Regarding Vanya

Conflict of Interest

I WANT TO BE THERE FOR ALL OF YOU, NOT LIKE BEFORE. WE NEED TO ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE. I DON'T HAVE POWERS NOW, BUT I'M ALSO THE BEST EQUIPPED TO LISTEN.

Allison reread her speech (well, maybe a bit too lackluster for a "speech") in the morning as she brushed through her hair. It was short and to the point, perfect for her siblings. It was better that way, easier to relay to Diego and Klaus before either became distracted, blunt enough for Luther and Five, and the other two probably wouldn't care. Allison trusted that she'd have Ben's vote, he was never a leader but he could be observant, especially now that he couldn't be as involved as when he was alive. He always wanted what was best for the team, and in this case she truly believed it would be her. Allison hummed, contemplating how Vanya now felt about her. She was still unconscious on the opposing bed, though a bit more at peace than before. She took in her sister's unruly, yet charming, appearance. Vanya had hair covering half of her features, just like when they were kids and she would hide behind her bangs. Even in sleep, she seemed tired, the permanent bangs under her eyes a testament to the struggles she'd been through. Allison felt it was better not to disturb her, opting to continue to the breakfast hall solo. It was about ten minutes before sunrise and the only other occupant was a small boy in a school uniform perched over a table. As she approached, he turned towards her, sipping from a steaming mug.

"Can I trust that I'll have your vote?" He smiled falsely as she sat down. "It's about time everyone listened to me."

She shook her head in reply, scrawling out: LOOKS LIKE WE'RE COMPETING

"Being the golden child wasn't enough, huh?" He rolled his eyes and rocked his feet continuously over the table's edge. "I suppose it's a benefit that you have to play fair now... no offense of course. What do you think the odds are that all of us just votes for ourselves?" She gave a little groan before sitting near him. Allison also felt the odds were unfortunately high.

The others trickled in, Klaus, Luther, and Diego alert and ready (though Klaus was a bit of a mess per usual) as they gathered around. They chose a circular table, perfect for debate and argument.

"What about Vanya?" Klaus was more careful to notice his littlest sister's absence, "Does she not get to vote again?"

"She'll be the tiebreaker I'm sure." Klaus nodded at that response, willing himself to have his hands glow before Ben appeared. Impressive, that had to be a new record of manifestations for him.

Fortunately, most of the siblings recognized their own inadequacy to be leader. However, the battle of Five and Allison was quite heated. Allison had Luther and Ben in her corner, they had been the ones she immediately knew to be supportive of her and had patiently read her speech. Diego refused to even glance at it, believing her to be "reinstating Luther's bigheadedness" before sitting next to Five. Klaus was a bit more neutral than the others, but Diego must have talked to him in their room last night.

"How come we just have to go with the odd numbers in charge, is Vanya going to be running too?"

"At least she doesn't have to depend on dinky ass knives, Batman." That caused a bit more commotion than anyone had foreseen. They were stuck at "odds", the only somewhat calm one was Klaus, who, while keeping Ben solidified, hummed "Genie in a Bottle" quietly in the corner.

The fighting grew more intense and louder over time until a new presence entered the room. One with the same outfit from last night with only slightly brushed hair.

"What's going on?"

"Voting for a new leader."

"Ah." Vanya instinctively sat down in the middle of the table, preparing to listen.

"Well?" Diego's brow furrowed. "Are you going to do something or what?" Five elbowed him in the stomach.

"What do you want me to do?" She spoke quietly, patiently waiting to move to a more pressing issue, for her anyway.

"We need you to be the tiebreaker."

"Oh. Who's up for the position?" She couldn't believe this was happening. She finally had an impact, no, a say in the matters of the group. Unfortunately , she was stuck between her two favorites. She could understand Five's desire and eligibility for the position. He was right about the apocalypse and no one listened. He was authoritative too, though quite ridiculous to watch due to his size. He also had a hard time taking other's advice. Not Allison though, who smiled encouragingly at her while she remained in thought. Vanya cooperated, reading her speech and nodding before listening to Five's rambling.

"If we can retranslate the equations I've written and apply them to the new variables of the sixties..."

SPEAK ENGLISH FIVE

He took offense to that. "At least I can speak!"

"Why don't we just have two leaders?" Vanya suggested meekly. Oh God, they'd never let her vote again.

"What?"

"Well, having one leader didn't work last time, what about two? What's the use of upsetting half the group?"

No one actually seemed to be too upset. Five shrugged, "Fine. At least I'm not sharing with one of the dumber ones." Luther stood up defensively before realizing he'd just labeled himself as dumb.

"Okay, now I have something to address." Everyone turned to Vanya, some more attentive and others a bit more put off (especially Luther, who now felt too embarrassed to even make eye contact with her). "The future needs to be saved. How long can we stay here Five?"

Her brother's eyes lit with attention at the mere notion of the apocalypse. "Last time I went back it took me forever to get anywhere at all. With each moment, it becomes a harder to pick a destination. I would only risk a week at most."

"How much longer then?"

"Four days, give or take."

That was a bit too close to home for her. "Okay..." this was going to hit hard, she knew it already, "you guys have to go back then." The room lit up in indignation.

"Are you serious?!"

"What are you going to do here?"

"Yeah, with no money or job I presume? Great plan!"

NO

"It makes sense!" She was pleading now. "All of you have something you need to save back there!" She gestured around at each of them. "There's no time to train me and... it's the duty of the Umbrella Academy to put the world first." Oh God, was she quoting Dad now? That hit a bit too close to home. It seemed the same could be said for her siblings, as an awkward silence drained each of them of passion, leaving only the prolonged pause.

YOU ARE ONE OF US

Vanya just shook her head with a small smile, raising her blank wrist to prove her point. Extending her hand across the table, she gave Allison's a quick squeeze. "You gotta get Claire back."

"What would your brilliant plan be then?" Diego was zoning in on his knives, deliberately avoiding even a passing gaze at anything else as he sharpened them. "You'd still be a walking explosion in the past."

"Go back far enough to get me away from Le-Harold."

"And if we can't?"

She looked up and tilted her head slightly towards Five. "Don't miss."