The Sparks Between Us | Five Hargreeves x Reader

SIX

I finished wrapping my wound, the cloth tight around my palm as the blood began to slow. The silence between us stretched, and I could feel Five's gaze on me, intense with a mix of confusion and concern. I focused on the task at hand, the subtle beep of my internal systems running diagnostics in the background.

Finally, his voice broke the quiet. "What happened back there, Y/n?" Five's tone was quieter now, almost as if he was waiting for something, but I didn't answer immediately.

"Luther was in danger," I said, my voice calm, steady. I finished securing the bandage and gently placed my hand on my lap. "He needed my help."

Five exhaled sharply, his frustration leaking through. "Y/n. That's the thing. You shouldn't have. You're programmed to be my protector. You're supposed to follow me—only me. How the hell did you switch like that? Why did you stop that blade from hitting Luther?"

I blinked at him, my expression blank, but my mind was already working, analyzing the situation from every angle. I looked up at him, my gaze steady, my words sharp, precise.

"Five, my programming is adaptive," I said, my voice low and controlled. "Once the weapon was aimed at Luther, the data became clear. My primary function is to protect. You've always been my primary user, my priority, but when the threat became immediate—when the blade was in motion and there was no time to hesitate—my system recalculated. My primary directive overrode itself because Luther became my only option at that moment. My data redefined the parameters, the danger to him outweighing everything else."

I paused, watching Five as his brow furrowed, trying to process what I was saying.

"I didn't choose to change. It wasn't a decision. My systems read the threat, assessed the need, and in that instant, protection shifted to Luther. The programming was rewritten, if only temporarily. I had no other choice but to act."

Five stared at me for a long moment, his lips pressing into a thin line as he absorbed the weight of my words. He looked conflicted, his mind racing, but I could see the realization dawning on him.

"You're saying... your programming just adjusted on its own?"

"Yes," I replied, my voice calm, unyielding. "The system evaluated the situation, and it saw Luther as the priority. It wasn't a conscious choice. It was a response. You told me once, Five, that my programming is complex, but even I didn't know the full extent of its flexibility." I looked down at my wrapped hand, the wound still fresh, but the urgency of the moment had passed.

"I'm still programmed to protect you, Five. But in that moment, Luther needed me more."

Five said nothing for a moment, but his gaze softened.

I met Five's curious gaze, feeling the weight of his question hanging in the air. He seemed genuinely puzzled, as if he was trying to piece together a part of the puzzle he hadn't fully understood.

"When you were being tested, did The Handler tell you about having multiple people connected to you?" he asked, his voice quiet but probing.

I leaned back slightly, my fingers still gently pressing against the bandaged wound as I processed his words. I didn't need to think long to respond. My systems had long ago run countless simulations, storing data about every possible scenario. My answer came easily, precisely.

"Once my core programming was fully loaded and operational," I began, my voice calm but firm, "The Handler made specific adjustments to my directives. She programmed me with a layered protection protocol. The primary user—you—remains my first priority. However, once that was established, additional parameters were added: I was to protect anyone closely connected to you, based on relationships, familial ties, blood, or even partners."