It started as a drizzle.

Just a thin mist dampening the cracked pavement as you and Five made your way down the empty street, arguing over whether this was the right safe house. Then the clouds split open and the rain came down in sheets - so sudden and heavy you both froze, blinking up in disbelief.

“Brilliant,” Five muttered flatly as he adjusted his collar. “Just what we need.”

You made a half hearted attempt to shield your face with your hands, but it was useless. Water showered over you, soaking you within seconds. You put your hands down, looking up at the rain and letting it wash over you. Five shot you a look of exasperation - like this was somehow your fault - and trudged forward, splashing through the rapidly forming puddles.

“Don’t just stand there,” he called over his shoulder. "Let's go."

“You look like a drowned rat.”

He turned, rain dripping from his hair into his eyes as he glared at you. “I am not a rat.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. Lightning flashed briefly, briefly illuminating his sharp features. All you could hear was the pounding of the rain around you. You suddenly found it absurdly funny that you were both stuck here together in the rain, wet and shivering.

Five opened his mouth to say something - probably some insult, but your laughter cut him off.

He stared at you like you’d lost your mind. “What the hell is so funny?”

You tried to answer but were laughing too hard. He shook his head with an annoyed huff and looked away, but when the next flash of lightning lit up his expression, his mouth was twitching like he was fighting a smile.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“So are you." You managed between fits of laughter. "We could be inside right now if you’d just admit you were wrong about the map.”

“I’m never wrong.”

You gave him a look as the rain continued to pour over the both of you. Then, with a quiet sigh that sounded miraculously close to defeat, Five stepped closer, hair plastered to his forehead and clothes dripping.

“Fine. Maybe I was…slightly mistaken.”

You stared at him for a second before a grin broke across your face and you let out another chuckle. Without thinking, you reached up and pushed the wet hair from his eyes. He went still under the touch. Your eyes locked, and for a second you were sure he was going to yell at you.

But then he did the most unexpected thing.

He smiled. And then he laughed. And you found yourself laughing with him.

You didn’t think you’d ever seen him look so young. Or so alive.

And as the rain continued to batter down relentlessly around you, he reached out and took your hand, lacing your fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world.