ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀᴛᴇᴇɴ ᴏꜰ ᴅɪᴠᴏʀᴄᴇ
'ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴀᴛʜ'

Inanna and Five trailed after Luther and older Five across a bridge that was built over a train line. Inanna was certain that if she left Five's side even just for a second, he would somehow die. The paradox psychosis was only getting worse and Five had become even more paranoid than he already was.

"What are you looking at?" Five shouted pointing at a man who was simply minding his own business, walking up the steps to the bridge.

"Five" Inanna sighed, hooking her arm around his. "He's not looking at you" Inanna said as Five turned towards her.

"He was" Five muttered, turning to look at the guy again. "See something funny? Asshole!" Five shouted. "Mind your business! Or I'll give you something to stare at" Five continued shouting and Inanna looked over her shoulder apologising to the man.

Five scratched his leg, unhooking his arm from Inanna's to scratch his neck at the same time. "You wish you could pull off these shorts!" Five shouted.

The man slowed down, wanting to put some space between himself and Five as Five turned away from him.

"Stop it" Inanna whispered. "If he punches you, I won't stop him".

"He wants to punch me? Did he say-".

"No" Inanna grabbed Five's hand as he went to turn around to the man again, pulling him with her as she continued walking. Inanna realised it wasn't the smartest of things to say to Five in that moment. "No. Just... just calm down a little, okay. The only person looking at you weird is me. I know it's the paradox psychosis-".

"It's not. I'm fine" Five's denial was pointless.

"Sure-".

"I am" Five said, bumping his shoulder into Inanna's accidentally as he tried to walk in a straight line and failed.

"I believe you,-" Inanna put her arm around his waist underneath his blazer to stop him from walking like a drunk man. "-don't worry, hunny".

"You don't believe me" Five said, pulling his blazer back as he looked down at Inanna's hand on his waist, noticing the tiny flag she was still carrying.

"I don't" Inanna said as Luther fell into step with her and Five.

Luther chuckled "Hey, brother. How you doing?" Luther asked Five, his forced smile never fading from his face as he watched older Five walked down the steps of the bridge.

"He's gonna kill me, isn't he?" Five said, leaning his head towards Luther.

Luther scoffed with a quiet laugh. "What?" Luther and Inanna spoke simultaneously. Luther's 'what?' only confirmed Five's paranoia.

"He's not going to kill him, is he?" Inanna asked Luther.

"He is" Five said.

"Him?" Luther chuckled pointing at older Five as they followed him down the steps. "He's gonna kill you?" Luther pointed to Five. "Yeah, right. That's ridiculous".

"You know, you're a terrible liar, Luther. You're a worse liar than you are a spotter" Five said.

"Okay, whose fault is that?" Luther asked. "What good is having spotter if you won't even listen to him?" Luther asked.

"So you admit you're conspiring against me?" Five asked, whispering as he leaned towards his brother.

"Do... do you admit that you're suffering from paradox psychosis?" Luther asked.

"All I'm suffering from is bracing clarity about you and your murderous intentions" Five scratched at his sweater.

"Look, it's not like he's gonna 'kill you' kill you. He just wants to kill a, um... version of you" Luther said.

"What? How does that make it any bett-".

"But I am that version of me" Five argued.

"Hey, I don't love it, either, but he's actually got a pretty good plan" Luther said gesturing to older Five who continued leading them to the Grassy Knoll.

"What? The one where you guys off me and then jump to 2019 to save the world?" Five asked. Five pushed the palm of his hand against his forehead as he leaned his head back uncomfortably.

"Yeah" Luther nodded, his brows furrowed, realising that Five already knew older Five's plan. "Wait, how did you know that?" Luther asked.

"Because I'm him, and that is exactly what I would do if I were trying to kill me!" Five said, his voice raising as he pulled himself away from Inanna's hold.

"Okay, all I know is we've got one Five too many, and you're the one acting like a maniac" Luther argued.

"Maniac?" Five repeated. "Luther, you have seen nothing. If you want a maniac, I will show you maniac" Five threatened, spitting out his words.

"Oh my God" Inanna mumbled. Although Inanna was against older Five killing her Five, Luther was right, Five was the only one seemingly being affected by the paradox psychosis.

Five walked ahead of Luther and Inanna. "Okay, as your spotter. I think the best thing I can do for you right now is put you out of your misery".

"Okay, Luther. Listen" Five turned to his brother grabbing his arms as they came to a stop. "I know your feeble mind only responds to age and authority, so listen very closely. Yet again, you are experiencing daddy issues" Five poked Luther's chest as he let go of his arms. "This time with your own brother which honestly is making me a bit crazy. But remember this: I'm 14 days older than him. I have seniority here. So it is me you should be listening to, Luther" Five pointed at himself with his thumbs. "I'm the daddy here!" Five shouted.

"What the actual hell?" Inanna muttered, holding in her laugh as she glanced around at the people who were getting on with their lives, all of them staring at Five after his outburst.

"How's it going?" Luther nodded at two women as they passed them, forcing out a laugh which died down the second he looked at Five again.

Luther put his hand on Five's back as he crouched down to his height. "Five, please, you're being unseemly" Luther said as they continued following older Five. "Look at you".

"I admit there is a possibility that I may not be in my fully right mind right now" Five muttered straightening his blazer.

"Okay, good" Luther nodded.

"But whatever I've got, he's got it too" Five pointed at his older self.

Luther stopped, realising that both Five's, although older Five seemed to hide it well, were suffering from the same state of paradox psychosis.

"Quit grab-assing" Older Five called over his shoulder. "We're here".

Inanna grabbed Luther's arm. Luther turned to Inanna, inhaling a sharp breath as Inanna shoved the pointy end of the tiny flag in his face, holding it millimetres from his eye ball. "Just to let you know, if anything, and I mean, just about anything, happens to little Five, I will murder you in an unimaginable way with this flag, Luther" Inanna whispered harshly leaning closer to him.

"They're both your husbands" Luther said swallowing as he focused on the flag.

"It will be a blood bath, Luther" Inanna muttered, ignoring his comment. "Understood?". Luther nodded. Inanna dropped her arm and Luther sighed, taking a step away from her. "Good, because I was really starting to warm up to you after you made me some dinner last night" Inanna smiled weakly.

"Thank you" Luther responded, his brow raising in confusion at his reply, his fear of Inanna only being heightened by her threat that he believed — after being bitten by her — she'd go through with.

Luther was correct with his observation, both Five's were technically Inanna's husbands, but the Five that was still walking around in his old Umbrella Academy uniform was her husband and the one she'd choose if she had too save one over the other.

Inanna and Luther hurried over to the corner of the car park where older Five was setting up his gun. Five stayed back from him, already plotting against his older self.

"Flatulence" Luther whispered pointing to older Five as he farted "Stage four" Luther said.

"See?" Five scratched the back of his neck as older Five hung a small radio on the white picket fence "What's your plan now, bucko?" Five asked rubbing his hand together.

Luther looked to Inanna, watching her twist the flag between her fingers, her threat of a 'blood bath' repeating itself in his mind. Luther's thoughts were interrupted by Five farting.

"That was just lunch, all right?" Five said, slightly embarrassed. "Shut up".

"This is my favourite part" Older Five muttered, attaching the final pieces of the gun. "The calm before the storm".

"The briefcase" Five whispered, twitching as his shoulders tensed.

"No, don't" Luther argued. "You won't be able to get there in time" Luther whispered.

"Of course I will" Five said, his eyes focused on the briefcase. "This is our only chance".

"Maybe it isn't the best moment" Inanna suggested, being ignored by Five who had already set his mind on getting the briefcase while his older self was focused on his gun.

"Hey, uh, just remind me..." Luther muttered as Five itched at his sweater again. "What was the final stage of paradox psychosis again?".

"Homicidal rage" Five whispered harshly.

"Right" Luther smiled, his smile faded just as quickly as it appeared. "That's great... Five, listen to me" Five ignored his brother as he began creeping towards older Five "I, don't" Luther dropped his arms to his side, giving up.

Unaware of older Five watching him through scope of the rifle, Five blinked to his older self and at the same time, older Five blinked behind him to where Five had been originally standing.

"Shit" Inanna and Luther mumbled.

"Bad idea, shit-heel" Older Five said pointing the gun at Five as Five turned around to him.

Luther sighed as he walked over to older Five. He ripped the gun out of his hands looking from one Five to the other. "Stop it! All right? The both of you" Five walked over to Luther and his older self, itching the back of his head. "Pull it together. Now, Kennedy is gonna be coming around that corner any minute. Okay? So, everyone, let's just take a deep breath..." Luther inhaled deeply and exhaled.

"Oh" Inanna shook her head. "He's dead" Inanna muttered, spinning the end of the flag on the pad of her finger.

Older Five copied him, inhaling a shaky breath as he scratched his neck. Five did the same, glaring at his brother.

"Now, we're all family here, okay? So can we all just try to get along for a few more minutes? You, included" Luther looked over his shoulder at Inanna. "Please- please put the flag away".

Inanna raised her brows, copying how Luther had inhaled and exhaled deeply moments before. Inanna nodded which Luther copied and slid the flag into her trouser pocket.

"Thank you" Luther whispered turning back to the two Five's.

"You want it?" Five asked nodding his head over to his older self.

"Go ahead" Older Five responded with a hint of happiness in his voice, their interaction only confusing Luther.

"What's that?" Luther asked.

Luther groaned as Five kicked him in his groin. Luther hunched over and the gun clattered to the floor by his feet.

"Shit" Luther shouted.

Five straightened out his blazer as he looked at Inanna. "I've got this, love, don't worry" Five smirked as he turned his attention to his older self. Inanna rolled her eyes. "Where were we?" Five asked rhetorically.

Both Five's blinked around Luther and Inanna as they tried to kill each other, only getting one punch on the other before they blinked to a different part of the car park.

They reappeared in front of Luther and as Luther asked for them to stop, Five kicked Luther in his stomach and older Five kicked him in the back of his leg.

"Hey!" Luther shouted as the Fives blinked away from him to continued their fight. "I'm getting really sick of this!" Luther shouted.

Luther turned to Inanna "What happened to 'if anything happens to him'?" Luther asked "Get them to stop, they'll listen to you" Luther said.

"That threat was to you" Inanna said crossing her arms over her chest. "And Five only listens when he wants to. For example, if he had listened to me earlier, we wouldn't be in this situation right now".

"Well, yeah" Luther half nodded. "I do regret forcing you into the car too" Luther mumbled.

"Kidnapping me" Inanna corrected. "You kidnapped me and then proceeded to sit on me the entire car ride" Luther raised his hands above his head, dropping them dramatically.

"You would have escaped, I had-".

Five and older Five reappeared in front of Luther and Inanna facing eachother as older Five breathed heavily, both of them equally as sweaty as the other, with large sweat patches soaked through their blazer and suit jacket.

"Getting tired yet?" Older Five asked.

"I can do this all day" Five said rolling his shoulders as he prepared to punch his older self.

"Guys, this has to stop" Luther said.

"Eat shit, Ape Man" They both responded.

As the two Five's blinked towards each other, a bright blue light appeared in between them, knocking them off their feet.

Luther picked up the gun while they laid on the floor. "Hey! Assholes!" Luther shouted, older Five groaned as he lifted his head to look at Luther. "I'm done listening to you both. I'm in charge now" Luther pointed the gun from one Five to the other.

"Now, Luther! Shoot him!" Older Five shouted.

"No! Luther, shoot him!" Five shouted as he hurried to his feet.

"Shoot him!" Older Five shouted again, pointing to Five as he stood.

"No, Luther, shoot him" Five said.

Luther went from one to the other, unsure of which Five to point the gun at as they shouted for Luther to shoot the other version of themselves.

"Stop!" Inanna shouted, rubbing her temple with her fingers. Luther turned to her, his grip on the gun never loosening as both Five's stop shouting.

"Stop it" Inanna stepped towards older Five as she looked between the three of them, shaking her head. "You're like children, 'shoot him' 'no, shoot him'" Inanna mimicked older Five's and Five's voices as she rolled her eyes. "You're so childish".

Both Five's glared at her, ready to argue, but Inanna continued as she balled her fists up at her sides. "Please-" Inanna turned to older Five suddenly, punching him unexpectedly in his nose.

Five and Luther froze as older Five groaned, his hand holding his nose as it began bleeding. Inanna sighed as she grabbed his arm to hold him still and instantly kneed him in his groin, apologising under her breath.

Older Five hunched over before falling to his knees, stunned by Inanna's actions. Inanna brushed her hair out of her face. "-shut the fuck up" Inanna muttered, finishing her sentence from seconds before.

"I think I just fell in love all over again" Five said, unable to wipe his shocked smile off his face.

"Open the portal before I punch you" Inanna said pointing at Five as she shook her other hand, the punch hurting more than she expected it to. "Get the briefcase" Inanna pointed to Luther as she shouted out her orders.

"Right" Five nodded.

"I said they'd listen" Luther said as he ran over to the briefcase.

Five turned around and began opening the portal. The same blue light that shone around his hands, appeared ahead of him as the portal grew.

Older Five groaned as he began standing up, his sights set on the briefcase next to Luther.

"Luther" Inanna shouted his name, pulling her hair out of her face that had been blown from the wind that came from the portal.

Luther turned to older Five pointing the gun at him. "Don't even think about it" Luther threatened.

"Into the vortex you go, asshole" Five shouted pointing to the portal.

"Fine" Older Five shouted. "But give me the math. So I don't end up looking like Tiger Beat over here".

"You stand next to the vortex and I'll tell ya. Go!" Five shouted. Older Five walked slowly over to the portal. "Closer!" Five shouted.

"This is close enough" Older Five shouted. "Now give it to me!".

Luther nodded as Five looked over his shoulder to him. "It was a typo" Five said.

"Typo?" Older Five asked.

"We put the decimal in the wrong spot in our proof of the existence of a bound for the number of limit cycles of planar polynomial vector fields of fixed degree-" Everything, although Five had tried to explain it before, went straight over Inanna's head. "-We wrote down five-point-seven. It should be... zero-point-five-seven" Older Five said the number at the same time as Five.

"Son of a bitch" Older Five shouted. "I knew that didn't look right" He shouted. Older Five looked at this siblings through the portal before looking back at Five, Five had stuck to his end of the deal, he had to stick to his now. "All right... I guess this is it".

"This is it" Five pulled at his blazer. "Go".

A fire extinguisher was thrown through the portal, flying passed Five and hitting Luther on his forehead. Luther fell backwards and with the briefcase unprotected, older Five ran to it.

"No" Five shouted.

Inanna grabbed the briefcase at the same time as older Five. "Let go" Inanna shouted, pulling the briefcase towards her as older Five pulled it towards him.

"How am I supposed to find my Inanna?" Older Five asked. "I need this" He shouted.

"Five didn't have one, and he found me" Inanna argued, Five ran over to Inanna and his older self and grabbed the briefcase, pulling it back toward Inanna as older Five began winning against Inanna, the strength on his side.

"You'll find her when you're supposed to find her" Five shouted.

"Five!" Luther shouted pointing at the portal. "It's shrinking!" Luther shouted.

"That's not a good enough answer" Older Five said to Five.

Luther stood up, giving Five no chance to give his older self a better answer as he booted older Five into the portal.

Inanna's and Five's hands slipped from the briefcase as it flew through the air with older Five. Inanna caught Five by his waist, pulling him back to her, afraid that he'd get pulled into the portal as it sucked in older Five and Five stumbled forwards with the force of Luther's kick that had ripped the briefcase from their hands.

The briefcase fell from older Five's hands as the portal closed and Inanna pressed her head against Five's back as Luther shouted "We did it!" proudly.

Five groaned looking at the briefcase which laid on the floor in front of them, sliced in half. "The briefcase, you idiot" Five said.

Inanna let go of Five, lifting her head to look at the briefcase as Five stepped away from her and began pacing. "Well, fuck" Inanna mumbled running her hand through her hair.

"You know what" Luther pointed at Five. "A thank-you for preserving your existence would be nice".

"A thank you?" Five asked. "If it wasn't for Inanna, we'd still be going backwards and forwards right now, because you couldn't decided who to shoot" Five shouted.

"Inanna is the reason I couldn't decide, I mean, really? Threatening me? With a flag?" Luther asked Inanna.

"Hey" Inanna turned to Luther pulling the flag out of her pocket. "It wasn't a threat, it was a deal. My Five or your life" Inanna said pointing the flag at him.

"That is a threat" Luther shouted.

Five's attention was pulled away by the voices on the radio that hung on the fence. "And here they come. The presidential car is moving out...".

"Luther! Inanna! Here he comes!" Five said running over to the picket fence.

Five grabbed older Five's gun case and dragged it across the grass to the other picket fence on the corner. Inanna and Luther didn't say another word to each other as they ran over to the fence to see the president.

Luther picked Inanna up, holding her up with his arm around her stomach. Inanna didn't complain, although she did feel like a child, but she was too short to see over the fence and there wasn't enough time to run around it. Five stood on the gun case, their hands holding onto the fence as they peered over it, waiting for the events to play out.

"Look, there's Dad" Luther pointed at a man dressed in all black holding a black umbrella. "What do we do?" Luther asked.

"Uh-oh" Five muttered, his eyes catching another familiar face in the crowd.

"Oh, shit" Luther and Inanna said, their eyes catching Diego as he sprinted across the Grassy Knoll and towards their dad.

Diego tackled their dad to the ground and in that same moment gunshots ran out in the air, the crowd screamed and dispersed as JFK was assassinated.

"KLIF bulletin, from Dallas, three shots reportedly were fired at the motorcade of President Kennedy today, near the downtown section. KLIF News is checking out the report".

coming back to edit this
chapter while i am currently
writing act two makes me
kind of sad honestly...

there is only three chapters left
of act one !!