AS KATERINA OPENED her eyes, the murmur of distant voices pulled her from sleep. Blinking away the last remnants of her dream, she pushed herself up and followed the sound down the dimly lit hallway. The voices led her to a room with a slightly ajar door. She hesitated for a moment before gently nudging it open.

"Five?" she called softly, her voice a little raspy from sleep.

Her eyes adjusted to the dim light inside the room, and she quickly scanned the space. Her gaze landed on Luther, rummaging through a pile of belongings, and—to her utter surprise—a monkey with a walking stick. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight.

The creature turned to her and spoke with a calm, almost soothing tone, "Hello, Miss Katerina. Only me and Master Luther here, sorry to disappoint."

Katerina's mouth opened as if to respond, but she was too stunned to form words. Before she could gather her thoughts, Luther's voice broke the silence.

"Katerina, this is Pogo. Pogo, well... you already know her." He turned back to his frantic searching without much further explanation.

Pogo offered her a polite smile, then returned his attention to Luther. Katerina was still processing the situation, her thoughts racing. Why does everyone in this house know my name? she wondered, still baffled by the strange turn of events.

"Like I said, Master Luther, Number Five hasn't lived in this room since he was a boy," Pogo said, his tone patient.

"Yeah, but I need to warn him. He doesn't even know we were attacked," Luther muttered, clearly frustrated. Katerina quietly mumbled to herself, So that explains the mess.

"He doesn't know they're looking for him, he doesn't know—" Luther's voice was cut off as Diego stormed into the room, his presence intense.

"What are you doing here?" Diego demanded, his tone stern as he glared at Luther and Pogo.

Luther hesitated, looking around as if searching for the right words. "Uh..." he sighed heavily, "do you know about Mom?"

Diego's expression faltered, and he broke eye contact, clearly affected by the mention of their mother. Katerina, still groggy and confused, tried to make sense of the situation. "Should I be here for this?" she asked, unsure, but no one seemed to pay her any mind, except for Pogo, who gave her a small, reassuring pat on the arm.

Diego's voice was bitter as he responded, "Well, it looks like you got what you wanted. One way or another, right?"

Luther ignored the jab and instead tried to redirect the conversation. "Wanna tell me what you're doing here?" he asked, his frustration growing.

"Looking for Five," Diego shot back without missing a beat.

"Oh, I know where—" Katerina began, only to be abruptly cut off by Luther. She rolled her eyes, exasperated, and slumped onto the edge of the bed, idly inspecting her palm out of sheer boredom.

"Let me guess, you're gonna save the day," Luther said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It's what I do, asshole," Diego replied, heading toward the door.

Luther couldn't resist a final retort. "Last I checked, you mopped floors."

Katerina shot Luther a bewildered look, her thoughts echoing the sentiment, What a prick. She sighed and decided to extract herself from the escalating tension. "Ooookay," she started awkwardly, "I am going to leave you to it." She swiftly walked out of the room, head down, hoping to avoid any more awkward encounters.

As she walked down the hall, the argument between Diego and Luther continued to intensify behind her. She shook her head, thinking to herself, No wonder Five ran away for fifty-something years.

She grabbed a towel from a nearby closet and headed to the nearest bathroom, eager to wash off the stress of the day. Even as she traversed the hall, Diego and Luther's voices echoed in the background. Katerina closed the bathroom door behind her and locked it with a firm click. She turned to the mirror and stared at her reflection.

What a mess, she thought, taking in her disheveled appearance. The shower's warm water was a welcome relief, washing away the grime and tension. After she finished, she dressed quickly, then caught her reflection again in the mirror. This time, her hands instinctively moved to fix her hair, and she found herself applying a bit of makeup, smoothing out her appearance.

But then she paused, snapping out of it. What do I care anyway? she thought, shaking her head at herself. She let out a small, ironic laugh before turning on her heel and leaving the bathroom.

As she stepped out into the hallway, she nearly collided with Diego and Luther, who were rushing toward her with an urgent look in their eyes.

"Come on, we need to find Five," Diego said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"I know where he is," Katerina replied, a bit irritated.

"Then why didn't you say something earlier?" Luther asked, clearly annoyed.

Katerina shot him an exasperated look. "Because you didn't listen to me," she replied dryly.

They moved quickly through the hallways and out to the lab's parking lot, where Five's van sat conspicuously.

"This is it, he's still here. This is Five's van," Luther said, his tone carrying a sense of urgency.

Katerina squinted at the van, unconvinced. "Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure about th—" she began, but Luther cut her off once again.

"Go, go," he urged, motioning for them to search the van.

While Diego and Luther struggled to open the left side of the van, Katerina calmly circled to the right. With a small smirk, she pulled out her pocket knife and picked the lock with ease. The door clicked open, and she climbed inside, giving Diego and Luther a pointed look as they continued to fumble outside.

"I'm One," Luther declared, shoving Diego aside as he clumsily climbed into the van. Diego shot him a withering glare before following him in through the side door.

Katerina bit back a sarcastic comment, opting instead to move to the back of the van with Diego. As they searched, she leaned over and whispered to him, "You know, for a guy named 'Number One,' he sure doesn't know how to open a damn van door."

Diego stifled a laugh, glancing at her with a hint of amusement. Luther, oblivious to the joke, turned around with a seriously offended look on his face.

"Keep searching," he muttered, clearly not in the mood for jokes.

All three of them continued to rummage through the van until Diego found a book buried beneath some clutter. He opened it and carefully examined the front page. His eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle, immediately capturing Katerina and Luther's attention.

"I know where to find Five," Diego announced, turning the book to show Luther.

He then tilted it toward Katerina, who nodded in understanding. The three exchanged a knowing look before simultaneously climbing out of the van.

•••

As the trio came to a halt in front of a large, imposing building, Katerina squinted at the sign. Argyle Public Library,she read aloud, her voice echoing slightly as they stepped inside. The library was grand—three sprawling floors filled with towering shelves of books, dust motes dancing in the beams of sunlight streaming through the high windows. The air smelled faintly of paper and old wood, the kind of stillness that made every whisper feel too loud.

"Let's split up," Luther suggested, already scanning the vast space.

Diego shot him a dry look. "Wow. Good thinking."

Without another word, the three dispersed. Katerina found herself drawn to the middle staircase, her boots clacking softly against the polished marble as she ascended to the first floor. She wove through the aisles, running her fingers along the spines of the books as she moved, the smooth leather and worn paper cool under her fingertips.

As she reached the psychology section, she paused. Her eyes caught sight of a familiar title nestled between the rows—"Memories, Dreams, Reflections" by Carl Jung. A small, nostalgic smile tugged at her lips as she pulled the book from the shelf, flipping it open to the first page. For a moment, she let herself linger, remembering the time when she'd once dreamed of becoming a psychologist.

"Well, that's too bad," she muttered under her breath, snapping herself out of it. With a sigh, she slipped the book back into place and continued her search.

After sweeping through the first and second floors with no luck, Katerina reached the top floor and bumped into Luther and Diego.

"Anything?" Luther asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Nope," Katerina and Diego said in unison, both sounding equally exasperated.

There was a brief pause, Katerina's eyes scanning the shelves, but her mind was elsewhere—on Five. She couldn't help but worry about him, despite his usual air of invincibility.

Diego broke the silence with a sigh. "You wanna know why I left?" he said suddenly, his tone unusually serious.

Luther turned to him, confused. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Why I left the academy," Diego clarified, a rare vulnerability creeping into his voice.

Before Luther could respond, Katerina rolled her eyes, clearly not in the mood for emotional baggage. "Don't start crying. We're here to look for Five, not rehash your pathetic childhoods."

Both brothers shot her annoyed looks, but when it became clear they weren't going to drop the topic, Katerina huffed and walked off to search the last corner of the floor. As she moved between the towering bookshelves, their voices faded into the background, but she paid them no mind.

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. Slumped in a shadowy corner, Five lay sprawled with one arm draped lazily over Delores, an empty bottle of whiskey beside him. His normally sharp, calculating features were softened by the haze of alcohol, and he looked almost peaceful in his stupor.

"Ugh, Five, what are you doing?" Katerina muttered, crouching beside him. She shook him gently, trying to wake him, but he only swatted her hand away without opening his eyes.

"Guys?" she called out, her voice carrying through the quiet floor.

Diego and Luther rushed over, coming to an abrupt halt when they saw the scene.

"Is he, um...?" Luther trailed off, unsure how to even finish the question.

"Drunk as a skunk," Diego said, crossing his arms.

Katerina shrugged, her lips quirking up in amusement. "Hey, we've all been there." She gave Five a light slap on the cheek and ruffled his hair. His eyes fluttered open halfway, squinting up at her.

"Come on, get up, you little genius," Katerina said, tilting her head at him.

Five groaned, his voice a drunken slur. "I... I'm conducting research. Very... scientific." He waved his free hand in the air, as if making a grand gesture.

Luther sighed, bending down to hoist Five up, the young-old man still clutching Delores tightly in his other arm. "Let's get him out of here."

As they exited the library, the cool night air hit them, a stark contrast to the warmth inside. The city's quiet streets stretched out before them, illuminated by dim streetlights.

"So," Katerina began, "this is how we're spending our night? Carrying a drunk, underaged apocalypse prophet who's holding onto a mannequin like it's his life partner? I thought I left high school for a reason."

Diego rolled his eyes, his lips twitching into a smirk. "Yeah, well, it's not like we had plans. What'd you expect? A candlelit dinner?"

Katerina snorted. "Honestly, anything would've been better. Maybe a little less babysitting and a little more not getting thrown into random fights or chased by masked killers."

"Don't forget the time travel," Diego added, wryly.

Luther groaned, "At least you're not the one carrying him."

"Hey, muscle man, maybe don't skip leg day next time if you're struggling with a guy half your size," Katerina teased, giving Luther a mocking glance.

"Ha ha," Luther deadpanned. "He's denser than he looks, alright?"

Katerina grinned, nudging Diego's arm playfully. "And look at Diego, always so calm under pressure. I swear, it's almost like you enjoy cleaning up everyone else's messes."

Diego smirked, not missing a beat. "Oh yeah, that's what I live for. Babysitting drunks, getting shot at, and saving the world one dysfunctional family at a time. It's a dream come true."

They all chuckled, the tension easing just a little, as they continued down the street. For a moment, Katerina glanced at Diego, catching the slight grin he tried to hide. She softened her tone. "You know... you're not so bad, you know that? You're a real 'team player,' despite all that lone-wolf tough-guy crap."

Diego raised an eyebrow, looking at her sideways. "Don't let it go to your head. I still think you're an annoying pain in the ass."

Katerina laughed. "Takes one to know one."

"Touché," Diego muttered, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a rare, genuine smile.

"Aw, look at this," she said, grinning wider. "A smile from the famously grumpy Diego Hargreeves. I feel honored."

"Don't push it," Diego warned, but there was no real bite to his words.

Luther glanced over at the two. "Wow, I must've missed something. You guys getting along now?"

Katerina shrugged, throwing a playful glance at Diego. "Well, he's still an ass, but it's growing on me. Like a... really stubborn fungus."

Diego chuckled, shaking his head. "You're not making this any easier."

"I'm not trying to." She bumped him lightly with her shoulder, the teasing tone softening as she continued, "But seriously, thanks. I mean it. I know we give each other a hard time, but you've had our backs this whole time. I see it."

Diego's smirk faltered for just a second, replaced by a flicker of something more sincere. He glanced away, trying to shrug off the compliment. "Yeah, well, someone has to keep you all alive. I'm just good at it."

Katerina smiled to herself, feeling a sense of camaraderie settle between them. It wasn't much, but it was something—a connection, however small, in this chaotic mess they found themselves in.

Five, who had been half-asleep the whole time, suddenly stirred. "If you're done bonding," he slurred, "I'd like to point out that the world is ending, and we've got bigger problems than feelings."

Diego rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, we've gotta survive the night first, Five."

"Besides," Katerina added, smirking, "you're too drunk to care about the apocalypse right now."

Five blinked blearily, glancing between them. "Good point. Carry on."

As they turned a corner, the conversation lulled, but the comfortable silence that followed felt different—less awkward, more... familiar. Katerina glanced sideways at Diego again, catching his eye for just a second.

She bumped him one more time, softer this time. "Thanks for letting me crash at your place, by the way. Not many people would offer up their couch to someone they've called 'annoying' about a hundred times."

Diego's smirk returned, and he gave her a sideways glance. "Well, mi casa es su casa, right? Besides, you've kind of grown on me."

Katerina chuckled. "Like a fungus?"

"Yeah, exactly," he said, a sarcastic grin spreading across his face.

"Wow," she quipped, "I'm really making progress with you."

Luther glanced between the two of them, shaking his head. "This is what I get for hanging out with Diego and his new sidekick."

"Sidekick?" Katerina shot back, incredulous. "I'm not a sidekick—I'm the brains of this operation. You two are just the muscle and the... slightly-less-muscle."

Diego snorted. "I'll take that."

Luther sighed, still shifting Five's weight as they walked. "You two are impossible."

"And yet, you love us," Katerina teased.

"Debatable," Luther muttered.

The three of them shared a small laugh as the night deepened around them, the city's shadows swallowing the streets ahead, but somehow, it didn't feel quite as daunting anymore.

Suddenly, Five stirred in Luther's arms. "If you puke on me..." Luther warned.

Katerina smirked, turning to look at Five. "Good morning, you little prick."

Five grinned drunkenly, his words slurred. "You know what's funny? I'm... I'm going through puberty. Again. Huh. Twice."

Katerina snorted. "Twice the fun."

Five chuckled, clearly amused with himself. "And I... I drank that whole bottle, didn't I?"

Silence fell as the streets grew darker, the city's shadowy corners stretching out before them.

"That's what you do when the world you love goes bye-bye," Five mumbled, waving his arm lazily while keeping his grip on Delores.

Katerina raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the mannequin. "I thought you were all about 'leaving the past behind'?"

Five sighed, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "Well, doesn't seem like I have time for that, does it?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Five asked, blinking at them.

"Two masked intruders attacked the Academy last night," Luther explained.

Five's bleary eyes turned to Katerina. "Did they hurt you?"

She shook her head, offering a small, reassuring smile.

"They came for you," Diego said, his voice stern. "So focus. What do they want?"

"Hazel and Cha-Cha," Five muttered.

"Who?" Diego asked, confused.

"You know I hate code names," Luther grumbled.

Five smirked. "The best of the best. Except for me, of course."

Katerina scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"What do they want, Five?" Diego pressed.

Five grinned, his drunken state fully taking over. "Delores always said she hated when I drank. She said it made me surly-"

"They want to kill Five, obviously," she said, exasperated.

Luther looked at her suspiciously. "And how do you know that?"

"Just a....hunch"

Diego wanted to say something before shrugging it off and turning his attention back to Five. "We just want to protect you."

Five scoffed. "Protect me? I don't need your protection, Diego. Do you know how many people I've killed?"

"No," Luther said simply.

"I'm the Four Frickin' Horsemen," Five muttered darkly, before promptly vomiting.

"Fantastic," Katerina mumbled, shaking her head.

•••

As they entered Diego's place, Katerina stopped in the doorway, her brow furrowing. "This is it?" she asked, glancing around.

They stepped into a dimly lit, run-down boxing gym, the scent of old leather and sweat lingering in the air. The place was cluttered with punching bags, weights, and scattered equipment, illuminated by the faint yellow glow of a few flickering lightbulbs. Faded posters of old fighters covered the walls, and the entire space had an atmosphere of hard work, grit, and forgotten dreams.

Diego led them down a narrow hallway to a set of stairs. "Follow me," he said, voice low. Katerina raised an eyebrow but followed him down the creaky staircase into the basement. His living quarters were surprisingly simple. A bed with rumpled sheets stood in the corner, a few scattered chairs, a small TV, and a punching bag hanging from the ceiling. A tiny kitchenette stood awkwardly to the side, as if no one ever really used it.

Luther gently set Five onto the bed, his body limp and still in a drunken stupor. Diego took Delores from Five's grasp and placed the mannequin delicately on a nearby chair, as if she were an honored guest. The two men stood there for a moment, looking down at the unconscious Five.

"Funny," Diego mused with a smirk, folding his arms. "If I didn't know he was such a prick, I'd say he looks almost adorable in his sleep."

Luther scratched his head. "Yeah, well, all that stuff he was saying before... what do you guys think he meant by that?" His voice was low, troubled.

Suddenly, a loud thumping noise echoed from the other side of the door, making Katerina jump. Diego's hand flew to his belt, instantly pulling out a knife, holding it up in warning. Katerina instinctively shuffled closer to Five, placing herself protectively between him and the door.

Diego jerked the door open, revealing a short man, clearly not impressed by Diego's theatrics.

"You throw another one of those goddamn knives at me, and I'm pressing charges!" He barked, pushing past Diego without waiting for an invitation.

Diego scowled. "What do you want, Al?"

"I ain't your secretary," Al snapped. "Some lady called for you—said she needs your help."

Diego's expression softened with curiosity. "What lady?"

"I dunno. Some, uh, detective. I think she said her name was... Blotch, or somethin'."

Diego's face brightened in an instant. "Patch?" he said, his demeanor completely changing. "She needs my help?"

Al huffed, clearly irritated. "Yeah, sure. She wants you to meet her at some dump on Calhoun."

"When?" Diego asked.

"A few hours ago. She said she found your brother." Al grumbled and waved off Diego's thanks, heading out the door.

Diego and Luther exchanged puzzled looks, their gazes flickering back to Five, who lay unconscious on the bed.

"Klaus," Katerina prompted. "She probably found Klaus. You two can go. I'll watch Five."

Diego hesitated, but after a brief exchange of glances with Luther, they both nodded. "We won't be long," Diego said, giving Katerina a lingering look before leaving.

As the door clicked shut, leaving them alone, Katerina let out a slow, steady breath and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her eyes drifted to Five, sprawled out and completely oblivious to the world. It was strange to see him like this—Five, who was usually so sharp, so quick, always in control of everything around him. Now, he looked... human. The tension in his face had melted away, his brow no longer furrowed in concentration or frustration. His features, usually marked with a constant edge of danger, softened in his sleep. For the first time since she'd met him, Five looked vulnerable, almost fragile.

She pulled the blanket from the foot of the bed, carefully draping it over him, tucking it around his shoulders. He stirred slightly, the movement causing his eyelids to flutter open. He blinked groggily, his eyes struggling to focus as he scanned his surroundings, before finally settling on Katerina. She was now standing by the table, absently twirling one of Diego's knives between her fingers, her posture casual, but her expression thoughtful.

Five's gaze lingered, something in him suddenly quieting. In his hazy, alcohol-soaked state, he found himself noticing things he hadn't before. The way her jawline caught the dim light from the hanging bulb overhead, the way her hair fell around her face in soft, loose strands. There was something striking about her, something magnetic that he hadn't allowed himself to really see. It was as if the edges of the world blurred, and all he could focus on was her.

His mind, usually sharp and calculating, stumbled as it tried to catch up with what his eyes were telling him: she was beautiful. Not in a distant, passing way, but in a way that seemed to tug at something deeper within him. For the first time, Five couldn't find the right words. He could only watch.

Sensing his gaze, Katerina turned her head, her eyes meeting his with a soft, unreadable expression. "You should sleep," she murmured, her tone gentle, but still laced with that familiar sarcasm. She leaned down slightly, closer to his level, watching him through her lashes.

Five blinked, still trying to process the way her voice seemed to echo in his foggy mind. He opened his mouth to respond, but his thoughts were slower than usual. "You're... so beautiful," he slurred, his words barely coherent, but undeniably honest. His green eyes, though unfocused, held a sincerity that was hard to ignore.

Katerina raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're drunk, Five," she said dryly, but there was a softness in her tone, a kind of affection that she didn't bother hiding.

"Maybe," he admitted, blinking lazily, his eyes never leaving her face. "But that doesn't mean I'm wrong."

She rolled her eyes, a light blush creeping up her neck despite herself. She tried to deflect with humor, hoping to shake the unexpected intimacy of the moment. "Sure, whatever you say, Romeo. I'll add 'drunk flattery' to your growing list of talents."

Five groaned softly, attempting to sit up, but his movements were clumsy. He swayed, and Katerina quickly reached out to steady him, her hand firm on his shoulder. He blinked, the sudden closeness between them making him pause. Their faces were only inches apart now, and neither of them moved. The air between them felt heavy, charged with something unsaid, something unnamed.

Five's eyes flicked over her face, lingering on her lips before drifting back to her eyes. Slowly, tentatively, he reached out, his hand brushing through her hair, his fingers tangling gently in the strands. Katerina froze, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down her spine. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or something else that made the moment feel so charged, but for a second, she didn't pull away.

He leaned in, their breaths mingling in the small space between them, his green eyes locked on hers. She could feel his breath, warm and slightly unsteady against her cheek, as if he were trying to steady himself, trying to make sense of whatever was happening between them.

Her hand shot up to grab his wrist, gently but firmly stopping him. "Five," she whispered, her voice low, steady, though her heart was racing. "You're drunk."

Five's hand lingered, his fingers still lightly tangled in her hair. He didn't pull away, and neither did she. The weight of the moment hung between them, thick and unyielding. His gaze never wavered, his green eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light, intense and captivating in a way that made her chest tighten.

Their faces edged closer, almost as if pulled by some invisible force, neither of them willing—or able—to break the tension. Their lips hovered, barely a breath apart. Katerina could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her pulse racing as the space between them disappeared.

But just as their lips were about to meet, Katerina smirked and turned her head, breaking the tension with a casual, teasing remark. "I'm not kissing a guy who's passed out drunk and in love with a mannequin," she quipped, her voice light, playful, though there was an underlying warmth in her tone.

Five blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion, as if the haze of the moment had suddenly lifted. He stared at her for a beat, then let out a low, genuine chuckle. "Always ruining the fun, aren't you?"

She shrugged, standing up from the bed and giving him a mockingly stern look. "Someone has to keep you in check, and clearly, Delores isn't doing it."

"You should sleep," she repeated, brushing off the moment as she started to move away. "I should leave you to it before you start serenading me or something."

But before she could fully step away, Five's voice called out, softer now, almost vulnerable. "No, Kat, wait." There was something in his tone that made her pause, made her turn back to face him. He looked up at her, his green eyes filled with something that tugged at her in a way she couldn't quite explain. "Stay here. Next to me," he said, the words quiet, but carrying a weight that made her hesitate.

She stood there for a moment, uncertain, her eyes locked on his. There was something in his gaze, something pleading, something she wasn't sure she could ignore.

"Please," he added, his voice almost a whisper, the vulnerability in his eyes impossible to miss.

Katerina sighed softly, then gave him a small, reluctant smile. "Fine," she said, her voice gentler now. "But you're sleeping on the edge of the bed," she warned, trying to maintain a semblance of distance, even as something inside her softened.

Five smiled—a real, genuine smile—and shifted over to make room for her. She lay down beside him, careful to keep a space between them, though the air still felt charged, still thick with the remnants of their earlier closeness.

For a while, they both lay there in silence, staring up at the ceiling, the only sound the steady rhythm of their breathing. After a few moments, Katerina turned on her side to face him, her voice quiet, thoughtful. "You really think there's no stopping this thing?" she asked, the question heavy with the weight of everything that had happened.

Five turned his head to look at her, his gaze intense but honest. "I don't know," he admitted quietly, his voice softer now, lacking the usual bravado. His eyes drifted from her eyes to her lips, the tension between them still palpable, though neither of them moved to close the gap.

Katerina sighed, running a hand through her hair, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "It just doesn't seem fair," she muttered. "We've been through all this, and it feels like no matter what we do, it's never enough. It's like we're always fighting, always trying to stop something that's... unstoppable." She paused, her voice growing softer. "And I just... I don't know if I can do it anymore."

She trailed off, realizing that Five's breathing had slowed, his head turned slightly toward her. His eyes were closed now, his expression peaceful, as if he had finally found a moment of rest amidst the chaos.

Katerina smiled softly, watching him for a moment longer, her heart aching with something she couldn't quite name. She stayed there for a few more seconds, just watching him sleep, before finally turning onto her back, her eyes closing as exhaustion finally claimed her.