The power’s out. The lights had flickered once, twice, and never came back on. Neither of you cared.

You don’t even remember what the fight started over.

But now he’s backing away, like there's a nuclear device between the two of you about to detonate.

“Don’t,” Five says quietly when you reach for him.

You stop, hand dropping.

“So that’s it?” You murmur. “You tell me.” He fires back

Neither of you are talking about the mission anymore.

“You push people away before they can get close.” “Better than waiting for them to leave.” “I never said I would.” “Yeah? You didn’t say you’d stay either.”

His words hang in the air, the room thick with tension.

Finally, you speak, voice barely above a whisper.

“If we weren’t scared, would this be something?”

He stares at you like he’s finally seeing you for the first time. And maybe he is.

“It already is.” “Then why-” “Because if I let this be real, ....I won’t survive it if it ends.”

You have no response to that. Neither does Five. He looks at you one more time, chest throbbing with a physical ache, lump forming in his throat.

“Goodnight, {{user}}.”

He turns.

The door clicks shut behind him.