CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR:
THE WAR

The funeral was held outside, during a snowy day.

The remaining members of the academy all gathered, with their umbrellas the only thing sheltering them from the snow, around the coffin that was now covered in snow.

they formed a circle around it, siblings mourning their brother.

The design on the coffin resembled an octopus, with Ben's picture in the middle of it.

Pogo stepped forward, "Your father is ready to give the eulogy, children."

Reginald Hargreeves didn't look at any of the children, Grace, or Pogo, when he started talking, "The world is full of injustice, good people die along with the bad. This cosmic equation will never change unless evil itself is wiped from existence. Thankfully there are powerful sources pushing back against the wicked and iniquitous. individuals who have the strength to pull together against insurmountable odds and not to hesitate to sacrifice themselves for another."

Luther and Allison looked at each other, they like their other siblings had tears in their eyes and were sniffing.

"Unfortunately,  none of you are such people. Despite years of training and weeks of preparation, you allowed Number Six to die  -on this mission."

"It wasn't our fault," Allison protested immediately.

"Excuses?  I will not hear them.  The Umbrella Academy has failed one of their own,  the consequences of which are dire. Hold on to this feeling, children. Let it fester in your hearts... so there is never a next time.  Training will be canceled today out of respect for your brother. We resume tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. Number Eight, I expect to see you in my office in an hour, don't be late."

And without another word, Reginald left and was soon followed by Grace and Pogo.

The sound of Grace's heels faded and was replaced with the sniffing sound of the six remaining Hargreeves.

"It wasn't anybody's fault," Vanya tried to comfort her siblings.

"How would you know Vanya? You weren't even on the mission," Diego snapped at her.

With one last look at the others, Vanya turned and left.

"Nice going asshole," Luther said.

"What? we were all thinking it!"

"Oh, so you're thinking Diego? that's a first," Allison backed Luther up.

"Screw you!"

"Hey! dad was right! we should've tried harder, this didn't have had to happen!"

Luther, Diego, and Allison left why arguing, leaving only Klaus and Alex.

Klaus went to stand next to the coffin and used his powers to conjure Ben's clothes.

Alex followed him, but he didn't show any emotion besides staring at the coffin. He had yet to say anything, or show any emotion and that was making Klaus nervous and anxious.

Alex could faintly hear the sound of Klaus talking to someone, but he couldn't hear the other end of the conversation.

He looked up and found Klaus opening his flask and taking a sip, "Oh, that thing? You can go there anytime you want."

Klaus listened to Ben's ghost before replying, "Yeah, 1,000 percent.  Trust me, Benerino. It's not goin' anywhere. I'm the expert on the dead, remember? Hey, wanna watch me piss in Dad's gas tank?"

A moment of silence before Klaus smiled and started walking before he paused and turned to face his lover, "Alex?"

Alex didn't turn to face him, but he tilted his head a little showing that he was listening.

"You wanna come with us?"

A pause and then Alex shook his head, "No," His voice was hoarse from lack of use, "I need to go see Reginald."

Klaus exchanged a worried glance with where Ben was standing before he slowly backed away and started heading towards Reginald's car.

Alex stayed there for a little longer, before sighing and then left to find Reginald.

He knew whatever was about to be discussed, he wasn't going to like it.

——☔︎︎——

"...And Alex Hargreeves, owner of Ouija, has been spotted with Klaus..."

Alex was sleeping next to Klaus at Elliot's place, the TV downstairs was labeling them as criminals and Alex simply didn't have the energy to be angry at some stupid photo they were going to use for him.

"We need a proper honeymoon," Alex whispered in Klaus's ear and then secured the grip he had on his husband, who had decided he wanted to be the little spoon.

Klaus shivered from Alex's breath on his ear before turning his face slightly, "Didn't we go on one?"

"That two-day rest in the motel room we found was not a honeymoon and you know it, I demand Bora Bora."

"But we pora pora."

Alex lightly bit down on Klaus' ear making him squirm, "Then somewhere cheaper, but still good. I want to tan and you can protect my virtue by throwing rocks at anyone who looks my way."

Klaus hummed and shifted until he was facing Alex, "I like this plan."

"All my plans are good."

"Not all of them."

"You little shit--"

Luther, Diego, Five, Allison, and Vanya looked upstairs when they heard the lovebirds' giggling and squealing before they rolled their eyes with --was that a smile on their faces?-- and looking back at the TV.

"Should we go downstairs?" Alex whispered.

"I don't want to."

"Neither do I, but I think we should."

Klaus sighed, "Alright alright."

He pecked Alex on the lips before getting up and offering a hand to Alex.

"--The FBI is chasing us, Dallas Police, the secret service, I mean it's only a matter of time before they hunt us down here," Allison was speaking when they entered the hearing range

"Where are we supposed to go then?" Vanya asked and looked around.

"I have this yurt just outside Reykjavik.  We could totally lay low there.  Folks there are a little weird, but lovely," Klaus said making Alex frown. They have a place for honeymoon now, why can't they just woosh and leave this whole apocalypse thing behind?

"Hey, numbnuts," Five called him stopping Klaus from angering Alex more than he already has, "Hiding's not gonna do anything so. The commission will hunt us down whenever and wherever we go."

"He's right, They'll never stop," Diego said making Five look at him suspiciously.

"I'm sorry since when are you an expert in the commission?"

"Since I got back from there."

"What?"

"Yeah, they headhunted me, offered me a full-time job with benefits, which I, had to deny it."

"They headhunted you?"

Alex looked at Klaus and found him already looking his way, "what do we do?" Alex mouthed.

"Let them first fight, the winner gets to brag," Klaus mouthed back.

"Good idea," Alex mouthed and gave him thumbs up.

Vanya watched them with a small smile.

"The village idiot?"

"What? Am I not allowed to be headhunted?"

Every sibling present rolled their eyes.

Alex looked at Vanya, "I bet you five bucks Five will win."

She smiled at him, "Well it's not a bet if we're betting on the same person."

Alex cursed before looking at Klaus and holding up five fingers, Klaus held up five fingers but then he closed them and opened them again, making it clear he wants to bet 10 bucks.

Alex pouted before nodding.

He turned back to the argument that was still going on.

"Who do you think it was that figured out that it was Vanya who caused the doomsday and stopped it? Me."

"Hey," Klaus protested.

"I figured it all out on the Infinite Switchboard."

"You were on the Infinite Switchboard?"

"Hell, yeah. I made that machine my bitch! Y'all need to recognize I got shit going on y'all don't even know about."

"Yas! Pop off, Queen!"

And chaos ensued.

Alex and Klaus watched from a corner and chuckled.

They were in the middle of deciding something --Alex wasn't paying attention-- when Vanya interrupted them.

"I'm leaving."

All chatter stopped.

"What? Where?"

"Sissy's farm, there's something wrong with Harlan and I need to help."

"Vanya, we have to stay together, okay?" Luther, aka mister know it all said, "Now more than ever."

"That's why I'm telling you this. Whatever is going on with Harlan I think I might have caused it."

"How?"

She looked at them all, "He drowned and somehow I was able to bring him back to life. and now it's like we're connected."

"What does that even mean?"

"I don't know, I can't explain it, but... I know that he needs my help. I need your help too. I'm scared. For the first time in my life, I don't want to do it alone. I want my family by my side."

No one said anything.

Diego stepped closer to her, "Look, I'm sorry, we have other priorities right now."

"Diego's right," Five pipped in, "For once. We need to make our stand here and now."

Allison and Klaus looked away.

"Alex?" Vanya asked softly.

Alex didn't look at her, he instead stood up and climbed the stairs.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you when I see you," Vanya said with a small smile -- obviously fake-- and then left.

She started the car, but before she could do anything else the door opened.

"So so so, Ben? gone forever. isn't he?" Klaus said and looked at her waiting for an answer.

"He traded his life for mine, and saved the world in the process."

Klaus huffed, "Show off," He looked away before looking back at her, "But did he say anything about...me?"

Vanya nodded making Klaus intrigued, "He wanted me to tell you that he was too scared to go to the light, it wasn't you that made him stay."

Klaus stared at her, deep in his thoughts, "Oh, that little shit, All these years and I thought it was my fault that he didn't get his ticket into heaven, both him and Alex. turns out one isn't even dead!"

They chuckled, before her smile faded, "Look I'm sorry but, you should get out cause--"

"Oh no, I'm coming with, we are."

"We?"

Klaus' door opened and Alex plopped himself down on his lap, causing Klaus to let out a huff.

Alex grinned, "Sorry, I needed a wardrobe change. I need to look badass."

"But you're always badass and hot."

Alex smiled at Klaus, "We're already married no need to woo me."

He then turned to face a confused Vanya, "We can't let you face the unknown alone, right?"

the backdoors opened and Diego and Allison joined them, "Got room for two more?"

"What about the commission?"

"We might as well do some good before we die horribly," Diego said and scooted over.

"Whoo-hoo!"

Five opened Klaus' door.

"Five, you don't have to--"

"I know, I owe you one sis," They exchanged a smile, "Children ride in the back."

Alex made himself invisible and Klaus climbed the seats and sat between Diego and Allison. As soon as he was sitting comfortably-- as comfortable as it could be-- Alex appeared on his lap.

"Guys I don't know what to say."

Luther opened the trunk, sat down, and closed the door.

His weight caused the car to shift and the back of the car visibly weighed a lot more.

Alex opened his mouth--

"Anyone makes a fat joke and I'm out of here."

Alex closed his mouth.

Vanya smiled and started driving.

When they arrived at Sissy's farm, it was snowing.

It doesn't mean that they were driving for a very long time, it means the weather was unnatural.

Oh, and there was a blue beam coming out of the barn and going into the sky.

"You think whatever's going on inside is causing the cold front?" Diego asked as they got out of the car. 

"Well, the correlation is high," Five looked at the beam.

"Sissy! Sissy!" Vanya called out as her girlfriend came out of the barn with her shotgun pointed at them.

"Get back! All of you, just get the hell back!"

They all stopped, Klaus raised his hands in the universal 'I surrender' sign.

"Sissy! Hey! Hey! What's wrong?"

Alex gasped and looked between Sissy and Diego.

Vanya and Sissy were having a conversation, but Alex took Klaus's shoulder, "Klaus! Do you know what this means?"

Klaus looked confused, Diego who heard Alex turned towards them, "What's wrong?"

Alex looked between them before pointing towards Sissy, "Guns are for Sissy!" and then pointed at Diego, "Real men throw knives!"

Diego looked at him in disbelief before an amused chuckle escaped him.

Klaus joined him before they all calmed down and looked over at Sissy and Vanya.

It took some time, but they finally convinced Sissy to let them in the barn.

Inside the barn, Harlan was held midair. Vanya entered the force field to convince him to calm down, Byt then Klaus noticed The handler and Diego's girlfriend --ex-girlfriend-- and then FIce and Diego went to talk to them.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Allison asked as she, Klaus, Luther, and Alex looked over to where Five and Diego were.

"I don't know," Luther said before leaning a little closer to Allison, "Which one is the girlfriend?"

Suddenly, an army of assassins appeared behind her. A lot of assassins.

"I don't know what just happened over there, but I think they're pissed off."

They saw the handler talking out a red piece of garment and Diego and Five bolted, so they all retreated.

The handler dropped it and the assassins attacked with a battle cry.

They ran, miraculously dodging the bullets until they found shelter.

Alex turned and looked behind him, he saw Five and Diego had found shelter behind a red tractor. He was about to turn back when he saw Diego pushing Five towards the house and then he stepped in the way of the bullets.

For a second, Alex thought he was going to see Diego die, like Pietro.

But Diego held up his hands, and stopped the bullets?

Why does everyone have super cool powers and Alex is stuck with being invisible?

His thoughts were interrupted as a bullet passed through his head, but luckily he was in invisible mood --the one people can see him but can't touch him, or as he liked to call it, ghost mood-- and he vowed to never dis his powers ever again.

Diego changed the direction the bullets were flying at and threw them at a gas tank, causing it to explode before throwing himself behind the red tractor.

They were under attack. They were outnumbered and the assassins were getting closer and closer.

They had no hope.

Luther hugged his siblings, intending on protecting them against any bullet. Diego could be mistaken with a ball, and Five was somewhere in the house.

But they still had Vanya.

She levitated herself out of the barn and flew towards the army and then she released her energy.

And the army was no more.

Only Lila and The Handler were left standing, protected in their own forcefield.

"It's over," Allison said in the silence.

They all stood up and spotted Lila and the Handler.

"How are they doing that?"

And then--

Lila rose to the air, looking just like Vanya, and released her energy.

knocking everyone on their backs.

This battle just went from hard, to impossibly hard.

"Fuck--"

☆彡WORDS: 2700☆彡
HELLO, LOVELIES!
How y'all doing?

I think episode 10 will be divided into 2 or 3 chapters. Excluding this chapter, we have 1 or 2 chapters left :)

But we still have Barking News to look forward to!

The sissy joke has been something that I've been looking forward to and I'm dam proud of myself. Thank you very much

-bisexualmess this time I'm actually writing at 2 am, are you happy?

STAY SAFE,
LOVE YA! ❤️

Memes?
No.