Replacement (The Umbrella Academy)

Chapter 22: Stupid

Ashlinn struggles to keep up with Five's brisk pace as he bee-lined to Klaus' room. It seemed like he had come up with a plan, but if Ashlinn asks she knows that if she asks she'll get no answer even though she had so many questions, about his plan and herself. They walk into Klaus' room as he lays in his bed and attempts to make sense of the wool and needles sat in front of him.

"Hey. Get up, we're going," Five says and Klaus' hands drop as he looks up at him.

"Where?"

"To save the world." Five responds as if it was apparent.

"Oh? Is that all? Great." Klaus places the mess of wool and knitting needles beside him as he sits up in his bed.

"So, Pogo said that Dad killed himself to get us all back together, right?" Five starts to pace over and back and Ashlinn felt like holding him in place. Maybe he should hold back on the coffee.

"Yeah, so?" Klaus starts putting some shoes on.

"So, it got me thinking, I had to jump to the future to figure out when it happened, but Dad, he can't time travel."

"That we know of at least." Ashlinn laughs a little as she shrugs and Five stops to stare at her. "What? The man was a looney tune, and not to mention the secrets."

"I'm just gonna ignore you." Five puts his hand up to shut her up. "So, anyway, how'd he know to kill himself a week before the apocalypse?" Both Klaus and Ashlinn begin formulating an answer but Five stops them. "Don't answer, that was purely rhetorical. Truth is, our whole lives he's been telling us we'd save the world from an impending apocalypse."

"Yeah, but I always thought he just said that to scare us into doing the dishes." Klaus comments and Ashlinn nods in agreement.

"Me too. But what if the old man really knew it was going to happen?" Five questions.

"Yeah, but knew how?"

"No idea. But the fact remains, his fakakta plan worked, we all came home. Since we're here, we might as well save the world." Ashlinn gives Five a 'really?' look.

"Oh, yeah. Might as well, am I right? And with who, me, you and Klaus? The three of us?" Ashlinn gestures to all of them.

"Well, ideally, no but...I've gotta work with what I've got." Five comments as he walks out of the room, Ashlinn and Klaus following.

"You ain't a ball of help yourself. You're quite hard to work with. Maybe you should try saving the world yourself." Ashlinn nudges Five in the side.

"You know, I think that'd be a better plan." Before Ashlinn could throw a snarky comment back, Diego comes running down the hallway and no Allison in sight.

"Where've you been?"

"Jail." Diego runs into his room.

"Where's Allison? I thought she was with you?" Ashlinn steps forward, anticipating his answer, hoping she didn't do a stupid thing.

"She's following the lead, by herself and she's in danger. Where's Luther?"

"Haven't seen him since breakfast." Five answers.

"Yeah, two days till the world ends, he picks a great time to drop off the grid." Klaus comments and Ashlinn rolls her eyes.

"Shit. Any idea as to where he could be?" Diego asks and they all think for a moment.

"Well, a mopey man-child who's dealing with daddy issues and probably his first hangover. He's probably gone for 'the cure'." Ashlinn says and they all give her a confused look.

"The fuck is that? Some sort of drug?" Diego was the first to question her and she gives them a blank look.

"Uhm must be an Irish thing then." She mutters to herself. "You know when you go out for more alcohol after a night out and the alcohol helps your hangover? Well, prolongs the inevitable but still." She explains and they all nod, seemingly understanding now. "Well, in Ireland that's called 'the cure' even though it's not but whatever."

"That was excessively long-winded," Five says and Ashlinn nods.

"Yeah, you can say that again. So, should we start checking bars?"

They were lucky to find him in the third bar they searched, although he did stick out like a sore thumb so minimal searching was needed. They found him moping with a pint in an Irish bar. They all walk towards him and Ashlinn really wanted to slap that kicked puppy look off of his face, it was annoying her.

"Leave me alone." He says to them as they stand around him. Diego sits beside him.

"Give us a minute." He shoos them away and they all give him a surprised look. Diego talking to Luther? Alone? This should be fun.

"Okay, come on. Maybe they'll brood each other to death." Klaus walks away and Five and Ashlinn follow. They lean against a table beside the front door. Ashlinn crosses her arms as she looks at Luther and Diego. With a sigh, she looks around the bar.

"Not up to your standard?" Five questions and Ashlinn laughs at him.

"What is with America and their Irish bars? So unoriginal."

"Let's be honest, what about America is American?" Five questions, making a good point.

"Stupidity. And the sheer amount of it." Ashlinn says, not missing a beat.

"Ah, yes, but Ashlinn, everyone's stupid. No matter the country." Klaus comments and both she and Five nod.

"True. Take this plan, for example. Stupid. What Allison did. Stupid. Whatever we're going to do to save the world. Stupid." Ashlinn comments and Klaus nudges.

"Ah, yes, but at least we'll have the luck of the Irish on our side with you, Ash." He jokes and Ashlinn glares daggers at him.

"Never, never say that again."

The three of them stood in silence, watching Luther and Diego talk, which seemed to be going nowhere. Klaus tapped his finger off his wrist to signal that time was passing and they needed to get going. Eventually, they saw Diego putting his gloves back on. It was clear that Luther had given up. But something Diego said caught his attention.

"You should've led with that!" Luther yells as he stands and scrambles for the door, catching Klaus, Five and Ashlinn off guard as they follow him.

"The fuck did he say?" Klaus asks as they approach the car.

"I think Diego mentioned the stupid thing Allison did." They all pile into the car and set off to help Allison.