Part Sixty-One

38 1 0
                                    

Five stood in front of the massive ball of string, with Klaus and Y/n following close behind. His small frame was dwarfed by the tourist attraction's impressive size, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the ground. Y/n couldn't help but admire how Five's dark hair caught the golden light, making him look almost ethereal despite his perpetual scowl. "I don't know why, but I thought it would be bigger," Klaus sighed, his lanky figure swaying slightly as he studied the structure. A gentle breeze ruffled his wild curls as he tilted his head back to take in the full scope of the attraction. Y/n chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. The sound made Five's heart skip a beat, though he'd never admit it out loud. "Seems pretty big to me," Five muttered, his perpetually serious expression softening ever so slightly when his gaze met Y/n's. 

Their years together had taught her to read the subtle changes in his face that others missed. Y/n glanced at her lover, catching his pleading eyes as he silently begged for forgiveness. The way he looked at her still made her weak in the knees, even after all this time. She responded with a playful wink, connecting her hand with his. Their fingers intertwined naturally, a perfect fit that never failed to comfort them both. 'It's not me you need to direct those puppy eyes toward,' she communicated mentally, savoring the familiar warmth of their connection. His gaze drifted meaningfully from Klaus back to Y/n, and she felt the gentle squeeze of his hand against hers. Understanding his intent, she gave him a reassuring nod before heading back to the car. Five watched her go, already missing her presence beside him. He hung his head, knowing what he had to do.

...

The three of them slowly pulled into a farm, surrounded by men working in the fields. The workers wore plain, traditional clothes, while the women were adorned in modest dresses and bonnets. The late afternoon sun painted everything in warm, honeyed tones. Y/n leaned slightly against Five in the front seat, drawing strength from his steady presence. "Holy—" Y/n burst out laughing, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "Klaus, you're Amish!" The car filled with the infectious sound of her laughter, and Five couldn't suppress the small smile that tugged at his lips. He loved seeing her like this, carefree and joyful. Klaus's face lit up with a delighted grin, his eyes dancing with excitement. "This explains everything!" Five and Y/n exchanged puzzled glances, their faces close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek. His hand found hers again, their fingers automatically interlacing. "How?" Y/n asked, absently tracing small circles on Five's palm with her thumb. "Just—" Klaus stammered, gesturing excitedly at the pastoral scene of cows and cornfields around them. The setting sun cast long shadows across the peaceful landscape. "Look at this place! This is everything my childhood was missing!" Y/n couldn't help but smile at his childlike excitement, leaning her head against Five's shoulder. He pressed a subtle kiss to her temple when Klaus wasn't looking. Five advised Klaus to park a mile away from the barn to avoid upsetting his "family." 

The three stepped out of the car, and Y/n took a deep breath of the crisp country air. The scent of fresh grass and wildflowers filled her lungs. "Doppelganger check," Five sighed, turning to Klaus with his characteristic intensity. His other hand never left Y/n's, their shared warmth a constant comfort. Y/n joined Five at his side, studying her brother with a mixture of concern and hope. Their shoulders brushed together as they stood united, watching Klaus prepare for a moment they never thought possible: meeting his real parents. "Any itchiness, sudden gas, the need to kill something?" Y/n asked, only half-joking. She shifted closer to Five as she spoke, their shoulders touching. The familiar spark of their connection hummed between them, a constant reminder of their unique bond. Klaus shook his head, his wild curls bouncing in the golden evening light. The cornfields around them rustled softly in the breeze, creating a peaceful backdrop to this momentous occasion. "Apart from the old rush in the tackle, what can you do?" he asked the couple, gesturing vaguely at their obvious intimacy. Y/n laughed warmly, the sound carrying across the open field. Five simply rolled his eyes, but his hand found the small of her back, drawing her imperceptibly closer. 

The touch sent a familiar shiver down her spine, even after all their time together. She gave Klaus an encouraging nod as Five called out, "Good luck." His voice carried that rare note of genuine concern that he reserved for family moments like these."Please, please, please do not do anything stupid," Y/n begged, hoping he would at least try to behave. The wind picked up slightly, carrying the sweet scent of hay and distant flowers across the farmland. "Wait, what? When was the last time I did something stupid?" Klaus protested, spreading his arms wide as if to emphasize his innocence. Y/n and Five just stared at him, eyebrows raised and mouths agape. Five's thumb traced absent patterns against Y/n's back, an unconscious gesture of comfort that made her heart flutter. Klaus scoffed but bit his lip sheepishly, the setting sun casting long shadows across his expressive face. "Yeah, I felt that one as soon as I said it." Y/n nodded as she climbed back into the car, Five's hand steady at her elbow to help her in. The gesture was unnecessary but welcome – these small shows of protection were just his way. "Wait," Klaus called as Five started to follow her lead, his boots crunching on the gravel. "Why can't you two come with me?" Five and Y/n shared a meaningful look, years of unspoken communication passing between them in an instant. Their eyes met, and Y/n saw the same mixture of concern and determination she felt reflected in his gaze. "This is one you gotta do on your own," Five stated firmly, but his voice was gentler than usual. He settled into the driver's seat, his hand automatically finding Y/n's as soon as he was beside her. Y/n saw the fear in Klaus's eyes and softened her tone. 

She leaned forward slightly, her free hand gripping the car door. "But Five and I will be waiting for you, right here the entire time, okay?" The promise in her voice was absolute, strengthened by Five's reassuring squeeze of her hand. Klaus nodded and turned, walking up the hill while Y/n watched his retreating figure with concern. The setting sun cast his silhouette in sharp relief against the darkening sky, making him look almost like a character in an old photograph. Five pulled Y/n closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "He'll be okay," Five murmured against her hair, his usual gruffness softened by affection. "He's stronger than we give him credit for." Y/n leaned into his embrace, watching her brother's figure grow smaller against the pastoral landscape. "I know," she whispered, threading her fingers through Five's. "But I'll still worry." The couple sat in comfortable silence as the sun continued its descent, casting long shadows across the Amish farmland, waiting for their brother to return with whatever answers he might find.

RUN BOY RUN-  reader x Five HargreevesWhere stories live. Discover now