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With the police officers guiding them through the crowd, Loid and Yor managed to get to the isolated area. Anya, who was just being checked by a paramedic, noticed her parents and ran to them as if on call.
"Papa!"
Loid felt his heart skip a beat. As he fell to his knees before Anya, his strongest need was hug her and hold her close. But his anger and fear gave him a deep and furious frown:
"ARE YOU INSANE?!" He yelled holding her shoulders in a tight grip. She watched her father with wide eyes and speechless. "Trying to distract terrorists when there's a bomb on you?! Didn't you see those men were dangerous and could kill you at any moment?!"
Anya knew Papa had infiltrated the bus in disguise and fought the terrorists in front of everyone's eyes. He had also seen her with the bomb and how she distracted Billy Squire to help him. She was expecting maybe to be congratulated for her bravery. But her Papa looked absolutely mad at her.
"Papa..." She sobbed a little. "Anya... Anya was just trying to help..."
"You could have died!" He said frustrated, even shaking her a bit. "Have you thought of your mother when having such a stupid idea?! Or Bond?! Have you thought of me?!"
"Loid, please, calm down..." Yor said holding his arm with a worried look. "She's just a child. This was a stressful day for everyone."
He took deep breaths. One, two. Yor was right. Twilight needed to calm down. Loid would never lose his composure at a time like this. He needed to keep up the appearances, as best as he could.
"I know. I'm sorry, Anya." Loid whispered, hugging her tightly once again, his tense muscles relaxing one by one as he slowly understood that Anya was safe and here, with him. "I'm just so mad, I was so worried something could've happened with you."
"Anya was scared, too." The girl confessed against his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Papa."
"It's okay." He said planting a kiss on the top of her forehead and standing up. He had enough of that fucking place.
When they were far enough from the crowd, already giving their contacts to the police one last time for further procedures, they walked a quiet path to the car.
Loid broke the silence.
"You'll be changing schools next week."
Anya raised her head and stared at him in confusion.
"Ehh?"
Even Yor wasn't expecting that.
"Loid...?"
"I realized now that Eden isn't worth it if you're going to be in danger like this everyday." He said bitterly, eyes softening as he looked at Anya in the eyes. "All these kids are from powerful, affluent families and not even all their money was enough to prevent this nightmare today. What am I supposed to do to protect you against these people?"
"B-But Papa...!" Anya was struggling so much in his hold that he had to put her down, a bit against his will. "I need to get stellas! I need to be an Imperial Scholar!"
"No, you don't." He said resolutely. "This is too risky. It's not worth it, Anya. I'm not letting you attend Eden ever again..."
I can't afford to lose you. He thinks desperately. When that bomb went off, I thought you had died. World peace isn't worth it if I can't protect you.
"But I like my school!" She argued with clenched fists. "I have my friends! And Mr. Henderson! Even Sy-on boy likes me better, Papa!"
"I SAID 'NO'!" He lashed out again.
Anya flinched. Yor tensed, as if at any moment he could attack any of them.
He gulped, realizing he was losing it. He pinched the brige of his nose, trying to concentrate on anything else. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yor picking Anya up and whispering something to her.
"I... I don't want to talk about this today. Please, if we can just go home..." He says one last time, tiredly.
Yor nodded, sympathetic. Anya didn't look at him.
The way back home was quieter than ever, the streets unchanged as their worlds almost turned upside down in just a day.
Dinner is also a silent, uneventful matter. Yor brings Anya's food to her bedroom. Loid barely touches his food.
Just today, he wished he could sleep with Anya in his bed. But she had a lot to process and he would respect her time.
For the first time in years, he cried until he fell asleep.