The comet was coming.

And with it, the end of everything.

You could see its burning trail through the cracked windows of the abandoned observatory, a furious streak of orange light splitting the dark sky, illuminating the black backdrop. Maybe it was beautiful, but you couldn't think about that. You had less than an hour before it hit.

Less than an hour before everything ended.

Five was hunched over the barely intact control panel, fingers flying over the keys as he typed in frantic calculations that were far too complicated for you to understand. The screen flashed with warnings in red letters, which was doing absolutely nothing to soothe the both of you. He occasionally let out a soft string of curses under his breath before returning to the panel.

You swallowed the lump building in your throat. Your heart hammered against your ribs, and not just from fear. From a secret you'd been carrying for far too long. Something that weighed you down every second you didn't say it, something that made your chest ache whenever you thought about it. Something you’d promised yourself you couldn't say.

But maybe that promise didn't matter right now.

You took a step towards him, your voice a low murmur.

“Five…if this doesn’t work…there’s something I need to tell you.”

He didn’t look up right away. His jaw was clenched, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the console, staring at the screen with an almost manic desperation in his eyes. The screen beeped an error message. He slammed his fist against it, shoulders heaving as he let out a loud curse. When he finally turned to face you, his expression was unreadable - a tangled mess of frustration, fear, and something you couldn’t quite name. Or maybe something you were too scared to name.

“What?” he demanded, but you had heard the way his voice cracked on the word. A tremble, a crack in the armour he usually wore so well.

Your chest tightened. This was it. No more time for cowardice.

“I-” You cut yourself off, fighting to keep your voice steady and your breathing even. Or, as even as it could be, given your proximity. And then the words were tumbling out. “I'm in love with you. I have been for a long time. And I...I couldn't die without telling you.”

For a second, it was silent. The observatory felt impossibly still, despite the sirens wailing in the distance, and the ever present threat of the comet, drawing closer with every second.

Just you, him, and the heavy weight of the truth you'd finally admitted hanging in the air.

Five’s mouth opened, but sound came out. He swallowed, hands clenching into fists by his sides. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, vulnerable.

“God…you couldn’t have told me sooner?” his voice came out hoarse. Broken. “I- I’ve wasted so much time…”

He reached up, hand cupping your cheek, thumb brushing away tears you hadn’t realised had started to fall.

Outside, the sky started to burn.

Inside, for a single moment, even if it was your last, everything felt clear.