Dumb & Poetic || The Umbrella Academy

004: big brothers and little sisters

【☆】

Rory sat in her bedroom the next day. She was tried. And had a sick feeling in her stomach. She wasn't sure what that was about.

Allison was in the hallway, on the phone to her husband, Patrick, it sounded. Rory wondered if he was technically her brother in law. But honestly, she didn't feel like the others were her siblings so she doubted it. They felt more like . . . very distant cousins. Who you barely saw. And even at Christmas or new years, they still wouldn't talk to you. 

Rory was crocheting. She'd been trying to make a blanket to give to her mother so that when she recharged, it was more like sleeping. But she kept messing up the pattern and having to retry. But her bedroom door stayed open. She wasn't sure why.

The foot of the stairs was visible from her spot, sitting on the end of her bed, legs crossed, with her door open. She saw Viktor make his way down the stairs, stopping at the end to look at Allison, as her ex-husband hung up on her. 

When he spoke, his voice was quiet, as always. "You okay?"

Allison hesitated, as she placed the phone back on it's hook. "Yeah."

"Well, I've never met your ex-husband, but . . . he sounds like an asshole."

"That's one word for it."

"You know what? You're probably better off here."

"No, I'm probably better off with my daughter."

"Of course. Um, I'm sorry. I didn't-"

'You know, if I wanted advice, Vanya, no offence, but it wouldn't be from you."

At Allison's angry tone, Viktor went quiet. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You don't have a child. I mean, you've never even been in a relationship."

"That's not true."

"So, you know what it's like to love someone like this? Like when you're apart from her, you can't breathe? Like you would die - and I mean actually die - to know that she's okay and happy? I mean, you separate yourself from everyone and everything. You always have."

Viktor was quiet for a moment. "Because Dad made me."

"Did Dad make you write that book about us, too?"

When Viktor didn't answer, Allison walked away, but she stopped outside Rory's door, turning back to him. 

"You're an adult now, Vanya. You don't get to blame your problems on anyone else."

Allison walked away, and Viktor stood there for a moment, quietly. But jumped slightly when he heard Rory's voice.

"I liked your book."

He turned around to see her poking her head out from behind her doorframe, looking at him. 

"I - I read Dad's copy.  The one you gave him." 

He was quiet for a moment. "Pogo said it was never read."

"By Dad, yeah. And he'd probably have thrown me into a fireplace if he caught me reading it. But . . . "She shifted uncomfortably, as she stepped out of the room, leaning against the doorframe, now. "I don't sleep very well. I stayed up and read it a billion times. I have a notebook in my room with notes on it." 

He smiled a little. "Can I read them?"

"Maybe. I have to make sure there's not anything embarrassing in them, first."

"Alright. Just don't forget."

Rory was quiet for a moment. "I'd like to go for you for advice. If I ever need it."

"Well . . . I'm here. You know where my apartment is, don't you? I'm always there if you need anything."

She nodded, slowly. "Thank you."

Viktor found it rather strange. Rory was obviously holding back some of what she was saying, but he'd never seen himself and Rory as the same. She was always better than him, since she was Reginald's blood daughter. Maybe he was wrong.

When Viktor's book was first released, the entire family had a problem with it. Luther was still on Earth, and had bought his own copy of the book. 

He had complained about it over breakfast with Rory. Over and over and over and over again. It seemed he never quite finished complaining. He would've kept going if he hadn't been sent to the moon, she was sure of it.

As for Rory, she found it all too familiar. It was the thoughts she never gave sound to. Or even enough thought to. 

The lowest thing you could be in the Hargreeves home was extraordinary - the only thing that her Father seemed to like about Rory was that she was familiar. The blood in her was the same blood of the woman he adored - and he could see that. 

But he was a man incapable of real, human love. And at the end of the day, Rory wasn't like Reginald. She was only human. Nothing more or less. She was a young girl, in need of love from a creature who didn't know what love was. Or maybe he did. Maybe she just told herself all of that so she could sleep at night. 

Sometimes, after reading Viktor's book, Rory would sneak out of the house to watch his concerts. He played violin, and was always at third chair. 

Rory could never wrap her head around him and his music. He seemed nervous, of course, but there was just something about Viktor that the other players didn't have. Maybe it was because Viktor was more of a person to Rory, she knew his face while not knowing the others, but she never really knew Viktor other than from his book. She was fairly sure the conversation they had that afternoon was the only time they ever spoken without someone in the middle. 

It was rather strange when she thought about it. How everyone was suddenly in the same house, talking. 

A part of her was grateful to get to see them all one last time. Some for the first time.

Another part of her still wanted them to get out of her house.

Viktor never recognised her in the crowd before. He won't after this, either. It's just how it goes.