l i t t l e l i o n m a n | t h e u m b r e l l a a c a d e m y

0 . 8

i heard a rumor

✩ ° . * . ° ✩

"seb?"

his eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the sunlit room.

"wake up sleepyhead," five croaked. he sat up fully, and a grin spread across his face at the sight of the injured umbrella.

are you feeling better? does it hurt? when did you wake up? do you need anything? he asked a million questions in his worry.

"yes, a little, sunrise," five answered calmly. he sat up himself and swung his legs around. "and i could use some coffee."

sebastian stood and extended an arm, helping five limp down the hall to the stairs. they eventually arrived in the kitchen, where klaus was pouring luther a cup of coffee.

sebastian snatched it from the giant's hands as five sat down and handed it to him. "hey-" he protested, but shut up at the look on his face.

five took a swig and gagged. "jesus, who do i gotta kill do get a decent cup of coffee?"

klaus poured an extra cup for an empty seat, then joined them at the table.

luther rubbed his temples. "can we get started please?"

klaus looked around. "anyone seem any of the others? diego? allison? no?" he sat with them at the table and picked up a spatula.

"alright, then, this is the closest thing to a quorum-" he banged the spatula on the table and luther winced. "-that we're gonna get. now, listening up. there's no easy way to say this, so i'm just gonna spit it out.."

sebastian felt the unidentified sound waves vibrate through the air in the silence that followed.

"yeah..." klaus sighed.

luther raised his eyebrows. "klaus."

"i conjured dad last night."

five and luther looked at each other in disbelief. sebastian nodded encouragingly at klaus, curious as to what he meant.

"i thought you said you haven't been able to conjure anyone in years," luther pointed out.

"ah, yes, i know, but i'm sober. ta-da! i got clean yesterday, to talk to someone special, and then ended up having this...conversation with dear old daddy himself."

luther just looked at the table. "anyone got some aspirin?"

"top shelf, next to the crackers," five directed him.

"hey, hey, hey- this is serious, guys, all right?" klaus told his brothers. "this really happened, i swear."

why is this a surprise? sebastian signed. oh wow, guy who sees the dead saw the dead. shocking.

klaus snickered after a moment and five rolled his eyes.

"okay, fine. i'll play," he sighed. "what did the old man have to say?"

"well, he gave the usual lecture about my appreciation and my failures in life," klaus began. "yada yada yada. no surprise there. even the afterlife couldn't soften a hardass like dad, right?" he laughed nervously at their skeptical expressions.