Life as We Know it [Five]

Eighteen

What is your spirit animal?

The trio entered what looked to be a pub, Irish jigs echoing around them, a chorus of fiddles too joyous for the day of an impending assassination and the week of a doomsday.

"Well, there I am." Five said, nodding to an older fellow sitting at the bar, suit and bowler hat.

"Why don't we just grab the briefcase and run?" Luther asked, gazing at older Five with a narrowed gaze.

"Because this is Five we're talking about. You think he'd let that happen?" Emery grumbled without looking at the boy.

"We're trained to guard these briefcases with our lives." Five agreed, furthering his point.

"Right."

"Plus, it's the inherent paradox where this gets tricky. I'm endangering my existence just being in the room with myself."

"Huh— what do you mean?"

"Luther, try to keep up. If old me doesn't travel back to 2019 like he's supposed to, the whole thing unravels itself. I cease to exist. You got me?"

"I get you." Luther replied though he didn't sound even mildly sure of himself.

"He doesn't travel back to 2019, he doesn't go back to his god forsaken kid body and the Five right in front of us disappears, only existing in the old Five there and wherever the Commission sends him next." Emery explained.

"Ohh." Luther said, finally sounding sure of himself.

"So our best chance is to talk with him, to reason with him." Five said. "He'll understand. Trust me. I know myself better than, uh... better than I know myself."

"You just itched your neck." Luther pointed out. "That's stage two of paradox psychosis."

"No, I didn't. I didn't itch my neck." Five said.

"Stage one, denial." Emery added.

"I am fine, okay?" Five said exasperated. "Let's stay on task, shall we?" He said, moving forward.

"Wait!" Luther whisper-shouted, grabbing onto Five's shoulder and hauling him back.

"What?"

"Maybe we should go first."

"Why?"

"Well, you'll freak him out. Bumping into your own tiny doppelgänger? He will lose his shit. Just let me break the ice."

"Okay."

"Okay."

Luther took a deep breath and started walking forward.

"Why do I feel like he's going to mess this up?" Five asked.

"It's the same reason I feel like this whole plan is going to go to shit: because it probably will." Emery said, moving to follow after Luther and try to repair the inevitable damage.

"Five?" Luther asked hesitantly as he approached past Five.

"What'd you call me big man?" Old Five asked.

Emery clicked his tongue, it was nice to see nothing changed he thought bitterly.

Luther leaned down and lowered his voice. "It's me." He said. "Number One?" He added when he was greeted by nothing but a blank stare.

"Luther?" Old Five asked, realization dawning upon his features. "How did you..."

"It's okay. Everything is fine. I can explain. But first, I need to introduce you to somebody. Just... promise me you won't freak out."