𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞

Chapter Seventeen

Y/N, still feeling the aftermath of the previous night, stumbled upon the kitchen to find Five sprawled out on the counter, surrounded by pots. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "What the hell did he get into?"

Walking over to him, she observed him sleeping, seemingly unaware of her presence. Y/N cautiously shook Five, attempting to rouse him from his slumber. He groaned and lifted his head, looking disoriented. In his attempt to move, he accidentally knocked over some pots and pans, with one of them landing squarely on Y/N's foot. She winced, exclaiming, "Ow! Jesus Christ!"

The disturbance caused her to lose her balance, and as she fell, Five tumbled off the counter. In an unexpected turn of events, he ended up landing on top of Y/N. The awkward position left them in close proximity.

As Five's vision cleared, he recognized Y/N beneath him and uttered, "Y/N?" Groaning, he maneuvered to pick himself up, hovering over her with both hands placed next to her shoulders. Y/N cleared her throat nervously and greeted, "H-hi," creating an awkward tension in the room.

Five's demeanor was a mix of irritation and curiosity as he cleared his throat and got off Y/N, creating some distance between them. In a tone that aimed for rudeness but carried a hint of gentleness, he asked, "what do you want?" Y/N sat up, rubbing her head, and sighed.

"I just wanted to find you," she began, looking directly at Five. "Faith told me about last night, and I wanted to talk... about everything. I mean, Klaus and I were looking for Faith, and we heard you were in the kitchen. What happened here, by the way?" Y/N gestured around at the pots and pans scattered on the floor.

Five's expression softened a bit, but he maintained a guarded demeanor. "I was looking for something to eat," he replied vaguely. "Not that it's any of your business."

Y/N winced at his words but pressed on, "I just wanted to clear things up, you know? Last night got a bit wild, and I thought we could talk about it. Maybe figure out where we stand."

Five raised an eyebrow, still not fully convinced. "And why should I bother talking to you?"

Y/N seized the opportunity to reinforce her sincerity. "Faith had a meaningful conversation with you last night, didn't she? She explained how I actually did change," she said, looking at him with hope in her eyes. Five raised a skeptical brow and kissed his teeth, struggling with the internal conflict. It was getting increasingly difficult for him to hold onto the grudge.

He sighed, the weight of the situation apparent in his expression. "Yeah, she did. She told me about the week you spent with her and the steps you've taken to be here."

Y/N nodded earnestly, "I'm trying, Five. I know I messed up, but I want you to know that I'm not the same person who hurt you before. I know you can see that I'm not."

Five chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. "You're putting words in my mouth now."

Y/N's eyes widened slightly, "No, that's not what I meant..."

But Five shook his head, cutting her off. "Doesn't matter how you meant it, you already said it." He started to get up, despite the pounding in his head that made it feel like his brain was on the brink of exploding.

Y/N bit her lip, watching him carefully. The moment was delicate, and she realized that every word counted in breaking down the walls he had built.

Y/N stood up, her eyes determined as she faced Five. "Don't do this, Five," she pleaded, taking a step closer to him.

"Do what exactly?" he snapped, frustration etched on his face.

She grabbed his hand, her gaze unwavering. "Walking away from me again. I've proven in so many ways that I'm different. Why can't you just stop being stubborn?"

He clenched his jaw, ripping his hand out of hers. "Because you broke the trust I had for you! I can't just go back to being happy and living happily ever after with you!" Five's voice echoed through the kitchen, carrying the weight of the pain he had endured.

Y/N's frustration turned into determination as she yelled back, "I understand this can't be a fairytale, but even the worst people sometimes deserve to be given a second chance!" Her face softened slightly as she continued in a softer tone, "I know I've been the biggest bitch alive, and I can't change that. But what I can change is the future by acting in the present."

Five's expression wavered, caught between anger and a hint of vulnerability. He averted his gaze, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

"God damn it! Stop making me feel bad for you!" Five's words were put into anger. Y/N, undeterred, raised her voice again, "I'm not trying to! I'm just explaining myself and what I can do to make this work!" The tension in the room was palpable, and Five couldn't hold back as he yelled, "How do you even know if I want it to work?"

Her gasp was soft but audible, and she raised her brows, locking eyes with him. The challenge was clear in her gaze as she replied, "Do you?"

Five, feeling the weight of Y/N's gaze, rubbed his temples in frustration. He sighed heavily before turning his eyes back to hers. In an annoyed tone, he muttered, "Of course, I do." Y/N, undeterred, took a step closer, her voice soft as she questioned, "Then why hold this grudge?"

Caught in the intensity of the moment, Five hesitated. He saw the beauty in Y/N's eyes, and his heart wavered. The admission came out strained, "Because I want to hate you, so goddamn much."

Y/N didn't utter a word; instead, she gently held onto his hand, silently urging him to share more. Five, feeling the warmth of her touch, continued, his voice revealing the internal struggle, "It's just... It's hard, okay? Every time I try to convince myself that I should hate you, there's this nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, you're not the same person anymore."

He looked down at their joined hands, his expression conflicted. "But it's not that simple. You broke something inside me, and I can't just magically piece it back together, no matter how much I want to."

Y/N cradled his one hand with both of hers, looking into his eyes with sincerity. In a soft, reassuring tone, she said, "Then let me do it. Let me fix what I left broken. I know I can't change the past, but I'm willing to work towards a better future. Please, Five, give me a chance to make things right." Her eyes held a mixture of determination and vulnerability, silently pleading for him to consider her plea.

Y/N smiled slightly, her eyes hopeful. Five couldn't help but notice and hesitated for a moment. "That smile..." he muttered, almost to himself. It was a moment of vulnerability that he hadn't seen from her in a long time.

Five's hand gently touched Y/N's cheek, and he found himself lost in her beautiful eyes. The tension began to dissipate, replaced by a quiet, comfortable silence. He sighed, breaking the stillness, and admitted, "I don't want to be angry with you." Y/N maintained her soft and sweet smile, responding, "Then don't."

Five hesitated for a moment, feeling the closeness between them. Y/N's soft voice broke the silence, saying, "Five..." Their faces were inches apart, the unspoken words hanging in the air. "What?" he asked, uncertainty in his voice. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she whispered softly, "I love you."

A small, hopeful smile tugged at Five's lips as he asked, "Say it again." Y/N, with a sincerity that cut through the tension, repeated, "I love you."

"Again."

"I love you"

"Again."

"I love y—"

Five, overcome by a surge of emotions, didn't let Y/N finish her sentence. Instead, he closed the gap between them, smashing his lips onto hers in a passionate and longing kiss. Their lips moved in sync, the kiss carrying the weight of unspoken apologies and the hope for a fresh start. Y/N responded to Five's passion, letting herself get lost in the moment, the taste of his lips rekindling familiar emotions. It was a moment of vulnerability and understanding, as if the world around them had faded away, leaving only the two of them in that shared space of forgiveness.

The intimate moment between Y/N and Five was abruptly halted by the incredulous exclamation of "What the hell?" echoing through the kitchen. They reluctantly pulled away, startled to find Diego standing at the entrance, his jaw dropped in disbelief. Y/N gasped softly, exchanging a glance with Five, both of them caught off guard and unsure of how to explain the unexpected turn of events to Diego.