Chapter Text
Evander has been staring at the file so long his vision had blurred. No amount of blinking or rubbing at his eyes could get rid of the weariness that seeped into his bones. A loud sigh drew the attention of Five who was staring intently at the mess of papers on the table. “Tired?”
Evander let out a noncommittal hum and took off his glasses. He picked up a paper from the messy pile and held it farther from his face to read it. The words he’d been trying to comprehend for hours seemed to taunt him. They were the only people left , casting a dim light on the walls of the empty office. Evander shook his head and started to gather up some of the papers.
Five looked at him with distaste. “What are you doing?”
“Gathering the papers together. It’s pitch black outside and we’re getting no where with this. We can come back tomorrow with a fresh mind.”
Five scoffed and took the papers from his hand so he could spread them back out on the desk. “You can give up but I’m staying right here. I’m close to figuring it out.”
Evander grabbed his glasses from the table. “Suit yourself.” He mumbled and made his way back to his apartment, leaving Five to obsessively pour over the documents alone.
——
When he walked toward his desk he didn’t expect for Five to still be here. Five was pacing back and forth mumbling about who knows what. Coming closer he could see there were multiple empty cups scattered across the desk. Taking a peak inside he could see brown stains lining the bottom of the cup. He let out a loud sigh and started stacking the cups to throw in the trash. When he went to pick up the last one a firm grip on his wrist stopped him. When he looked up he finally got a moment to take in Five’s haggard appearance.
The bags under his eyes had become impossibly darker. His hair looked windswept and knotted. His white button up was rumpled and stained and if he focused enough he could feel light tremors racking his body.
When Five noticed him staring he let go immediately, as if he was burned. He picked up the cup and drank its remnants, grimacing at the fact it was now cold. He crumpled the cup, pushed it to Evander’s chest, and went back to pacing.
Evander rolled his eyes and threw away the empty cups. “Have you really been here all night?” He inquired
Five scoffed and glared at him as if to say “What do you think?”
Evander sighed once more. It was too early to deal with this. “Can you just calm down for a second.”
Five stopped pacing and Evander knew then he had fucked up.
“Calm down?!” He walked to Evander and grabbed him by his shoulders. “How am I supposed to calm down when I can’t even figure out this simple case! All the pieces of this stupidly convoluted puzzle are there but for some fucking reason I just can’t put them together!”
Evander removed Five’s hands from his shoulders gently. “Look I get you’re frustrated right now but I think you would feel a lot better if you had a decent meal and good nights rest. Now when was the last time you ate?”
Five crossed his arms over his chest and turned away.
Alright then. “How about we make a deal? If you come eat breakfast with me now I promise I won’t bother you and you can go back to whatever you were doing with the file.”
Five walked back to the file and began reorganizing the papers into some pattern only he would understand. “No.” He curtly stated.
Evander groaned with annoyance. “Come on! It’s just one measly meal.” Suddenly he got an idea. “The coffee is a lot better than whatever they serve here.”
Five stopped what he was doing and pondered for a moment. Then he grabbed the blazer that was hanging on the back of the chair. “Fine.”
Evander grinned and internally celebrated. He walked out the door, holding it open for Five and bowing dramatically. “After you your majesty.”
Five rolled his eyes and walked past him. Evander lead him down the winding road that lead to The Commission and into a small town.
“The walk is a bit far but it is totally worth it. The food there is to die for.”
“I don’t care. I’m just going for the coffee and leaving.”
After a few more minutes of walking in silence they finally reached their destination. Evander lead Five into a small diner. As soon as they walked in the scent of freshly made pancakes wafted through the air. The smell immediately made him nostalgic.
A middle aged woman with wavy brown hair that was cropped at the bottom of her face. “Well howdy there stranger!” She put down the coffee pot on a table and grabbed two menu’s, guiding them to a booth in the corner.
When they got seated she went to Evander and pinched his cheek fondly. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen you in here! How’ve you been?”
“Pretty good actually. I got promoted!”
She gasped and her smile widened even more. “Congratulations! Oh I’m so proud of you!”
A slight blush came to his face at the praise.
She turned to Five. “Well aren’t you a handsome fellow! I’m Ruby! It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?”
“Five.”
“How interesting! Is that a nickname?”
“No.”
Ruby didn’t stumble at Five’s rude tone and just pulled a pen and a notepad from her apron. “What can I get you boys started off with.”
“Coffee. Black.”
“Would you like some sugar and cream with that?”
“Just coffee.”
“Alrighty! And what about you Evander?”
Evander sent Five a look and gave Ruby an apologetic smile. “I’ll just take an orange juice please and thank you.”
“No problem! I’ll be back with those in a jiffy!”
Evander turned back to Five. “There’s no need to be rude.”
“How am I being rude by answering her?”
“It’s not because you answered. It’s the way you answered was mean.”
“Okay.” Five scoffed and looked out at the passing cars.
Evander felt his blood boil at his nonchalant attitude. Was it really that hard for this prick to be a decent human being? “What’s your deal?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. What’s your deal? You go around acting like a piece of shit to everyone you come into contact with and for what? I have tried being nothing but nice to you and all I get is insults thrown at me!”
Five stood up slamming his hands on the table.“Oh really?!”
Evander got up to face him. “Yes really!”
“I-”
Before Five could finish his sentence Ruby came back with their drinks. They both sat back down heavily. She took out her notepad again and clicked her pen. “Are you ready to order?”
Evander let out all the air trapped in his lungs. “Yes. We’ll both be having a Breakfast Special.”
“Would you like bacon or sausage with that?”
Evander glanced in Five’s direction. Five had his arms crossed again and was glaring daggers at the table. Evander decided it was best to just answer for him. “We’ll both have bacon.”
Ruby nodded and went back to the kitchen. As soon as she was gone Five grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to his face. “I don’t know who you think you are talking to me like that but I’ll say this once. I am not someone you want to fuck with. So I suggest staying in your lane and letting me do what I need to do.”
Five let go of him and sat back in his seat.
Evander exhaled warily. “You know I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?!”
“Because I was assigned to teach you how this works by The Handler herself. I know you know how important that is.”
Five refused to look at him.
Evander began tapping his fingers on the table. “Look I’m sorry for saying all those mean things about you. I was frustrated with the way you were acting and it just all sort of came out. I’ll try not to do it again.”
Five looked at him like had grown two heads. Genuinely shocked at the fact he had apologized. Evander didn’t feel like unpacking that at the moment so he just sipped on his orange juice.
Five, instead of sipping at his coffee carefully, chugged it. After he was finished he placed the mug heavily on the table and let out a breath.
“So how was it?” Evander asked eagerly.
“Like you said.”
Evander smirked at the response.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just glad you like it.”
Five let out a grunt and went back to looking out the window.
They only had to wait a moment more in companionable silence before their food got there. “Two breakfast specials for two handsome young men.” She also brought a coffee pot and refilled Five’s mug. “Enjoy your meal!”
The steam from the food fogged up his glasses and he pulled cloth from his breast pocket to wipe them off.
Five poked at the food warily.
Evander took note of this. “Don’t worry it’s not poisoned or anything.”
Five glowered and started cutting up the pancakes. He popped a piece into his mouth and started chewing mechanically.
“See? Not poisoned.”
Five didn’t even acknowledge his comment and started scarfing down his food.
Evander laughed “Slow down! You’re gonna choke!”
He went back to his own food and started pouring syrup on his pancakes. He noticed Five didn’t have any on his.
“You want some?”
Five shook his head violently and went back to eating.
“It wouldn’t hurt to add a little sweetness to your life.”
Five rolled his eyes and pushed his plate forward. Evander put a generous amount on his pancakes and let him have at it. After he added the syrup, Five ate with more vigor.
——
It didn’t take them long to finish. When Ruby handed them the check Evander paid with a five dollar bill.
“I can’t take this!”
“It’s really no problem.”
“Well I can’t argue with you. You boys have a lovely day!”
“You too Ruby!”
Ruby scrambled to another booth to help an old couple that was struggling.
As they amble out the bell rang once more.
Evander grins. “You really liked that food huh?”
Five scowled. “Shut up.”
Evander laughs.