IGNIS : the umbrella academy [COMPLETE]

III

     CARLA WAS SAT ON KLAUS'S BED, the older man sat behind her, both cross-legged.

     David Bowie was playing gently in the background as Klaus's hands worked smoothly through Carla's hair, delicately forming a French braid that fell down her back.

     They were both lightly humming along to 'Just Dance', when Klaus spoke up, "I try so hard, y'know?"

     "What do you mean?" Carla frowned slightly.

     "I'm trying to be sober, trying to change my ways for some hellish reason," Klaus mumbled, "And they still don't listen to me. Did you see the way Luther looked at me?"

     Carla couldn't help but nod slightly, before Klaus tugged her hair lightly, telling her not to move.

     "There was no way he would have believed me if Pogo hadn't stepped in," he said bitterly.

     "Don't worry about him, Klaus," Carla said, "He's clearly going through his own shit. He's probably struggling to come to terms with what happened to your dad, and the fact he was sent to the moon for so long with no reason."

    "Ugh," Klaus snapped, "Don't even get me fucking started on the moon."

     Carla laughed, "The moon definitely does not justify his repetitive 'shitting-on-Klaus' sessions, though."

     Klaus hummed in agreement, "I just, I don't know, I want people to take me seriously, to actually fucking listen to what I have to say. Is that too much to ask?"

     "No way," Carla said, "You're just as much a part of this family as any of the others are."

     "Speaking of family," Klaus mused, "Tell me about this Harold Jenkins."

     Carla sighed, "What is there to say? I used to know him, but now he's a fucking creep and killer."

     Klaus let out a giggle, "It runs in the family, then?"

     The redhead couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, Klaus's humour managing to cheer her up, per usual.

     "Seriously, though," Klaus said, suddenly sombre, "I know this is really hard for you... and I definitely don't get it, and I probably never will, but know I'm here for you, yeah?"

     Carla smiled to herself, thankful Klaus couldn't see the vulnerability in her gaze, "Careful, Klaus, sobriety seems to have made you a sap."

     Klaus threw his head back, letting out a bark of laughter.

     Then there were a few moments of silence, filled only by Bowie playing in the background, and Klaus let out a small sigh, "I'm sorry if the plait's not as good, my hands won't stop fucking shaking."

     "I can promise that it'll look better than anything I could ever do," Carla reassured him.

     "Hair tie," Klaus prompted, and Carla held up the elastic band, Klaus taking it and tying the end of the plait in place.

     It was at that moment the door was  flung open, the peaceful atmosphere disintegrating when Five walked in, dressed in his uniform, hands shoved into his pockets, "Get up. We're going."

     Both Klaus and Carla looked at him in confusion, "Where?"

     "To save the world," Five said simply.

     "Oh, is that all?" Klaus said absently, "Great."

     "So Pogo said Dad killed himself to get us all back together, right?" Five began pacing as Carla uncrossed her legs, letting them dangle over the edge of the bed as Klaus got up, searching for his jacket.

     "Yeah," Klaus said, "So?"

     "So, I've been thinking. I had to jump to the future to figure out how it happened, but Daddy can't time travel, so how'd the crazy bastard actually know how to kill himself a week before the end of the world?"

     Carla reached down, pulling on a pair of socks and reaching for her combat boots.

     "Well, you know..." Klaus began, to be cut off by Five.

     "Don't answer. That was purely rhetorical," Five sighed, before resuming his pacing, "Truth is our whole lives he's been telling us we'd save the world from an impending apocalypse."

     "Yeah," Klaus sighed dismissively, "But I always thought he said that to scare us into doing the dishes."

     "Me too!" Five exclaimed, "But what if the old man really knew what was going to happen?"

     "Knew how?" Klaus asked.

     Five shook his head, "No idea. But the fact remains he got the plan to work: we all came home. Since we're here we might as well save the world."

     "Oh yeah?" Klaus asked, amused, "Just the three of us? One happy family again!"

     "Well, ideally no," Five confessed, as they walked out of Klaus's room, "But I've gotta work with what I've got."

     "Gee, thanks," Carla muttered teasingly.

     Five looked at her then, before awkwardly saying, "I, uh, I like your hair."

     The tips of his ears tinted a pale pink as he averted his gaze sheepishly.

     Carla glanced at him in mild amusement, smiling softly, "Thank you."

     The barest of smiles flickered over his face, and he shoved his hands in his pockets before looking away.

     Just then, Diego ran down the hall and into his room.

     "Where've you been?" Five asked.

     "Jail!" Diego hastily replied, throwing his jacket off and fumbling for his harness, "Long story. Where's Luther?"

     "I haven't seen him since breakfast," Five said.

     "Yeah, two days until the world ends, he picks a great time to drop off the grid," Klaus added.

     "Shit," Diego cursed, doing up the straps to his harness, "Allison is in danger."

     "What?" Five demanded.

     Diego shook his head, "She went to Carla's Grandma's place, wanted to try and find Harold and Vanya."

     "What?" Carla exclaimed.

     "We gotta go find Luther," Diego said, leading them down the stairs and towards the car, "I think I might know where he is."