The Sparks Between Us | Five Hargreeves x Reader

THIRTY-ONE

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————
༻ Y/N'S POV ༺

As the night settled in around us, the world felt quieter, more peaceful. My hand was still firmly held in Five's, the warmth of his touch grounding me as we walked in silence. There was no need for words; the connection between us was enough, each step a quiet understanding, a shared moment.

"Since the apocalypse is over," Five said, breaking the quiet, his voice low but steady, "how about I take you somewhere?"

I turned my head to look at him, curiosity sparking. "Somewhere? Where?"

"Anywhere. You pick. And I'll take you there in one second," he replied, his words carrying a promise, something spontaneous, something I hadn't thought I'd ever have.

I paused for a moment, feeling the weight of his words. "I've never been anywhere... outside the academy or the Commission," I admitted, my voice soft, almost uncertain.

Five glanced over at me, his eyes sharp with something I couldn't place, but it was kind, something like understanding. "Well, you've always wondered what life could be like outside all of that. Maybe you'll find a place you love, somewhere you want to stay."

His words settled into me, something stirring inside me at the thought.

I smiled, a soft, genuine smile that felt more real than I'd allowed myself to feel in a long time. "I'd love to experience the world."

He smiled back, and we continued walking. It was effortless, like our steps were in sync, the world unfolding around us. But then, suddenly, a sharp sound cut through the air, and my system jolted, an alert flashing in my mind. I stopped, my smile fading into a deep frown.

"The academy..." I whispered, the words feeling cold in my mouth.

Before I could process the feeling, the ground beneath us trembled. The shock of it knocked me back, and I felt Five's grip tighten on my hand. The unmistakable sound of something collapsing echoed in the distance—his home.

"Y/n?" Five's voice broke through the chaos, concern lacing his tone as he looked down at me.

I didn't need to say anything. I could feel it, hear it—something was wrong. The academy was falling, and I had no idea how bad it was.

"The academy..." I repeated, my voice now laced with urgency, as the ground continued to shake beneath us.

Five's face hardened, a look of determination crossing his features. Without another word, he pulled me to him, and we ran. My feet barely touched the ground as Five's speed took over, pulling us both forward, his hand never leaving mine.

We didn't stop, not even when the chaos of the falling building threatened to swallow us whole. Just as the ground beneath us seemed to give way, Five blinked us out of existence, the world around us warping as we were instantly transported. The wind rushed through me as we reappeared, standing in front of the academy, now engulfed in flames and crumbled to the ground.

The academy was in ruins. Smoke curled into the night sky, ash floating in the air like falling snow. The structure we had once called home was nothing more than crumbled walls and shattered foundations. And standing in the middle of it all—Allison, Luther, Klaus, and Diego, their faces shadowed by the flickering firelight.

Five's hand tightened around mine for just a second before he let go, his sharp eyes scanning the ground. That's when he saw it—a newspaper, half-buried beneath the rubble. He bent down, picking it up with careful precision. As he unfolded it, his expression shifted, his entire body going rigid. I didn't need to scan his vitals to know something was wrong.