༻ Y/N'S POV༺

Five heard Vanya's footsteps fade down the hall and stepped toward the door to confirm she had left. Just as he reached it, a noise came from the closet. I didn't flinch, but turned my head just in time to see Klaus stumbling out, dropping a few random items as he emerged.

"Oh, wow. That was so touching! All that stuff about family and time. Just... wow!" Klaus exclaimed, arms gesturing dramatically.

"Would you shut up?" Five hissed, his voice sharp and low. "She'll hear you."

"I'm moist," Klaus responded with a sly grin. Then his eyes landed on me, and he brightened. "Oh, hello there, robot girl! Or should I say, Y/N?"

"Hello, Klaus," I said politely.

He gestured at my overalls. "Wow. Love the look. Very retro-chic."

"Thank you," I replied. "These belong to Vanya. She kindly let me borrow them to accommodate my size requirements."

"Well, the girl's got taste," Klaus said, clicking his tongue approvingly.

Five's patience snapped. "I thought I told you to put on something professional," he said, gesturing at Klaus' chaotic outfit.

"What? This is my nicest outfit," Klaus retorted, mock offense in his voice.

Five groaned. "We'll raid the old man's closet."

Klaus shrugged, falling in step as Five walked out of the room. "Fine. As long as I get paid."

"When the job is done," Five snapped.

"Okay, but just so we're clear on the finer details," Klaus said, trailing behind, "I just have to go into this place and pretend to be your dear old dad. Correct?"

"Yeah. Something like that," Five replied curtly.

"What's our cover story?" Klaus asked.

Five stopped, turning back with a confused frown. "What are you talking about?"

"You know, the story. The backstory," Klaus said, waving his hands dramatically. "Like, I was really young when I had you—what? Sixteen? Wild and terribly misguided?"

"Sure," Five muttered, clearly not interested.

"And your mother, that slut, whoever she was—we met at the disco!" Klaus said, laughing at himself.

"Okay, remember that," Five said dryly. "Moving on—"

"Hold up!" Klaus exclaimed, stopping as though struck by inspiration. "I've got it."

Five sighed. "Of course, you do."

Klaus turned toward me and Five, stepping between us. He placed his hands on our shoulders, pushing us side by side for a better look. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing us. "Hmm."

"What now?" Five asked, his tone heavy with irritation.

"I was thinking... twin sister," Klaus said with a grin.

"Twin sister?" Five echoed, confused and annoyed. "That's completely—"

"Hold on." Klaus stepped back and squinted at us as though evaluating artwork. "Nope. No resemblance. Not a single drop."

"Who cares?" Five said flatly. "Y/N's tagging along for safety reasons. That's it."

"Wait, wait," Klaus said, ignoring him entirely. "I've got it! She's your sister who we adopted from Russia!"

I tilted my head slightly, intrigued but silent.

"Russia?" Five said, exasperated.

"Yeah! It's perfect. Look at her—she's got that Russian vibe!"

Five rolled his eyes. "Right. Because nothing screams 'subtle' like a Russian agent wandering around with us. Great plan, Klaus."

Klaus blew a loud raspberry. "Please! She's adorable. A cute little Russian girl. Right, Y/N?" He turned to me, grinning expectantly.

In response, I straightened slightly and spoke fluently in Russian, my tone steady yet elegant:
"Россия — мой любимый язык. Играть в вашу историю будет честью."
(Russia is my favorite. Playing into your story will be an honor.)

Klaus gasped, his face lighting up with unrestrained delight. "She can speak it too? Oh, this is amazing!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands like a child discovering a new toy.

"She's an android, Klaus," Five replied, his tone sharp and unimpressed. "She can speak any language. It's basic programming."

"But it's so convincing!" Klaus said, gesturing to me dramatically. "I mean, that accent? Flawless. You've got a gift, Y/N. It's like I can hear the Motherland calling!"

I tilted my head slightly, processing his enthusiasm. "It is not a gift. It is simply an application of pre-installed linguistic protocols," I said plainly.

"Exactly my point," Five cut in, growing more irritable. "Can we focus? We don't have time for your theatrics."

"Oh, Five, relax," Klaus said, draping an arm over my shoulder as we walked. "You're always in such a rush to the finish line. Me? I like to enjoy the journey. And I'm enjoying this." He gestured vaguely at me. "Having our very own multilingual android sidekick is gold. Truly, you've outdone yourself."

"She's not a sidekick. She's my—" Five began, but Klaus interrupted him with a theatrical gasp.

"Wait. Can she do German? Say something in German!" Klaus turned to me, his eyes wide with anticipation.

I glanced briefly at Five, who sighed heavily and waved a hand dismissively. "Go ahead. Indulge him."

Switching seamlessly to German, I said, "Ich hoffe, du konzentrierst dich bald auf die Mission, Klaus."
(I hope you'll focus on the mission soon, Klaus.)

Klaus gasped, clapping his hands together in delight. "See? She gets it! We're practically unstoppable!"

"What a disturbing glimpse into that thing you call a brain," Five muttered, his tone dripping with disdain as he turned on his heel and strode away.

Klaus watching Five's retreating figure. "Don't make me put you in time out, little man," he called after him, pointing theatrically as though scolding a child.

Klaus leaned toward me, whispering, "He's secretly thrilled. He loves us, you know."

"Of course," I replied in my usual monotone. "It's only logical."

Klaus winked at me as we followed Five down the hall.

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

We arrived at the MeriTech building, its sleek, glass exterior glinting under the afternoon sun. The lobby was minimalistic, sterile—each detail calculated for efficiency. After navigating the pristine hallways, we entered a glass-walled conference room where the doctor sat, impeccably dressed and exuding a calculated calm. Five and I stood, the tension between us palpable, while Klaus slouched in a chair, smirking at the absurdity of the situation.

"Like I informed your son earlier," the doctor said, steepling his fingers, his voice devoid of any empathy, "any information about the prosthetics we manufacture is strictly confidential. Without the client's consent, I simply cannot assist you."

Five's jaw tightened, and his voice took on an edge as cold as steel. "Well, we can't get consent if you don't give us a name."

The doctor's eyes narrowed, but he maintained his composure. "That's not my problem," he said dismissively. "Now, I've already told you everything I can. Good day."

Klaus's eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned forward, his voice laced with mock indignation. "What about my consent?"

Both Five and I turned, confusion flickering in our expressions.

"Excuse me?" the doctor said, his brows furrowing.

"Who gave you permission..." Klaus's hand rose, pointing at Five, "to lay your hands on my son?" His voice dropped, eyes twinkling with a dangerous humor.

"What?" The doctor's confusion deepened as he glanced at Five, whose expression shifted from annoyance to guarded wariness.

"You heard me." Klaus's gaze flicked to me. "And don't think my daughter wasn't a witness."

I tilted my head slightly, my synthetic voice carrying no emotion as I spoke in Russian. "Здравствуйте." (Hello.)

The doctor's eyes widened as he processed my presence. Klaus spoke with a practiced nonchalance. "Adopted. From Russia."

With a deep sigh, the doctor replied, his voice tight, "With all due respect, I haven't touched your son."

"Oh, really?" Klaus said, his voice rising theatrically. He turned to Five, motioning toward him. "Then how did he get that swollen lip, then?"

The doctor frowned. "He doesn't have a swollen-"

Just before anyone could react, he swung his fist and punched Five square in the mouth.

Five stumbled slightly, his lip swelling almost instantly as he shot Klaus a death glare.

"I want it. A name, please. Now," Klaus demanded, leaning over the doctor's desk with an air of authority.

"You're insane!" the doctor exclaimed, pointing a shaking finger at Klaus.

"You have no idea," Klaus replied with a wide grin, his voice teetering between menace and amusement. He picked up a snow globe from the desk, examining it with exaggerated interest. "Oh, look at this. Peace on Earth," he read aloud, chuckling. "That's so sweet."

Without warning, Klaus smashed the snow globe against the edge of the desk, shards scattering everywhere. He winced, clutching his hand. "God, that hurt!"

The doctor scrambled for his office phone, clearly panicked. "I'm calling security!" he shouted, dialing frantically.

Before he could finish, I stepped forward, my movements calculated and precise. Gripping his wrist, I twisted it sharply, forcing him to drop the phone with a cry of pain.

"What are you—?" the doctor began, but his words were cut off as I grabbed the back of his head and slammed it against the desk. The impact sent a crack through the glass tabletop, the sound sharp and final.

"Дайте нам имя," I said, my voice cold and mechanical, each word precise and lethal. "Или я сломаю вашу руку, пока не останется ни одной кости целой." (Give us the name, or I'll snap your whole hand back until not a single bone is intact.)

The doctor began to shake visibly, his breath quick and shallow as he tried to process what I had said. His face was still pressed against the cracked glass table. "Wha—what did she say?" he stammered, clearly unnerved by my words in Russian.

Klaus leaned back casually in his chair, his grin wide and mischievous. "Well, I'm no expert in Russian," he said, gesturing dramatically, "but I'm pretty sure she just said that if you don't give us that name, she's gonna ship you back to her hometown in Russia and let her bodybuilder comrades make the best out of you."

I turned my head slowly to look at Klaus, the faintest glint of annoyance in my otherwise expressionless face. That was not at all what I had said.

The doctor's eyes widened in panic, his resolve crumbling further. Five gave me a brief nod, and I responded by twisting the doctor's arm a little more. He screamed, the sound echoing sharply in the quiet room.

"Okay! Okay!" he yelled, his voice breaking as he caved. "I'll give it to you!"

I tilted my head slightly, scanning his face with an unblinking gaze to confirm his sincerity. "Great," Klaus said, clapping his hands together with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Good teamwork, everyone. You can let go of the poor man now, Y/n."

At Klaus's words, I straightened, releasing the doctor's arm. But instead of gently stepping back, I grabbed his head with one hand and lifted him with ease. He yelled in pain and terror as I swung him toward the small bookshelf nearby, tossing him into it like a rag doll. The shelves collapsed under his weight, sending books and papers raining down on him as he groaned in agony.

I turned and stepped back to Five's side, my posture calm and mechanical once more. Five glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable.

The doctor struggled to his feet, his face a mixture of pain and fear as he stared at me. "Your daughter," he hissed at Klaus, panting, "is just as crazy as you are."

"Thank you!" Klaus replied cheerfully, clasping his hands over his chest as though he'd just been given the highest compliment.

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

The doctor was now at the front desk, nervously rifling through the folders to locate the name we demanded. Klaus had perched himself casually on the edge of the desk, swinging his legs slightly, while I stood silently next to Five, watching the doctor's every move.

As the doctor flipped through the files, I noticed his gaze shift toward me, his eyes hesitant and filled with unease. The moment I turned my head sharply to meet his stare, he jolted in surprise and quickly returned his focus to the folders, working faster this time.

Finally, after several tense seconds, he pulled out a folder and flipped it open. His brow furrowed as he read its contents. "Oh. That's... strange," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"What?" Five asked, his tone sharp and suspicious.

"Well, uh..." The doctor adjusted his glasses nervously. "According to the logs, the eye—this specific serial number—it hasn't been purchased by any client yet."

Klaus hopped off the desk, his carefree expression giving way to confusion. "What? What do you mean it hasn't been purchased?" he asked.

The doctor stammered, "Well, according to the records, it's... not possible. The logs say this eye hasn't even been manufactured yet."

"Bullshit," Five snapped. His eyes darted toward me. "Y/n, check the files."

I nodded silently and moved toward the desk.

"Hey, I don't think you can just—" the doctor began, stepping toward me as though to block my path. Without breaking stride, I turned my shoulder into him, nudging him firmly enough to push him aside. He stumbled slightly, raising his hands in surrender. "Okay, you know what. Fine. Have at it," he muttered, a trace of fear in his voice.

I stepped in front of the files and immediately began scanning.

Processing...

Scanning document one of eighty-seven... Serial number not found.
Scanning document two of eighty-seven... Serial number not found.
Scanning document three of eighty-seven...

The numbers and text from the pages flowed into my internal system, analyzed and cataloged with precision. My head tilted slightly as my processor continued its search.

Scanning...

Cross-referencing database...
Result: Serial number not found.

Page after page, file after file, I scanned them all. My internal voice rang cold and mechanical in my mind as the results remained the same.

Scan complete. Total documents scanned: eighty-seven.
Result: Serial number not present in any files.

I straightened, the subtle hum of my internal systems ceasing as the scan finished. I turned to Five, my tone calm and even as I spoke. "No record of the eye exists in the current files. All cross-references have failed to locate relevant data."

"Where did you get that eye?" the doctor stammered, his voice trembling as he looked at Five.

Five's jaw tightened, his frustration evident. He sighed sharply, his eyes narrowing before he turned on his heel and began walking out of the building. Without a word, I followed closely behind, with Klaus trailing lazily after us.

The elevator ride was silent, the tension between us thick in the confined space. Klaus occasionally glanced at me and Five, his usual playful smirk oddly muted. When the elevator reached the bottom floor, the doors slid open, and we stepped out, the cool air from the lobby hitting us as we exited the building.

Once we were outside, Five finally spoke. "Well, this is not good," he muttered, his tone clipped and heavy with irritation.

Klaus, ever unfazed, broke into a grin. "I was pretty good, though, right?" he said, gesturing dramatically. "'What about my consent, bitch?' And then Y/n, almost snapping that guy's arm like a toothpick." He chuckled at the memory.

Five shot him a cold glare. "Klaus, it doesn't matter."

Klaus raised his hands defensively. "What? What? What's the big deal with this eye, anyway?"

Five turned to him, his tone sharp and cutting. "There's someone out there who's going to lose an eye in the next seven days. That someone is going to bring about the end of life on Earth as we know it." His voice carried a weight that silenced Klaus momentarily. Five paced a few steps away, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

Klaus furrowed his brow for a moment, then shrugged, his grin returning. "Yeah, so... can I get that 20 bucks, like, now? Or what?"

Five froze and turned back to him, his expression blank. "Your 20 bucks?"

"Yeah, my 20 bucks," Klaus said matter-of-factly.

Five's eyes darkened. "The apocalypse is coming, and all you can think about is getting high?"

"Well, I'm also quite hungry," Klaus admitted, patting his stomach. "Tummy's a-rumblin'." He mimicked exaggerated groaning sounds, clearly unbothered by Five's growing anger.

"You're useless," Five snapped, his voice rising. "You're all useless!" He stormed up the front steps of the building and sat down heavily, his head in his hands, exhaling in frustration.

I remained standing nearby, quietly observing, while Klaus followed him with a lazy swagger. "Oh, come on, Five," Klaus said, plopping down on the steps beside him. "You need to lighten up, old man." He let out a low chuckle, tilting his head toward Five. "You know, I've just now realized why you're so uptight. You must be horny as hell."

Five glared at him, his jaw tightening, but Klaus only chuckled harder.

"All those years by yourself," Klaus continued, his tone taking on a faintly teasing lilt. "It's gotta screw with your head, being all alone like that."

Five's expression softened slightly, his eyes distant. "Well..." he began quietly. "I wasn't alone."

Klaus's curiosity piqued, and he leaned closer. "Oh? Pray tell."

Five hesitated for a moment before answering. "Her name was Dolores. We were together for over four years."

Klaus blinked, clearly not expecting this. "Four years? Oh, wow!" he said, his face breaking into a bemused smile. He let out a chuckle as if trying to process it. "Dolores? Well, I'll be damned."

I stood silently nearby, watching the exchange, the faint hum of activity on the city streets in the background. The air between them shifted, a mix of humor and something unspoken settling in as Five remained seated, lost in thought.

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

༻ FIVE'S POV༺

As I spoke about Dolores, recounting how I found her amidst the desolation of the apocalypse, the memories surged back like a tide I couldn't stop. She was all I had in the beginning—a mannequin in the ruins, silent and unchanging while the world around me decayed. Her presence kept me from completely unraveling.

"She was all I had when there was nothing else," I said quietly, staring past Klaus as if seeing the wreckage of that life again.

Klaus, predictably, didn't let the moment rest. "How long were you and Y/n a thing?" he asked, grinning like he'd hit a nerve. "And how's Dolores taking the breakup now that you've replaced her with a robot?"

I turned my gaze sharply to him, but then it shifted to Y/n, standing a few feet away. Always vigilant, always ready. "Me and Y/n?" I said, flat and certain. "We're nothing. We never were."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, his face twisting in genuine shock. "What? Really?"

I didn't answer. There was no need to.

He pressed further, unbothered. "How long has she been your... I don't know, your partner? User? Whatever you call it?"

I sighed. "Forty-seven years."

"Forty-seven years?" Klaus repeated, his grin returning as if this was the funniest thing he'd heard all day. "And no wires have been crossed? No sparks? No circuits tickled?"

"No," I snapped, the edge in my tone sharp. "Because she wasn't just some tool to me. She was my partner. My friend. She was everything I didn't deserve but had anyway."

Klaus let out a low chuckle, tapping my shoulder. "Quit lying to yourself, Grandpa. Look at her." He motioned lazily toward Y/n, his voice turning teasing and conspiratorial. "You think it's not weird that you were given a decent-looking robot—one who could do literally anything for you—and you've never even thought about it? Not once?"

I turned my head to her, my chest tightening as I followed his gaze. Y/n stood there like she always did, detached but aware, her eyes scanning the space around us for threats or details I'd missed. Ever watchful, ever ready.

My mind raced. It was true—our lives together had always been about work and survival, even before I lost her the first time. I'd never stopped to think about her—how she felt, what she wanted, or even if she had wants of her own. It was easier to see her as an extension of myself. A constant presence. A machine designed for precision, for perfection. For me.

But now, standing there, watching her through a lens I hadn't before, I realized something that hit me like a gut punch.

I'd taken her for granted.

Every time she patched me up after a mission, every time she ensured my briefcase was in my hand before I even thought to look for it, every time she stood by my side, unflinching and unyielding—I'd seen it as just another part of her programming. Her duty.

But what if it wasn't?

What if it was more?

What if, in her own way, she'd been choosing me all along, while I'd been too blinded by my own survival to see it?

I exhaled slowly, the weight of years settling on my shoulders. Klaus might be an idiot, but sometimes idiots ask the right questions.

"God, the longest I've been with someone was... I don't know, three weeks," Klaus started, his voice dragging as if this confession held some profound weight.

I barely glanced at him, already losing interest. But, predictably, he kept talking.

"And that was only because I was too tired to keep looking for a place to sleep." He chuckled to himself as if it were the punchline to a joke only he found funny. "Yeah, three weeks. Can you imagine? Three weeks!"

I didn't respond. I couldn't care less about Klaus's romantic misadventures—or lack thereof. His voice became background noise, blending into the city's chaos.

Without another word, I teleported.

One blink, and I was standing beside Y/n. Her head turned toward me sharply, her expression neutral but aware. Her eyes scanned me briefly, like she always did, as if making sure I was intact.

I grabbed her hand.

Another blink, and we were in the backseat of a moving taxi.

The driver jolted in his seat, his eyes snapping to the rearview mirror with a mixture of shock and fear. His mouth opened to say something, but I cut him off with a cold command.

"Don't stop. Just keep driving."

He hesitated, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter, but he nodded and kept going.

As the cab sped past the building, I caught sight of Klaus on the sidewalk, his arms flailing in exaggerated indignation. His voice carried through the city noise, loud and unmistakable.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey! What about my money?!"

I didn't bother responding. I smirked faintly as I saw Y/n lift her hand in a slow, deliberate wave, her movements smooth and mechanical, yet strangely satisfying.

Klaus's shouting faded into the distance as the taxi carried us away, leaving him behind.

I leaned back into the seat, my grip still firm on Y/n's hand, though I didn't acknowledge it. It wasn't about her needing reassurance. She never did.

But maybe, for once, I did.

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

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