𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐃, five hargreeves

𝟬𝟬𝟰. the end of beginning

THIS DAY THAT CHANGED everything started like no other.

As usual, Vanya woke me up and she dragged me to the kitchen for some tea, telling me all about her new dream. I don't like to talk in the mornings and Anya loved to fill the silence because her other siblings usually didn't listen to her meaningless talks.

Like always, Klaus would appear out of nowhere the moment the kettle was turned off and the water was ready for the tea bags. As we three waited for our tea, Grace would put fresh cookies on the table.

We would finish our drinks and would drag ourselves back upstairs to change into our uniforms. I even had one made for me too. I would sit on the left of my not dad, in front of Five. The brunette boy, watched me closely while I ate just like the day before. I never could understand why he did that, why he would stare, but after a while I stopped questioning why he did the things he did.

It was a bit after breakfast when Reginald pulled me aside telling me that there might be a bank robbery happening downtown. In five minutes we quickly came up with the strategy while the siblings got ready.

After the briefing, my not dad announced that I would be going on the mission too. I was excited, finally feeling like I wholeheartedly belonged. Vanya looked down, but when I caught her eyes, sending her a wink, reassuring her that nothing was changing between us.

Five protested, saying that I was practically useless. I really wanted to give him some of my opinions about him, but instead, Reginald shut him up saying his decision was final. Diego and Luther patted me on my back as if congratulating me while Allison just rolled her eyes, not sparing me a second look.

But I didn't care and little did I know, Five was right. I shouldn't have gone.

"YOU WILL BE FINE?" I rolled my eyes as we quietly entered the bank from the back door. "This isn't my first rodeo, you know?"

Diego chuckled, "I know. Good luck then, Zero."

I sent him a smile, "Good luck, Four."

The plan was simple, Team One goes after the robbers, Team Two takes care of the hostages and lastly, I along with Klaus put back the money in its rightful place, simple.

Right, that was simple until we went back to the safe and found two more robbers. One immediately went after Klaus while the other one sadistically smiled and took a few menacing steps towards me.

I raised my brows at his expression, what kind of psycho is this? He started running into me and I quickly got out of his way, but not before sending a kick to the back of his knees which brought him to the floor with a loud thud.

He snarls and goes to punch me, but instead of his punch coming into contact with my skin, I grab his wrist and pull it into a metal wall behind me. The man lets out a grunt of pain and with all my strength, I grab the collar of his jacket and smack him against the wall, making him fall unconscious.

What? I was taught a lot of martial arts.

Leaning against the wall and trying to catch my breath, I noticed a shadow right behind me, but it was too late. His blow to my jaw sends me to the floor and I quickly stand up to dodge another one that's coming, before kicking the man in the stomach.

But this robber didn't give up as easily as the previous one, because he grabbed my ankle, pulling me to the floor again and kicking me in the stomach, catching me off guard.

The next thing I knew, a cold metal pierced my stomach making me scream out in pain.

The man quickly pulls the knife out of me and delivers a blow to my cheek, before letting go of me. As I hit the floor, another rush of pain fills my insides and I try so hard to keep in another cry of pain.

I look down, to see my hands bloody, the liquid coming out of me more and more quickly. "Priscilla?" I heard someone call my name, but the shock and lack of blood made me too dizzy to figure out to who that voice belonged to.

Someone quickly appears in front of me and I lift my eyes to meet Five's. His eyes dart to my stomach where my crimson-covered hands are trying to stop the blood flow, but not succeeding.

"What the hell happened?" He asks as he quickly takes off his jacket and tears off a piece of his sweater, pushing it against my wound. I let out a curse, rolling my eyes, "What do you think, dumbass? I got stabbed."

His hands seemed to pause, not pushing the fabric into my wound once he heard me finally reply to him. I wordlessly met his eyes, realising what had happened.

I spoke, in front of Five. He shakes his head, moving back to trying to soak up my blood.

"I'm going to blink us," He decided and I immediately shook my head in protest. "No, I think the wound is too deep," I wince. "If we did, you might as well just leave me."

"I won't leave you."

I stare into his eyes, "I know." Because I did. Somehow, I trusted him completely. Somehow, I knew that he wouldn't leave me. I didn't dwell much on the why, instead I just closed my eyes, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip to keep myself from screaming out in pain.

"Where's Klaus?" He asks. "Fighting his robber. There were three of them, we miscalculated. I knocked one out, but I didn't notice the other one until it was too late," I reply.

"We need to get you some help- I need to, I need to do something," His voice is frantic and I'm starting to think that this affects him more than me, which is ridiculous because I'm the one dying here.

I try to swallow the pain. "Tell me something real," I ask, trying to distract him, before he freaks out on me and I freak out too. I wince as I breathe in, this hurts so much. "What? what do you mean?" I feel his hand shaking on my skin, trying to keep the blood out.

"Something real, tell me something real about you."

He bites his lips and squees his eyes shut, mumbling something. "My... my given name is Max." A smile spreads on my face, "It's nice, it suits you. Why don't you use it? Why Five?"

"Because it doesn't matter. I'm Five of the Academy, a number," He shakes his head

"Well, that's just plain stupid," I smile, trying to hide the pain that's slowly killing me.

"I think I preferred you when you were quiet, mouse," He tries to joke too, but unlike always, his voice doesn't have the usual teasing tone that annoys me like hell.

I roll my eyes, "Ugh, I hate that stupid name."

"Which is why I'm going to continue calling you that when you're healed. I'll let you off for now."

I gave him a look, "Max..." He almost flinches at the usage of his real name, or maybe it's my weakened tone and I try so hard to keep my new tears from falling. "I– I don't think I'm gonna make it."

He shakes his head, "No– no, no, you'll be fine."

I sigh, wanting to say something, but the breath I take hurts a lot more than the others before. Max sees this and his eyes dart frantically, searching for someone, anyone, but it's just us.

"Just don't forget me, okay?" I can't stop my tears now from falling. "I don't– I don't want to be forgotten."

He shakes his head, "You won't be. Because you'll be fine." Shutting my eyes, I hold my breath and suddenly, I don't feel the pain as strong as before.

The voice beside me blurs and I find myself wanting to drift into the darkness. I feel Max shake me and it's almost like he triggers something in me, because I don't feel his hands on me anymore and the familiar twist engulfs my senses, light and then nothing.

AUTHORS NOTE
Andddd that's the end of act i!! Very short, yes, but so important. Anyways, I can't wait for act ii.

1.4k words.

-romanoff