RUN BOY RUN- reader x Five Hargreeves

Part Forty-Five

Kitty's anger was palpable even before she spoke, her posture rigid with barely contained fury. The dim hallway lights cast harsh shadows across her face as she confronted me, her fingers drumming against her arm in an agitated rhythm. The old building's wooden floors creaked beneath our feet, emphasizing the tension in the air. "You know I'm getting really tired of you coming and going like this," she said, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. Her voice echoed slightly in the empty corridor. "This had better be good." I drew in a deep breath, the musty air filling my lungs as I prepared to deliver the news. The weight of my duffel bag seemed to grow heavier with each passing second. "Elliott's dead." "Who?" Her brow furrowed in confusion, creating deep lines across her forehead. "Miss Gusman's son." The color drained from Kitty's face as recognition dawned, leaving her usually rosy complexion ashen. Her eyes darted frantically around the corridor, checking for potential eavesdroppers, before she grabbed my arm and roughly pulled me into a shadowy corner. The sudden movement caused my shoulder to bump against the peeling wallpaper. 

"Our supplier?" she whispered urgently, her grip tightening on my arm. When I nodded, she began to pace, her breathing becoming erratic, her footsteps creating a nervous rhythm on the wooden floor. "What are we going to do? It's almost winter." The panic in her voice was evident, matching the wild look in her eyes. I reached out to steady her, placing a calming hand on her back, feeling the tension in her muscles. "Don't worry, I didn't come unprepared," I said with a reassuring smile, reaching for the duffel bag at my feet. The zipper seemed unusually loud in the quiet hallway. Kitty's hands trembled as she unzipped it, her silver rings catching what little light filtered through the dusty windows. Her sharp intake of breath echoed in the quiet hallway as she took in the sight of the neatly packed coats and blankets, each item carefully folded and organized. However, her relief quickly morphed into horror, her expression changing so rapidly it was almost comical. "Did you rob a dead man's house?" she hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief, taking a step back as if the bag might bite her. A small chuckle escaped my lips. "No, nothing like that. I was there when he died. He told me I could take everything before he passed." The memory of Elliott's body flashed through my mind, the pain that he went through to keep my family safe, but I pushed it aside. The tension visibly left her shoulders as she exhaled deeply, her entire body seeming to deflate. "Dottie, this is amazing. What would I do without you?"

I caught her hand in mine, squeezing it gently, feeling the familiar calluses on her palm. "Kitty, I need a favor." The words came out softer than intended, almost hesitant. "Anything," she responded without hesitation, returning the squeeze. Her green eyes met mine steadily. "After all, you are family." "I need to stay here." The request hung in the air between us, heavy with implications. A warm smile spread across her face, transforming her features. "As long as you need." She paused, hesitation flickering across her features like shadows. "But can I ask... what happened to your family?" I sighed heavily, the weight of my past settling on my shoulders like a familiar but unwelcome burden. The memories I tried so hard to keep at bay threatened to overwhelm me. "Are you sure you want to hear that story?" In response, she simply cuddled up to my side, her presence offering silent support, her warmth a comfort against the building's perpetual chill. And so I told her everything – about being from 2019, about my powers, about Five bringing us here, and about Ace. The words poured out of me like a dam breaking, each memory both painful and cathartic to share. The story felt both foreign and intimately familiar as I recounted it. "He died because my powers weren't strong enough," I concluded, blinking back tears that threatened to fall, my voice cracking slightly on the last word.

"No." Kitty's voice was firm, unwavering, cutting through my self-recrimination like a knife. "His death was not your fault, I promise you. You saved us by creating this new hid away. You're the reason I found the strength to kick Jack out, the reason we've all grown stronger." I turned to her, curiosity piqued by this new information. "What do you mean you kicked Jack out?" "He was power-hungry," she explained, her expression darkening like storm clouds gathering. "Tried to kiss me, only to admit he just wanted power after I rejected him. I sent him away, but he went and started a fight with a police officer to 'let off some steam.' He could have put us all in even more danger with the law. So I banished him." The bitterness in her voice suggested there was more to the story. "How?" I asked, linking my arm through hers as we began walking down the hallway, our footsteps falling into sync. "I turned him in." Her voice was quiet but held no regret, steel beneath the softness. I stopped our progress, turning to cup her cheek gently, feeling the warmth of her skin against my palm. "Ace would be so proud of you, and all that you're doing for the group." She smiled, leaning into my touch before taking my hands in hers, her grip firm and reassuring. "He would be proud of you too, and happy that you found your family."

A small giggle escaped me, the sound echoing slightly in the empty hallway. "It's funny – that word doesn't really mean anything to me anymore, at least not in the traditional sense. Sure, those guys were who I grew up with, but we never truly connected. We just happened to live in the same house. But these people here," I gestured around us, at the worn walls abandoned so many years ago, "the ones I've only known for a short time, they feel more like family than anyone ever has." Kitty's eyes sparkled with understanding as she tugged on my hand, pulling me down the hallway. The soft glow of the evening light filtered through the dusty windows, casting long shadows on the worn floorboards, creating patterns that danced as we walked past. "Where are we going?" I asked, allowing her to lead me deeper into the building's maze-like corridors. "To say hi to some people," she replied with a mysterious smile that lit up her entire face. "Your family is waiting." Maybe this wasn't the family I was adopted into, but it was the family I had chosen, and that made all the difference.