Nuclear // Number Five

0.12 × Burning Together

Say hello to all my problems for me, tell 'em sorry I can't be around anymore. The years will go on, we'll get older and then we'll die. But we'll get by.

The two of them landed on the bar in the living room of the Academy on the morning previous. Libby landed on top of Five, and the two of them rolled off onto the floor, Libby falling on top of him, just to roll over into Allison's feet. She groaned and stood up, brushing the dust off of herself. Libby noticed the coffee in Allison's hand, taking two desperate swallows before reaching out to Five to help him up.

"Am I still high, or do you guys see them too?" Klaus asked, rubbing the imaginary highness out of his eyes. 

"Guys, where have you been?" Luther asked, looming over them like a tower of naivety. Libby frowned, glancing around the room. Luther, Allison, Klaus, and Diego were accounted for, and Vanya was still missing. "Who did this?"

"Irrelevant," Five muttered, snatching the coffee from Libby. He chugged it as the rest of them stared on. He sighed and turned to them, "So, the apocalypse is in three days, and the only chance we have to save our world is, well, us."

"The Umbrella Academy," Luther stated, blinking a couple of times to let it sink in. Libby sighed and wrapped an arm around Five's waist. 

"Yeah, but with me, obviously," Five answered, glancing between their other siblings. "So, if y'all don't get your sideshow acts together and get over yourselves, we're screwed. Who cares if Dad messed us up? Are we gonna let that define us?"

The four others shook their heads, mumbling a collective yet quiet, "No."

Libby just smiled, "And to give us a fighting chance to see next week, we've come back with a lead." 

Five produced the slip of paper from his pocket, "We know who's responsible for the apocalypse. This is who we have to stop." He handed the paper to Allison who opened it cautiously and read the message on it. 

"Harold Jenkins?" She asked, staring intently at the piece of paper. 

Diego looked up over her shoulder questioningly at Five and Libby. "Who the hell is Harold Jenkins?"

Five shrugged, looking at Libby and then back to the siblings. "No idea," He said.

"I'm sorry. Am I the only one that's skeptical here?" Allison asked, "I mean, how do you know all of this about what's his name?"

"Harold Jenkins," Five hissed, getting annoyed at the line of questioning. Annoyance was the one thing Five was never good at hiding from Libby. "You know those lunatics in masks that attacked the house?"

"Yeah, I think I remember those guys," Klaus chimed in.

"Yeah, the ones that attacked us while you were getting drunk," Diego accused, glancing toward Five. 

"Yeah. Them," Five explained, "They were sent by the Temps Commission to stop me from coming back and preventing the end of life on earth."

"The Temps what?" Allison asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Libby could tell the others all felt like the whole thing was bullshit, and it made her doubtful, if only for a second.

"My former employer," Five continued, grabbing Libby's waist in return. "They monitor all of time and space to make sure whatever is supposed to happen... happens. They believe the apocalypse is coming in three days."

"I went with him. I saw it all, and they drugged me to make sure I wouldn't tamper with anything at their offices," Libby piped up, hoping her corroboration would help him in some way.

"Right," Five persisted, "So while we were there, I intercepted a message that was meant for said lunatics. 'Protect Harold Jenkins.' So he must be responsible for the apocalypse."