Chapter Text
“Yor!” said Millie, rushing up to her just as she was about to sit at her desk to begin the work day. “Would you be able to help me out? Mr. Jones said yes to a date, but I don’t know where to take him!”
Yor looked startled. WHAT? Hemlock actually said yes to a date!?
“Oh,” said Yor. “To be honest, I don’t know much about date spots.”
“That’s the thing,” said Millie. “He said he wanted to go some place where traitors to our country may be found. Do you know what he could have meant by that?”
“Hmmm,” said Yor. She thought about all the places that the Shopkeeper had assigned her to visit. Her mind flipped with images of the many assassinations she had completed.
The time she took out a traitor on a rooftop bar, the time she killed someone in an office elevator shaft, the time she thrust her stiletto weapon into the heart of someone in a secluded hotel lobby…
Now that she was really thinking about it, she realized that most of her assassinations occurred in hotels that had secret goings-on. The hotel she had frequented most often was the Royal Berlint Palace. She had completed so many assassinations there that she practically had the blueprint of the place memorized by heart.
“What about the Royal Berlint Palace?” said Yor.
“Oh, they do have a really nice restaurant,” said Millie. “I think a friend of mine mentioned that once. But what does that place have to do with traitors to our homeland?”
Yor shrugged. “I don’t know why traitors seem to like that place,” she said.
“Huh?” said Millie.
“Yor!!” said Millie, rushing to Yor’s desk after lunch. “I mentioned The Royal Berlint Palace to Mr. Jones and he seemed to like the idea! Thank you so much!”
Yor smiled. “Happy to help,” she said.
“But also…” said Millie, looking a little nervous. “I have a favor to ask you…”
“Sure,” said Yor. “What is it?”
“Could you and your husband come with us and we can make it a double date?” said Millie.
Yor blushed at the idea of going on another date with Loid so soon.
“Oh, Millie…” said Yor, hesitantly. “I don’t really think that’s a good idea.”
“Please,” said Millie, clasping her hands together and pouting. “Mr. Jones is so cool, but I don’t know anything about him! He’s so mysterious. I just don’t know how it’ll go if it’s just the two of us alone. I might be so nervous that I ruin the entire date.”
It’s more likely Hemlock is the one who ruins the entire date, thought Yor.
“Have you tried asking Camilla or Sharon?” said Yor.
“When I filled Camilla in on the details…” said Millie. “...her exact words were, ‘No way in hell am I cavorting with that loser.’”
Yor nodded in understanding. “And Sharon?”
“She said I was making a big mistake dating another hot guy instead of looking for substance,” said Millie.
“Right,” said Yor.
“Please,” said Millie, pleading. “You already know Mr. Jones a little bit. You worked with him on that project where he had to give you the samples. And you guys seem comfortable with each other! You’d be perfect for a helping hand."
Yor looked at Millie’s big pleading eyes and desperate face. She felt like she couldn’t say no.
So instead she said, “I’ll…think about it.”
Millie grinned.
“And I’ll have to see what Loid thinks,” said Yor.
“Thank you! Thank you!” said Millie, as she walked back over to her desk.
Yor thought about Millie’s request.
The biggest issue with this double date was that if Hemlock wasn’t good at hiding his assassination job, then that might land her in trouble as well. What if Hemlock lets something slip and Loid finds out she’s an assassin? Although…so far, Loid hadn’t seemed to pick up on anything which had been a relief. Times when she accidentally broke the carnival hammer machine or fought Loid’s patients for him when they first met, hadn’t tipped him off. Maybe Loid was just a trusting person, and having Hemlock there wouldn’t be too bad.
Yor sat alone at her desk, the office mostly empty around her. She typed quickly on her typewriter, determined to finish an assignment before heading home.
“Thorn Princess,” said a familiar voice.
Yor jumped. She turned her head to find Hemlock standing right behind her.
“You’re not supposed to use my code name at the office!” whispered Yor, moving her head left and right, making sure no one was around.
She had been caught off guard because Hemlock had used his assassin skills to not be noticed by her.
“Relax,” said Hemlock. “No one’s here.”
Hemlock leaned on her desk, and started playing with some of the pens she kept there. “So…Millie told me you and your husband will be joining us on a double date,” he said.
“I never agreed to that,” said Yor. “I said I’ll think about it. Also, why are you even going on this date?”
Hemlock tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“Why did you say yes to a date with Millie?” said Yor. “Do you like her?”
“Hmmm,” said Hemlock. “I like…having an opportunity to find traitors to our homeland.”
Yor responded to that with a deadpan expression.
“You shouldn’t date someone if you aren’t serious!” said Yor. “Director McMahon gave me this same advice – if you aren’t committed to it, everyone will end up getting hurt.”
“Well…the director told me going on the date would help me improve my social skills,” said Hemlock.
“He did?” said Yor.
“Yeah. To be honest, I don’t know if I like Millie exactly…” said Hemlock, crossing his arms and looking away. “I don’t know anything about her. But the director said I'll find out if I like her on the date.”
“So what you’re saying is you could like Millie,” said Yor.
Hemlock turned a little red. “Yeah,” he said. “I suppose…” He started fiddling with the cuff of his suit, focusing all his attention on it as he continued in a low voice, “...that’s a possibility.”
Yor gasped. Could Hemlock actually like Millie?
“Anyway, the director’s been coaching me on how to treat a woman,” said Hemlock. “So I’m not going to ruin the date if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“That is exactly what I was thinking,” said Yor.
She smiled.
“Well, that’s good. I’m happy to hear you are getting the right training for this date.”
“About that…” said Hemlock. “The director and I both support Millie’s idea to turn this into a double date.”
Yor groaned.
“I feel like a one on one date would be too intense,” said Hemlock. “When it’s just two people, there’s no buffer. My social skills aren’t advanced enough. So please, if you can, ask your husband to come on the double date.”
Yor looked around to make sure they were alone. “But what if my husband finds out…about…you know…our other jobs?” said Yor, in a low voice. “What if one of us slips and says something.”
“We’ll be careful,” whispered Hemlock. “I’ve been at this job for about a month and we haven't been found out yet, have we?”
“I guess you’re right….” said Yor.
“And you’ve been with your husband for seven months, and he hasn’t suspected anything, right?” said Hemlock. “Plus, he’s a normal civilian – even if something slips, the chances of him noticing it and clocking it are very slim.”
“Fine…” said Yor. “But you have to be on your best behavior.”
“I will, I promise,” said Hemlock.
Yor was nervous to ask Loid out on another date when the last one had turned out so horribly. During their last date, they had been held hostage in a terrorist hijacking!
She hoped Loid wouldn’t judge her for asking for another date so soon. But this time, if he said no, she realized she would be okay with it. She had no real desire to spend an evening with Hemlock and Millie.
Loid, Yor, and Anya sat at the dinner table eating hamburg steaks, the sound of their utensils clinking as they ate their food. Yor glanced over at Loid. She made the decision to bring up Millie’s request.
“Um, Loid?” said Yor, hesitantly. Loid abruptly stopped the knife and fork he had on his plate. He looked up at her, pausing to give her his full attention. “Um…Millie from City Hall asked us to go on a double date with her and…this other guy.”
“A double date?” repeated Loid. He wasn’t sure this was a good idea. Their last two dates had left him feeling completely exhausted. And now there would be another couple in the mix.
“Yeah,” said Yor. “Millie’s really nervous, because it’s a first date, and she wanted a buffer.”
Loid took a bite of his hamburger steak. “Who’s the guy?”
“Er…” said Yor. She felt her cheeks warm up. She looked down at her plate. “He’s one of our new coworkers.”
She had to make sure she was portraying Hemlock as just another regular guy...and not a fellow assassin!
“A new coworker? You never mentioned someone new joining your team,” said Loid.
He probably wouldn’t know who this person is. He hadn’t kept up with the personnel files from City Hall because he felt like there had been no need for that.
“What’s his name?” said Loid, as he continued to cut a piece of hamburg steak.
“His name is Jones,” said Yor. “He started about four weeks ago.”
“Oh…” said Loid. “What’s he like?”
“Er…” said Yor. “I’m not sure how to describe him,” she said with a shaky laugh. It was weird talking to Loid about Hemlock. She put a hand on her face, and looked down at her plate again.
Loid narrowed his eyes. Yor looked strangely nervous, and there was some red to her cheek as well.
When Yor had initially brought up the double date, he had been leaning on finding an excuse to decline.
But as Loid observed her, he noticed that there was something about this that warranted investigation.
“Sure,” said Loid. “I’d be willing to go on this double date.”
Yor nodded. “Millie will be happy to hear that,” she said. She was already starting to think this was a bad idea.
The day of the double date, Loid and Yor walked into the lobby of the Royal Berlint Palace together. Loid was wearing his signature green suit, and Yor was wearing her light-pink going-out dress.
The lobby was crowded, with many different types of people milling around. Some were sitting on the couches, others were standing up and waiting, families were chatting with one another, there were kids running around. It was a pretty large open space so the muffled sounds of all the different noises fell neatly into the background.
It did feel strange to Yor to be here for purposes other than assassination. Her eyes immediately located an employee-only door that she once had to infiltrate without anyone in the lobby noticing her. She shook her head, no, today she was just a normal civilian out on a date with her husband.
In just a few seconds, Millie found them and rushed towards them.
“Yor!” said Millie. “I’m so glad you’re here!” She looked at Loid. “Nice to meet you again,” she said.
“Nice to meet you again as well,” said Loid, tipping his hat.
Millie turned to Yor and did a twirl. “How do I look?” She was wearing a sophisticated blue dress, with blue kitten heels, and matching hair clips on her blonde hair.
“You look great,” said Yor.
“Do I have anything stuck in my teeth?” she asked, baring her teeth a little.
Yor took a few seconds to look in there and said, “No.”
“I’m so nervous!” said Millie. “Thanks for agreeing to the double date! If I had to be alone with a man that hot, I would have had a panic attack and fainted.”
A man that hot?, thought Loid. Is that why Yor never told me about her new coworker?
“I’m sure you would do great even without us,” said Yor.
Loid looked at his watch. “Where is this mystery hot guy, anyway?” he asked.
“I told him to meet us at 6:30,” said Millie.
“What? But you told us six!” said Yor.
“Yeah, because what if you guys were running late and I had to meet him alone?” she said.
“You really are nervous,” said Yor. “At work, you always seemed so confident asking him out.”
“I never expected him to say yes!” said Millie.
Yor also hadn’t expected him to say yes.
“Do you have any date tips for me?” she asked. “Oh wait, of course you don’t. I’ve become so desperate, I'm asking you of all people for romance tips!”
“I mean…I did just recently go on two whole dates with my husband,” said Yor.
“Okay, what should I talk to him about?” said Millie.
“Er…” said Yor.
Loid wondered if he should speak up. He knew exactly what to say on a first date, but he didn’t really know if he should show his expertise.
“Just be yourself,” said Loid. “That’s the only way you can gauge if you’re truly compatible with someone.”
Millie groaned. “That’s generic advice! I need real conversation topics!”
“Fine,” said Loid. “Ask them about their hobbies. Ask them about their favorite foods, favorite movies, favorite places they've visited. Neutral topics like that.”
“Hmmm,” said Millie. “Those were good. I’ll try to remember that.”
“Millie?,” said an unfamiliar warm voice from behind her
She jumped.
She slowly turned and realized it was Jones!
He was holding a bouquet of flowers, a slight blush on his cheeks.
He was wearing the same outfit he usually wore: a black coat with a pink striped shirt underneath…but something was different about it. It looked like he had actually put effort into his appearance; the coat was clean and freshly pressed, his long hair was neatly combed and almost shiny.
Millie’s face turned a deep shade of red.
“Jones!” she said, looking shocked. “You’re not supposed to be here until 6:30!”
“I was told by Director McMahon that it’s important to be early for a date,” he said.
He glanced over at Yor, their eyes met in the silent understanding that it was the date training that Director McMahon had conducted.
Yor smiled. It seemed like Hemlock was even able to make his voice sound warm and friendly; the date training really seemed to be working!
Loid’s eyes darted to Yor; he had taken notice of Yor and Hemlock silently communicating with each other.
“These are for you,” said Hemlock, giving Millie the flowers.
Just like the director and I practiced, thought Hemlock.
Millie took them and beamed. “They’re so pretty!” she said. “Thank you!”
“And…” said Hemlock, as the red in his face deepened. He looked slightly away. “...you look beautiful.”
“Th–th-thank you,” said Millie, her entire face red, looking extremely flustered.
This is so romantic! she thought.
Hemlock realized it was time to greet the husband as well. He had practiced this part of the evening with Director McMahon as well.
“Hi, I’m Jones,” said Hemlock, extending out a hand to Loid.
The husband of Thorn Princess, he thought.
“Loid,” said Loid, shaking his hand. Hemlock made sure to give him a firm handshake…which he had also practiced with the director as well.
Loid took this opportunity to observe Jones. He supposed he could see why Millie thought he was attractive – he was tall, and had a muscular build….almost like he was a fighter of some sort? His hair was interesting…it almost seemed like it was cut with a blade? He noted that Jones carried a cane. Was it a stylistic choice? He looked very agile…did he need a cane to walk?
“Shall we go to our table?" said Jones.
The group started walking to the table.
Loid observed the way Jones’ walked. He noticed that Jones didn’t put any pressure on the cane as he stepped forward. Judging by the way he walks, he actually seemed a little too balanced and alert – almost like he was very well trained in combat. So why did he feel the need to bring a cane?
The four of them made it to their table. It was a circular table, and everyone chose their seats quickly which made it so the party sat in the following order, clockwise: Loid, Yor, Hemlock, and Millie. Loid would have preferred if Millie was the one sitting to the other side of Yor instead of Jones.
Hemlock made sure to pull out the chair for Millie.
“Thank you,” said Millie.
Hemlock sat down next to her; his seat situated such that he could look out into the restaurant and beyond. The walls of the restaurant were glass, so he could see into the lobby pretty clearly through them.
Hemlock took a second to scan the crowd. Yor took notice of him doing that.
Is he…scanning for traitors to the homeland?, thought Yor.
Millie sat sheepishly next to him, trying to hide her nervousness by looking at the menu.
Loid had already taken a sneak peek at the menu beforehand and knew exactly what he was going to order. But he still needed to look at the menu to maintain his cover.
Yor was looking at the menu, trying to decide what to pick.
“What are you getting, Loid?” asked Yor.
“I haven’t decided yet,” said Loid. That was a lie. He just needed a few more seconds to get to a point where realistically he could have made a decision, and it wouldn’t be suspicious that he already knew what he was going to order.
After those seconds had passed, Loid said, “I’m getting salmon with seasonal vegetables.”
“Yum,” said Millie. “Maybe I’ll get that too.”
Yor looked at the menu, “I think I’ll get the grilled chicken.”
Millie looked at Hemlock. “What are you getting, Mr. Jones?” she asked.
“I’m getting beef,” said Hemlock. He paused as it seemed like he was trying to remember something. “Millie, what is your favorite food?” he asked, a little robotically.
“Oh, my favorite food?” said Millie. “Umm…I guess I like spaghetti and meatballs.”
“That’s nice,” said Hemlock, still sounding a little robotic. “I like that too. I think my favorite food is meat and potatoes.”
There was a beat of silence.
“What about you guys?” said Hemlock, in the same robotic voice.
“I like apples!” said Yor.
“I guess my favorite food is hamburg steak,” said Loid.
Yor gasped. “Really?”
“Yeah…” said Loid. “Why are you surprised?”
“It’s just…” said Yor. “That’s Anya’s favorite food too!”
“Oh yeah,” said Loid. “I guess we make it so much at home that it became my favorite food too.”
Yor smiled. It was so cute that Loid had the same favorite food as his daughter. They really did share the same blood.
“I like those foods as well,” said Hemlock, robotically.
There was another awkward silence.
“So…what is your favorite movie, Millie?” said Hemlock.
Loid noticed that Jones was following a particular conversational pattern. He would ask Millie a neutral (and sometimes boring) question, she would answer, and then he would say something robotically in agreement. Then he would ask the rest of the group. After we had answered, he would also remark that our answers were also nice.
Loid watched as he repeated that line of questioning a third time.
This guy really doesn’t know how to socialize with others, thought Loid.
Wow, Hemlock is doing such a great job socializing with everyone on this double date!, thought Yor.
When the food came, everyone dug in and started eating. Loid noticed that Jones would look out into the crowd a lot. What was he looking for?
Yor also noticed that too. She hoped that he wouldn’t find a traitor to the homeland in any of his scans.
The conversation remained stiff and awkward. Millie was frowning, as she ate her salmon. Loid felt a little bad at her. He also thought the date wasn’t going so well.
Suddenly, Hemlock put his handkerchief down. He was looking intently at something in the background. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said, as he got up. He walked away from the table like he was in a rush.
Once he was out of sight, Millie groaned. “This date is a disaster!”
“Oh, I thought it was going rather well,” said Yor.
“No, it’s not, Yor!” said Millie. “I feel like I can’t connect with him at all! All the conversation topics have already been exhausted, and I didn’t feel an ounce of connection to him.” She put her head down on the table. “What do I do?”
She lifted her head slightly off the table. “What about you, Loid, any advice?”
“Er…” said Loid. “Okay…maybe throw away the conventional questions. How about you ask the questions you really want the answer to.”
“Questions I really want the answers to,” repeated Millie. “Okay, that can work!” she said.
She asked Loid for more dating tips. Loid, unfortunately, had to default to his initial advice that she should just be herself.
“Be myself?” said Millie. “But who am I?”
“I think you’re overthinking it,” said Loid. “Say what feels natural.”
“Hmmmm,” said Millie. “Maybe I should also ramp up my flirting…”
“I definitely did not say to do that,” said Loid.
It took Hemlock quite a while to come back to the table. During that time, Millie tried to mentally prepare herself for the rest of the date, and to brainstorm questions she really wanted to ask him.
“Sorry I took so long,” said Hemlock, when he returned.
“Jones, how tall are you?” blurted Millie.
“Oh!” said Hemlock, a little off guard. “Um…I’m 6’3.”
“Wow…6’3” said Millie, dreamingly. “You’re so tall,” she said as she stroked his arm.
Hemlock froze. His eyes went wide. His eyes locked onto Millie’s hand on his arm.
She was touching him!
“Um…thank you…” said Hemlock, turning a little red.
His mind froze. What to do? What to do? Think. What did Director McMahon say to do? Oh that’s right, when she asks a question, I should ask it back.
“How tall are you?” said Hemlock.
Millie frowned. She looked a little disappointed at Hemlock not realizing her flirt. “I’m 5’4,” she said, dejectedly.
“That’s nice,” said Hemlock, robotically. He decided to continue the script he had learned from Mr. McMahon. “What about you guys?”
“I’m 5’7!” said Yor.
“I’m 6’2,” said Loid.
“Oh!” said Millie, her eyes lit up. She lightly brushed Hemlock’s arm; he froze at her touch again. “That means you’re taller than Yor’s husband!”
“I mean…” said Loid. “...by a one-inch difference.”
“One inch can matter a lot in some contexts,” said Millie, winking at Hemlock.
Loid choked a little on his drink.
“I don’t think one inch matters all that much,” said Yor.
Loid put a hand over his eyes and internally groaned.
Hemlock had no reaction. But then…a few seconds later…he chuckled. Millie’s eyes went wide in excitement that he liked her joke.
Hemlock was smiling, as he took a sip of his water.
“Did you find that funny, Mr. Jones,” said Millie, stroking his arm.
Hemlock looked at her, and said, “Yeah, I suppose it was.”
Millie was now grinning. Quick, she thought. Think of other questions she wanted to ask him.
“Why do you keep your hair so long?” she asked.
“Oh…um..” said Hemlock.
His mind went blank again. Millie was still holding onto his arm which was actually quite distracting.
The real reason he kept his hair long was that he couldn’t let frequent trips to the barbershop deplete his solitude powers. But he couldn't tell her that or she’ll find out he was an assassin…
“I just don’t like visiting barbershops,” he said.
“That makes sense,” said Millie. “I do have to go to the hair salon a lot to maintain my bob.”
Hemlock jolted a little when he realized Millie’s touch had made him almost forget that he was keeping an eye out for traitors to the homeland. He glanced back at the glass doors, before looking back at Millie.
“Why is your hair so short?” said Hemlock, bluntly.
Millie started running a hand through her hair. She frowned. “Why? Do you not like it?”
Oh no, I messed up, thought Hemlock.
“No,” said Hemlock. “I mean…yes! I mean n-no, I-I do like your hair! I was just asking because you asked me!”
“Oh…” said Millie. “You know, you don't always have to ask me the same question back.”
“I-I don’t?” said Hemlock. “Director McMahon said that was the best way to have a conversation.”
“Yeah, but not every time,” said Millie.
“Oh okay…” said Hemlock.
There was a moment of silence at the table. Now, he didn’t know what to say at all.
“Well…er…” said Hemlock. “I really like your hair! I think it’s very stylish! And I-I miss going to my barber sometimes!”
“Oh, why thank you, Mr. Jones,” said Millie.
Then, Millie started to bring her hand up to his face. Hemlock inhaled sharply as the hand got closer. She lightly brushed a strand of his hair away from his face. “I also love your long hair. It’s so unique and cool!”
Hemlock exhaled. “Thanks,” he said, his face a little red.
Millie grinned. “You’re so cute! You’re a lot different than I thought you’d be. Sharon’s first impression of you was that you seemed like a jerk,” said Millie. She giggled. “Oh! And also, can you believe when we first saw you, we thought you and Yor were having an affair!”
Loid, who was about to take a sip of his drink, paused mid-air.
“That’s a preposterous line of thinking,” said Hemlock.
“Well, what were we supposed to think?” said Millie. “Yor leaves her date with her husband to meet a handsome guy in a secluded spot by the river. It’s totes suspicious!”
Loid’s eyes narrowed. “Um…when was this?” he said, setting his drink down.
“It was the day you two went on a date at the new riverfront,” said Millie.
Yor looked down at her plate, and turned a little red.
“You two…met in a secluded spot during our date?” said Loid, sounding like he was trying to piece together what he just heard.
If this was true, how did he not notice it?
“It was for the samples project,” said Hemlock.
“Right,” said Yor, nervously. “Mr. McMahon wanted Hem- him to give me a sample that was vital to the project.”
“And you chose to do it…” said Loid. He slowly turned to look at Yor. “...during our date?”
They made eye contact, Loid’s gaze was piercing as he searched her for answers. Yor knew she probably looked extremely guilty. When he turned away from her, his gaze hardened into something cold and calculating. Yor gulped. This wasn’t good.
Millie looked between Yor’s nervous face and Loid’s stony expression.
“Wait…” said Millie, realization dawning on her. “Did you not know about this?”
The table went silent. Yor held her breath.
Loid quickly tried to regain a neutral expression. There was no way he was endangering Operation Strix by letting Millie think there were cracks in his marriage with Yor.
“Of course, I knew about this,” said Loid, smiling, letting out a small chuckle. “My apologies, it happened so quickly on the date that I don’t even remember it.”
Millie laughed. “That’s a relief,” she said. “You wouldn’t hide a work task from your husband unless there was something else going on.”
“Mm-hm,” said Loid, in agreement. He brought his eyes down to his plate, and absentmindedly started to cut a few pieces of chicken. He kept his eyes locked on the plate; but Yor now saw something different on his face. He looked hurt.
Yor’s face burned. She didn’t want Loid to feel that way. But what was she supposed to have done?
She couldn’t have exactly told him, “My assassin coworker came to deliver medicine after our duel,” in the middle of their date!
And afterwards…once Hemlock started working at City Hall, she had a perfectly reasonable cover story for Camilla and the others. There had been no reason to bring it up to Loid.
Yor knew she would have to come up with an explanation if Loid chose to bring it up when they got home. But she wasn’t a very good liar, and she didn’t know how she could reframe this meeting into something innocent. Maybe just a sincere apology would do?
She had until the ending of this double date to figure it out.
Hemlock noticed that the conversation had gone in an unfavorable direction for his and Yor’s assassin identities. He recognized the need to change the conversation topic.
“Millie, what are your hobbies?” he said.
“Ooooo,” said Millie. “I have lots of hobbies! I like to knit! I like to collect stamps! I like photography! I actually bought this really cool camera. I should have brought it with me to show you! And we could have taken a photo together!”
“That would have been nice,” said Hemlock.
“What about you?” said Millie. “Do you have any hobbies?”
“Well…” said Hemlock, blushing a little. “I like working out…”
Millie gasped. “You so look like someone who works out!” she said.
A soft smile formed on Hemlock’s face. “Do I?” he said.
“Totally!” said Millie. “I bet you can fight just about anyone with those muscles.” She gently laid her hand on his arm again, smiling as she felt the firmness beneath her fingers.
Hemlock continued to have a light smile on his face. “I also like to practice martial arts,” he said.
“I totally want to see you fight sometime!” said Millie. “I bet you’d be so cool!”
Hemlock was smiling to himself, liking the feel of Millie’s hand on his arm.
This was actually kinda fun, he thought.
He found himself looking into Millie’s bright eyes without nervousness for the first time that night. He lingered there for a moment, smiling at the nice moment they were sharing together.
With a jolt, he realized Yor and her husband were probably watching them. He turned his attention to them.
Loid was sitting there with his arms crossed, looking annoyed. Yor was smiling seeing them get along so well.
“Er…” said Hemlock. “What about you guys?” This time he didn’t ask the question due to the director’s training. This time he asked it because he felt as though things at the table were a little off.
“Oh, hobbies?” said Yor. “I don’t know. I feel like I’m too busy for hobbies. I do really enjoy spending time with Anya! I love listening to her stories about school and Bondman,” she said with a giggle.
“That sounds really sweet, Yor,” said Millie.
They looked at Loid.
“I suppose I like reading,” he said, flatly.
“I like reading too!” said Millie. “My favorite genres are romance and self-help! But I also read this really great book about the History of Ostania and why it’s been plagued by many wars–”
Hemlock’s eyes suddenly fixated on something in the background of the room. Yor’s husband had just started talking about how he had also read that same book, and was voicing his thoughts on the history as well. Hemlock had stopped listening to the conversation completely.
He realized he couldn’t just ignore what he just saw. He had to do something.
"I found the chapter on the theory of reunification particularly –" Loid was saying.
“Yor!” said Hemlock as he suddenly stood up, Millie’s hand on his arm dropping from the sudden movement. “Can you come with me? There’s something I need to show you.”
“What?” said Yor, startled.
Millie and Loid looked up at him with faces of confusion.
“I mean…” said Hemlock, realizing that most of the table was giving him weird looks. “It’s for the sample project we were working on…there’s something important you need to see.”
“Oh…what is it?” said Millie.
“It’s confidential so we can’t tell you,” said Hemlock, quickly.
Millie pouted.
“But Yor,” he said urgently. He tilted his head to the door as a signal to get going.
“All right…” said Yor, sounding very unsure, as she put her handkerchief down on the table. “Be right back,” she said.
Loid watched the two of them leave from the corner of his eye, Hemlock leaning down to whisper something in Yor’s ear as they walked side by side.
“That was weird,” said Millie.
Loid narrowed his eyes.
“It was,” he said.
The restaurant was located in a big open space area with windows that could see into the lobby. Loid kept his eyes on Yor and Jones for as long as he could before they disappeared from view.
“Will you be okay?” said Loid, standing up. “I wanted to use the restroom.”
“Yeah, of course,” said Millie.
Loid started walking towards the restroom, but quickly changed direction once he knew Millie wasn’t looking.
He started to follow Yor and Jones.
“Hemlock, what are you doing?” hissed Yor, her heels clicking loudly on the hotel floor as she picked up the pace to follow Hemlock who was walking very fast. “That was really suspicious!”
“I’ll tell you when we get there,” said Hemlock, as he continued to almost sprint towards his destination.
“No,” said Yor, forcefully. She grabbed onto his forearm to bring him to a stop. “Tell me now. You can’t just force me out of a dinner date without telling me what is going on”
“Fine,” said Hemlock. He looked around, put a finger to his mouth to gesture that she should be quiet, and then stealthily guided her to hide behind a wall.
He lowered his voice and whispered. “I found a traitor to our homeland.”
Yor groaned. “Hemlock! No! This is not the time to do this!” she whispered back.
“Listen to me,” said Hemlock. “This traitor is an important one.”
“No, no,” said Yor. “You are putting our cover identities in danger! What do you think Loid and Millie are going to think if we don’t get back soon.”
“They’re civilians, it doesn’t take much to come up with a cover story that will appease them,” said Hemlock. “But look,” he said, nodding to what was in front of the wall they were hiding behind.
Yor turned her head cautiously to see where Hemlock was gesturing, and saw a shady gangster of a man in the distance. He was wearing a pinstripe suit, smoking a cigarette, and talking to another man who seemed like his subordinate.
“Did our friends secure the goods?,” said the man, gruffly.
“Yup, they are locked and loaded in our storage warehouse,” said the subordinate.
“Excellent,” said the man. “I think we should be ready to go in two weeks.”
Hemlock turned to Yor. “Now do you see why I brought you here?” he whispered.
“No,” said Yor.
Hemlock exhaled. “Really?” he said. “You don’t know who that is?”
Yor looked confused. “Should I?” said Yor.
“His name is Theodore Strasen. He’s a very famous and vicious terrorist that’s been on the Shopkeepers purge list for years,” said Hemlock. “Garden has never been able to take him out because he’s so secretive about his schedule. We could never definitively locate him enough to put out a proper hit on him.”
“Oh,” said Yor. “To be honest, I don’t really know much about Shopkeeper’s purge list. I usually just find out who a client is when I’m assigned to assassinate them.”
“Well, this is our chance to purge this guy for good,” said Hemlock. “You know when I left our table the first time? I spotted one of his known associates and went to investigate. I overheard their conversation. I think I may have figured out a way to get his schedule!” said Hemlock, excitedly.
He looked at Yor; she had no reaction.
“I need your help,” said Hemlock. “They mentioned it's a pretty sophisticated system that takes five minutes of intense concentration to open. I need you to stand guard for those five minutes so I can crack the case. I doubt anyone will come by, and even if they did it’ll just be maybe one or two guards. Once the case opens, I can copy his schedule down and give it to the Shopkeeper and we may be able to get rid of this guy for good.”
“I don’t think we should be doing this, Hemlock,” said Yor. “Not when my husband is here. Not when we are out here in the public like this.”
“This is our only chance to get this guy,” said Hemlock.
“Do it yourself then,” said Yor. “I can’t risk it.” She started to walk away.
Hemlock grabbed onto her arm to stop her. “But I need you,” he hissed. “I won’t be able to crack the case and stand guard at the same time. In those five minutes, if I’m interrupted even for a few seconds, it resets and I have to start all over again.”
“What’s going to happen if we get caught?” whispered Yor. “If I have to fight, and my dress gets torn. How am I going to explain that to Loid? And what about you, if you get blood on you. We’ll both be found out and reported to the SSS!”
“We won’t get caught,” said Hemlock. “The chances of fighting are slim, and I’m sure you can take out one or two guards without ruining your dress if it comes to that.”
The men started talking again. Yor and Hemlock paused to listen to them.
“You really think this plan is going to work, boss?” said the subordinate.
The terrorist chuckled. “Of course,” he said. “You know how much people care about their children. A war is bound to start once we bomb that public school and blow them to smithereens.”
Yor’s eyes narrowed in anger, a determined darkness washing over her. Her hand started flexing, almost like she was about to attack.
“Stop!” said Hemlock. He grabbed her arm, and gently shook her. “Stop!” he warned.
“Those men deserve to die,” said Yor.
“Yes, I agree,” said Hemlock. “But you can’t just attack them here.”
“Oh, just watch me,” said Yor, her voice low and dangerous.
“We can’t kill them out in the open like this,” said Hemlock. “It’ll cause too big of a scene. Plus, you don’t have your weapons on you.”
Yor started to get back to reality. “Oh, you’re right,” she said. “I never thought to bring a weapon to this double date! Did you?”
“Yeah…” said Hemlock, sheepishly. He waved his cane. “I brought my sword.”
“You’re not going to take that out in front of Loid or Millie, are you?!” exclaimed Yor.
“Of course not,” said Hemlock. “It’s just for emergencies.”
“I wish I had at least brought a poisoned needle,” said Yor. “I could have killed him at this distance if I had one.”
“Listen, help me with my plan,” said Hemlock. “We’ll get the schedule. And Shopkeeper will assign someone to kill him. It’s the cleanest way to do this.”
“Okay,” said Yor. She glared at the terrorists. “I’m in.”
Hemlock smiled. “Shopkeeper is going to be so proud of us!”
They were about to get going, when they both sensed that someone had been watching them. They both turned their heads slowly, but not completely all the way. They didn’t want the person who was watching them to know that they had caught on.
And in the corner of her eye, Yor realized that the person who had been spying on her….was her husband.
She immediately felt her stomach sink.
Loid was standing behind a different wall a little bit off in the distance, but Yor could tell he had a pretty good sightline to them.
What would he think of her now that he saw her sneaking around this hotel with Hemlock? Loid’s expression after Millie mentioned the cheating rumor was still burned into her head. He looked so hurt and devastated. She didn’t want him to feel that way.
Should she bail on Hemlock’s plan?
She considered it. But she couldn’t let that school be bombed.
“Your husband…” said Hemlock, in an annoyed, low voice.
“I know,” said Yor.
“How did he even follow us?” said Hemlock.
“How long has he been watching us?” said Yor. “Were we so distracted that we didn’t notice him until now?”
“I don’t know,” said Hemlock. “But we’ll come up with an excuse for him. Don’t worry.”
“I hope so…” said Yor, quietly.
Hemlock took a second to observe Yor and noticed that she looked upset.
“If you want, we can go back to the table first,” said Hemlock. “Address this with your husband, then complete our mission.”
“No,” said Yor. “Because then we’ll have to make up another excuse to leave the table.”
She looked at Loid from the corner of her eye again. He looked extremely serious; his eyebrows were furrowed, his jaw was tense, and his eyes were narrowed…sharply at her.
“Let’s just execute our plan as fast as possible, and make sure he doesn’t follow us,” said Yor.
Hemlock nodded. “We should be able to lose him quickly.”
“Right,” said Yor.
“On three, let’s run out of here,” said Hemlock. “One…two….three,” he said. Yor and Hemlock sprinted out of their wall hiding place, and tried to make it so that Loid wouldn’t be able to follow them. Loid tried to run after them, but he was a little slow due to their head start. He was about to turn a corner when a luggage cart got in his way.
“Arrrgh,” he said, in annoyance as he dodged the cart. But then as he ran, he realized he really did lose Yor and Hemlock. He looked around and realized he had no idea where they went.
How were two civilians who worked at City Hall able to lose him, an advanced spy, so quickly? He should have been able to find them like child’s play. He really was losing his edge.
After a few minutes of trying, he realized he really had no idea where they could have gone.
“Tsk,” Loid said. He turned around and walked back to the restaurant.
When Loid arrived at their table, Millie was sitting there with a giant frown on her face, her arms crossed, looking sadly out into the restaurant windows. She lit up when she saw Loid.
“Did you catch a glimpse of Yor and Jones anywhere?” said Millie.
“No,” said Loid, curtly.
He plopped down on his chair, and immediately took a sip of his drink. He knew he couldn’t get drunk on alcohol, but this was one of the few times he wished he could.
He sighed, he continued to stare into his drink, not really having a clear handle on what was causing him to be so irritated.
Was it the image of Jones and Yor sneaking around in the hotel? Which was now burned into his brain. Which – his grip on his glass tightened – they were probably still doing now that he had lost them.
Was it that the first time Millie ever saw Yor and Jones together, they looked like they were having an affair? That Yor didn’t tell him that she needed to meet with him for work during their date? Why did she sneak behind his back to do it? Why didn’t she just tell him the truth?
He took a big swing of his drink.
And then in the corner of his eye…he saw something. A sticker of the WISE symbol stuck to a bartender’s cart. He groaned. Not here, not now. Were they really going to assign him a mission at a time like this?
He forced his legs to get up. “Er…” said Loid, turning to Millie. “I’m going to see what drinks they have.”
“I definitely need another drink,” said Millie. “Can you get me a refill?”
“Sure thing,” said Loid.
He trudged over to the bar cart to see what mission they were about to put on his plate next.