I woke up, groggy and disoriented, blinking at the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The first thing I noticed was that I was in my room, lying in my bed, even though I distinctly remembered falling asleep on the couch. I sat up slowly, the sheets pooling around me, and tried to piece together how I'd gotten here. My first thought was that maybe my dad had carried me to bed, but then I shook my head. It didn't quite fit. Or maybe it was Lila? That seemed more likely, but then again, she had been pretty preoccupied with Diego last night. The thought of Five briefly crossed my mind, but I dismissed it just as quickly. There was no way he'd do something like that... right?

Sighing, I pushed the thought aside, deciding it didn't really matter. I climbed out of bed, heading to the bathroom to wash off the remnants of sleep and change out of yesterday's clothes. It was the weekend, which meant no school—a small blessing considering everything that was going on. I dried my hair and threw on a pair of loose pants, a nice white blouse, and my favorite socks before making my way downstairs.

As I entered the living room, the familiar smells of coffee and the low murmur of voices greeted me. My dad was in the kitchen, pouring coffees for everyone. On the couch, Lila was sitting next to Diego, who was shirtless and bandaged, looking much worse for wear. Five was sitting across from them, his expression as unreadable as ever.

I hesitated for a moment before deciding to sit next to Five. The room fell into an awkward silence as I made myself comfortable. I could feel the tension in the air.

"Morning," I said quietly, hoping to break the ice.

Five gave a small nod without looking at me, while my dad turned around with a tired smile. "Morning, sweetie. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, thanks," I replied, though I was still curious about how I'd ended up in my room. "Did you... carry me to my room last night?"

My dad looked puzzled. "No, I didn't. I was pretty out of it myself."

Lila chimed in with a smirk. "Wasn't me either. I was too busy making sure this one"—she pointed at Diego—"didn't bleed out on your couch."

I glanced at Five, who remained silent, and staring into the pile of papers in front of him as if deep in thought. The mystery of how I got to my room lingered, but I let it go for now. There were more pressing matters to focus on.

I sighed as I sat down, and Five turned to me, breaking the silence with an unexpected question. "How'd you sleep?"

I was taken aback. He wasn't exactly the "how's your night" kind of guy. "Oh, uh... great," I stammered, forcing a smile to make things less awkward.

"Nice," Five replied, glancing away just as awkwardly.

As I glanced at him, I noticed his neck was cut up, which I hadn't seen before. Concern crept in, and I couldn't help but ask, "What happened to your neck?"

"Nothing, just a normal family reaction," he replied, shrugging it off as though it was no big deal.

I raised an eyebrow, inspecting the wound more closely. "Looks pretty bad."

His tone shifted slightly, sharp but restrained. "Shouldn't you be worrying about your school or life instead of my neck?"

I pulled back a little, confused by his sudden defensiveness. "I'd rather worry about what looks like a fight with a shaver than my school life."

He scoffed, turning away briefly before facing me again. "The world is ending. I can't even imagine school right now."

"No, school is not on my mind," I admitted. "The boys there are jerks, and work is hard."

"Oh yeah, very hard," he muttered, clearly unimpressed.

I turned to him, my voice rising defensively. "Look, I may not have to deal with the world ending or saving your family, but I have things to deal with too."

"Like what?" he asked, a sarcastic smile forming, his dimples making an appearance.

"There's a boy at my school—a weirdo, actually—who won't leave me alone and keeps trying to make 'things work between us,'" I said, air-quoting the last part.

Five scoffed, his smirk widening. "Well, sounds like some serious teenage drama."

"Like you would know," I shot back, a hint of frustration in my voice.

"Well, I wouldn't let some dumbass like Daren walk all over me, if that's what you're getting at."

Oh, please, you can't even-" I froze, my mind racing. "How did you know his name was Daren?"

Before he could answer, my father's voice rang out from the kitchen, "Coffee's ready!"

Five cleared his throat, abruptly standing up to grab a cup of coffee. He avoided looking at me, and I was left sitting there, baffled and alone.

I watched him walk to the kitchen, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. What was he hiding? Why did he seem so preoccupied with my problems, and how did he know about Daren? The questions swirled in my mind as I sat there, trying to piece together the strange interactions and the secrets behind them. My father was walking over to me giving me my cup of coffee while I smiled and took it from his hand and took a sip, which taste the best I've ever had.

"So what you let just her go?" I heard Diego ask.

"Who?" I asked Diego, which he turned to me."

"Vanya. Are sister."

Five eventually came back to seat with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Well, Vanya had a lot of progress." Five said, pacing. "She'll come around. I know she will."

I watched as Diego's brows furrowed in confusion. "What about the guys that went after her?" he asked.

My confusion deepened. "Who's after your sister?" I asked, looking between Diego and Five.

"The Swedes?" Five answered just as my dad returned with more coffee. He handed a cup to Lila and Diego before heading back to the kitchen to tend to Sushi.

"Yeah, I mean, how do we know they don't come after her again?" Diego asked, his worry evident.

"We don't," Five said flatly. Lila and I exchanged glances, both of us thinking the same thing: this was far from over.

"Any idea who sent them?" I asked, hoping for some clarity.

"Oh, I have my suspicions," Five replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But right now, our priority is finding Dad and getting answers, because everything else depends on it."

He took a sip of his coffee and sat back down next to me as Diego continued.

"Which, for the record, I found him already—"

Five cut him off. "And then let him go, before we could have a meaningful conversation."

"He stabbed me," Diego said, his voice laced with bitterness.

I choked on my coffee, startled by the revelation. "Your own dad did that to you?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"Which I'm still surprised he did," Five said, his tone almost casual. "He waited this long, Diego. We've all had the urge too."

Lila and I exchanged a look before bursting into laughter at Five's dry humor.

"Good one," Lila said, extending her hand for a high five. Five ignored her and continued speaking, but I leaned over and slapped her hand, making her smile as she leaned back, satisfied.

"Good thing I know where Dad's going to be tonight," Five said, picking up a piece of paper from the table and handing it to Diego.

Diego examined the paper with curiosity. "Where did you get this?"

"Found it at his office while he was busy stabbing you," Five said nonchalantly. I couldn't help but chuckle at his matter-of-fact tone. Diego laughed sarcastically as he studied the paper.

"Looks like we have a lead," Diego said, his voice more hopeful. "Holy Hillenkoetter and the Consulate General of Mexico in Dallas cordially invite you to the gala," Diego read from the paper, drawing all our attention.

"Wait, did you say Hoyt Hillenkoetter?" My dad's voice shook, causing all of us to turn our heads toward him.

"What are you talking about, Dad?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Y/n, you— I—" he stuttered, clearly flustered. "I've told you this story once to put you to sleep about the Majestic Twelve when you were three." His face lit up with a nostalgic grin.

Five and I exchanged confused glances. I struggled to remember anything from when I was three years old. The whole thing seemed like a distant, hazy memory that I couldn't grasp.

"You know him?" Five asked, his tone skeptical.

"We should go," Lila interjected, shifting the focus. "Says there's gonna be a seafood tower."

I got up and walked over to Lila, sitting beside her as I listened. She nudged Diego, almost jostling his wound in the process, but she didn't seem to care.

"There's gonna be music, dancing, towers of food," I added, reading from the paper Lila was now holding. "Sounds magical, I want to go!"

"No, Hillenkoetter is... is one of the Majestic Twelve," my dad continued, his excitement fading into concern.

"Dad, this all just sounds like a made-up story now," I said, trying to process the information. His denial was immediate.

"The hell is the Majestic Twelve?" Five asked, clearly intrigued.

"It's a secret committee," my dad explained, walking over to his desk and rummaging through papers. "Uh, scientists, military, deep state. No one really knows what they do."

"Wait, so they're a government organization?" Diego asked, adjusting his position on the couch.

"A shadow government," my dad clarified. "Yeah, Kennedy was the first president to try to push them into the light, but these guys are not to be trifled with."

He cut himself off suddenly, remembering something. He hurried back to his desk, rifling through papers until he found a photo, which he showed to Five. Lila, Diego, and I leaned in to get a better look. The photo showed a group of men in suits gathered around a table, as if they were at a meeting.

"That's Hoyt, right there," Dad pointed to one of the men in the photo.

"I only count eleven," Lila said softly.

"Maybe they've only identified eleven so far," I suggested, still studying the picture.

"Who's the twelfth?" Diego asked, his gaze fixed on the photo. Five's eyes met Diego's, and both their faces showed a flicker of realization. Lila turned to me, a determined look on her face. "We're definitely going."

I couldn't help but smile. Maybe Lila was right—mixing up my normal life could be exciting. I returned her smile, but my father's next words made my excitement waver.

"Nope, Y/n, I'm sorry, but you're staying right here," Dad said firmly.

Lila and I exchanged incredulous looks. "What? Why?" I asked, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief.

"Why the bloody hell not!" Lila exclaimed.

"Sweetie, I understand you're excited, but this is dangerous. These men are not to be underestimated. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you."

I got up and walked over to him, my heart pounding. "Dad, please. I never get opportunities like this. You know I'll be careful. I promise I won't get into trouble."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Y/n, but it's too risky. I can't let you go."

I felt a lump in my throat. "But I can handle it. I know I can."

"No, Y/n," he said softly but firmly. "I can't risk it. You're staying here."

"Just like you couldn't risk me walking to the bus stop on my own. So you bought binoculars to watch me walk three blocks," I said, my frustration evident in my voice. Dad sighed, clearly recalling that memory.

Five and Diego exchanged looks, their faces reflecting a mix of curiosity.

"Dad, sometimes you need to trust me," I said, taking his hands in mine, trying to convey my earnestness.

Before he could respond, Five's voice cut through the tension. "I'll make sure she's okay."

Everyone turned to him, surprised by his unexpected offer.

"You will?" Dad asked, clearly taken aback.

"You will?" Lila and Diego both said with confusion.

"I'll keep an eye on her and we"ll bring her back here without a scratch," Five said firmly.

I turned back to my dad, hopeful. "See, I have Five and his brother there to look out for me. So... can I go?" I asked, trying to assure him that I would be in good hands.

Dad scrutinized Five for a moment, who maintained a serious, promising look. After a long sigh, Dad looked back at me and said, "I want you back here before ten."

I couldn't contain my excitement. A wide smile spread across my face as I hugged him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, Dad!" I said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

Dad hugged me back, his own smile showing through his concern. I pulled away, still grinning, and turned to Lila. "Time to bend into the part," Lila said, examining my outfit. "You look like my size."

I beamed and grabbed her hand eagerly. "I've got tons of options. Come on!" I led her to my room, closing the door behind us. We were already planning our outfits and getting excited for the gala.

Unbeknownst to me, as soon as the door clicked shut, Five's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. Seeing me so happy and excited, despite the chaos that surrounded us, brought him a sense of relief. He was glad to see that I was getting a moment of joy. With the world on the brink of disaster, at least there was a chance for some normalcy, and he would make sure I had this experience. After all, he had bigger concerns to address. As for now, he'd let me enjoy this brief escape before dealing with the more pressing issues ahead.

'———

I finished applying Lila's black eyeliner, carefully setting the brush down as she opened her eyes wide and made a face. "Make a normal face at least," I said with a teasing smile, trying to keep the atmosphere light as I went back to tidy up her makeup.

"Just don't poke my eyes out," Lila said, closing her eyes again with a hint of humor in her voice.

"This is fun," Lila said, genuinely enjoying the process.

"What's fun?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"This," she said, gesturing to the makeup tools and the array of clothes scattered around. "The fun girl stuff we're doing."

I smiled slightly. "Well, I haven't had much chance to do this kind of stuff, considering I'm mostly with my dad."

"Not your mother?" Lila asked, curious.

I finished the eyeliner and set the pencil down. "My mother died when I was very young," I said, a hint of sadness creeping into my voice.

Lila's eyes widened in sympathy. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make things gloomy."

"It's okay," I said, forcing a smile. "You didn't know."

Lila looked down, her voice soft. "My mom's gone too."

"Oh, really?" I asked, surprised.

Lila nodded, her expression distant. "Both my parents."

I felt a pang of sympathy. "I'm really sorry, Lila."

"It was years ago," she said, her tone wistful. "My mother now... well, she's not like every other mother."

"I'm sure she loves you and won't hurt you," I said, trying to offer some comfort as I opened my closet to pick out a dress.

"Yeah... she won't," Lila said softly, her gaze distant.

"Come on, let's pick out a dress," I said, attempting to steer us back to the excitement of getting ready. "Pick your poison."

I presented Lila with a variety of dress options from my closet. Each dress had its own style and color, and I watched as she picked through them.

Lila held up a dress with a thoughtful expression. "This one looks nice," she said, showing me a deep blue gown.

"Great choice," I said, grinning. I reached for another dress, a dark red number that had caught my eye. "I think I'm going to go with this one."

We began changing into our outfits, the process of dressing up and doing makeup creating a fun distraction from the heavier conversations we'd had. The room was filled with laughter and light chatter as we helped each other with zippers and adjusted our outfits.

"I can't believe we're actually going to this gala," Lila said as she adjusted her dress. "It feels like something out of a movie."

"I know, right?" I said, twirling in front of the mirror. "It's going to be so much fun. I've never been to anything like this before."

———

Lila and I finished getting dressed, carefully adjusting our heels before stepping out of my room. Diego and Five were waiting in the hallway. Diego looked sharp in a suit that I recognized as my father's, probably borrowed for the occasion. When our heels clicked on the floor, both Diego and Five turned to look at us. My dad, who had been smiling warmly, gave us a final approving look before heading back to his room to grab something.

As Five's eyes met mine, I felt a rush of warmth. Though he was still in his uniform, there was something different about him tonight. Maybe it was the soft smile he was giving me, or the way his usual stern demeanor seemed to soften. I felt my cheeks flush, but I couldn't help smiling back. His smile was genuine and surprisingly comforting.

I walked closer to him, our eyes locking, and he spoke softly, "You... look nice."

I looked down at my dress, my smile widening. "Thanks. You look... the same," I replied, trying to return the compliment. To my delight, his smile grew wider at my words. It was a nice change to see him like this, even if just for tonight.

My dad returned with a camera, and I beamed at him. "Let me get a picture of my beautiful girl," he said, his eyes sparkling with pride. I smoothed my dress and posed as he snapped the photo. The camera flashed, and the picture fell to the ground.

"Perfect. Can you get in?" my dad asked, turning to Five.

Five looked perplexed. "Oh, no, I'm fine," he said, trying to avoid the request.

"Please, it's only two seconds," my dad insisted.

"I'm not a picture guy," Five replied, still reluctant.

"Take the picture, Five," Diego said with a joking tone and a smirk. Five shot him an exasperated look, but Diego's smirk remained.

Lila nudged Five playfully. "Don't be a little turd. Take the picture."

With a sigh of resignation, Five stepped closer to me and stood beside me for the photo, putting his hand around my waist. My dad clicked the camera again, the flash momentarily blinding him.

"Okay, perfect," my dad said, satisfied as he looked at the picture. He walked closer to me, his gaze softening. "You look just like your mom, Y/n."

I smiled and hugged him tightly. "Bye, Dad," I said, pulling away.

As we headed toward the door, I grabbed Five's hand. "Let's go," I said, giving him a reassuring squeeze. My dad called out as we left, "Okay, have fun! Make sure she's safe!"

We stepped outside into the cool evening air. Five opened the car door for me, and I nodded in thanks as I slid into the back seat. He followed and took his place beside me, while Diego got behind the wheel. The car rolled smoothly through the city streets, and the excitement of the night ahead made me feel alive.

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