Diego's POV:

"What a rush! Am I right, Diego?" Klaus slurred, slinging an arm over my shoulder as we exited the museum. The adrenaline from the fight was still buzzing in my veins.

I smirked, catching a whiff of alcohol on his breath. Typical Klaus. Even drunk, he could still throw a punch.

"You can say that again," I chuckled. Truthfully, I didn't mind getting paired with Klaus. He was an idiot at times, but we always had a good laugh.

The echoes of sirens blared outside, their red and blue lights flickering through the glass doors. Our little victory, it seemed, hadn't gone unnoticed. A few reporters and fans had probably come to congratulate us on another 'successful mission.'

But something felt off. Something didn't sit right. I scanned the group, my heart sinking when I realised Charlotte was missing.

I shot Five a glare, who was walking and talking to Ben, a cocky, too-confident grin on his face that I hated. Five knew better than anyone that when we were paired up, we always, always left together. No exceptions. It was the only way to make sure we all made it out in one piece.

"Five!" I barked, shrugging off Klaus' arm. "Where's Charlotte?"

Five glanced up from his conversation with Ben. His grin faltered just enough for me to see him hesitate. He didn't respond right away, and I felt my stomach twist. The others noted what I said and began looking around the room.

I didn't wait for an answer. I knew what that hesitation meant. Charlotte was gone, and Five hadn't even noticed.

I had to force myself to hold it together and keep my cool, even though every nerve in my body was screaming. I wasn't just worried; I was drowning in panic, my mind spiralling. The thought of losing her... I couldn't even let it settle in. My mind kept looping back to the last time I saw her before she and Five split off for their post. There was something wrong. Something in her eyes that wasn't her. She looked... distant. As if she wasn't really there, as if she was slipping away. That wasn't like Charlotte. Not on a mission. Not ever.

Now that I thought about it, Charlotte had been more distant lately. We'd stopped our late-night meetups after lights out, those rare moments when we could relax, enjoy each other's company, and just be us. I understood training had taken over both of our lives, and we were constantly pushing ourselves. But still, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was another reason. Even when we were partners on missions, we'd always had a good time together, laughing through the chaos when we could. But we both knew the stakes. We had to focus, and lately, it felt like we weren't sharing those moments any more. It wasn't just the mission that changed; it was us. And I hated that. I could never admit to her that I missed her and wanted those moments back.

"Damn it," Five muttered, his voice distant.

"Five, where's Charlotte?" Luther demanded, the usual calm in his voice replaced by something sharper. Usually, I would roll my eyes at how Luther spoke, but this time was different; we were talking about Charlotte.

"She probably just-"

Before Five could finish, the crack of a gunshot shattered the air from the room we had just left. A cold, heavy chill crept up my spine. The others exchanged looks, panic and urgency spreading through the group.

Without hesitation, I sprinted back towards the room.

"Diego!" The others shouted after me, but I didn't care. Nothing was going to stop me from getting to her.

No, Charlotte is far too skilled. She'd have dodged that. Maybe even fired the shot herself, right?

When I threw open the door, the sight that hit me froze every muscle in my body. Charlotte was lying there, motionless. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the floor. My stomach turned, and a fiery wave of rage and disbelief surged up into my chest, burning my face.

At that moment, I didn't care if the shooter was still out there. I couldn't feel anything but the overwhelming need to get to her. The air left my lungs. I barely registered my own voice as I dropped to my knees beside her.

"Charlotte..." My throat tightened. The words were too thick, too heavy to get out.

Ignoring the blood that was soaking into my clothes, my heart hammering in my chest. I turned her gently, lifting her mask off.

"Guys! Get help!" I shouted, my voice cracking with the panic I couldn't suppress.

I couldn't look away from her. The sight of her lying there made my head spin. I searched her body; her chest was rising up and down but dangerously slow. My hand found the wound on her side, and I could feel my chest tighten painfully.

No. Please. No

I pressed my hands down hard against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Then, I saw a flicker of blue light from the corner of my eye.

"Oh shit," Five cursed under his breath.

Oh shit, indeed, you cocky little bastard.

I was too furious to even look at him. If he had stayed with her, if he had paid attention, this wouldn't be happening.

Five knelt beside me, his eyes scanning Charlotte quickly, calculating what needed to be done.

"You idiot," he whispered. I couldn't tell if he was talking to himself or her.

"We need to get her back to the Academy," Luther's voice cut through the tension. I hadn't even noticed him approach, but now he was standing there, calm as ever.

"We can't move her too much," I said through clenched teeth, trying to keep my composure, even though I could feel the tears threatening to break free. Luckily, my mask hid my eyes, but it couldn't stop the raw feeling building in my chest.

"Five, you'll need to blink her back to the Academy," Luther continued, his tone all business. "Get her to Mum. Can you do that?" It wasn't a question, not really. Luther was telling Five what had to be done.

I hated the idea of leaving her with Five. If he had stayed with her... maybe this wouldn't have happened.

"Diego," Five's voice was sharper this time, breaking through my thoughts. "You need to let go of her so I can take her back."

Now, it was my time to hesitate, taking one last glance at Charlotte's bloodied form in my lap. Then, with a ragged sigh, I stood up, stepping away to give Five room to work.

"Before you go, Five," Luther said, voice steady, "the report needs to say that you were the one who found her. We all agree?"

"What?" I snapped, my anger flaring instantly. "Why can't we say I found her?"

It wasn't like Luther to lie, especially to Dad.

"Diego, just trust me," Luther continued, his voice low and firm. "It's better this way. You know Dad will go off the rails when he finds out. I'm just trying to de-escalate the situation as much as possible, and we also need to say that Five noticed Charlotte was missing. Got it?"

I wanted to argue, to fight back, but I couldn't. Charlotte needed medical attention now, and every second I spent arguing was another second wasted.

"Fine," I spat, bitterness thick in my mouth.

"Fine by me," Five said with an unsettling calmness that only made my blood boil further.

Luther nodded.

"We'll handle the reporters outside." Luther continued, like we were dealing with an inconvenience. "We'll make sure Dad knows where you both are."

Five nodded back and, with a flicker, disappeared, leaving only the bloody stain of Charlotte's life behind.

"She'll be okay," Luther muttered, trying to offer comfort, but it was hollow.

I wanted to believe him. I had to believe him. But if anything happened to Charlotte... Five would be joining Charlotte in the medical room.

~

Everything was a blur from the moment I saw Five blink away with Charlotte. The chatter from the others, the photographs, and the questions were just noise. None of it mattered. All I could think about was returning to the Academy and ensuring Charlotte was alive and safe.

Once we returned home, Dad didn't even give us time to catch our breath. He told us to go straight to his study for a debrief, and I knew what was coming: the blame, the anger. This wasn't about what had happened. It didn't matter to him that it was Five's fault. In Dad's eyes, we'd all failed as a team.

Standing in a line in front of his massive desk, the familiar, suffocating tension pressed down on me. Five finally joined us, his face and clothes splattered with Charlotte's blood, but he looked unfazed. With my fists clenched at my sides, I kept my gaze forward, biting down on my urge to say what actually happened.

It was I who noticed she was missing, and I found her. She deserves to know the truth, not the twisted version Dad will be told. I swallowed back my frustration as Dad entered the room.

His presence was as heavy and cold as the air around him. He didn't even look up from his book when he began questioning.

As discussed with Luther, we all agreed that Five noticed Charlotte was missing from the group and that he had found her.

"And it was Number Five who was assigned to be her partner on this mission, yes?" He asked. His voice was steady but filled with that icy, dismissive tone I despised.

Five glanced over to Luther before answering.

"Yes, I was partnered with her," Five replied, his voice smooth, completely free of any trace of guilt or worry.

Dad sighed and closed his book with a quiet snap. Slowly, he looked up at us, his gaze like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath.

"Number Five's failure," he paused, "is a failure for all of you." His eyes flicked over us, measuring our reactions as we all forced ourselves to stand silently.

He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as they swept over each of us, his disappointment practically radiating off him.

"What part of team do you not understand?" He said, his voice suddenly loud and sharp, slicing through the silence. "Do I need to buy you all dictionaries?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He never did. This was one of his routines, after all, practised and perfected.

Here we go.

"You can all be successful alone," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain, "but you are all weak, scattered, and ineffectual as a team. You've embarrassed The Umbrella Academy. You have let down a vital member of the team! You've embarrassed me." His eyes narrowed, his gaze darkening. "It's fortunate that I could handle the press questions about Number Five's and Number Eight's disappearance myself since clearly none of you could be trusted with such a task. It's a good job that we have Grace and Pogo, or else Number Eight might not have survived!"

He took another step, stopping directly in front of Five.

"Number Five," he said, his tone full of icy disgust, "your lack of teamwork is becoming an alarming liability. How could you be so foolish as to leave behind another member of the team? Tell me, is the concept of basic responsibility beyond your understanding?"

Five gritted his teeth, his jaw set.

"It wasn't my fault," he muttered.

I froze, my jaw tightening. What did he say? He had the nerve to say that? My anger spiked, and I could feel my fists trembling. Unbelievable.

Dad's gaze sharpened, his voice quiet but lethal.

"I beg your pardon?"

Five held his ground, but he didn't respond. I could see the muscles in his jaw working, the stubbornness blazing in his eyes. But Dad's tone grew colder.

"It wasn't your fault?" Dad repeated, his voice dripping with mockery. "How utterly foolish are you, Number Five? All of you failed here tonight. Every single one of you." He stepped back, his eyes sweeping over us like we were nothing but an army of broken toys. "And as for you, Number Five, you are the reason Number Eight got hurt. This is your failure, first and foremost. Did you do this on purpose, boy? Are you jealous of Number Eight? You need to grow up! As I have said before, she is a vital member of the team; like it or not, she is a part of The Umbrella Academy."

The silence that followed felt heavy and thick, with the unspoken accusations hanging in the air. None of us dared to say a word. I could feel his anger like a lead weight pressing down on us, and I could tell he wasn't finished yet.

"I've thought it through," Dad said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Until further notice, lights out will be at 8 p.m. Wake-up will be at 5 a.m. And if Pogo or Grace catch any one of you breaking curfew, I'll add another month to it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," we all said in unison, our voices tense and low.

"You are all dismissed," he said, his gaze hard and unfeeling as he turned his back on us.

Without waiting another second, I turned on my heel and walked out of the study, barely hearing the shuffling footsteps of my brothers and sisters as they followed. My heart was pounding, my hands were shaking, and I felt like I was going to explode. I didn't even care about the punishment, the curfew, or the wake-up time. I just needed to get out of that room and away from Five.

I moved quickly through the halls, my mind racing. I needed to see Charlotte to make sure she was okay. I had to know for myself that she was alive and safe. I'd stay with her all night if I had to, and if Dad thought his new curfew could stop me, he had another thing coming.

~

It didn't surprise me that everyone but Five headed straight for the medical room. Five probably slunk off to talk to Vanya, hoping to clear his name before we could pin anything else on him. Typical.

Mum met us at the door, her face calm but her eyes reflecting worry as she assured us that Charlotte would be okay. She just needed time to rest. Then, with a gentle nod, Mum went off to clean up the surgery room. In a place full of superpowers, I'd always thought Mum was the real superhero.

My eyes were on Charlotte, but I glanced around at my siblings, each of them processing what had happened in their own way. Allison was crying into Luther's shoulder; even he looked shaken, his face creased with worry. Klaus was swaying slightly, his eyes glassy. His bond with Charlotte was strong; it was a real brother-sister relationship, and I could only guess how wrecked he'd be for the next few days. Ben sat silently with his head in his hands, occasionally glancing up at her with a tight, pained expression.

I wanted to reach for her hand, to give her some comfort. But with everyone in the room, I didn't. I could tell the others all cared for her deeply, and as much as I hated it, even Luther looked hurt to see her lying there, pale and still. It was strange; she'd only been with us for 3 years, but somehow, it felt like she'd always been here, like she was one of us from the start.

The Academy wouldn't feel the same without her.

An hour passed before Pogo entered, his calm voice a sharp contrast to Dad's usual orders as he told us all to return to our rooms and rest. Reluctantly, everyone began to trickle out, each of them giving Charlotte a long, sad look before heading to bed.

"Master Diego," Pogo said gently, "I think it's time for you to get some rest as well. Miss Charlotte will be fine."

My eyes never left Charlotte as he spoke. I knew he was right, but I didn't want her to wake up alone. Finally, I turned to look up at Pogo.

"Can I stay for 30 more minutes?" I asked, hoping he'd see how much I needed this.

Pogo sighed, nodding with a reluctant smile.

"Alright, 30 more minutes. But then straight to bed. I don't think you want to get into more trouble with your Father."

After Pogo left, I finally moved closer to her, standing at her bedside. She looked so peaceful, but her skin was pale, almost translucent. Without even thinking, I reached for her hand, feeling my heart sink as I noticed how cold her skin was.

Was she too cold? Should I find her a blanket? I glanced around, desperate for anything that could make her comfortable, but the room was empty. So, instead, I held her hand a little tighter, hoping my warmth would reach her and give her some comfort.

The 30 minutes passed too quickly, but I knew I couldn't risk staying longer. Giving her hand a final, gentle squeeze, I leaned down, my voice low and unsteady.

"Pl-please... please be strong. F-fight through this." I hesitated, gathering my thoughts. "This place would be unbearable without you," I whispered, kissing her forehead softly.

I lingered by her side, watching for any sign that she might wake up, willing her to open her eyes. But as the minutes passed, her breathing stayed steady, her eyelids unmoving. If she'd woken up, I wouldn't have cared if she'd heard my stammered words or seen how worried I was. Nothing would've mattered except knowing she was okay. I forced myself to pull away with a sigh, slipping out of the room as quietly as possible.

Walking through the halls toward my room, I heard voices. The closer I got, the more familiar they became. Everyone was gathered in the hallway, talking. When I spotted Five, my anger flared back to life, the frustration from earlier burning inside me like a fresh wound.

"You!" I shouted, storming toward him, my fists clenched. "This is your fault!"

Five raised an eyebrow, his face annoyingly calm.

"Yes, Diego, we've established that already," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" I snarled, lunging at him. But Five blinked out of reach, reappearing behind me. I whipped around, but Luther's arms wrapped around me before I could move, holding me back.

"Enough!" Luther scolded, tightening his grip as I struggled. "This won't help Charlotte!"

"Let go of me! He deserves this!" I roared.

I knew he was right. Beating Five wouldn't fix anything. I finally went limp, sighing in defeat, and Luther set me down carefully, though his hand stayed on my shoulder just in case.

"Look," Allison said, her voice unsteady but firm, "we're all mad at Five for what happened to Charlotte."

Everyone turned to glare at Five, who, of course, was standing beside a wide-eyed Vanya.

Vanya stepped forward, her eyes fierce.

"It wasn't Five's fault!" She protested, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to sound firm.

I let out a bitter laugh and glared towards Five and Vanya.

"You weren't even there, Vanya. You don't get a say in this."

"Diego," Luther warned.

I shrugged, crossing my arms, though the glare didn't leave my face. I didn't care if it was harsh; she had no clue what had gone down.

"Diego's right, Vanya," Allison added, folding her arms as she addressed our sister. "You weren't there, and with all due respect, you don't know our mission protocols."

"So what?" Vanya barked back. "Five told me what happened, and it sounds like Charlotte made her own mistake."

I felt my blood boil. How dare she blame Charlotte. I was about to snap back, but Ben spoke up first, his voice low and reluctant.

"I mean... we don't actually know why she stayed behind."

I shot him a glare, but he continued, his voice steadying.

"But whatever the reason, Five shouldn't have left her."

I gave Ben a grateful nod, and he returned it with a faint smile.

"I say we vote," I said, looking around. "Who thinks this was Charlotte's fault?"

Predictably, only Five and Vanya raised their hands.

"Vanya, your vote doesn't count," I said dismissively."And who thinks it was Fives?"

Each of us raised our hands one by one, making Five's face twist with irritation.

"You're all idiots, you know that?" He snapped.

Luther stepped forward, raising a hand to calm us.

"Okay, I think it's safe to say the majority blames Five. But we all know that fighting about this isn't going to help. If we keep holding onto this anger, we'll only prove Dad's point that we're weak as a team. So here's what I propose: we say our piece and put this behind us. When Charlotte wakes up, she can tell us why she stayed behind, and no one will make her feel bad for it." He paused, looking straight at Five. "Five, you should have had her back. But we move on from here. Fair enough?"

"Yes," everyone except Five and Vanya replied in unison.

"Come on," Klaus chimed in, leaning against the wall to steady himself. "Charlotte's going to be embarrassed enough about getting hurt. Let's just let her rest; if she wants to talk about it, she can. In the meantime, let's make sure she actually has a decent recovery, yeah?"

We all looked at him, surprised at the clarity of his words.

"Can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Klaus," I said, glancing around for confirmation.

"See?" Klaus grinned, looking pleased with himself. "I do have my moments of wisdom."

Luther nodded, looking around. "Are we all agreeing with Klaus?"

When everyone nodded, he turned to Five, his gaze steady.

"This only works if we're all on board, Five."

With an eye roll and a scoff, Five muttered,

"Fine. I agree."

"Good," I added, fixing Five with a stern glare. "And while she's recovering, maybe you can figure out how to be a better teammate."

Five gave me a look of disdain before blinking away.

The group dispersed, each of us heading to our rooms. As I settled into bed, Charlotte's pale and peaceful face stayed with me, my words to her still echoing in my mind.

It hit me then, more demanding than ever: I couldn't keep this buried any more. She had to know how much she meant to me, how much I needed her in my life. Embarrassing or not, this was a truth that couldn't stay locked up, not after coming so close to losing her. It was raw, overwhelming, and too real to ignore.

As sleep finally claimed me, a fierce resolve settled in my chest. When she woke up, I'd be there, and I'd tell her everything.

No more hiding.

Five Fact: When Five returned to the Academy and handed Charlotte over to Grace, he went straight to Vanya's room to tell her what had happened. Five was angry with Charlotte and knew the others would take her side in this, but he knew Vanya would take his.

A/N: I bet you all didn't see that coming! I'm going to say it. This was one of my favourite chapters to write! At first, I was unsure about doing a Diego POV, but I think this works perfectly! Technically, it was a 2 for 1! A different POV and a flashback chapter! I can't wait to hear what you all think! Depending on how this chapter goes, I might do more Diego POV's!

Anyway, how are we all doing? I hope you are all keeping warm. The weather has been all over the place recently - it's so cold! Thankfully, I haven't needed to go out much, but I have another busy week coming up, so I can't hide inside anymore!

Also, just an FYI, I have no phone at the moment, so I'm not able to format these chapters the way I would normally, and I am also unable to post on Instagram or TikTok :( So, if you've messaged me or commented, I am not ignoring you.

Finally, you might have seen my post, but I just wanted to repeat myself here. I want to say THANK YOU to all of you for reading my book. We hit 12K views, and I am still in shock! This wouldn't have happened without your support, so thank you for engaging with my book, whether that be a vote, a comment, or simply reading it - I appreciate you all!

If you thought this was a crazy chapter, just wait until next week! I wasn't kidding when I said this book has unexpected twists!

QOTD: What did you think of Diego deciding to tell Charlotte how he feels?

Follow up: Do you think he will tell her about all of this in the present? 👀

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