BEHIND THE SCENE: ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴍʙʀᴇʟʟᴀ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍʏ || 𝗧𝗨𝗔

Chapter 7

The Hargreeves siblings stood there, mouths agape, as if they'd just witnessed a circus act gone awry. Their eyes locked onto the unmistakable figure before them, whose presence managed to blend the surreal with the utterly perplexing.

"Oh, great, another enigma to add to the collection," Klaus muttered, rolling his eyes. "Because our lives aren't already bewildering enough."

Vanya stared at the figure with a mix of awe and disbelief. "But...how? You were gone, and now you just...pop back in?"

"Ah, yes, it's the latest trend in family reunions. Disappear for years, then make a dramatic entrance to steal the show," Diego quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Five remained characteristically stoic, his annoyance barely concealed. "Bravo, Sherlock. Perhaps we can all gather around and marvel at your deductive skills later."

Katherine's smile held a hint of amusement. "Well, it's nice to see that the Hargreeves charm is still alive and kicking."

"Charm? Is that what we're calling it now?" Klaus chimed in, a devilish grin on his face. "I thought we were going for more of a 'dysfunctional chaos' vibe."

Allison crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "Okay, can we please get some actual answers here? Or are we just going to engage in a round of Hargreeves-style banter?"

Five turned to Katherine, a pointed look in his eyes. "My dear sister, would you care to illuminate our less enlightened siblings with the tale of your triumphant return?"

Katherine let out a chuckle, her gaze shifting between the perplexed faces before her. "Well, you see, it all started with a map, a treasure hunt, and a dash of time manipulation. Simple, really."

"Of course, a map. Because every sibling's absence can be explained with a good old-fashioned treasure map," Diego retorted, his tone oozing sarcasm.

"And I suppose the time manipulation was just a casual weekend project," Allison added, her skepticism clear.

Luther sighed, rubbing his temples. "Can we, for once, have a straightforward explanation without the theatrics?"

Katherine tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, but where's the fun in that? Straightforward is vastly overrated."

Five threw his hands up in exasperation. "This is pointless. I'm taking her back to the council."

"Wait, the council? What council?" Klaus interjected, his curiosity piqued.

"The Time Variance Council, dear Klaus. They've graciously invited me to share my chronologically unconventional escapades," Katherine explained with mock formality.

"Ah, yes, the council of time-traveling bureaucrats. Truly, my dream audience," Klaus mused, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Enough of this nonsense," Five declared, his irritation palpable. "We have bigger concerns to address."

Katherine winked at the assembled siblings. "Oh, don't worry. I promise I'll save the riveting stories for another time. Until then, au revoir, my dearest Hargreeves."

As she walked away, the siblings exchanged bemused glances. Despite the chaos, the sarcasm, and the irritation, a sense of familiarity settled over them. Katherine's return had brought an unexpected twist to their already unconventional lives, and they couldn't help but wonder what other surprises awaited them in the days ahead.

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"Did you miss me, Five? I can see you're positively thrilled," she said in a mockingly sweet tone, her eyes shining with mischief.

"Oh, absolutely," Five replied with heavy sarcasm, not bothering to hide his irritation. "I've been shedding tears of joy every day since you left."

"Such a sentimental bunch, aren't we?" Katherine chuckled, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she walked around the room. "I can feel the love in the air."

Five sauntered into his bedroom, no longer holding his composure as he rummaged through his wardrobe. His collection of childhood uniforms stared back at him, mocking him for his lack of foresight. Without much thought, he grabbed a random outfit and decided to just go with it, not giving a damn if he changed in front of Katherine.

Katherine, with a hint of mischief in her eyes, commented sweetly, "Still suits you." She adjusted the suit she was wearing, the same one she had on when Reginald froze her body 17 years ago.

He shot her a glance, an eyebrow raised. "You need to change." His tone was matter-of-fact, almost like an annoyed older brother.

She simply shrugged, her lips curving into a smirk. She knew he was right – the suit was uncomfortably tight, making her feel like a stuffed sausage.

Following his advice, she retreated to a room tucked away in the corner, a room that held countless memories of their shared past. As she stepped inside, nostalgia washed over her. The room was more like an office, with a study table and a comfortable sofa nestled in the corner. Mission files were scattered across the floor, a visual reminder of the time when Five mysteriously vanished.

She glanced at the mess of papers, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Some things never change," she muttered to herself, her fingers brushing against the edge of a particularly important file.

With a purposeful stride, she headed to her closet. The contents were simple – two short black and white fitted dresses, a couple of Umbrella Academy uniforms, and, of course, her iconic black tight-fitted mission ensemble. Her decision was swift as she reached for the black dress, black boots, and a black hoodie. After all, they were attending their father's funeral, and a touch of gloom seemed fitting.

With the door firmly closed, she ruffled her long brunette hair, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she tied it up in a messy bun. "There we go, ready to face the world," she mused to herself, a smirk playing on her lips.

Meanwhile, Five couldn't help but watch her with a mix of amusement and adoration. She moved with an effortless grace, even in the midst of chaos. His gaze lingered for a moment too long, his lips curling into a small smile.

"Adorable," he muttered under his breath, the red tints on his cheeks betraying his thoughts.

Katherine turned to him, an eyebrow raised. "Did you say something, Five?"

He cleared his throat, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his expression. "No, nothing at all."

"Oh, come on, you're not getting away that easily," she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

He sighed, conceding defeat. "Fine, I may have muttered something about your impeccable fashion sense."

She grinned, a playful sparkle in her eyes. "Well, I must say, your random wardrobe choices are quite the sight to behold."

"Touché," he replied, his lips quirking up in a half-smile.

As they exchanged teasing banter, their connection felt stronger than ever. It was a reunion filled with a blend of sarcasm and affection, a perfect reflection of the unique bond they shared.