Promise [Number 5 X Reader]

- Limbic Systems Suck -

Limbic System: the part of the brain responsible for base emotions and instincts.

*Insert fun line to try and cheer you up before I break your heart with this chapter.* Should I have written the sad parts in the middle of a midterm-induced mental breakdown? Probably not, but oh well! \(๑╹◡╹๑)/ Thank you for your support and patience! ( ◜‿◝ )♡

XxXxX

"I honestly thought you'd be gone longer," Arthur said, clearly attempting humor as he invited you in. The sound hurt, as you could hear that his heart wasn't really in it. The apartment seemed smaller than you remembered, but you imagined that was because you wanted nothing more than to leave so you could avoid what was about to happen. "I mean, I thought I'd have a few days to . . . to y'know . . . mentally prepare for this."

"So did I," you admitted. Around the corner scurried Dziewięć, drifting across the hardwood in his abrupt turn to run up to your feet so you could bend down and lift him into your arms. "I was . . . I was talking with the others, Five and Diego and Luther found them all . . . and they're all telling the people they care about what's going on."

He sank down heavily onto the couch, and you slowly seated yourself in the armchair across from him.

"For starters . . . I wasn't kidding when I said I'm thirty." Arthur's expression didn't change much, as if he had already suspected that you'd been telling the truth. "Despite your previous assumption, it actually is related to my abilities . . . "

The words began pouring out of your mouth as you bared your soul to him. You told him everything: how your crystals worked, about the mishap that temporarily paused your physical aging, the Umbrella Academy - as well as your odd, twisted relationship with most of them. You revealed the trauma you had when you finally got out of the crystals, and how you came to care for Dzie. You even recalled the first Apocalypse that Five came back to try and stop in 2019, and all of the important details leading up to where the brunette accidentally sent all of you back in time to the 1960's.

"And I landed in some alley around here. I wandered around for a little bit before I found this woman getting attacked. Then I saved her, and that's when your dad found me and had me start working for him," you finished, brushing your hand down Dzie's back anxiously. "I think you know how the rest goes."

He nodded hesitantly. "And you've never forgiven them for breaking their promises? Any of them?"

A humorless chuckle escaped you. "Not really . . . I guess it'd be easier to if I could just forget it ever happened, but that's the thing: I can't forget it. I can't forget anything. Do you have any idea how it feels to be stuck with memories you don't want until the day you die?" Dziewięć could feel your unease and nuzzled closer to your body in an attempt to soothe you. "I remember every fight we all had, every cruel word, every competition for the attention of a man who saw us as instruments for his own ambitions . . . And it sucks because I want nothing more than to forgive them, but I can't, and even I'm not sure why."

A beat passed and you let out another small chuckle, and Arthur's forlorn expression had a hint of confusion added to it.

"Actually, you're really the only one I've ever whole-heartedly trusted, believe it or not. When I kept everything from you, it wasn't because I didn't trust you, it was because I didn't trust myself to not get you involved. I guess that happened anyway," you tried to joke. Neither of you laughed.

Dzie moved to the arm of the chair as Arthur stood from his seat on the couch, walking around the coffee table to kneel in front of you. Taking your hands into his, he looked up at you with so much raw pain that your chest constricted harshly. "For the past eight months, you've done just about everything in your power to hide all of this stuff from me. I don't hold any of it against you, I swear. In fact . . . I thought that you being mysterious was . . . really cool." Your heart sank. "When you first got here, I actually kinda looked up to you. You're young, but you always knew what you wanted and how you were going to get it. Somehow, you were everything I thought I wanted to be . . . until you started telling me that I was okay as I am now." Tears were welling in his eyes, pouring over the lids and dropping from his lashes into his lap. "You made me feel safe in just about every way possible. And it's meant more to me than you could ever know."