Umbrella Academy - written for FFFC

[prisca]

Title: Number Two
Character: Diego
Challenge: Fandom Battle / Umbrella Academy
Word Count: 348
Finished: 19.03.2021

:::

As hard as Diego tried to show him his potential, his adoptive father, Sir Reginald, only made him Number Two. However, he would have been such a better leader than Luther, a fighter, yes, but also a tight-lipped loner, not interested in assuming control. But giving up easily was foreign for Diego's nature. Stubbornly he trained his power until he could control it perfectly, make his knives dance in the air, never missing the mark. His father barely showed any interest in it, though.

So, when he was old enough, and most of his siblings had already left the Academy; also Diego decided that it was time for his own life. He went to the police academy, graduated as one of the best. Finally started working for the police of New York, where he met Eugenia. She was a young detective, always friendly, always laughing, even when the job got hard.

And for the first time in his life, Diego dared to think about a normal future. With a woman he loved at his side, maybe children, a dog, a house with a garden. He wanted to vanish in the crowd, never stand in the center of the interest again.

But it didn't last long, and his inner restlessness started to force him outside every night, to fight crime wherever it crossed his way. Too often he left her alone, worrying about his safe homecoming until Eugenia couldn't stand it any longer. She decided that a close relationship was not good for both of them and left him.

At least they did stay friends. It was not much, but if this was all of love he could ever get, Diego was willing to accept it.

Later he often thought that he should have known better. He was Number Two, not born for a normal life. Eugenia could still be alive if he had left the town, stayed away from her as far as possible. He would never forgive himself, that he tried to save the whole world, but he hadn't been able to save the woman he loved.

Umbrella Academy - written for FFFC

[prisca]

Title: Number Seven
Character: Vanya, mention of Sissy and Harlan
Challenge: Fandom Battle / Umbrella Academy
Word Count: 313
Finished: 19.03.2021

:::

Vanya stopped paralyzed when she entered the barn. Seeing Harlan using the power she had thought belonged to her and noticing the panic in Sissy's eyes while she tried to stop her son all in vain was too much.

Instantly Vanya knew what was had happened. Two weeks ago, Harlan almost died. Almost.

It was a wonderful day, spent together at the lake, with the two people she had learned to love. Sissy and Harlan; never she had felt so close to anyone before. And of course, she hadn't hesitated even for the split of a second when she realized that there was only one chance to save Harlan's life.

She used her power, as much as it scared her, well knowing that it could get out of control so easily. Concentrating on the sounds around, the birds singing nearby, the wind in the trees, she forced the lake's water upward, building a gigantic wave in the air. Leaving back the muddy underground... and Harlan's distorted and lifeless body.

While pulling him into her arms, placing him in the grass at the waterside, and starting to reanimate him, the water fell back with a loud drowning. But she didn't pay any attention. All she felt was deep thankfulness when the little boy in front of her opened his eyes again, and Sissy fell onto her knees beside both of them, crying and laughing at the same time.

And Vanya had thought that maybe her power was not that bad; yes, she had almost destroyed the earth once, but today she saved a life. This couldn't be wrong.

:::

Now, some weeks later, in the barn, shaken by a power stronger than every twister, she realized that she had only fooled herself. It would have been more merciful to let Harlan die than to force him to live with this power from now on.