Let it Rain (The Umbrella Academy)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: No Comfort

I woke up and grabbed Gill's shoulder. "Jesus, Ron." He jumped. "Mind tellin' me what the hell happened that you died and Five took off? What did he do to you?"

"Where's-Where's Five? Where's Number Five?" I panted as I tried to hastily stand but my legs weren't listening to me yet. I never used the 'Number' half of his name before. It felt bitter in my mouth but I was furious.

"Why? What did the bastard do to you?" Gill growled.

"Ah need... Ah need tae find him. Ah need to find that son of a prolly nice lady," I spat with venom in my tone.

"Ron!" He turned my chin so that I had to meet him in the eyes. "What the hell did he do?!"

"Let me go first 'n I promise I'll tell you later." After a pause I quirked an eyebrow. He still didn't let me go.

"No. No I can't do that. I'm sorry." He shook his head.

"Nae. A'm sorry." I kissed him on the cheek then kicked away from him and quickly turned into Five and teleported away. I focused on reading his mind. It was fuzzy from the distance but it was enough.

The Lonely Lodge Inn
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 1982, Five thought.

"Sounds cozy."

Then his thoughts turned to me, how sorry he was. I scoffed. Then... coffee?

••••

1982

I arrived at a coffee shop across the street from the inn. I deeply sighed when I saw the Boy sitting on a barstool impatiently waiting to order then sat down beside him. "You know, I don't think you'll last long when you get back to Elliot's, at least if I don't decide to kill you myself right now."

He stared at me with wide eyes. "Bon, I—"

"You made the deal. Didn't you?" I more of told him rather than asked. I didn't have to look at him to know he was nodding. "Almost forgot aboot this tradition. Coffee before missions."

He was wary of how I still hadn't mentioned him poisoning me. Five felt it right that he at least got a head start. "Forgot? How could you forget? You drink coffee like it's your life source." Five gave a halfhearted chuckle, but I still wasn't laughing. I tried to be mad at him but I couldn't seem to keep it. I loved him and I understood why he did it. Just wasn't happy that he actually did.

A waitress walked over to our barstools. "What can I get yous guys?" she inquired in a thick Wisconsin accent.

Five ordered for us. "Two coffees. Black." It didn't take long at all for the bubbly girl to pour our coffees. I stared down at the dark drink and swirled it in my cup in distaste. Number Five furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you okay? I mean obviously our situation isn't ideal but you always seem to jump at the chance to get coffee. Figured there was a chance it might make you a little less angry with me too."

I sighed. "I'm not mad at you. I want to be. I should be... but I can't." I sadly chuckled. "Um, about the coffee, I haven't actually had any in seven years," I told him while tapping my fingers on the warm mug. Even the steam rolling off of it seemed displeasing.

"You're kidding, right?" A faint half-smile crossed his lips.

I flagged down the cheery waitress. "Can I get a water, please 'n thank you."

The Boy scoffed in amusement. "You're not kidding. Why?"

"I dunno. During my first mission after the deal, I stopped at a coffee shop beforehand like I always used to do, but I couldn't even hardly stand to look at it. It just wasn't the same I guess." I shrugged then folded the straw wrapper.