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"Anya... Please go to sleep."
Twilight didn't beg.
No, not at all.
Begging wasn't something he ever had to do. In fact, it was always the second party involved that was doing the begging, asking for mercy they weren't deserving of. Spies never begged - They made people beg.
Yet here he is at his lowest, trying to get his not-daughter down for a nap.
He is absolutely exhausted.
"But we're going to see Mama soon!" the child chirps where's she sitting up next to him on the couch. Twilight has most of his body sprawled across the couch with half of his face buried into the cushions. She's playing with Mr. Chimera while singing along to some children's TV program she had latched onto the last several weeks.
"I know..." His words are barely coherent. "But would you like to nap with Papa... for a few minutes..."
Between Anya's little body full of energy and the missions his handler had sent him on this week, Twilight could barely find it in himself to lift one finger when he had come through the doors of his apartment earlier that morning and fell flat on his face.
Anya had been left with his kind-of-friend, Franky, who had laughed at him weeks ago for the predicament he had ended up in.
"The suave and famous Twilight's most difficult mission being taking care of a child is the day I've been waiting for." He had been wheezing for five whole minutes. The cigarette in his hand was becoming shorter with each passing second. "Loser."
"Shut up, Franky."
Spies didn't get exhausted. What the hell was this child doing to him?
Anya stops as she turns around to look at him, and Twilight still isn't sure why her wide, green, curious eyes makes him so nervous, but there's always some feeling in his chest he'd never felt before.
It's warm, like the sun, and he finds the feeling to be absolutely pathetic.
She leans over, her mouth formed into an 'o', and places a tiny hand on his head. "Is Papa sleepy?"
YES, his brain screams.
She finally understands that he's exhausted beyond belief, and if he doesn't close his eyes for at least an hour, his death will be thanks to succumbing to exhaustion. Not due to any of his given dangerous missions, some even including saving the world from war.
Anya kisses his forehead. "Papa should go to sleep, then."
"No... Anya..." His voice is crying out in a desperate plee toward a three-year-old, and he's not sure he's ever stooped any lower than this. He needs her to go to sleep with him, so he could sleep without worry of waking up to a lost child or an apartment in disarray.
Or worst, Anya finding his... stuff.
"Anya won't go into your special thingies, Papa," she promises.
"Huh...?" He knits his eyebrows together for just a few seconds.
But Twilight is too exhausted to question just exactly how she knew what he was thinking. He doesn't care. He just wants to close his eyes, ignore the sound of the TV and the outside world, and drift off into a far-away place where no can find him. Not even WISE.
In fact, he hopes WISE isn't having a good day at all.
He finds his eyes slowly shutting, and when they rest completely, he mutters, "Just five minutes."
Five minutes, or so he thought, because next thing he knows, he's being gently shaken awake, two familiar voices ringing in his ear. One is older and the other one is annoyingly high-pitched but has become so endearing to him lately.
His eyes shot open and he sits up so fast that he almost falls off the couch. His brain is on alert immediately, but that lasts two seconds when he sees a tall, womanly figure in front of him, next to them the very person he had begged to go to sleep five minutes ago-
Oh, fuck? Was it five minutes ago?
He's sure it was definitely only five minutes ago.
How long has it been?
He blinks to clear his vision properly. "Thorn Princess!"
The assassin takes a step back, a smile full of displeasure on her face while Anya clings to her tightly. Except... It's Thorn Princess, but in... a uniform of some sorts.
A City Hall uniform specifically.
"Princess..." He looks between her and Anya, choosing to ignore the way her uniform fits her curves a little too well, and settles his eyes on her face. "When did do you get here?"
"Papa is awake!"
Thorn Princess places Anya down on the ground. The little girl clambers up next to him back on the couch to lean against him. Thorn Princess takes a seat on her other side.
She smiles and folds her hands in lap, but nothing about her posture or expression is welcoming. "Anya let me in," the assassin informs him politely. "I wonder how that happened."
Twilight's brain is still barely functioning as he asks, "What time is it?"
"Papa was asleep for a really long time." Anya giggles and pats his leg with a tiny hand. She diverts her attention to Yor. "Papa said he was sleepy."
"Yes, sweetie. I know."
Twilight ignores the passive-agressive tone in his co-parent's voice and looks up at the clock. He'd been out for an hour. What the hell did Anya do for an entire hour while he was in the most unguarded state he'd been in ages?
Did children really drain people of this much energy?
"Anya, what did you-" And his question is quickly answered by the toys lying on the floor in the middle of the living room and the opened bag of peanuts spilled on the floor next to them.
He groans so loudly that Anya asks, "Papa, are you okay?"
Twilight lets out a steady breath and gives his not-daughter a tight smile. "I'm absolutely wonderful, Anya."
She frowns. "Is Papa mad?"
"N-No, I'm not mad." He glances at Thorn Princess, and she's still smiling. Her smile is so unsettling, but he expects nothing less from Thorn Princess. He's just tired. "You did a good job being a good girl while Papa napped."
"Sweetie, have you all had dinner yet?" Princess asks it while she's still looking at him. He's dealt with worst people, but he hadn't realized how intimidating Thorn Princess could be until there was a child in between them.
"Papa fell asleep," is her only answer.
"Ah." Thorn Princess stands and asks, "Shouldn't we start dinner, then, Twilight?"
He's barely functioning, but he stands and brushes his hair out of his face. "Anya?"
"Yes?"
"Can you clean up your toys for Papa and Mama while we prepare dinner?"
She shakes her head up and down enthusiastically. "Oi!"
He tilts his head. Where did she get that from?
As Anya cleans up her toys, he follows Thorn Princess into the kitchen and she stops in front of him, turning toward him. Her red painted finger nails tap against the kitchen counter.
"Twilight, may you expand on why Anya let me in?"
She's smiling and he wished she'd stop smiling at him. He liked it better when she looked annoyed with him.
"You know the answer, Princess," Twilight tells her as he opens the refrigerator to take out ingredients to prep a meal for Anya.
It was one thing when he barely had to worry about if he got in a meal for the day. It's another now that he has a child on his hands and has to make sure she not only has every single one of her meals but snacks to munch on as well.
Finding out she liked peanuts was a relief because that was the only thing she asked for outside of her meals. Although, he did have to distribute them into a bowl just for her or she'd pour the whole bag for herself. He's not sure how she even managed to get the peanuts during the hour he fell asleep out of the top cabinet he kept them in.
"Twilight, I asked you yesterday if you needed me to take Anya this week," she tells him as he walks around her to place the items on the counter.
"I didn’t and I don't."
He ia a man of many talents, and a child is the last thing that's going to make him give in to telling someone he needs help.
It has only been three weeks since they took Anya in, but WISE was taking their slow and sweet time making other arrangements for the little girl, so he was getting accustomed to having a child around.
Thorn Princess had her all last week, and he made visits a few times go see Anya, who always made sure to say, "Anya misses Papa," and something inside of him melted. He also had to drop off Mr. Chimera so she could sleep, which was another whole situation.
Thorn Princess looks at him skeptically, and he says, "I assure you that I'm completely fine. I just let exhaustion overcome me and it won't happen again."
"Taking care of a child is difficult, Twilight. I'm sure every experienced parent would admit th—" Thorn Princess stops in the middle of her words. "You're not experienced, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting that. I had my brother. I know it's hard."
He rolls his eyes and takes out a pot from a cabinet below. He stands back up. "Your words are very comforting, Princess," he bites out sarcastically.
"Well, it's much better than scolding you for leaving a child unmonitored," she shoots back and crosses her arms under her chest. "If she knows how to open the door for me, she could have easily left the confines of your apartment."
Her voice is laced with worry, and it makes Twilight feel especially guilty because yes, he knew it was dangerous to leave Anya unattended like that. He just hadn't realized his body could shut down so easily in such a short span of time, and hearing it from Thorn Princess just makes him feel more disappointed in himself.
Surely watching a child couldn't have made him so sloppy.
He hands her two onions instead of responding. "Can you cut these?"
"O-Oh, I don't... I can't..." She starts to stammer, looking at the onions like they're the sweet epitome of evil, and Twilight quirks an eyebrow.
"You can't what, Princess?" He pushes her on.
"I can't..." The sudden interest she has in her feet means exactly what Twilight thinks it means. "I don't know how to... cook?"
Twilight blanks. "You what?
She shakes her head, squeezing the onions between her fingers and Twilight partly feels worried for the well-being of the onions. "I can't cook!"
"Mama's food doesn't taste very good," Anya says, standing on the back of the couch, and Twilight smirks at the way Thorn Princess's face turns beat red in embarassment.
"Anya!" Her voice comes out high-pitched, filled with betrayal.
Anya giggles as she flops back down on the couch to watch the TV.
She looks back up at him, and he tries to feel sympathy, but now he has something maybe a little worse than falling asleep for an hour earlier. "So you've been feeding our daughter what exactly?"
"Just... sandwiches!" Yor admits, her red eyes narrowing at him. "They're simple! And she doesn't like crust!"
"But Anya didn't like the grape jam. Or the yellowy stuff and blueberries. I like strawberry jam," the three-year-old's voice adds in again.
"Now, Princess." He takes a step forward and she takes a step back. "That's not a very balanced meal plan for a three-year-old, is it?"
"They're sandwiches..." She mutters and then hisses, "I didn't leave her unmonitored while asleep!"
"You didn't care to tell me you couldnt cook?"
"She could have been hurt!"
He takes the onions from her hands, before they become pieces in her hands, and places them on the counter. "The blame game isn't a good look right now."
Thorn Princess shakes her head. "I saved you a scolding and now you're giving me one."
"If I had known you were incompetent when it came to cooking , I surely would not have made the switch-"
"And if I knew you weren't going to watch her properly, I wouldn't have let her stay with you-"
"I can bathe, dress, entertain her, and feed her." He says and maybe he's bragging a little about his skills, but he finds her frustrated expression entertaining. Even if she could end his life right here. "I feel like the last one is a little important."
"I can do that too!"
"Except cook for her."
"Twilight-"
"Thorn Princess-"
"Are Mama and Papa fighting?"
They look down to find Anya at their feet, then up at each other and then back down at her. Simultaneously, they say:
"No, sweetie."
"Of course not, Anya."
"Your Papa was just being mildly irritating," Thorn Princess tells their "daughter" with a sweet smile, and he sends her the politest glare he can without alerting Anya.
"What's ear-roo-tating?" Anya asks, her eyes wide with wonder and confusion.
"Irritating," Twilight corrects her. "It means I have caused your mother a little anger."
Anya tilts her head, frowning. "But why?"
"Because..." He looks at Thorn Princess and, she simply raises her eyebrows, expecting him to continue on. He sighs. "I'm just worried about what you eat when you're with her."
Anya suddenly hugs Thorn Princess's leg and says, "Mama does her best. Sometimes her food is icky, but Anya will eat it for Mama."
"Icky?!" Thorn Princess gasps in offense.
"Papa's food isn't icky," Anya admits. She looks up at him. "I want hamburger!"
Twilight gives her a small smile. "Lucky for you, small lady. That's what I was going to prepare."
"Yay!"
Anya pulls on his pants leg, and it pushes him forward and right into Thorn Princess, pushing her back into the wall behind them. He catches himself by placing his hands on the wall on either side of her figure as Anya hugs their legs together.
"Mama and Papa are nice!"
She then runs off back to the couch, her giggles sounding oddly mischievous to him, but he overlooks it as he glances down at Thorn Princess below him, whose cheeks have dusted pink.
Usually, he'd say something snarky or smug to piss her off, but this was not a reaction produced by him or even her. In fact, it was their "daughter's" doing and was very different from their usual antics.
However, Thorn Princess is the first to recover quickly, placing a hand onto his chest aa she says, "Ah, you're so eager, Twilight."
His first instinct is to blush, but he gathers himself and responds, "Maybe I am." He lifts her chin up. "Just depends on how eager you'd like me to be."
"Ah-" Thorn Princess doesn't expect it because she knocks his hand away, annoyed again. "This is not what we came in here to talk about."
"Perhaps we'll go over it later instead, then," he suggests to her and truthfully, he's trying to move away from the conversation.
"But Anya-"
"Is going to be fine. I appreciate your concern for her and... I apologize if I concerned you earlier for my actions." He admits, although a little reluctantly. "I'll make sure it won't happen again."
"Will you send Anya to me if your hands are full?"
"I can also assure you that I am completely fine with her-"
"Twilight."
"... Yes." He changes his response, knowing that look meant she'd whip out one of her stilettos threateninly if need be. "Anya will be all yours if I can't handle her."
Her expression changes to a smile and she pats his chest. "Good Papa," she says, satisfied with his new answer.
"I'll start bringing over meals for the week whenever Anya stays with you. Easy for you to warm up," Twilight decides before they move.
She finds her arms under her chest again, and Loid would really like for her to stop doing that. "I don't need your help cooking for us-"
"Princess."
She pouts, and he hates that he thinks she looks cute. "Fine. You can fix our meals."
He places a piece of stray hair behind her ear and thanks her with a small smile. "Thank you, Princess."
"Y-You..." She looks down. "You're not welcome, Twilight."
"Of course."
She pushes him away and walks under his arm, annoyance clear in her face as she moves to leave the kitchen, but he calls, "Princess."
"Yes?"
"These onions still need to be cut."
"Twilight-"
"You're an assassin. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time." Twilight hums as he grabs a knife out of a side draw. "I'll demonstrate for you."
Thorn Princess grumbles, but she reluctantly agrees with a small, "Okay..."
"Mama and Papa getting along again?" Anya calls from the couch.
"We weren't fighting before," Twilight tells her, and he wonders how a three-year-old is so intuitive. "But.. Yes, we are."
Anya smiles brightly, satisfied, and turns around in her seat.
"She's so cute!" Thorn Princess gushes.
"She'll be cuter when I feed her and she finally goes to sleep. She's been full of energy all day," he mumbles. "I could take you two back home after dinner."
"Ah, it's already late," Thorn Princess says. "She could stay here for the night and I'll come bright and early tomorrow."
"I don't think Anya would like that. She's been screaming all week about getting to stay with her Mama again," Twilight chuckles.
"Oh, she missed me?" Thorn Princess adorably presses her hands to her cheeks and giggles. "She's so cute."
Before Thorn Princess herself can start going on about how adorable Anya is again, he says, "Let's get started on dinner, shall we?"
She nods in agreement.
Twilight smirks. "Just promise to not attempt to kill me when you cut these onions."
She huffs. "I don't promise that."
"Fair."
.....
After dinner was prepared and long over, Anya was finally asleep, the exact thing Loid had been waiting for all day.
Thorn Princess is finishing putting up the cleaned dishes from dinner as he puts Anya's overnight bag at the front. Some of her things are at Yor's apartment and some others are here, but he still made sure to purchase clothes so she'd have enough here and to take to Thorn Princess's home.
He looks over at Anya, snoring away on the couch, and a tiny smile reaches his face before he realizes just what he was doing and shakes his head.
She isn't his daughter.
She was just in their care until WISE made arrangements for her and then it'd be like she was never here.
"Twilight?"
He snaps out of his thoughts and turns to focus on the beauty in front of him. "Princess."
"I put up the last of dishes, so Anya and I can get going now if the taxi is here."
She moves to carefully pick up Anya, who doesn't stir one bit as Thorn Princess rests the girl's head on her shoulder.
"She must've been tired," Thorn Princess chuckles and moves toward the door to slip her shoes on.
Twilight carries Anya's bag and Thorn Princess's purse, as well as Mr. Chimera in his hand as he opens the door for them both.
The walk to the taxi downstairs is silent, no one speaking until Yor and Anya are seated in the back of the car.
"Remember that I'll be over later tomorrow with lunch and dinner for you all for the week," Twilight reminds her.
"Yes, I remember."
"Also, don't let Anya convince you to let her stay up past eight-thirty. She doesn't like carrots. I'm sure we installed a nightlight at your apartment, but make sure that's on. She cries if she wakes up in the dark, and-"
"Twilight," Thorn Princess cuts in.
He pauses and looks directly at her. "Yes?"
She gives him a smile. Not a passive-agressive smile or one of her infamous scary smiles. It's a gentle smile. "I know."
He stares at her for a few seconds longer, taking in every single one of her features, before leaning back and clearing his throat.
"You know."
"Goodnight, Twilight." Her smile doesn't waver. "I'll see you later. And sleep well."
Later.
Sleep well.
He steps away and mumbles, "Goodnight, Princess," as the door closes.
He watches the taxi drive off, and suddenly it's too quiet for him, which is strange. Quietness was something he was used to since he was always by himself, but with Anya now and Thorn Princess around more often, it was never simply quiet.
"See you later," he says and walks back into the warmth of his apartment.