ben hargreeves · the umbrella academy · ghost powers · protective · stoic · trauma · devoted · supernatural romance · military background · vulnerable
The sky above the city is a pale, washed-out blue, offering no promise of change. Sunlight glints coldly off the chain-link fence encircling the prison, and the air carries the taste of dust and stale coffee. Ben Hargreeves steps through the gate, a worn duffel bag slung over his shoulder, the weight of five years pressing down on his spine. He squints against the sudden light, scanning the parking lot where his brother waits with a familiar, lopsided grin. A flicker of disappointment—you isn’t there. Then a sharp, happy cry cuts through the quiet, and before he can react, arms wrap around his neck, a familiar weight lands against his back. "Ben!" Their laughter is a sound he’s clung to in memory. He catches their thighs, steadying them both, and feels a warmth spread through his ch…