All four of us sat around a small, slightly wobbly table in the diner. The two Fives were seated directly across from each other, locked in an intense stare-down that felt like it could spark at any moment. Luther and I sat opposite each other, trying our best to avoid the tension radiating from the Fives. The atmosphere was thick with unease, and the only sound in the room was the faint clinking of my fingernail tapping against my soda glass. I was completely lost, unsure of what to do or say. My eyes drifted up and met Luther's across the table. He looked just as uncomfortable as I felt.

I subtly motioned my head toward the Fives, urging Luther to say something, anything, to break the silence. He gave me a small, resigned nod, then cleared his throat and forced a cheerful tone. "Well, this is nice, isn't it?" Luther began, trying to inject some levity into the situation. "The four of us, together like this?"

Without missing a beat, both Fives snapped in unison, their voices sharp and cutting. "No."

Luther flinched slightly, taken aback by their synchronized response. The older-looking Five—the one who was actually younger—turned his glare from the other Five to the rest of us. "Somebody explain to me how I'm sitting here, having a pint of Guinness with my younger self," he demanded, his tone icy and incredulous.

Five, the one I knew, corrected him in a measured voice. "Older, actually. I'm you, just fourteen days older."

The other Five scoffed, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "I have pubic hair smarter than you."

I couldn't help but wince in disgust at his crude remark, feeling a wave of secondhand embarrassment.

The younger-looking but older Five pressed on, his suspicion growing. "How is this possible?"

Five leaned forward slightly, ready to explain. "I can tell you. You see, one hour from now, on the grassy knoll, before the president arrives, you break your contract with the Commission. I already know all about it. You've spent years in the apocalypse, never worrying about our family. But today, you're going to change that. Today, you're going to attempt to time travel back to 2019. However, you're going to mess up the jump and end up in this... adolescent body, trapped forever."

The younger Five—the one who looked older—let out a small fart as he listened, causing me and Luther to exchange bewildered looks. It was such a strange, almost absurd moment in the midst of this bizarre encounter.

"Even if I were to believe you," the older Five said, his voice tinged with skepticism, "what am I supposed to do about it? Not jump?"

"No, no," Five said quickly, shaking his head. "I need you to jump. If you don't, I cease to exist. What I need you to do is jump correctly."

He leaned in, his tone earnest as he continued. "The first time, I got the calculations wrong. That's how I ended up in this body. But now, I know the correct calculations."

The older Five's eyes narrowed with a mix of curiosity and desperation. "What is it?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

Five hesitated for a moment before making his offer. "I'll gladly tell you—in exchange for the briefcase you're holding under the table."

Luther jumped in, trying to make the terms of the deal clear. "Yeah, yeah, so you go back to 2019 as planned, but this time with the right math, so you remain a full-grown man. In exchange, we get that briefcase that you no longer need," he said, his eyes darting between the two Fives.

"Timeline restored, paradox resolved. Everyone goes on existing happily ever after," Five finished, his voice carrying an almost hopeful tone.

The older-looking Five—the younger in reality—seemed to mull it over, his brow furrowed as he considered the offer. "That's quite a bit to take in," he finally said.

I felt the silence creeping in again and decided to break it before it became unbearable. "Well, what do you think?" I asked, my voice tentative as I addressed the older-looking Five.

He turned to me, his expression unreadable for a moment before he finally spoke. "I think—I need to piss," he said, his voice blunt as he stood up abruptly, taking the briefcase with him as he headed toward the bathroom.

The three of us left at the table exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to make of his sudden exit. I watched him walk away, disappearing into the bathroom, before turning my attention back to the others.

Luther, always trying to keep things light, grabbed a napkin and leaned over to dab at the sweat on Five's forehead. "Well, besides the flop sweat, I think that went pretty well, am I right?" he asked, his tone almost hopeful.

"If you mean that, sure, let's go with it," I replied, my voice tinged with doubt. Something about this whole situation didn't sit right with me, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Five, however, was less than convinced. He batted Luther's hand away, his expression hardening. "No, no, there's something... something doesn't feel right about this," he murmured, more to himself than to us.

"What doesn't?" I asked, my concern growing as I watched him.

"I don't trust him," Five whispered, his voice barely audible but carrying a weight that sent a chill down my spine.

Luther and I exchanged uneasy glances, the implications of his words hanging heavy in the air. "But he's you," Luther pointed out, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Exactly," Five replied, his voice flat, yet filled with a certainty that only deepened my sense of foreboding.

———

It was just the two of us now, me and Five, sitting in the booth with an uneasy silence between us. Five had sent Luther to the bathroom to make sure the other him didn't try to make a run for it. I took a sip of my soda, trying to calm my nerves, while Five tapped his fingers impatiently on the table, his eyes flicking toward the bathroom door every few seconds.

"Is it a bad time to say you look a little creepy?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Five's eyes snapped to mine, confusion written across his face. "What?"

"Not you—the other you," I clarified, nodding toward the bathroom. "He looks like a creep who watches kids play at the park for fun."

Five gave me a look, one of those classic Five looks that said I'd just insulted him on some deep, existential level. "You know that's still technically me," he pointed out, gesturing toward the bathroom door.

"I know," I said, shrugging, but the image was stuck in my head.

Five returned to tapping his drink, his agitation growing by the second. "Why aren't they out yet already?" he muttered, his voice tense.

"Maybe Luther's trying to talk him into giving us the briefcase," I suggested, hoping to calm him down. "You need to relax."

Five shook his head, his expression hardening. "Nope, no. You don't get it. He could try to convince Luther to help him."

"I'm sure Luther wouldn't do that to you," I said, rubbing his shoulder gently. "He wouldn't betray you."

"Maybe not Luther..." Five's voice trailed off, his gaze distant.

"What?" I asked, feeling a creeping sense of unease.

"Me. The other me," he clarified, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"The younger you," I repeated, trying to follow his line of thought. Five nodded, his jaw tightening.

"He would definitely try something, and trust me, I know myself better than I know myself. I would do anything to get the right math... even if it means killing someone," Five said, his voice low and serious.

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I turned to him, my heart pounding. "What? Are you saying he'll kill me?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.

"No, not kill," Five quickly corrected, squeezing my hand with both of his. "I'm saying he might use you as a pawn, try to manipulate you."

"I'm not following..." I admitted, my mind racing.

"It's like this, Y/n. I would want to get back to my family, yes, but I wouldn't want to give myself any chance of taking that briefcase. I brought you here, and that gives him a reason to make things more difficult for me," Five explained, his voice steady but urgent.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and my eyes widened. "Is he gonna kill me?" I asked again, my fear mounting as I pointed toward the bathroom.

Five shook his head and held my hand tighter, his gaze locking onto mine with fierce determination. "I'm not gonna let that happen, Y/n. Okay?" His voice was firm, filled with a protective resolve that made me feel safer, despite the situation.

I nodded, feeling a mixture of fear and trust battling inside me. "Okay," I whispered.

"I love you... I'm not gonna let him lay a finger on you, even if he is my younger self," Five said, his voice softening as he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. Our heads touched, and for a moment, the world outside of our small bubble seemed to disappear. I felt safe, but the worry of what might happen next lingered just beneath the surface.

"I love you too, Five," I whispered back, holding onto the comfort of his presence.

A few seconds later, we heard someone clear their throat, breaking the moment. I looked up to see Luther and the younger Five standing there, the tension still thick in the air. I let go of Five's hand, my gaze shifting to the other Five, who was staring at me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. I met his gaze, refusing to let him see how unnerved I felt.

"So, are we good?" my Five asked, his tone sharp as he stared himself down.

The younger Five broke his gaze from me and turned to his older self. "You got a deal. We gotta hurry. Kennedy's en route. Less than an hour until showtime."

Five scoffed, tilting his head slightly. "Why are you so anxious to get going all of a sudden?"

"Relax... you're getting paranoid," the younger Five said, scratching his neck in a way that seemed almost too casual.

"Oh, am I?" Five shot back, mimicking the motion, his eyes narrowing.

By now, it was painfully obvious that both Fives were suffering from paradox psychosis, their behaviors and mannerisms becoming more erratic and unsettling. The air between them felt charged, like a storm waiting to break.

As if on cue, both of them let out a small, almost synchronized fart, and Luther and I exchanged a glance that said it all—we needed to get out of there before things escalated any further.

"Okay! Let's go," Luther said, taking charge as he began to guide the older Five out of the diner. I stood up, and Five grabbed my hand, holding it tightly as we followed behind them.

As we walked out, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over. But with Five by my side, I knew we'd face whatever came next together.

———

I was walking side by side with Five, his hand tightly gripping mine as he roughly scratched his neck. I could see the signs of paradox psychosis worsening by the minute, his behavior becoming more erratic and unpredictable. Luther and the other Five were ahead of us by a few feet, deep in conversation, their voices too low for me to catch.

As we reached the top of the metal stairs, I noticed some passersby giving Five concerned looks. His sharp gaze snapped toward them, and before I could stop him, he hissed, "What are you looking at? See something funny?"

I was shocked by his outburst, and quickly flashed the people an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry," I murmured to them as they hurried away, clearly uncomfortable.

"You need to calm down, you know?" I told him, turning back to him with concern etched on my face.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine. You're fine! We're all fine!" he snapped, his tone sharp and defensive. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his movements agitated, while I just rolled my eyes, knowing better than to argue with him in this state.

As another man passed us, Five's anger flared up again. "Mind your business!" he screamed, causing the man to flinch and quicken his pace. "That's right, run away, or I'll give you something to run away from!" he yelled after him.

I scoffed softly, realizing there was no stopping him when he got like this. I noticed Luther and the other Five continuing to walk ahead, their heads close together as they talked. It was clear they were having a private conversation, but what gave it away was the other Five's constant glances back at me while he spoke to Luther.

"You wish you could pull off these shorts?" Five suddenly yelled at another random person, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"You pants are amazing, sir," I said to the passerby, trying to smooth things over and not make us seem even weirder to the people around us. I forced a smile, then turned back to Five. "Feel better after yelling that out loud?" I asked, trying to inject some humor into the situation.

"No," Five answered flatly, immediately letting out another fart and wiping his forehead again.

I sighed, noticing the other Five beginning to descend the metal stairs. As he moved ahead, Luther jogged back to us, his expression for some-what happy. He started to talk to Five, his voice low and soothing, trying to calm him down. I hung back, giving them space to talk, when I suddenly heard someone call my name.

I turned to see the other Five standing a short distance away, calling me over with a subtle gesture. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly glanced at Luther and my Five to see if they were watching. Once I was sure they weren't paying attention, I hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over to the other Five, curiosity and caution battling inside me as I tried to figure out what he wanted.

I jogged to catch up with the other Five, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. Five had warned me that his younger self might try to manipulate or even hurt me if it meant getting what he wanted. I wasn't sure what to expect, and the uncertainty gnawed at me as I fell into step beside him.

We walked in silence for a moment, the tension thick between us. I kept my eyes on the ground, my thoughts racing. Why had he called me over? What did he want from me? The silence was too much, so I decided to break it.

"You're the younger Five, huh?" I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper as I kept my gaze down.

"Yeah," he replied in a normal tone, as if this was just any other conversation.

"I'm Y/n—" I began, trying to introduce myself, but he cut me off before I could finish.

"Gussman. Y/n Gussman. Yeah, I know," he said, his tone indifferent, his eyes focused ahead as we walked. He didn't even glance my way.

I turned to him, confusion swirling in my mind. How the hell did he know my name? This Five hadn't met me until now. It was the older Five—the one who got stuck here with his family—who knew me. The one I had grown close to.

"You know me?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Know you?" he scoffed, finally turning his head to look at me. "How wouldn't I know you?" His eyes locked onto mine, and there was something unsettling in his gaze that made my stomach twist.

"I'm sorry... but, I don't know you. I mean, I do, but... but not this you. I know the other one," I stammered, my words tumbling out in a rush as I tried to explain.

He continued to stare at me, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, I felt like I was looking at a stranger—a version of Five who was familiar yet completely foreign to me. There was a darkness in his eyes, a calculating look that made me uneasy. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but I knew one thing for sure: this wasn't the Five I had come to trust.

"Trust me... I know a lot more than he does," the younger Five said, nodding his head toward where the older Five and Luther were walking behide of us.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "That's impossible. I mean... you're him, but not my him," I replied, struggling to wrap my mind around it. This was still Five, but he wasn't the same Five I'd grown to know and... love.

He glanced at me, and for a moment, I thought he might drop it, but then he said something that made my blood run cold.

"Y/n Gussman. Eighteen years old. Top student in your senior class, set to graduate this year. Father, Elliot Gussman. Your Favorite color, [F/C]. Favorite movie, [F/M]. Favorite milkshake flavor: strawberry, with extra whipped cream, and you always use a straw. It's always a must." He rattled off the details like he was reading from a file, his voice cold and detached.

I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. Everything he said was true—right down to the way I always had a straw with my milkshake. But how could he know all that? The other Five, my five didn't even know or learned these things over time, through conversations and shared moments. This Five had only just met me. How does he know these things?

I stared at him, completely shaken. "How... how do you know all that?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.

He met my gaze, and there was something unsettling in his eyes, something that made me feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff. "Like I said," he replied, his tone eerily calm, "I know a lot more than he does."

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising panic. This wasn't just some weird coincidence. This Five knew things about me that he shouldn't. And the way he was looking at me now, like he was trying to gauge my every move, made me feel like I was some kind of pawn in a game I didn't understand.

The younger Five's gaze darkened as he started to speak, his voice low and almost reverent. "When I was stuck in the apocalypse, it was just me and the end of the world. Nothing but ash, ruin, and silence. Then, the Handler found me, offered me a job at the Commission. I was desperate, so I took it. But even there, among the endless files and infinite timelines, I couldn't shake the emptiness I felt. So one day, I looked up my family on the Infinite Switchboard, wanting to see what happened to them, to find a glimpse of something familiar. And that's when I saw you. At first, it was just brief flashes—images of you popping up on the screen from time to time. You were younger then, but the more I saw, the more I knew... somehow, in a different timeline, you and I were lovers. The years passed, and I watched you grow, learned everything about you. Your favorite color, your quirks, even the way you always use a straw with your milkshake. It was like I knew you intimately, even though we'd never met. The more I watched, the more I became convinced that you were real, that you were meant to be with me. But I didn't want to believe it, didn't want to fall into that trap. I thought it was just a twisted fantasy. But then I came here, on a mission, and I saw you. And now... seeing you in person, it's like a dream come true. I had to see you before you leave." His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl, and I felt my blood turn to ice.

Leave? What does he mean by leave?

I was frozen in place, every word he spoke wrapping tighter around my throat. He wasn't just the Five I knew; he was something else, someone obsessed. Was he tricking me? Was he planning to take me back to his timeline, to make me his? The thought sent a wave of terror through me, and I realized that this Five, despite looking for his Y/n. But I'm not his.

"I'm the daddy here!" My Five's voice echoed behind me, cutting through the tense air. I spun around with the other Five, both of us startled by the outburst. My Five was yelling something in Luther's face, his frustration boiling over. Before I could react, the other Five swiftly grabbed my arm, turning me back to face him. His eyes were wide with a strange mix of urgency and emotion as he pressed a small folded note into my hand. "Don't open it until you know it's time," he whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

"What? What time?" I stammered, confused and a little scared.

"When you know it's time. He'll be there, and you'll give it to him," he repeated, his eyes misting over with a hint of sadness. It was as if he was battling with something deep inside, something that hurt.

"What?" I whispered again, the word barely leaving my lips as I tried to understand what he was saying. My heart pounded in my chest, anxiety prickling at my skin. This Five... was he playing games with me, or was this something real? Before I could ask anything else, his expression softened, and he whispered, "I love you, Y/n."

The words hit me like a cold wave, sending a shiver down my spine. It felt wrong, twisted, hearing him say that. This wasn't my Five, the one I had feelings for. This was a different version, a stranger with all the same memories but a completely different person underneath. My instincts screamed at me to get away, to get back to the Five I knew.

He nodded towards my Five and Luther, silently urging me to return to them. My mind was racing, a mix of fear and confusion clouding my thoughts. Without a word, I turned and ran back to my Five, trying to appear normal, though my hands trembled as I stuffed the note into my pocket. I felt the weight of it there, a reminder of the bizarre encounter I'd just had, and the unsettling reality that this Five might have plans for me I couldn't yet comprehend.

I rushed back to Five and Luther, leaving the other Five standing there with his cryptic words echoing in my mind. "Hey, what's going on here?" I asked, grabbing Five's shoulder, trying to ground myself in the familiar. Five looked at me, his gaze intense, but before he could say anything, the other Five called out, "Will you two quit grab-assing? We're here."

We all exchanged glances, and without a word, followed him. We ended up in a parking lot, surrounded by a white fence. The other Five was standing by it, assembling his weapon with a focus that made my stomach twist. Just then, as my thoughts drifted back to the strange encounter I had with the other Five, I heard a familiar sound—a fart.

"Flatulence. Stage four," Luther commented, a mix of concern and amusement in his voice.

"See? What's your plan now, bucko?" Five shot back in a fake cheery tone, only to let out a fart himself. Luther and I exchanged a look before Five waved it off, embarrassed. "That was just lunch, all right? Shut up," he muttered, walking off.

As we stood there, I glanced down at the note the other Five had slipped into my hand. It was small, barely noticeable, but it felt heavy with whatever secrets it held. He said I'd know when to open it. What does that even mean?

"What's that?" Luther asked, his voice low as he noticed me fiddling with the note.

"Uh... it's nothing," I replied quickly, trying to hide it, but Luther's eyes were sharp, flicking between the note and me.

"Did he give you that?" Luther asked in a whisper, pointing at my hand. I turned to look at my Five, who was standing a few feet away, sweating and on edge. Then I turned back to Luther and nodded.

"Yeah, he did," I admitted.

"What is it? What does it say?" Luther asked, curiosity all over his face.

"I don't know... He told me, 'You'll know when it's time to read it.' What does that even mean?" I said, feeling more confused than ever.

Luther raised an eyebrow, thinking it over. "Well, open it and find out," he suggested, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I can't," I said, shaking my head.

"Why not? What if it's something important, Y/n?" Luther pressed.

"And what if it's a trick?" I shot back, my voice a bit sharper. "I don't want to open it and make him think I'm going with him or something like that."

Luther's eyes widened in shock. "He wants you to go back to his timeline?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

"Yeah. But I'm not!" I whispered back fiercely, my heart pounding. The thought of leaving everything behind—the life I know, my dad, my friends—was too much.

Luther just stood there, silent for a moment before he asked something that hit me right in the gut. "Did Five tell you about coming back with us?"

"Yeah... but he did," I said softly, the weight of it all pressing down on me. I'd be leaving my home, my timeline, and there'd be no coming back. My dad... the thought of leaving him crushed me.

Luther nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Look, I'm just Five's brother, but... just know he cares about you and loves you."

I nodded, the truth of that sinking in, even if it made everything harder. "But if he really loves you, he'll understand when you make your final choice," Luther added gently.

His words brought a small smile to my face, and before I knew it, I was hugging him. He was so much taller and broader than me, but he hugged me back, patting my back reassuringly. "Thanks, Luther," I whispered into his chest.

"Anytime, Y/n," he replied, his voice warm and sincere. I pulled back and we shared a smile, the moment grounding me a little, even as the weight of that note still lingered in my pocket, waiting.

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