never allow it unless someone forced him to.

But she respected him too much. He knew that. Would only touch him if he asked.

He turned his body toward her. “Can you-” Can she what? Be his sister despite his walls? Despite his cranky mood, his violence-reined limbs.

But she merely raised her head to show she was listening and he felt his restrictions were silly.

He deflated. “Nothing.”

“Five.”

“I don’t know how to word it.”

She reached out for him and stopped midair, though this time it felt intentional. “So show it.”

He felt too small in his stupid shorts. Too vulnerable. He squirmed in his seat, eyed Allison’s outstretched hand, and pushed his hand into her palm. It only lasted a moment, her fingers encircling the wrist, her thumb stroking his skin without them letting either of their hands drop. It felt strangely ticklish, a sensation he’d forgotten, though he’d thought about it ever since Klaus had brought it up earlier that day. He wasn’t sure he liked it, but there was something trusting in allowing himself to feel it.

When he moved his hand out of Allison’s grip, which had been loose the entire time, her nails ran over his palm in the process and he snatched it away.

She misunderstood his action. “I’m sorry-”

“No, no, it-” he found himself saying to yet another sister. Wanting to explain, rather than leaving it be. “That was, uh, nice. I just-” He could’ve left it at that. “Your nails, they-”

She looked at her hand. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, just-” He could’ve just said yes. “It tickled, a little. I assume. I haven’t been, you know-” Now he was rambling. “Ah, I gotta go.” And he left, like a coward.

*

Diego found him next, which was surprising, not because Five hadn’t expected they would all seek him out, but that it was Diego and not Klaus who did it first.

“What do you want?” he asked, tired of feeling vulnerable and not as comfortable being so around his other siblings.

“Well, that’s a warm welcome.” Diego plopped down beside him, unhesitating, unasking. “I wanted to see if you’re all right, you little bastard.”

Five let out a laugh, mirthless, but not mocking. “I’m fine, thank you, and how are you?”

“Oh, just excellent. Just having a grand old time.”

“Well, now that the pleasantries are over and done with.” Five made to stand, but Diego grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back down. “Hey.”

“Hi. No. Not leaving yet. Allison said we should bond.”

“Do you do everything Allison says?”

“Apparently. God, I don’t know who I am anymore.”

Five nodded, mocking him now. “The 60s changed you.”

“And whose fault is that.” Five saw the exact moment Diego regretted his words, trying to backtrack, but Five held up his hand.

“You’re right,” he said, calmer than he felt. “I’m sorry.”

“No, shit, I’m sorry-”

“Am I really hearing you both apologize? To each other nonetheless?” Luther had once again successfully snuck up on him. Five was getting too fucking old.

“Oh, shut up,” Diego shot at him, no venom in his voice. The 60s had brought them surprisingly close; nearly irritatingly so. “You wanna let me have my heartfelt moment with our little brother or not?”

“I’m older than you.”

“Sure you are.”

“I’d rather stay and make sure you don’t kill each other.”

“So little trust.”

“You’re one to talk,” Five said, getting pulled into their banter so easily he barely noticed it. “Remember how many times I had to keep you both from knocking each other out?”

“I totally had him,” Diego said.

“He didn’t even reference a specific time.”

“That’s because I had you each and every time.”

Luther’s smirk was actually kind of scary, mostly because it was way too playful for Five. “You wanna bet?”

Diego stood. “I’ll take you, big man.”

“Not sure if this is my cue to leave or separate you.”

Diego turned to him. “Oh, you’ll be joining.”

“I’ll win,” he replied drily.

“Prove it.”

In retrospect he realized this was Diego and Luther’s way of getting close to him without crossing any boundaries, but it only occurred to him when he had them both beneath him, sweaty and disheveled and cursing him out. He would blame the realization for allowing the tables to turn so suddenly when Luther grabbed him, Diego suddenly on Luther’s side as they wrestled him down onto the couch, and it was nearly fun enough for him to stay. Nearly normal enough to see the playful wrestling to the end.

But he flipped them over and teleported away, victory ringing in his ears.

*

Klaus found him last thing that day, the clock close to midnight, Five so tired from everything and yet not wanting to sleep until they got it over and done with. He wondered how Klaus would approach him. Had Allison forced him or was he doing it on his own accord. Had Ben talked him into it?

Ben. Five tried not to think of him; his death something he’d never been able to mourn. How would Ben have approached him? Carefully, or bouncing over to sit beside him like Klaus was doing now?

“So how are we doing?” he sang, placing his arm on the back of the couch almost as if he wanted to put it around him.

Five rolled his eyes. “I’m sick of that question.”

“Me too,” he replied, nodding. “It’s so stupid. People just expect you to say you’re fine, so what’s the point in asking?”

“Not in the mood, Klaus.”

“Testy. I haven’t even been particularly annoying.”

Fair enough. Maybe the waiting had made Five restless. If Klaus forced him into a hug now, would he shove him away or melt into it in exhaustion?

“I’ll tell you what.” Klaus turned to face him, pushing his hair behind his ears. “I’ll give you the name of this great masseur and she’ll fix your ever present knots in your back in no time.”

He snorted. “I’m fine, thanks.”

“Come on. You were practically as hard as-”

“Klaus.”

“I wasn’t gonna go with a dirty simile. Jeez.”

Five, miraculously, let out a surprised laugh. “Sure you weren’t.”

“I swear on Ben’s ghost,” he said, holding up his hand. “And on my beautiful beard.”

“Well, that’s a shame because the latter doesn’t exist.”

He touched his chest. “You wound me, brother.”

Five turned away, but he didn’t leave. Didn’t leave despite being so bone-tired he nearly felt like passing out. Maybe it was his lack of energy that made him not flinch when Klaus moved closer, ever so slightly. Not enough to really crowd him, but enough for this to not be casual anymore.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

The exhaustion made him less suspicious. “Sure.”

“How does it feel to be in a pre-teen body again?”

“Like a fucking nightmare.”

“No, but, physically? Like, are you h-”

“We’re not getting there, Klaus.”

Klaus let out a laugh, and Five found himself smirking despite himself. “No, but really. Can I ask another thing?”

“If you must.”

“You are ticklish, right? Like, that’s not something I just made up.”

“Like I said,” he grumbled. “How should I know?” Though he did know, after Allison’s nails.

“You wanna find out?” Klaus’ wiggling fingers didn’t scare him. He knew he’d never do it without his hint of consent; not now, at least.

“Why do you like it anyway?” he retorted, and Klaus shrugged, no shyness in sight.

“It’s fun.”

“You like the sensation.”

“I guess. I mostly like the experience.”

Five felt curious, running his hand over his knee absentmindedly. “Hmm, I don’t see it.”

“You don’t have to. I can tickle you anyway.”

In another life he would’ve pounced, but Klaus remained seated, fingers still inches away from Five’s skin.

Five watched them. “Go on.”

“What, you want me to?”

“Only for a second. I want to feel it, but I’ll kill you if you continue.”

Klaus didn’t need to be told again, his fingertip colliding with Five’s side in a poke that made him jerk away. “More?”

Five felt flushed in embarrassment, and yet he said, “More.”

The second poke made him jerk again, the third made his lips curl upward. It was somewhere between the fourth and fifth that he let out a sound akin to laughter, his hand finding Klaus’ wrist to stop him.

“Enough,” he said, though he wasn’t sure if he meant it.

“You’re almost as bad as Diego,” was Klaus’ conclusion, and had things not turned out this way maybe Five would’ve returned the favor, or suggested they get Diego to prove his theory.

But he was cursed with constantly overthinking, overanalyzing, overwhelmingly so, so he teleported away despite not feeling like he had to, and without asking Klaus to show him if he was ticklish on more spots than his sides and palms.

*

He wasn’t sure why he felt awkward the next time they were all gathered. While he didn’t doubt they could’ve all told each other about their experiences with him, he had a feeling they hadn’t, so he technically had no reason to feel a slight vulnerability around them, but here they were. Here they fucking were. Out of all of them, it hadn’t occurred to him that he was the most dysfunctional one, though he reckoned it made sense.

“You seem distracted,” Allison said. Five felt as if he would always be observed whenever she was around now.

“In what way?”

“Well, you haven’t mentioned the apocalypse, for one.”

“I knew something felt off,” Diego said, his hand absentmindedly in Klaus’ hair, pulling at strands of it without seemingly bothering him.

Five rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. I keep talking about it because you lot don’t seem to see the graveness behind the situation.” But his words felt venomless even to his ears.

“Can we have one normal interaction without bickering?” Luther asked, earning a collective “no” from the rest of their family. “Why the hell did I bother asking,” he said with a sigh, smiling sheepishly at Allison who reached out to touch his arm, her other arm around Vanya. The two of them had become inseparable in a way they never had before.

Five felt a fondness for them all, so sudden he felt as if he would suffocate. The emotions were too big for this body; the hormones too powerful. Usually it meant he would become grumpy - unable to handle it, just like a baby who would cried in rage over everything. Now he felt like he could weep any moment and made to turn away.

Something stopped him in his tracks. Not one word, or one movement, but a series of actions. Klaus shrugging Diego’s hand off, Vanya shying away from Allison’s arm while Allison dropped her other one from Luther, who went and sat on the opposite side of the room. One moment connected, the next on their own. Nothing physical to bind them, except for the memories and their love.

Five felt as if he could breathe a little easier now, equal in the circle as they finally got to business. They all loved differently. It wasn’t all about touching. He realized that now, watching them care even from afar.

Days later, back in 2019, he would hold them all close, finally, with relief leaving him nearly boneless in their embrace, and he would not overthink it at first. Maybe one day he’d let them hug him without life or death having to play a part of it, but until then he would watch them approach him slowly and carefully, with hands on shoulders and quick squeezes to his - terribly ticklish, it would turn out - knees.

[wiitchy-biitch]

Herro! I saw you wanted to take requests so, figured I'd toss ya a lil somethin ~ Perhaps Klaus dealing with being able to see Reader's ghost after they die during their attempts to put an end to the apocalypse?

Of course! I hope you like it! I got a little carried away, and it got away from me.

Warnings: Character death, mentions of blood, ANGST.

Words: 1,075

I Loved and I Loved and I Lost You ~ Klaus Hargreeves x Reader.

Klaus was hopelessly, madly, deeply in love with you, it had hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him breathless. He felt free with you, the ghosts were drowned out in your presence. Being around you had been better than any high. You were the world to him, and he did all he could to protect you.

But it wasn't enough.

He held you in his arms, knees digging into the rubble of the once great Academy, clutching you close to his chest, hoping he could squeeze the life back into you. Tears fell onto your lifeless form, sobs racking the mans thin frame. He had failed you, and now the one thing that had brought him immense joy was taken from him.

Nothing could have prepared him for this, the pain he felt in his chest was excruciating. He just wanted to give up, to lie down and die beside you. Fuck saving the world, the world meant nothing to him without you in it. All of the things he could've done to save you started running through his head, his fathers voice reminding him that he had once again failed.

It was Diego who broke Klaus out of his thoughts, a gentle hand on his shoulder. Klaus looked up, meeting his brothers sad eyes.

"I-I can't leave them... You can't make me leave them.." He mumbled, his voice breaking. Your blood had soaked through your boyfriends tanktop, the cooling liquid leaving a permanent stain on Klaus's heart. Tears left a trail down dust covered cheeks, making him look more worn out.

"Klaus, we have to go... Vanya needs us." Diego pushed, kneeling down to be eye level with his brother. He hated seeing the Always Happy Klaus like this, he hated seeing his brother break. He knew from experience, that this wound wasn't one that would quickly heal.

Klaus let out a sad sigh, letting the numbness wash over him. He pressed one last kiss to your forehead, blinking back the fresh tears threatening to fall. With the last ounce of strength he had, he laid your body back onto the ruins of his childhood home, promising to return and give you a proper burial when he saved the world.

--

It was at the Icarus Theater that he saw you. He thought his mind had just been playing a cruel trick on him. But god, when he saw you smile at him, his eyes lit up, knowing deep down that it was you, you had returned to him. "Y-Y/N..." he breathed out, lifting a shaky hand to your cheek. "Fuck, darling, I thought I would never see you again.."

You chuckle at that, staring up at the man who had stolen your heart. "My love, did you really think I'd leave you without saying goodbye?" You knew your time was limited, as much as you loved Klaus, your time on this Earth was up, you needed to cross over. You cupped his cheek, smiling sadly when he leaned into your touch. You didn't want to say goodbye, you wanted to stay here with him, to spend his days with him until you could finally be reunited. But he needed to move on, he needed to find happiness with someone else. And if you stuck around, you'd just be holding him back.

"This doesn't have to be goodbye, Y/N. You can stay with me, just like Ben...." He started, his voice wavering, "Please, Y/N... Please don't leave me... I can't-" A choked sob escaped his lips, and you felt your heart shatter into a million little pieces. This is never how you imagined things; Though, things can change in an instant. Any visions of the future are bound to come crashing down, leaving devastation in it's wake.

Klaus pulled you into a hug, his powers allowing you the mercy of touching him one last time. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, letting out quiet sobs as he held you to him. He was having a great amount of difficulty handling the fact that he would never have the chance to get lost in your wyes again, never get to hear your corny jokes, or soothing voice. That, in itself, was enough to break the already fragile man.

Gunfire interrupted your moment, causing Klaus to jump back, his hands instantly covering his ears. "Go," You told him, his siblings needed him, "I'll be right here waiting for you."

"I love you, Y/N. I'll be right back." Klaus assured you, soon running off to help his siblings. You watched as they managed to subdue Vanya, much too late. Five huddled them all in a circle, and you knew this was the end, this was the last time you were going to be graced with Klaus's presence.

He motioned for you to join them, to come with them, but you couldn't put him through that. You wouldn't. So, you shook your head, giving him a sad smile. Klaus's eyes went wide, he tried to run to you, but his siblings kept him in a firm grip. "Y/N, Y/N! No! Come with me, please, come with me!" He begged, his voice becoming more and more desperate as Five started pushing them through time.

Klaus was there one moment, and gone the next. You sat yourself down on an empty seat, letting out a sigh as you waited for the world as you knew it to be destroyed.

--

Klaus landed with Ben in 1960, his heart filled with sadness. He screamed until his throat was raw, cried until he had no tears left. He spent three long years grieving you, finding that staying sober was growing more and more difficult, seeing as you couldn't escape his memory.

When he had learned of the second doomsday, he fought like hell to stop it, swearing he wouldn't let anyone else he cared about die because he didn't give his all. Klaus, and his siblings, succeeded in saving the world. It didn't bring you back, but he knew you would be proud. Even if you weren't in his arms, you had a place in his heart, and he'd carry you around proudly, remembering the good times he had with you. He loved you, and he lost you, and it hurt like hell for a while, but he was now just grateful he had the opportunity to love you at all.

[moonlit-imagines]

Writing Challenge! (1)

So, I finally decided to start a writing challenge, it’s actually my first time creating one of these so bare with me please! Read ALL of the rules before entering. (These prompts are NOT for requesting my own fics, but may appear on several prompt lists in the future!)

Let’s start with how to enter:

Send me up to 3 characters and up to 3 prompts (DMs or askbox, MUST be off anon)

Put your most desired options first

Tell me if you’d like to use one prompt or two

Your url and the character you choose will be added next to the prompt(s) you chose

If you post early, you’re welcome to enter again!*

*you’ll only be able to have one entry at a time, you have to post your first one before re-entering

Post whenever you’re done! Don’t forget to tag me (@moonlit-imagines) , if I don’t interact within 24 hours, shoot me a message to make sure I’ve seen it!

They’ll be reblogged to @moonlit-ficrecs with my feedback!

Now to the rules:

First come, first serve!

Only write for characters from my fandom list (if you don’t see the one you want listed, you might still be able to use that one. just ask!)

Reader insert only, please!

Any POV (1st, 2nd, 3rd person)

Any type of fic, whether it be a gif imagine, one-shot, headcanon, whatever fits!

3 people per character

3 people per prompt

^None of your prompts can match someone elses with the same character

You can’t use the same character when you re-enter

Fluff, angst, familial/platonic, smut, AUs, etc. are all welcome!

There’s no set word count, do as much as your comfortable with!

Signups start: September 28, 2020

Signups end: October 9, 2020

Fics due: November 1, 2020 (or sooner!)

Prompts below!

(Note that if you feel the need, you can alter the prompt slightly for the correct pronouns, add names/nicknames, change it the past/present/future tense, or fix it so it fits a character’s accent!)

“You thought you could get away with this?” - (@emcon-imagines//Wanda Maximoff)

“I won’t let them hurt you.”

“Call me when you get home.” - (@unnuevosoltransformalarealidad//Tony Stark)

“Are you even trying?” - (@imaginesbymk//Edward Nygma)

“Can we get something to eat?” - (@writerdream22//Joey Tribbiani)

“Give me a kiss, please and thank you. I’m serious.” - (@alwritey-aphrodite//Diego Hargreeves) EXT.

“That’s my s/o. I would die without them.”

“Look at/talk to them that way one more time and I’ll break your nose.” - (@frostedimagines//Peter Parker)

“We’ll make it out of this, I promise.”

“I made you breakfast in bed!”

“Please come pick me up.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Can we go out tonight?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

“You know where to find me.”

“If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”

“Oh, my god. That’s sick.”

“I’m begging you not to do this! Please don’t do it!”

“It’s late...we should probably head back.”

“Is that blood on your sweatshirt?”

“Do you love me? I have to know.” - (@locke-writes//Arthur Curry) EXT.

“Say ‘cheese!’”

“Are you done yet?”

“Let’s take a walk. Just you and me.” - (@myriadimagines//Robin Buckley)

“Don’t sit there and apologize like you mean it. We both know you’re full of it.” - (@ofthedewthesunlight//Peter Parker)

“Keep it down, they’re sleeping.”

“We really are the worst, aren’t we?”

“Can we pretend like that didn’t just happen?”

“I like you, alright? Is that such a crime?” - (@isaiahdurag//John Shelby) EXT.

“You make me crazy.”

“I can’t keep running from my problems and neither should you.”

“You seem happy, what’s up?”

“Cry me a goddamn river.” - (@ofthedewthesunlight//Peter Parker)

“Where did they go?”

“I don’t know what to tell you, they’re gone.”

“I could paint/photograph you, if you’d like.”

“Look me in the eye and say it! Say it!”

“We aren’t made for each other, you know that.” - (@thereagles//Betty Cooper)

“Lay with me. Just for a minute.” - (@dannyboy-writes//Thomas Shelby)

“Does that feel good?”

“Dude, if you say that one more time, I’m going to give you a black eye.”

“Remember what I told you: crotch, ribs, nose. In that order.” - (@frostedimagines//Peter Parker)

“What’s that noise?” - (@dannyboy-writes//Octavia Blake)

“Make it stop.”

“You’re the one I’ve heard so much about!”

“Bring it in, you need a hug.”

“Nobody talks to you that way, got it?” - (@unnuevosoltransformalarealidad//Tony Stark)

“I like your poster. Interesting pick.”

“No, I did not get any sleep last night.” - (@dannyboy-writes//Raven Reyes)

“That’s absolutely none of your business.”

“I’m hanging up now, goodbye.”

“You are the most perfect person on this planet, I swear.”

“I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

“Look at what I just posted.”

“You have got to listen to this song, it reminds me of you.”

“Dear, God! What have you done?”

“We make a pretty good pair, you and me. We should try this more often.”

“I know this isn’t your dream or anything, to end up with someone like me, but I hope you know that I’ll love you more than anybody else could.”

“I’m not one for sweet, sweet romance, so I’ll be getting straight to the point: will you go out with me?”

“I don’t know who you are anymore. You need to leave. Now.”

“You’re what’s getting in the way of my happiness.”

“I don’t believe for a second that we’re not meant to be together.” - (@thereagles//Diego Hargreeves)

“Where did you learn to do that? Can you teach me?”

“I’m sorry that I hurt you, but I’m begging you to forgive me.”

“Don’t you see? It’ll never be that easy.” - (@dannyboy-writes//Qi’ra)

“I’d like to do something spontaneous. Let’s get out of here.”

“They’re out of town, won’t be back for a while...” - (@alwritey-aphrodite//Diego Hargreeves) EXT.

“Do you even hear yourself?”

“Oh, sorry. Did I wake you up?”

“Is that the best you can do?”

“You can’t just fight anyone that upsets you.”

“Is that for me?”

“I got you a present! And it’s expensive!”

“Turn on the lights, I want to see you.”

“You’re all that’s on my mind.”

“I wish we could do this every day.”

“That’s what friends are for.” - (@wolfish-willow//Steve Harrington)

“We’ve got to do this more often.”

“I literally don’t think I could live without you.” - (@vansmaybeonthewall//Cal Kestis) EXT.

“It��s been so long since I’ve seen you. Please don’t ever let me go.”

“Wow. You look nice...”

“Fuck’s sake, you again?”

“Play a song for me.”

“Just checking on you, you sure you’re okay?”

“Wanna go for a ride?”

“Keep going, it’s just a little farther.”

“You can’t get everything you want. Give it up before you get yourself hurt.”

“We make a really good team.”

“You’re not acting like yourself.”

“It’s time to overcome our differences.”

“Put the baseball bat down!”

“They are so badass. I think I may be in love.”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Stop using your powers for that!”

“Look at the big picture here. At least we’re together again.”

“My parents said I have to be home by nine.”

“That is a lot of candles.”

“Someone got dressed up tonight, what’s the occasion?”

“Oh, my god. Did you change your hair again?”

“I found your diary...no, I didn’t read it.”

“I told you not to mess with my knives. I know they’re cool, but hands off.”

“Can I get a round of applause? “

“I will never be like you.”

“I don’t take orders from you.”

“Five minutes, that’s all I ask.”

“You remind me of the stars.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re beautiful.” - (@vansmaybeonthewall//Cal Kestis) EXT.

“What was that noise?”

“Put the mug down! No, not like that!”

“I won’t leave them behind. I will never leave them behind.”

“Who the hell let you in here?”

“You used to play [game]?”

“Let’s get a round for the table.”

“I got you a blanket and a pillow, make yourself comfortable.”

“Nothing will ever be the same.”

“Let’s get out of here. They’re not worth our time.”

“I really like your accent, what is that?”

“You’ve always taken care of me. It’s time to let go.”

“Woah, you made this yourself?”

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“You keep a picture of me in your wallet?”

“Call me that again. I just wanna hear it one more time.”

“You just never stop flirting, do you?”

“Do I smell cookies? You know me so well.”

“I would never, ever give up on you.”

“I hate seeing you cry. I just want everything to be okay.” - (@emcon-imagines//Wanda Maximoff)

Submission Masterlist

[ofmythsandmadness]

MY THOUGHTS ON TUA SEASON TWO: PART TWO (spoilers)

So...I finished season two.

I’m putting ALL my thoughts under the tab so please, don’t click unless you’ve seen it all, and/or you just....like don’t care about spoilers? But please if you’ve not watched it, watch it first ‘cause it deserves all the hype and attention.

You can read part one to this here.

FIVE HARGREEVES…

I deadass thought he was gonna die.

I thought throughout the entire show that he was going to die, and ESPECIALLY at the end, I thought that was it. I guess I’m glad though that he didn’t die of course. But I was convinced, and glad he didn’t and that there was no shock-value death of a major character. 

(though like maybe one of them should have gotten hit by a bullet in one of those final scenes?? I mean….there were bullets EVERYWHERE. By SO many guns. How did they miss every time????)

Aiden Gallagher did a terrific job with the character. I don’t agree with the things he personally has done but I am convinced on his acting abilities, I mean JEEZ. He sold the act and alongside Diego/David Casteneda, was really one of the best actors on the show. I am thoroughly impressed. I didn’t really like him much in Season One, but he’s sold the role to me now and I’m very impressed.

That being said... I kinda hated Five. That’s it. I liked him in general but some parts, I was so pissed off and just didn’t like. He was an asshole and I know he IS an asshole but it was beyond just being a grumpy old pisspot. And I don’t know really how to feel, because I know being 45 years alone and lost and then becoming the world’s best assassin or whatever will fuck your head up, so it makes sense. I just think there were points where he lost most of his humanity, and then he’d flip-flop back to a more caring being. I sort of just wished there was a clear definition to all of his thoughts and emotions on it all.

But at the same time his character makes sense so I don’t know how to feel??? Maybe I’m just pissed on how he treated Diego and shit. But I’m very very glad he’s not dead!! 

ALLISON HARGREEVES…

Okay, I thought she was REALLY dead in that scene. You know the one I’m talking about.

Holy shit.

I was so scared. And also it was so sudden (and a little cool admittedly how Lila just threw it back at her like that - HOW DO I WORD thAT NON-SEXUALLY) and I was so fucking worried they’d kill her off, because I find sometimes her character comes off a little disposable. Not because I want her gone, more that the show finds her an afterthought and pushes her with someone or ‘silences’ her.

But overall I loved her storyline. I didn’t know if I’d like her just being married, it felt again like an afterthought and she was being pushed to be with someone, but the civil rights movement plot was really well done, in my eyes. I loved too the agony of having such impressive powers, but scared of the effects of doing so and also not wanting to be the person she was before. I felt for her and I was so impressed with her separating herself from her past, trying to push away from being the one who had it all and trying to be her own self. I think that this season did that really well, with all the characters and finding themselves, and I just...I want her to be happy, and successful and I want to see her find a way to use her powers without causing pain to herself or others.

And not be with Luther. Please, anyone who can do a thing about it reading this, do not make her and Luther a thing.

(also - emmy raver lampman is in general so goddamn talented and beautiful and i wish her the best. i just heard her rendition of satisfied and me oh my, that gal deserves so much more love, i hope this show catapults her career even more forward)

VANYA HARGREEVES…

Literally invented cottagecore.

Also, I love her.

I was so impressed with the way they handled her queer storyline. I was so worried about it, admittedly because television shows have a history of handing out stereotypical plotlines and not caring about the depth of them but dear FUCKING heavens, I loved this one. I cried like a baby, and yet I was left almost happy, at the end? Not happy, because they’re apart and Sissy’s stuck in a world that she can’t be herself in, but there was a beautiful bittersweetness that I adored about it. And it was realistic, and they didn’t just follow a trope and leave it there to wither up and die.

Vanya was adorable in this season and while I normally hate the amnesiac storyline, I think it’s an easy way out, I liked it here! Because yeah it was I guess an ‘easy way out’, but it worked and it made Vanya be able to be here and actually start over. I didn’t want to see her so burdened with who she had been and who she was forced to be, I wanted to see her smile and dance and love her siblings and she could and I couldn’t be happier. I mean, when she was just saying how she loved her family and her family was amazing...obviously it’s funny cause the family’s so messed up, but she meant it and I just want so much good for her.

I just love how they naturally developed the idea of the Hargreeves genuinely liking each other. This season really brought them together but unlike the first, it wasn’t necessarily because they had to, but because they wanted to. And I think Vanya did that for them. 

Basically...I don’t know how to put it all into words without making this a 70-page thesis essay. But I love her and want the best for her.

(side note - I really also was impressed with Harlan. I was scared that somehow they were going to do something stupid with him, but he was adorable and I loved him. his character made me tear up a little, too. as someone who has close family with severe autism, it’s rare to see a show that doesn’t make an upsetting and non-accurate portrayal out of someone on the spectrum. but he was so precious and smart and good and Sissy loved him and dammit, I would die for that little family)

I’m ALSO curious if Vanya’s gonna visit Sissy ever? I mean I thought she would have at the end but obviously the cliffhanger didn’t leave room for that...idk know though because I think with multiverse theories and whatnot, she wouldn’t even know her but...eh.

KLAUS HARGREEVES…

I don’t actually have much to say on him, which is shocking because in Season One, I could have written a whole book on his character. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love him! He’s still one of my favourites, and I wish I could just take away his pain because that boy deserves at least a kernel of good in his life. But truly, there’s just not much I know to say about him??

The scene in the restaurant with Dave and his uncle though hurt. What hurt more though was his nonchalant nature about it, because he’s been through that so many times and he almost expected it, which hurt. It’s expected and I knew he couldn’t just waltz up to Dave and confess his love and they’d be dandy, but as a queer person, it was a punch to the heart just watching him go through that.

I just want him to be happy someday, and bond with his siblings because there’s a deep sadness that lurks with Klaus, and maybe it’s from the actor too but there’s a melancholy that I relate to, which I hate because that melancholy is a heavy burden to carry. A worthlessness, and a deep depression that he’s seemed to have fallen into that’s a bitch to climb out of and I’m scared that he won’t be able to. He covers it up in funny gestures and vices but it’s still destroying him. Even the cult - he lacks any real love and he finds it in meaningless places, never remembering their names or anything about them and coming off as an asshole when really, he’s just looking for someone who truly cares about him, who he is on the inside and listens to him without yknow, becoming brainwashed and treating him like a god.

I’m interested to see where the show takes his character.

BEN HARGREEVES…

This show really said fuck my feelings on this one, huh???

EPISODE NINE MADE ME SO NUMB AND SAD AND JUST - FUCK.

I cried so hard when he got to save the day. He finally could do more than just follow Klaus around, and he finally got to be more than their dead brother. For so long, Ben was just an idea, a memory and I can only imagine the pain of having to deal with that. They touch on it in the show but it’s so much deeper than just being alone with only Klaus to talk to - I mean Ben was literally nothing, to any of the others, aside from being their dead brother. And when he finally got to save them, and save Vanya and fucking HUG HER AS HE PASSES ON TO THE AFTERLIFE….when I tell you I sobbed....

And his hug with Diego, how HAPPY they both were….the way that they both just….:’((

And that scene with young Klaus and Ben....Netflix when I said I wanted more Ben content I don’t know if I meant THIS.

At the same time...it was beautiful and bittersweet because he was happy, almost, moving on to his next life. He was able to do what he needed to and move on and that was beautiful. And, he got to say goodbye to at least some of his siblings, and so I can’t truly be sad about his passing. Even though it made me sob like a newborn babe.

But also...what the fuck was that ending?

And by that I mean, who the fuck signed off on that stupid lil’ haircut??? HUH???? WHY DID HE LOOK LIKE HE WAS WEARING FUCKING FAKE BANG-CLIPONS AOIHWGOIHWOIWHOIGWH

IN CONCLUSION. Fuck Reginald Hargreeves and also just FUCK.

In conclusion, I really loved this season. It ended happier than I expected and that makes me happy, so much more happy then I thought I would have been. TUA has been one of my favourite shows, and I’ve over the past while waiting for S2, developed several strong loves for these characters. More than I’ve ever cared about others. And for the most part, they were given the justice I hoped they would be.

Overall, I am happy. And I hope we get season three, almost entirely just so I can figure out if Ben Hargreeves is wearing fake-bang clip ons or not. And also...like for everything else.

Also, what the fuck is a Sparrow Academy? Whomst??? And where’s miss Lila?? And are they technically related and if so HUH?? And also...no rights to Mr Reginald.

This is such a messy summary, lmao.

But let me know what you think! I’m going to rewatch it soon, probably tonight and I’m so excited to fall even more in love with it. (and them)

[purplesurveys]

1223

survey by joybucket

Do you have a favorite park in your hometown? I wish we had parks first.

Are you living your dream? Going through my 20s in a pandemic wasn’t necessarily what I planned out to be my dream, but I will say I don’t have it all that bad. I feel like I’ve gotten everything I’ve asked for/dreamed for so far, so I can’t complain.

Who is one person you regret letting go? The person that comes closest to this feeling is probably Sofie, but I’m not really sad that we grew apart. I feel like we got to be a part of each other’s lives in a time when we needed each other and helped the other grow; and since we were able to do that, I don’t really have any regretful or bittersweet feelings about our friendship.

What colors do you look the best in? I would say black or olive green.

Do you have traumatic memories from your past? Don’t we all have at least one or two?

What are three things you aren't good at? I can’t draw, I can’t paint, and I can’t cook.

What are three things you ARE good at and have been complimented on? Writing, public speaking, and reading people.

Have you ever had someone dump a handful of glitter on your head? Nope.

Can you do the splits? No. I’ve tried thousands of times, but the skill was just never meant for me.

What color hair did your first crush have? Black.

What is the best compliment you've ever received? I’ve always liked it when I’m described as selfless. It’s not like I seek recognition for the nice things I do, but of course it’s always appreciated when it’s noticed.

Do you like making surveys? I’ve never made a survey. I’ve always preferred just taking them.

In what year did you join facebook? Around 2012, I think.

Who do you know who is colorblind? Possibly.

When was the last time you prayed to God? (if you want to answer) Either 2015 or 2016, I can’t really recall.

Do you have to wear a dust mask when you clean? No, I don’t.

What size are your feet/what size shoe do you wear? I usually go for a 7, but I can fit into a 6 as well.

What is one thing that's gone missing that you still can't find? My earphones. Which was upsetting to lose before because it had been a gift, but since it came from Gabie I’m no longer bothered about it today.

Do you know how to write in calligraphy? Nah. I’ve tried dabbling in it, but it just reminded me that I have no artistic skills whatsoever hahaha.

What is your favorite pizza parlor? We don’t really have those here, but my favorite place to order pizza from would be Yellow Cab. Angel’s Pizza is also quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

What states/countries have you lived in? I’ve lived in one country and have only lived in one other city apart from the one I live in now.

What is your heritage? Filipino.

List five different ways to say "hi." Hi is a bit challenging, can we go with hello instead? Hahahaha. Annyeong, hola, ciao, konnichiwa, bonjour.

What is your Chinese zodiac sign? Tiger.

Which cartoon characters do you think look the most like you? Diane Nguyen.

Have you ever met Miss America? No?

What was the name of the first dorm you lived in? I’ve never lived in a dorm before.

Does your phone make a high-pitched ringing noise when it charges? Not high-pitched but it just makes this brief soft note to let me know it’s successfully started to charge my phone.

Have you ever had a lamp that made a high-pitched ringing sound when on? No. I can’t imagine how annoying that would be.

List five jobs you would love to have. Astronaut, veterinarian, editor-in-chief, travel blogger, PR for a company I admire.

What would your name be if you had born the opposite gender? My parents never decided on it, I believe. But considering the names that they considered for my brother, I most likely would’ve gotten a Spanish name, like Diego.

[armandyke]

Let the world turn without you tonight

Summary: At 16, Luther is sent on an academy mission with his brother. And of all the people to find out about his fear of thunderstorms, he really didn’t want it to be Diego.

Word Count: 2210

Square Filled: Crack

Characters: Luther Hargreeves, Diego Hargreeves

Warnings: Swearing

A/N: The third of nine entries for @tuacreatorsbingo!

You can read it here, or on my AO3

“This is bullshit.”

Luther took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose and trying to block out the sound of Diego’s incessant whining. Their mission was simple enough. They’d been bundled into a car and driven to a park at the edge of the city, with strict instructions to set up camp and watch for “suspicious activity” in the apartment block across the street. So they… Well, he, had set up a small tent in the grass, and now they… He, was keeping watch, while Diego, as usual, did whatever the hell he wanted. 

Apparently all Diego wanted to do right now was be as irritating as possible, which seemed to come naturally to him. For the last thirty minutes he’d been alternating between long winded speeches about his plans to leave the academy, and throwing small pebbles at the back of his head. As if on cue, another stone hit him and he clenched his jaw, looking over his shoulder at him. Diego, who was lying on his back in the tent, one hand beneath his head and the other rolling yet another pebble between his fingers, smiled innocently at him. 

“Stop it,” Luther muttered. 

“Stop what?”

“Throwing stuff at me.”

“I’m not.” Diego chuckled as he flicked the pebble at him, hitting him in the centre of his forehead. “Must be your imagination.” 

“Look,” He said, exasperated. “I get that this is all a big joke to you, but can you please just let me concentrate on our mission.”

Diego smirked at him and shrugged nonchalantly. “Sure. You get back to saving the world.”

“I will.”

“Fine.”

“Good!”

“Great!”

An hour passed in blissful silence and night began to fall, with only the dim glow of a streetlamp at the edge of the park lighting their camp. It was starting to become apparent that the apartment block Luther had been watching the for better part of the evening was unoccupied. The windows remained dark, and he had yet to see anyone come or go. In fact, he hadn’t even seen anybody walk past. Maybe that was the “suspicious activity” dad had been talking about. He’d been pretty vague in his mission briefing, which was unusual for dad, and although he wasn’t about to admit it to Diego, he wasn’t entirely sure what they were actually supposed to be doing here.

He heard a rustling noise behind him, and when he glanced over his shoulder he saw Diego rifling through his bag and pulling out a pack of chips. 

“You want some?” He asked when he noticed Luther watching him. “I packed loads.” 

They’d been sent off on their mission before dinner, and it hadn’t occurred to Luther to pack any food while he was getting ready. Still, despite the growling in his stomach, he shook his head. 

“You shouldn’t have those,” He muttered. “Dad doesn’t like junk food.” 

“Dad doesn’t like junk food,” Diego mimicked. “Do you hear yourself when you talk? It’s embarrassing. If dad didn’t want me to eat junk then maybe he should have fed me before he sent me out here. I can’t stab people on an empty stomach. Messes with my concentration.” 

“We’re not here to stab people,” Luther argued and Diego cocked his brow curiously, leaning back on his elbows. 

“And what are we here for, exactly?” 

Clenching his jaw, Luther looked down at the grass. “Our mission is to-” 

“There is no mission, you moron,” Diego cut in. “This is just dad’s not-so-subtle way of getting rid of us for a few hours.” He pointed at his face, where the black eye he was sporting was still clearly visible, so swollen that his eye was half closed. “This is why we’re here.”

Luther cringed. He hadn’t meant to hit Diego that hard. It was easy to forget that for all his talk, his brother was a lot more fragile than he was. Unfortunately it seemed that nowadays they spent more time throwing punches at each other than anything else, and that morning it had gotten so bad that Pogo and Grace had to physically wrestle them away from each other. He couldn’t even remember what they’d been arguing about anymore. Probably something stupid. They both knew exactly how to rile the other up until even the smallest disagreement escalated into a fight. Still, he didn’t see what that had to do with their mission. Dad had been pretty mad at them earlier, but he still seemed to trust them enough to send them out on their own. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He said quietly, frowning when Diego rolled his eyes at him. 

“You and me got into a massive punch up and suddenly dad sends us out into the middle of nowhere on a super vague, completely pointless mission. You really think that’s just a coincidence? He wanted us out of his hair.” 

“That’s not true.” Luther scowled at him. “He wouldn’t have sent us here if it wasn’t important.”

“He sent us here because he’s a psychopath who wouldn’t know what good parenting was if it smacked him in the face.” 

“Shut up.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to leave us here forever.”

“I said shut up! ” Luther snapped, clenching his fists furiously. “He wouldn’t do that.”

Shrugging, Diego tossed a chip into his mouth and stayed silent. There was a low rumble in the distance and they both sat upright, looking around for the source of the noise. Diego was the first to relax, sliding his knife back into his belt. 

“It’s just thunder,” He said as the first spots of rain started falling. “Relax.”

The two of them scrambled over to their tent as the rain started to get heavier, Diego tucking himself up in the far corner while Luther sat at the edge, determined to continue his surveillance of the building. 

A sharp crack echoed around them as lightning streaked across the sky and Luther flinched at the sound, hugging his arms tightly around himself and drawing his knees up to his chest. They didn’t get many storms in their town, but Luther hated them. The thunder claps and the cracks of lightning and the sound of the rain hammering down were all overwhelming. It felt like he was back on another mission, surrounded by the chaos of guns and fighting and breaking bones as they all tried to fend off men twice their size. He tried to disguise the way he flinched with each roll of thunder, but eventually Diego noticed, and Luther could hear him snigger behind him. 

“Quit being a baby,” He teased, prodding him with his toe. “It’s a storm, not the end of the world.”

Luther could have made a jab about Diego passing out when Grace explained how his T shots were gonna work, but he kept his mouth clamped shut as he tensed up in preparation for the next explosion of noise. Thunder boomed above them and he whimpered, digging his fingers into his arms and squeezing his eyes shut. Why did this have to happen now? There was no way Diego was gonna let this go, and there was no way he was going to cry in front of him. He felt Diego prod him again and braced himself for more teasing, but his voice was softer this time. 

“I was just joking, Lu,” He said quietly, shuffling over to him when Luther didn’t reply. “Seriously, are you okay?” 

Luther nodded, sniffling and wiping his eyes on the back of his sleeve. 

“You don’t look okay.” Diego was quiet for a moment before turning towards him again. “The storm’s ten miles away,” He said confidently. “You don’t have to worry.”

Perplexed, Luther looked up at him. “How do you know that?”

“Easy. You count the seconds between the thunder and the lightning. Five seconds for every mile. That was fifty seconds so… Ten miles.” He grinned proudly at him. “I read it in a book.”

“Wow,” Luther said quietly. “I didn’t know you could read.”

“Ass.” Diego elbowed him in the ribs and they both laughed. 

Letting out a sigh, Luther tucked his knees up against his chest and rested his chin on them. Outside the apartment block, two people were huddled together under the canopy, trying to get some shelter from the rain. Last time Luther checked, that was neither evil or suspicious. Diego was watching them too, wrinkling his nose up periodically as water dripped from the edge of the tent onto his head, but stubbornly refusing to move a few inches to the right to avoid it. 

“Who names a team ‘The Umbrella Academy’ and then doesn’t even give them actual umbrellas,” He muttered and Luther sniggered. “The man’s a lunatic, I’m telling you.” 

Another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by another crack of thunder. Luther flinched again. Diego didn’t say anything this time. 

“It’s getting further away,” He observed quietly.

Luther nodded, though he wasn’t sure whether to believe him. The noise sure didn’t sound like it was getting further away. 

“Do you really think dad’s gonna leave us here?” He asked after a few minutes. The storm seemed to have washed away all his resolve, replacing it with a niggling sense of doubt and uncertainty that made him question if maybe Diego was right about him. 

For a moment Diego was silent, shaking his head and turning away from him. 

“Nah,” He said, picking at the grass by his feet. “You’re our Number One. No way he’d kick you out.” 

The rain seemed to be dying down, and the thunder was nothing more than a low rumble in the distance. Apparently Diego knew more about storms than Luther gave him credit for. 

“You should really eat something,” He said out of nowhere, nudging Luther’s arm. I’ll keep watch for a while.”

Luther frowned. “I thought you said-”

“Forget what I said,” He interrupted. “Just… Eat something, please. There’s stuff in my bag.”

Hesitantly, Luther turned his back on the apartment block and crawled across the tent to Diego’s bag, rifling through it until he found a bar of chocolate. Diego glanced over his shoulder at him, relaxing and leaning back on his elbows once he was satisfied that he was eating. 

“Sorry about your eye, by the way,” Luther said between mouthfuls and Diego shrugged. 

“I’ve had worse.”

Luther’s eyes fell on the cut across the side of Diego’s face, now a faded pink colour, and frowned. 

“Klaus said it makes me look cool,” He said, as though he could feel Luther looking at the scar. “When I leave, I’m gonna pick up so many girls with this baby.” 

He tapped the side of his head and grinned at him, and Luther gave a halfhearted nod, unsure of how reliable Klaus was as a source of information. 

“Are you really gonna leave?” He asked, because for all Diego’s talk about his plans, it was hard to imagine him actually leaving. 

“Yup,” Diego said without a second of hesitation. “As soon as I’m eighteen. I’m gonna get a job, buy a car, and get as far away from this place as possible.”

Luther blinked at him. “As in leave the city? ”

“Leave the city, leave the state. Whatever. Hell if I’m staying here for the rest of my life.” 

The two of them fell into a solemn silence as they both considered the reality of that. Whenever Diego talked about leaving, which was a lot, Luther always imagined he would just live a few streets down, stopping by for breakfast or dinner a few times a week. Not leaving as in actually leaving. Not leaving as in never seeing him again. Diego didn’t seem to have considered it before either, suddenly looking a little less sure of himself as he shifted uncomfortably. 

“You could come with me if you want,” He said quietly, folding his arms. “Not just you, obviously. I’ll ask the others too. We’ll all go.”

For a moment, Luther found himself genuinely considering it, but the idea of abandoning dad, abandoning the academy, abandoning his duty, was too much and he shook his head. 

“I can’t.” 

“You can’t stay here forever, Lu.” Diego scooted over to him, his expression turning serious. “That asshole’s gonna control you for the rest of your life if you don’t stand up to him.” 

“Don’t call him that,” He mumbled as he hung his head. 

“Surely you realise that he-”

“Don’t,” Luther warned, and Diego backed off, slumping his shoulders and turning back around. 

The storm had circled back around towards them, the thunder growing louder again and the sky lighting up with bolts of lightning. 

“You okay?” Diego asked and Luther nodded, wrapping his arms around himself. 

Diego didn’t look convinced, grabbing his coat from the corner of the tent and folding it into a makeshift pillow. 

“Try and get some sleep,” He instructed, guiding Luther’s shoulders until he had no choice but to lay down. “I’ll wake you up when the storm’s over.” 

Luther closed his eyes, the sound of the storm a little less overwhelming with Diego’s hand resting on his shoulder, reminding him that, for now at least, he was still there.

[nightskyfangirl]

I Heard a Rumor Everything was Okay - Chapter Two (Klaus)

Characters: Allison Hargreeves (Main), Klaus Hargreeves, Reginald Hargreeves, Rest of the Hargreeves Siblings (Mentioned)

Summary: A collection of time Allison helped her siblings with her Rumors

Warnings: None in this chapter. Everything is canon-typical

This also on AO3 by the same name, but because Tumblr doesn’t like links, I’ll post it in the reblogs lol

DO NOT REPOST.

_______

Klaus’s head pounded as he walked through the mansion. The screams of the dead still echoed in his ears and he resisted the urge to cover his them. They weren’t there. Not anymore. Only in his head. Klaus could hear his mother’s humming from somewhere in the house and he chose to focus on it instead. He’d never been as close to her as Diego, but the small noise still helped calm him a bit. His fingers were freezing. He flexed them to try and get the blood flowing, but it didn’t help much. The Mausoleum held the type of cold that wouldn’t leave his bones for hours even after he left. Klaus took careful steps up the stairs. Normally he’d run up two stairs at a time, but not tonight. He wasn’t in the mood to run into Luther who’d tell him he shouldn’t be up or Ben who’d worry over him worse than their mother. Klaus ran a hand over his face, and it came away wet. Klaus frowned. “Klaus?” Klaus sighed. Couldn’t the universe just grant him one wish, or did it really hate him this much? He forced a smile onto his face and threw his arms out. “Allison!”

She was blurry when he looked at her and…oh. His eyes were watery. He quickly looked away. He heard footsteps. Great. She was going to get Luther. Klaus considered just running but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked up and met Allison’s eyes. Oh. She wasn’t going to get Luther. She’d just been coming closer. “Are you alright?” She asked. Klaus laughed but it sounded off even to his ears. “Yeah, I’m fine!” Five had once told him that according to studies that was the most common lie. The words ‘I’m fine.’ But that was before Five ran out the door and never came back. “Klaus…” Allison started, then stopped. “Come with me.” Klaus looked up as she walked away. She glanced back at him after she reached the top of the stairs. She waved him after her. He hesitated for a second then followed her into her room. With a small gesture, she asked him to sit. He almost smiled. It was that pink chair. He liked it mostly because it was so bright it gave him a headache just looking at it. He sat down and rested his elbows on his knees and focused his gaze on his hands. They were still pale from the cold. She held something out to him. He glanced at it. A small blanket. Klaus took it and wrapped it around himself. He vaguely registered her sitting down across from him. His ears were still ringing from the dead. He didn’t understand how they could be so loud. They screamed constantly. Not words, just screaming. Noise. His nails bit into his palms. “Klaus?” Allison said, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up and met her eyes for the second time that night. “What happened?” She asked. He hesitated. Why did she care? She wouldn’t get it anyway. He’d told his siblings about the dead before and the way they wouldn’t shut up. They hadn’t listened then, why would she listen now? He considered a lot of dumb jokes to reply with but he brushed them off. Klaus chose to just shake his head. She sighed. “Do you want me to go get Ben?” She said. Klaus gave her a look. He wasn’t a kid. He didn’t want anyone. He didn’t even need anyone. All he wanted was to get back to his room and find something, anything to turn off the wailing of the dead. Ben couldn’t do that. None of them could. “Look,” Allison said, “I know you don’t really like me, but Ben is cool, right?” Klaus frowned. He didn’t have anything against Allison. Yeah, she was selfish but that wasn’t really something he could throw at her. He wasn’t getting an award for his kindness anytime soon. And yeah, okay so he spent a lot of time with Ben. That was because he was the only one who wanted to hang around Klaus. “I don’t want Ben,” Klaus muttered. “Then talk to me. What happened?” Klaus sighed. He wasn’t getting out of this. And if he didn’t answer her soon, how long until she chose to just rumor him into answering? He rubbed his face again. “It was just training, Allison.” She raised an eyebrow. “At two in the morning? I haven’t seen you since dinner.” Of course, she didn’t believe him. No one ever believed him. “Yeah. I was training.” “Klaus. You’re freezing, you were crying when I found you and you look like hell. What happ—” “I was in the Mausoleum, okay?!” He gritted his teeth and looked back at the floor, burying his face in his hands. “I’m scared of the ghosts. Dad wants me to get over it, so he’s been locking me in the mausoleum.” Klaus didn’t know what he expected. Her to laugh at him fearing ghosts? Be angry at him for waking her up over something so small? Yeah, he hadn’t meant to wake her up, but that wouldn’t matter, would it? But he hadn’t expected her to freeze. To watch him with…why were her eyes watery? She blinked and the look was gone so fast he wondered if he imagined it. “I’m so sorry,” she muttered. “We should have known something like this… We should have tried to find you—” “Allison, I’m fine.” “No, you’re not!” She bit her lip. “I’ll take care of this.” She stood. “What? No, no, I’m fine, Allison. Please don’t do anything—” “It’s fine, Klaus. I’ll be right back." She paused and gave him a look. "Give me just a second, okay? Stay here.” Allison disappeared out of the room before Klaus could stop her. Allison didn’t know what she was going to do. She marched through the house with a simple goal in mind. Finding Reginald and making sure Klaus stayed safe. She found him in his office, as per usual. He was writing away in one of his diaries and occasionally sent a glance over to the monitors that were stacked on his desk. She absently recognized the sleeping figures of Luther, Diego, Ben, and Vanya on the small monotoned screens. Her bed and Klaus’s were empty. Allison took another step and the floor creaked. Reginald looked up. “Number Three? What are doing—” “I heard a rumor you never hurt Klaus again and you never forced him back to the mausoleum.” Reginald’s eyes turned silver. She didn’t bother with any of the theatrics she used on robbers and criminals. She just looked him in the eye and tried to keep her voice from shaking as she spoke. The slight tremor in her voice wasn’t from fear, though, it was anger. She started to walk out but stopped. She spoke over her shoulder, “I heard a rumor you forgot I was here.” She ran back upstairs. It would work. Her rumors always worked. Klaus was safe. Klaus jumped as she opened the door and quickly shut it behind her. He looked up at her and bit his lip. "You won't ever have to go back to the mausoleum, Klaus," Allison said. Klaus opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again. After a moment he muttered a small, "thank you." She nodded. She sat down across from him and tilted her head. She could see the gears turning in his head. "What?" She asked. He hesitated. "Could you...could you Rumor me?" Allsion frowned. Her siblings hated it when she Rumored them. "Why? What do you want me to say?" "Could you...Allison will you make it so I don't hear them? Just for tonight?" Allison tried to keep from looking startled. No only did she want her to Rumor him but she wanted her to turn off his powers? She hesitated. "You sure?" "Yes." Allison nodded. She didn't like the idea of messing with his powers but she hated the look in his eyes more. Besides, she'd used her powers in the past to mess up Diego's aim when he threw stuff at her and she'd used it on Five to keep him from jumping away during an argument. If she could do it then, she couldn't say no now. "I heard a rumor you didn't hear the ghosts until you wake up tomorrow." Klaus shut his eyes before the silver even faded and seemed to relax. "Thank you." Allison didn't know how to reply, so she just smiled. “Want me to do your nails?”

[vintagemichelle91]

Bad Together (Javier x Reader Fic)

Author’s Note: Hello all! I am finally dipping my toes into the Pedro Pascal fandom with a fic of my very own! I am in the midst of re-watching Narcos on Netflix and an idea finally struck to write! This is a small Javier Peña Fic and I hope you enjoy! I took some liberties adding a character that is of my own imagination. Of course, I also sprinkled a bit of smut in there! I hope you all enjoy! 

                                                    ***

Your eyes wearily scanned the lobby of the elegant hotel. Thankfully, no one had followed you. Why would they? You had perfectly executed your plan as to how you would be away for the rest of the day and to not be expected until late in the evening. It was easy for you to come up with such lies nowadays, or at least for the past three months. 

Yes, for past three months you had been having an affair with a DEA agent. Javier Peña. You had met at the beginning of the summer when he was undercover at a party your husband was hosting for the notorious narcos of Medellín. Your husband, Diego Solis, was a young political senator hoping to throw his hat into the presidential ring in Colombia. Aspirations you weren’t too keen on since he mentioned them earlier in the year. It was a dirty game, a game you were not sure you wanted to play. 

However, your opinion wasn’t valued. You were simply meant to smile, nod, and look pretty next to your husband. The Colombian press had already deemed you the next Jackie O. Your eyes drifted to the front page of the newspaper  where there was a picture of you and Diego at a political event. Carefully, you adjusted the blonde wig you wore on the occasions you and Javier met. No one was every going to recognize you with such a disguise. 

With a small sigh, you glanced at your watch. Javier was ten minutes late and your anxiety began to pester you with thoughts as to why he was late. You could really go for a martini and a Xanax at this point. He was never ten minutes late, five yes, ten absolutely not. 

Before you had chance to head to the hotel bar, a warm hand touched your shoulder. 

“I always feel like I’m meeting a different woman,” Javier leaned in and kissed your cheek. 

Your heart rhythm returned to a normal one as you were relieved to have Javier by your side. However, you weren’t going to make it easy on him. You could not afford a slip. 

“Well then, maybe you are better off with another woman,” Your melodic voice snapped as you stood up and headed straight toward the elevator. Your black heels clacked on the marble floor with a purpose and Javier had to slightly jog to keep up with your pace. 

“Hey, hey I’m sorry I got caught up in a meeting and its all hands on deck,” Javier explained in a hushed voice. 

You practically punched the button on the wall. You were grateful you still had your sunglasses on so that Javier wouldn’t see your tears. “You know I have to be careful and keep to the time. It isn’t easy for me to be alone as it is for you, Javier.”

Javier nodded, “I know.”

You took a step back as the elevator doors opened. He understood and it hadn’t been easy for him either. He had to keep you a secret and Murphy was always prying on about who he was banging at the moment. Javier had ceased all that the moment things began to get serious with you. 

With his hand on the small of your back he guided you into the elevator. Once the doors swiftly closed, you took off your sunglasses and he swept you up into a passionate kiss. The butterflies began to swirl around in your belly as he deepened the kiss and pressed your body close to his. His lips perfectly molded against yours. You both had been a perfect match since the moment you met. 

“Oh Javier, I can never stay mad at you.” You said between kisses and your hands held on tightly to him. It had been a week since you had seen him last and that ache was beginning to be too much. 

“Even if you did, you know I would always find a way to make it up to you.” Javier’s lips descended down to your neck. You had dreamed of this moment every single night you were away from him. 

The elevator doors dinged open and he let you go. You were breathless as Javier pulled you out into the hallway. The walk to your suite was not too long, but you couldn’t help but glance over your shoulder. There was no room for mistakes because then this beautiful and mind-blowing affair would end. You were not ready for it to end.

You handed him the room key and you were ready to have your way with him. 

The moment the door closed behind you, you tossed the wig aside and let your luscious hair cascade down your back. Javier took a moment and took in the sight of you. The past week had been a nightmare and he almost had a close call. But there was no way he was going to concern you with that right now. All he wanted was to make the best of the little time your lives allowed him to have with you. 

“There you are, bella…”

You were glad of the soft ivory dress you chose as it hugged you in all the right places. He always appreciated your sense of style. You were the most beautiful woman he had ever met, but it wasn’t just your looks, but your heart. You were kind, compassionate, understanding, yet determined and definitely did not take shit from anyone. Javier appreciated you in so many ways and that was what made you fall in love. However, Javier didn’t know that yet. 

It would complicate things and that was the last thing you wanted in a already complicated situation. 

A blush rushed to your cheeks as his warm eyes took in the sight of you. No one had ever made you feel like this, not even your husband. 

The clock in the room ticked away and that was the push you needed to not waste anymore time. Slowly, you reached behind you and unzipped your dress. The light fabric pooled to the floor and your were left in nothing but your french lace lingerie and heels. 

  “I’ve been waiting all day for this moment,” Your voice was but a mere seductive whisper. His eyes showed lustful hunger and you were sure your eyes reflected the same. But deep down, over the course of a few months, your eyes reflected more. 

Javier said nothing and swept you up once again into his arms. His strong arms where you felt completely safe and at some point you had come to terms with the thought of dying in them if you had to. The thought of being discovered had crossed your mind on sleepless nights…

But now was not the time for that. 

As soon as you opened your eyes, Javier had you on the bed. His lips were all over you, his mustache sent a tingle up your spine as he explored every single inch of you. If it were up to you, you would stay in this room, in this bed, and in Javier’s arms forever. 

“Too much clothes,” You tugged at his button up shirt and wanted to feel his skin on your skin. 

Javier smirked against the swell of your breasts as knew that you were absolutely right. Gently, he pulled back and began to unbutton his shirt. You stretched beneath him and gave him a seductive smirk of your own. 

You were a sight to behold. Your hair was messy, your lips swollen from his passionate kisses, and your body was trembling with desire. 

He managed to quickly rid himself of his clothes and he was before you in all his glory. Your heart pounded against your chest wildly. He was beautiful and he was all yours at this very moment. 

You welcomed him back with open arms and he fell into you. There was no sense of time anymore, it was just you and him and nothing else mattered. 

        Your moved in perfect sync.  “Don’t… don’t…”

           Your voice hitched in your throat, your heart pounding as you stretched your arms over your head. As she turned deeper into your lover, Javier’s fingers found your own, your hands locking as he stretched up in search of your mouth.

           “Don’t what?” he murmured in the wake of each kiss, one hand leaving yours to glide down your back as you winded your legs around his waist. You gasped at the loss of his lips, peering into his eyes as he buried his head between your breasts. Your bodies rocked as one until you caught his gaze once more.

           “Well, bella,” he teased.

           “Don’t… stop,” you managed to moan, his cock throbbing inside you, your entire body trembling as his actions defied your desires, Javier’s thrusts almost non-existent as he slowly threaded his fingers through your hair. You pressed your palm to his chiseled chest, your eyes watery, your lashes fluttering when he winked over a smirk and eased your back to the rumpled hotel sheets. 

           “Say that again,” he whispered into your neck as he drizzled silky kisses down your frame. Almost powerless, you could do nothing but whimper your wish.

           “No te escucho.” Javier said demandingly.

           “More… now…”

           Lifting his body, his torso glistening with sweat in the afternoon light filtering through the hotel suite windows, Javier traced the outline of your parted lips, your parched lips and caught the hand still over his heart. Bringing your palm to his mouth, he slowly suckled the tip of each finger until he guided your hand lower, holding it tightly over your quivering belly as you rubbed his arm. 

           “Make me… make me yours.”

           “When was that ever in question?” Javier asked.

           Slowly, the corners of your lips shifted into a smile. He had you there. From the instant you met, everything fell into place between the two of you. You were connected to Javier and there was no turning back no matter how dangerous this was. 

         It was evident that you were both willing to take such a risk. Even if your lust was not linked at the break of dawn or the height of moonlight or any myriad of moments in between, your heart was in his hands, his breath filling your lungs and giving you life.

           “I need you.”

           “Desperately, bella?”

           “Oh fuck yes!” You screamed as the pleasure was so consuming. 

           Summoning the small ounce of strength still at your disposal, you shot up and pushed him back, your vibrations giving him no choice but to move within you, to plunge deeper. Javier arched his hips to honor your most fervent request, and there was no way he did not hear the ecstatic cry consuming the air as you struggled to stay on your knees, to savor every second of the climax.

           “Yes… yes! Just… like that!”

           Falling into him, your arms tightening around his neck as he lingered in your moist mound, Javier came along with you with a deep groan and it was like music to your ears. You stroked his damp hair and peppered his chin with soft kisses as you sighed into his shoulder.

The thought of letting him go tugged at your heartstrings. “Javier…”

“What is it?” He glanced up at you and took notice of your eyes. They were suddenly sad and he had to know what you had on your mind. 

“I want to tell you so much, but I don’t think the time is right.” Still in his arms, you confessed. 

Javier’s brow furrowed in concern. “You know you can tell me anything.”

“I know…”

“Then tell me what is on your mind, bella.” You would never get tired of hearing him call you that. It was his nickname for you and your heart swelled even more as his said it. 

Your eyes glanced at the clock and then back into his eyes. It was as if the words were stuck in your throat. You wanted to tell him because time was of the essence and so many things could happen in between the time you would meet again. 

Nothing was sure in the way you were living your lives at the moment. 

“I love you…” 

That was the push you needed to say it. A dark thought to say something that meant the world to you. 

Javier’s eyes softened and so did his arms around you. He was silent for a few moments as he searched your eyes. What was he looking for? Did he not feel the same way? You were starting to lose your mind until his lips crashed onto yours with much more vigor. He deepened the kiss further as you sunk further into the mattress. This kiss was different…

As he slipped back into you, he whispered his response. “I love you too.”