We arrived at the gala, and excitement buzzed in the air as we slipped through the grand entrance. The venue was nothing short of spectacular—opulent drapes, a sparkling chandelier, and elegantly dressed guests mingling with glasses of champagne. We crouched behind a small wall near the entrance, taking in the scene.

"Okay, let's move," Diego said in a low voice, hopping over the wall with practiced ease. He crouched next to a nearby car, scanning the area. Lila followed quickly, and Five helped me over the wall before us joining them by the vehicle. We kept low, trying to stay out of sight.

"So what's the plan?" Lila asked, her voice barely a whisper as Diego peered over the car to see the entrance.

"We infiltrate, we identify, we extract. Double time," Diego replied, his tone serious. I nodded along, though his words were a bit unclear to me.

"What the hell is he talking about?" Lila whispered to me, clearly puzzled.

"No clue," I whispered back, trying to keep my voice steady.

Diego glanced back at us. "Find the old man and get out fast."

"Could've worded it better," I said, trying to sound more clear than I felt. Diego led the way, and Five placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Follow Diego, I'll be behind you, alright?" Five said, his voice low but firm.

I nodded as me and Diego are the first to make it to the entrance, and as Lila and Five joined us, we moved toward the entrance. Inside, the gala was a feast for the senses. Guests mingled in elegant suits and glamorous gowns, their laughter and conversation creating a lively backdrop. Men with trays of champagne floated through the crowd, and the soft strains of a string quartet filled the air.

I was awestruck by the grandeur. The chandelier overhead cast a warm, golden light over everything. I spotted a dance floor where couples glided gracefully, adding a touch of magic to the evening. For a moment, I was lost in the beauty of it all, but I quickly refocused on our mission.

As I scanned the room, I noticed Five had slipped away and was now making his way back to us from a different direction. "Where'd you go?" I asked him as he rejoined us.

"Nowhere," he said with a vague smile. I chose not to press further and turned back to the crowd.

"I don't see Dad anywhere," Diego said, his eyes sweeping over the room.

"Just keep an eye out for the Majestic Twelve. Me and Y/n will check upstairs," Five said, his gaze sharp and focused.

"You're taking her? I thought Diego and I were watching her?" Lila asked, her surprise evident.

"I promised her dad I'd keep her safe. I intend to do just that. Is that alright with you, Lila?" Five replied, his tone calm but insistent.

Lila hesitated but then nodded, turning back to survey the crowd.

"Oh, Diego," Five said, catching Diego's attention. "Try not to do anything stupid."

Diego shot him a playful glare, but his smile showed he wasn't offended. Five then took my hand, and we started making our way through the crowd.

———

Five had my hand as we wove through the crowd, the energy of the gala swirling around us like a tangible force. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and awe at everything—the dazzling gowns, the low murmur of elegant conversation, the gentle clink of champagne glasses. It was like stepping into another world, and I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips.

As we neared the edge of the dance floor, Five suddenly slowed down, his eyes scanning the room. "What's wrong? Shouldn't we head upstairs?" I asked, a little confused by the sudden change in pace.

"Yeah, but... I thought we could wait a bit. It's too soon. Don't want to draw attention to ourselves," Five replied, his tone calm, though his eyes were still darting around, ever vigilant.

"Oh, okay. Should we wait downstairs then?" I asked, looking around at the elegant décor, the chandeliers casting a warm glow over the room.

"Yeah,  sounds like a good idea," Five responded, though he seemed distant, as if his mind was already calculating the next move.

I was about to say something else when a familiar melody reached my ears, and I froze for a second, the sound wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley. My heart fluttered, and a smile spread across my face before I even realized it.

"They're playing my favorite song," I said softly, unable to keep the happiness out of my voice.

Five turned his head toward me, his expression softening as he caught the look on my face. "Really? This song?"

"Yeah," I nodded, still smiling. "It's my favorite. I always sing it to myself whenever I hear it."

He studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering on my face. Then, to my surprise, he asked, "Do you want to dance?"

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat as I processed his question. "You want to dance?"

Five gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug, but there was a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Why not? It's your favorite song, and we're here. Might as well enjoy the moment, right?"

I stared at him for a second longer, then felt a smile spread across my face as I slipped my hand into his. "I'd love that."

His smile widened just a bit, and he gently led me to the center of the dance floor. I could feel a rush of nerves and excitement building in my chest as we moved into position. Slowly, I placed my hands around his neck, feeling the cool fabric of his uniform under my fingers. His hands settled gently on my waist, and for a moment, it was just the two of us in the room, the world around us fading into the background.

As we began to sway to the music, I couldn't help but look down at my feet, nervous about accidentally stepping on his shoes. "When you dance with someone, you're supposed to look at your partner," Five said softly, his voice carrying a teasing note.

I looked up, meeting his eyes with a sheepish smile. "It's my first dance, so cut me some slack," I replied, feeling a little self-conscious.

Five's eyes softened, and he chuckled lightly. "I find that hard to believe. A girl like you, never having danced before?"

I blushed slightly, shrugging. "I guess I've just never had the right partner."

He held my gaze for a moment longer, and I could feel something unspoken passing between us. His green eyes were mesmerizing, pulling me in deeper with each passing second. The way he looked at me—like I was the only person in the room—made my heart race.

The music wrapped around us, the lyrics filling the space between us. *Take my hand, take my whole life too...* The words seemed to take on a new meaning as we swayed together, the gentle rhythm guiding our movements. It felt like the entire world had stopped spinning, like this moment was something out of a dream.

As we continued to dance, I felt a warmth spreading through me, the kind that made me want to stay in this moment forever. Five's grip on my waist was firm but gentle, grounding me in a way that felt safe and secure. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so at ease, so content.

His eyes never left mine, and I found myself getting lost in their depths, the world around us fading away until it was just the two of us, swaying to the music. I didn't want the song to end. The thought of letting go of him, of breaking this connection, made my chest tighten.

"You know," Five's voice broke through my thoughts, soft and steady, "I've always been alone. But moments like this... they remind me that maybe, just maybe, it's nice to have someone to share them with."

His words took me by surprise, and I felt a warmth bloom in my chest. "I'm glad I get to share this moment with you," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Me too."

The music swelled, and for a moment, I felt like I was floating. Our faces were close now, so close that I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and steady. The distance between us seemed to shrink with every second, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. I could see every detail of his face, every freckle, every line, and I found myself wondering what it would be like to close the gap between us, to press my lips to his.

But just as the thought crossed my mind, the song began to fade, the last notes hanging in the air before being replaced by the sound of applause. We both blinked, the spell breaking as reality seeped back in. Reluctantly, we stepped back from each other, our hands slowly letting go.

"Thank you," I said softly, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me—excitement, warmth, and something else I couldn't quite name.

Five nodded, his expression unreadable, though there was a lingering softness in his eyes. "Anytime," he replied, his voice just as soft.

We lingered for a moment, neither of us wanting to break the connection, but knowing we had to. The mission wasn't over, and the night still held its secrets. But even as we turned to leave the dance floor, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between us, something deep and unspoken.

"We should head upstairs now," Five said, his voice steady but with a hint of urgency. I quickly nodded, feeling the gravity of the situation settle in, and without another word, he grabbed my hand, leading us swiftly up the grand staircase. We moved as quietly as we could, making sure no one noticed us as we ascended.

As we reached the top, I spotted a group of men heading our way. Their stern expressions and the way they moved in sync told me all I needed to know—they were the Majestic Twelve. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively pulled Five toward the nearest room, pushing us both inside just in time to avoid being seen.

We pressed our backs against the wall, holding our breath as the men walked past. Once the coast was clear, Five cautiously opened the door and peeked out, watching the men until they disappeared into another room, closing the door behind them.

"They're in," Five whispered, his voice low. He then turned to me, his expression serious. "Close your eyes. This might make you sick."

"Wait, what?" I asked, my confusion obvious, but before I could get any real answers, I felt that strange sensation again—like my stomach was turning inside out—as Five blinked us into the dark closet within the room where the Majestic Twelve had gathered.

"God, I think I'm gonna barf," I whispered, trying to keep my voice down as I covered my mouth, feeling a wave of nausea wash over me. The world felt like it was spinning, but Five quickly pressed his hand over mine, silencing me with a finger to his lips. The seriousness in his eyes made my heart pound even faster.

We turned to look through the gaps in the closet door, and I could barely make out the figures of the men as they talked, their voices carrying through the small space we occupied.

"The president is continuing to make inquiries into Roswell and the other crash sites, gentlemen," one of the men said, his tone matter-of-fact but with an underlying tension.

"And, as you know, we cannot allow him to get his nose into our business," another voice added, cold and decisive.

I strained to see through the cracks, noticing a man wipe a monocle before bringing it to his eye. My breath caught in my throat as I realized who it was. The man we had been searching for. The one Five had been desperate to find.

"I've confirmed the motorcade will indeed be turning left on Elm Street. We'll have our people in place," the monocle-wearing man continued, his voice carrying an eerie calmness as he spoke.

I felt Five tense beside me, his body stiffening as the man continued to speak. "Gentlemen, this plan of yours seems ill-timed."

"Dad," Five mumbled under his breath, the word barely audible but filled with so much emotion that it cut through the air like a knife.

I shifted uncomfortably, my heart racing as I tried to process what was happening. The realization hit me hard—this was Five's father, the very man he and Diego had been searching for. And now, here we were, hidden in a closet, listening to him discuss something that could change history.

But then I made a mistake. In my panic and fear, I moved too much, bumping into something in the closet with us. The sound was slight, but it was enough. My heart froze as I saw the man with the monocle turn his head sharply, his gaze locking onto the closet.

My mind went blank with terror. We were dead. There was no way we could get out of this. Why did I have to move? I clutched Five's hand tightly, fear gripping me as the man reached for a long rod by the fireplace and began advancing toward the closet.

Before I could even process what was happening, Five's grip on my hand tightened, and in the blink of an eye, we were gone—transported out of the room.

"Crap, I'm sorry, Five. I just freaked out—" I began, my voice shaky as the adrenaline still coursed through me.

But before I could finish, Five placed his hands on my shoulders, grounding me with his touch. "Hey, it's alright. We got the information we need," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

I sighed, nodding in agreement. The tension in my chest eased slightly, knowing that we had managed to escape without being caught. We were about to turn and leave the hallway when something—or rather, someone—caught our attention.

Standing at the by us of the hall was a man dressed as one of the waiters, his slicked-back hair and sharp gaze unmistakable. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze in place, my eyes widening in recognition. Five stiffened beside me, and I could feel the air grow tense between us.

We both knew who it was.

"Shit—" Five muttered under his breath, his tone filled with both frustration and alarm.

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