CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: I LOVE YOU

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Fei and Ben lead you and the others to the basement to see a giant glowing orange ball of light, it was the Kugelblitz.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Fei asked as they were all looking at the Kugelblitz.

Five was standing in front his girlfriend, making sure that you were keeping a distance from the Kugelblitz, so you wouldn't get pull into it like Marcus was.

 "Oh, wow" Diego said and Lila scoffs "That's what took Stanley" she said.

"Along with a few other billion people" Fei said "Yeah, who I didn't know and don't care about" Lila said as she walked around the Kugelblitz "Right. So it's all about you" Fei said.

"All of us are irrelevant. This thing's gonna take the whole damn universe" Five said as he stared at the kugelblitz.

"What is it made of?" he asked "Micro black holes collapsing at increasingly short intervals" Sloane answered "Why aren't we getting sucked inside?" Five asked "We don't know. You shouldn't exist here, and neither should this" Sloane said "An impossibility for an impossibility" Five said and clicked his tongue "The universe is a sucker for balance" he said "Grace has been tracking the waves. Next one is due in three hours" Fei said.

"So that give us three hours to stop this things before we lose someone else" you said and Five glanced at you. Scared that you would be the next one the Kugelblitz take.

"All right, so what do we do?" Diego asked "We trap it" Sloane said "Dyson sphere?" Five asked "Yeah" Sloane said with a nod.

Five nodded before he clicked his tongue "Okay" he said before he took a step toward Sloane "Confinement factor?" he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and Sloane lightly turned her head and gave a slight smile to him as she tilted her head a bit "0.98 at peak energy flux" she responded "Tensile strength?" Five asked "UTS ceiling of 10,000 gigapascals" Sloane said causing Diego and Luther to share a look in confusing, not knowing what they were talking about.

"Should I be finding this hot?" Lila asked "No" both Diego and Luther responded "I do" you said before looking at Five with a flirting look who sent you a flirting smile.

"Instead of sending your girlfriend flirting looks, focus on this" Allison said and Five glanced at her "What do you think, Five?" she asked from across the basement where she was leaning against one of the walls "Could work. Or we could all die horribly" Five said before he looked at you.

If this work, you and Five could live a wonderful and long life together. Get married. Grow old together. Maybe even have a family of your own. So you sent Five a nod and he sent a nod back before he looked back at Sloane and clicked his tongue.

Five then looked at Sloane before he clicked his tongue "I'm in" he said "You're not the one we need" Ben said "Excuse you?" Allison asked him "For this to work, we need, Sloane, Lila, Christopher and--" "Viktor" Allison said with a scoffed, cutting Fei off "Of course" Allison said.

"Yeah 'cause your powers are useless" you said and Allison glanced at you "What are you gonna do, are you gonna say 'I heard a rumor you stopped kugleblitzing' to the kugelblitz 'cause that is not gonna work because the kugleblitz isn't a person" you said and Allison sent you a death glare before leaving.

---

 Viktor was laying on a bed in a room with the headphone, listening to a recording of thunder and rainfall playing.

Then the door open making Viktor take off the headphone as Ben entered "What...Whatever it is you came to say. I'm not coming down to help if Allison's still there" Viktor said as he sat up in the bed "Just came to get my jacket" Ben said before he walked over to his jacket.

"Have you been waiting for someone to come chase after you this whole time?" Ben asked as he grabbed his jacket "Wow" he said and chuckled "That's so embarrassing" he said "Well, it's official. Our Ben was better" Viktor said "So I'm told. But didn't he die? You know, people say we have egos, but you're the real messy bitches. Letting the world burn because you're angry at your sister. Outstanding" Ben said "That's not what I'm doing" Viktor said "Don't care. Won't matter much longer anyway. In a few days, we'll all be, uh, Kugel-toast. And I guess Harlan will have died for nothing. Nice work" Ben said before he walked towards the door but stopped "Stop crying on my bedsheets, emo. It's gross" he said before leaving.

---

You walked into a bedroom to find Viktor "Hey" you said "Hey" he said as he looked up at you "Why didn't you tell the others about what I was going to do? Why didn't you stop me?" he asked "'Cause Harlan is your son" you said "What?" he asked "Harlan is your son. He is your child. He may be over 60 and you're only 30 but you are his parent. A parent protect their child with everything they have even if they're wrong. When I was a kid my dad used to tell me that he'd always be with me, he'd always love him, that he'd protect me no matter what I did. He taught me to be compassionate for others because not everyone had parents or someone that would do the same for them. Not everyone grows up the same. Not every family is the same. A parent protect, that what gives them meaning" you said.

"Did you think that Harlan saw me as a dad?" Viktor asked "The best one he's ever had. I promised myself that if I ever had children they would have a father" you smiled.

"You want to have children?" he asked.

"It's always been an option. I thought I'd grow up, go to college, find a guy who loved me, get married, travel around the world, become an author and have a kid of my own" you said.

"Did you had the same dream when you met Five?" he asked "Yes" you said with a nod " 

"When I fell in love with your brother, most importantly after we got married. I dreamed of having kids. Maybe two. And when I met Five, and fell in love with him, I wanted to have a life with him, but when he left I thought it would never happen, but then he return and brought me here that dream came back. So to answer your question, I have a soft spot for human, for life, for children, for those who never got to live a regular life, for everyone in pain. When I see someone in pain or someone that needs help, I can't help myself in helping them, that's just who I am" you said.

"Like you" he asked "Yeah and I can help others regain their own. Like you" you said before you looked at him.

"Was Reginald really just as bad father as Five described?" you asked "Absolutely. We were kids. Thrown into the world of crime without proper maternal or paternal figures. Life of blood and gore" he said.

"Five doesn't accept when he feels like he can" you said "He loves you, you that right. He wouldn't be trying if he didn't" he said "I know" you said with a nod.

"We didn't tell you all, but there's an issue with my existence. You guys are the first anomaly and I'm the second. The Kugelblitz might take me. We don't know when" you said and Viktor looked at you "Then you should be with Five all the time. So you are together if now--" "It's okay Vik. We will make this work. And if anything happens. He'll find me again" you said before leaving.

You walked into an empty bedroom before you sat down.

Then you heard footsteps approaching and you looked up to see Five "How are my queen?" he asked "Fine" you said.

"What are you doing?" he asked as he sat down next to you "Just thinking" you said before looking at him. 

"Don't be mad at Viktor Five, Harlan was Viktor's child. Viktor did what every parent would do. Tell me you wouldn't have done it if it had been ours" you said.

Five starred, unblinking. He knew he would have moved mountains overseas if it meant he could help his own child. He would do it without hesitation for your kid. He would even do it for you.  

"So can you understand why I didn't stop Viktor. Can you try and understand why I did what I did. I understand my consequences, but I need you to be understanding that it was my choice" she said "I do and I know" he nodded "Good. At least you know I'm always right" you smiled.

There was a few minutes of silence before you let out a sigh. "Will this even work?" you asked "Only one way to see. But if it doesn't..." he grab your hand "Know I will do anything for you. Know that you are my world. Know that you has been the greatest gift of my life" he said and you smiled.   

Your mind raced with a mix of fear and determination. This was your last chance and you knew that whatever happended next would change everything. This was a gamble, a dangerous, near-impossible mission, but you were ready to face it. For Five. This beautiful tragedy was your and Five's to live, even if it was only for a fleeting moment.   

"Y/n" he said and you looked at him "I will always try to make you happy even if I'm struggling. I won't let you go through stuff alone because I know how it feels to be alone with all your problems. I will never judge you and I will always check up on you and make sure you're safe and okay. Even if you hate me, I'm still here for you. Even if we fight or I'm mad at you, if you say you're struggling I'm here. I promise to stay and I will not break that promise. Your happiness is mine. When you're happy so am I. When you're sad, I am too. We've grown so attached to each other that my well-being is no long my own, it's yours, at its highest priority. I will do anything to see you smile and make you laugh, because that's what makes my day, all that matters is you" he said and you smiled but you noticed that something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Five?" you asked him "Nothing" he said casually "I'm just...unsure of how much time we have left together" he said, you are suspicious, as if something's off, but you don't press it further, all he has in his mind is how many deaths of you he has to witness before he can live the entirety of a lifetimes together with you.

Five stoke a piece of your hair away from your face "Y/n/n, I want you to know something. I'm not in love with you just because you make me feel happy. I'm in love with you because you make me feel noticed. Like I have some value in this world. You make me feel so good. And I've never been able to get that from anybody, but you. So thank you" he said and you smiled "You are doing the same to you" you said "You are the only one who has ever being able to find me. With you I see hope again" he said and you smiled.

"I'm not dating you to waste your time. I want to build a life with you and grow old with you. My plan is to marry you and have a family with you. I want to know every little detail about you. There will be good days and bad days, but nothing good is easy. I won't give up on us, I'll do everything to make this work" he said "So will I" you said.

"Nothing feel right when you're not here with me. With you I see a future" he said and you smiled.

"I promise you that I will always be here for you when you need me and even when you don't. Your happiness and safety has always being my first priority, and nothing will change that, because I care about you more than anything in the whole world. You are the best thing that has ever happen to me" he said and you smiled before the two of you leaned closer, pressing your foreheads against each other.

"I can't imagine a life without you in it" he said "I can't imagine a life without you either" you said.

"I promise to be the light in the darkest of your times. Your happiness in times of sorrow and the shoulder to cry on in times of grief. I promise to remain the guy you fell in love with. The guy that makes you smile and strives to be the best possible version of himself even in the darkest time. I promise I would never hurt you, inflict pain, or harm you, to always take care of you, protect you and put your need and desires before mine. My love for you is a journey, starting at forever, and ending at never. I think about you more than you could know. Until forever this will be true because there's no one I'd ever love the way I love you. Thank you for giving me a reason to want to wake up everyday. Thank you for giving me a reason to live and be happy. You're the only person I could ever see myself being with for all eternity. As long as I have you, nothing else matters. And I want you to remember something. Know that no matter what comes our way, I will never stop loving you. You give me feeling that nobody has ever given me. Feelings of the purest, most genuine happiness that anyone could ever have. I don't care how corny I sound, our souls were made for each other and you know it. We're supposed to be together. Everything about us being together makes sense. We are my definition of perfect and true love. You have the ability to make everything okay, even if it's not. You are my home. I could be anywhere in the world, but as long as I'm with you, I know I'll be okay. I know I'll be safe. I know I'll be happy. I know I'll be whole. I love you in way I never knew were possible and I hope that never changes. You know it's hard for me to express my feelings for you. But I hope you know that you have absolutely changed my life for the better. You are so perfect for me in every way and to this day I will never understand how I got so lucky to have someone like you by my side. I want to thank you for making me the luckiest person in the entire world and I hope I make you as happy as you make me" he said with a smile "You are" you said.

"I really do think that you and I were made to find each other in his crazy world. There's nothing I want more than to spend eternity with you. It's you and me forever" he said "You and me, forever" you said.

"I just know we're meant to be together, the energy we share is unique, it doesn't come around often, I've never felt as at home as I do with you. I've never laughed as much as I do when I'm with you. I've never felt such a genuine connection as I have with you. I never used to believe in soulmates, but now I do" he said and you smiled.

"My heart is with you my love, no atter where you roam. Distance don't erase our love, or the memories of our home" he said "You're my home" you said "And you're mine" he said.

You were the first person he ever opened up to. He was so soft deep down. He cared so much and you were the only one who ever saw that side of him, even so he couldn't see it in himself. You made him feel less cold and alone.

"Five, there is something else I've been wanted to say. But before I do I just want you to know that you don't have to say it back. I know you're not ready and I don't want you to say it because you are force to---" "I love you" your jaw opened.

He said the three words before you and he said it without hesitation. It caught you by surprise.

"I love you Y/n. I can't hide that anymore" he said "You said it" you said "There's no denying that I have feeling for you that can't be explain in any other way. I don't even know what love is. All these years of my life never once did I see something like you coming. I thought I felt like this before but I was wrong and I've come to realized...I care about you deeply. More than I ever thought I could care about anyone. So I love you Y/n. I will forever and always love you" he said and you smiled.

"I know Five....the feeling...Love" you paused "I never thought I would feel it. When I look at you, I feel safe. I see a life...with you. So I love you. I know we are different. I love you so much that it hurts. When I'm not with you it hurts, but every other time you touched me or even looked at me, it don't hurt anymore. And it's doesn't matter if we're different because our love is inevitable" he smiled.

"You know before we met I had given up on finding a happy ever after. I thought I must not deserve it, after everything I'd been through. I wasn't worthy of that, you've shown me just how wrong I was. I was just waiting for you. You are the only one that makes my heart skip a beat with just one glance. I didn't even believe in that saying until I met you. But with you I've found a connection that defies logic and makes my heart believe in miracles. You are my favorite 'how did I get so lucky' moment. You're not just the best thing ever happened to me, you're the reason I believe in serendipity" he said and you smiled. 

"We got togther without me needing to do so, because you know how much you mean to me. I'd never thought I'd ever care about this type of relationship, but it turns out I do because of you. so if you really want me to say it. I love you. And only you. And for the rest of my days, you, Y/n Guessman, my girlfriend of a few days and counting, I hope that one day I can call you my wife, I adore you" you smiled over his words.

"I fell in love with you before I kissed you. I fell in love with you before touching you. Meeting you was and still is the best things that's ever happed to me" he smiled.

"When I first met you, I never thought you would touch my heart so deeply, looking back at the moment, it's amazing how life has led us to where we are now. I still remember when we first started talking, I had no idea you would be the catalyst to bring energy back into my life. You became the reason behind the sparkle in my eyes. The motivation that been missing for so long. I found myself excited about life again, and every day seemed to hold new possibilities. You know what else you did. You make me fall asleep with a smile on my face. Something as simple drifting off into a dream and became a joyful experience because of your presence in my life has been a source of happiness and I cherish every moment we share. The way you weave yourself into my days, my thoughts and my heart is beyond words. You became a part of my life and made it better. Every memory created, every challenges faced together remind me of the incredible bond we have formed as times goes on, I want you to know that losing you is something I never want to experience, you are more than just a chapter in my life. You are at the heart of the story I'm writing. You brought light and a happiness I never thought was possible. I'm grateful for every moment we have" he said with a smile.

"Sometimes I just look at you and I think to myself, how did I ever get so lucky? I'll never know, but please know that I am thankful for you every single day, and I can't even express in words. Aidan, I fell in love with you because you loved me when I couldn't even love myself. But just know that I love you. The fact that you could take me as I am. You learned to deal with my bullshit. I know I'm a difficult person to deal with at times but yet you still stick around. The fact that you accept my flaws and insecurities makes me know that you truly care about me, I have my days where I'm moody, bitchy, grouchy, grumpy, but you never once let that get in the way of our conversations. You're the one of the people that I admire for accepting me for who I'm without judging me" he said "Well, is because I love you" you said and he let out a chuckled "Having you in my life is the best thing that has ever happen to me, because you have found a way to fill a void in me that's been empty for so long. Thank you for coming into my life. You had surrounded me with unchangeable love" he said as your hands were locked together.

"It was the way you looked at me, your eyes speak a love that words can't touch, when you look at me, it's like the whole world just fades away. Your eyes full of unwavering love and total devotion, make me feel like I'm the only person that matters in this entire universe. It's crazy how a single look from you can make me feel so seen, so valued. It's like you can see right through to my soul, and you love every part of it. The good, the bad, the parts I try to hide. I feel truly cherished. Like I'm the most precious thing in your world. It's overwhelming in the best way possible. I've never felt love like this before. Real, genuine, deep love. The kind of love I used to think only existed in movies or books. But it's real, and it's all there in your eyes. That's why it means everything to me. Because in your eyes I found home. When the world gets too much. I just need to look into your eyes and everything feel right again. It's like magi, but it's real. It's us" you smiled over his words.

"I know I don't deserve you, and I'm asking the impossible from you. I know that. You're so good. Everything about you is good and warm and bright. There's a demon inside of me that will never go away. You're an angel and I'm a demon and I can't help it, but I have falling in love with you. I know I shouldn't but I did" he said.

"You deserve me Five, you deserve someone who love you" you said.

"I can't believe that all it took for me to fall in love with you was a few days" he said and you smiled before kissing him.

---

Allison and Lila was at the bar in the Academy "Just champagne" Lila said as she was looking for something to drink that wasn't alcohol.

"Absolute wankers" she said before she looked at Allison "Speaking of wankers, uh...Any inside tips on how to get your stupid brother to accept my apology?" she asked as she was talking about Diego forgiving her about her lying to him about Stan not being their son.

"People don't want apologies. They want confessions. They want you to stand there and list the shitty ways you've hurt them so they know you understand. Unless you're Viktor, in which case nothing's ever good enough" Allison said before taking a sip of some alcohol.

"Yeah. That was a bit exciting. Um, how do you feel about all of..." "Fine" Allison said before offering her the alcohol "I prefer the hoppy bitterness of a good Guinness" Lila said and Allison nodded "You know, I thought killing Harlan would make me feel better. Or worse" she said before she chuckled "Jesus, just something. But it didn't" she said "Or maybe you're feeling everything all at once, and it all just kind of cancels out" Lila said "No, I think I'm finally starting to understand everything" Allison said "How do you mean?" Lila asked.

"Well, the way I see it, in a few days, we're all be dead. Or in some new timeline where Harlan probably never even existed anyway" Allison said before she laughed "It's all bullshit. I mean, none of it...none of it's real. Nothing stays" she said "Shit. You've got the spins" Lila said and she jumped up on the counter before she sat down next to Allison.

"Okay, look. Fapping about with time travel, it's a massive head trip, I grant you, but things are still real. They're just moving by so fast, you get dizzy with the changes. It's like figure skaters and their...their triple Salchow doggy-style...whatever it is, you gotta pick a focus point. Something concrete to lock on to no matter what changes around you" Lila said "And what if I had one, and I lost her?" Allison asked "Then find another one. Or you'll fall down" Lila said and they looked at each other.

Then they heard footsteps approaching and they saw Five enter "We're ready" he said.

---

Energy was thrumming as Viktor, Sloane, Lila and Chris was standing around the Kugelblitz.

"Okay, how do we start?" Viktor asked "Have you ever moved a nest of bees?" Sloane asked "No, because that's weird" Lila said "You can't just pick it up. You have to keep the nest calm while you build a box around it, and then you trap it" Sloane said before she extended her hands out to her sides and used her powers, lifting herself up in the air, above the Kugelblitz.

"One of those black holes inside is vibrating at a different rate" Fei said "I can feel them" Viktor said "Good. Whatever happens, don't let them speed up or change, or everything will blow" Fei said "Don't shake the bees. Got it" Viktor said before he powered up, making his skin turn icy blue together with his eyes and a bright icy blue force shield appeared around the Kugelblitz.

"Lila, when you're ready, do exactly like Viktor" Fei said and Lila nodded before she copy Viktor's powers, creating a second force shield over the top of Viktor's.

Luther leaned closer to Ben "Hey, what's she doing?" he asked as he was looking at Sloane "Using its own gravity to condense it" Ben said "That's pretty cool, huh" Luther said and chuckled but Ben just gave him a look.

As the four was using their powers, the Kugelblitz got smaller and smaller.

You, Five and the others watched carefully, Lila, Sloane and Viktor using their powers to shrink the Kugelblitz.

"You didn't tell me you were building a prison for God" a voice said and you turned your heads to see Grace with a flame thrower in her hand.

"Mom?" Diego asked "You have no right to do that" Grace said "We're a little busy here, Grace" Luther said as Diego walked towards her before stopping.

The day of vengeance was in my heart..." Grace said "What are you talking about?" Diego asked "And my year of redemption hath come" Grace said before she lifted up a flame gun.

"Shit" Diego said as the sound of fire roars and he jumped to the side as flame came out of the gun "The day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption hath come" Grace said in her robotic voice as the others took cover as Grace was moving the gun side to side while flames came out of it.

"Shit" Five said before he grabbed you and pulled you and himself behind a pillar.

"Shit" Luther said as he jumped to the side, so he wouldn't get hit by the flames.

"Hey mom, hey, mom, mom" Diego said as he got up and Grace looked at him "It's Diego. Don't make us hurt you" he said "The day of vengeance was in my heart" Grace said before she turn on the flame gun "Whoa" Diego said as he jumped behind a pillar "And my year of redemption hath come!" Grace said.

A small flame hit Diego's sleeve and he extinguished the small flame with his hands while Lila turned her head as she saw the flames behind them.

"Lila, I need you" Sloane said and Lila looked back to the Kugelblitz.

Five was holding you closed to him, using his own body as a shield.

"Five, we have to do something, she is gonna ruin this" you said "I'm not leaving you" he said "You know just as well as me, that you are the only one that can get her out of here" you said and he looked at you "I will be fine. Just get her out of here, we are all gonna get fried if she don't get stop" you said "Okay, just stay here and stay safe" he said before giving you a kiss on the forehead.

Five then blinked behind Grace and grabbed her with a grunt before he blinked away with her.

They appeared by the stairs in the hallways and he grabbed Grace's jaw and the back of her head "Nothing personal" he said before he snapped her neck, causing her head to spun around to him as the wires snapped and broke.

Grace was about to fall but Five caught "Okay" he said before he lay her slowly by the stairs.

Five looked sad at Grace while remembering his memories with his robot mother "Onward..." Grace said with her robotic voice "Christian soldiers...Marching...As to war" Grace said as her voice distorted slowly before she powered down.

"I'm sorry mom, but you tried to hurt my girl, you left me no choice" Five said.

---

Sloane looked at Chris who was floating above the Kugelblitz.

"Christopher, now!" Sloane said when the Kugelblitz was small enough and Chris broke himself into pieces before the pieces wrapped around the Kugelblitz causing them all to grunt and straining as they were shrinking the Kugelblitz with their powers.

You all walked closer as you were all watching with widened eyes all the pieces gather together trapping the Kugelblitz inside Christopher who transformed back into a cube making the others to power down before they started panting.

Five blinked back to the basement, appearing next to you "Did it work?" he asked.

"Next Kugelwave in three, two, one" Sloane said while Five wrapped his arms around you and pressed your body against his chest, holding you tight, like he was scared that you would disappear.

After shaking again Chris farted instead of sending another Kugelwave.

"Did it work?" you asked as both you and Five pulled away to look at Chris "It work" Sloane said and you smiled "We saved the universe" you said "We saved you" Five said before he kissed your cheek while you both smiled.

"So what do you guys say that we celebrate this?" Lila asked "I'm in" you said.

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