Against the odds . Five Hargreeves fanfic

Chapter twenty nine

The next morning, I woke up to the distinct feeling of Five's arm being withdrawn from around me. I blinked groggily, turning to see Five sitting up in bed, his expression a mix of confusion and discomfort. He rubbed his eyes and looked at me with an unreadable look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep.

Five looked at me, his face twisting into a grimace. "You were... you were here all night. I didn't expect that."

I propped myself up on my elbow, trying to gauge his mood. "What's that supposed to mean? I thought you needed me to help you sleep."

"I don't know," he said, clearly flustered. "I guess I used you to get some rest. I've gotten so used to having someone beside me that it's hard to sleep without it."

The bluntness of his words hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart sank as I processed what he'd said. "So, you're saying you used me?"

Five looked pained, but he didn't back down. "It's not that simple. It's just... I need someone near me, or I can't sleep. It's not about you, it's just a habit."

I stared at him, the disappointment and hurt pooling in my chest. "That's great to know. So you're saying it's not even about me as a person. It's just about having someone here?"

Five's expression hardened, as if he regretted his words but didn't know how to backtrack. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just how I am."

"Well, thanks for clarifying," I said, my voice tight. I got out of bed, feeling like I'd been hit by a train. I needed to get out of there before I said something I'd regret.

I made my way downstairs, trying to keep my emotions in check. The house felt quiet and almost oppressive. I grabbed some coffee and sat in the kitchen, staring at nothing in particular. I needed to clear my head, so I decided to talk to Viktor, hoping he could offer some perspective.

Viktor was in the living room, working on some equipment. He looked up as I approached. "Morning, Evangeline. You look like you've had a rough night."

I forced a small smile. "Just tired. Couldn't really sleep much."

Viktor gave me a concerned look. "You okay?"

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I'm just so tired of all this. I'm ready for it to be over."

Viktor nodded sympathetically. "I get it. It's been a rough few days. But you've got to keep pushing through. We're all in this together."

I appreciated his support, but it didn't fully soothe the gnawing anxiety in my chest. I excused myself and decided to talk to Allison, hoping she could help me process everything.

Allison was in her room, doing her makeup in front of the mirror. She glanced up as I entered, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Hey, Evangeline. What's up?"

I sat down on the edge of her bed, feeling a surge of frustration. "I need to talk to you about Five."

Allison's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath and recounted the morning's events. "He said he used me to sleep because he needs someone beside him. It's like I'm just a comfort object to him."

Allison's eyes narrowed, and her expression shifted to anger. "What an asshole. He shouldn't be using you like that."

"I know," I said, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I just don't know what to do. I'm tired of feeling like this."

Allison's demeanor softened as she reached out and took my hand. "You need to stand up for yourself. Don't let him treat you like you're not important. If he's going to act like that, maybe it's time to make him see what he's missing."

I nodded, feeling a bit of relief at her words. "Thanks. I'll try to figure something out."

Later that evening, we gathered again to continue planning our next attack. The atmosphere was tense, the weight of our situation hanging heavily over us. I did my best to focus on the task at hand, but my mind kept drifting back to my conversation with Allison.

Five, for his part, was more distant than usual, his mood adding to the overall tension. We discussed our strategy for dealing with the Nyx and how we could improve our approach. Despite the seriousness of the planning, I couldn't shake the feeling of hurt and frustration.

As the night wore on, I found myself growing more resolute. I wasn't going to let Five's behavior define my actions or my worth. I had to be strong, for myself and for everyone else. The challenges ahead were daunting, but I was determined to face them with a clear mind and a firm resolve.

By the time we wrapped up the planning session, I was exhausted but resolved to keep pushing forward. As i headed it the kitchen. I couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and determination. Whatever was coming next, I knew I had to face it head-on, with or without Five's support.