Word count: 2224

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐄𝐃, 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 her hand against the side of her head as she looked out the window of the car.

She and Five were about twenty minutes into their search for Vanya, their plan being to head to the farm that she was staying at in the hopes that they could find her there. 

And if she wasn't there . . . Well, they'd figure it out then.

Five shifted agitatedly in his seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel rather tightly; it was more than obvious that he was nervous about the whole thing—and he was right to be, Valerie didn't trust both Luther or Diego to execute this task well.

Valerie played with the pendant of her necklace as she looked out the window, feeling the grooves of the keys brush underneath her fingertips. It was still quite sunny outside, and all that surrounded the gravel road that they were on were vibrant trees and overgrown shrubbery.

They were just turning left at an intersection when another blue car passed them by. And in the driver's seat, was Vanya.

"What the hell?" Five muttered as his foot slammed on the breaks, causing the car to come to a rough stop.

The two of them looked out through the window to see that Vanya had done the same, and immediately, they got out of the car to meet her.

"What are you doing here?" Vanya questioned as the three met in the middle, her eyes changing between the two of their faces.

"Looking for you," Valerie explained, glancing over at Five, who had taken the watch out and was examining its face. "We're going back to 2019."

Vanya's eyebrows furrowed as she shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Look, I don't really have time to explain right now, but I found a way home. All right?" Five said quickly as he turned around to head back to the car, beckoning for the other two girls to follow him. "We have thirty minutes to leave."

"What about my friends?" Vanya questioned, ignoring Five's instruction and remaining in her spot. "I can't just leave them here."

"Vanya, you don't have a choice in this, all right?" Five exclaimed. "Doomsday will happen if you don't come with us."

"Okay, then I'm bringing them with me!" Vanya retorted.

"You can't. They belong in this timeline," Valerie said gently, nervously watching Vanya.

"Says who? Sissy deserves a life where she doesn't have to pretend to be someone she's not!" Vanya responded angrily, the volume of her voice growing louder as she turned to the other girl. "And Harlan? There's a name for what he has. We can get him the help he needs."

"Vanya," Five breathed out, shaking his head.

"Look, a mom and her eight-year-old son are not gonna screw up the timeline, Five!" Vanya exclaimed, staring straight at the boy as her eyes moistened. "They're insignificant!"

"No one is insignificant." Five shook his head as he stepped back towards her. "I'm sorry, all right? But we can't take that risk. They have to stay." He started to walk back to the car, grabbing Valerie's hand on the way as he nodded towards Vanya. "Come on."

"Why do you get to decide?!" Vanya questioned, still staying in the same spot. "You're the reason we're stuck here in the first place."

Five halted in his tracks and turned to face Vanya. An incredulous expression came over his face as he answered, "If I did nothing, we would all be dead right now, thanks to you!"

"Five," Valerie murmured with a frown, though he ignored her as he stared straight at his sister.

Vanya was silent for a moment, her eyes fluttering slightly as she breathed deeply. After a moment, she calmly stated, "They're coming with me."

Five slowly walked back towards her, his eyes darkening. "Vanya, do not test me right now."

"That's funny." A miffed smile appeared on Vanya's face as she stepped closer to Five, the two of them now standing barely two feet apart. "'Cause I was just about to say the same thing."

Vanya's eyes turned white as her skin pale, reminding Valerie of her form at the Icarus Theatre. A bright, sphere-like light appeared in the middle of her chest, threatening them as it gradually grew larger. She took another step closer to him, although her eyes flitted apprehensively across his face.

Five stared right back at her, the blue glow appearing around his fists as he clenched them. It seemed as though he was just as apprehensive about fighting his sister, his jaw clenching and his eyes examining her with the same nervousness.

Valerie sighed, rolling her eyes as she came in between them. She turned her head both ways, raising her eyebrows as she put a hand on either of their chests. "Guys, stop being stupid before I run you both into the Pacific Ocean and let you drown."

They stared at each other for a good moment before the two of them then powered down, Vanya's eyes and skin returning to normal as the blue glow around Five's hands died down.

"Fine," Vanya conceded with a little nod.

"'Fine' what?" Five questioned, his eyes narrowing.

"I'll be there," Vanya clarified, "but I need to say goodbye first."

"Oh, Vanya," Five breathed out as he shook his head, "we don't have the time."

"Five," Valerie mumbled, putting a hand on his arm. "Let her."

Five paused for a moment before heaving a heavy sigh. He turned to go back to the car, calling over his shoulder, "The alley. Don't be late."

—♫—

Valerie and Five parked right outside of the building that they had been residing in for the past few days and immediately rushed out of the car to dash into the alleyway.

Five went straight towards the large dumpster that was pushed up against the wall to their right, lifting the lid as he grabbed the briefcase that he had hidden inside. He let the lid slam to a shut as he pulled it out, and shoved his free hand into his pocket to fish the watch out.

Luther ran up from behind them, stopping short as he looked around the empty alleyway. His eyes widened as he saw that only Valerie and Five occupied the space and he demanded,  "Where is everyone?"

An annoyed smile came onto Five's expression as he glanced down at the watch. "You're the first!"

Luther's eyes widened even more as he incredulously questioned, "What?"

They peered towards the entrance of the alleyway, where Klaus appeared, stumbling and waving his hands around—which wasn't unusual behaviour for him.

He ran up to them, a grin on his face as he gleefully shouted, "Hey! Hey! We made it!"

"What do you mean, 'we'?" Valerie questioned, glancing over to see equally confused expressions on the other two's faces.

Rather than answering her, Klaus came to a sudden stop and then turned, and he pushed his arm out. "Get out! Out!" He then pushed on his jaw, seeming as if he were trying to get rid of himself.

The three of them stared at him with bewildered expressions, which were then replaced by looks of disgust as Klaus vomited all over the ground next to him. He collapsed to the pavement, groaning as he turned onto his back and laid still.

"I can't believe it, I mean you're here!" Luther exclaimed angrily as he gestured down to the moaning man.

Five looked down at his watch again, his fingers tightening around the square face, and he shook his head as he muttered, "We've got eight minutes left."

Klaus blinked a couple of times before letting out a whimper, "I just had the strangest dream."

"Where are the others?" Five asked angrily to no one in particular.

"Maybe they're still on their way?" Valerie suggested, trying to remain calm so that she could hopefully cause Five to relax a bit. "They could be here any second."

"No, no, this was a mistake," Five muttered to himself, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. He set the briefcase onto the ground as he swallowed. "I shouldn't've trusted them."

"I mean, c'mon, if Klaus made it here, Allison will probably come, at least!" she tried to reason, gesturing down at the man who was still clutching her stomach. "And Diego, too! He was here from the beginning."

Five began to pace around, his eyes glimpsing towards the watch every half minute as they waited. He began to mutter to himself, his words being ones that Valerie ignored as she leaned against the wall, allowing her fidgety fingers to play with the pendant of her necklace.

Luther walked over to the dumpster, resting an arm on that as he kept his eyes fixated on the entrance of the alleyway. After a few minutes passed, he checked his own watch and pounded his fist against the lid of the dumpster as he shouted, "We've got a minute left!"

"What's going on, guys?" Klaus asked hoarsely, his eyes blinking open as he stretched his arms. "Are we going somewhere?"

"It was a simple task. It was a simple task!" Five exclaimed in frustration, still pacing around in his own little area as his voice became particularly high. "All we had to do was be here. Didn't have to fight a giant sea monster, no—"

"Hey, Five, maybe let's just calm down?" Valerie called over to him, her eyebrows raised.

He ignored her as he continued, "An army of mutants? Nein."

Luther checked the watch that he had strapped to his wrist, shaking his head furiously as he muttered, "I can't believe this."

Five stopped pacing, and instead stood angrily as he groaned, "It was handed to us on a silver platter."

"Could you just moan a little softer?" Klaus complained as he slowly sat himself up. He placed a hand on either side of his head as he shut his eyes and sighed, "My head is killing me."

"Listen to me, you useless puke bag," Five shouted as he marched over, "we just blew our chance to save the world!"

Suddenly, a high-pitched noise filled the air, causing the four of them to look down at the briefcase.

Their time was up.

Five scoffed, looking off to the side as he shook his head. "Goddammit," he muttered before he grabbed the briefcase and tossed it forward into the air.

They all watched as a warp of blue light appeared, swallowing the briefcase whole before it disappeared, allowing them to see the sky behind.

"We were that close," Five sighed, scratching the back of his head as he turned around. A long exhale passed his lips before he muttered, "That close."

Luther walked back over to the dumpster, resting the side of his head in his hand as he leaned his elbow on top of the lid. "Now what?"

"Now nothing, Luther, all right?" Five shouted as he turned in his spot, walking over to the wall to their left. "Make your peace with God."

"What?" Valerie asked incredulously as she folded her arms. "What about Allison and Vanya?"

"Screw them both." He leaned forward against the wall before rushing towards the garbage can behind the dumpster and kicking it. "They should have been here!"

"What about Diego?" Klaus questioned, watching Five. "He's quite a responsible young man, no?"

"Something must've happened to them," Luther agreed with a nod.

"Screw Diego, all right? Screw everybody!" Five exclaimed. "I was better off on my own in the apocalypse."

"Five! Come on," Valerie sighed, shaking her head.

"You know what, Val?" He took a few steps towards her, a miffed smile replacing his look of anger. "It's every person for themself now!" He walked back towards the back entrance of the building, calling out, "How 'bout that?"

Klaus's face scrunched up as the door slammed behind the boy. He clutched at his shirt as he moaned, "Did Five just get meaner?"

"Yeah," Valerie sighed, rubbing her forehead. She closed her eyes, thinking for a moment before opening them once more and clapping her hands together. "Klaus, go check on Allison, all right? Make sure she's okay. Find the others and we'll meet back here. Luther and I'll handle Five."

Luther trailed behind her as she rushed over to the door, pulling it open to see that Five was heading up the stairs. She came up behind him, and told him, "Five, doomsday is still coming. We gotta think of a new plan."

"Don't you get it, Val? It's over, all right?" he said angrily as they turned the corner of the staircase. "We're already dead!"

"Then where are you going?" she questioned.

Five reached the top of the landing and turned to her as he said, "I'm going to do the unthinkable."

Luther wrinkled his nose as he continued to head towards the door. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

He sighed, muttering before opening the door to Elliott's place, "I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this."

"Come to what, Five?" Valerie asked, now more confused than ever.

They followed him inside, only to see him shut and lock the door to their bedroom.

Luther knocked on the door as he called, "Five! Come to what? Five!"

Valerie let out a loud sigh before joining Luther in knocking on the door. "Five, if you don't open this door right now, I'm going to—"

"Don't you dare phase in here!"

"Dammit." Valerie stopped knocking and sighed. She looked up to Luther, who looked just as exasperated as she did as he walked over to the living room and plopped down on the couch. "Guess we have to wait."