Number Zero- The Umbrella Academy (Book 1)

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That morning Zero stitched up Five's wounds. The boy let out a grunt of pain, causing Zero to glance at him with a raised eyebrow but continued on until he pulled the last stitch through and secured it before getting a band-aid and slapping it on him, causing Five to yelp in pain.

Zero smiled at him innocently while Five gave him a murderous look. "I'm going to kill you." Five spat out.

"I'd like to see you try." Zero challenged with a smirk.

As Five and Zero climbed out the window, they could hear Klaus yelling to himself down below. "Damn it, where's dad's stuff? Shut up! I'm trying to find whatever... priceless crap was in that priceless box so that Pogo will get off my ass!"

"I'd ask what you're up to, Klaus, but then it occurred to me... I don't care." Five spoke up.

"Hey, you know there are easier ways out of the house, buddy?" Klaus told them as he leaned against the dumpster he was in. Zero scrunched up his nose, knowing that what his brother was doing was one of the least sanitary things in the city.

"This one involved the least amount of talking. Or so I thought." Five responded as he jumped down the ladder.

"Hey, hey, hey, so... you need any more company today? I could, uh... clear my schedule." Klaus said, taking a sip of alcohol.

"Looks like you've got your hands full, and Zero's better company than you." The boy said, giving their brother a look.

"Oh, this? No, no. I can do this whenever. I'm just--" He said before falling into the dumpster, "I just misplaced something. That's all. Oh! Found it! Thank God!" He said, jumping out, holding a bagel before taking a bite out of it. "Delicious."

"Did you just eat a trash bagel?" Zero asked in slight disgust as he stared at the man in disbelief.

"No, it's my bagel I lost, that's all." Klaus told the boy, taking another bite.

Zero shook his head, "We're done funding your drug habit." He said while he and Five began walking away.

"Come on! You don't-- Maybe I just wanna hang out with my brothers. Not you. Mi hermanos! I love you! Even if you can't love yourselves!" Zero could still hear Klaus speaking a bunch of nonsense as he closed the car door, and Five started the engine and drove away.

Later that day, he and Five were parked across the street from the Meritech building. They both watched with narrowed eyes as Dr. Lance walked up to the building holding a tray of coffee. Five's brows creased as he frowned deep in thought while Zero kept looking to see if anything suspicious happened.

"Oh, shit," Five said as he reached back and unzipped his duffel bag. "Hey. Sorry, you were in there for so long, Delores." Five said as he sat Delores up next, "No, I'm not drunk. I'm working."

Zero looked over at the two, "I think he's been drinking too much, Delores."

"Don't start," Five told him in a threatening voice, "And yes, it's about the eye thing. Don't take my brother's side in this." He told her. "This is the place it was made. Or... will be made." He told her, looking back at Meritech, "We just have to wait."

Zero looked over at Delores before taking a drink from the liquor bottle. This was going to be a long day, he thought to himself.

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As the sun was setting, Five held the eyeball in his hand and had a troubled look. Zero had noticed that Five seemed to be looking out into space more often than not, which concerned him. "Five. Five! Hey, Five." He said, shaking him a bit as Luther stood by the passenger window. He finally seemed to snap back to reality as Zero made room for Luther to get in beside him.