Escaping Reality || Five Hargreeves ||

Chapter 2.6

"So, you have been disguising as a guy and working as a bartender in this shithole?"

Five backtracked as Alice led him through the backdoor to avoid any unnecessary attention. Alice explained to him how she's been living in the 60s as a guy and working at the club to pay bills and whatnot.

"Yeah, did you think I was one of the stripper girls on stage?"

Alice asked, opening the back door as they heard the sound of music coming from the stage. Five awkwardly cleared his throat as Alice realized that he might've thought that she was working as one of the girls in the club.

A tint of red was evident in Five's face at the thought of Alice having a kind of job like that. Although no way was he gonna let a bunch of middle aged men see her like that.

"Alic—Alastor, where have you been?"

Autumn said as she spotted Alice and went up to her, Alice was surprised by Autumn's sudden appearance but did think that she would eventually be worried about her.

She gestured to Five to take a seat nearby as she was going to handle this. Five nodded, walking off as he took a seat in front of the stage where the girl with the fan danced.

"Who, was that?.."

Autumn asked as she eyed the very out of place boy that was with Alice. Alice tried to think of an explanation but didn't really know how to lie about this to Autumn.

"He's.....he's the friend I told you about. You know, the one that I would always hope would come back to that alley?..."

Alice has maybe vaguely mentioned Five before to Autumn, but she didn't tell her any more than Five was her friend and that they would sometimes meet up in that alleyway.

Autumn sighed, Alice didn't really know if that sigh meant that she bought her explanation. But she was thankful that at least she didn't ask any more questions.

She then heard some noise nearby and saw some drunk guy messing with Ruby, and luckily enough—she saw Luther who was narrowing his eyes on the drunken idiot.

"I gotta go, um don't wait on me at home okay? I......I see when I can get home.."

Alice said, not really sure if she can live her somewhat normal life again with Autumn. Alice made a bee line across the waitresses and customers as she made her way to Luther.

"Hello Monkey boy—"

"Oh, ha ha—"

Luther laughed sarcastically at the nickname as he was gonna take another sip of his shot glass when Alice snatched it from his hands and placed it back on the bar table.

"Hey!—"

"Five's here, and I'm sure he wants to talk to you"

What Alice said made Luther's face switch emotion as he didn't really expect this surprise visit from his brother. He looked up and narrowed his eyes through the various seats and tables as he finally spotted Five watching the show on the stage.

"Talk to him for as long as you need. I'll take care of the idiot—"

Alice said as she gave him a motivational pat on the shoulder as she walked off and let the two siblings talk it out while she handled this idiot.

_____

"And here I thought you'd never show up"

"Nice to see you too, Luther"

Five said as he kept his eyes steady on the girl on the stage all the while glancing at a certain short haired girl trying to beckon some drunk guy out.

Luther grabbed a chair next to Five as he asked him what he wanted.

"How long have you guys been here?"

"I was here for a year, thanks to you. I don't know how long Alice's been here but—I'd say probably a month. You know she was such a mess with you gone, good thing I taught her how to fight on her own now—"

"I know, and I'm sorry—I know that couldn't have been easy for you and her."

"I thought everybody was dead until I saw Alice."

Sounds of bottles being tumbled over were heard at the guy who was bothering Ruby just spilled vodka on Alice. Which left Alice very pissed as she was starting to get tired of this guy already.

As she brushed some of it off her clothes, she glanced at Luther who was about to get up and help her. But sat back down when Alice glared at him and mouthed for him to sit back down.

Luther sighed as he sat back down and turned back to Five.

____

"This was my favorite..."

Alice muttered out as she just gave up on getting the stain off her vest. Now getting real sick of the guy's shenanigans, she decided to hit him at the side of his neck which caused him to pass out on the spot.

It was probably from being too drunk anyways.

"Apologies for this man's rudeness, have a fine night gentlemen"

Alice said as she gave the important people a smile while she carried the now passed out man by the shoulder and escorted him out.

_____

She placed the guy down beside a phone stand as she called with the phone number in his wallet. Someone picked it up and Alice assumed it was Sissy, she sounded really disappointed when she heard what her husband was really up to and said that she'll pick him up.

Looking more into his wallet as Carl was on the brink of passing out from alcohol. Getting what she needed, she dropped the wallet on Carl's lap and went off inside the club to see how those two siblings were doing.

______

"So....he ditched you?"

Alice said in disappointment as she pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. All those weeks, trying to maybe persuade Luther to be more smart in his actions. But no, he continues on being dumb.

"Don't worry about it....he'll c—"

Alice's voice went mute for the first time in a couple of weeks and she did not miss it to be honest.

"Although, I did make an interesting discovery when I was about to meet you outside-"

Five said, understanding that Alice probably meant that Luther would come around one way or another as he pulled out a tape. Alice peeked on what was written on it and already knew that they were about to flip out when they saw what was on it.

Especially Elliot....

"Well, I also made an interesting discovery, I know where Vanya lives now"

Alice smirked proudly at herself as she pulled out the piece of paper that had an address written on it. Five smiled proudly at Alice, thankful that she's always tried to make his job a little less hard.

"Thanks, Alice....I appreciate you helping me...even though you also got stranded in the 60s and with us because of me.."

Alice glanced at Five's somewhat sad expression as they walked, grabbing a hold of his hand, she smiled softly at him.

"Hey, if it weren't for you we'd be burnt to crisp or we would've been crushed if you hadn't teleported us here."

Alice thought she would keep certain experiences in the 60s a secret from Five. She didn't want him to worry more as he already did. Although Alice was deep in thought and somewhat blissfully unaware, Five noticed that she hasn't let go of his hand.

He had to admit, a part of her changed the last time he saw her. But it's good to see that a part of her also stayed the same.