Wonder • Five Hargreeves

42

Changes

Five Hargreeves awoke in the morning feeling strangely rested.

It had been a long time since he had a full nights sleep. It was one of the greatest sleeps in his entire life too, so good that he woke up feeling like he was on another planet. He was laid among a mountain of soft pillows and a thick duvet, the morning cool on his face and he was tempted to just close his eyes again.

Then he felt the sharp, biting pain on his back. He hissed at the tenderness, and reached back to touch stitched skin.

The low sound caused a stir of movement, and Five looked to his left. A messy head of platinum blonde hair lifted up from the chair beside him. Blue eyes blinked up at him before they registered the sight and Winnie sat up fully.

"You are awake." She said and rubbed her eyes. Her voice sounded so relieved.

Five nodded and smiled softly at her. "Did you sleep in that chair all night? You could have joined me."

But, his smile was rebuffed. Her relieved and happy eyes became pointed in a glare and she crossed her arms in anger.

"That would be a reward." She sniffed indignantly, "And I did not want to reward you!"

Five winced, and knew exactly why she was angry. "I didnt want to worry you."

"Well! Well-" Winnie floundered in her outrage. "Well- you failed! I had to stitch you up, and you laid there, not moving, and I was worried... I was worried, Five!"

Five felt a stab of guilt at her words and he sighed. He reached out and grabbed her hand gently, and she let him. She squeezed his fingers as he brought her hand to his lips.

"Im sorry." He said lowly, honestly, and Winnies felt her anger get chipped away at his words. "I should have told you. I got used to suffering through pain in the apocalypse and the commission... I figured it would be better to just get through the mission before getting fixed up."

Winnie took a deep breath in and then out. Damn him. Damn him for being so good with his words. Why couldn't she stay angry? He saw her resolution crumble and he kissed her knuckles again.

Five gave her a crooked smile. "I forgot what it was like to have someone real to care if I make it back in one piece. I got ahead of myself- Im sorry."

And Winnie's eyes softened all the way with love. Damn him! Her shoulders deflated and she pouted.

"Im still very angry." Winnie told him with no venom, but exhaustion.

"I know."

"I dont like stitching you up."

"I know."

"I dont like when you get hurt and especially that you got hurt because of me. Dont... dont do it again."

"Okay."

He was so sweet and kind to her. So understanding that her being upset came from how much she loved him. The wind was officially sucked from her sails and she felt at a lost. In a last ditch effort, she decided to play the only way she knew how; dirty.

"You have to make it up to me."

"I will."

"You missed me wearing a nurses uniform."

"I kn- What?"

Fives eyes got wide, thrown off his game. Winnie had her goofy chuckle and pulled her hand away. She got up and crawled into bed beside him and he turned so he could pull her into his arms. He nuzzled his nose into her warm neck and she sighed with content.