Wonder • Five Hargreeves

50

Changes

Five sat on the barstool, boredly sipping his drink and eyeing the clock. He had been waiting for 10 minutes now, and a small part of him wanted to just leave. Pretend that he and Diego had their intended heart to heart.

It might've gone as well as their old heart to hearts went when they were kids.

—

"Can I help you?"

Diego looked up in surprise, confusion settling onto his 14 year old features like a snap. He had his hand raised to knock on a door, but he slowly settled his fist down to his side in his abandonment of the task. The person he was about to knock for was already in the hall.

"I-I wanted to talk to you." Diego mustered, cursing his old stutter for giving away his nerves.

Five Hargreeves raised a stark eyebrow. His icy eyes slid over Diego, reading his posture and intentions in the same casual way someone might read an open book. Seeing right through him like he always did.

Diego really hated that about him.

"What can I do for you, Champ." Five asked, sliding past him to get to his door. He unlocked it and kicked it open, holding the door so Diego would head in first.

Diego grit his teeth at Five's slight condescension. Champ. Champ. They were the same age. They were peers, even. But Diego was also number 2- higher than a peer. That should mean something... shouldnt it?

But Five never cared about sibling competition. That fact grated at Diego. All Diego wanted was acknowledgement, and Five couldnt care less.

(He just equated the whole number thing as useless contention, especially since Winnie was in last place. He kept his number as his name, rather than a ranking, marking his lack of ambition to all the other Hargreeves. No desire to move up or down- he was Five.)

"Dont call me champ. I just wanted to talk a little." Diego stomped into Fives room.

"Suree." Five replied and eyed Diego up again, before continuing after him. He slowly closed the door behind them.

"So whats this about Diego?" Five used his name this time, appeasing the angrier and larger teen boy. "Lot on your mind?"

Diego shook his head. "No- not a lot. Just the one thing. I- I wanted to know..."

Five noddee his head to encourage him, but Diego stopped cold. Five sucked his teeth in vague annoyance before decidedly going about his tasks around the room. If Diego was going to take forever to get to the point... he began taking off his tie.

Diego breathed in deeply. "I wanted to talk about Winnie."

Five didnt even look over. He just hung up his tie and started unbuttoning his jacket sleeves. After a moment he hummed in acknowledgement because Diego looked ready to pop at the lack of reaction.

What, was he supposed to act surprised? He had known this was coming. Diego at this point in time still had a raging crush on the flirty blonde. Ben had given up on her, and Vanya would never act on her feelings- but Diego stayed steadfast in his desire for the beautiful girl.

"What about her?" Five finally asked in a sigh.

"What... what are your plans with her?" The tan boy kicked at his feet awkwardly, nerves making his guts feel iced and his heart beat way too fast. "Like... are you and she..."

"Going out?" Five finished for him. He laid back onto his bed and shrugged. "Who knows. Likely."

"What do you mean?" Diego's brow furrowed.