FANDOM: THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
PAIRING: THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY X SISTER! OC
PROMPT: "I DON'T NEED YOU TO BE HAPPY, YOU KNOW?"
WARNINGS: NONE, EXCEPT IT'S BAD AND I DON'T LIKE IT
WORD COUNT: 927

JOSIE HARGREEVES, also known at Number 8 in the Umbrella Academy, had the power of age manipulation. This meant that Josie could accelerate or reverse the age of living or non-living objects or organisms. Her powers were put to use in the Academy by her adoptive father, Reginald. Her and her adoptive brothers and sisters - Luther, Diego, Allison, Klaus, Ben, Five and Vanya - were all dangerous in their own unique ways - that's why they were so good at what they do.

However, there was one drawback to Josie's abilities. When given the power to manipulate other's ages, it took a toll on herself too. At the age of 14, she realised that she wasn't growing any more, and was unlikely to ever grow or develop ever again.

It was a good life at the start. But then Five disappeared. Then Ben is killed on a mission. After her brother's death, all the siblings could agree that there was nothing connecting them anymore. So all Josie could do was watch silently as Diego, Allison, Vanya, Klaus and Luther all left what they once called a home.

Of course, Josie couldn't do such a thing. Who would let a a child rent an apartment by themselves? No one. So she had to stay with her mother, father and Pogo.

But then Reginald died mysteriously in his sleep. Josie, after living with the man all the life, was distraught. He was a horrid man, but he gave her and her siblings a home, connecting them through their powers. If it weren't for Reginald, she would have never met the people that she came to call her best friends.

The following day after his death was publicised, one by one, the remaining five members of the Academy met back at the house to meet Josie.

"Jo-Jo!" Klaus was the first to show up. He hadn't changed much - just a new collection of small tattoos, a bit of experimental eyeliner and the usual scruffy hair were the things that made a small smile grace Josie's face. "How have you been, sis?"

Josie shrugged. "I've seen better days, Klaus" She spoke, but diverting the focus to him. "Is Ben with you?"

Klaus nodded with a roll of his eyes. "Yeah, the little shit won't leave me alone," he sighed dramatically. "Do you have any skirts that would fit me? I find them more freeing."

Josie grinned and nodded. "I think there should be one that fits in my closest. If not, you can wait 'til Allison arrives and ransack her luggage? Oh, and tell Ben I say hello."

Klaus grinned mischievously. "I like your thinking, little guy. He says hi, by the way."

Diego and Luther were the next in, following after each other. Clearly, the two didn't get on well and Josie decided to avoid the negative energy at all costs. Then Allison arrived. The two sisters got on well. Allison showed Josie pictures of her daughter, Claire, and all the stories she had about her. Josie didn't have many stories or artefacts to return as she hadn't been anywhere or done anything, so she just sat and listened. Finally, Vanya was the last through the doors.

"Hey, Vanya, how are you?" Josie asked, but before her sister could answer, the sound of heavy footsteps descended the stairs.

"Well, well, if it isn't the traitor?" Diego taunted, walking straight past the shorter Hargreeves'.

Josie glared at the back of his head. "Jesus Christ, Diego. Let it go. At least for today. It's our dad's funeral, for god's sake!"

Diego chuckled under his breath. "Lighten up, Josie. You're free now. You should be happy, like me."

"I don't need you to be happy, you know? I don't even care about your feelings at this very moment in time," Josie countered. Diego shrugged and walked away, even though his sister's words did hurt him just a little.

After the funeral and a heated discussion about the mystery of their father's death, Josie decided to take a time out in the back garden. She sat remorsefully as she glanced at the fallen statue of Ben and the pile of her father's ashes that now had a stumbled-out cigarette in - courtesy of Klaus.

A tear slid down her face as she reflect on what her family had become. Once upon a time, they all loved each other. Now, one was dead, one was missing, and the rest hated each other. It seemed that Josie was the only one who still had a shred of respect for all seven of her siblings - living or dead.

A flash of blue light emitted from the sky above her, causing Josie to squint and look up at the anomaly occurring before her eyes. After a moment, the rest of her siblings had joined her outside to watch whatever the blue orb was doing.

Luther and Diego had pushed her towards the back of the group, out of protectionist values, but it still made the girl roll her eyes.

They could faintly see a face within the blue hue, one that got clearer the closer it came, though it morphed from an old face to a younger, more familiar face. Not long after, a figure dropped from the blue mist before it disappeared.

The familiar school uniform caught everyone's attention, but mostly Josie's.

"Five?!"