Promise [Number 5 X Reader]

- Memory -

Thump-ump. Poomf. Thump-ump. Poomf. Thump-ump. Poomf.

The tennis ball repetitively slammed into the floor, bounced off the wall, and came ramming back into your hand.

In the giant, empty house - if it could've been called that - the sound of your dull recreational activity was echoing off of the walls. You were one of five inhabitants of the enormous structure, as the other seven people you had grown up with were long gone. They never even bothered to write.

As the little green ball slammed into your palm, you frowned at the limb of a 14-year-old girl - your limb. Maybe if I were physically older I'd be able to get out of this shithole, you thought bitterly before resuming your activity. Unfortunately, it would be pretty difficult to explain to people that you were actually twenty-nine years of age without getting put in a mental institution.

Beady eyes watched your bored expression from the corner of the room. The striped head of your ferret, Dziewięć - you did end up using the nickname Dzie for the most part - moved slowly into your peripheral. A little over three months later, and you still didn't regret dubbing him the Polish term for "Nine." Since his arrival, the small, flexible critter found it necessary to have you within his sight at all times - which wasn't too hard a feat, given the majority of your free time was spent throwing a tennis ball at the wall, playing with Dzie, or memorizing whatever new language or subject you happened to have an interest in at the time.

"Number Eight," your ever-so-doting guardian called from who-knows-where, "cease that incessant noise at once."

You rolled your eyes. One-eyed bastard . . . It's not like you'll let me do much else. When you had "come to" about two years prior, your guardian, Sir Reginald Hargreeves had been loathe to let you out of the house, afraid you'd be involved in another "accident." Although, you had been able to get Pogo to let you go out - as long as you let the short primate know where you were going and when he could expect you to return.

"(Y/n)?" Your head turned to see Grace, who still insisted you call her "Mom," peering at you from the doorframe. Her shiny white teeth glowed under the lights of the house as she gave you an angelic smile, "It's time for dinner, Sweetie."

You smiled. (Y/n). You genuinely liked the name the blonde robot had helped you choose ages ago. It seemed to fit just right. "Coming Mom."

You got up from your bed and followed Grace through the empty house with Dzie at your heels, passing the rooms that were once inhabited by your "siblings." To be truthful, you doubted any one of you had actually considered any of the other children as a sibling - especially as you got older and realized a bond like that might actually be a roadblock. At least, that's what you assumed a few of them thought.

You had to admit, you sort of missed laughing with Vanya and spending the night making shadow puppets with your hands on the wall until your giggling would get the two of you caught. Or Klaus and Ben getting you involved in one of Klaus' pranks. Or studying a new subject with Five.

Sighing at the memories, you reminded yourself that none of them were present. Trudging down the stairs, you became painfully aware of the fact that your present company consisted of an android, a talking chimp, a hermit, and a ferret. It was certainly an interesting group.

"Is something the matter, darling?" Grace gazed at you curiously over her shoulder.

"Is Reginald gonna eat with us this time?" You knew the answer before it left her robotic mouth.

"I'm afraid not," she replied. "Pogo will though."

You only nodded as the two of you entered the dining hall. So much for a break in routine, you mentally grouched.