Work Text:
Sometimes there are things you want to hide until death comes to pick you up. Not a forbidden secret or a treasure map, nor a forbidden recipe that could lead to great catastrophe. Something, whatever it was, could be one of the many sides she didn't want to be exposed to unless the deadly poison became her punishment. For that person, or some others as well, it would be better to die than to open one's mouth to tell the story.
One, two, or many at once, there is never a possibility of closing it if there is a will to cover it. There is no longer any obstacle for her to hide, close it tightly so that one eye refuses to glance and one ear refuses to hear.
She always emphasizes that appearance is only a mask for her. Running a daily life full of gunfire and knife scratches, once a smile is wrong, a head will fall from his neck. Sweet make-up brings bees, and when everyone gathers smoke will fill the room, billowing them out and destroying all lives. Negligence is at stake for her breath.
Powder and lip color are considered thin as a tool to cover her face. It needs to be layered, making it look like a noblewoman whose temperament is so minor even though her activities are carried out in the market. A cruel parable, and peculiar to him. Remember, she is not a cheap woman, who can be found just to drink.
And that may be the first of the reasons why men fell in love with her.
The piled-up work reminded him that now was not the time to be contemplating the current world of socialites. Even if you want to be scolded hundreds of times, nothing will change. He also doesn't want to be bothered by things he can't enjoy freely.
The demands for jobs in government are terrible.
Her walk down the hall of headquarters seemed longer than before. Maybe it was because her hands were full of papers that he had to finish right away, or her mind was running around things that made her almost lose focus.
Arriving in front of a familiar door, she quickly knocked and heard a voice telling her to come in and she immediately did, knowing that her hands were starting to feel numb if she continued to carry a thick pile of paper.
"Director, this is a file that you must complete. I have arranged it according to your schedule and several field missions must be completed immediately. The meeting with Mr. Holmes has been postponed to tomorrow due to a sudden appointment with the Queen, the details of the meeting to be held are also attached here," the report was so fluent as if it had been memorized by heart.
She is an experienced person in this field. The information he just got five minutes ago could be described more fully than the one who brought the information himself.
Or she is too tired and wants to go back to her room immediately.
The usual smile she got from her boss, "Good job. Miss Moneypenny. You can come back now and see you tomorrow."
Moneypenny gave a slow nod, but not with her feet still standing.
"Is there still something missing?" The confusing question was thrown at her, and Moneypenny was still busy wrestling with his thoughts.
There were many things she wanted to say. Once she saw it, it was clear that her new boss had forced himself to stay up late and forget about his meal. The reason she knew why that Director had ignored himself and forgot about the existence of 'rest'.
"You don't have to push yourself like this, Mr. Louis," she was done with work. No more formal calls between colleagues.
Before Louis answered, his sentence was cut short, "I know you are scared right now. A year has passed and your relationship has drifted apart, as have your conversations at the funeral of Mr. Sherlock Holmes. You know that Doctor Watson is not that kind of person, and you must trust him."
Maybe Moneypenny just wanted to lift the burden that was stuck in the corner of her heart, encouraging herself under the pretext of giving words of advice to her friends.
"Doctor Watson isn't one to come over when 'sickness' is just a lie," and Louis' face remained obscured by the shadow of his hair.
'I missed it,' no regrets, Moneypenny got it right. He didn't want anyone else to 'drown' like him.
'Mr. Louis is an adult and I still treat him like a child.'
"Sorry, I'll excuse myself," she quickly moved out of the room.
"Thank you for your words, Miss Moneypenny," she paused for a moment to find a faint, unusual smile on her superior's lips. "Take a day off tomorrow. I only have a meeting with Mr. Holmes and after that I'm free. You also need rest so you don't get sick."
"I see, then see you."
And the door closed leaving the young man who closed his pomegranate in silence.
***
The streets look busy, the day is starting in the afternoon and the night markets that will open soon may be the cause.
Moneypenny decided to go back to her house, a rented apartment not far from where he worked, instead of sleeping in his room as previously planned.
Her beads were circulating, trying to find entertainment that he might be able to bring home to fill her free time until tomorrow. Moneypenny just realized she hadn't had the fun she should have in a long time.
All this time what he thought was having fun was a disguise while doing missions together. Using another identity, getting into high-profile parties, or dating government officials for information. Turns out that wasn't what made her body relax.
Even though Moneypenny pretends to be disgusted with holding the hands of other men she doesn't know, especially if they are trash-littering the country. For the sake of the mission that strengthens her so as not to vomit and kick their genitals.
'Come to think of it, my missions were mostly with the Colonel,' the thought flashed through her without stopping him. The times they went on various undercover missions rose from his memories, causing a longing he didn't want to feel either.
Her desire to meet again shook her whole body. Moneypenny wanted to ask, about the reason, about why he changed, about their relationship that passed like he didn't care at all about it.
Lips polished thin lipstick bit hard, 'Colonel fool! You seduce women!' Her cursing is more suitable if it is interpreted as anger at herself for accepting the existence of the man in her heart. Moneypenny probably cursed why he would want to fall for the cheap seduction of the barwoman.
Buildings of red brick lined in front of her. The door with the number five board becomes the target for the key to be held. The dark atmosphere of the front room was now brightly lit, Moneypenny had to defend herself from sneezing from the dust that had accumulated inside.
"Looks like I have to clean up," there was no time for her to rest. Moneypenny was just grateful she had two days, maybe three, to do all the household chores she'd been neglecting for months.
No longer wanting to go to her room, she went to the kitchen, took her apron and utensils, then prepared to clean up all the mess that was there.
While her hands and feet worked, her brain insolently recalled the activities she had been doing all this time. She also cleans up but in a room at the base, hoping that when everyone 'returns' they will have a 'home' to live in. After all, the huge mansion had already been burned down, with a hint of sarcasm in it.
And Moneypenny slaps hard when she thinks of 'home'. She was waiting for the handsome man to come home, in fact, their 'home' was 'here'. Wrapped in a warm blanket that is getting hotter as the middle of the night approaches. Those who hold their arms until dawn and do not let go of each other. Beautiful days in their 'home', now dreams are also painful.
"Stupid colonel," her cursing drowned in echo.
The cleaning activity took more than half a day, aka it was almost midnight, and she had not showered or eaten anything. Although a satisfied smile was plastered on her face which was covered in dust and dirt. It was light in her heart to see that all the hard work brought the precious leisure time she was after.
"I'll just eat it tomorrow morning, now I'm going to bed," she said, taking off her clothes and taking a dip in the warm water. Exhausted and sweat lifted and Moneypenny heaved a sigh of relief.
Her eyes returned to the ceiling, imagining the good times when she was still with her man. The man who pampered her, the man who liked to tease her with cheap words, the man who would hug her every night so she wouldn't feel cold. Ironic because now this ounce of warm water can't heat his body.
"Colonel," it wasn't that Moneypenny didn't dare call his name, but because he was too afraid to get emotional again when he did, Moneypenny didn't like it when his sorrows poured out once again for the jerk who left him without a word.
But it is undeniable that she also misses, misses the man's attitude, misses the calming aroma, and longs for the touch that always manages to find the sensitive points of her body.
"Moneypenny," look, even in his shadow he could see the sturdy silhouette of his favorite plane chest.
Slowly the adrenaline increased, making every inch feel nostalgic shaking. "Moneypenny, Penny, my dear Penny," his voice was softer than he remembered, the more Moneypenny fell asleep and wanted more which he carried in gentle strokes from her chest to her stomach. The swollen nipple she touched shyly, and continued boldly as pleasure and solitude she knew.
" Colonel.. unghh.. anhh.."
"Your voice is so sweet, Penny.. nghhh.."
The blush on her cheeks was incomparable to the beating of her heart which was getting faster like it was about to explode. In contrast to her hands that were still self-indulgent, seeking pleasure in the hot steam, submerging more than half of her body in water rippling loudly by the in and out movements.
Whispers continued to be heard, repeating the memories she had let linger for a long time. "See, you go out a lot darling.. mnnhhh.." Or, "Umfhh.. I'm in, Penny.."
"Agghhh.. Colonel.. umnnghhh.. Colonel— akhhh..! Sebastian..!"
Her mouth is slurred, and her eyes are no longer focused with the feeling of a lump down there. The sticky liquid that dripped out little by little stained her bathwater, and Moneypenny didn't care at all about her surroundings anymore.
Feet limp, both hands are busy pampering themselves. Twisting her nipples, biting her lip until she bled because she didn't want to scream too loudly and wake her neighbor, her fingers vibrating with pleasure below. Heaven on earth is showing itself to Moneypenny right now.
In his shadow, Moneypenny could see a large man stabbing her roughly and swiftly. Even though she had asked to be slowed down, her words were lost in her humiliating sigh. She could only grip tightly to what was around her. Close her eyes and relax in activities that she misses.
"Penny.. mnghh.. soon.."
"Se-Sebastian- akhh..! Inside— come inside.. please.. AKHHH..!"
The long-awaited peak has finally arrived. The liquid of lust flooded the thighs and the water bath-up was partly soiled and some spilled. The pseudo-image he had fantasized about disappeared, and Moneypenny didn't want to let it go. The limp body leaned back, his forehead momentarily feeling a familiar warm, soft feeling he longed for.
Moneypenny is now asleep from exhaustion, leading to a dream that is quite better than before. A dream that shows the face of a man who is now lifting her body, changing her clothes into more comfortable pajamas, and laying her on the bed so that he doesn't catch a fever tomorrow morning.
His big but rough fingers covered in wounds gently rubbed her slightly chubby white cheeks, removing the strands of hair that interfered with the beautiful view of the woman's beautiful face. Those ripe lips could not help but taste, incised longing and desire to be together longer. But he remembered that he shouldn't be here, he shouldn't have dared to show himself.
Sebastian Moran knows all too well how bad he is to leave a wound he can't heal inside his lover.
"I'm sorry, Penny. You are exhausted like this, you are always silent and don't say anything, and it's all because of me being childish," he admitted, still staring at the peaceful face in front of him.
"Just a little longer. Just a moment and we can live together forever."
The narrative closes the meeting of the two who did not look at each other that night. Deep longing actually becomes a barrier for them to meet, and asking for news is also reluctant to do.
When that time comes, and they finally meet, then the time will be a new page for the two of them who have decided which choice to make for their future.