Set during season 1.

THIS STORY COMES WITH COVER ART. I cross-posted this story. To see the image, please go to my AO3 (Archive of Our Own) account (under the same username, RainbowSheltie).

BETA: Annabelle

Luther still believed the world was filled with good guys and bad guys, no matter what Five said to the contrary. There were definite gray areas, but as a whole, evil existed and murdering innocent people was something only bad guys did. He somehow got it into his head that Five had changed—no more assassinations, no needless killing. Missions from the Commission were a thing of the past.

Luther came storming into Five's room just before dawn, in time to see Five climb in through the bedroom window.

"Late night?" Luther asked.

Five shrugged.

"You could say that," Five replied. "But why don't you tell me what brings you here so early?"

"You do. You're doing it again, aren't you? I know exactly what you're up to," Luther fumed. "Here. I found this in your room."

He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and thrust it towards Five, who walked over and took it. It had a name, date and address on it—all information related to a man who was killed the night before.

"You were out that night, too. I can put two and two together. You're working as an assassin again."

Five crumpled up the paper and threw it in the waste bin next to the desk.

"I guess you caught me," Five said. "So what business is it of yours?"

"What—what business?" Luther stomped over, towering over Five with an intimidating presence. "It's wrong, that's why. We were brought up to be heroes, to fight crime and save the innocent. To do good."

"You would like that, wouldn't you? Knowing you were able to redeem the tortured soul of an assassin who spent his entire life alone. Such noble aspirations," Five said mockingly. "Do you think I need to be saved?"

"Killing is not the answer and it never has been," Luther shot back.

Five laughed.

"Okay, Luther, I'll give it to you straight. The Commission modified my DNA by mixing it with strands of different serial killers, turning me into the perfect assassin. As much as a leopard can't change its spots, I will always be a killer—"

Luther grabbed Five's collar and shook him.

"Don't you understand? You don't have to be."

Five blinked out of Luther's grasp and reappeared behind him.

"But I am."

"Then get out," Luther said, turning around. "And find somewhere else to stay."

Luther stormed out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

This wasn't entirely unexpected, and whether Luther came around or not remained to be seen. Until then there was one place Five could go where he wouldn't be judged, to the one person Five knew had always cared about him: Viktor Hargreeves.