Work Text:
"Loid, what time do you think you will be home today?"
Loid paused mid-way of putting his sand-colored coat on. He turned to Yor who was standing by their dining table carrying a pile of plates from their breakfast.
He blinked.
"I think I should be back by dinner at the latest. Why?"
Why indeed. It wasn't customary for him and Yor to ask if each other's whereabouts. Unless it has something to do with Anya, whatever Yor does outside the house is at her discretion and the same goes for Loid. But since the beginning of their "marriage", Yor had been nothing but considerate of their circumstances. She always made sure to be home as early as possible so that Anya had some company. When she does have to be out late, she calls ahead of time.
Their marriage may be a sham but Yor was sincere in her commitments and watching her try her hardest somehow pulled Loid into dedicating a semblance of realism to his role. A dangerous notion for a spy but a little ….self - indulgence once in a while wouldn’t hurt.
“Papa, promise to be back by dinner?”
This time it was Anya who spoke. Somehow the little girl had managed to manifest next to him, dressed in her Eden College uniform, her school bag on her back, looking up at him expectantly with her round, emerald eyes.
“I will try my best.” Loud furrowed his brows. “But what’s happening tonight? What’s going on?”
The spy racked his brain for all possibilities. Anya’s birthday? No. Yor’s? No. Any special anniversary? Not that he could recall.
“Papa doesn’t even remember,” Anya giggled at Yor.
“Well, that works for us then,” Yor smiled back at the little girl.
Before Loid could interrogate any further, Anya tugged on Loid’s hand and pulled him in the direction of their door.
“You’ll see at dinner papa,” said Anya, “bye mama!”
“Bye! Have a good day.”
Loid had barely managed to mutter a quick goodbye to Yor before Anya yanked him out of the house with her.
Well, whatever they’re planning, he’ll make sure to be five steps ahead of them.
…That was the plan. Initially.
As Twilight – the best agent of WISE – everything would fall into place, according to his expectation.
But as Loid Forger? Well, Loid was very intimate with anxiety and uncertainty.
Loid had spent a large portion of his work backlogging missions and planning out the next five steps of Operation Strix, complete with ten backup schemes in case his primary initiatives got derailed. And as an aside, he had researched every possible festivities that took place in the world for that day. And just when he was about to go home that day, Loid received the encrypted message.
T cipher.
Two missions back to back for the evening.
Loid groaned internally. He would be late home. Not too late, hopefully. The first mission would be quick; an information intel of Ostanian bank. The second one was a little more tricky — derailing an illegal cargo smuggling stolen Westalis national artifacts and securing the goods to be shipped back to Westaliss. If there were no unexpected developments, he could finish the mission in two hours at the latest and make it back to the house half hour late from dinnertime.
Loid reached out for his phone and dialled the number he had memorized by heart.
"Hello. Forger's household!"
The corner of Loid's lips quirked up ever so slightly as he heard Yor's cheerful voice through the receiver.
"Hi, Yor. It's me."
"Oh, Loid! Is something wrong?"
"No, everything's fine," he replied. "A little busy on my end actually, which was the reason I called. I know you and Anya expected me to be home by dinner but I might be a little late, perhaps by half an hour. Is that okay with you both?"
"...Oh."
There's a drop of disappointment that was hard to miss in Yor's voice and Loid felt as if he had done the most heinous of crime. In retrospect, maybe he did. After all, Operation Strix was his priority and keeping the Forger family happy and whole was part of the mission.
“But if it’s that important for you two, I can try to rearrange my schedule around,” Loid quickly said. The Handler should understand. Operation Strix was SS ranked and any instability in the Forger household is detrimental to the success of the mission.
Plus he won’t be abandoning his family that way.
(Who was part of his mission and nothing more, Loid had to remind himself.)
“No, that’s fine. I understand. Work is work,” Yor replied, her voice returned to her normally soft, comforting tone.
“What about Anya?”
“I’ll try to make her understand.”
“Do you mind telling me what it is that you both have planned?” Loid asked. "If it's important I'll see what I can do."
There was a pause and then muffled voices of what seemed to be Yor talking to Anya. A brief static played before he could hear Yor's voice once more.
"Anya's keen to keep the element of surprise it seems," she spoke, "it should be fine as long as you don't come home too late."
The blond man let out a smile into the receiver. "All right, if you say so. I should be home not long after dinnertime. Don't wait for me to eat, Anya can get really hungry."
"Okay. We'll see you at home then."
"Goodbye Yor."
"Bye Loid."
Loid hung up the phone and sighed. He had a plan. He had a schedule. Most of all, he had a promise to keep to his family.
Things should go according to plan tonight.
But the twisting and turning he felt in his gut weren't reassuring.
—
Just as he told Yor, Loid had reached home past dinnertime.
Except, he arrived a little later than he should be. Three and a half hours late to be exact. It was eleven in the evening when he reached the front door of the Forger family's apartment.
Damn it, I hope Anya and Yor won't be too upset with me.
Things have been derailed and off to a rocky start right from the beginning. The bank's section director whom he was supposed to gain intel from had arrived two hours later than anticipated which haphazardly pushed back his entire evening plans. Once he was done with his first mission, his second one had to be greatly improvised. Instead of intercepting the smugglers at the dock, Loid had to deal with a heavily guarded warehouse a little further from the docks. It took a bit longer for him to decimate everyone in there. It took a bit more of his time to oversee the safe transport of the stolen artifacts into the docks. Not to mention that Loid had to clean up some of the wounds he received in the retrieval process, just so he won’t arouse suspicion and concern from Yor and Anya.
And now here he was.
A father who had broken his promise to his family. Again.
There wasn’t enough time in the world for someone in his profession.
Loid inhaled a steady stream of air, letting the feeling of his lungs expanding override the twisting anxieties in his guts. Seeing how late it was, Loid expected everyone in the house to be asleep already. At least, he was certain Anya would be. But judging by the lack of noise, it was safe to assume that everyone had retired to their rooms already.
The door opened with a low click and Loid carefully walked inside. The first thing he saw within the dim lighting of the house was Bond sleeping not too far off from the entrance. The dog perked up the moment he heard Loid step into the house.
"Shhh," Loid coaxed him. Bond let out a low whimper before returning to sleep once more. Loid walked passed him into the Forgers' living room.
He stilled.
On their living room couch, he saw Yor sleeping, her head and arms nestled on an armrest.
A pang of guilt snuck its way into Loid's chest. She was waiting for him. His blue eyes scanned the sleeping form of his "wife", the steady rise and fall of her chest and her peaceful face. Loid's face softened. It baffled him how such a gentle person also has the physical strength to take down a bull. But her duality was what he loved about Yor. Her kindness paired with her strength was exactly something the world needed for peace.
Wait, hang on, loved ?
Loid shook his head. He respected Yor. A lot. He definitely cared about her wellness of safety even though he knew Yor was more than capable of protecting herself. He's comfortable around her, but that's a given considering they lived together under one roof.
But love? That's a concept that was taboo for someone like Loid. Emotional attachments are a liability in his line of work.
Come on Twilight, don't lose your edge, he berated himself. He threw away those thoughts and slowly walked towards Yor to wake her up. Sleeping in that position would not do her any good.
He paused when he caught something on their dining table from his peripheral vision. Loid turned and moved closer to take a good look.
There was a small, circle cake in the center of the table. A small portion of it has been sliced off. He squinted to have a better look at the gold lettering at the center of the cake.
Happy Birthday Papa!
Birthday? His birthday? And that's when the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
How could he make such a rookie mistake? Today was supposed to be Loid Forger's birthday. Twilight had assumed countless identities before all with different birthdates but he never had to take up a disguise where his false birthday would be celebrated that he didn’t even consider the false birthdate he had given Yor and Anya to complete the Loid Forger package would be a reason for celebration.
Next to the cake, on his spot on the table, there was an empty plate set up with utensils laid out neatly on its sides. If Loid had felt guilty for arriving home late, the thought of Yor and Anya anticipating his arrival only to be disappointed that he never showed made him wish the ground would swallow him whole.
Such a terrible father and husband he was.
“Nng…Loid?”
Loid straightened up at the voice. He snapped his head to his right, watching as Yor was sitting straight up on the couch, rubbing her eyes groggily. “You’re finally home.”
“Yes…” he replied, the uncertainty evident in his voice.
“What time is it?” Yor turned to their clock. “Goodness! It’s very late.”
“It is,” Loid spoke. He swallowed the unpleasant sensation forming at the base of his throat. “Yor, I’m so so sorry for not keeping to my words earlier. Things got really busy at work and I couldn't get out of them – "
Yor smiled. One of her saccharine smiles that never fail to bring reassurement and comfort to Anya and himself. Loid felt his heart doing a type of cardiac somersault at the sight.
"It's okay," Yor replied. "It's beyond your control. I'm sure you currently have a lot on your plate right now to completely forget your own birthday. Besides," as Yor said her next few words, Loid thought the smile on her face only bloomed wider, "you're doing your best to help others. How can we ever be mad at you for that?"
Loid's eyes widened, his mind coming up blanks for words. There were only two people in the world who could render the silver-tongued spy speechless — Anya and the woman in front of him right now. Despite his years of experience, those two never failed to say things beyond his expectations. Surprising. Confusing at times. But more often than not, they're the words he never thought he needed to hear, only to discover that he did need them.
Loid was trying to save people. Save the world.
But was he truly making a difference to world peace when he kept abandoning the people he was supposed to prioritize most above all?
Loid walked over and sat at the opposite end of the couch from Yor. "You could have told me you were planning a little party. I would have transferred one of my appointments to one of my colleagues."
"I wanted to, but Anya said she had a lot of fun when you threw that surprise party for me on Mother's Day, she wanted to do the same thing for you. Although…" Yor tightened her grip around the fabric of the red sweater covering her lap as she directed her attention to the table, "...it's not much of a party. I’m not very good at this. I only got us cake, cooked my mother's stew and oh, of course, presents!"
Yor stood up quickly and ran to their kitchen. She came out soon, holding a ceramic mug with a flower ribbon attached to it.
"This is from Anya. She told me to give it to you whenever you come home."
Loid took the object from Yor, examining it. The mug was painted in pristine white, save for the character haphazardly painted in Anya’s scribbles. It was a man with a tuft of blond hair on his head, A flowing brown cape over his green outfit. He was wearing an eye mask that was similar to Bondman. Above him was written “Super-spy-man Papa”.
Loid couldn’t help but chuckle. If only Anya knew that her obsession with her spy cartoon was hitting way too close to home on his secret.
“Adorable,” he muttered fondly.
“I hope you’ll use that for your morning coffee tomorrow. It would make Anya so happy. She was a little upset that she didn't have the opportunity to give that to you tonight.”
“I will,” he nodded, placing the mug gently in front of him on the table, warmth brimming in his chest. As Twilight, he really shouldn't be so sentimental over these little things but this little family he created for himself made it difficult for him to shield himself from needless emotions. He turned his attention back to Yor, noticing she was fidgeting in her spot. “Is everything okay?"
"Ah, y-yes," she faltered, small streaks of red blooming across her cheeks. "Um..I hope you don't mind but I have a gift for you too."
Loid's eyebrows shot up. Well, he didn't expect that at all.
"Of course, I wouldn't mind but you didn't have to get me anything."
Yor shook her head. "No, I want to. What kind of a wife would I be if I didn't give anything special for my husband?"
Ah, of course. It's all part of maintaining the image of a happy, loving family. Loid pushed aside the tiny hint of disappointment at the back of his head. Why was he feeling this way? It's as things should be. Playing the role was part of their respective responsibilities.
Yor pulled out a black rectangular box from under their coffee table and slid it towards him.
"I..I hope you like it. Just let me know if it's not to your taste, and I can exchange it for something else."
Loid smiled, taking the box into his grasp, and prying the lid open. "Of course, I'll like it. Whatever it is, I'll be sure to take good care of…it."
Loid stared at the content of the box in his hand, an indiscernible expression covered his face.
Inside the box was a watch — sleek black leather with a 40 mm diameter steel-backed casing. Its hours and sword-like hands are gilded in gold color. Overall a classic timepiece worth quite a bit of dalcs. It wasn’t the most expensive model out there but he knew it wasn’t one a model the common folk would consider buying.
“...Do you not like it?”
Loid looked up at Yor, her face was crestfallen.
“No, Yor. I love this. Truly.” He looked down at the watch once more and his expression softened.
“I know you’re an efficient man so I wanted to give you something that will be of use. I also noticed the watch you currently own is slightly worn out.”
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” he chuckled. The leather of the timepiece he wore had shown signs of aging and the glass case had sustained a noticeable crack from when he dodged a bullet during his latest mission. But it did its job, had survived the countless rough-housing with him. He had bought it during his first day deployed as Twilight, a piece of years gone by that he was willing to keep.
There was another reason why he never bought himself a new watch.
Because time has stopped for him from the moment he became Twilight and discarded every ounce of who he was. As Twilight, he had been many people but himself and time doesn’t tick for an empty canvas. Time was only a means to an end, a tool for him to fulfill his missions and none of the luxury that it provides normal individuals. Time was a luxury Loid never felt like he had.
Which was why the gift he received felt heavier than it truly was in his hands. Because as Twilight, he would always defile the sanctity of time.
“Thank you, Yor. It’s exactly to my taste,” his lips curled up into a smile.
“I’m glad,” Yor let out a sigh of relief. “There’s more. Turn the watch around.”
Loid blinked curiously but complied regardless. He carefully pulled the watch from the box and flipped it to its back. Something was engraved into the steel back of the object,
Time spent with you is worth every second
“Let me explain,” Yor immediately spoke before Loid could inquire further. “You’re a busy man and I’ve heard many apologies from you for not sparing time for us. Me and Anya. But I - we want you to know that that was never the case. Every moment you dedicated to us was precious in its way no matter how short it was.”
At that moment, Yor’s smile looked impossibly bright and warm. Like the first rays of sunlight that illuminated an endless night.
“That’s why I don’t want you to beat yourself up or feel as if you’ve abandoned us. Because you didn’t. Not once. We enjoyed every second you’ve graced us with your presence and that’s what mattered the most. And I hope you saw me and Anya the same way as well.”
Loid remained silent, processing each word that rolled off Yor’s tongue. He traced the engraved words at the back of the watch, returning to the word “you” over and over again. That word was meant for Loid Forger but Loid Forger was not his own identity. Much as he denied it, Loid knew deep down that the man Loid Forger was now carried bits of the person he thought he discarded long ago.
Y-O-U. Those words were speaking to him. Not Twilight. Not Loid. Him.
A spy should always be in the shadows, never to be seen.
But Yor had always been able to see him even in if he hid in the darkest of nights.
“Have I ever told you,” Loid finally said, “that you somehow always say words I needed to hear the most?”
It was Yor’s turn to give him a quizzical blink. “Pardon?”
“Ever since the beginning, when we started becoming the Forgers, you’ve always known what to say at the right time.”
“Oh,” Yor said bashfully, “I never thought I did such a thing. I’ve only tried my best to give comfort when someone is unsettled.”
“And you excel at that,” Loid opined, “when I had my doubts with Anya, when I was unsure of our standing as Forgers family, you knew just what to say to eradicate all my worries. Just like now.” He placed the watch back into its box. “I had always been unsettled about my work-life balance but through a couple of simple words and action, you’ve managed to settle all my self-doubts. Your strength lies in your kindness Yor and I honestly couldn’t imagine how I can be where I am now without you by my side.”
Yor was undoubtedly beet-red down to the tips of her ears. But she held her ground and managed to look back at Loid straight in the eyes. “I...I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say whatever is on your mind, as you always do.”
“I uh,” Yor cast her gaze downwards, avoiding his gaze momentarily, “It’s kind of a wish, I suppose. This gift I gave you.”
“The watch?”
“Time,” she said, this time looking up at him straight in the eyes. “Anya had always said that she wanted to have more of your time if possible so this is probably my wishful way of trying to grant her wish. To give you more time to spare. I know it sounds silly.”
It wasn’t. Not in the slightest. Because even before Yor had told him that, Loid thought she had handed him something intangible, beyond the physical manifestation of the watch.
“Time," Loid repeated, "is the best gift anyone could give a person."
"Especially time spent with family and loved ones. There's nothing that could compare to that," Yor added, "if my wish is granted, I hope Anya would be happier with her father around more frequently."
"And what about you?" Those words were out before Loid could stop himself.
"Me?"
Well, no backing out now. "Do you have anything you want from me if I have more time to spare?"
Loid noted how Yor's shoulders stiffened at his question, the redness across her cheeks and the tips of her ears returned once more. In retrospect, he really shouldn't have posed the question. It could easily break the balance and harmony that they both have built pretending to be a married couple together. But Loid was curious. Had been for a while. And that curiosity triples in intensity ever since their failed attempt at a kiss a few weeks ago on Mother's Day night.
There was always something more and he was sure it wasn't part of the family act he had to perform for Operation Strix. But Loid needed to make sure that it wasn't only him who perceived things the way they were. Him and his increasingly botched emotional assessments whenever it comes to his wife .
Yor's answer was not what he thought he would hear but hit right home for him. "More time as Yor Forger, as long as possible, that would be my greatest wish." She paused, biting on her bottom lips before resuming. "I realize each day that passes by means another precious memory to be made at the price of knowing it's another day less to be with you, Anya and Bond. Our marriage may be fake, but the thought that we have to go our separate ways someday causes me some very real feelings of pain. A wishful part of me hopes there won't be an end to the Forgers."
Loid stared at Yor — adorably flustered and painfully honest. And from her words alone, Loid couldn't hear anything else apart from the rapid pounding of his heart.
It took a special kind of power to catch the infamous Twilight off guard and bring him down to the level of vulnerability and it gave him a particular kind of pleasure that the one person who managed to do so was the strongest person he ever knew — literally and figuratively. He didn't expect any less. She's a stealthy assassin luring him in with elusive honey traps and he willingly offered his neck against her blades.
Loid went around the coffee table, plopping himself down on the ground next to where Yor was sitting.
"You know…." he began, choosing his words carefully, "if the Forgers family would last a lifetime, I think there should be some changes that needed to be made."
Yor blinked. "Such as?"
"More authenticity needed to be brought in, especially behind closed doors."
"Oh you don't have to worry about that," Yor replied. "Sometimes I forget that I'm not Anya's actual mother."
Loid chuckled. "I have no doubts in your affections towards Anya. I'm talking about, well, us."
The dark-haired woman tilted her head slightly, her ruby eyes looking straight into him. "What do you mean?"
"A lifetime is a long time, Yor. And although our arrangements might have worked for the past year and a half, that might not be the case in the long run. We're all human, filled with our own feelings and desires. Denying those for a long time can hurt ourselves, physically and emotionally."
Not for him. Loid as Twilight had honed the skills of suppressing his impulses. Or at least, that's what he thought. But as his gaze was fixed on Yor – beautiful in the secrecy of the night — he could feel his resolve crumbling.
"What if along the way you found someone you’re truly in love with? What will happen to our marriage then?”
“Right, that." Yor paused, She fidgeted in her spot once more. Slowly, she brought her eyes to him once more. “I don’t think that would be a problem.”
“Why?”
Loid’s fishing. He knew that. And if he was being Loid Forger right now, the perfect gentleman, he would stop probing seeing how unsettled Yor had become. But they’re talking about the long game and some things just have to be discussed instead of dancing around each other without words. It would help Yor figure out what she truly wants in her life. It would help Loid too.
For the mission , he would normally rationalize but he knew that whatever is happening between him and Yor right now was something outside of WISE's radar.
If anything, Loid wanted to keep it from WISE's watchful eyes. Keep it strictly as his.
"Because…I don't mind being a real wife to you," Yor answered.
Ba-dump .
"Do you want to?"
"I do," Yor replied without missing a beat.
Ba-dump.
"I want you to be mine too. Have been thinking about it for a while." Around a year ago Loid almost said those words to Yor for the sake of Operation Strix. This time, he spoke those words with an honesty that shouldn't exist in a man like him.
Loid felt blood rushing to his cheeks despite his best effort to remain collected. Yor was equally flushed.
"It might take me a while to get used to it, though," she said timidly.
"That's fine. We'll take it step by step."
Loid gingerly scooted closer to Yor. He paused when he saw her flinch, bracing himself for a hit that was enough to take him out. It never came though. Instead, Yor swallowed and nodded.
"Step by step," she nodded.
"But practice makes perfect. We have to start somewhere."
"Right," Yor nodded. Loid could feel her warm breath on his skin from how close their faces were.
There was a millisecond of pause before he broke the electrifying tension that shrouded them.
"Please don't hurt me too badly for what I'm about to do." Loid closed his eyes and grazed his lips gingerly against the smooth skin of Yor's cheeks, a little way off from the corner of her lips. He could smell her all around him, sweet and fruity but untouchable — like the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden.
It was tempting, to shift himself by an inch and met her lips with his but he promised to take things slow with Yor and he would be a man of his word when it came to this .
No rush. It's not worth ruining things by rushing.
Loid pulled away, lips pursed into a reassuring smile at Yor. She was quivering, beet red and Loid was ready to find himself suddenly flying across his living room because of his wife.
Yor's arms shot towards him and he braced himself. Instead of immense pain, Yor's hand caught the collars of his shirt in a tight grip.
"Loid…I…" No more words were spoken and the next thing he knew, his lips were enveloped with something soft and warm. He could feel Yor's inexperience through the tremors of her lips but that all didn't matter because Loid was drowning. He drowned in the echoes of his heartbeat. Drowned in Yor's scent, her warmth. In Yor, everything that she was.
His eyelids fluttered into a close and he pressed himself into the kiss, one hand finding his way to the back of Yor's head, holding her still in place.
As Twilight, he had kissed countless women.
But goddamn, no one ever made him feel like a teenager experiencing his first love the way Yor did. And over a simple kiss.
He moaned into her lips and instinctively slid out his tongue against her.
And he felt himself promptly pushed back by the force of a speeding car to the point where he saw stars. When his vision cleared, Yor was clambering towards him with a panicked expression.
"Loid! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, are you okay? I didn't mean to do that, you just caught me off guard with…with the k-kiss."
Lois shook off the remnants of the disoriented feeling in his head.
"No, it's fine, I'm okay. I'm sorry, that was a little forward of me."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry I should have asked you first. I'm sorry I was probably terrible and –"
"Hey Yor, calm down," he grabbed her left hand, "you weren't terrible at all. That was a good start. A great start actually."
More than Loid was expecting. And now she left him wanting more.
Patience.
"I hope I didn't read the moment wrong," she muttered.
"No, you read it perfectly," he squeezed her hand gently before proceeding to rub soothing circular motions over her knuckles, letting her be accustomed to his touch. "We'll practice with that, and get better from there."
"...Okay," Yor whispered. "We will."
They stared silently into each other's eyes. Heartbeats settled, and a comfortable sense of quiet washed over the two.
"I, uh, I think I'll head off to bed now," Yor muttered.
"Okay, it's really late as well," Loid nodded, "I'll clean up over here, don't worry about it."
"All right." A beat of silence. "Good night Loid."
He smiled. "Good night, Yor."
Uncertainty flashed over her face for a brief moment but it was gone as soon as it appeared as Yor leaned towards Loid and brush her lips gingerly upon the corner of his lips.
“Happy birthday,” she whispered, She bolted up and walked at a hurried speed towards her bedroom, leaving Loid alone with the tingling sensation on his face where Yor’s lips were a few seconds ago. He heard her door click shut and he huffed. Loid darted his eyes back to the table coffee table where the mug from Anya and Yor’s watch lay on.
There were many things that he anticipated to happen out of Operation Strix but rediscovering the meaning of true happiness was not on his list.
He stood up and sat back on the couch, pulling the watch towards him. He took off the watch on his wrist and replaced it with the one Yor gifted him. He scanned the timepiece, watching the ticking of the hands.
It’s just another watch.
And yet, to Loid, this one seems to tell time differently than his previous one.
Whereas he could only tell the present with his old watch, Loid could see a future with this one. It gave him hope. It brimmed him with encouragement. It made him realize the person he once was and realized that he was not as broken as he thought initially. A second chance at happiness for the little boy who thought the world had betrayed him.
He sighed, but the smile on his face remained intact.
“You’ve really gone sloppy, Twilight.”
Extra:
Anya let out a yawn as she wobbled her way towards the dining room for breakfast.
“Ah! Good morning papa!”
Loid looked up from the newspaper in his hand.
“Good morning Anya.”
The little girl scampered over and sat in her chair. She pouted at Loid. “You missed the party last night.”
“I’m sorry, I had a lot of work to do,” Loid replied, “but, I got your present.”
Loid showed Anya the mug he was drinking his morning coffee out of, the superhero version of him smiling proudly at Anya.
Anya brightened up. “Do you like it?”
“Your drawing has certainly improved,” Loid nodded. He gave her several head pats, “I’ll take good care of this forever.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Yay!” Anya swung her arms and legs excitedly. She looked behind Loid towards the kitchen where Yor was washing dishes. “Good morning mama!”
“Good morning Anya,” Yor chirped back at her.
Anya darted her eyes from Loid to Yor back and forth again. Both of her parents seemed particularly…happy this morning.
Mama’s singing is nicer than usual and papa doesn’t have lots of stomachey today.
What happened?
And so she resorted to looking into the minds of her two parents.
Anya promptly gasped.
“Papa and mama smooched!”
There was a loud clang as the pan that Yor was in the middle of washing dropped to the ground. The newspaper in Loid’s hand had sustained a brown stain from the coffee that he spat out. The two grown-ups in the room turned to Anya, both of their faces equally beet red.
“We did not!” They exclaimed in unison.
“....Heh.”
Papa and mama are liars.
But at least they’re liars in love.