Sarcasm | Five Hargreeves

24 | slovenia, 1991

The walk back to the academy was somewhat pleasant, with the usual light breeze, setting sun, and cloudless sky. Five couldn't help but feel a little lethargic after saying goodbye to Delores, and he didn't understand if it was because he wasn't ready to part ways or if it was just the usual gnawing paranoia he experienced after making any decision.

Y/N was trailing behind him, her hands locked behind her back as she absentmindedly chatted with Five over her plans to leave the academy and consume a life of adventure around the world, places she'd never dreamed of seeing before.

Five let her talk, finding some amusement in her childlike excitement for venturing outside the academy. In their childhood, their crime-fighting was mostly restricted to places nearby their home in The City. There was one particular mission that took place in Paris a year before Five disappeared, but Y/N was home sick. The boy didn't think she'd ever have as much interest in exploration, but Y/N had proved him wrong, yet again.

"Slovenia isn't the most popular, but from what I saw during my contract, it's stunning in any year," Five said, sipping on his coffee. "I mean, 1991 wasn't the prettiest, but it took nothing off the scenery."

Y/N raised an eyebrow in curiosity before shaking her head, deciding not to ask if she didn't want a history lesson. "I never realized how much of the world you've seen during your time in the Commission."

Five scoffed, letting out a dark chuckle. "I guess the sightseeing made up for all the killing."

Y/N pursed her lips, looking down at her feet. She certainly wasn't proud of all that she had to do during her one-month period in the Commission. Every time she took a life, Y/N would tell herself it was all for the greater good. The girl was only slightly relieved that those lives didn't die in vain.

"It would be nice if I could travel like that without having to pray that kind of price. You still have that briefcase?"

Five shook his head, tossing his empty cup of coffee into the trash. "They can track us through the briefcase jumps. Can't risk it."

Y/N nodded, understanding before she suddenly stopped walking, turning to Five. "Did you just say us?"

Five slowly smirked, tilting his head as a took a small step towards the puzzled girl in front of him. "I'm going with you, Y/N, and I'll gladly take you anywhere you want with my powers."

Y/N felt a creeping redness come over her face, and she was thankful for the darkness that had enveloped the sky after the sun had finally set. Five was unpredictable, of course. Even the Handler had brought herself to admit it to him. But what Five was offering to Y/N was a different kind of unpredictable, it was capricious, mercurial. She was touched.

"You'd...you'd do that for me?" Y/N sputtered, her eyes wide.

"Back in the Commission, I said I owed a debt," Five answered, a tender expression spreading over his features. "It wasn't to the Handler, or the Commission. It was to my family...to you."

He let out a shaky breath, taking a hand out of his pocket to run it through his hair. "You didn't deserve what I put you through."

"Five--" Y/N started, trying to keep her voice from cracking.

"Stop," Five snapped, interrupting her. "Just let me do what I need to do."

Five stared down at her with almost pleading eyes and she relaxed her tensed shoulders in defeat after taking one look at them. It was unlike her to listen to what anyone had to say, especially if they had interrupted her like that, but Five's imploring tone gave her no choice. Y/N didn't know it at the moment, but she needed it too.