The Silver Killer

Eight: Preparation

**The Sparrows come into this, and I literally just made them all up before the announcement of the real sparrows for s3, and have decided to keep their names, personalities, and powers as they are. These Sparrows are my own creation, apologies to anybody that read the comics and sees differences, and apologies to anybody in the future that may read this after s3 and spots differences :)**

The two of you stayed in the cafe, talking and getting to know each other better, until Max came over and interrupted your discussion about throwing knives.

"Wait, so it's true?" you persisted, downing the last of your coffee. Your eyes were wide with curiosity, and Five (weirdly) found it adorable. "Diego really can manipulate projectiles telepathically?"

You were the first person Five had ever met (besides Delores) that could put three words like that together in a sentence and still have it make sense. "He can, and he's a real asshole about it, too. Still," he added with a smirk, reaching up to scratch a scab that had formed after one of dozens of Sparrow Academy torture sessions, "He couldn't manage to save Kennedy."

At that, you laughed. A real laugh, too. You actually leaned back in your chair and laughed, and it was the most beautiful thing Five had ever-

No, stop that. She's your partner for one night. ONE NIGHT. Then you're done. You get the information she's willing to give you and you get back to your siblings. They need you.

Still, he couldn't help but think that your smile was infectious.

You were gazing at him with something almost like ... adoration?!?!? in your eyes. "You're a really interesting person, y'know that?" you murmured, and his heart suddenly seemed to stop in his chest.

Stop, that's not even a compliment. WHY ARE YOU BLUSHING?! You already knew you were an interesting person. Her saying it doesn't mean anything.

Thankfully, he was saved from responding when Max came over to your table, a dish towel slung over his shoulder. "Shop's closin'," he told you with a small smile.

You smiled kindly at him and shoved your laptop and paper bag into your backpack. "Thanks Max." Your eyes met Five's ice blue ones as the pair of you stood up and headed for the door.

Max smiled and followed you over. "See ya around, L/N."

You grinned at him as he held out his hand for fist bump. "See you around, Max," you replied, bumping his fist with your own before turning back to Five.

Your breath hitched in your throat at the sight. It was so dark. SO dark. Sure, there were street lamps providing meager, flickering, horror-movie-esque light, and some of the shops were just closing, but it was still a darkness you weren't used to. By this time, you were usually holed up in your basement, hunched over one of dozens of computers with some tea and maybe a couple of snacks, but that was it. The last time you were out like this was with ... .

You shook yourself before you could delve too deep into the memories, and realized Five was watching you curiously. "This way," you told him, taking a left, away from the streetlamps, away from the glowing shops, and away from the main road.

He'd better be prepared to fight. This side of town can't be good, not at this time of night.

Your scythe was tucked away, safe in your backpack, but too far away to grab if the pair of you were jumped.

It was only a short walk to where you'd mapped out an alleyway to pull on your cloak and have Five teleport you to the apartment, but it felt like ages. You weren't ashamed to admit that you were pressed close to Five the entire time, your heart thumping at an inhuman beat.