RUN BOY RUN- reader x Five Hargreeves

Part Fifty

As we approached the farm, the weather transformed with supernatural speed – the sunny, bright blue skies darkening into a howling blizzard. The sudden change set my teeth on edge; I'd seen enough supernatural phenomena to know this wasn't natural. Clouds roiled overhead like angry bruises, and snow began to fall in thick, desperate flurries. Icy wind whipped around the car as Vanya pulled to a stop, the engine's rumble dying into the storm's roar. The temperature had dropped at least twenty degrees in the span of minutes. I shivered, pulling my coat tighter and wishing I'd grabbed something warmer from Elliott's closet. The wool fabric did little against this otherworldly chill that seemed to seep straight into my bones. "You think whatever's happening inside is causing this cold front?" Diego asked as he climbed out, his boots crunching against the freshly fallen snow. Five opens our door, offering his hand with that mix of old-world courtesy and protective instinct I'd grown used to. The moment my feet hit the ground, the otherworldly cold hit me like a physical blow. I wrapped my arms around myself, shuddering against the bitter wind that seemed to cut straight through my clothes. Even Five's steadying hand on my elbow couldn't stop my teeth from chattering.

"The correlation is certainly suggestive," Five replied, his eyes scanning the property with tactical precision. I recognized that look – he was already calculating angles, solutions, possible threats. Old habits die hard, even when you're trying to help people. A sudden movement caught our attention. The barn door burst open with enough force to slam against the outer wall, the sound like a gunshot in the howling wind. A woman emerged, shotgun clutched in white-knuckled hands, her blonde hair whipping wildly around her face. Five instinctively pushed me behind him, his body coiled tight with protective tension, but Vanya was already running toward her, calling out over the wind. "Sissy! Sissy, wait!" Vanya's voice carried a desperation I'd rarely heard from her, as she ran forth shilling us from the woman's barrel. I shrugged off Five's protective gesture with a roll of my eyes. After everything we'd been through, he still sometimes forgot I wasn't made of glass. He shot me a questioning look, equal parts irritation and concern, but I ignored it. Instead, I moved to stand beside Vanya, my steps measured and deliberate. Years of handling volatile situations had taught me the value of a gentle approach.

"Ma'am," I said softly, letting my Southern accent naturally emerge to soothe her fears, "We're Vanya's family. We're here to help your son." The words came out warm despite the biting cold, pitched to carry just far enough. I felt Five's presence materialize behind me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him despite the bitter cold. "We promise we don't want to hurt either of you," he added, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. It was the same tone he used when trying to calm me after nightmares – soft, sincere, almost vulnerable. Sissy's hands trembled on the shotgun, her knuckles white against the dark wood. Tears froze on her cheeks almost as soon as they fell. "Were you lying to me?" she asked Vanya, her voice breaking, "The whole time?" The pain in her words was almost tangible. "Of course not," Vanya replied, emotion thick in her voice. She took a careful step forward, hands raised placatingly. "I didn't know who I was then. But I do now." A small, sad smile crossed her face, full of regret and hope in equal measure. "We're not the monsters they say we are. We didn't kill the president. We're not terrorists. We're not here to hurt anyone." "Then who are you?" Sissy demanded, fear and confusion warring in her expression. The shotgun wavered slightly, but her finger stayed dangerously close to the trigger.

"The only ones who can help Harlan," Vanya answered with quiet conviction. Something in her tone must have reached Sissy – perhaps she recognized the same protective instinct that had driven Vanya to return despite the risks. Time stretched between them like a taught wire before Sissy finally lowered the shotgun, stepping aside to let our peculiar family pass. Inside the barn, the scene stole my breath away. Harlan, a boy of perhaps ten, floated suspended at the center of a swirling vortex of energy. The air itself seemed to bend around him, creating a spiral of raw power that made my skin prickle with electricity. Hay, Scraps  and dust orbited him like debris around a tornado's eye. Wind tore through the space with enough force to stagger us, forcing us to brace ourselves against its fury. I clutched Five's hand instinctively, sensing the waves of terror rolling off the young boy. His fear was almost palpable, a living thing that fed the storm around him. Vanya tried calling out to Harlan, but her words were swallowed by the tempest. Frustration flickered across her face before determination set in, her eyes blazing white with power. She stepped toward the energy field, her own abilities responding to the chaos around us.

"Careful," Five called out, concern evident in his voice despite its usual sharp edge. His fingers tightened around mine briefly before letting go. I noticed Klaus drifting toward one of the windows, peering out into the storm. Something in his posture made my stomach clench – that sixth sense for trouble we'd all developed over years of catastrophes. Five noticed it too, his body tensing as he moved to investigate. When he returned to my side, his face had hardened into the mask I recognized from missions gone sideways. "What is it?" I asked, though part of me already knew the answer wouldn't be good. It never was. "The Handler and Lila are here," he stated flatly, jaw clenched with barely contained rage. Old wounds and fresh betrayals wrapped up in two names. "Lila? Why would she—" I started, but Five cut me off with a sharp gesture. "We'll explain later. Diego and I are going to handle this. Stay here and watch over Vanya and the kid." He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "And take care of the mother too. We can't afford any more complications." I nodded, understanding the weight of his trust in me. As he and Diego slipped out through the barn doors, I moved to stand beside Sissy, who watched her son with terror-filled eyes. The love and fear radiating from her was almost as powerful as the supernatural storm above us.

"Oh, God, please don't hurt my baby," she whispered, her voice raw with maternal fear. Her hands were clasped so tight her knuckles had gone white, as if she could hold her world together through sheer force of will. I took her trembling hand in mine, squeezing gently. "God won't let that happen," I assured her, letting my natural warmth flow into my words. "Not with us here." Not with Vanya's power, Five's determination, and our family's stubborn refusal to let another child suffer. A ghost of a smile touched her lips, and I felt her hand steady in mine. Above us, the vortex continued to pulse with power, but I held firm to my conviction. We'd faced the end of the world before – we could handle whatever this storm might bring. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply stand beside someone and share their burden. So that's what I did, watching as Vanya prepared to save yet another lost child, while outside, my family faced down our demons once again.