#2: i didn't know angels were made here
DIEGO AND ESTRELLA WERE HAVING A LITTLE HOUSE TOUR and needless to say, she was astounded by the number of rooms and bathrooms the place had. There was even a place where paintings were hung on the wall.
"Josh would love to see these paintings," she whispered to herself as her eyes traveled from painting to painting, her fingertips slightly touching them.
There was a smirk plastered on Diego's face and an eyebrow held upward, "Tell me about him."
"Who?"
"Your boyfriend. Joshua, is it?"
She groaned heavily and turned to face Diego, "We're nothing close to that. Why does everyone think of us that way? I don't like like Josh, neither does he－"
"Neither does he?" An eyebrow of his suddenly raised, his mouth slightly agape, letting out a scoff. "If daggers could kill then I'd be dead by now and he's the killer－which is ironic since I'm the one throwing knives here."
Estrella's eyes narrowed and her brows nearly intersecting. She doesn't like it when her friend is being bad-mouthed. "He doesn't－what killer－what are you even trying to say?" She exclaimed, clearly exasperated and tired of this conversation. "What are you trying to prove here, Diego Hargreeves."
The man in front of her laughed at the girl's short temper. He raised his hands as if he was surrendering himself,
"See! You're defensive! Eudora's gonna know about this Stella! Our wittle Stella with her wittle boyfriend!"
"No she won't! I'll put a restraining order on you－and I don't have a boyfriend for heaven's sake! Plus y'all are exes so know your limits."
Diego's palm went up to his left chest, touching his 'wounded' heart. "Ouch, you kinda hit a bruise right here." Estrella playfully rolled her eyes, well aware of the fact that Diego still loves her sister. The same can be said about Eudora but she took an oath that Diego wouldn't know about that.
Diego's laugh was short lived as soon as he noticed someone, Estrella assumes that she's Vanya, enter the mansion. He approached them with a blank face, Estrella followed him of course but with a softer expression. "Ah, what is she doing here? You don't belong here, not after what you did."
Estrella lightly slapped Diego's arm as they walked up the stairs. "Don't be rude."
Allison turned slowly to face Diego, her eyes slightly narrowing, "You're seriously gonna do this today?" He ignored the question and continued on his tracks, "Way to dress for the occasion by the way." Estrella stared at her pale yellow sweater and pursed her lips. I forgot to change... She did not know that the remark was rather directed at Diego, not her.
"At least I'm wearing black." Estrella whisper shouted,"Well I'm not wearing black－she's gonna use that against me!"
Allison chuckled and threw her hands in the air, "And you brought company." She spat the word company with venom on her tone. She eyed Estrella's yellow sweater up and down, making the poor girl flustered, "Wouldn't hurt you to inform her that she's going to a funeral?"
Diego stopped in his tracks and Estrella copied him, anxiously looking at him for a smart retort. She wanted to say something but she didn't want to ruin her reputation in front of her so she pursed her lips and sighed. "You don't have a say on how we dress, Allison." Diego uttered his sister's name with the same amount of venom in his voice. His eyes traveled to Allison's shirt, his brows knitting into almost one line, "Not with your blue shirt." he added.
Diego walked away and Estrella followed him, sending both of the girls downstairs an apologetic smile before walking away, which Vanya returned with a curt nod. Diego pushed an index finger up to his lips, urging the girl to be quiet. The girl nodded, zipping her lips and throwing the slider away. He shook his head at the kid's antics, laughing internally at how different she is from Eudora.
They crept up near Luther who was inspecting the windows of their father's bedroom. Diego leaned on one side of the door frame and Estrella mimicked him, earning a lopsided grin and a small shake of the head from Diego. He cleared his throat, "I can save you some time. They're all locked." Luther moved his hand away from the windows and glanced at Diego and his accomplice. He continued, "No forced entry, no signs of struggle. Nothing out of the ordinary."
He then walked up to Luther and Estrella debates whether she should follow him but eventually stayed at the door frame, not wanting to intervene to be questioned. "Oh, you got big, Luther. What's the secret, huh? Protein shakes? Low carb?"
Estrella unconsciously let out a snort, earning some glances from Diego and Luther, the latter quirked an eyebrow at her then looked at Diego, demanding an explanation. She opened her mouth to explain but Luther cut her off, "Who's this kid－" he asked, pointing at Estrella, "－your daughter?"
The girl pursed her lips as her face crumpled in disgust. She couldn't imagine a life being Diego's daughter and the thought of her sister possibly being the mother made the topic even worse. Diego stuttered, his face painted in red. "D-do I look like a person who would raise a daughter at the age of thirty? Mind you, she's seventeen!"
Luther raised his hands in defeat, "I was just asking." Estrella scoffed and left the room, leaving the emotionally stunted men to have their (soon to be) heated discussion.
The girl wanted to leave the house but she has no ride. It would be rude of her to ask Diego for a lift and she doesn't want to call a cab. Her house is miles away and she wanted to see how the impending family fight will commence.
She shrugged as a small smile formed on her lips, "Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back." Estrella muttered to herself as she walked around the library, a smug smile on her face. Glancing around the library filled with books, she stopped midway at the portrait of one of Reginald Hargreeves's son. Five Hargreeves, Estrella assumed.
She soon broke her eye contact with the portrait. She felt something eerie about it. Her gut feeling telling her that something is going to happen today. She just can't figure out what. Trying to rub the feeling off, she shook her head and turned her back away from the portrait and continued her own trip around the manor.
They were about to have some family discussion so Diego brought her with him to the living room, which was stupid since she wasn't a part of the family. She sat on one of the chairs, away from the family as possible but still close with Diego's seat. Some stares were directed at her and she sunk in her seat. Diego patted her shoulder, reassuring her that's it's okay. Estrella turned to her side, facing Diego, "I can tell that they don't want me here."
Diego exhaled a heavy breath. He whispered to Estrella while eyeing Luther, "Nobody wants to be here, Stella."
The girl swallowed the lump in her throat, sparing a glance at Allison who was already looking at her with a piercing gaze, "Is it bad that I'm still thankful that the Allison Hargreeves is breathing in my direction?"
Diego turned his attention at Allison, making the latter sigh and and look in the opposite direction. Diego snickered, "You sound like a fangirl." He paused and turned to look at the teen who was still staring at Allison in awe. Starstruck. "You're fangirling right now,aren't you?"
"I mean, it's hard not to. My dad likes her movies and the Umbrella Academy and your adventures is a perfect bedtime story－well according to my mom at least."
Klaus scooted near the two and joined their conversation, "I've been hearing you lot talking about the Umbrella Academy－" Klaus said with disgust. "－and I couldn't help but ask you who's you're favorite among us. Number one, two, three, FOUR－"
"It's obvious that she likes me, Numero dos." Diego uttered with a smug smile painted on his face. He nudged Estrella's side and spoke with a low voice and a quirking eyebrow, "Real men throw knives."
Estrella giggled, knowing that what she's going to say would create a dent on Diego's big ego. "Actually," Diego's face had fallen, "I really like Allison's power. It's a shame that I made a wrong impression." She turned and faced the actress who was busy staring into nothingness. Diego rolled his eyes and Klaus's shoulders slumped in defeat. The girl noticed this and she couldn't help but feel guilty, "But you're all cool in you're own way! I-I just really liked Allison's."
"Yeah it's fine. Who would've want to talk to the dead anyway, even I don't want this power." Klaus muttered the last sentence under his breath. Estrella pouted, realizing that their childhood was not all fun and games.
Luther cleared his throat, "Shall we get started?" The others didn't respond so he took the silence as a yes. "So, I figured we could have a sort of memorial service in the courtyard at sundown. Say a few words－"
Diego scoffed and muttered a small, "As if he need any."
Luther probably didn't hear it so he went on, "－just at dad's favorite spot."
Allison came back with her senses, cocking her head backwards in confusion and shock, "Dad had a favorite spot?"
"You know, under the oak tree?" No one seemed to know other than him, everyone was dumbfounded at the new information － making the scene look funny in Estrella's point of view. "We used to sit out there all the time. None of you ever did that?"
Estrella grimaced as she noticed that they know their father as much as she knows him. And that says a lot, Estrella thought.
"Will there be refreshments?" Klaus interrupted the pointless conversation with a cigarette stick on his hand. "Tea? Scones? Cucumber sandwiches are always a winner." Estrella smiled to herself, liking Klaus's sense of humor. She forgot to tell him that he's her second favorite along with Diego.
"What? No!－and put that out! Dad didn't allow smoking in here." Luther reprimanded but Klaus didn't give a shit.
Allison looked at Klaus. Her eyes squinting at Klaus's...outfit. "Is that my skirt?" she asked with a confused smile on her face, founding the scene to be unbelievable.
"What? Oh! Yeah. I found it in your room. It's a little dated, I know, but it's breathey on the bits." He then gestured to his lower part, Estrella grimaced in return. Their family is a mess,she concluded.
Luther exhaled a sigh and cleared his throat, "Listen up. There are still some important things that we need to discuss, all right?"
Diego asked even though he knows what the answer is. "Like what?"
"Like the way he died." Luther deadpanned.
Diego only rolled his eyes and slumped lower in his seat, giving Estrella a disappointed look that she returned with a shrug. "And here we go."
"I don't understand," Vanya spoke for the first time, "I thought they said it was a heart attack?"
Luther answered since he's the only one who can,"Yeah, according to the coroner." Vanya tilted her head to the side, "Well, wouldn't they know?"
Luther pursed his lips into a thin line, "Theoretically." Vanya furrowed her eyebrows, "Theoretically?" she repeated with a confused tone on her voice.
"I'm just saying－" Luther defended himself.
Too bad their father couldn't defend himself against whoever killed him.
Isn't it ironic if he was actually murdered?
He raised a family of superheroes in order to save the world but they can't even save their own father.
"－at the very least, something happened. The last time I talked to dad, he sounded strange,"Luther continued.
Allison seemed to be on edge, letting herself to enter the coversation again, "Strange how?" Luther pursed his lips as he tried to remember, "He sounded on edge, told me I should be careful who to trust."
Diego rolled his eyes. It was probably his fifth eye roll, Estrella couldn't keep up. "Luther, he was a paranoid, bitter old man who was starting to lose what's left of his marbles."
"No," Luther pressed further, "He must have known something was going to happen."
He turned and glanced at Klaus who was minding his own business, "Look, I know you don't like to do it but I need you to contact dad."
Klaus scoffed, fidgeting in his seat near Estrella, "I can't just call dad in the afterlife and be like, 'dad, could you just... quit playing tennis with Hitler for a moment and take a quick call?'"
Estrella snorted but quickly covered her mouth, afraid to make a wrong inpression again. Vanya looked up at the girl, sending her a nod and a reasurring smile. The girl removed her hand from her lips and returned the gesture.
Vanya seems...welcoming.
Luther furrowed his brows' "Since when? I thought that was your thing." Klaus laughed loudly, "I'm not in the right frame of mind!" Estrella nodded, knowing that he's probably high. She can smell it from where she's seated.
Allison caught up, "He's high."
Klaus threw his hands in the air, "Yeah, yeah! I mean, how are you not? Listening to this nonsense?"
Luther rolled his eyes, "Well, sober up. This is important." Klaus sighed and drank the remaining wine in his glass. "Then there's this issue with the missing monocle."
Estrella gripped on Diego's hand, panicking. The latter gave the younger's hand a squeeze, hoping that it would calm her down. It didn't work but Estrella did try to not show her involvement. Diego spoke up, "Who gives a shit about a stupid monocle?"
"Exactly!" Luther exclaimed. "It's worthless so whoever took it, I think it was personal. Someone close to him, someone with a grudge."
He's trying to accuse one of them.
Estrella spared a glance at Diego who still held her hand for comfort. Diego seemed to receive the message and this removed the remaining bits of his sanity and Estrella noticed that. "I'm sorry. I know I'm here as a moral compass but he's literally blaming it on you－any of you, to be precise." Estrella whispered and Diego nodded.
Diego shook his head in disapproval, "Nah, just me." Estrella gulped and stared at the bulky guy who was briefing them about his nonsense.
"Where are you going with this?" One of them asked.
Clicking his tongue, Diego lifted himself up from his seat and Estrella took a deep breath knowing the he would do something incredibly stupid. "Isn't it obvious? He thinks one of us killed dad." he muttered, effectively creating an uprising in the room. Gasps and small whispers left their lips. Luther sighed in defeat. The situation was not in his favor all because of Diego.
"How could you say that?" Vanya frowned, her voice dripping with hurt.
"Great job, Luther. Way to lead." Diego said and walked out.
The man who was supposed to be their leader swallowed the lump in his throat, "That's not what I'm saying." he said, trying to bring them back together.
Klaus scoffed, "You're crazy, man. You're crazy."
"I'm not finished yet!" Luther cried out and Estrella just sat there, watching the scene unfold right in front of her. People scoffing and leaving the room, rolling their eyes along the way at the sudden revelation.
"Okay, sorry. I'm just gonna murder mom real quick." Klaus pointed at the exit and walked over there. Truthfully, this made Estrella laugh but she managed to keep her reactions bottled up.
"That's not what I was saying, I didn't," Luther defended himself. Everyone had left the room except for Luther and Estrella. They made eye contact which made the girl really uncomfortable. Fortunately, Luther sensed this and went out of the room, brows furrowed.
Estrella blinked, "That was awful."
"Tell me about it." Klaus entered the room and made his way to Estrella. "Is it like this all the time?" she asked.
"No," Klaus sipped from his newly refilled wine glass. "We don't usually blame each other for our dad's death." Klaus smiled bitterly and stared at the liquid held by the glassware.
Estrella nodded, concluding that they don't really confide with each other like a real family would. She let her back hit the couch and watch Klaus did his thing with his powers (which was unsuccessful).
Soon enough, he left the room with his father's ashes, not bothering to try harder. Diego entered the room soon after and flopped onto another couch. He was playing with his knives and Estrella grimaced. She has always been afraid of things that could hurt her.
Maybe that's why I'm afraid of my own powers.
Maybe I'm afraid that they'll backfire just like what happened with Klaus...
Maybe－
Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar tune playing softly. Her eyebrows quirked as she tried to remember the song's title. She flinched when Diego threw his knife. Estrella grimaced when Diego started dancing.
"What the fuck." Estrella laughed at the sight of Diego. He shook his head off and closed the door. "Is that－"
"I think we're alone now." Diego lipsynced and gave the girl a smile. Estrella chuckled but stopped when Diego outstretched his hand, asking him to dance.
Estrella shook her head intensely, "Oh no. I don't dance."
Diego grabbed her out of her seat nonetheless. Estrella giggled at Diego as he was trying so hard to make her dance. He raised her arms, swaying them for her. Estrella laughed, "I'm sorry! I really don't dance!"
Diego twirled her around, making the girl laugh as she spinned, "Oh come on. We're not professional dancers! Just feel the bea－"
Diego was cut off by the booming thunder and the music stopped as well. The lights started to flicker and the both of them shared quick glances. "You're staying here." Diego ordered.
"No I won't!" By the time Estrella answered, Diego had already left the room and closed the door. "That's an order!"
Estrella chuckled and slammed the door open, "You're not my mother!" She ran out, leaving the mansion through the back door where she was greeted by a blue hole.
"What the fuck is that?" Estrella asked, earning a few stares and she offered them a toothy smile for her language.
"I told you to stay inside." Diego growled . "Well I told you that you're not my mother." Diego shook his head, a playful smile on his lips as he held back the girl, protecting her from the blue hole.
Yeah we're just gonna call it 'the blue hole.'
Allison shouted, "Don't get to close!"
"Yeah no shit!" Diego shouted back.
Luther squinted, the bright blue light blinding them, "Looks like some temporary anomaly. Either that or a miniature black hole."
"But it's blue though." Estrella retorted, making the big guy scoff.
"Out of the way!" Klaus screamed and threw a fire extinguisher onto the said hole.
Allison frowned, "What's that going to do?"
Klaus shrugged, trying to keep his hair intact as the wind blew harshly around them, "I don't know! Do you have a better idea?"
Estrella grinned and turned to Klaus, "Do you have any extinguishers left?"
"Oh yes we do," Klaus gave her another extinguisher and patted her head. "Do the honors, kid." Estrella nodded and threw the extinguisher inside the blue hole, making Allison sigh and shak her head.
Yes, we're still calling it that.
'The blue hole.'
The girl squinted her eyes as she saw an old man looking at them through the hole. "It seems like he's trying to get out of it!" Estrella shouted.
Klaus frowned and squinted as hard as he can. "Who? I can't see shit!"
"Everyone get behind me." Luther ordered, pulling everyone behind his back.
Diego stepped forward and pulled Estrella behind him, "Yeah, get behind us."
Klaus nervously looked at the blue hole, "I say we run, c'mon Estrella!" He grabbed her hand but the girl didn't budge. She frowned as she can't remember telling Klaus her name.
Staring at the old man who was clearly struggling, Estrella closed her eyes and hoped that this would be over. Thunder cackled one last time, making her open her eyes and see the old man－now a teenage boy, fall from the sky where the blue hole was before it disappeared into nothingness.
Silence enveloped everyone as they tried to process everything. "Does everyone see our dear little five or is it just me?" Klaus spoke, breaking the ice.
Everyone quickly gathered around the boy, including Estrella. Everyone stared down at the boy who held his face in his palms, "Shit!" he shouted as he looked at himself.
Estrella whispered to herself, " I didn't know angels were made here too－and he fell from the sky! How ironic." Klaus glanced at Estrella who was staring at Five as he observed himself and the surroundings. He smirked, hearing the little ramble that Estrella whispered to herself.
Five glanced around, eyeing everyone in the area. Everything was just right. His heart churned for the apocalypse is near and none of them knows, except for him.
His eyes widened at the sight of the all too familiar brown-headed girl with pink highlights. He couldn't believe it. He didn't know that he would meet her right now, at this very moment. His heart was pounding. It was clear that he has not moved on from what had happened. He wanted to run up to her right now and hug her but he knew better. "Estrella?"
Her eyes widened in shock and confusion, "H-have we met?" she stammered, resulting her to mentally slap and cringe at herself.
"No－" Five pursed his lips, looking away and concluding that it was a mistake to let her know that he knows her. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Estrella again. His face blank. "－not yet."
note !
hAvE wE MeT
nO, nOT yEt
im so excited
for this story lmao
comment your thoughts hehe 🥺