You Better Bring an Umbrella, Vol. 2

Chapter 11: A Tiny, Little Hitch

            The warmth pressed against my torso as sunlight forced my eyes open provided a calming sense of assurance. At some point, in the middle of the night, I had been woken up when Lila got up from the bed. Initially, I'd thought she was just using the restroom, but it wasn't until a couple hours later that the mattress dipped again, stirring me from sleep as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

And now, I'd have to do the same thing.

With a distant sense of guilt, I gently moved Lila's arms away and searched for my discarded clothing. I'd been wearing the same sweater and pants for quite a few days now, so I'd have to go home and change soon. But, for now, we had bigger things to worry about.

As quietly as possible, I opened the door and crept into the living room, finding all three of my siblings still completely passed out. Vanya had slumped over in the chair, her head fallen completely over her chest. Just looking at her made a sharp pain pierce my neck, causing me to reach back and rub the spot. Five, on the other hand, looked completely peaceful, hugging the blankets tight to his chest. I laughed to myself as I spotted that, recognizing that in his sleep was one of the few times Five actually looked like a kid, rather than an old man burdened with the weight of his knowledge of the future. I was almost tempted not to wake him, but I knew if I waited past when I'd promised him, there was a good chance he'd kill me.

I crouched down beside the mattress and grasped my brother's shoulders, violently shaking him. He shot up suddenly, his flailing arms nearly missing my face. I flinched and got up to my feet, completely removing myself from the line of fire. Five's eyes blinked with the intensity of a projector light, fervently searching the world around him for some sort of explanation as to where he was before his mind slowly came back to him, and he had the quote-unquote common sense to turn and glare at me. His jaw dropped open, about to deliver some sort of snarky comment, but I preemptively cut him off, not wanting to waste time.

"We have to go get Luther," I stated bluntly. Vanya still slumbered behind me, unaware of what was happening over here. "Get up, come on. I told you the moment the sun came up, and I meant it."

I took a much gentler approach with Vanya, reminding myself she couldn't remember the lack of mincing words around here. Not to mention, I'd always felt it natural to treat her with a bit of delicacy. In our childhood, it had been because I carried a sense of empathy for her and how dad had essentially cast her aside, but now that we were adults, it was the regret I hadn't tried as hard as I could to be close with her (though Five and I made a few efforts) and the hope that would change; in this particular moment, it was the fact she didn't remember anything, and I worried if one of us made one wrong move, she'd use her powers again, and we'd be in deep shit.

"Hey, Vanya?" Thankfully, it only took the sound of someone's voice to get her to open her eyes and sit up a straighter. "We should probably head out to get Luther now. Do you need anything before we go?"

"I need time to make coffee," I heard Five grunt from behind me. I drew my focus away from Vanya for a moment and stared at him.

"Did I ask you?" He reeled his head back slightly, and I found even myself shocked at how snippy that was. "Sorry, I don't know where that came from. We'll be quick so you can come back and get your lifeblood for the day."

"I can drive," Vanya offered as she stood. I raised my eyebrows, taking note of the fact she still seemed slightly out of it.

"Are you sure? You just got up." Still, Vanya nodded and removed the keys to her station wagon from the pocket of her jacket.