Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 41

Young and Old Riley followed Luther and the two Fives at a slight distance.

Luther and Old Five were talking, while Five snarled at the other people walking past him.

"So what are we going to do?", asked Young Riley.

"Nothing," replied Old Riley. "You know him. Let them both sort it out themselves."

Young Riley thought about it for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you're right. Although, I'm worried about my Five."

"Understandable," said Old Riley, as they watched Five yell after another person.

"Riley," Old Five interrupted the conversation.

He had stopped briefly and waited until his Riley caught up with him.

Young Riley, meanwhile, joined Luther and Young Five.

"Hey, siblings. How you doing?", Luther inquired with a smile on his face.

"He's gonna kill me, isn't he?", Five asked.

"What? What, him? He's gonna kill you? Yeah, right. That's ridiculous."

"You're a terrible liar, Luther," said Riley.

They were sad that Luther actually went along with such a plan- sad and also a little disappointed.

"You're a worse liar than you are a spotter," Five added.

"Okay, whose fault is that? What good is having a spotter if you won't even listen to him?"

"So you admit you're conspiring against us?"

"Do you admit that you're suffering from paradox psychosis?"

"All I'm suffering from is bracing clarity about you and your murderous intentions."

"Look, it's not like he's gonna 'kill you' kill you. He just wants to kill a, um... version of you."

"But Luther, we are that version of us," Riley reminded their brother.

"Don't worry, Love. You are safe," Young Five explained.

He knew perfectly well that, no matter which version of himself it was, he would never hurt Riley.

"That doesn't make this any better," Riley replied.

Of course they knew that Five wouldn't harm them under any circumstances, but they weren't going to just stand by and watch someone try to kill Five- not even another version of Five himself.

"Hey, I don't love it, either, but he's actually got a pretty good plan," said Luther.

"What? The one where you guys off me and then jump to 2019 to save the world?"

"Yeah, wait, how did you know that?"

"Because I'm him, and that's exactly what I would do if I were trying to kill me!"

"Okay, all I know is we've got one five too many, and you're the one acting like a maniac."

"Maniac? Luther, you have seen nothing. If you want a maniac, I will show you maniac."

"Okay, as your spotter, I think the best thing I can do for you right now is put you out of your misery."

"Okay, Luther, listen-"

Young Five stood in front of Luther, blocking his path.

"- I know your feeble mind only responds to age and authority, so listen very closely. Yet again, you're experiencing daddy issues, this time with your own brother, which honestly is driving me a little crazy. But remember this: I'm 14 days older than him. I have seniority here. So it is me you should be listening to, Luther. I'm the daddy here!"