#the-commissions-deadliest: the handler

[cardsknight]

@the-commissions-deadliest (The Handler) said "... the loveliest lies of all ..." // Over the Garden Wall Starters // Accepting

The rest of the Anatomy class had finished their labs and Cards had stuck around to clean up, still in the process of sterilizing instruments as he sung quietly to himself (not that he would EVER sing around his classmates, too much stage fright for that despite having a decent voice).

"But where have we come … and where shall we end? If dreams can't come true … then why not … pretend? How the gentle wind … beckons through the leaves … as autumn … colors … fall … dancing in a swirl … of golden memories … the loveli--"

Not only did he stop singing abruptly when another voice joined in, but it had startled him to the point of nearly dropping the retractor in his gloved hands, causing him to fumble a bit to catch it as he snapped his head toward the stranger ... who looked eerily familiar. He was accustomed to that feeling of 'familiarity' -- that was the 'I remember you from a dream' level familiarity, even if he couldn't quite remember how.

Ever awkward, he spoke. "Sorry ... are you ... uhm, are you needing the lab?" Completely avoiding the whole ... singing ... thing. "I'm just -- I'm just finishing up. Don't mind me."

[river-o-lethe]

"It's always better to burn the evidence." (From The Handler to any Tua muse of your choosing !)

𝕷𝖎𝖑𝖆 let out a small irritated huff, just managing to stop herself from going through with the familiar motion of rolling her eyes. Honestly, it took a bloody will of iron to deal with her mum these days - especially when her advice was laced with that unbearably condescending and chiding tone of hers.

❝I know, Mum, I was just about to do that - you know, before you showed up. Seeing you made me lose my train of thought, that's all.❞

Of course, that wasn’t even close to true. Lila had already decided - specifically about midway through killing the bastard - to skip out on the cleanup and leave the insufferably boring (and honestly horrifically bloody - she’ll admit it wasn’t her best work) mess for some other poor sod to deal with. The Commission had an entire department for that! She was basically doing them a favor - giving them a chance to stretch their legs and do something that wasn't paperwork or coffee runs. Honestly, they'd probably be grateful.

Glancing down, Lila's brown eyes flicked to the stained carpet where the body still lay sprawled across the floor — honestly, she couldn’t be bothered to remember the bloke's name at this point, it wasn't like he'd be using it anymore —and she casually leaned against the doorway, doing her best to avoid her mother’s gaze.

❝Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you have absolutely zero faith in me. You don't do this to the other agents!❞

[thenightmareofyourdrems]

                   ˜”*°•.       He  hates  it.  Every  second  of  this  encounter  feels   like  an  everlasting  nightmare .  He  can  see  the  contentment  in  her  face  -  this  satisfaction  of  having  won .  However,  it  shouldn’t  matter.  If  he  could  ensure  his  family’s  safety,  he  would  tolerate  a  bit  of  hurt  pride.    

❝ If  I  didn’t  want  to  hear,  though,  I  wouldn’t  be  asking . ❞  He pointed  out  a  bit  too  abruptly.  It  was  bad  enough  that  he  had  returned  as  her  employee  again  -  having  to  deal  with  her  desire  of  power  display  was a long way  from the   top  of  his  wish-list.

❝ You  said  they  are  going  to  be  safe.  If  the  Apocalypse  is  not  stopped,  HOW  are  they  going  to  be  safe ? ❞ 

She shakes his hand with satisfaction; another win for her in this twisted game they so often played.

Once again she had been able to weaponize his own desperation against him, using it to draw him back to her. Just as she’d done their first meeting in the apocalypse, biding her time until he was lonely and desperate enough to be enticed by her offer.

She keeps a tight grip on his hand for just a moment longer than necessary; a subtle display of power, a reminder of who exactly was in control here.

“Good choice.”

She withdrew her hand before clasping both hands together in front of her. A soft chuckle escapes her lips as she gazes down at him.

“I can assure you the answer to that question isn’t one you’ll be pleased to hear.”

And not a piece of information she’d be willing to give up so easily.

“You truly believe you’re able to stop what’s to come?”

[jellyfishsthings]

WARNINGS: this is quite angsty...no actual smut happens just a tiny scene. Also I messes around with some scenes so I feel like it doesn't follow the storyline in the series... that's about it... (should a do a part 2?) part 2 here, part 3

navigation

He was nursing a long drink of whiskey on ice as he stared at the blank wall. The year was 1963, and he was currently sitting on a lousy couch in Dallas. The apocalypse was going to take place once again mere days away. He felt bone tired, no one around him understood the stakes and the pressure he was under. He got out of his jacket a black and white photo. A young woman in her early twenties had a huge smile plastered on her face, her head was slightly cocked to the side and loose hair from the messy bun that rested at the top of her head framed her beautiful face. She seemed radiant, her eyes were crinkled from her smile and she seemed like a goddess to him. A piece of heaven that he left behind.

“Who's that?” Klaus whispered in his ear and Five jumped from the sudden sound and he glared at his brother. Out of all his siblings, Klaus was the only one who would understand him. “She is beautiful.”

“She is my wife.” Five said quietly. His voice was soft and colored in an emotion that Klaus couldn't recognize.

“Your what?”

“Are you deaf? I said she is my wife, or at least she was.”

“What happened?”

Five had been at the Commission for several years. After a failed experiment he had turned back to his twenty-year-old self. He had heard whispers of the Scarlet Angel all around him, everyone seemed to talk about his rival, especially in his presence. It was supposed to be the deadliest assassin of the Institution besides him. One gray day he was called into the Handlers office. That was when he saw her for the first time. A tall woman was seated on a chair, her beautiful face turned towards him as he entered the room. Five had never been one to find in someone's physical beauty but at the moment their eyes met he could swear that his heart skipped a beat.

Their first assignment together had been such a success, that they were stuck together permanently. Throughout the following years, Five found himself falling for her harder every day, with every word she said, with every laugh she caused from him, the way she always had his back and defended him whether she agreed with his actions or not. Their fights were the best thing that ever happened to him, she always found ways to leave him speechless, with her smart comebacks, the way she was animated when she got angry, her hands flew around her, her face got angry red and her hair bounced with her movements. He had never seen someone look so exquisite when they were yelling at him. She made him feel alive, adrenaline coursed in his veins. She always got the better of him. She was so… infuriating. On one of those occasions he finally had enough.

He grabbed her face and smashed their lips together to silence her. She was breathless when he distanced himself from her. Her eyes were wild and her hand flew to his cheeks, slapping him. Before leaving him frozen on his spot. They were supposed to be undercover as a married couple at the gala of their target. They had been discussing tactics and strategies when things escalated.

With a deep breath, he tried to calm himself down and headed back towards the ballroom, searching for his supposed wife. They stayed together all night, dancing and acting like a couple. It seemed natural to him to be this way with her. Having her in his arms, and showing her off. Finally a few minutes shy of dawn, they tiptoed towards a huge room where their target hid diamonds. Diamonds they were going to steal after killing him, so the crime would seem like a robbery gone wrong. Just at the last corner, they were almost caught. Five quickly hoisted her up before he pinned her to a wall and he placed his face on her neck. Her skin flashed and her heartbeat was rapid beneath his mouth.

“Play along.” He whispered sweetly to her skin but she was shocked by his actions. So he had no choice. He sucked at her pulse point receiving an immediate reaction. Her legs drew back on his hold, her back arched, her eyes closed and her lips released a quiet breathy moan. At that moment he knew he was already addicted to her. He couldn't hold himself back any longer. He bit and sucked on her neck and her hands tangled into his hair as she tugged at the short strands on the back of his head. She was moaning in his arms and her hips rolled against his. He raised his knee and she started riding his leg shamelessly. He wanted to be inside of her or he was going to burst. He wanted to shut her smart mouth so it would no longer fire comebacks at him. He unbuckled his belt and lowered his pants before pushing her underwear to the side and he waited for a confirmation to continue. She could ask him to kneel, to beg and he would gladly do so. Just to steal one moment with her.

A loud bang echoed through the walls and they snapped out of their daze. But the damage had already been done. Their partnership had been blown to proposition forever. And the rest was history.

Several years later, and many happy years together after being married in secret. It happened, their big bang, the thing that embodied the doom of their relationship. Five had always been a pessimist, even in his early childhood. He was a firm believer in Murphy's law, which stated that when something could go wrong in a situation, always expect it to go wrong. They had traveled in Germany during the Second World War. Five posed as one of the ranking officers in Auschwitz as his wife was expected to do the same. Only, she had been compromised and now she was one of the prisoners. The terrible labor that she endured every day was the thing that would plague him for years to come. After completing their mission and several wounds later they managed to get back to the safety of their home.

“Why didn't you listen to me?” Five snap in frustration and terror. His hands shook as he tried to stitch a big guss on her stomach. She looked paper thin, her bones were visible and her veins along with her arteries stood prominent against her pale skin that lost its color.

“I did. I disagreed with your plan either way. And we had to do something drastic. I took a risk and I lost. It happens.”

“And did it have to happen in one of the most terrifying places that ever existed on this Earth?”

“Snap out of it. You would have done the same. And always where we are atrocious things have happened. So you don't get to lecture me. I am my own person. I made a call and it happened to be wrong. But if I hadn't done that we would have eventually failed this mission. And you don't get to lecture me when you have done nothing but be untruthful to me since the moment this started.”

“Wh- what are you talking about?” Five whispered, his voice quivered with unshown emotions. He could see the inevitable impact between them before his eyes, he had just hoped he could have a few more moments with her. A few more minutes, a few more hours, days, or years. Anything really.

Her eyes were hard and full of hatred. She pulled herself to her feet. The pain that consumed her must have been blinding. The open wounds leaked with blood that stained her skin. She moved towards her coat where she retrieved a dark green notebook and she slammed it against their kitchen table, before placing her hands on her hips and firing a challenging look towards him.

“You know I want to get back to my family, sweetheart.”

“Don't sweetheart me. These equations are only for one person. So is there something you want to tell me, dear husband of mine?”

“Please let me explain…”

“Explain what? That this meant nothing to you? You are an egoistic son of a bitch Five. And I am done with you. And you know why? You made the mistake of placing a date when you started. Our wedding date. You have already shown your true colors. You can leave now. And you can take this, I don't need it any longer. Either way, it was fake and it meant nothing to you.” She said before throwing her wedding ring at him. It thudded against his chest and he caught it mid-air, as he watched her walking away from him and slamming the door of their bedroom in her way. He stood frozen in his place. It was done. The one thing that made him feel alive, the one thing that made him happy left him. He lost it under his own hands. The same night, he left a letter behind him before he traveled back in time, back to his family. To them, he seemed a shy seven years older than when he disappeared. But they didn't know about the two things he carried with him from his last life. Her picture in the breast pocket of his smart jacket and her wedding ring on his collarbones as it hung from a golden chain, both hidden from the world.

“Five. That is just … I don't know what to say.”

“Then don't. It is already hard to think about her.”

“How long has it been since -”

“Six years, eight months and twenty days. My early attempts to get back to you weren't really successful.” He whispered as he toying with her ring. It was gold and smooth to touch, his name had been engraved on the inside. It had been a blast to convince the person who made them that his name was actually Five. And he smiled at the fond memory.

“Will you ever see her again?”

“I don't know. The selfish part of me wishes that, but another part of me knows that it is better this way. Because she is free and safe from me. Klaus, if you don't mind … no more talk please.”

Klaus looked at the pained expression on his brother's face. He had never heard him utter the world “please”, at least not to him. So he simply nodded and stayed with him in silence before their peace was disturbed by their reality.

words: 1.781

[nirby-wirby]

Every single time the Handler touches Five he tenses up. He doesn’t stop her like he would with his siblings because she has the authority there. He doesn’t want to get on her bad side because he needs to stay under the radar, even if he knows he’s already on it. If he acts like he’s complying with things, then she’ll eventually stop paying attention and then he can get away with whatever he needs to do quietly.

And the Handler knows that she’s in control, otherwise why would she get so close to the Commission’s deadliest assassin? She knows he can’t do anything and abuses that power.

That’s some damn good acting.

[donnalawliet]

The Kennedy Fiasco (oneshot TUA/MCU crossover)

It is the year 1963. And while Diego Hargreeves and Erik Lehnsherr do their best to save the president, the two deadliest assassins, Five Hargreeves and the Wintersoldier, are tasked with killing JFK. Chaos ensues, along with a lot of feels.

An Umbrella Academy/Marvel crossover.

(inspired by a tumblr post of mine: https://www.tumblr.com/donnalawliet/757653913223774208/cherikdogfood-i-love-that-thought-it-makes-me?source=share )

Thank you @cherikdogfood for giving me ideas and supporting me. And thank you @i-am-tardis-locked for listening to my rants.

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September 1st, 1963

When he agreed to Five’s last minute plan to time travel, Diego had expected that they would go back a year at most and solve it all together. None of these things ended up being true. He landed in a dark alleyway alone, in a place and time completely foreign to him. His siblings were nowhere to be found.

Before he could fully process the situation, cries for help reached his ear and something inside of him activitated. After years of “working“ as a vigilante, his need to protect had only gotten stronger. So without looking back or rethinking it, he started running after the man clearly trying to steal a woman’s handbag. Diego’s hand automatically reached for one of his knives and as soon as he threw it, the knife obeyed his command to go where he wanted it to go. He barely even thought about it. Pinning the man to a pole was easy and retrieving the handbag to hand it back didn’t even register as a conscious action. A job well done.

The sound of a TV distracted him though. It was quite boxy, not one of those flatscreen televisions he was used to in 2019. And it broadcasted a face and voice that he only remembered from his history lessons back at the academy. The 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy.

As Diego realised what situation he truly found himself in, a thought materialised in his mind. He had been given an opportunity to change history. To make things right. To save a person far more important than a woman with a stolen handbag.

He had the opportunity to save the president.

November 20th, 1963

Five was exhausted and that was putting it mildly.He had failed to save the world in 2019 and now, in 1963, he had to do it all over again. And as the cherry on top, he had to see a face again that he had so desperately hoped to never encounter in his entire life once more.

“Under my leadership, the Commission would sound more like…jazz“, the Handler grinned and mimicked the soft rhythm of jazz music. Five was slowly starting to get impatient. He was only staying around in the hope of one clue, one detail that would help him. So far, nothing. Her words didn’t make sense.

“What about the board of directors?“, he ased, allowing himself to sound cocky.

It was more of a rhetorical question than anything else. Something to get his former employer to reveal what she was planning.

But her response sent a shiver down his spine: “Well, that’s where you come in!“

Five knew that tone all too well. He had heard it many times before, when she had confronted him with a job. Another face, another name, another correction in the  timeline. Princess Diana of Wales, Josef Stalin, John F. Kennedy, Hindenburg…

“Nope. No, it isn’t.“

He knew deep down that his response wouldn’t change her mind. Not just yet. Just like she knew that he wasn’t completely turned off by the offer.

The Handler hummed and stood, making her way around him so he was forced to turn around and look up. Five hated the way he had to look up at every one in this body, it didn’t make enforcing his authority any easier.

“In exchange for the assassination of the board…along with the completion of your last failed job…I’m willing to get you and your family out of this timeline and back to 2019, where you belong.“

In that moment, Five did his best to not let any emotions slip past his mask. He knew of course what job she was referring to. The one he didn’t complete. The last job he worked for the Commission before breaking his contract. Though he knew that another organisation, one he knew all too well, had also been interested in getting the job done, the Commissiom had been the one to complete it. Or at least, they had tried. And now, she wanted him to take off where he had left.

In order to save his family, Five had to kill the board of directors…and shoot John F.Kennedy.

As soon as the Handler returned to the Commission, she began to prepare her backup plan. While she was fairly certain that Five would take her deal-his protectiveness for his siblings made him too predictable sometimes; she wanted to make sure the job got done. And so, instead of heading straight to her office, she made her way to a door that lead down into the basement. Only the click of her high heels echoed through the hallway.

The Handler missed the times when Five still worked under her. Back when he was fresh out of the apocalypse, malnourished and in need of training, he had done everything she commanded. Including fighting the second best assassin in the timeline. She hadn’t  even given him a reason and there hadn’t been even a valid reason for it. The Handler had simply wanted to see who would win.

And after cooperating with the company that owned the second best assassin for some augmentations…Five had turned out to be even more powerful. He was truly the deadliest assassin. Even deadlier than…

Her lips curled upwards as she stopped before a capsule, frozen over with ice.

“The Wintersoldier.“

After he had received his father’s invitation for a “light supper“, Diego needed to blow off some steam. Though Luther was far easier to talk to now than he had been a few months ago, it didn’t change the fact that he was angry. Angry at his father for using them in sick experiments for whatever, angry at Lila for leaving, angry at…the fact that Five refused to take action and help him save the president. He had no idea why that was so hard for his brother, who often claimed that he could do anything.

And so, he made his way to a bar. Not to drink, of course, but to play darts, use his powers to maybe earn a few dollars. It was cheating, but he couldn’t care less. All of the darts that he threw hit the tripple twenty, he barely had to think about it. Diego was so immersed in his outlet, he didn’t even realise that he was being watched.

Erik was not like Charles. He couldn’t detect mutants with a machine from miles away. But he had common sense. And while watching Diego play darts in that bar, he recognised the way some of the darts curved before hitting their target. He had done it before with missiles and bullets. That sense of familiarity caused Erik to smile and walk over. Despite leaving Charles behind, he wasn’t alone. Not only was the president like him, but now he had found another one of his kind.

“You’re quite good at that“, he commented and tilted his head. Sometimes, Erik wished that he could take a look in people’s heads the way Charles could, but he also liked figuring some things out on his own. The man in front of him, apparently Latino, possessed quite a few scars, signs of battle and injuries. But what caused him to frown was a tattoo on his wrist, in the shape of an umbrella. Erik didn’t even know why it reminded him of the numbers permanently etched onto his skin, but it did. It was a sign of ownership and control.

Diego turned towards him while throwing a dart, which still hit the bullseye.

“Yeah, thanks. It’s not that hard though“, he replied, before muttering under his breath, “I wish saving the president was just as easy.“

Despite it just being a whisper, a small expression of his thoughts, Erik heard half of it.

“What was that?“, he asked and his expression went from a smile to a frown. There was more to it and he was going to figure out what.

However, Diego shrugged it off and sat down. After spending some time in an asylum, in the 1960s no less, he had grown used to people ignoring what he said.

“You wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you.“

Erik hummed and picked up a nearby coin that had been left behind as a tip. Just so Diego could see, he let it float above his palm. A small gesture, to say something that couldn’t be said aloud: We’re the same. You can trust me.

“Why don’t you just tell me and let me be the judge of that?“, Erik asked, handing the coin over to the bartender to get another drink.

Diego stared at the coin for a few moments. No one had taken him seriously before. He was alone on Team Zero, if he was being honest with himself. And in Erik’s eyes, he just saw understanding. So he took a deep breath and nodded.

“Alright. I’ll tell you.“

November 22nd, 1963

After slaughtering the board of directors, Five expected to feel disgusted. He had tried to swear off  killing after all. It was supposed to be just one last time, to protect his family. To save them from doomsday.

But instead, it had felt right. Of course, he would deny it if anyone asked. To himself though, lying wasn’t an option, though he had tried it for 58 years of his life. He had grinned as he stood there, covered in blood and holding an axe like a medieval executioner. Watching AJ beg for his life, it had been like music.

And he hated it. Five hated himself for enjoying it. The Handler had made him a killer…or had he really always been one?

Had someone else, the Commission or the organisation that had sharpened his reflexes and mind, made him out to be the world’s deadliest assassin, now stuck inside a teenager’s body? Or was it just him?

Not a programming, telling him what to do, not some foreign DNA dictating his urges…None of that.

Five quickly abandoned the thought. He had more pressing matters at hand.

“Alright“, he told himself and closed the case containing the sniper rifle, “One last time.“

Meanwhile, Erik had a plan. Diego had told him what was going to happen and even though it sounded outlandish, insane even…he couldn’t allow that to happen. He had to keep the president safe, he couldn’t allow anyone to take a shot at him. Kennedy was one of them, loosing him would be catastrophic.

Even if Diego was just an insane wayward mutant, the risk was too great. He wouldn’t take any chances. Shortly after their conversation, Diego disappeared. And even though he could have been useful, Erik decided not to look for him.

So after putting a hat and sunglasses on, he made his way to the grassy knoll.

Five always felt a certain sense of peace while setting up his crime. Arranging his gun and utensils the way he wanted, getting the perfect angle. It grounded him.He enjoyed the calm before the storm, it was the favourite part of his job. But he didn’t know that this time, he wasn’t the only one setting up this assassination under the Handler’s orders.

Not even three hundred feet away from him, the Wintersoldier was hidden behind a small wall. His orders had been clear. If Number Five failed to accomplish his task, he was to take his shot, to make sure the target would be eradicated. His movements in setting up the sniper were pure efficiency, nothing more.

He barely remembered the seconds upon waking up, just that there had been a woman and her red lips had been moving. The first sentence coming out of his mouth had been the only one that mattered: Ready to comply.

Diego’s day had really not been the greatest. He had been kidnapped and betrayed by the woman he loved, then thrown back into 1963 to stop Viktor from blowing up the FBI building. The bright light had hurt his eyes as he made his way forward, all of his muscles strained in an effort to bring himself forward. But eventually, he lost his grip and the world went black for him.

When he woke up however, soft rays of sunlight illuminated the hallway. And despite the way his body ached, relief washed over him as he spotted Viktor coming towards them, safe and sound. They had suceeded.

“You’re alive“, was the sentence that came out of his mouth and a soft smile appeared on his face. Diego had done it, his brother and the world was safe.

But then, through his dizzy mind, a thought dawned on him. He quickly glanced down at his watch and cursed himself mentally. Of course he wasn’t done yet, there was still one thing left. The very thing he had tasked himself with.

“Kennedy is a few minutes away“, he stated and pushed himself up, ignoring the way his body protested, “I can still save him.“

Diego barely heard Allison’s protests. Finally, he could do what he was meant to do. He could show Dad that he was wrong. Reginald Hargreeves didn’t make him a hero with his experiments, he himself did. And he would do that by stopping him, saving JFK in the process.

Erik was standing on the grassy knoll when Kennedy made his turn. While he didn’t appear busy on the outside, he was in deep concentration. No bullet could escape him like this, not one would even get close to the president.

But suddenly, he was pulled out of his concentration. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a person all clothed in black, running in his direction. After a few moments, he recognised Diego, the one who had warned him in the first place. Diego wasn’t running towards him however, but instead a man standing a few feet away from him, holding an umbrella on a sunny day.

How could he have been that blind? It was obvious, so out of place that anyone could have spotted it. But yet no one did. Just as Erik was about to help Diego with pinning the man down, he felt it.

Five had of course spotted Diego, tackling a random man on the grassy knoll. But he had no time to deal with his fool of a brother, he had to save him first. And so, he inhaled and exhaled deeply. He only focused on the target, which was Kennedy’s head.

“One last time“, he promised himself, then pulled the trigger.

The bullet didn’t reach its target. Erik managed to get ahold of it before it could reach Kennedy. Meanwhile, Diego had realised his mistake. The man he had tackled had merely been a distraction, set up by his villain of a father.

Before he could think about it further, a second bullet made its way towards the president. It didn’t come from Five this time, but wasn’t any less deadly. With Erik distracted and still holding the first bullet, Diego tried to instinctively change the curvature. A bullet was different than a knife though. He was exhausted, so his grip wasn’t as tight. And when Erik tried to help, they both lost their grip.

The bullet curved, but still found its intended target. They had failed. The 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was dead.

The Wintersoldier relaxed a bit after watching his task be completed. He had done as told, he could go back, as commanded. Bucky Barnes may have cared about what happened after, but he didn’t. He had served his purpose.

Instead of relaxing, Five let out a string of curses. He had failed, again. The slaughtering of the board, it had all been for nothing. The deal was off and he didn’t know how to get his siblings back, even if the end of the world was no more. They didn’t belong here and without a briefcase, they had no way of returning to 2019.

“Damn it, Diego“, Five mumbled before he teleported, off to find another solution.

Diego felt like a child again as he looked up and ran. He had failed in his task, but worse, he had indirectly been the one to do it. For just a few seconds, the bullet had rested in the grip of his powers. If he had just held on…Kennedy would still be alive. He was no hero, he was a failure, just like his father had always told him. Always Number Two, doomed to fail from the very beginning. He would have to find his siblings, make sure they were okay. Maybe it hadn’t been about Kennedy in the first pace. Maybe Eudora had been right all along: You want to proove that back then, when your father had you running around in masks and uniforms, that it wasn’t for nothing.

Erik didn’t have enough time to run. And despite his  best efforts, he was quickly surrounded by police. They were there to arrest him, for killing the president, despite his best efforts to save him. Quite ironic when he thought about it. He would have more time to reflect on it later. Erik tried to get free, willing the guns to point away from him. But there were too many policemen. He felt a small pinch in the side of his neck before his knees gave out and the world went dark.

In the end, the only person content with the results was the Handler. Even if Five would have succeeded, she never would have given him a fair chance to escape with his siblings. Like this, the timeline was preserved and she would be able to kill him for what he did to her. She would be the most powerful woman in the timeline, with no rogue assassin and his annoying family to challenge her claim. Before she could celebrate though, she would have to go to war.

John F.Kennedy’s death had merely been the start of…something.

[equationsoff]

@the-commissions-deadliest asked: “ trust me. we’re friends. ” (From The Handler!)(From the memory loss starters)

" you're friends with a kid? " five raises an eyebrow but it's not like he can dispute this fact. since waking up in a hotel room with the woman doting over him no one else has appeared. his head hurts but apparently he'd been in a fight. at first, five had assumed she was his mother. someone who cared for him. but clearly they're nothing more than acquaintances. she does seem very set on not letting him leave her side.

" why can't i go outside? if we're friends you're trapping me inside of a shitty room. "

[normaltothemax]

The Mummy + The Mummy Returns ❝ it is better to be the right hand of the devil than in his path. ❞  (From The Handler to any muse of your choosing, OCs and crossovers welcome!)

“That sounds like something a supervillain would say.” Sounded a lot like a way someone might justify doing terrible things. Very ‘better them than me’ coded. Quite honestly, it sounded like a line straight out of one of Max’s books. The sexy rival mob boss would say it to the kidnapped protagonist who’d hiss and spit back a clever and biting retort that Max wasn’t smart enough to think up herself. The two would later realize they had more in common than they’d thought, fall madly in love, and have an incredibly aggressive and steamy sex scene about two-thirds of the way through the book.

But this was real life. It wasn’t one of her books, this lady wasn’t a mob boss (probably), and Max was absolutely not going to have sex with her.

…Christ, she was getting distracted.

Max cleared her throat, shook her head, trying to focus on reality, and not whatever the fuck that little tangent was. “Is there a, uh, a reason you’re saying creepy, cryptic shit? Because if you’re not gonna—don’t touch that!” She scrambled to her feet and over to where the woman stood, snatching a scarf off of a hook as she went. Using the scarf so she wouldn’t touch it with her bare hands, Max quickly scooped up the definitely fucking cursed necklace cryptic-lady had been about to touch.

Aaand now she looked fucking nuts.

Awesome.

“Sorry. It’s…really delicate. And…antique. Also someone bought it earlier, I just didn’t get the chance to put it behind the counter.” There. That made sense and was a perfectly logical explanation for her behaviour. Right? Right.

@the-commissions-deadliest (x)

[commissioncd]

❛ each time you feel a little more lonely, don't you think? ❜ (From The Handler)

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒: ＰＲＯＭＰＴＳ.

He looks at her like she's a ghost. Something he'd dismissed as a past timeline that never was and yet here she stood, smiling, scars intact and he lacked his ABILITY. So, he tenses although he's smart enough to school his features before he allows PANIC to seize him fully. 

❝ ...It's strange how GOOD it is to see you. ❞

His tone is calm, genuine even, and cautious. He doesn't TRUST HER but her being here meant he hadn't imagined his past. She reaffirmed everything he remembered and he's RELIEVED. 

@the-commissions-deadliest

[musingmemories]

@the-commissions-deadliest sent: ❝ 𝙸 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚝’𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚢. ❞ 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐚.

‘I never thought it’d be you standing in my way.’ Hummed honey sweet, dulcet tones rang out with the steady clicks of towering stilettos, noise ringing down the rabbit hole of Lila’s memories. An involuntary shudder ran through her slender frame, threatening to rattle Lila’s bones from the shift in temperature. For as long as she could remember that sound signified her beginning, on a day her brain would only pinpoint as the start of her life due to trauma blockages protecting her heart and mind. When she became cognitively aware of the world. It was the announcement of arrival, breath held in anticipation, fear making Lila forget how to move— even so much as blink. Dissolved the second onyx met cerulean: the moment Lila met the most beautiful, and kind woman she’d ever laid eyes on.

How wrong she’d been.

Blind.

Naive.

Knowing the truth now Lila wanted to destroy those rare, happy memories of her childhood with her bare hands. Throw them to the ground and watch them shatter like glass. Destroy all the mirrors reflective of moments she’d once looked back on fondly. Root of them all featuring The Handler standing before her.

At least she hadn’t been called Little One, or Lila might’ve gone for the jugular. “What, disappointed~? Wouldn’t be the first time now would it… Mum?” Venom laced the once favorable word, practically choking on it and Lila forced herself to swallow thickly to continue. “Never thought I’d be here either. Always thought it’d be you and me against the world but ironically… I don’t want you to exist in it anymore. Considering this is the first time I’m sick to my stomach looking at you.”

[thechaosjunkie]

so that's what you've been hiding. (From The Handler!)

@the-commissions-deadliest (The Handler) // Am I interrupting something? Starters: Accepting

Hearing a familiar voice he really should NOT be hearing ever again, Five quickly shoved the commandeered missing journal into his back pocket and tightened his fingers around the handle of the fire axe he'd 'borrowed' from the third floor. "I fucking swear your genes were spliced with a goddamned cockroach. How the HELL did you find me?"

[seconds-not-decades]

Tightrope {Five Hargreeves x Commission!Gn!Reader}

Summary: You and Five Hargreeves have been together through everything. You two met while working at The Commission and it was pretty much love at first sight. When the both of you return to 2019, Five gets swept up into the frenzied world of dealing with his siblings and trying to stop the apocalypse. However, in the midst of the chaos, you begin to wonder: where exactly does this leave you?

Pairing: Five Hargreeves x Commission!Gn!Reader

Author's Note: Oh no, not another song fic. Made some slight changes: the Handler found Five when he was in his twenties and when you two return to 2019, you're both in your eighteen year old bodies. Lol I almost just made this a list of headcanons. Still might do that. Please feel free to comment/reblog!

Edit: We've made 157 NOTES! Thank you so much!💜

Word Count: 943

Warnings: Slight angst(?)

Requested: No

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Tightrope

0:00 ───|────── 0:00

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

Taglist: @shadowisbored @m4nd0l0r @magicalxdaydream @superbreadsoul {Please let me know if you want to be added/removed}

*Edit below is mine, please credit me if you use it*

~ * ~

Some people long for a life that is simple and planned

Tied with a ribbon

Some people won't sail the sea 'cause they're safer on land

To follow what's written

But I'd follow you to the great unknown

Off to a world we call our own

You softly hummed as you quietly sauntered down the hall. Five was gone from the Academy again and here you were, left alone. It was nice and quiet. Peaceful, almost. It made you think for a split second about what your life would be if it was normal. Would it be fun? Would it be relaxing? Would you see your significant other a lot more than you were at the moment? You wondered how long Five would be out this time. You knew he was busy trying to stop the apocalypse and save his family. That was one thing you loved about him. He may be cynical and brash, but deep down he loved his family. He would do whatever it took to save them. When he found a way home to 2019, you didn't hesitate to follow him. You would always follow him, no matter how hectic or crazy things got.

Hand in my hand

And we promised to never let go

We're walking a tightrope

High in the sky

We can see the whole world down below

We're walking a tightrope

You fiddled with your ring, thinking over your life with him so far. Balancing your relationship and The Commission at the same time was no easy feat, but, your love for one another made it all worth it. You felt like you were soaring through the air, but at the same time, watching your step constantly. And there was also Five's laser-sharp focus. Whenever something caught his attention, he was determined beyond measure to fix it. Almost to a point where he was on the brink of obsession. That and he also tended to pull from you in the midst of his mission. Well, until you pulled him back to Earth and helped him regain balance in his life.

Never sure, never know how far we could fall

But it's all an adventure

That comes with a breathtaking view

Walking a tightrope

With you

There were challenges, of course. You and Five didn't expect to have it easy. You were the deadliest assassin duo in The Commission and it came with its trials and tribulations. There was a lot of danger that came with the job. However, as long as you had each other by your side, you both felt safe.

Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between

Desert and ocean

You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream

Always in motion

So I risk it all just to be with you

And I risk it all for this life we choose

When you first met Five, you were captivated beyond belief. He was already notorious enough for surviving in the apocalypse, not to mention his abilities involving time travel and spacial jumping. When you found out the Handler partnered him with you, you felt like you were Cloud Nine. Though at first he was quiet and calculating, you eventually softened his shell and melted his heart. You couldn't imagine life without him ever since. You'd risk everything for him.

Hand in my hand

And you promised to never let go

We're walking a tightrope

High in the sky

We can see the whole world down below

We're walking a tightrope

Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?

You went up the rooftop where Five took you for some fresh air the night before. It gave you such a stunning view of the skyline. The sky was painted in colors of pink, purple, and orange. The breeze was cool and calming. You sat there, reminiscing for a bit. You remembered the stories he told you about his time in the apocalypse. Was everything really going up in flames in a matter of days? You always felt like you were doing life, not living it. And you hoped that after he stopped the apocalypse, you two could live a quiet and normal life together. Or would something else happen that would pull him away?

Well, it's all an adventure

That comes with a breathtaking view

Walking a tightrope

With you

Five suddenly blinked next to you and you smiled softly.

"Hey, love," he greeted lowly.

"Hey. Are you okay?" you looked at him in concern.

He looked tired as he sat down by your side and you curled up next to him, feeling his arms wrap around you. "Just…well, looking forward to stopping the end of the world and getting some rest."

"You definitely need it," you agreed.

He sighed and nodded. "Hey…look…I um…"

You frowned some as he hesitated to continue. He was staring at you rather forlornly.

"Five? What's wrong?" you slowly asked.

"I…I know I keep running away from you and sort of leave you on your own and…I'm really sorry. I…I don't mean to neglect you like this. I hope you understand," he answered.

You gazed at him sadly. "I do understand. It is hard seeing you throw yourself into this so aggressively, but, at the same time I know it's for a good cause."

"I know. I honestly don't know what to do either. Everything I've done so far feels like a dead end. But I don't want to give up. I can't give up."

"Then tell me how I can help. Please, Five. I don't want to be on the sidelines anymore. Let me help you. You're going to drive yourself insane if you keep doing this by yourself."

Five looked down with a sigh. "This won't be easy or pretty. You know that right?" his eyes flicked back up to you.

"When did we ever work on anything that was easy or pretty?"

He laughed softly and you cracked a smile.

"Alright. You and me. We're doing this together now," Five took your hands.

Together. No matter what. You would always find a way to work things out, together.

~ * ~

[tooinlovewithfictionalpeople]

She’s my Wife - Five Hargreeves

Plot: Ruby comes to her husband’s rescue much to the surprise of the siblings

Five Hargreeves was scared.

He’d never admit it to the other, but he was.

The commission had managed to capture them when they were inches away from stopping the Apocalypse and now wanted them to spill how they were going to do so. However if the siblings told the commission their last hope of stopping the end of the world would be lost.

All of the siblings were shackled to a very cold slimy wall, restricting their movements to the point where they had to stay incredibly still. All were covered in some sort of blood, be it theirs or somebody else’s and all of them were exhausted and powerless.

For the first time, Five felt utterly weak.

He was the worst off out of all of them, with half of his face covered in blood that came from a large wound in his hairline, and a spilt lip that was still bleeding slightly.

“I am never listening to you ever again. From now on I am number one.” grumbled Diego. 

“Hey, if you hadn’t pissed him off, I wouldn’t have had to take charge,” Luther argued.

“And by taking charge you mean pissing him off even more?” Five butted in, also in a bad mood.

“Oh yeah, you can talk, they’re your ex co workers!” Allison scoffed.

“Hey guys, maybe we should just stay calm? And focus on getting a plan together?”

“That’s rich coming from the person who blew up the moon,”

“Just because you have an obsession with the moon-”

“Shut Up!” Five shouted “Two minuets from now the next commission member is going to walk in, torture one of us to death for information until we give up. Arguing is getting us nowhere.”

Klaus raised his hand “I would like to point out that I said nothing.”

“Shut up Klaus.” Luther said

“Hey, don’t speak to him like that-”

“Oh so now you're on his side!”

“I didn’t say that,”

Five put his head in his hands.

Suddenly the door opened and two men dressed in black suit holding a disturbing amount of weapons walked in, dragging a chair with them,

The chair was terrifying itself, it was made of wood with metal cuffs and restraints attached to it.

Man number one grinned “I think we should start with the supposedly deadliest assassin,”

Man number two nodded “Up you get Hargreeves, Fight back we kill your sister,” he pointed the gun at Vanya.

“Don’t do that, she’ll blow up the moon,”

“KLAUS.”

Five got to his feet shakily, ignoring his sibling’s pleas of not to hurt their eldest brother fell on deaf ears.

“You going to Kill me David?” he said looking at Man number two.

David looked slightly sorrowful. “Sorry Mr Hargreeves, I’m just following orders.”

Man number one grinned, showing yellow teeth.

“I’m here to have fun,” he laughed, pushing Five into the chair.

Suddenly a scream sounded from outside the door.

“What was that?” David looked around nervously. The first man shrugged.

“Who cares? There’s no-one we can’t kill,”

Klaus leaned forward to Diego “That man’s a psycho,” he whispered.

Another scream sounded but this time but this time it said something “She’s here -” before it was cut off with a bang.

“She’s here? What does that mean?” Diego asked “Who is she?”

Five started to laugh, which was a gruesome sight when you considered the amount of blood that was coming out of the poor guy.

“You guys are so screwed now,” he laughed.

At his words, more men poured through the door, all holding a gun, protecting the others in the room.

“Five what’s going on?” shouted Vanya

Five just continued smiling through the pain “She’s here.” was all he said.

From outside in the hallway a strong female voice was heard. “Where the HELL is my HUSBAND,”

Followed by a poor strangled scream and a large bang.

The assassins inside the room trembled slightly. “Do we have to do this?” one whined pitifully “She’s ruthless when angry.”

However they stood their ground, facing the closed door in anticipation.

Not that the steel door was much help, it was blown back with an unbeatable force.

The assasins stood their ground as the smoke cleared revealing the figure they were all waiting for.

She was beautiful, dressed quite formally in a white checked skirt and fitted black top she looked no older than her mid or late teens - and seemingly innocent with her hair pulled back in a messy braid. However her eyes held a world of anger - or perhaps it was the fact they were glowing red.

“Hello Boys.” her dark eyes swept the room “Seen my husband?”

They all shook their heads, praying that she would simply leave and not notice Five behind them.

But she did.

She saw his bloody, bruised face. She saw his shaking hands and tears he had hastily rubbed away in case anyone saw.

Any chance the guards had with reasoning with her was gone.

With an angry cry the girl waved her hand and all the guards disintegrated, leaving only a pile of grey dust where they were once stood.

“What just happened?” Allison was the first to respond, and immediatly regretted it as the girl turned her red eyes onto the other female.

“Who are you?” 

“It’s okay Rosalie, that’s my sister.”

Rosalie's eyes died down, returning back to their normal colour. She rushed to Five’s aid, carefully melting the cuffs away until they were nothing but ash.

“Free them first.” he whispered as she attempted to heal him.

“I can manipulate Particles.” Rosalie's explained to the group as she helped them break free. “When the Handler found me, she made me an assassin - which is how I met Five. We were - are- partners.”

“No offence because I’m sure you're lovely, but isn’t Five a little old for you?” asked Klaus.

Rosalie laughed “Benefit of manipulating particles is I can de-age them. It’s like mini personal time travel,”

After freeing the siblings she ran to where Five was sat, clearly exhausted.

Rosalie brushed his hair out of his eyes whilst she worked on the wound on his head. Five stared up at her, before feeling his eyelids get heavy.

“Close your eyes and I won’t make you coffee for a month.”

He opened his eyes with a frown.

“I've just been tortured and you are threatening me even more?” he huffed a laugh as the blood began to trace back to the wound.

Rosalie smiled “Damn straight. I have a reputation.”

“So do you need help finding your husband?” Asked Luther as he approached the two.

Rosalie frowned in confusion, her mouth opening and closing unable to form a response. 

Five groaned. “Luther you idiot I am her husband!”

“You got married???? Who would want to marry you?” was Diego’s response.

Rosalie grinned. “I know right, he’s a right weirdo,”

“Hey!” Five protested

She sat down on his lap, resting her head on his chest as she wrapped her arms around him.

“But he’s my weirdo,” she laughed as he reciprocated her actions.

“That was sickening.” Diego commented.

“nonono it was cute!” Gushed the two sisters and Klaus.

“Us Hargreeves aren’t incapable at love after all!” Klaus did a little happy dance which Rosalie laughed at even more.

“I can see why you wanted to save them Five,” she said softly as she stared at the laughing family.

“Do you? Because I dont,” he said sarcastically, although there was love in his voice.

Rosalie kissed his cheek, stroking his hair softly. He sighed in content, resting his head on hers.

“Thanks for saving us,” he whispered.

“That’s what I’m for,” she replied.

Five smiled cheekily “And making me coffee,”

“Anymore of that Mister you can save yourself.”

[thenightmareofyourdrems]

                   ˜”*°•.      Annoyance  was  evident  in  her  face ,  yet  she  took  a  seat  nonetheless.  It  wasn’t  the  first  time  her  words  flew  unheard,  and  as  much  as  she  hated  it,  she  knew  it  wouldn’t  be  the  last .

❝ It’s - ❞  Hesitancy  crossed  her  expression  momentarily  -  for  finding  a  way  to  answer  the  question ?  It  felt  impossible.  This  whole  mission  was  a  huge  bunch  of  secrets,  after  all  -  and  sure,  her  mother  would  keep  telling  her  that  it  was  fine,  that  details  were  unimportant,  she  couldn’t  help  but  feel  lost,  though .  Being  kept  in  the  dark,  frustrating .  

❝ I  was  hoping  we  could  talk  about  it  a  bit  actually.  ❞  Came the suggestion filled with uncertainty.

@thenightmareofyourdrems sent 'you didn't hear a word of what i just said, did you?' (Lila to The Handler)

“Hm?”

She had been too involved in her own doings to give Lila her full attention; she looks up from where she sits at her desk, cigarette in one hand. Exhaling, The Handler glances towards the doorway where her daughter stands, “Lila darling, I didn’t expect you to be back so soon! That little job of yours go well?”

Extinguishing the cigarette in a nearby ash tray, she proceeds to swiftly scoop up the files in front of her and shove them away in the bottom draw of the desk. Completely ignoring any hints of irritation in Lila’s voice, she waits for the her to enter the office, gesturing towards the chair opposite her. It's the kind of gesture that says come, sit; more a demand as opposed to an invitation.

“Now, what is it you wanted?”

[ancientstone]

Apparently my thing is coming up with weird as hell tua crossover ideas which is probably a problem but

The Umbrella Academy meets Kuroshitsuji

Give me Five, lost and alone, for 45 years until one day he just breaks.

Give me the demon who hears his call, and shows himself, and makes a deal.

Give me the demon helping him in the apocalypse, to survive and work out the math, and then accompanying him to the Commission where they become the deadliest duo the company has ever seen.

Give me Five, having been missing for 17 years, turning up out of the blue at his father’s funeral with a strange man dressed in black. Give me Five with a patch over his eye, but every time someone asks, he refuses to answer. Give me Five vanishing on and off throughout the week with this mystery man who only calls himself ‘Sebastian’ as he tries to figure out ways to stop the apocalypse.

Give me Five’s siblings, concerned that their apparently 13-year-old brother is running around with a complete stranger that they don’t trust. Give me Diego trying to look through police records only to find nothing on him. Give me Allison searching the library and drawing a blank.

Give me Sebastian helping Five at Griddy’s, and teasing him when he goes to see Dolores. Give me snarky Sebastian when Five’s siblings goad him. Give me Sebastian panicking when Five suddenly vanishes with the Handler, because he can’t find him anywhere.

Give me Sebastian scolding him when he returns to the Academy injured and whisking him off to be stitched up so he won’t bleed out.

Give me Five and Sebastian working hard to figure out what ends the world when the fake eye fails to deliver. Give me Sebastian working overtime with less than a week to go because he has to uphold his end of the deal. Give me more Five side quests with his siblings because he knows he can trust Sebastian to keep going and to do what he’s told.

And give me Sebastian and Five fighting together to stop Vanya when she goes full white violin. Give me Sebastian’s super strength and speed stopping her from blowing up the moon, and helping her slow down to a calm, safe halt.

Give me the Hargreeves siblings talking things out, under sharp supervision, so it won’t happen again, so Vanya will never cause an apocalypse, so they will continue to live peacefully and without threat.

Then, when it’s all done, give me Five quietly standing up and walking over to Sebastian, who grins and tells him, “It’s time.”

“Five?” One of his siblings say, and he turns to see them all staring at him, confused. “What’re you doing?”

“Fulfilling my end of the bargain.”

[7-seasof-fandom]

The death of Mona Lisa

Vanya's bright smile faded all at once when she noticed his arm. She grabbed Five's arm, pulling his sleeve up to reveal his way too visible and dark veins. Five shot her a panicked look, before pulling away, and turning around to continue walking. "What happened?" Vanya called after him, worry seeping into her voice. Those veins really didn't look good. She wasn't sure what it meant, but it had to be a symptom of... something. Right?

"It's none of your concern." Five hissed, turning around to face her briefly, giving her a dismissive, but stern look, before he once again continued walking. Vanya twisted her brain for any possibilities to figure out what it could be. "Five? You haven't been poisoned, right?" Saying it out loud it sounded silly, she would admit, but she also knew her brother and it didn't really seem out of the question.

Five let out a frustrated sigh, but his frustration seemed more directed at the situation itself, or maybe something else, but not her. "I was just lightly stabbed, it's fine..." He waved his hand dismissively, before adding, "The knife was probably poisoned or something." Vanya stared at his neck in disbelief. "You got stabbed?"

"Just a bit." Five let out a laugh as if in an attempt to lighten the mood. It didn't work. "Five, if you're poisoned you do realize you could die... right?" Five scoffed. "I'll walk it off." He said, almost matter of factly.

"Five, we need to let mom have a look at it." He let out a dramatic sigh as he stopped walking. "Fine." He finally agreed reluctantly.

Vanya sent him a small, calming smile from the couch she was sharing with klaus and Allison. Grace was looking over the results from the tests they had done. "That's odd." She mumbled, before looking up at Five with her usual, calm expression. "It doesn't seem like you were poisoned at all dear, but..." she looked over the results again. "There must've been an error. Your DNA seems to have been... altered, but that's not..." she shot Luther a quick, guilty glance. Five paled, as realization hit him like a truck full of brick. He jumped up, suddenly. Startling the others. "Whoah, hey there-" Luther got up, stepping in front of him, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "What's wrong, Five?"

Five bit his lip, not meeting Luther's eyes. "Nothing." He hissed out through gritted teeth. "Just let me leave." He let out an irritated sigh. "Please." He added, but it didn't sound quite as nice as one would think. Luther didn't flinch, instead fastened his grip on Five's shoulder, figuring that whatever was wrong it probably wouldn't do Five any favors to deal with it alone.

Five, deciding that too much time had passed, instead just jumped past him and quickly walked out the front door. Slamming it behind him. "Well," Klaus clapped his hands together. "That's not alarming at all."

Five stepped into the phone booth, dialing the number he had hoped that he would never have to dial again. A female voice answered in a sing-song way on the other end. "You've reached The Commission headquarters, what may I help you with today?" The voice was teasing. Playful. His suspicions were confirmed at once. She had been expecting his call. "What the hell did you do to me?" He sneered. Barely even trying to contain himself. The Handler laughed. "What's wrong, dear? I thought you'd be more... excited. Come on, give me a smile dearest."

Five bit his lip, anger burning his cheeks. "Excited?" He scoffed. "I told you I would never-"

"Oh, my mistake, my dear. I guess we misunderstood each other." Five blinked in confusion. "Well, I guess we better solve this terrible misunderstanding, right? How about a deal?" Five sneered into the phone. Of course. Another deal. "What do you want?"

"Well, you know, I've got these people I'd really like dead-" Five hated the implication. He loved the thought. It made him feel sick, but so so excited. "Absolutely not." He choked out. Trying to force back the feeling and pretend it never existed. He slammed the phone back on the handle cutting off The Handler's laugh abruptly. He stood there for a moment, trying to force himself to breathe, but the pressure in his chest was just growing heavier for every breath he attempted to take. The wind blowing against the phone booth was painfully loud, ringing in his ears. His hand was still on the phone, feeling oddly wet and cold all of a sudden. A metallic taste on his tongue. He needed help. He needed someone... but he couldn't... he'd hurt them, but he-

The Handler's words echoed through his mind. Sentences mixing together, an incoherent mess. "Give me a smile." She had said... smile... Vanya's smile... so safe... Suddenly he jumped. He wasn't sure where he'd end up, it just had to be close by. He ended up about two streets away from Vanya's apartment. Close enough. In a panicked haze he stumbled his way through the crowd of people walking by, trying to ignore the growing urge to squeeze their throat, stab them, kill them. They were so loud though and it only made it harder. Couldn't they at least shut up? Their voices, steps, movements all mixed together to one big deafening sound that he had to break through with every step he took.

He finally made it to outside Vanya's apartment door. His head ached like crazy, and the fact that he hadn't killed anyone was beyond a miracle. Luckily, Vanya was stronger than him, so even if his control only lasted so long, she could take him... at least he really hoped so. In his blurry mind he couldn't really think clearly, right as he knocked he had the horrifying realization that he probably shouldn't be trusting his own judgement in this moment. It was too late though, as Vanya opened the door before he could think to run. "Five? Holy shit-" Vanya grabbed onto his arm in an effort to steady him, as he lost his grip on the doorframe and stumbled towards her.

She sat him down on her couch, sitting down beside him. "What's going on? Do you need to see mom, or-?" He shook his head quickly, trying to force the words out, but how should he tell her? How do you tell one of your best friends that you're a monster and that right now a part of you can't think about anything else than what killing her would feel like and that that part of you came to the conclusion that it would feel nice.

He tried to swallow the nausea, before he finally spoke. "I, uh... when I worked for The Commission they were working on a way to change people's DNA... and they found it. For all the years I worked there they wanted to use it on me." He let out a dry laugh. "Honestly I'm surprised they didn't force it upon me until now." He shook his head, gaze distant. His heart still beating fast at the thought of what he might do. Whether it was from excitement or anxiety he didn't know.

"What does that serum do?" He looked up at her and managed to meet her eyes for a moment. They were filled with worry. Confusion too, but mostly worry. Not fear though. That was a mistake. He already knew it. "It makes, whoever is injected with it, the perfect killer." His voice broke off and he was suddenly no longer able to remain eye contact. The urge to kill her growing stronger and stronger by the second. He instead looked down at his hands as Vanya's found his and gave it a gentle squeeze. She gave him a reassuring smile. Neither of them would know it until a second later, but she'd never be able to do that ever again.

____________________

Aaaaaaaaa I hope y'all like it. Been thinking about and writing on this all day :))

Special thank you to @the-kids-own-my-heart and @deadliest-little-thing for reading through this and giving feedback while I was working on it

As always, feedback and constructive criticism is much welcomed and appreciated :))