IT'S BEEN FOURTEEN YEARS SINCE Five joined the commission. As much as I'd rather be with the man I love, we can't cross the boundary. We're definitely not as close as we were when we were in the apocalypse, but all things considered, our work relationship is fairly casual. Flirty comments and side glances get thrown around. But we're not together.

I'd never admit it, but I think we're both scared. Scared that if we start up a romantic relationship again, it'll end as it did before. Logically I know that can't happen due to the change of circumstances, but still. What happened in the apocalypse all those decades ago is still an open wound.

"Head out of the clouds, Zero," Five interrupts my thoughts. We were walking side by side, but he stopped. I was too lost in thinking about us that I kept walking.

"Sorry. ADHD," I excuse quietly, pacing back to him as I look at the dark sky. He had a briefcase in his hand as we stood in front of a motel room. "I heard the commission is making some budget changes, but I didn't think that meant that we had to start staying at shitty motels," I mutter as I take out the key from my pocket. That's right. One key. One room. When the woman at the front desk gave it to me, Five and I shared a look but didn't say anything.

I place it in the keyhole before turning and pushing the door open. Looking into the room, my attention was immediately drawn to the single queen size bed that sits to the right of the room. "You've gotta be shitting me," I groan.

Five walks into the doorway, placing the briefcase down by his feet before shrugging off his black blazer jacket. "I call the left side," He states.

I sigh, walking in after him, and closing the door behind me, "You always chose the left side." Not that I'm against it. I'd rather be on the right side because it's closer to the door and window. Easy escapes if we need to run. "So, you ready to kill Kennedy?" I ask as I drop our shared suitcase and slip off my shoes.

"How can you say that so casually?" Five smirks.

"I've been doing this for a while, darling," I reply, taking out some things from our bag.

"As have I," He sighs, sitting down on his side of the bed.

"Oh? Have you worked for the commission for the past thirty-two years? No? I don't think so," I tease, tilting my head to the side. "Y'know. Not that I was counting or anything."

"You may have more experience, but I'm the better assassin." He leans back on the headboard with his hands behind his head as he watches me.

"Sure," I roll my eyes.

"Aren't we a little old for this bickering?" he asks, closing his eyes as I go to the bathroom to change into my nightgown.

"Never."

I walk out after showering and changing to find him in pajama pants, already asleep. I walk around the bed to my side and grab my book from our bag before laying down. I forgot to turn off the bathroom light, but since I'm lazy, I decide to just turn it off with my powers. I don't use the extent of my powers anymore. Only for small tasks. I just can't lose control or fly as I did... before.

I switch on the bedside lamp and open my book from where my bookmark was.

"Before we go to the parade tomorrow, I need to talk to you about something. Not here," Five states, surprising me. I thought he was asleep. What does he need to tell me? Is it delusional if I think it may have something to do with us?

"Why not here?" I ask curiously.

"Someone could have bugged the room," Five says as if it's the simplest thing ever.

"Fucking hell, Five. You're a paranoid bastard, y'know that, right?" I ask, looking at him. His back is facing me.

"Yeah. I know," he mutters back.

☂️ ⓪ ☂️

We were sitting in an Irish pub in Dallas, just a few blocks from where Kennedy's assassination would take place in about half an hour. Five had the briefcase sitting between his feet under his barstool. We each had a large mug of beer in front of us. I'm not much of a drinker so I just take a few sips as I wait for Five to explain what he brought me here for. "Haven't been to the sixies in a while," I note, looking around at the small bar for any watchful eyes. "Don't miss it."

Five doesn't reply, taking a large gulp of his drink.

I sigh, glimpsing at the man I share so much trama with. "Five."

Once again, he doesn't respond. The only indication that shows he heard me is him placing his beer back on the countertop.

"What did you need to tell me?" I ask softly, moving my right arm to rest on the back of his chair. The longer he is silent, the more I overthink everything.

He lets out a huff of air before turning to look me in the eye intimidatingly. "I have a plan. And you need to trust me on this," He states.

"Depends on the plan," I answer, suspicious, making me squint a little.

"Zero."

"Five."

He stares at me frustratedly. "Fine." He runs a hand down his face before taking a deep breath, trying to control his temper. "After this job, let's travel back to 2019."

"What? Why would we do that? After we eliminate JFK, I have a mission in 1864 to exterminate some big shot's grandson," I convey.

"No, no. What if-," He hesitates. "What if we break our contract? We have five years left and I'm getting tired of this shit. Let's go to 2019 and stop the end of the world. To save our family."

I sit there, staring at him with my mouth slightly open as if to reply, but honestly, I'm speechless. I blink twice before harshly whispering to him, "You still want to prevent the fucking apocalypse? Are you insane?!"

"Possibly," he admits in a hushed voice. "I've been thinking about this for a while now-."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Zero." He gives me a knowing look.  In his eyes, I can see a hint of sadness. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to leave."

"I wouldn't have," I tell him, a little taken aback and internally desperate for him to believe me.

"You did it once. Why wouldn't you do it again?" He does his best to keep his face expressionless (and succeeds for the most part), but I know him. He loathes this just as much as I do.

"I've made mistakes, Five," I admit honestly. "A lot of them. I won't make that one again. Ever. I promise."

We look at each other for a few seconds as he thinks. "Okay," He states, now at a normal volume.

I exhale before drinking more beer. "So," I say after a moment of thought. "We're gonna see our siblings again." It wasn't a question. More of a realization.

"Yup."

"This is going to be a shit show." We both take a gulp of beer at the same time.

☂️ ⓪ ☂️

A/N: Don't forget to comment any questions you have and vote! Ily all! Thx for all the suport. Much love. <3 ~ Zoe Manijeh 12.30.22

P.S. Happy new year! :)

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