Phoenix under the Umbrella (Umbrella Academy AU) Chapter 45: Bada Bing Bada Boom

[Third Person's PoV] 


As Dave floated through time and space, surrounded by flames, a look of awe crossed his face. "This is amazing..."


"I know, right?" Nathan replied with a proud grin.


"And you get to experience this every day?"


"Kinda," Nathan shrugged, then opened a rift in the fabric of reality, flashing through with Dave at his side.


When they emerged above the city, Nathan glanced at Dave, confusion flickering across his face. Then realization dawned. "Oh right..."


"I forgot you're still kinda dead," Nathan added awkwardly.


Dave looked at his hands, noting their translucent quality. "Oh right, we're not in heaven anymore… Does that mean I'm mostly a ghost?"


"You think I could fight God to a standstill and not be able to make you a body? Come on, man."


"I honestly have no idea what you're capable of," Dave admitted, shaking his head and shrugging.


"Fair point," Nathan nodded, placing a hand on Dave's shoulder. Closing his eyes, he focused. Slowly, a skeleton began to form, veins, muscle fibers, and skin materializing to complete Dave’s body.


Once whole again, Dave inhaled deeply, savoring the sensation, and slowly exhaled. "Thank you."


"Now let's go surprise Klaus. His reaction to seeing you will be totally worth it," Nathan said, scanning for Klaus.


They flew toward the Veterans bar where Klaus and Diego were hanging out.


"He’s here, huh? Figures," Dave smiled.


Nathan looked at him, puzzled.


Noticing the confusion, Dave continued with a grin, "This bar is one we used to frequent. Our little spot. I bet there’s even a picture of me, him, and our squadron on the back wall."


Nathan nodded, understanding now. He made both him and Dave invisible to everyone’s minds as they floated inside. They found Klaus crying, trembling as he stared at one of the photos.


Diego approached slowly, concern etched on his face. "Klaus, buddy, talk to me. What's wrong? I'm worried about you."


One of the older patrons stood up. "I think it's time you and your little friend leave. If you ain't read the sign, this is a bar for veterans only."


"We were just about to leave, right, Klaus?" Diego said, trying to defuse the situation.


"I'm not going anywhere! I have every right to be here, just like you! Asshole!" Klaus shot back, irritation clear as he gazed at Dave’s image.


Diego looked at Klaus in confusion, while the older man stepped closer, his eyes narrowing, more veterans rising to back him up.


"Woah, woah, woah, let’s hold it right there, Marine. My brother just had a bit too much to drink. We’ll be out of here and call it a day. What do you say?" Diego offered, extending his hand toward the man.


"Sure thing."


"Thank you—"


"So long as you apologize."


Klaus chuckled, returning his gaze to the pictures.


Diego turned to him, exasperated. "...Fine, I'm sorry... He's sorry. We're all sorry. So are we good?"


The man leaned in, eyes fixed on Klaus. "I want to hear him say it."


"Look, man..."


"No, no, Diego, he’s right!" Klaus interjected dramatically, placing a hand on his chest and stepping forward. "I apologize that you are depriving a village of their IDIOT!"


The old man swung his fist at Klaus, who ducked just in time, headbutting him in retaliation and staggering backward.


Diego caught Klaus as several other veterans grabbed pool sticks, charging toward them.


As the bar descended into chaos, Diego barely had time to react. A pool cue swung at his head, and he ducked instinctively, grabbing it mid-swing and snapping it over his knee. He threw the broken half into the face of the man who attacked him, knocking him back.


Klaus, meanwhile, laughed wildly, grabbing a nearby stool and swinging it in a wide arc, hitting two veterans coming at him. "Hah! Let’s see if you can keep up!" he taunted, dodging punches as he stumbled around.


Diego was relentless, delivering quick jabs and kicks, disarming one guy after another with fluid precision. He twisted another attacker's arm, forcing them to the ground. With a quick elbow to the face, the fight was over for that one. Another veteran came charging, but Diego sidestepped and swept his leg, sending him crashing into a table.


Klaus was less graceful, but just as effective. He smashed a beer bottle on a guy’s head and then swung a wild punch into the gut of another. When two men tried to tackle him, he threw himself backward onto the bar counter, kicking both in the face as they closed in. "You like that?!"


Klaus laughed louder, spinning out of the way as another fist flew past his face. He grabbed a chair, smashing it over an oncoming attacker without missing a beat, he ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding more strikes.


The veterans kept coming, but Diego and Klaus fought back-to-back now. Diego landed precise blows to ribs and jaws, while Klaus, fueled by pure chaos, swung anything he could grab—a bottle, a chair, even a dartboard ripped from the wall.


"Now this is a reunion," Nathan said with a grin.


Klaus, catching his breath after slamming a guy's head into the bar, looked at Diego, who was still fighting off the last few stragglers. "So, is this a typical night for us now?"


Diego wiped blood from his lip, smirking, standing over all of their knocked out bodies. "Apparently."


As they began to walk out, Diego glanced at Klaus, concern etched on his face. "Klaus, I've known you my entire life. We’ve grown up together, so I know when something's wrong. Talk to me; I'm worried about you."


Klaus remained silent, his lips twisting into a grimace. "I lost someone... someone I loved deeply."


"Aww, Klaus, hearing you talk about me like that is going to make me blush!" a teasing voice chimed in.


Klaus froze, his eyes widening as he turned to the source of the voice. There was Dave, hand on his army jacket, the other raised in a cheerful greeting, with Nathan beside him, flashing a peace sign and sticking out his tongue.


Without a word, Klaus rushed toward Dave and hugged him tightly. Dave nearly lost his footing, laughing. "I would say I missed you too, but it's only been a few minutes for me..."


Nathan stepped back to give them space and stood next to Diego, who looked utterly baffled. "What’s going on? I'm so lost..."


"Klaus got caught up in Five’s time travel shenanigans, ended up in the past, enlisted in the army, met Dave— that guy over there— fell in love, but unfortunately, Dave died. Klaus returned all miserable, like you found him," Nathan explained, filling Diego in on the situation.


"Ah… Now what happened in the bar is starting to make sense. So I take it him being here and alive is your doing?"


"Yup! I fought God for his soul and won. Others might say it was a draw, but I totally won. And bada bing bada boom, here we are!"


Diego stared at Nathan, incredulous. The casual way he mentioned fighting God made him sound utterly insane.