Five knew a truce was needed and he knew he kind of messed up by having others of Will's friend group see his powers. He wondered if Mike and Lucas were going to make this hard because he really wanted to move on. Will and El were important to him and they were important to 'the party' as Will called it. Five knew he needed to apologize and explain himself but he hoped Mike wouldn't be an asshole and apologize too. Oddly a lot rode on this meeting and he even had to switch a day of work with Steve to meet everyone on this Friday afternoon. They got up to Mike's doorstep and Five was reaching for the doorbell with a slightly shaking hand.
"You're nervous?" Will asked.
Five scoffed at that notion since it was silly as he rang the doorbell. He was stubborn more than anything and he knew things were going to go his way in the end. However, something was quivering in his gut a tad and he looked to Will with a soft expression.
"Not much no, I am just curious on how Mike and I are going to handle this. He seems to think it's my mission to go back in time and ruin his life. That would truly be a poor use of my powers don't you think?"
Will knows Five had to be a tiny bit nervous since Will was definitely nervous. He didn't want a repeat of Five beating the crap out of Mike and he did want everyone to get along. A sigh escape Will and Five heard it. It was long and a bit shaky and that concerned Five more than anything.
"You're nervous about things going badly?"
"Well yeah, I mean I want to be friends with both of you without there being a problem. Mike seems to be a bit better knowing you and El are just going to be friends but he's stubborn like you, especially when letting new people join us." Will expressed calmly and with a very weak smile.
Five could understand that; after all he was the outsider from a different time and clearly changing history with every minute he remains. Mike wasn't bad, but maybe too overprotective, obsessive, and stubborn. They didn't wait long until the door opened and they were greeted by a stone faced Mike. His nose was still bruised from the mall trip as blotches of purples and yellow were still visible. He shot a dirty look at Five and then shifted to a light smile for Will.
"Glad you could come Will."
"Kind of had to Mike. This is a 'party' meeting and a truce for you and Five. I'm here to support both of you, especially Five since he has a lot to share and explain." Will answered calmly.
Mike looked to Five with a glare and Five shot one back at him.
"Yes, you clearly have a lot to explain…Five." He spat a bit coldly.
"And I will so stop with the visceral cold treatment since I want this whole grudge to end…Michael."
Mike cringed at his whole name being used but he let Five and Will inside his house. They all went down into the basement where Lucas, Max, Dustin, and El were all there as well. Five remained standing while Will and Mike got comfortable on the couch with Lucas. Dustin was on the floor and Max and El were sitting side by side in seats. Five took a deep breath and focused his attention to everyone.
"I will be the one to admit this…me being here had caused a rift between you all. I'm sorry for that since I had no idea when I was jumping in time that I would end up in 1985. I was trying to time travel to the future and not the past. Me being here wasn't the plan but now I am here and I didn't mean to cause any rifts." Five started.
He glanced at Max since she should have been the only one who shouldn't have known he had powers and yet she stood there with interest and also not shocked. Five raised an eyebrow at her since she should have been skeptical.
"Uh Max…you okay? I just admitted that I'm from the future and that I have powers of time travel. I can even so spatial jumps too yet you're not shocked."
Max rolled her eyes and shot a glance at El. Five's eyes widened slightly and his jaw was agape at the implication.
"El you told Max about my powers!?
El blushed a bit and nodded.
"Max is my girl best friend and she wanted details about our date. Our bonding over powers was part of why are date kind of went well. I wasn't going to lie to her but I did make her promise not to tell Lucas and Mike." El explain with sheepish look.
Five of all things chuckled since El was truly innocent. He admired that about her and kind of found their friendship sweet. Lucas' mouth dropped since he was truly one of the last to know since Max didn't tell him.
"Wait you knew that Five had these powers and didn't tell us!?" Lucas exclaimed to Max.
"Well you and Mike were being stupid boys at the time so I wasn't speaking to you both. Plus, it was Five secrets and I wasn't going to share shit until he opened up about it. Still I want to see you do a spatial jump so I can see for myself."
Five chuckled a bit as he blipped behind the two girls. A grin was on his face as El giggled at his actions while Max laughed.
"Wow impressive and yet you're still a dork Aidan…or am I going to call you Five now? By the way, was your dad really a jackass and just gave you a number for a name?"
Five sighed and nodded.
"My old man only saw my siblings and I as a means to an end, hence why he only called us by our numbers. All the names that my mother figure Grace gave me didn't gel well with me and I kept my number as my name to stand out."
Mike snorted bitterly at that since that just showed Five was a bit of a nutcase and that they shouldn't be involved with him. Dustin glanced at Mike with a firm look. Mike did take notice of the look and changed his tune.
"So how did you get your powers? Were you born with them like El?" Mike asked.
Five shared the story of his birth in his lifetime and how on his birthday along with his siblings, their biological mothers all suddenly gave birth to them. Max and El looked horrified at the story and Lucas kind of looked a bit sick hearing it.
"Wait so…one minute your mom wasn't pregnant and then poof, she was and gave birth to you? Sounds like a disturbing horror movie." Mike asked with slight interest but also disbelief.
"Probably why when my biological mother was approached by Reggie to have him adopt me for a fortune she didn't give it a second thought. Most of my siblings have powers but Will thinks even my ordinary sister Vanya has them but something is wrong or her power was too much and was subdued at an early age. Anyway being the 'asshole' you probably think I am Mike, I wanted to time travel and clearly since I am still here, I can't return home yet. I'm sorry if we got off on the wrong foot. Sorry if it looked like I was taking your friends and for punching you…Even thought I don't think I have anything to apologize for, I am doing this for El and for Will."
Of course he was Mike thought. Five was never going to fully apologize out of his own heart but because El and Will made him. To be fair, Mike was in the same boat as El wanted him to do this too. He glanced at Five with a curious look and asked,
"How is it that you're going to return home?"
Dustin raised his hands up in annoyance and groaned,
"Really Mike, that's what you're really asking? I thought you were going to apologize not drag this out!"
Five walked to Dustin and placed a hand on his shoulder to calm down.
"It's fine Dustin, I will answer that since that's probably on your mind too as well as everyone here. Well…I would need to conduct a temporal equation that will hopefully allow me get to the point in time I belong. Of course, I can't really go back to the exact time I ran away since I have to account for my time here but…it sounds complicated because it is. I'm not sure how long I will be here Mike, but I would rather us not be at each other's throats. Clearly we know who will win in a fight."
Mike rolled his eyes and wanted to wipe that stupid smile off of Five's face. However for fear Five would just stop his punch and beat his ass, he refrained. He really didn't want Five in the party but clearly everyone else did.
"So…everyone here wants Five…to join us?" Mike asked.
"No shit Sherlock. Yes we do so suck up your pride and make nice with him, especially if you care about your friends and El." Max stated bluntly.
"I second that. Besides, think about how much he will be able to share with us and he's really pretty funny and chill when you get to know him." Dustin expressed with a goofy smile.
Five somewhat chuckled but he stressed,
"Nothing that will alter time as I know it. Maybe some things to look forward to but nothing too dramatic. Plus you have to remember, I was stuck in the academy for most of my life so I might not know every important facet in pop culture that might interest you."
El smiled since she was just happy Five would bend a bit to share what he knows about the future. Clearly if the world was still standing and not dealing with any creatures from the Upside Down she clearly did take care of the threats and the gates. They were safe, the world was safe and that made El happy. Mike looked to Lucas and he asked him,
"What do you think Lucas?"
"I think you don't have a say Mike. I'm a bit unnerved too but Five doesn't seem to be all bad if Will and him are close so soon after meeting. Even you have to agree to that since we all were scared for Will the last two years." Lucas answered,
Mike nodded and he looked to Five. He slowly rose up from the couch and he approached Five. Dustin lingered a bit at Five's side but Five motioned him he would be fine. Five and Mike stared each other down for a while, not knowing which of the two was going to proposed the truce formally. Mike glanced over at Five in Will's clothing and noticed the tattoo he either didn't notice before or didn't pay much attention to it before. Five positioned his arm upwards so Mike and the others could formally look at it. It was a symbol he was going to have to hide until perhaps he found a way to remove it. A bittersweet mark that connected him to the family he ran from but also the man who frustrated him.
"Honestly…you're lucky Mike. You got to be a kid all your life. If I didn't have my siblings, my life would have been much worse despite them not coming after me. You might envy me but I can still be envious of all of you. Having this life I have now is both foreign and yet welcome. after being forced to be a superhero. Will is always going to be my closest friend, perhaps a best friend for what he's done for me. Can we please have a truce and move on. We don't have to be buddy buddy or start hanging out one on one, but I do want us to start over and try to bury any and all hatchets."
Mike looked to El, who was looking at him with hopeful and gentle eyes. Max however was glaring at him and nodding for him to accept Five and take the truce. Mike sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as he watched Five shift his arm to have his hand was readying for his own to shake it. He could feel everyone's eyes on him and Mike groaned in annoyance before taking Five's hand.
"You better not be a dick to any of us going forward." Mike warned as he gripped Five's hand with all his might.
"I'm kind of a sassy and sarcastic guy Mike, that's just who I am. However, I will promise to be a good friend to you all and to keep it peaceful for the most part. I will call out any bull shit and honestly, I just want to live in this new life and have fun while I can."
Five and Mike shook hands and Will breathed a sigh of relief. His two friends made a truce and now they could all hang out together when it was possible. Mike pulled his hand away and El expressed softly,
"Thank you, Mike,…you were a big person."
Five chuckled at that and corrected,
"You mean he was the bigger person, as in he is doing the right thing despite how childish the other has been. While that statement is debatable…you are maturing in this Mike."
Mike scoffed,
"Well I am doing this for everyone else so don't let this go to your head Five."
"Good so when around just us and maybe people who know Five's background, we will call him Five. Otherwise it's Aidan in public places like the mall or school." Max stated.
"God don't remind me of school Max. I mean we're all going to high school and it's going to be terrifying being freshmen." Luca groaned.
"Yeah well you expressed maybe going for the basketball team and you've been practicing this summer so you might get in superstar." Max responded with a light smile.
El smiled lightly and shared,
"Hopper is allowing me to go to school this year. Mr. Owens is making records so that I can be in school with all of you. It might be new and strange but…I can't wait to have classes with you and learn new things."
Mike smiled and he went over to hug her.
"That's wonderful! School…yeah it can be scary but it can be fun too. You will learn so much and you can hang out with us too and perhaps share class with some of us." Mike expressed happily.
El hugged Mike back and she felt her heart flutter for him like it did before.
While everyone was on this tangent of school, Five was just staring blankly at them all. They all noticed Five was quiet and they couldn't understand why at first. I mean this was normal as school was coming up in a month and they all needed to go. It then clicked for Will and he asked,
"You know you have to go to school right? My mom isn't going to allow to skip it if you're living with us."
Five was still silent and Lucas chuckled a bit. School...like a public school, with other students and not be confined to the Byers home to learn stuff. Five pulse spiked a bit since this was something that slipped his mind.
"You're scared about going to high school?" he asked.
Max got up and playfully with light force punched him in the arm.
"Did you forget Five's been homeschooled by his dad? Of course he might be nervous at least. I mean, he would actually be in school for the first time with students his age and older. Although I can see him being bored in class since he seems like he's a know it all already." Max commented.
"What makes you think I can even go to school? I don't even have a past here, previous grades, or any of that. I won't be on any of the teacher's rosters." Five expressed in an agitated tone.
Will smiled a bit warmly and shook his head.
"I told my mom to talk to Dr. Owens, a doctor who has been looking over me since my time in the Upside Down and has helped El to integrated into Hawkins life. He's not asking any questions and he still owes my family favors for his people nearly killing me last year. So when September starts…you'll be going to school too."
Five raised an eyebrow and hoped Will was joking. No way in hell was he going to go to school, right? Will smile wasn't fading and that both excited and scared Five deep down. I mean he wasn't scared of the other students or the teachers or not knowing anything, but more of just the experience itself. Actually, going from class to class, integrating with others that weren't Will and everyone made him apprehensive. Maybe it would just be a boring ass time and he could see himself being in detention for his smart mouth and attitude since he may even be smarter than the teachers. Mike was a bit amused that Five kind of seemed to be losing his cool about going to school with them all. Guess there was some things that even made the confident super powered teen boy timid and unsure.
"Will does have a point Five. It would look more suspicious if you are working instead of in school. I don't even think you can work while school's in session, right?" Mike asked.
Shit, Mike was right about that. Five was familiar with the labor laws of Hawkins now and….fuck he in fact wouldn't be allowed to work during school hours.
"Son of a bitch you're right…well fuck my ass. It looks like I don't have a choice in multiple ways. Guess I will have to go to school and blend in as much as possible. Most subjects should be simple and any bullies that try and harass me I can kick their asses easily. You know that a bit well don't you Mikey?" Five expressed with a faint tease at the end.
"Yeah well don't do that again or El and Will of course will be mad at you. Friends shouldn't hurt each other…and yeah I guess friends of friends might be loose friends at least. By the way, it's Mike. M-I-K-E. None of this Mikey teasing and I hate being called by my full name," Mike shared.
"Speaking of names, Dr. Owens is making a completely new birth certificate for you. My mom may have told him to change the last name since Johnathon kind of looked up your father. He's…."
Five sighed and nodded. The fact Reggie in this time wasn't alerted that another 'Hargreeves' was in Hawkins was surprising. Then again, that could just be paranoia to think Reginald somehow knew he existed and was going to take action. Part of him hoped that this time's Reggie never sought him out.
"Yeah, he's an eccentric millionaire that kind of boarders on being a billionaire at times who runs multiple companies, including an umbrella corporation. I'm very familiar with my father and his accomplishments Will." Five spoke a bit bitterly.
"Well if he is a very notable figure then it's probably good your last name is being changed. That way no paradoxes can happen right?" Dustin reasoned.
Five nodded in agreement and added,
"Very true. I just hope whatever last name this Dr. Owens is forging is at least decent and I hope he's making my grades close to an 4.0 or perfect average as possible. I'm not going to dumb myself down to fit grades that are mediocre if that is what he thinks."
"Nope, told him you were smart so the fake transcripts will reflect that." Will spoke with a warm smile.
Five chuckled at that and he glanced over to everyone.
"How about we grab a bite to eat to celebrate Mike and I forming this party saving truce, my treat." Five expressed with a smile.
"Your treat?" Mike questioned.
"I worked all summer Mike, I did put most of the money away to get some new pieces of clothing and well now I guess school supplies but I do have some spending money for things like this. Now are you going to come with us or not?" Five asked.
Mike managed to actually laugh a soft and friendly laugh, nodding in agreement.
"And you're going to meet us there with you're blipping since you can't ride a bike for shit yet right?" Mike teased.
"You know it and you can't deny it's a pretty sweet ability."
"El's is better but…yeah are we all up for pizza?" Mike asked.
Everyone nodded and things were now calm within the party of friends for the time being. Five was now an official member of the party and he was glad to be a part of a group that wasn't based on powers but on genuine bonds. Mike and him were going to constantly butt heads but at least it would be less antagonistic. As summer was drawing closer to a close Five will soon be experiencing something even more intimidating than every villain, robber, or chaotic disasters he's faced up to this point: high school.
