Chapter Text
— ❀ —
Yor had been called a spy that had infiltrated Ostania to lower the country's birth rate. A weirdo that had always minded her own business by not speaking unless spoken to. A mindless robot that had kept a facade by not showing personal embodiments.
Inhale
A whore.
Exhale
A "unique" treasure.
Inhale
An airhead.
Exhale
All these remarks mentioned and spread about her hurtle like a missile. What had she done to prevent these rumors from permeating, standing still as she never declared her intentions?
Inhale
Nothing. It’s not as if she can do any of that where she could change minds. Or opinions.
Exhale
The majority of Ostanian people were vocally opinionated, her included but it hadn’t included all the time where she spoke her mind. Yor never took what they say to heart, not caring about what others thought of her despite the paranoia of being perceived.
In her attempt, she’d done her very best to make sure to not take nearly everything personally. Not letting their words define her because it had been their warped perception of her.
Would listening to what others say of her bring food to her table, or a warm bed to sleep in? Would hearing their chatter help to pay her bills, to conceal her identity?
There had been grave results of the war, and listening to rumors that feasibly mars her character didn't matter. Yor had just wanted to keep working, as she’s been frugal ever since. And to keep a consistent work schedule everyday while trying to live normally was enough.
Covering her underground life as an assassin helped keep her part of protecting Ostania. Yor had never been fond of this job at the start, but it helps her pay the bills in this life she’s living.
With that, she was more than grateful. She’s lucky to have survived this long.
However, Yor had only one fear that caused her affliction. The insane paranoia of getting caught, having to be observant and intuitive in the way she was trained.
“You found a good guy yet?”
Trusting too easily was dangerous. It had been like putting your feet in a water full of sharks.
“Can you believe someone being single at that age?”
To be cautious of your surroundings was important.
“Make sure to bring someone to Camilla’s party, Yor!”
That was being reported to the feared State Police as suspicious. She didn't want her brother to think of her as a pathological liar that needed coddling. Yuri had thought of her as strangely callow, and her coworkers didn’t help in selling the cover story even if she’d ask them (because they didn’t want to).
When Matthew had called her into a separate office for her client, Yor could only hear satirical comments that followed her after.
"I wonder who her special client is this time..."
"A spy, maybe?" Camilla chortles, adding onto the glitz and gabber. She’d roll her eyes at the thought, the entire office clearly knowing how much dirt the girls talk about Yor's character. “You think she’s really gonna come to the party? I’ll be damned if she does come to the party with someone.”
"These are your new clients,” McMahon snaps her out of her notions, slipping the classified beige folder to her. Yor had always analyzed the documents contained thoroughly, opening the file carefully as if her life depended on it. In which it does.
Vice Minister Brennan of the Auditing Department. Selling the financial statements to those backing the organizations that furthered war values had to be eliminated. All information on him: his date of birth, his interests, his alumnis, and even his list of allergies had been known for Yor. The more information Yor knows of the target, the higher the chance this assassination exceeds.
Even those tied with him and danced around the floor of his office had been added to the listing.
“Your boss will be calling you later,” Matthew swiftly added in no rush, as the woman nodded in agreement. In this world, Yor Briar was very naive to the environment around her, only exposed to contract killing but not the ordinary life others are doing on a daily basis.
— ❀ —
Yor couldn’t remember the last time she went on an excursion. She and Yuri didn’t afford luxurious trips like this, nor thinking of joining a raffle at the mall because she had been too busy finding money for more important stuff—
She couldn’t even remember how long it had been since she started adapting to family life once again. Helping to take care of someone other than herself. A husband to rely on that took care of her.
"Your face looks a little swollen. Is everything okay?" was the first thing Loid had asked her when she approached them. Self-consciously, her hand brushes against the bottom portion of her right cheek. Even in an attempt to hide her tensed shoulders, he was just as perceptive as her.
He noticed–? Of course he did. It was Loid, after all. Their first meeting back at the tailor shop had centered around vigilance.
"Oh, right..." Yor stirs, hand still resting on the cheek that had been hurt last night. Think Yor. Make up an excuse. Quick–
"The prospect and his wife were fighting, and I... kinda stepped in to stop them."
Would he believe it? It wasn't exactly believable or professional if they had been physically fighting during their work excursion, but it does happen. However, this hadn't been the case for it as Yor wishes he'd believe the story. Please buy it, please buy it, please buy it-
"I see." He nods, seemingly taking the bait. "And the city's attempt to woo them?" He bought it! She smiles, a natural response coming out of her mouth since she wouldn’t make up another lie.
"It failed. Still..."
Yor looks towards the ocean, the place where she had sent off Olka and her family. The way they had lowered the raft into the waters, three physical bodies hiding under the thin sheet of fleece. Hopeful prayers and dubiously certain thoughts that they’d make it to their next destination alive.
Maybe at some points in her life, she'll think about Olka and Gram from time to time. How they were the light to further her purpose to continue taking up this job. The realization she needed to see for herself that her camouflage family was indeed more than just for show. "I know we did everything we could for them. And in the end, they were smiling. And that's good enough for me!"
He beams, sufficient with her response. "Well, I’m glad to hear that.”
"Are you gonna play with us today?" Anya chimes in, breaking the poignant atmosphere with a grin. Yor knew how much she wanted to spend time with the Forgers the last few days, Anya reciprocating the feeling.
Yor nods, fist in the air enthusiastically along with her daughter. "I am! Shall we go have some fun?"
"Let's have all the fun!"
"Sounds good to me!"
As the sun sets on the east, Loid had successfully managed to carry the two in his arms, making way to the cabin. Anya had been sound asleep as per usual, and Yor looked like she hadn’t slept for weeks with how exhausted she’d look. The more he glances at her, the more questions arise.
What about that mark on her face? She told him the prospects were in a rough situation, but that was hard to believe. Dared they try to do anything to Yor, he would--
He shakes that thought away. He shouldn't pry into her business. Focus, Twilight. At the end of the day, this had all been a ruse. Nothing more than what their agreement says.
Had they finally reach their cabin in the third class, he tucks them in the bottom bunk securely with a smile, placing a blanket over them. He had suddenly been hit with not exhaustion but relaxation. This trip was light (mission-wise) compared to the ones he usually does on the daily.
Some fleeting thoughts occurred to Twilight once in a while. Rarely, it'd be about this family and he didn't want to have an attachment to any of them. They were too good to him and he’d refuse to let that come into light. Twilight didn’t even want to even think of what would happen when he successfully finishes this operation or if they were to get in trouble because of his failure.
”I wish… this peace can go on forever and ever,” Yor’s voice rings in his ears from earlier. Huh. He shouldn't feel bad about what she had told him yet he does. Why was it that, whenever he was with Yor, she’d always show him mercy? Even when he didn’t deserve it.
He shouldn't even have any emotional attachment to Yor and Anya because at the end of all of this?
He will never see them again.
He was about to sit in the desk chair of the room to work on files when he heard Yor stir, mumbling words under her breath. Loid turns around questionably, as he sees the woman tucking Anya's head under her chin.
She must have been very tired from working. Yor had been so deep in her reveries, there was one thing that caught his ears.
"I'm not... a heartless woman," Yor murmurs, unruffled in her slumber. She’d turn away from Anya gently, maternal instinct kicking in as she avoided Anya in case she moves around, "I'm doing this to protect... my family..."
Huh? Twilight stares at her, head bobbing slightly to the side, mouth hanging a little open. Yor had turned away from his view, as if what she said moments ago didn't cause concern for Twilight. He’d been with women that had said all other sorts of things in their sleep, but not something like this.
What was she talking about?
— ❀ —
The night Loid Forger had asked for Yor Briar’s hand in marriage had changed her life.
Living with others that weren't herself nor with Yuri (realistically speaking) was weird. Having to ask the Shopkeeper permission was important because he’d been the only one she could turn to. He’d know a lot about the tactics of daily life, surely he may know a thing or two about marriage!
He had snipped a part of his bush that had contained foxglove flowers planted from the ground up. They were one of the most noxious flowers in his Garden, having to use parts of these flowers as weapons for his assassins. Turning his head towards her, he asks, “You found a sham marriage that can help cover up your assassin job?”
Yor nodded accordingly. His eyes had only narrow, which brings in another added question, “How sure are you that this is legit?”
“Wouldn’t it be the same since I’m asking him for the same request?” She never answered back, but something like this should be brought up. Yor had an acceptable reason after all. “I gave him the reason of Yuri finding me suspicious because of the Police.”
Shopkeeper had remind her once before, and he wouldn’t hesitate to remind her again, “You do know that if any of my assassins under my watch were to stay under their radar, they’d have me to deal with? You know that, right?”
“I know,” she fidgets her hands around. Yor had talked through her hands when she’d been anxious or flushed in embarrassment when she asks for favors that badly needed another pair of hands. “But I can’t help to watch out for myself just in case.”
“Hm,” Shopkeeper places his sniper down. Suspicions were good. Being self-aware of your surrounding was better. For the years he's known her as a child till now, he’d understand the young woman’s paranoia very well. The distress that had been rooted from her long while ordeal had been taken into his consideration.
Thinking that the Shopkeeper was going to decline the sham marriage, he in fact, did the opposite. “Fair enough, Yor. I trust your judgment.”
Suddenly living with strangers with a developing relationship felt odd. Just last week, she’d been on her coworkers’ sight just for merely existing. And now…
Well, she’s a married woman. She is now Mrs. Forger.
— ❀ —
Yor had that dream once again. She had always gotten flashbacks of who she killed and what destroyed her in return.
Maybe the massacre on the cruise has really gotten to memories she had entombed. She had managed to bury it deep, deep in the ocean, covered with all smiles and joy so it can never resurface.
A reminder of her trying to keep it out to keep emotions out of this game called life.
It had been when she first killed someone.
This always happened whenever she had clients, Yor had always suppressed these dreams. But the blood shower of what was on Princess Lorelei last night could have been the last straw after a while.
Yor tosses and turns during her sleep, feeling all of their blood on her hands. This was the effect of being an assassin on this battlefield. She holds the weight of the episode in her hands, head starting to throb from every aspect.
It's no different today and Yor shouldn't make a big deal about it. She'll just try hard to forget about it.
That's how she always does it.
Yor knew that she was inside a room as she looked up, surveying the ceiling. On a bed, with someone embracing her waist from one side. The last thing she remembered was being with Loid and Anya on the island as she--
"Are you alright?" She froze. Bloodlust! She had forgotten Loid was in the room with her! Who knew he’d be awake?
Loid snapped her out of her trance, only realizing that Anya was right next to her, still sound asleep.
"It's quarter to five already," a hint of concern penned on his expression, a warm smile following shortly, "But we can head to the buffet to have some lunch once Anya wakes up before heading home."
"Oh, okay..." she bows her head, getting out of the bed. Yor hopes he doesn't ask questions about what she was dreaming about. She was afraid that he must’ve seen something unpleasant during her sleep.
Questions will just bleed her out, the same way the scar on her chest had done the night before.
"I'll just... head to the bathroom real quick," she announces, carefully getting out of the bed. As much as she didn’t wish to wake Anya, her pace quickens by the seconds she remains in that room. Yet before she can even leave the small cabin, she had heard him ask a follow-up question.
”Are you… okay? You were tossing and turning in your sleep,” Loid asked her, afraid of crumbling his natural demeanor. He was the man that was prepared for nearly everything,
However, today, he wasn't.
Loid exhales a deep sigh. Don't go overboard with questions, Twilight. Don’t jeopardize anything.
”Yeah,” she nods with a smile, a contrast to what she was currently feeling. She couldn’t be in this room. Not right now. And to make matters worse? Loid had questions Yor could never answer. She could only hope she didn't mumble anything that could get her in trouble.
“I am, Loid. Thank you,—” and that was the last thing he got out of her. He could only look at the last place she was before returning his attention to his files.
He knows whenever Yor gave her thanks, she never rushed it. He always takes in the time whenever she smiles or whenever she gives words of encouragement. Unknowingly, Yor Briar was both his pillar and state of weakness.
Deep down, Twilight was bothered by what happened to their exchange of conversation. Rushing out of the room to avoid questions wasn’t like her, but he didn't inquire any further.