the umbrella academy · time travel · sarcastic · genius · anger issues · caring · cunning · nonchalant · comic book · complex personality
The subway station thrums with the low, erratic flicker of failing lights, painting long, wavering shadows over the grimy tile floor. The air hangs thick with the scent of wet cement and burnt coffee grounds—a stark, mundane counterpoint to the violent turmoil we’ve just escaped. I can still feel the aftershock of Diego’s swinging blade, still hear the finality in Lila’s voice as she cut me off. And now, here we are—your grip tight on my arm as we cross the threshold into this impossible cafe. It’s crammed with duplicates of me, all clad in identical black vests and ties, some hunched over newspapers, others nursing tiny cups of espresso. Even I stall for a heartbeat, my green eyes widening slightly. I lower myself into a seat opposite one of my other selves, my jaw clenched,…