Lotus |1| The Umbrella Academy

Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen:

Lotus sat on the end of Five's bed, she gazed around the room. It was filled with a child's things. A group of small race cars were sat on the dresser, and a wire bin was overflowing with other small children toys. It seems he planned on getting rid of the bin, making way for new interests that were supposed to come to him in his teenage years.

"Lotus?"

She looked to the doorway where Luther stood, Delores balanced under one arm.

"Hey." She mumbled.

"Is Five around?"

"He left awhile ago, he said he'd be back." Lotus stood up and wiggled Delores out of his arms, "I'll make sure he gets this."

She placed the mannequin on a chair and took her seat on the bed again. Luther had gone, not bothering to say anything else. She wondered if he liked her, but all the siblings seemed to hide or change their opinion every time they were in her presence. She wondered what would happen after they stopped this apocalypse, would they all go there separate ways again or would they stay, or would she be welcomed to stay as well? Just as Pogo had said she'd always have a home here.

"I need chalk."

She snapped out of her gaze and she found Five slamming his door shut, "I need chalk!"

Lotus jumped, having no idea where to find chalk. "I don't know where it would be."

He huffed pulling open a drawer to his nightstand and grabbed a thick piece of whistle chalk out, he rushed back to the doorframe and began scribbling on the wall. She hadn't noticed that the walls were chalk board paint, she just thought he had a horrible taste in the colour green. He was writing things down at incredible speed, never stopping and never wavering. He climbed up on furniture to reach closer to the roof, not willing to waste any space. It was equations that he was writing down, though she had no idea what the meant. Lotus had never been good at math, it didn't help that she never graduated high-school.

Five wrote with an extreme focus, even when he paused to talk himself through things. His eyes were squinted by the time he got to the next wall, she couldn't process the one he had just finished. Floor to ceiling was covered in math equations and she was impressed yet slightly horrified, she didn't know why.

"Is it making sense?" She asked after awhile. He only grunted and finished off another wall. Lotus flopped down onto the bed, scooting so she was laying properly on it. The pillow was very flat, and her head felt heavy on it. The chalk scrapping against the board made her cringe, she squeezed her eyes shut and shivered. She heard him laugh and she peeled one eye open, Five broke his gaze from her face and the sound of chalk scrapping the board filtered back.

"What are you doing?" She finally asked as he finished another wall. It seemed to take him at least 20 minutes for each wall, and with each passing hour, fatigue washed over her.

"Trying to see who causes the apocalypse." He huffed climbing onto the bed, he balanced himself before standing straight up. She nudged herself over so he could get closer to the wall, he stepped over her and placed a hand on the wall as he scribbled.

"You can find that out from just numbers?"

"Yes." He sounded confused, as if everyone should know what the hell he was going. "It's quite simple, actually."

She snorted, "You're clueless when it comes to people."

Ignoring her, he confined to write. "I think I've got something Delores. It's tenuous but promising."

She scoffed, "I'm here to you know."

He kicked his foot back, finding and nudging her stomach. She squirmed and went to push his foot away when a knock sounded on the door and she tumbled onto the ground. Groaning she sat up, looking to see Luther in the doorway yet again. He awkwardly peeked in and then marched up towards Lotus, staring down at her. He held an arm out and she gratefully took it, hauling her back onto her feet. Luther watched Five for a few minutes before the boy starting angrily circling four names.