Against the odds . Five Hargreeves fanfic

Chapter twenty four

Sunlight poured through the windows, hitting me right in the eyes as I stumbled into the living room. Every inch of my body screamed in pain with each step, the bruises and cuts from last night's battle making sure I didn't forget just how close I'd come to death. I finally made it to the couch and practically collapsed onto it, wincing as I tried to get comfortable.

Klaus and Allison were already there, watching me with these annoyingly smug grins that made me want to punch something—if my knuckles weren't already shredded from yesterday.

"You're looking a bit rough, Ev," Klaus said, his voice dripping with mock concern.

"Gee, thanks for the observation," I muttered, rolling my eyes. I wasn't in the mood for this. My body hurt, my head hurt, and the last thing I needed was their teasing.

"Five was really worried about you last night," Allison chimed in, her tone too sweet, too knowing. "He wouldn't leave your side."

I felt a flush of heat rise to my cheeks. "He was just worried because if I die, Nyx will be after all of us," I shot back, trying to sound dismissive, but I could feel the slight tremor in my voice.

"Sure," Klaus drawled, dragging out the word as if he didn't believe a damn thing I'd just said. "That's definitely the reason."

Before I could throw another sarcastic comment at them, Five walked in, looking as cold and unbothered as ever. His eyes flicked over me, and I swear, for a split second, I saw something in them—worry, maybe—but it was gone as fast as it appeared.

"Damn right," Five said flatly. "I was only worried because if you die, that shit is gonna haunt us."

There it was—his usual snark, cutting through the tension in the room. But I could hear something beneath it, something I wasn't sure I was ready to acknowledge.

-

The warm water from the shower did little to wash away the ache in my muscles or the sting in my bruises, but at least I feel a little more like myself. I pull on a clean shirt and some sweatpants, wincing as I tug the fabric over a particularly sore spot on my shoulder. It's noon, and the sun outside is way too bright for how I feel.

When I step out of the bathroom, the house is quiet, almost too quiet. My thoughts are still spinning from everything that happened with Nyx, and I can't seem to shake the image of that monster out of my mind. I head to the living room, where I find Allison and Five waiting. Five is holding a first aid kit, and Allison gives me a small, sympathetic smile.

"Sit down," Five says, his voice as flat as ever. He's already opening the kit, not waiting for me to respond.

"I'm fine," I insist, but there's no real force behind it. I know I'm not fine, and I think he does too.

"Yeah, sure," Five replies sarcastically, motioning to the couch. "Just sit down before you fall over."

I huff and drop onto the couch, trying not to wince as I do. Five kneels in front of me, close enough that I can feel the heat from his body. He takes my arm, carefully examining the cuts and bruises. His touch is surprisingly gentle, though he doesn't say anything as he works. He's focused, his brow furrowed in concentration as he cleans a cut on my forearm.

Allison sits beside me, holding a couple of bandages ready. "You're lucky you didn't break anything," she says softly, looking over my injuries. "But you still need to take it easy."

"I'll be fine," I mutter, trying to downplay it. But even I can hear the exhaustion in my voice.

Five finishes cleaning the cut and starts applying a bandage. As he does, his hand brushes against mine, and he suddenly realizes how close we are. He freezes for a moment, his eyes meeting mine, and I can feel my heart skip a beat.

Allison catches the moment too, and she grimaces playfully. "Okay, you two, seriously. Get a room."

Five's face hardens immediately, and he pulls back, rolling his eyes. "Nothing's happening, Allison."

"Yeah, nothing at all," I add quickly, my voice a bit higher than I'd like. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and I know I must look ridiculous.

"Sure, nothing," Allison says, but the smirk on her face tells me she doesn't believe a word of it. "You both just happen to look like you're in some cheesy rom-com."

"Would you shut up?" Five snaps, his voice cold. He reaches for another bandage, avoiding my gaze.

I glare at Allison. "Seriously, it's not like that."

Allison holds up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'm just saying..."

I feel a wave of frustration mix with the confusion already swirling inside me. This whole situation is messed up enough without Allison adding to it. But when Five's fingers accidentally brush against a tender spot on my arm again, my frustration flares. I jerk away, wincing.

"Watch it!" I snap, more out of pain than anger,

The living room is a strange blend of quiet and chaos. Diego, Viktor, Klaus, and Luther have joined us, their faces reflecting a mix of concern and curiosity. The atmosphere is heavy, the weight of our failed attempt to stop Nyx hanging over us.

Diego's phone rings, breaking the silence. He answers it, stepping away to take the call. I glance around, trying to ignore the anxiety gnawing at me. My mind keeps spiraling back to the same question: How did things get so bad from just me fainting four days ago?

Diego finishes the call, his face a mask of worry. "We need to turn on the TV," he says urgently. We all look at him, confusion etched on our faces. He nods toward the television, which had been off until now.

Viktor grabs the remote and turns on the TV. The screen flickers to life, and immediately, the news report is filled with footage of Nyx wreaking havoc. The scene is horrifying: buildings crumbling, fires blazing, and people fleeing in terror.

I'm struck dumb, my heart sinking as I watch the chaos unfold. Tears start streaming down my face, my thoughts racing. How did it come to this? Why is everything so much worse now?

Allison, who had been sitting quietly, notices my distress. She moves to sit next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "It's going to be okay," she says softly. "We're going to figure this out."

I nod, but my thoughts are a whirlpool of confusion and fear. "If it was just me fainting, why did it get this bad?" I whisper, more to myself than anyone else.

Five stands nearby, his usual cold demeanor softened by concern. He watches me with an intensity that makes my heart race in confusion. When I finally break down, sobs shaking my body, Five steps closer. His hand reaches out, but I flinch away.

"Stop touching me," I snap, feeling overwhelmed by his presence. I don't want to admit how much I need his comfort, how much his touch means to me in this moment of despair.

But the tears won't stop. My body betrays me, and I find myself collapsing against him, wrapping my arms around him in a desperate hug. His touch is both cold and strangely comforting.

I can feel him stiffen for a moment, then he slowly wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly. His touch is firm but somehow reassuring. Allison watches us, her gaze shifting from me to Five with a mix of awe and concern.

Five's voice is low and rough, a stark contrast to the cold exterior he maintains. "You're not alone in this," he murmurs, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "We'll get through this."

I clutch him tighter, feeling a confusing mix of gratitude and irritation. His words don't fully comfort me, but his presence does. I pull back slightly, looking up at him, trying to read the conflicting emotions in his eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you helping me?"

Five's expression remains stoic, but there's a hint of softness in his gaze. "Because it's my responsibility to fix this mess. And you're part of it."

As I slowly compose myself, Allison's hand finds mine, squeezing it gently. The warmth of her support is a small comfort amidst the chaos. Despite everything, I find myself clinging to the hope that maybe, just maybe, we can still find a way to end this nightmare.