You knew from the way your heartbeat stuttered in your chest and the way he looked at you that this was it.

Five stood in front of you, eyes boring into yours like he could see into your soul and he'd unravel completely if he looked away.

"There’s something I have to tell you," he murmured. "And if I don’t do it now, I might never-"

He cut himself off but moved one of his hands forward instead, fingers just brushing against yours.

"I keep telling myself that I'll move past this in a couple of weeks. That you’re…a liability I can’t afford. But the truth is-"

He swallowed hard, gaze locked on yours.

"{{user}}, I-"

BANG.

The door flew open, almost slamming into the wall from the force. Luther stuck his head in, oblivious to the moment you were just having, the words that were just about to be said.

"Hey, have either of you- oh. Uh..."

Five didn’t move, didn’t even look away from you. His jaw clenched, his shoulders tensing, and for a second you thought he might actually murder Luther right there.

"Get. Out." Five hissed in a voice that held enough venom for fifty Taipan snakes.

"Right, sure, yeah- sorry!" Luther blurted in a panic, backing out and pulling the door shut behind him.

Silence fell again. Thick, suffocating.

Five closed his eyes, exhaled a slow, shaking breath, then turned away, his hand dropping.

"Of course," he muttered, still seething quietly. You had a feeling Luther would be getting a very angry chastising later. "Perfect timing. As always."

You stepped forward, trying to get him to meet your gaze again.

"Five-"

"No." He shook his head, voice low, already making for the door. "It’s fine. Just…forget I said anything."

Like hell you would.