The Sparks Between Us | Five Hargreeves x Reader

TEN

༻Y/N'S POV༺

As the taxi sped through the streets, the city buzzed around us. The sound of engines revving, car horns blaring, and distant conversations created a chaotic symphony that filled the air. I sat beside Five, watching the world blur by. My sensors picked up every detail—the rusting fire hydrants on street corners, the faint flicker of neon signs, and even the subtle cracks in the sidewalk as we passed.

We stopped at a red light, and my focus shifted to the library on the corner. Its towering structure stood proudly, with large windows revealing rows upon rows of books inside. My internal systems activated, scanning the building. A flood of data streamed through my mind as I processed its contents. Shelves filled with stories, histories, and creative ideas—the sheer amount of knowledge housed in one place was staggering. It was a testament to human ingenuity and imagination.

The car started moving again, pulling me from my reverie.

"Pull over here," Five instructed, his voice cutting through the noise.

I turned to look at him as the driver complied, pulling the car to a stop. Five's hand was still holding mine—he hadn't let go since we left Klaus behind. For a brief moment, I processed the unusual sensation. It wasn't like a normal touch, but something more grounding. His presence felt steady, anchoring me in the moment.

Before I could dwell on it further, Five teleported us out of the car.

We reappeared on the sidewalk, startling the taxi driver, who muttered something under his breath before speeding off. I glanced around, noticing we were now directly in front of the library. The towering building loomed over us, its glass doors reflecting the bustling city streets.

"The library is a great place to start looking for clues about the apocalypse," I said, scanning the structure again.

Five sighed, his expression unreadable. "We're not here for answers—not yet."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Perhaps the computers inside could assist us in identifying the person connected to the glass eye."

"No, Y/n. That's not why we're here," he said firmly.

I processed his words, analyzing his tone and facial expression. "With all due respect, Five, I fail to see any other reason why we would be here, given the urgency of our mission."

He turned to face me fully, his gaze softer than usual. "I stopped us here because I wanted you to come here."

I blinked, unsure of what he meant. "Why?"

"Because," he began, hesitating for a moment, "if the world really is going to end, maybe you should experience something for yourself. Something outside of me."

I stared at him, struggling to understand. "I was programmed for you. To assist you, provide answers, and ensure your success."

"That's exactly my point," he replied. "You've spent all these years focused on me and my needs. Why not do something for yourself? Look at something new. Read something just because you want to, not because it's required."

His words caught me off guard. My head tilted slightly as I processed them, searching for their deeper meaning. His expression softened further, and he reached for my hand again. "Come on. I'll show you."

We walked through the library doors together. The moment we entered, I stopped in my tracks, overwhelmed. My sensors went into overdrive, scanning the vast space before me.

The library was enormous. Four stories of shelves stretched toward the ceiling, each crammed with books of every size, shape, and color. The faint scent of aged paper and ink filled the air. My internal systems began cataloging everything in sight. Titles, authors, genres—it all flooded into my database.