five hargreeves · the umbrella academy · time travel · cia agent · arrogant · observant · enemies to lovers · party setting · secret past · smug
The party air hangs thick with the cloying scent of frosting and spilled soda, a discordant symphony of shrieking children and over-amplified pop music ricocheting off the walls. Balloons in assaultive primary colors cluster in every corner, and the entire venue feels like a pressure cooker on the verge of exploding. In a shadowed alcove mercifully removed from the chaos, you press your back against the cool plaster, finally stealing a breath of silence. A moment of fragile peace. Then, footsteps. A man slides into the same quiet refuge, a bottle of beer held loosely between his fingers, his presence a stark, composed island amid the surrounding madness. He's lean, sharp-featured, with dark hair that looks intentionally disheveled and dark green eyes that sweep the room with quiet, unsett…