Lotus |1| The Umbrella Academy

Five

Chapter Five:

Lotus did in fact remain silent as she followed Five throughout the city. She had no idea where they were going or why he decided to yank her into an alleyway to hide from something. They hid in the shadows, waiting for who knew what.

"What are we hiding from?" She asked eventually sitting on the ground, her back was leaning up against a dumpster. Five ignored her flopping down across from her. Apparently he must've thought they were safe because he suddenly seemed to relax a bit.

"Nobody." He told her watching her, "We're just waiting for dusk."

"And why is that?"

He shrugged his thin shoulders, "I like the dark."

She snorted, "Mm, of course someone like you would say something like that."

He never responded but Lotus grew uncomfortable at his steady gaze seemed to never leave her face. She frowned, "Why is your name Number Five?"

He sighed, "The old man bought seven of the Forty-Three children and I was lucky number five."

Lotus' brows scrunched together, "He just numbered you and your siblings off?"

Five nodded, "Grace— our mom, gave everyone their names but I was gone by then so... I'm still just Five."

The wind had died down but now just an odd chill settled in the air. The ground beneath her was somehow wet now and she shifted uncomfortably, she heard a chuckle from across from her.

"The dumpster is leaking something."

Lotus turned to see a dark coloured liquid drip from behind her, she grimaced and moved so she sat next to Five instead of across from him. This way her back wasn't against anything and nothing mysterious could stain her new shirt.

"Where are we going?" She asked, "Are you going to tell me what exactly I'm helping you with?"

"Saving humanity."

A snort escaped her mouth, a noise she made quite a lot. "Can't you do that with your superhero family?"

"No." He was quick to answer, "I saw their dead bodies when I traveled to the future. Though, I didn't see you which brings a new equation to the table."

"You do realize I was probably dead somewhere else in this city?"

"Regardless you're here now." He told her getting up, "We should go now, the sun will set soon."

Lotus pulled herself up after him, "Can I at least know where we're going right now?"

"We're going to a department store."

"Why?"

He smiled, an actual genuine one. "We're getting Delores."

"Who?"

He glanced at her, smile fading. "Nobody. You don't need to worry about it."

They walked in silence for about two or three blocks, nobody making any conversation as they left the busy part of the city and entered a suburb. The sun had almost set completely and the streets lights all flashed on. Lotus grinned breathing in the nights air, enjoying being outside.

"Tell me about yourself."

Lotus gave Five a weird look, "What?"

He shrugged, "I'm just trying to make conversation."

She nodded slowly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable once again. "I don't know what to tell you."

Five sent her his famous glare, "Family? You actually had a mother, so what was she like?"