(y/n) - your name

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another Spring night passes and the opportunity of another ball arises for the lovely debutantes. The air was oddly sweet as you held your footman's hand as he helped you out of your carriage. The air around you was different, more extravagant and lively as you donned a new silk dress that shone with gems like you had captured the very stars in your midst.

People around you were in awe and feined green with jealousy as you easily glowed more beautiful in your simple mask and free hair, your hands in lace gloves that held onto the arm of your footman as he leads you into the ballroom. People gossiped and watched in amazement as you walk in with Five Hargeeves right behind you with his brother Viktor accompanying him for the ball.

"Sir Hargreeves." You bowed and he did the same as his brother.

"Madame (y/n)." Five grins at you and you saw his brother buzzing with excitement when he saw you.

"You must be the extraordinary Sir Viktor I have heard so much about. Your dear brother doesn't show it but he speaks highly of you." Viktor flushes.

"It is an honour to be in your presence and to speak with you." You smile at how cute Viktor was despite being younger than him. You watch as his fiance finally arrives and sweeps Viktor away for a dance, leaving you with Five.

"I did not expect you to arrive at this ball as it was not mandatory." Five whispers lowly, grabbing champagne glasses and passing you one.

"Why would I not come? A lady such as myself still enjoys dressing up every now and then." You wink at Five, finishing your glass and he takes a step back to admire your appearance.

"And you do look absolutely lovely this night, as you usually are."

"Is that flattery I hear?" Five passes both your empty glasses to a walking server and grabs your hand.

"It may or may not be." He winks and leads you to the dance floor. "We need to fan the flames of our charade as I may have been interrupted by a few mothers who still think I am available."

"I guess we need to appear as if you are on the precipice of proposing for marriage so these mothers may leave you alone." You murmur, glancing around to see the very mothers speaking to one another as if concocting a plan.

"I should hope I do not lose my balance then." Five chuckles softly as you both stood in front of each other on the dance floor.

"I should hope not either since you will be glued to my side for the rest of the evening." You wink and Five blushes softly. "And we must appear as we are enjoying ourselves with each other."

"That won't be hard to act out." Five whispers to himself as you both bow, the orchestra playing music and he holds your hand to dance. You both dance, laughing and smiling at one another as you turned and spun. You both danced as if it was you two in the world only, having fun and just enjoying yourself with one another as you jumped to the music. Everyone around you watched in awe and love as if they were seeing a real-life fairytale play before their very eyes.

Five spun you around in his arms, his heart beating erratically as he heard you laugh in enjoyment. The sound made his heart jump, seeing the joy in your eyes as he held you. He had to admit, the past few weeks helped you both become so much more closer than friends especially after seeing how you interacted with his family when he invited you over for dinner. He cared about his family a great deal and to see his siblings and even his father to consider you a part of the family made it so much easier to love you as you are.

The music gently faded to a stop and you beamed up at Five as he held your hands. Before Five could say anything, he was swept away by his sister for a dance and you laughed softly seeing the mocking help look in his eyes.

You sighed out and decided to leave for a more peaceful and less crowded area, walking up the stairs for an outside balcony for fresh air. You tried to calm your beating heart, looking over the moon that shone a silver light over a beautiful garden with golden fireflies twinkling around.

"You look absolutely stunning Madame (y/n)." You jump and turn around to see a man standing by the doorway, a flower in his hand.

"Uh, and who may you be?" You ignore the compliment, wondering who this man was.

"Apologies Madame. I am Lord Jenkins. Harold Jenkins." Jenkins bowed and you raise a brow in confusion, instantly getting a very bad feeling from this man.

"Lord Jenkins." You curtsey in response. "What brings you here my Lord?"

"If this is to not brash of me, I wanted a moments alone with you to hand you a gift. I heard this was your favourite." You gently take the flower from his hands and smile at the beautiful black rose.

"How did you acquire such a rare beauty?"

"I travel the world and gather treasure from such travels and I found this rose. I thought that such a rare flower should belong in the hands of an equally rare lady." You couldn't help the blush from the compliments.

"Thank you Lord Jenkins."

"There is also a request that I ask of you." You look up and see that the Lord had stepped away from the doors and closer towards you.

"I know that you are not part of this seasons Debutantes but I had hoped that maybe you would allow me to court you seeing as you are courting Five Hargreeves." You frown at the request.

"I apologise Lord Jenkins but I must reject that request." The Lord looks downtrodden but a sudden flash of anger crosses his face.

"Why should he have your hand in courtship whereas I have loved you forever!" You felt panic as the man before you got angrier and angrier. He had easily blocked off the doors of your escape and grabbed your arms, sputtering nonsense.

"Let go of me!" You yelled out, struggling to escape his painful grip and you stomp down hard on his foot with your heels. He yelps in pain and you run past him to bump into something else. You look up and saw Five Hargreeves with an eerily calm expression, his hands fisting at his sides.

You shudder as you saw the angry fire in his eyes as he glared at the lord. "Did he hurt you-" you hiss in pain as Five gently held your arm but he quickly retreated, pulling down your gloves to see bruising fingertips. "That fucking bastard!" Five yells out, walking forward and swing a punch at the man. "How dare you hurt her!" Five growls as he punches the man over and over before you ran over and stopped him.

"Five! Stop! He's had enough!" You pull Five away and back inside the building but he stops you.

"Are you ok? Did he do anything else to you?" Five tried to check for any other wounds but you grab his hands to stop him.

"I'm fine Five. Thank you for saving me." Five sighs, his eyes glazing over from the sheer worry of you being harmed and he held your face.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you sooner." Five leaned his forehead on yours and you both could feel each others racing hearts. "I'm so sorry." Five mutters out and you brush your thumb against his cheek as he leaned into your palm.

"You came for me and that's all that matters." You sigh out, closing your eyes in the warmth of Five's hold. Five looked down at you, right in his arms and he didn't want to wait anymore.

"(y/n)..." You look up at Five in surprise as he directly addressed you. He held your waist gently and leaned his face closer to yours, his lips brushing against yours. "I lo-"

"-Five! Madame (y/n)!" You both jump away from each others grasp, burning red in embarrassment as you saw Viktor and Sissy run up to you in worry.

"We heard yelling. Are you both ok?" Sissy asks, glaring at Lord Jenkins as he skulks past in bruises.

"We are both fine. I think it's time for me to retire for the night." You mumble out and Five frowns. "Hargreeves, Cooper." You bow and quickly walk off down the stairs, a heavy feeling in your heart as you glance back one last time to see Five staring at you sadly. You sigh and run out the building as your footman helps you into your carriage.

Why do I feel like this?