Mirage [Five Hargreeves]

{prologue}

31st of October, 2002.

"where are we going?" Vanya asked, her voice low, as they climbed flight after flight of stairs, the padding of their light footsteps the only noise.

"to celebrate." Ben responded, as he smiled, a genuine smile.

"It's just a birthday."  Diego said, trying to keep ahead of luther, trying his hardest to be number 1.

"we're teenagers, diggy." Violet said, her voice annoyed, but she was smiling too, she couldn't help it.

it'd just turned midnight, which meant they were officially teenagers.

Officially old, wise, and mature.

is that when it's decided?

is that when it becomes true?

when childhood fades away into nothing?

the day you turn 13?

"hell yeah we are!" Klaus exclaimed, though his volume was barely above a whisper, it was loud enough.

"shhh!" Allison hushed them, as they made their way to the door, which lead to the roof.

They scurried through the door, laughing and gasps could be heard, as they saw the display ahead of them.

Violet and five had done it the night before, set up lamps and picnic blankets.

Five looked at Violet, as she watched all their siblings scurry away, a wistful smile on her face.

She watched them all sit and chatter, exclaiming about how happy they were to enter this new chapter, how much life they were about to live.

She watched Luther and diego fight over the same cushion, she just watched for a moment.

"whats the matter with you?" five asked, walking closer to her, their shoulders touching as they looked over the scene before them.

"it's just... it's done." she said, her voice carrying decades worth of nostalgia, more than a 13 year old girl should have.

"what is?" he asked, he was visibly confused.

It was just another day, nothing symbolic, the real change didn't come for years after, he knew that, but as he stared at his siblings it was obvious that they had no idea.

"our childhood." she said, looking at the ground, sighing as she shrugged.

"life as we know it." he responded, teasingly, as he nudged her gently.

"I'm not that dramatic." she laughed, looking back up and at her siblings.

They didn't look sophisticated, suddenly older and wiser, no, they looked the same.

They looked innocent, full of life.

she closed her eyes for just a second, burning the frame into her mind forever,

Then, she looked at five.

"come on, we should go over." he said, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her to the group.