Eternity - Five Hargreeves , Aidan Gallagher

library

The soft rustle of pages filled the air as Y/n sat cross-legged in a cozy velvet seat of the library in the mansion, utterly absorbed in a thick book about time travel theories. The scent of aged paper surrounded her, creating a perfect backdrop for her favorite pastime.

Just then, Five wandered in, hoping to find a quiet spot away from the chaos of their family. He paused when he spotted Y/n, her brow furrowed in concentration, completely oblivious to the world around her. Curiosity piqued, he approached her.

"What's so captivating?" he asked, leaning slightly over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the book.

Y/n jumped slightly, looking up to find Five standing there. "Oh! It's just this book about time travel theories," she replied, her heart racing a little. "It's fascinating how many different concepts there are!"

"Fascinating, huh?" Five raised an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued. "What's the craziest theory you've come across?"

Y/n grinned, feeling the excitement of a good debate bubbling up. "Well, there's one that suggests time is not linear, but rather a series of parallel universes. So every decision creates a new timeline. What do you think?"

Five's expression shifted, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Parallel universes are definitely a popular theory, but they miss the point. Time is more like a web, with every choice affecting every other point in a complex way."

"Okay, Mr. Expert," Y/n teased, unable to resist. "What's your personal experience with that?"

Five hesitated for a moment, his playful demeanor faltering. "Let's just say I've seen a few timelines... and they aren't always what you'd hope for."

Y/n noticed the sudden seriousness in his voice and softened. "You've really lived through all that?"

He nodded, the walls around him seeming to close in slightly. "It's complicated. I've made choices that... well, let's just say they didn't always have the best outcomes."

Determined to lighten the mood, Y/n decided to pivot the conversation. "Alright, how about we make a deal? For every theory you have about time travel, I'll share a wild idea I have about alternate realities."

Five's lips twitched into a smile. "That sounds fair. You go first."

"Okay," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "What if there's a universe where squirrels are the dominant species, and they're trying to figure out how to build their own time machine?"

Five couldn't help but laugh at her words, "That's ridiculous. In that universe, I bet they'd have tiny little lab coats and everything."

"It's not!" Y/n exclaimed, laughing along with him. "And they'd use acorns as currency!"

As they bantered back and forth, the tension of earlier seemed to melt away. Five began to share some of his own wild theories, each one more absurd than the last. The library's hushed atmosphere faded into the background, replaced by their laughter and animated conversation.

After a while, Y/n noticed the way Five's eyes sparkled as he spoke, the passion for his thoughts bringing a new light to his usually serious demeanor. It was refreshing to see this side of him—one that was unguarded and genuine.

"You know," Five said after a pause, his expression turning thoughtful again, "talking to you like this is nice. It's a break from... everything else."

"I feel the same way," Y/n replied softly, her heart warming at his admission. "It's easy to get lost in the chaos, but moments like this remind me why I love being here."

Five studied her for a moment, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Sometimes, I forget what it's like to just enjoy life. To connect with someone without all the pressure."

Y/n felt a flutter in her chest. "You don't have to carry all that weight alone, you know. I'm here if you ever want to talk about it. You have been working non-stop."

He nodded, a small smile gracing his lips. "Thanks, Y/n. That means a lot."

As the conversation shifted back to playful theories, Y/n felt a sense of warmth grow between them. This library encounter had turned into something unexpected, a connection that felt both exciting and comforting.

When it was finally time to leave, Five stood, glancing back at her. "We should do this again sometime. Maybe explore more theories—and grab coffee again like we used to."

"I'd like that," Y/n said, her smile brightening.

As they walked out of the library together, she couldn't shake the feeling of her heart fluttering whenever Five was near her or their hands brushed together when she flipped through the pages of her book.