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Operation Strix ended after 2 years. Loid honestly didn’t think it would take this long, as his original plan was shorter and more direct, but of course, nothing ever really goes to plan, especially since he’s depending on people other than himself. It’s not that he blames Anya – the girl grew on him, and he took care of her for two whole years, he’s bound to have some attachment.
And so, an opening presents itself, Twilight took it, and so, Donovan Desmond has finally been assassinated at the hands of Twilight, hence ending the operation… hence ending his fake family.
His heart grew heavy as he secretly packed his things and left in the middle of the night with nothing but a kiss on his daughter’s forehead (resolutely ignoring the smile that formed on her face), and a note for Yor in the kitchen table. Even after two years, they were still prohibited to enter each other’s rooms unless invited.
He stares at the apartment one last time, staring at the form of Bond who was sleeping in his own doggie bed. He’s sure he’s also going to miss him.
With one last look around, he closes the door behind him.
Every turn Twilight takes, he sees a phantom of Yor and Anya. Happy together, sad together, mourning Loid Forger together.
In the eyes of Yor Forger Briar and her daughter, Anya Forger Briar, Loid Forger has disappeared, maybe died, maybe just left. Either way, his presence in the household is gone.
Every picture Yor and Loid faked to show a happy family was gone. The only picture left was the family portrait that the family had retaken a year later after the first family picture. This time, their faces were happier, and their bodies more relaxed.
Like a real, more concrete family.
Twilight wonders what they’re doing now, how the two took to Loid’s disappearance, how Anya is fairing in school, how Yor is doing with her work and with the tiny family she has now.
Surely, Yor found another husband. She was so worried about being seen as single and being taken as a spy, so surely, she would find a better partner, right?
Even if she didn’t, she has a lot of trustworthy friends that can vouch for her, and she even has Anya, her legal child, to at least alleviate any suspicion that other people may have on her. Not to mention, she still has her brother, Yuri, who has a high government position, that can definitely bail her out of anything.
How about Anya? She’s been improving in her schoolwork for the past years. With already a year having passed by since Loid left, surely, she’s improved more. She’s still friends with the Blackbell girl, as well as with that Desmond boy. She’s gotten a few more friends over the years, surely, she’s not going to be lonely.
It's absurd, even, that Twilight is still thinking about them. Frankie and Sylvia even look at him weirdly whenever he visits to get his newest mission.
Honestly, his experience with the girls have been one of the most stressful, most nerve-wracking, and yet… it’s also the happiest experience he ever had.
He has never really treated another human being so carefully as he has treated Anya – always bending to her likes and wants, always making her happy, but still being strict with schoolwork, and still being so protective. He thinks back to those years and really saw how much he really acted as a father.
Sure, it was a part of his cover up at first, but then it became a bit too genuine that Twilight sometimes doesn’t notice how his behavior changes.
It was scary when he first noticed – staring at his ceiling and wondering when the change happened, thinking of what would happen when he finishes the mission, thinking of how Anya would be disappointed-
Yor, on the other hand, has truly been a great person overall. Honestly, he wasn’t too sure what to do with her, how to properly interact with his supposed wife. It had started awkwardly, but the weeks that went by took away that awkwardness and gave a more homely vibe.
It had also taken a year when they eventually gave in to bodily desires. Sex wasn’t something new for Loid, in fact, it’s not exactly new for him to have sex when need for the mission. His relationship with Yor, however, wasn’t exactly needed with the mission, it was just… a spur of the moment.
And it wasn’t that bad.
It wasn’t something they do often, in fact, because he’s honestly more interested with the Yor that usually accompanies him every day. The Yor that brews coffee, tea, and Anya’s cocoa. The Yor that smiles so brightly and never complains unless she absolutely needs to, and when she does, it always takes Loid by surprise. The Yor that learned to cook and has been trying out different delicious dishes. The Yor that Loid feels safest around despite her inhuman strength. The Yor that lets Loid rest his head on her lap.
She was soft, she was fierce, she was fearsome, she was beautiful. She… is amazing.
Twilight missed her.
But his gaze could only focus on the coded information in his hands – another mission, another day.
These days just seem to blur into one huge day. Wake up, get another mission, go to bed. Repeat.
Back when Twilight was still Loid Forger, his days may have been stressful and still mission-filled, but it differed from day to day. There was variety in the things that would happen – whether it be Anya’s grades or endless stories, or Yor’s work mishaps or new dishes, or another Forger family outing…
Twilight sometimes wonders why he didn’t just quit being a spy, wonder why he couldn’t have just gotten an actual job as a psychiatrist. Sure, he’s not that qualified… maybe he could find another job, maybe he could’ve become an information broker like Frankie, maybe he could’ve stayed as a househusband…
Maybe he should’ve stayed.
Sometimes, he finds himself staring at the ceiling once again, thinking what could happen if he stated, thinking if Anya cried… if Yor cried… thinking if they thought he’d come back…
Well… the letter he left for Yor was vague – only mentioning about something having come up and that Loid needed to leave. No mention of if he will return, or if what happened that may have been so important for him to leave without a word.
It must have been confusing for the two of the girls.
Knowing them, they probably did think that he was still coming back, that he just needed to take care of something for a few days… but it’s been a year now, surely, they’ve lost that hope?
Twilight doesn’t really want them to keep on hoping, but he can’t bring himself to break their hearts and tell them he’s leaving the family.
He finally decodes the mission, and his eyes widen as he sees the accompanying picture.
There was no mistake as to who the person in the picture is, even though it came from a grainy security camera, Twilight only knows one person with that hairstyle, wearing the same dress she has worn on the dates they’ve been together.
Kill the Thorn Princess.
Yor?? The renowned assassin that no one could capture??
Twilight couldn’t believe his eyes.
It all makes sense now – what kind of ordinary person really has inhuman strength and a killer aura?
He honestly even thinks of declining, but… he did miss her…
He accepts the mission.
Information says she has another target on the next week, and he’s to incapacitate her there.
The week goes by without any hitch, and soon enough, Twilight finds himself in the mansion of Yor’s target. It was like any generic mansion he’s ever seen, probably owned by another generic rich guy that pissed someone off.
He got there earlier that Yor, and he’s been keeping at eye on the target, waiting and looking out for Yor’s entrance.
He doesn’t really know the Thorn Princess’ exact methods of assassination aside from the wounds left on the victims’ bodies. Stab wounds and slices that were made by some sort of blade that no one can pinpoint as to what it is.
And now, he’ll be seeing it for the first time.
The doorbell rings, and the guards by the door look at each other, opening the door only to get knocked down by a woman in black.
Yor is breathtaking… Twilight thinks as he watches her incapacitate the guards in the area, the target screams and tries to escape, but Yor was faster, throwing her blade and hitting the target right in the heart.
He falls to the ground, dead.
Twilight is mesmerized.
Yor’s deadly expression melts off almost immediately, taking her blade from the target’s body and wincing at it.
“Ugh, it’s too bloody.” Twilight hears her say.
It may have been too dangerous, still, to show up now, but he takes the risk anyway and shows himself.
As expected, Yor sensed his presence and quickly turned around to throw her blade at him. He anticipated this and caught it, quickly dropping his hood and showing his face.
Silence.
“Loid?” She whispers.
Twilight can only gulp, slowly nodding his head and thinking how much she has changed over the year.
She’s still the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.
With that, he drops her blade and flees, ignoring Yor’s cries behind him.
He missed her, but they weren’t really meant to be together.
He goes back to his thoughts of Yor finding someone else, and hopes it was true. He thinks of Anya having a better family and hopes it were true. He thinks of a better life for the two girls and hopes it has already happened.
Ahh… the pain in his chest is too strong for him to ignore, but he still runs anyway.