NOTE: Another jump down the timeline, and these two are growing closer. I added this chapter in to the original plan, so please let me know what you think! Also, I hate that I could only find a picture for the title with white legs. The reader is not cannonicaly white.
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"That could have gone better," you said, stepping out of your heels and onto the cool tile floor of HQ. You bent down, picking up the shoes so they dangled from your index and middle finger, outsoles angled away from your pressed black pants. A small drop of blood fell from the toe of the shoe, dotting the floor.
Next to you, Five wiped at his face with the back of his shirt sleeve, streaking red across the cuff. The bright color stood out amongst the browning stains from earlier. "Killing five people at once isn't exactly a cakewalk," Five shot back, running a hand through his hair. The dark locks didn't fall back into place after the motion, instead remaining slicked back or standing at odd angles. You didn't particularly want to know what was keeping it up, but you had enough of an idea to crinkle your nose in disgust. Five missed the look, his attention focused on the other agents who scurried around the two of you, giving you a wide berth. "It might have gone smoother if I'd had some help."
"I locked the door, didn't I?" you asked with a raised eyebrow, starting down the hallway towards the stairs.
You couldn't see the side-eye he gave you, but you knew it was there. Not only was there the creeping feeling of being watched, but you and Five had spent enough time together that you'd caught onto his reactions and expressions. And it was all in the eyes with him.
"Yes, and it was absolutely invaluable. If it weren't for you the man attempting to stab me or the woman with her legs around my neck might have run right out."
"Don't say I never did anything for you, Five," you quipped, the corners of your lips turning up. You felt Five's gaze move off you and instead focus forward. "Anyway, in a few weeks, you'll be a solo agent and be out in the field on your own."
"You mean I'll have to lock the door myself?" Five asked flatly, and you snorted, the two of you reaching the staircase. You started up the stairs, on the way to your office as Five remained down at the landing.
"Return the briefcase and take a shower. You need it," you threw over your shoulder, your footsteps silent as you slowly ascended the stairs.
"Y/N," Five called out, stopping you. You turned to look over the railing, arching an eyebrow at him. He was looking at you with his head tilted and eyes squinted slightly, assessing. Your stomach dropped a little.
"I'll definitely be solo then?" Five asked, and you nodded.
"As long as you impress the Board," you answered, keeping your voice even and matter-of-fact, your eye contact consistent.
Five bobbed his head up and down, his face still stuck in consideration. "And if I didn't want to be solo, would they give me that choice?"
Both eyebrows raised this time, the expression of surprise and disbelief more of a reflex than a reaction. "You want a partner?"
"The right one."
His gaze was piercing, and it felt as if he was staring into you rather than at you. Your insides seemed to constrict, making it a little hard to do much more than keep a straight face. You exhaled through your nose, breaking eye contact to look up the stairs. Towards your office with comfy chairs, nice windows, and a decent enough coffee machine. Slowly, you turned back to face Five. His face still stained with blood and his suit more rumpled than maybe it should have been for a professional superhero. You offered half of a smirk.
"I'm not an assassin Five. I can count the number of people I've killed on one hand, and I'd like to keep it that way. You can lock those doors yourself."
He opened his mouth letting his jaw hang for a second before shutting it and giving a tight-lipped smile. "Fair enough."
You patted the railing once. "Briefcase. Shower. Rest for tomorrow."
He neither nodded in agreement nor gave any other show of affirmation, but he turned and started down the stairs. You watched his head disappear before making your way up into your office.
When you walked into your office the next morning. There was someone sitting at your desk.
More than that, their feet were propped up on top of your mission report from yesterday.
Then again, she was the one who was supposed to be reading the report, so any smudges left were entirely on her.
"Y/N," the too bright voice of the Handler greeted you into your own office.
You pushed your sleeve up checking the thin gold watch on your wrist, but the Handler's laugh pulled your attention from the watch's face.
"No, you're not late, I'm just early. I've had terrible insomnia due to acid reflux. The doctor says I need to cut down on the chocolate and coffee before bed, but I can't seem to give it up."
You forced your features into a look of polite interest as you entered into the room more fully, heading for Five's--the chair across from your desk.
"Anway, since I'm here early, I figured we could have a little chat about your progress with Number Five."
"I haven't left much out of my reports. It's all in the analysis section," you said, settling down into the chair across from her, placing your bag next to you and shrugging off your coat.
"Yes, your reports are quite detailed, which brings me to my question: why are you still on these missions with Five? By this time with Francis you had him on solo missions."
You had known this was coming. Not in a conscious way, but as the question hung between you, it was less of a surprise and more of an unfortunate inevitability. Of course she had noticed. Of course she had wondered. Of course you should have stopped going with him.
You wet your lips and then met her gaze. "Francis was a failure."
She raised her eyebrows, settling her chin down on top of her hands.
"I can't afford another failure--we can't afford another failure, so I've been more hands-on with Five's training." You crossed one leg over the other and immediately regretted the action. Thankfully you were disciplined enough to keep your face neutral.
"And that's the only reason? A careful attention to detail?"
You nodded once, and her eyes scanned over you, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her smile.
"There's no shame in admitting that Number Five is attractive, Y/N. And you're about the same age--in and out of the timeline."
Age was an imprecise measurement of time and the last possible reason you would find yourself attracted to someone. The thought tugged down at the corners of your mouth, and the Handler inclined her head towards you.
"Attraction is biological, reflexive," the Handler said. "And you two are so similar and spend so much time together, it's natural for feelings to grow."
"I don't have feelings for Five Hargreeves." The words were quiet, firm, and more forced than they should have been.
The Handler seemed to catch onto this and offered a shark-like smile. "Well. Should feelings develop, I won't hold them against you. So long as you remember that acting on such feelings is strictly prohibited by HR POLICY R16-1b."
"I'm familiar with the policy. I've quoted it to countless agents," you said, tightly.
All romantic relationships between supervisor and supervisee, whether committed, casual, or purely carnal, are strictly prohibited.
"Then I can safely assume you're familiar with R16-1c?"
"Any two employees formerly in a supervisor and supervisee relationship must wait six months from the termination of that relationship before they can enter into a romantic relationship."
"Precisely," the Handler smiled, pulling her feet from off of your desk and standing up. "Then I don't have to worry that I'll lose one of my best agents due to breaking policy."
"No," you agreed, rising to your own feet.
"Excellent," the Handler reached forward and patted your cheek before brushing past you to the door. "Good morning, Five."
You turned to find the Handler grinning down at Five who gave her an incredibly false smile back. You could practically see all of his teeth. No more words were exchanged between the two as Five stepped out of the way to let the Handler through before coming into your office.
"What did she want?" he asked, looking over his shoulder to the door as he walked towards you. You reached to grab the manila folder with the day's case in it and extended it out towards Five.
"Personally delivering our next mission, which means today's going to be an absolute blast for you."
He rolled his eyes and took the folder from you, fingers brushing against yours.
