Never Love an Anchor {The Umbrella Academy}

Two Black Eyes, One Bloody Nose, and Just a bit of Brain Damage

*TW for brief mentions of domestic violence towards the end.

"Are your parents here?" She asks.

"No, they were too busy to deal with me, but they gave me some money to get a doughnut and some chocolate milk," Aurora said with an empty smile.

Agnes sighs, "Alright. What type of doughnut do you want?"

"Chocolate frosted, please."

"Ok. One chocolate milk and a chocolate frosted doughnut coming right up." With that, Agnes leaves Aurora alone in the empty diner. She zones out, twisting her chair back and forth. Maybe she should use this time to formulate a plan. Luther knows Grandpa's death wasn't natural. He just thinks one of his siblings did it. That needs to be dealt with. He's only causing more division. Diego's busy fighting with Luther and being mean to Vanya. That's not helpful. Alison is preoccupied with her daughter, not that Aurora could blame her for that. Klaus isn't sober, to no one's surprise. Maybe she could go that route and help him get sober enough to talk to Grandpa. It's a long shot, but it would be the easiest route if it works. She would just have to ensure it doesn't happen too early, though she doubts that'll be a problem. Five could provide a valuable route to unification as well. Five seems to know what's going on. He lived the apocalypse. He knows it will happen; he just doesn't know how. He can do the legwork to convince the rest of the family. A stray thought crosses her mind. If Five can unite them with the incoming threat of the apocalypse, do they even need to solve Grandpa's murder? Does anything she does even matter?

A voice breaks her out of her plotting. "What are you doing here?"

It's her Uncle Five. He takes a seat next to her and eyes her suspiciously.

"Getting a doughnut. What are you doing here?" She throws up her hands as if to say what do you want from me.

He laughs a little. "We used to sneak out and do that too. Good to see the next generation is keeping up the tradition. I'm just getting a coffee. The academy is severely lacking."

"Coffee is just a cheap replacement for sleep.  And I didn't sneak out. I just didn't tell anyone when I'd be back... or that I was leaving at all," she said, "It's not like I won't be back before anyone notices I'm gone."

"Ok. Noted," he says side-eyeing her before giving a small laugh, "I can not imagine Klaus having a kid, let alone one so high-strung."

"I'm not high-strung.  I'm fun. I just like when things are in order. Order makes for harmony, and harmony makes things work without problems. I just don't like problems." Aurora stood up, her voice raising slightly more than she had expected. She doesn't need this person telling her who she is.

"The way you said that was very harmonious," he teased, "but really, the seriousness on your part is more appreciated than not.  I know I wish the rest of my siblings would take things more seriously right now."

This might be the way to go. She just needs to tell him what she knows. He's seen the future too. He grew up with the Umbrella Academy. They'll listen to him. He's their family.

"I need to ask you something-"

She is cut off by the entrance of a man taking his seat at the counter. How strange for him to sit right next to us when there are so many seats open.

"Never mind." She turns to stare at the empty space in front of her. It is severely lacking in doughtiness. Where did Agnes get to?

Just as the thought crosses her mind, Agnes returns with her glass of chocolate milk and her chocolate doughnut.

"Here you go, hun. Sorry it took so long; I had to unclog the sink," she said, placing the doughnut and milk in front of Aurora before facing five and the other man, "So what'll it be for you two?"