✓ | DAWN OF US | Four (6 Underground)

➳ THREE

脚踏实地
(jiǎo tà shí dì)
to step on solid ground

YVETTE HAS NEVER BEEN TO A FUNERAL BEFORE. Well, technically she did watch a fake one at the sidelines when Four asked her to come with him to watch his. But one where it was a direct friend of hers who passed away — it made her feel hollow and empty inside.

She sat overlooking the sea, the six of them on a yacht back to their hideout. Wind ruffled her hair as she idly played with the glass of rum in her hands. She felt solemn as she wondered whether Six would feel at peace now that he could rest.

"Here's a toast to a kid I liked," Three murmured, tipping his glass up as he swiped the back of his hand across his eyes.

Two raised an eyebrow as she mused, "Are you crying?"

Three ignored her jibe at him. "We didn't even know his name."

"We don't know any names," Yvette countered quietly, looking back at the waters again, feeling a wave of soothing calm wash over her.

"What was his name?" Three asked as they all turned to One.

He was silent for a moment, and Yvette couldn't see whether there was even a hint of melancholy or grief in those eyes of his behind the sunglasses. "It doesn't matter," One said. "He was a good man."

Yvette turned to share a look with Four who sat next to her. No words were shared between them, but they didn't have to speak. There was enough of what was going on around them for the two to understand that there was nothing in this life that was certain. Even if they had freedom from their alleged deaths.

All they had now was each other — the six of them. They'd already lost one; and Yvette didn't know how she would deal with it if their numbers went down to five.

One approached them, sitting on her other side. He snatched the sunglasses off of his face, and when she looked at him — she saw the weariness in his eyes and the guilt in them. He scrubbed a hand over his face, letting out a sigh. "Thought I managed the risk. I'm sorry." He glanced to the two youngest members of the team and quietly said, "I know you three were pretty close — I'm sorry this had to happen."

Yvette shut her eyes for a moment, unable to hide the tear that rolled down her cheek as she let those memories flash through her mind. During nights she and Four weren't tangled under the sheets together, the three of them would all hang out, Six would order the pizza, Four would get the booze, while she would take care of the movies or games, depending on their mood.

Four's eyes slid over to her, taking in the pained expression flickering over her face. He moved to bring an over her shoulders and rest her head on his chest — but he paused. This wasn't what they agreed — she wouldn't want him to act this way toward her. She made it specifically clear to him on the first night that amidst their hours of fucking, sensual smiles shared, and fiery touches — they weren't together for real. It was just something to make them feel alive.

Swallowing hard, Four felt a stab of unrequited feelings jab him in the gut as he brought his hand back to the side.

"Did he have a family?" Five asked, her dark hair tumbling down her back and whipping in the wind.

"I think you're looking at it," Two said with a smile as she shared a softened gaze with Yvette. "All of us."

One shook his head to himself. "We're not a family." He got to his feet and returned the sunglasses back to perch on his nose as he walked away from them dismissively. "Not the Cleavers."