Chapter Text
what a beautiful day Anya had had; she had gotten yet another high grade on her test - one would think that she had copied, but she had become quite the academic, Becky had bought her lunch - not that she did it on an almost daily basis as Anya would tend to live on peanuts and omurice alone (“and that’s not good for your health”, her friend’s voice would echo each time), she had been asked out on a date - which she had politely turned down of course, as she had no time for such activities (‘unless it had been someone else…’).
her day was almost perfect — only to be shattered by a conversation she was not supposed to overhear.
her father was on the phone - no, agent twilight was on the phone - with none other than handler. he was supposed to be alone, with him thinking that Anya still had yet another hour till she arrived home. unknown to him however, Becky, being the good friend she was, offered to take her best friend home that day. so she hid, her back pressed against a wall as she’d take in each word she heard.
“i believe you know what this means, agent twilight.”
there was hesitation in his actions, words sitting on his tongue as his thoughts churned over and in his head. he was supposed to be certain, he was supposed to be happy with the outcome — after all these years, he was so close to fulfilling his goal. he had managed to get closer to the Desmond family, thanks to Anya’s antiques and especially a person whom he had never considered to ask for help, thus making his job easier and less demanding for his daughter as well. he had gotten so much intel, so much information that even now he could tell you what Donovan Desmond was up to in that exact moment.
….but
“i know, handler.”
there was a tint of sadness in his voice, that didn’t go unnoticed by either of the two women. ▬▬▬▬▬ , or Loid Forger as people would refer him, had grown old.
this was the longest mission he had worked on. 12 years had passed for him to get this far. 12 years in which Loid Forger had softened, his senses not as sharp as they used to be once. things had changed - mostly in his heart, feelings he wasn’t supposed to let in. a gaze that would soften when he’d see the smile that would spread on Anya’s face when he’d surprise her at school with a ‘i came to pick you up today’, the warmth in his chest when him and Yor would spend the night watching a movie, Yor cuddling into his side, her head laying on his shoulder as a content sigh escaped her lips, the laughter that bubbled in his chest when Bond would jump onto him, which was rare nowadays as Bond had aged as well.
these were emotions twilight was not supposed to give into - Love. he was not supposed to let himself soften. but he did, and now he was torn between doing the right thing for humanity, or for his family.
he knew he had no choice.
“how long do you estimate?”
“possibly a week.”
if he was shocked, he made sure not to show it in any way. his face remained stoic, yet his mind was shrouded with everything that would come to happen.
“okay, i’ll make sure to take care of everything.”
and with that, the conversation ended as Anya refused to listen anymore. her knees felt weak, and she was afraid for any step she’d take, her legs would betray her. so all she did was simply fall to her knees, her hand finding its way to her chest, frail fingers gripping at the fabric of her dress as her sobs would be muffled.
she didn’t want this. she wasn’t ready for this life to be over.
she had underestimated Loid’s senses, as he’d heard the thud that came from her knees hitting the floor. he quickly rose to his feet and headed towards the direction the sound came from, only for the sight in front of him to further break his already broken heart.
there was Anya, sitting on the floor, her cheeks tear-stained, lip quivering as all she could muster was a “hello papa.”
he knelt down in front of her, arms wrapping around her small frame and bringing it closer to his. her sobs only sounded louder, her hands finding their way to his blouse and clenching so hard - she didn’t want to let go.
“Anya, it’s going to be okay.”
>—————— Anya Forger, age 12
she was 12 when she had told Loid and Yor about her powers, about knowing that each had their secret. she was 12 when they all sat at their kitchen table, the tension so thick you could cut through it, but she was the one to break the silence.
“Papa, mama, i think it’s time you two were honest with each other, because i already know everything.”
it wasn’t only the fact that they had both been able to hide such big secrets from each other that shocked them, but also the maturity Anya had proved them as well. they had laid everything out - Yor’s former job as an assassin, Loid being a spy and the reason for this made up family. despite it all, they accepted each other - although for a while, the silence in the house was eerie, but slowly they would learn to be as they used to be. they couldn’t say their trust was broken, quite on the contrary — they had only started trusting each other with that moment.
yet this trust would have to come to an end now, as his mission was approaching its end as well.
——————<
her lower lip trembled, more tears threatening to run down her cheeks, but at his words she’d let out the smallest of the laughs, one so quiet yet sad. her teeth bit into her lip, and it took her everything she had to give him a smile, and that had taken him aback.
“papa… you are such a liar…”
her words dug into his heart, forming a wound that would probably never heal. not after this mission.
“i am, aren’t i?”
the question more rethorical, being aimed more for himself than her.
her hands would let go of the shirt she so hardly held onto as she’d bring them up to wipe her tears - to Loid, her crying picked at the wound in his chest. his mission was going to end successfully, yet he felt like he failed it miserably. he’d stroke her hair, no words being spoken for the time; the silence was comforting, but truth told they were both scared of saying anything.
neither wanted this to end.
“when will you tell mama?”
a breath cut short, now it was his turn to bite into his lip. Yor Forger would return to being Yor Briar. how could he bring himself to tell her that his mission would end in a week’s time? how, when he had realised that he grew fond of her - of her still bland cooking, which had somehow improved though, of them going out for a jog every morning, smiles thrown at the other before Yor would ask him to race her, of her simply inviting him to spend time with her, activities mundane and silence enveloping them, but it was so comforting, so content. Loid had fallen in love.
“when she arrives home.”
Anya knew he was just as sad as her, but he was the adult, he was her father, he couldn’t let himself—
“it’s okay to cry, papa.”
eyes widened in shock, Loid stared down at his daughter. his lips quirked into a small smile - she was 17 now (or so he thought, but age was a secret Anya had decided to keep for herself), her maturity shouldn’t surprise him anymore. there were still moments when she’d remind him of the child that she used to be, but seeing how she grew up to be such a splendid lady truly made the spy proud; it truly made him feel like her father.
“and you will always be my father, no matter what.”
“did you just read my thoughts young lady?”
to that she stuck her tongue out, but they only smiled at each other. although everything that transpired, for some reason she felt at ease. she felt as if the words he uttered earlier were not lies.
maybe everything will be okay?
“i’m guessing my life at eden will be over then?”
a sheepish question, as that was another thing she didn’t want. her father brought up a hand to his chin, cupping it in a thoughtful manner. he did anticipate this, but he knew one thing.
“no. don’t worry, i’ll handle things on my side, so don’t think about it. i know it’s hard, but try acting like usual. do it for me, okay?”
they’ll continue being a family - no longer a fake one he hopes. Anya will continue going to school - she was a stellar student now, she couldn’t just abandon, not now when she was almost done as well. their lives as the Forger family will go on.
as everything seemed to settle down, Anya’s thoughts wandered to a certain boy; a certain classmate of hers whose friendship she was supposed to earn for the sake of the mission, which she had somehow successfully did, but with that small victory came feelings that weren’t in the plan. they were friends now alright; but what were once quick glances were now lingering, dinner was eaten in 5, with Anya and Damian sitting next to each other and their friends on the other side of the table, biting back giggles and chuckles as a grumbling Damian would wipe at Anya’s face with a tissue or offer her a bite of what he was having (oh the many times he had thought ‘indirect kiss’ and Anya’s face would just happen to turn a bit red - “the food is hot!” would be her excuse.), on rare occasions, they would hide from the bustling of the school’s corridors in the academy’s gardens - it was already routine for them; Anya would sit on the grass, a book (manga) in her hand, and Damian would lay next to her, copying her action (but with an actual book). in time, the space between them would grow small - so small that Damian was now resting his head in her lap, nible fingers finding their way through his dark locks, a small hum coming from the scion as that felt… pleasant. her touch was gentle now, unlike their childhood days. sweet memories filled his head,… well, some bitter, some sour even. Anya wasn’t the greatest child to have around after all. but even then, she had proved him so many times that she was genuine.
>—————— Damian & Anya, age 12
he was 12 when she told him everything as well. after 6 years of knowing each other, after 6 years of constant bantering, useless fights, but also group outings, time spent playing together, the 5 children bonding over the smallest of things, a guilt-ridden Anya had decided it was time for her to tell Damian about herself - about her secret, her mission.
she no longer wanted to hide it from him anymore — not when his laughter made her chest tighten, both because she was happy to see him like that, yet guilt always gnawed at her. he didn’t deserve this.
and so she had told him about her power, and about her initial plan of befriending him. he didn’t want to listen to another word from her, but she pulled at his heart strings, a hand grabbing hold of his sleeve, eyes begging him not to leave her — he knew that even though this had started as a sham, their friendship was genuine, pure. there were no longer hidden intentions behind her actions, just a child who wanted to spend her time with her friends. so he stayed, and listened to her, only for him to flick her forehead and scorn her, telling her how wrong she was for what she had done.
“i know my dad is not the best…” Damian knew, and with the years that had passed he learnt to accept that - although Donovan was his father, the older he grew, the more he realised that his father’s ideals were rather rotten “…so i understand why you did all this.”
anya wanted to say something, but he stopped her.
“i forgive you. i want us to stay friends… real friends this time.”
at that, the smile that adorned her face was stupidly adorable, but that was his weakness; that was all he wanted.
“but no more secrets from now on, okay?”
and with that, they sealed the deal. a pinky promise actually, as Anya was so insistent!
—————<
…it was time for her to admit it. it wasn’t just their friendship that held them together. her yearning to be with him was not just because she saw him as a friend. no, it was more than that. she was 17, almost 18 dammit! well, 15 almost 16! she knew she had to tell him, because he definitely wouldn’t be doing it, as he was so immature still when it came to admitting what he felt.
she huffed, puffing her cheeks out at the same time. if it wasn’t for her, they would never speak out their feelings, so it was time she did it.
she fished out her phone from her school bag, quickly searching for his name in her contact list, no hesitation whatsoever as she typed out her message and sent it before she could regret it.
[Sy-on boy! we need to talk tomorrow after school! it’s urgent!]
do imagine the pink haired girl almost flinging her phone across the room. second-hand embarrassment? indeed. but there was no turning back now.
she wanted him to know. she needed him to know and accept her feelings, even if she would have to suffer in the end.