THE VAN WAS quiet except for the faint hum of the engine and the rhythmic tapping of Katerina's fingers on the dashboard. She was trying to process everything that had happened, but her curiosity kept drifting back to Delores. Five sat next to her, staring straight ahead, his posture rigid and tense. Finally, Katerina couldn't take it anymore.

"So," Katerina started "what's the deal with Delores? You two planning a big wedding, or are you more of a 'friends with benefits' kind of couple?"

Five's jaw tightened slightly, the muscle in his cheek ticking, but he kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, ignoring her bait. "She's none of your business," he responded curtly, his tone flat and dismissive.

Katerina leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms, studying him. She was used to his stoic responses, but this one felt different—more defensive. "Wow," she said, tilting her head to the side, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Didn't expect you to be so touchy about a mannequin. I mean, what, did she break your heart or something?"

Five's hands clenched into fists on his lap, but he still didn't look at her. "I said, drop it."

Katerina blinked at the sharpness in his voice, her smirk fading slightly. She wasn't expecting that. The van filled with a heavy, awkward silence, the tension between them thickening the air. Katerina stared out the window, biting her lip, the realization of how deeply connected Five still was to his past hitting her harder than she wanted to admit.

After a few moments, Katerina broke the silence again, her voice softer, almost contemplative. "You know... maybe it's time to leave those apocalypse connections behind, Five. That life... it's over."

Five finally turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at her. "You think it's that simple?" he asked, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You think I can just walk away from everything I've seen, everything I've done? From everything I lost?"

Katerina didn't answer immediately. She didn't see that side of him often, and it made her choose her next words carefully. "No," she admitted, "I don't think it's simple. I know it's not. But I also know that carrying all that weight around—holding on to every piece of the life you had—won't do you any good in the end."

Five snorted, turning back to face the windshield, his expression hardening again. "What do you know about it, Katerina? You haven't seen what I've seen. You haven't lived through the hell I've lived through."

Katerina's gaze softened, her usual sarcasm replaced with something almost empathetic. "You're right, I haven't. But I do know what it's like to carry something you shouldn't. I know what it's like to hold onto things because you think you need them to survive. But sometimes..." she trailed off, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "sometimes, it's those things that end up destroying you."

Her words lingered in the air, and Five found himself thinking them over, despite his instinct to dismiss them. He was quiet for a long moment, staring out at the night.

Maybe she's right, he thought, though the idea of letting go scared him more than he cared to admit. Maybe clinging to Delores and the memories she represents is just another way of keeping myself trapped in the past. But what did it mean to let go? Could he really move on without losing a part of himself? He shook his head slightly, trying to push the thoughts away, but they kept creeping back, persistent and unsettling.

Katerina, sensing the shift in his mood, decided to give him some space. She sighed softly, then opened the door and stepped out of the van, craving the cold night air and the comfort of a cigarette.

Inside the van, Five sat in silence, his gaze now focused on the space where Delores sat. He reached for the bottle of liquor, holding it in his hand for a moment, but then set it down untouched. She's right, he realized, even as the thought made him bristle. I need to let go. His hand moved to the zipper of the green army bag, his fingers lingering on it for a moment before he took a deep breath and zipped it up, enclosing Delores inside.

When Katerina finally climbed back into the van, she immediately noticed that Delores was gone, zipped away out of sight. She glanced at Five, a small smile tugging at her lips, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she just leaned back in her seat, the last remnants of smoke escaping through the cracked window.

Five kept his gaze straight ahead, his expression unreadable, but Katerina's eyes drifted toward him, studying him in the dim light. How is he so maddening? she wondered, her thoughts chasing themselves in circles. One minute, he's the coldest person I've ever met, and the next, he's saving my life without a second thought. She couldn't quite figure him out, and the more she tried, the more it bothered her. And why did he help me so quickly? The question nagged at her, but she shook her head, pushing it aside.

"So..." Katerina began, awkwardly trying to break the silence, "which one of the bunch is your favorite sibling?"

Five's expression softened just a touch, and he answered without hesitation, "Vanya. She was... different. Quiet, kind of shy. We were close when we were kids. She never really fit in with the rest of them—hell, neither did I. But she was my friend. The only one who ever really understood me."

Katerina listened, surprised by the rare glimpse of vulnerability. There was something almost endearing in the way he spoke about Vanya, a tenderness she hadn't expected.

As the silence settled between them again, Five turned the conversation back to her. "What about you? Which one of my dysfunctional siblings do you think is the most likable?"

Katerina snorted, a grin tugging at her lips. "Klaus, definitely. The guy's a trip. I mean, he's the only one of you who knows how to have a good time. Plus, he's my smoke buddy."

Five raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Why do you bother smoking, anyway? It's not exactly a good look on you, you know."

Katerina shrugged. "Started when I was sixteen. My brother got sick—real sick. I needed something to calm my nerves, and cigarettes were cheap." She paused, her tone softening as the memories flooded back. "It just... stuck."

Five glanced at her, a rare hint of empathy in his eyes. "You should quit," he said, his tone casual but somehow hitting harder than she expected. "When your powers start to wear out, it'll wrinkle your pretty face."

Katerina blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. "Well, color me shocked," she said, clearly pleased despite herself. "Tell you what—if you stop the apocalypse, I'll stop smoking. Deal?"

Five smirked, holding out his hand. "Deal."

They shook hands, the gesture lingering longer than either of them intended. As their fingers interlaced, they both felt the unspoken tension between them—an echo of the previous night's incident. When they finally realized they were still holding on, they quickly let go, both brushing it off with a half-hearted shrug.

•••

As the night deepened, Five's sharp eyes caught movement near the prosthetics lab. He squinted, focusing on a figure slipping out of the building with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

"There's our guy," he said, his tone suddenly all business.

Katerina leaned forward, spotting the man as well. "Finally. Thought I was going to die of boredom before he showed up."

They both watched as Dr. Biggs approached a car that had pulled up to the curb, exchanging the duffel bag for a small package. The car sped off immediately, and Dr. Biggs cast a quick glance around before heading towards his own vehicle.

"What is he doing?" Five muttered, more to himself than to Katerina. She didn't respond, too focused on the doctor's every move.

As Dr. Biggs got into his car, Five grabbed Katerina's arm, and with a sharp pop, blinked them both out of the van and behind a nearby bush. The sudden shift made Katerina stumble, a wave of nausea washing over her.

"I'm gonna throw up," she groaned, clutching her stomach.

"You'll get used to it," Five replied flatly, his focus already back on the doctor.

Katerina, trying to distract herself from the dizziness, couldn't resist a final dig. "What about Delores? You gonna leave her all alone in the dark, gloomy van?"

Five shot her a sharp look, clearly not in the mood. But he didn't take the bait, his attention snapping back to Dr. Biggs, who was starting his engine.

"She can wait," Five muttered, his eyes glued to the car pulling out of the parking spot.

As Dr. Biggs' car pulled away, its taillights fading into the distance, Five's eyes narrowed with determination. "Come on," he muttered, his voice low and urgent. "We have to follow him."

Without waiting for a response, Five dashed out from behind the bush, his legs pumping hard as he sprinted after the car. Katerina followed close behind, her breath coming in quick, sharp bursts as they raced down the dimly lit street. The night air was thick and heavy, making each step feel like it was through water. The car was gaining distance too fast, and they both knew they couldn't keep up for long.

Just as Katerina started to fall behind, Five glanced over his shoulder. "Well, looks like we have to blink again," he said, barely winded. "Brace yourself this time."

Katerina wanted to protest, her stomach still churning from the last teleportation, but before she could even open her mouth, Five grabbed her arm and blinked them forward, the world dissolving into a blur of colors and shapes. The sudden shift was disorienting, and when they reappeared, much closer to the car, Katerina stumbled, clutching her mouth to keep from vomiting.

"That never gets old, does it?" she muttered, her voice shaky as she tried to steady herself.

Five didn't respond, his focus entirely on the car, which had begun to slow down as it approached a parking spot in front of an old, shadowy apartment building. The vehicle came to a halt, and they watched from their concealed position as Dr. Biggs stepped out, glancing around nervously before heading inside.

"Stay close," Five whispered, leading Katerina into a narrow alleyway that ran parallel to the building. From there, they had a perfect view of both the car and the entrance to the apartment.

"What now?" Katerina asked, her voice a hushed murmur as they crouched behind a stack of crates.

"You should get some sleep," Five replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "I'll stay here and keep watch."

Katerina looked at him, her exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She could feel the fatigue in her bones, but she hesitated. "Fine by me," she finally said, turning to leave. But before she could take a step, Five's hand shot out, gripping her arm.

She turned back, surprised by the sudden touch. Five's expression was serious, his usual cool demeanor giving way to something softer, almost concerned. "Be careful," he said, his voice low. "If you run into those goons again, don't try to be brave. Just go straight to the Academy."

Katerina blinked, not expecting the concern in his voice. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself," she responded, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

"Yeah, that was pretty clear when you came back gushing blood," Five retorted, his tone flat but his eyes betraying a hint of worry.

Katerina sighed, shaking her head. "I'll be fine, Five. I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Don't do anything stupid."

Five cracked a rare smile. "Don't worry, my name doesn't start with a 'K' and ends with 'aterina.'"

Katerina couldn't help but grin at that. She returned the sarcastic gesture with a mock salute before turning and walking away. Five watched her until she turned the corner, his eyes lingering on the empty street long after she was gone.

She's a pain in the ass, he thought, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. But she's got guts. His thoughts drifted back to the night before, to the blood and chaos that had unfolded. Maybe there's more to her than I thought, he mused, before quickly shoving the thought aside, refocusing on the task at hand. Stay focused, Five. The mission comes first.

As Katerina approached the Academy, the tall, looming silhouette of the building seemed to promise the solace of sleep. She could already picture her bed in the guest room, the cool sheets waiting to embrace her exhausted body. But when she pushed open the front door, her heart sank.

The once grand entrance hall was in shambles. Furniture was overturned, shattered glass littered the floor, and papers were strewn everywhere. The whole house looked like it had been ransacked. Katerina's instincts kicked in immediately, and she took a defensive stance, her eyes scanning the wreckage for any signs of movement.

"Klaus?" she called out, her voice echoing in the eerie silence. No response.

"Allison?" she tried again, louder this time. Nothing.

Her frustration mounted, her nerves fraying as she slowly made her way through the mess. "Luther?" she called out, squinting as she peered into the shadows. Still no answer.

She threw her arms up in exasperation. "Great. Just great," she muttered, turning toward the staircase. But as she took her first step, something whizzed past her, slicing through the air before embedding itself in the wall beside her. She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her left arm.

Katerina jumped back, her heart pounding as she stared at the object—a knife, its blade gleaming in the dim light. Her eyes widened in shock, her pulse racing as she scanned the room. A dark figure stepped out from the shadows, his posture tense, ready for a fight. He was tall, muscular, and his face bore the marks of a recent, brutal battle.

Doesn't look like anyone from the Commission, she thought, narrowing her eyes as she tried to identify him. Then it clicked. "You must be Diego," she said, slowly stepping forward, her voice calm despite the adrenaline surging through her veins.

Diego's eyes narrowed, suspicion clear on his face as he held another knife at the ready. "Who the hell are you?" he snapped, his voice sharp and defensive.

Katerina raised her hands in mock surrender, rolling her eyes. "Chill out, hermano. I'm a friend of Five's. Now if you'll excuse me, I've had a long day, and all I want is to get some sleep."

She turned her back on him, dismissing him with a wave, but Diego wasn't convinced. "Friend of Five's?" he scoffed. "Right. Like that means anything."
Katerina gave him a forced smile before flipping him off. At that sight, Diego rolls his eyes in realization. "Actually, it makes sense—Five's only friend being another asshole."

Katerina shot him a withering look over her shoulder. "Wow, the famous Diego wit. How will I ever recover from that burn?"

Diego scowled, clearly not amused, but he didn't press further. They both turned away from each other, tension still hanging in the air. Katerina continued up the stairs, muttering under her breath, He throws another one of those goddamn knives at me, I'm cutting his hands off.

Reaching the guest room, she closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she let out a sigh of relief. She was finally alone, away from the chaos, and all she wanted was to collapse into bed. She quickly changed into her night clothes, but as she pulled her shirt off, she noticed the cut Diego's knife had left on her arm. It wasn't deep, but it stung.

Katerina frowned, trying to heal it, but nothing happened. Great, she thought, shaking her head in annoyance. Just what I needed.

She slipped into a clean shirt and fell onto the bed, the exhaustion overwhelming her. Within moments, she was fast asleep, the events of the day fading into the oblivion of her dreams.