definitely maybe i will live to love || Five x Reader/OC ||

they're trying to catch you

Run Boy Run

"AJ! Don't you look handsome!"

The Handler opens up her cigarette case and slips one out. She tucks it in her mouth and offers one to Carmichael with a pleasant smile. He sees right through it, but of course, they play the game they've always played.

He takes a cigarette and allows her to light it for him.

"As do you," he returns. "Shall you save me a dance at the celebration?"

"When have I not?"

"And I suppose you haven't come to take me up on it early...and in my office."

She lightly laughs. "Ah, no. Very astute."

"So, what sordid tidbits do you have that warrant a visit here?" AJ leans against his desk with his human-made body, but the Handler can see that tiny, stupid goldfish swimming around listlessly in his bowl head. It takes everything in her not to sneer at the sight of her rival.

"I've received word that the Hargreeves family has moved Vanya Hargreeves to a protected cabin a couple hours outside of city limits. I'm certain they did it thinking they'd be safer and allow them more time to regather after our...scuffles with them."

"Scuffles?" AJ scoffs. He takes a derisive puff of his cigarette through the ventilator at the base of the fish bowl. "Is that what you'd like to call the disaster of your repeated failed missions?"

The Handler's smile cracks, but she maintains it through sheer force of will. This fish-lipped ass-kisser thinks he can talk like that? But, she supposes, he's been talking like this the entire time, just relishing in the mishaps that occurred to make himself look better for the board.

Well, the Handler thinks, he's in for a nice surprise. She is not going anywhere. While he, on the other hand, has stirred up some discontent among the employees. Discontent she, of course, vehemently denies instigating when any moment arose.

"Anyhow," she continues, "we've tracked their location."

"Mm. So. What shall we do about it then?" Carmichael taps his cigarette against the ash tray on the desk. "I say we send some agents to set off the apocalypse now. With Five and Eight away, they family won't be strong enough to fight against both our organization and the time bomb in their own sister. If we do it, those two stunted teens will be blindsided."

"And once they're...not blindsided?" the Handler poses. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but both of them are particularly feral. Five doesn't bother to try and hide it, but Eight has a viciousness to her that she covers well until she strikes." Grinning, she adds, "If you're not careful, AJ, she might just—"

The Handler snaps her teeth together to mimic eating.

Carmichael pretends not to be disturbed by the notion. "We shall deal with them once everything is all said and done. Their wills shall be broken, and with no family to protect, we'll take advantage of their vulnerability."

"Shall they be broken? Or vengeful?"

"Ah. You disagree."

She doesn't correct him. "Let them have a wonderful time at the gala. Let everybody else party, too. If we suddenly reroute a bulk of our forces to trigger the apocalypse, then it will only alert Five and Eight. Then they'll try to intervene, go on a murdering spree, find a way back to their family, etcetera, etcetera, disastrous results for us, and suddenly we're unemployed and-or dead." The Handler eyes Carmichael like he's suddenly cute. "I'm surprised you didn't consider that possibility. Though, I suppose we do have differing perspectives."