Gone 2 Long (Number Five)

Marigold

"I don't tattoo children." "Swell, we're not here for the ink." Five stated. "We're here because we have a mutual friend. Sir Reginald Hargreeves." Pogo sighed. "Whatever he wants, I'm not interested." "I don't think you understand." Five told him. "We're two of his children." I stated. "From another timeline." Five added.

"Another timeline?" He chuckled. We started to get surrounded. I had thorny vines grow around my fists in case this needed to get ugly. "As crazy as it sounds, you and I have met before. Back in 1963, when you were a diaper-wearing chimp in dire need of a manicure." Five then lowered his collar to show him. "I don't know if you remember, but I have a scar to prove it." "Thank you for that by the way, it's really hot." I added.

"If what you're saying is true, I'd be talking to a man well into his sixties. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've had a very long day." "Pogo, you need to listen to me." Five said but the men completely surrounded us. "Time to go home to Mommy, lil guys." "Or what?" Five asked and then jumped away forgetting me!

"Ugh that asshole. Fine I'll handle this myself." I punched one guy in the face making the throne impale him on impact, I then grew a club of ice and swung in a circle knocking them each out, and then made a hole out of there and outside. When I made it out I saw Five asking a man for his bike to go after Pogo. It was kinda funny watching him try and be tough but get ignored as the man drove away.

Five then jumped onto the guys bike and threw him off. I flew into the air to keep up with him. I flew right along side him and threatened him with a fireball. "You left me back there you dick!" "Sorry I figured you could handle them." "That's still fucked up!" I yelled back flying up higher to get a better view of Pogo to direct Five.

We followed him all night all the way out to the middle of nowhere and Five pulled into a lot with a trailer on it. I landed and saw a girl sitting outside reading and smoking. Five parked the bike and walked towards her, me joining him.

"Can I help you?" She asked. "Need a word with Pogo." Five stated. "Ain't no Pogo here, pumpkins." "Okay." Five said as we walked up to her so she stood up. "So I suggest you get your asses off my property before I call a truant officer." I scoffed and as Five was about to do something we heard, "It's okay, Tammy. Let them in." Five and I smirked at Tammy and passed her walking into the trailer.

Pogo was sitting at the small table with a drink in his hand. Five and I sat across from him. We heard a cocking of a gun. "You're either dumb or desperate. Which is it?" "Kind of both not gonna lie." I mumbled. Five shot me a small glare. "You tell me." Five answered setting down his older selfs tattooed flesh on the table for Pogo to see.

Pogo picked it up. "That looks like my work, but I never did that tattoo." He said setting it down. "Not yet, you haven't. I cut it off my 100-year-old self." "Ah, so desperate it is." "You would be too if you knew the entire universe were at stake." Pogo sighed. "So it's happened." He de-cocked the pistol and set it down on the table and grabbed a book.

"Ah, here it is. Look familiar?" He asked showing us a page with the same markings as the tattoo. "Reggie was obsessed with these symbols. It's a sigil. A symbol thought to have magical powers." I snickered at that. "Dad believed in science, facts. I didn't respect much about the old man, but I respected that." "Well he wasn't exactly logical." I told him. " Even so, hoo-ha was not his thing. It's gotta have a rational meaning." Five said. "I don't know, but he referred to it as Project Oblivion." Me and Five looked up at Pogo then each other and realized that's the last thing his 100 year old self said. "This project. We need to know more." Five told him. Pogo got up and made us each a drink before sitting back down.

"It was a kamikaze mission. He was preparing the Sparrow children with the expectation they might never return. That's why I gave the children those pills, to keep them safe from him." "Even in a different timeline you still care about the Hargreeves children." I said smiling at him. "Well, our druggie brother just got him sober. Go figure." "Then Project Oblivion is starting again, and you are all in danger."

We all took a heavy swig of our drinks. "Then I should probably get that ink. Complete the loop." Five said. "Are you sure?" Pogo asked. "Oh, I don't think destiny cares whether I am or not." Five said taking off his blazer. "Bitch is cruel, ain't she?" Tammy said. Five sat down on the couch and began to take his shirt off as Pogo stood and gathered his materials. "Well then, let's get started." He began to tattoo Five.

Five looked to be in a bit of pain but he was trying his best to mask it. I grabbed his hand for support. "I know this isn't what you want but on the bright side it's hot." I told him trying to lighten the mood a little. He huffed in response and shrugged "I guess that's a perk." After a painful couple of hours the tattoo was finished and it was time for us to head back to the hotel. We bid Pogo farewell and went on our way with me riding on the back of the motorcycle Five stole.

We rode off into the night in silence.

Hello lovely's! I hath returned from the dead. sorry it's been so long, after my forth of july break i had visits from friends and family and then work and my summer class just consumed me but i finished my summer class and aced the exam which gives me a lot more free time now. i know this chapter is short and this isn't my normal posting time but you all have earned it for the waiting you had to do. there are more chapters coming i swear i'm writing them so with that being said keep a look out -author:)