Funeral

Y/N talked a bit with Pogo and her mother before heading down to the living room where Five was busy conversing with Vanya. She walked down the stairs, pulling her shorts down a bit. Stepping into the room, she found him inspecting the book written by Vanya, turning to read the little summary written on the back of it.

"Definitely ballsy," Five said and looked up at Vanya, "giving up the family secrets. Sure that went over well."

"They hate me," Vanya said.

"Oh, there are worse things that can happen."

"You mean like what happened to Ben?" Vanya said.

Y/N slowly walked towards them. She was still training when it all happened and she didn't come to know about it until later when she broke the rules for the first time and found the statue of Ben standing in the garden, and the house empty with just her father, Pogo and her mother residing in this mansion.

"Was it bad?" Five asked, his brows furrowing as he tried not to imagine the worst scene possible happening to him.

Vanya nodded. "I was so mad at dad during that time that I just stopped looking for any of you," Y/N said her eyes fixed on watching her shoes, which were too big for her now.

"What changed your mind?" Vanya asked.

"Who....changed my mind," Y/N looked at Five and said, "Just a friend."

"Friend?" she asked.

It was Luke. He had to be the most annoying person she has ever met. He made mistakes deliberately and it was her who had to listen to all the scolding for him. He used to work under him and then he got caught helping those who were the company's enemy. As his...boss she couldn't help him in any way. She had to do what she could to reach her goal and fired him.

But she kept in contact. He was always on a run. The Handler would never let slide anyone messing with the timeline. And that was how she started smuggling broken suitcases to him that he fixed for others who needed to time travel. You can say they were partners in crime. "I don't know. It seems to me I care more about feelings than the greater good," he used to say.

Sure the commission was good at their job but the point is, they wouldn't have much of a thrilling job in the first place if there weren't any people who turned against them. Many of whom were also assassinated by Five himself.

"Anyways, can I drop by your house? I need some clothes. These shorts are just..." Y/N looked down at her legs which were kept close at a safe distance cause she didn't want to tear her pants for taking long strides.

"Sure but..you could've worn mom's clothes you know?" she said.

"Have you seen how tall she is?" Y/N chuckled.

After a moment of awkward silence, Vanya looked up at her and found Five standing behind her. She didn't quite understand his expression but one thing she definitely didn't want was to be in the middle of their fight. "Have you seen your portrait?" she asked and pointed her finger out towards its direction. "I'll be in the garden."

Y/N sighed, "Can you stop breathing down my neck?"

"Just wanted to see if I've got the same effect on you," he snickered and walked towards their picture.

Nope. He was still the same. Accepting her emotions was far from happening.

"And he couldn't even make a separate picture for us?" Y/N said following him.

"I know you like it," he smiled staring at her picture. The painter surely made her look cute. She had the biggest smile on her face and wore the uniform she used to have.

"I'm just surprised he allowed the painter to make a smile for the portrait," she whispered and turned to look at him. He had a glint of joy in his eyes, almost making her forget that he was still a 35-year-old man. "How did you know about Ben?" she asked.

"Yeah, I saw the statue when I landed here," he said, "It's not like I had no idea about anything. I mean you know how everyone kept talking about us in the commission."

"With an exception for me," she chuckled, "It's kind of a relief. You've got no idea what kind of gossip I had going on around me for the first few years."

"About you?" he asked, "I never heard about it though."

"You were always on the field. Besides, knowing you..." Y/N's smile faltered a bit, "you would hate it. The Handler managed the rest and made a speech or something about not mentioning me all the time."

He slid his hand to hold her arm and turned to look at her, "I'm guessing they're after you too?"

"Is there any point in questioning that?" she sighed and looked back at their portrait. She couldn't keep staring at him. Not when he had those eyes digging into her soul. It has always been a weakness of hers. She knew it wasn't much but he touched her after years, something both of them were deprived of for a long time. Slowly pulling her hand out of his grasp, she laughed trying to change the heaviness of the moment, "Start calling me madam. I'm in a higher position than you."

"You're literally fired," he chuckled.

"I stepped down voluntarily!"

"More like illegally."

"Ugh, as if you're any better?" she scoffed and started walking outside. Vanya was such a tolerable company.

Five walked past her, handing her an umbrella while holding one for himself, "Those shorts look great on you by the way."

"I didn't ask for your opinion," she muttered and shoved his shoulder, storming towards the garden.

Oh, he definitely missed that. Those ears of hers that turned red whenever he complimented or teased her in any way. So far, it was starting to feel a little bit irritating by the way she had no reaction towards him whatsoever. This was the same girl who turned red even with a single accidental touch from him. He has been doing stuff to see her flustered since the moment he saw her. But all his efforts were going down the drain until this moment. In a way, her reaction made him feel a bit grounded. Probably because it made him feel like he went back to the time before they disappeared.

Ofcourse she's grown now, but...he didn't want her to change to that extent. They had memories and he didn't want that part of her to completely vanish.

The Hargreeves gathered around in the garden along with Pogo for the funeral. The rain was already dampening the mood. Luther, being Number One had to do the last rites. He dropped the ashes on the ground, and Pogo started his speech.

Y/N never doubted that he would probably be the only one apart from her mother to actually have some kind of respect for her father. And his words explained the same. Except Diego had to interrupt and then turn it into a fight with Luther.

"Fuck this," Y/N sighed, "I really expected some kind of bonding." She walked towards the door, waiting for Vanya to take their exit.

"The cab is waiting," Vanya said and left the house.

"If anyone asks, tell them I went out with her," Y/N said turning back, "Thank you, Pogo." She walked outside and got into the cab.

"Do you have any money with yourself?" Vanya asked as the driver started the engine.

"Yeah," Y/N said fetching her pockets for her wallet.

"Great, cause I already booked this one for the mall."

[ TIME SKIP ]

"Don't you think it would've been better if you went shopping with Allison instead?" Vanya asked as they walked lazily up the stairs.

"Nope," Y/N said popping out the 'p', "Her over-the-top fashion would've been the death of me. Literally."

Well, she did buy a nice dress or two for occasions but mostly focused on buying casual clothes, something she can easily blend into the crowd with. Finding Vanya quiet, she sighed, "And because...I prefer your company over hers to be honest. I don't know what to say to her."

Vanya gave her a small smile and took out her keys. "Did you forgive him?" she asked.

"Do I have a choice?" Y/N chuckled, "It's...not his fault really."

"....And do you have someone...you like?" Vanya was being cautious about her words. She didn't want her sister to explode out of anger. To make her remember something she didn't want. But strangely, Y/N just laughed and said, "Are you talking about Five?"

"Yeah, I mean I remember how you were..." Vanya said and slid the key into the keyhole.

"...well, it's just starting to feel a bit...straining...seeing him again," Y/N whispered as Vanya finally opened the door and jolted out of shock.

Immediately dropping her shopping bags, Y/N was ready to slaughter anyone who dared to crawl in, but instead came to a sight of Five sitting quite comfortably on one of Vanya's chairs. "You should've locks on your windows," he said.

"I live on the second floor," Vanya said, picking up some of the bags while Y/N picked up the rest.

"Rapists can climb," Five reasoned.

"You're so weird," Vanya said stepping inside along with her sister and locking the door.

Y/N noticed a little bloodstain on his collar and kept her items on the sofa before sitting. "They came for you?"

"Obviously," he told and pulled her hand, tapping on it.

A sense of realization came to Y/N as she stood up saying, "Oh shit."

"Finally," Five said rolling his eyes.

She hastily went towards the kitchen and pulled out a knife. Storming out of the apartment she shouted, "I'll be back soon!"

"Wait! Where are you going?!" Vanya told following her.

Five got up sighing, "Don't worry, we'll be back in 10 minutes."