PYROMANIAC - (Umbrella Academy) X Five Hargreeves

1:23

Lena turned to Five as they walked up the stairs of the academy heading towards his room. Luther had decided it would be best to wait for Diego there, as Pogo and Grace were the only ones around.

"Five," Lena said quietly. He continued his tired steps and she followed.

"Yeah?" He asked softly back.

She hesitated, something twisting inside of her. She knew things were going to go bad, and if there was any chance that they'd have to accept another twisted deal from The Handler or get taken by their lackees then... she truly didn't know if that was something she could survive. Going back to that hell. And she had to bring it up because who knows what could happen in these next four days.

"If everything goes to shit, and... and somehow, we end up," she took a deep breath as her stomach twisted. "You know, back with them-"

"-don't say that, Lena," he cut her off immediately. "It won't happen."

"You dont know that," Lena shot back calmly. "That can't be an option for us, Five."

He took the last step and started walking to his right down the hall that lead to the bedrooms and she followed, trying to catch up.

"Five, just listen," she pleaded.

Within a second he had span around to face her and his hands gripped her forearms as her back hit the wall. Everything was silent as his face was a centimeter away from hers, their noses close to touching. She felt his breath fan across her face and swallowed thickly, a strange energy pulsing through her veins as he gave her a hard look. Her stomach fluttered.

"Stop," he said sternly, his voice low. His jaw was tense but his grip on her forearms wasn't that rough, and she stared right into his eyes.

Lena said nothing. She wasn' even sure she could get the words out if she tried. A lump formed in her throat as she stared into his eyes, and dhe recognised that look of dread, of fear. It was subtle and underlying but if you know what you're looking for, it was plain as day to see.

He calmed himself before he spoke. "Stop talking like that, okay? If that does happen, we'll deal with it. Together."

He sounded so sure that she almost tricked herself into believing him. She gave him a wavering smile as her eyes fill with bitter tears.

"Five, I can't..." Lena closed her eyes, trying to keep her voice steady, but her head began hurting at the effort of stopping herself from breaking down. "I can't go back there." She whispered, slowly opening her eyes to meet his.

His gaze softened when he saw her on the verge of crying, and he went quiet.

Instead, he snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him into a tight embrace. Her arms slid around the back of his neck, fingers desperately clutching the fabric of his blazer as though it would stop her from falling apart. As though his touch would make everything okay.

On some days, it did.

She felt his chin rest down on her shoulder, and she had to bite down on her lip to stop herself from breaking into a sob. She blinked rapidly to get rid of her tears, frustrated with herself. It's then that she notices he's shaking while holding her. She could feel it through his arms around her waist, and all she can do is stare past his shoudler at the wall opposite as they stand in the hallway for as long as it takes for the both of them to calm down.

"You protected me all those years," he said tightly into her hair. "You need to let me do the same for you now."