Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Thorn Princess glinted like a blade in the night. She struck down a room of slumlords and criminals like a ballet dancer with effortless grace. The battlefield was silent in a matter of minutes. As she began to retrieve her thrown stiletto knives she felt someone stir in the corner of the room.

Before she could silence them she saw a silhouetted figure stab the man in the back. He walked toward her, clapping. He was tall, lean, with spiked dark hair. She felt a glimmer of recognition.

"Beautiful, Princess. Your reputation precedes you." Green eyes glinted in the darkness and her heart fluttered. His name came to her lips like she was remembering a dream.

"Hemlock," Thorn Princess took a step backward. "You're back." She said it as if it were a question, but the answer was right in front of her. The young boy that Yor had once knew had grown into a tall man with sharp features. Hemlock's face still bore an easy smirk that was seared into her memory.

"I'm glad to see my protege has improved her technique." Hemlock closed the distance between him and Yor until they stood a foot apart from one another. In the light she noticed that Hemlock had developed some freckles. Other than that and his toned figure he looked the same as when they were teenagers. He was still handsome and smug about it. "The only problem is that you weren't able to sense me."

"I would've gotten the straggler in time," She replied in a measured voice. "There are not so many men like you, Hemlock." Her words lit a sly grin on the man's face.

"Did you miss me?" He asked.

"It's been a long time." Yor had missed him once, but she hadn't thought of him in years. He put a gloved hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a tender hug. She would have pulled away from anyone else. But this was different. Her heart raced despite herself. "How was Westalis?" She was stiff in his embrace.

He squeezed against her tightly and murmured into her hair. "Terrible country. I missed you." His arms were toned and his hands wandered over her bare shoulders. Yor quickly created distance. She hadn't seen this man in nearly a decade. The Garden's elite agent had been sent to Westalis when Hemlock was 19 and Yor was 17. They had been close then, but things were different now.

"I'm married." She said awkwardly, a blush finally filtering to her face.

"That's right. Shopkeeper told me you're in a fake marriage."

"To avoid suspicion, yes."

"Wanna do that with me instead? Two birds with one stone." Hemlock stood with his head sightly tilted and a hand on his hip, as if he knew he was going to get what he wanted. There was a time when Yor would have found that expression irresistible. Now she felt a twinge of irritation at this man who treated her as if she were that young girl who could be led around by the nose. She was not a child anymore. Maybe it was the bloodlust from a recent kill, or falling back on the old habits with the man who used to train her, but she moved like lightning to point a stiletto at his neck.

Hemlock flipped away from her to avoid the attack. The smirk didn't leave his face, but his eyebrows raised in slight surprise.

"Welcome back, Hemlock." Thorn Princess said neutrally as she fell back into the shadows.

~~~

Yor could barely concentrate at City Hall. Camilla had scolded her for 20 minutes after she misfiled documents all day. At her fake job she couldn't muster the confidence of Thorn Princess and she tearily left the building with her head hanging. 

She had left Hemlock in her past. The Shopkeeper had told her he was going to be an asset in Westalis for good. She never asked too much about the machinations of the Garden that didn't involve her. Maybe she could request that Hemlock went away again, but Shopkeeper wouldn't entertain it. In reality part of Yor had been happy to see her old friend—her almost old flame—but she couldn't think of that. He reminded her of a dark time that she had left behind: finding the Garden, the harsh conditions of early training, the desperation of feeding herself and Yuri day to day. At the time Hemlock was her only friend and comfort; of course she had missed him when he left. Still, she was in a much happier place now and didn't need those memories following her like a shadow.

"Yor... Forger, now, isn't it?" Hemlock, no, Thomas appeared at a corner holding a coffee. Yor blinked. He wore ripped jeans, work boots and a simple blue sweater. "Funny running into you here. This my favorite coffee shop." He still had that smirk on his face...

"Just around the corner from my home?" Yor asked timidly. "Thomas, I'm not sure we should be speaking in public." She continued walking, but Thomas took a place by her side and matched her pace. Something about felt quite familiar and Yor couldn't help but smile nostalgically.

"We haven't gotten to catch up since I got back, Yor! I just wanted to ask how you are doing. You look nice in your work outfit." His smirked widened as she blushed. "How is Yuri doing? Still top of the class? How old is he nowadays..."

Before Thomas left all those years ago he had asked her, if it weren't for Yuri, would they have gotten together? Yor didn't remember what she said in response. They stopped at the entrance to 128 Park Avenue.

"Yuri has a wonderful job with the Ostanian Government." She looked up at Thomas with a proud grin. "He's turned into such a capable young man. He graduated early and was able to take care of himself right after." Her eyes sparkled when she talked about Yuri. Thomas smiled back at her, clearly amused by her gushing.

"That's no surprise. He had such a capable older sister looking after him." His green eyes glinted in such a way that made Yor blush deeper. Suddenly she realized she was outside of her home with a man who was not her husband. 

"Y-you should go. It was good to run into you!" Thomas nodded.

"By the way, Yor, does your fake husband happen to be a blond man with an olive green suit?" He asked under his breath. Yor's expression sharpened. "He changed directions into a side street when he saw us from a few blocks down. Looks a little straight-laced, don't you think, Yor? Certainly not like someone who would be comfortable with a contract killer as a wife." His emerald eyes glinted like daggers. 

Yor turned into Thorn Princess in that moment, ready to strike an enemy down. She knew he could feel her bloodlust. "Goodbye, Thomas." She turned to open her front door. 

"Go set your fake husband's mind at ease, Yor. To avoid suspicion." Yor spinned back at him but Thomas was already walking back the way they came. 

~~~

Loid didn't arrive home for another half an hour. Yor had been biting her lips and washing the dishes when he opened the door and hung his hat up. 

"Welcome home!" Yor cried, a little over-eager. Loid gave her a sweet smile as he always did but said nothing. Yor's mind raced with all the terrible possibilities. Would he ask her about it? He had never pried about her personal life but if he saw them of course he might think something uncouth was happening. 

"Welcome back Papa!" Anya called from in front of the TV. Loid began his nightly ritual of encouraging Anya to do her homework. Was it just her imagination, or did he sound more irate than usual? She had to do something to set his mind at ease.

"I ran into an old friend at the coffee shop on the corner today!" Yor announced. Both Loid and Anya turned to her with some surprise. Anya's expression quickly became stiff and concerned.

"Oh? That's nice." Loid replied casually. "Who was it?"

"Thomas Linnaeus. A friend from when I was in middle and high school." Yor forced a nervous smile. "He has been working abroad for the last ten years and just got back to Ostania. I was so surprised to see him." Loid seemed to soften as he smiled. Yor felt relief wash over her as she met Loid's gentle blue eyes.

"What a coincidence. We should all meet sometime, if you want to reconnect with him." 

"That won't be necessary," Yor said quietly. "I don't think I'll see much more of him. Oh, I brought the chicken out to thaw for tonight Loid." She turned her back away from the kitchen window to set ingredients out for him. She didn't realize that her husband and daughter were staring at her back with intense focus.

It was none of his business who Yor did or didn't spend time with unless they were a direct threat to the mission, Loid reasoned. Yor was a responsible adult with her own autonomy and desires. They weren't even romantic partners. He had no right to even consider prying about her private relationships. This was a marriage of convenience! Hell, so long as she played the role of Anya's mother he wouldn't even care if Yor was having an affair—

A loud SNAP jolted him out of his thoughts. He had broken his clipboard in half. Loid let out a slow, tense breath out from his nose. This was ridiculous. He was falling prey to a foolish stereotype. A man and a woman simply walking together had nothing suggestive about it. No, this was absurd.

The thing that plagued him was her smile. Yor was always a little more tense in public. She looked as relaxed with that Thomas person as she looked with Yuri. Or him. That bastard had said something to make her blush. The way Loid has made her blush. The thought made him bring a hand to his forehead. A migraine was building up between his eyes. He was getting a migraine. That was all.

So, with this migraine, he should leave a bit early. He looked up at the clock and removed his lab coat. No harm in swinging by City Hall on the way home, either. 

Loid waited for Yor in the lobby. He waved at Camilla and Millie as they left. Yor followed shortly behind and jumped.

"Loid! Is everything alright?" 

"Of course, Yor. It's just a lovely day and my last patient cancelled, so I thought maybe we could walk home together." A small smile spread across her face and a blush reached her cheeks. Loid felt some satisfaction despite himself. A number of Yor's co-workers cooed about them being such a sweet couple and Loid made a mental note to do this more often. 

"That's very kind, Loid. Shall we get something from the farmers market on the way home?" Loid offered her his arm as they began to walk and Yor jumped. She regained herself took it shyly. She pressed closer to him and Loid felt his headache disperse.

They got groceries and shared fresh strawberries on their walk. Loid looked at Yor tenderly as she savored the sweet taste. "It's nice to spend time together when we aren't doing chores," Loid noted.

"O-oh! Do you think so?" Yor flushed to her ears. "I think so too, Loid." She looked at her feet as she said it. Loid wondered if he was crossing a boundary. He had never really flirted with his wife; in fact he had hardly flirted with anyone without wanting to get access to information. Still, Yor had a pleasant smile on her face their entire walk home back to their apartment, so he decided not to fret.

When they arrived home there was a flower arrangement sitting outside their door. Lush red zinnias spilled out of a small vase and there was a note attached. Loid felt Yor tense visibly as they saw them, but he swiftly moved to pick up the vase before her.

'For Yor -T'

The simple note caused Loid's jaw to clench. When Yor saw it she turned as red as the flowers and began to babble.

"W-what is that? For me? T-that can't be right, maybe there's another Yor in the building." Yor squeaked. "T could be anyone. Timothy is a common name! T-thomas, no. That, um, he wouldn't, uh, he—" Loid opened the door and set the zinnias down on the mantle. 

"That's nice of him." Loid began putting the groceries away. He nearly crushed the spinach as he thrust it into the refrigerator. 'Calm yourself, Twilight.'

"I-I'm so sorry Loid. That wasn't right of him. The neighbors might have seen and—I'll speak to him. If it even was him. That's not—"

"Don't worry about it, Yor. I'm sure he was just happy to run into you after such a long time." He busied himself in the kitchen to prepare dinner. Yor stood staring at the zinnias for a while, biting her thumb. After a moment of silence Loid dared to ask. "Do you two have a history?"

"What?" Yor yelped. "No! Not at all!" A nervous, near hysterical-laugh escaped her. "No, no, we were just kids." Loid let the smile fall off his face as he looked back at his wife. 

"It's okay, Yor. You had a life before me, I'm just curious."

"No, Loid, we won't. I mean, we don't! And didn't." Yor shook her head vehemently. Loid nodded and brought out the cutting board. He let Yor escape to the bathroom and began chopping tomatoes. The zinnias were a red stain on the side of his vision. His migraine was back.

~~~

"Wow, Twilight, WISE is giving you a budget for this one huh?" Franky flipped through the stack of bills in his hand with a wide grin. "Who's the target?"

"Thomas Linneaus. Go deep on this bastard, Franky."

Chapter Text

A week had passed since Hemlock's flowers arrived and the Forger household had never been more at peace, much to Yor's surprise. She has been anxious about Thomas' inappropriate advances but Loid hadn't been bothered at all. If anything he had become only more caring and even affectionate toward her. He had picked her up from work nearly every day, and he insisted that they went on a date together. Yor was nervous and probably made a fool of herself, but Loid set her at ease as only he could. Even Anya had been cuddling her out of the blue, cooing about what a wonderful Mama she was and how she was so lucky to have a perfect family.

Still, the zinnias sat bright and red on their mantle looking fresh as the day they were cut.

"Can I pick you up anything when I'm on my way back, Yor?" Loid adjusted his jacket and smiled broadly at his wife. The last time he came home late he had picked up two apple tarts for them to share. The memory of the sweet gesture was enough to make her blush. 

"No need, thank you Loid. I'm just sorry you have to keep working even on a Friday night."

"It's nothing, I just wish we could have eaten dinner together." Loid stepped toward her in the kitchen and Yor heard her heart pound in her ears. His cerulean eyes peered down at her with such attentiveness. She felt as if he was taking in every inch of her. His lips parted slightly. Then, as if holding himself back, he turned around to put on his hat. "I'll see you later tonight."

"S-s-see you!" Yor bowed her face so she couldn't see her blush. For some reason Yor had been imagining physical intimacy with Loid more these past few days. It seemed like Loid was acting as if, well, he might be interested in her in that way. Yor couldn't decide what she would do if he tried to make a move; she was certainly not opposed, but still... She wondered vaguely what Thomas would think about her reticence.

Yor was relieved that she hadn't seen Thomas all week. That didn't keep her from imagining him every time she turned a corner. She knew it was improper, she was certain her feelings weren't romantic, but she was just paranoid. Yor toyed with the idea of inviting him over to meet her family; Thomas had been quite important to her at one time. Perhaps he and Yuri would get along better now that they were older. She knew that outside of the Garden most of the people Thomas knew were dead or gone. They had been so lonely back then. Maybe Yor could show him that they didn't need to be alone anymore.

The phone rang and Yor picked up. "Forger residence."

"Thorn Princess. I have a small assignment for you." Shopkeeper said. "Come to the Garden tonight at 7." Yor paused. She would have to call Franky to watch Anya for a few hours tonight. Better that than refuse the Shopkeeper. 

"I will be there."

~~~

Yor was surprised to see Shopkeeper and Hemlock sitting at a green iron garden table sharing a glass of wine in front of the rose bushes. There was an empty glass for her as well.

"Thorn Princess, join us." Shopkeeper's long mouth twisted into a grim smile. "We're celebrating Hemlock's return." Yor's brow furrowed but she did what she was told and sat. The green eyed man poured her a glass and greeted her with that smirk she knew well. Used to know. 

"Cheers," Hemlock grinned. Yor reluctantly clinked her glass and took a tepid sip. Why was she so nervous? The two of them used to train with Shopkeeper day after day, so it was a reunion of sorts. Perhaps it was worth celebrating. She took a second sip.

"Hemlock just gave his report on Westalis. He has been out of action for quite a while." It was just like Shopkeeper to leave out all the important information about the Garden's goals. "I called you to check if he's still up to our standards." Yor blinked.

"You mean...?"

"Fight." Shopkeeper took a long drink of his wine and relaxed in the garden chair. "Try to kill him."

Yor reacted. She pulled a stiletto from her thighband and struck where Hemlock sat, fast as lightning. He was gone and his iron wrought chair clattered to the ground.

"At least let me put down my wine, Princess." Hemlock teased as he set the glass down on the stone pathway. Then he came for her. His long coat flapped behind him as he opened his butterfly knife with a twirl of his fingers. Hemlock was a menace at short range, aggressively slashing at her torso. Yor dodged him and flipped backward to put space between them. Hemlock's speed rivaled her own, though her stilletos had greater reach than his knife. Crimson eyes locked with his emerald ones.

They danced. When she struck he countered. When he kicked she leapt. They had danced like this many times and it felt as natural as breathing. Yor felt her heart flutter; she rarely needed this much concentration in a battle. As much as she hated to admit it she loved the thrill of being evenly matched in combat. He was strong but reckless in their youth. Now his moves were slightly different—steadier and more controlled. But she had gotten stronger, too. She narrowly avoided his throwing knife. His butterfly knife glinted as he rushed toward her and aimed for her neck, but she managed to parry him. Up close she saw his face alight; he didn't have his arrogant smirk, he was truly smiling. So was she.

"Enough." Shopkeeper said as he swallowed the rest of his wine. They had been fighting for almost five minutes straight and they were both a little out of breath. "Hemlock, glad to see you're still in bloom. You'll hear from me soon." The tall man rose from his chair. "See yourselves out when you're done." Shopkeeper milled back behind the rose garden to the inner greenhouse, leaving Thorn Princess with Hemlock to catch their breaths.

Hemlock twirled his knife over his hand to close it and picked up his wine glass. He righted his chair and slumped in it with a laugh. "That was fun, Princess." She smiled and took a seat across from him. 

"You're still tough." She said. Their glasses clinked and they both took long drinks. Yor reveled in her muscles feeling stretched and sore. "It has been a long time since I've had a real challenger. I almost got you, though." She nodded at the lifted collar of his coat that was nearly torn off by her stilletos. Yor finished off her glass to celebrate. As soon as she put it down Hemlock poured her another.

"You always did have a competitive streak." Hemlock's grin widened. "I almost got you too." His green eyes moved to a ripped hole in her skirt. Yor tensed as she gazed at it. She would have to mend it before she went out to dinner on Sunday with Loid and Anya. Hemlock observed her expression closely. 

"Problem?"

"It's nothing." 

"Don't bring down the mood, Princess." He clinked her glass again. She took another sip automatically but when she sat the glass down Yor finally noticed the flush of her cheeks and the fog over her thoughts. She was making a mistake. Hemlock sipped and leaned his head back lazily. "You know, you wouldn't have to hide anything if it were you and me. It would be beneficial to the Garden. To all of Ostania, even. Imagine what we could do together." 

Yor considered the idea for longer than a second but was overcome with guilt. She shook her head resolutely. "No. I have a good family." Hemlock's grin faltered. They sat in uncomfortable silence.

"Westalis was brutal." He mused, swirling the red liquid in his glass. "I thought of you often for all these years. Wondered how you were. I never could've imagined how beautiful you would become." His mouth was drawn in a grim line. "I thought it was going to be you and me again. No one can understand you like me, Yor, don't you know that? After all we went through?" Yor's expression darkened. She didn't care to remember.

Hemlock moved his hand across the table to catch hers. Their warm fingers touched but Yor pulled away, standing. "Yor, it's just you and me. It was always just you and me." He repeated. She swayed slightly and felt the buzz in her body as she moved. How could she have been so foolish as to get drunk with him? 

"I'm sorry, Thomas." Yor moved swiftly toward the door. He followed her and caught her wrist roughly. 

"Where are you—"

She moved to slap him. Hemlock caught her other wrist and they eyes locked once more. Yor could see the playful glint drain out of his emerald eyes. The man's flirtatious affect was gone; he looked tender, broken. He pulled her closer to him, lips parted gently, drifting toward hers. She could feel his breath on her mouth. Yor whipped her head away from him.

"It's not just you and me anymore." Yor whispered harshly under her breath. She shook herself free from him and left.

~~~

Yor's note had said she'd be late, but Loid waited up for her in the living room. He sat cross-legged on the couch pretending to read the book in his lap. Yor nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw him.

"L-loid! You're still up." Yor yelped. Her face was flushed, her eyes a little glassy, and she knew she was swaying. She cursed herself for drinking. 'What a stupid woman you are, Yor.' Loid began to speak in that quiet, gentle voice of his but she couldn't stand to hear him. She couldn't bear to accept his kindness now, after what she'd done. "I need to take a shower. Goodnight!" She rushed into the bathroom and closed the door. 

Loid was left staring, his breath caught in his throat.

The next morning Loid studied the wastebasket. The zinnias, still bright scarlet, had been thrown away. Yor rushed to work this morning with barely a hello and Loid took the day off. He lied about being sick. He never lied about being sick. Even though he was right as rain by all accounts Loid's stomach was tied in a tight knot. 

Yor came home late, drunk, upset, wearing her formal dress. Yor threw out the flowers. Yor was avoiding him.

Loid's mind was flooded with dark images. 

That bastard Thomas' eyes had been on her skin. He had seen her in that dress. They had stared at each other. He had brushed her hair away from her flushed cheek. He had touched her face. He put his hand on her hand. He made her feel guilty. He pressured her to drink. He ignored her protests. He made advances, or worse... 

Loid didn't know what this Thomas person had done to Yor. It could be none or all of the above. Worst of all, his wife wouldn't tell him, nor did she mention that they were meeting. Maybe she drank of her own volition. Maybe she had been the one making advances. Maybe she wanted to be with Thomas. Maybe they kissed. 

The mere possibility was more than he could stand. He felt a sickening feeling rise in his chest. 

Loid body was spring-loaded, coiled, tensed, and ready to explode. He needed to punch, or scream, anything. He sat on the couch and closed his eyes tightly, focusing on his breathing. 

This was madness. He was going haywire over something completely tangential to his mission. What did this have to do with anything? Yor was just having encounters with an old friend. It's Anya he needed to worry about. And yet, his knuckles were white. He couldn't get Yor and Thomas' imagined meeting out of his mind. 

Enough was enough, damn it. No more waiting around for answers. Twilight was a man of action, so he stood up and left.

~~~

"Nothing. I can just tell you what's in there." Franky handed Twilight a disappointingly thin folder. "Parents dead, no siblings. Into foster care at 9, ran away, never legally adopted. Registered for construction work at age 14 and he lived in a shitty shack on the west side of Ostania. Moved to Maustriya at 18. Worked for a road crew and some other blue collar jobs, had the same apartment for 10 years, paid the rent on time."

"Why did he move to Maustriya?"

"Hard to say. Ostania was suffering a recession ten years ago. He didn't have a family that shared his birth parent's name but lots of people changed their names when they fled during the war. Could've gone to a relative.  Anyway, he got work in a flower shop downtown two weeks ago."

"So why is he back?" Twilight sneered. Franky ignored him.

"Assessment: Perfectly Normal. Just another war orphan like the rest. Nothing stinks, and I looked. Unless this guy's working for the SSS or someone that is very thorough, he's clean." Franky studied Twilight's face, trying to understand why the normally unflappable spy was so worked up. "What does WISE want with this guy?" Twilight considered turning heel and walking out, but he was certain Franky would pester him about it for days.

"He's Yor's childhood friend. Just came back into town. He's behaving suspiciously."

Franky didn't miss a beat and guffawed in his newsstand. He slapped the table while holding his belly. "Are you kidding me, Twilight?" He asked between giggles. "I turn over every stone for this guy just because you're jealous?" The spy's demeanor went from tense to bitterly cold. 

"Not jealous. Yor staying my wife is essential to the success of Operation Strix." 

"Yeah, yeah. Don't be so insecure Twilight." Franky wiped a joyful tear from his eye as he leaned back into his chair and put his feet up. "Yor is pure of heart. Who could dream of lusting after anyone other than a perfect, considerate, handsome doct—YAH!"

Twilight shoved Franky's feet off the counter and the informant spilled to the ground. Twilight had never, ever been less able to deal with this bullshit.

"Whatever, you can't ruin my day! Hah, the look on your face!" Franky called after Twilight as he made his way to a flower shop.

~~~

A doorbell jingled. Loid flashed his best smile at the person at the counter. Loid saw a flicker of recognition in the other man's face before his covered it up with a wide smirk. Thomas was about Loid's height with spiky black hair. He fit the bill for a blue collar worker; he was lean but stood upright with strong shoulders. Thomas' expression reminded him of the arrogant young men who picked fights in the barracks during his time in army. Loid thought he could definitely take him. Not that that was relevant.

"Welcome." Thomas said. "Can I help you find anything?"

"No thank you, I'm just picking something up for my wife." He browsed the selection of flowers, keenly aware that he was being watched. Loid had gone on a long walk to calm down after meeting with Franky and was determined to have a relaxed, friendly interaction. He wanted information, not confrontation. After a minute Thomas called out to him.

"Say, you wouldn't be Yor Briar's husband, would you?" Loid was caught off guard. Mischievous green eyes gleamed from across the room.

"Yes?" How could he have known that?

"I saw you hide in an alley when you saw Yor and I outside your apartment back a few days ago. What's your name again?" Thomas stepped out from behind the counter and extended a hand. 

"Loid Forger. You must be Thomas." Loid did not like to be surprised, much less having been spotted hiding, but still had to play the part. He put on an easy smile and gave the man a firm handshake. "Was that you? I was stopping by the grocery before going home. Funny running into you here."

"Yeah, funny. You're pretty far from Park Ave." Thomas' voice had a playful lilt, like he was talking to a child. Loid hated this motherfucker before meeting him and hated him even more now. His heart rate quickened but he willed it to slow.

"I was visiting a patient nearby." Loid started building his bouquet with red roses and hydrangeas. Thomas leaned on the sales counter and whistled.

"A doctor, huh? Lucky Yor married up. How did you two meet?" Loid picked out some deep purple lilies. The spy was on his back foot in this conversation and he knew it.

"We struck up a conversation in a tailor shop. I was lucky to catch her attention."

"Huh." Thomas rubbed his chin. "I'm surprised. Why would a handsome doctor marry a weirdo like Yor? She's beautiful, don't get me wrong, but she's a weirdo right? Do you have a thing for knives too?" He teased. 

Loid began to calculate the social cost of punching this guy in the face. 'Slow down,' he thought. 'You don't know how Yor would react. It's too risky. Just get information about his intentions.' Still, he couldn't stand hearing Yor's name coming out of this scumbag's mouth. More so he couldn't stand how he kept referencing how well he knew her.

"This is my second marriage," He said with practiced embarrassment. "Not so many women will give someone with a daughter the time of day. Yor was interested in me regardless." Loid placed a longer stress on the word 'me' than he meant to.

"Oh, a daughter? Wow, didn't realize." 

Loid had played defensively the whole conversation, but Thomas had landed a blow. Yor never mentioned Anya. Why didn't she talk to him about Anya? An image of Yor and Anya napping on the couch together entered his mind.

He silently arranged white and pink helleborus flowers into the jar and put it on the counter for Thomas to wrap. Blue eyes met green with a silent ferocity. It was clear that, despite his smug smile, this man hated him with equal vigor. Thomas' grin widened and he broke eye contact first, wrapping the stems together with twine.

"Any questions for me? I could tell you all about the kind of shit Yor got into as a kid." He chuckled as he rolled the bouquet in butcher paper. 

Loid extended a bill to pay, no longer pretending to be friendly. "No. I could ask my wife." Thomas poured his change into his hand. That fucking smirk made Loid's eye twitch.

"Did she mention we used to live together? We were both feeding off scraps at that point, and she had Yuri to worry about. It was still fun though. We were practically dating." Thomas smile faltered when he met Loid's eyes again. The kind faced man who had entered the shop was no longer there. Instead there was a man who clearly was using every ounce of his power not to jump across the table to strangle him.

Loid glared at Thomas with unabashed loathing. Even if he didn't get the info he wanted no husband could sit silent after these types of provocations. 'This pest. This bastard. This dirtbag. This patronizing asshole. This absolute piece of shit.'

"I do have one question for you," Loid finally said with a voice was laced with venom. "What kind of man sends flowers to the home of a married woman? You know Yor well. You know she has a kind heart. It's difficult for her to reject pathetic people, especially if they're begging."

"Woah, doc." Thomas put his hands up in defense and waved with a small laugh. "Don't worry about it, it's ancient history. Sorry about the flowers. Just testing you. Yor was the only person who cared for a wretch like me in this whole world. Just wanted to make sure her husband really loved her and all." His emerald eyes flickered over Loid, sizing him up. "Seems you do."

Loid stepped away from the counter and composed himself. There was nothing more pathetic than a bully who pretended to be the victim. He considered telling this guy to go to hell, to never speak to his wife again. But Yor would likely not forgive him for it. He needed to trust her. 

"I'm a patient man, but I don't take kindly to being tested. Especially if it has to do with my wife." He let his last two words linger on Thomas' ears. Loid cooly lifted his bouquet off the counter and began to walk out the door. Before he left he turned back at Thomas with an icy glare. "I know you just came back. Things have changed a lot in 10 years. It may be a good time to make some new friends."

Thomas waved playfully as Loid left through the door. "Enjoy the flowers~"

Chapter Text

When Yor arrived home she was surprised by the scent of Loid's pot roast, one of her favorites. It was early for him to be home and already cooking. She was hoping to have a few quiet minutes alone to compose herself; she had been sick with guilt since last night.

Yor struggled for a plausible story to tell Loid; she genuinely didn't expect to see Hemlock last night. But how could she explain that without describing her job? She had mulled it over all day and Camilla, Millie, and Sharon had pressed her about her gloomy demeanor.

"Your old friend is back, huh? Do you think he's in love with you?" Millie gushed.

"Oh, well..." Yor paused to consider, but Millie took her hesitation as a confirmation and 'oohed' with glee.

"You have to stop seeing him." Camilla said bluntly. "Unless you would like to get a divorce. Loid is too good to have to deal with any infidelity." Yor flinched.

"There is such a thing as a healthy amount of jealousy." Sharon countered. "Marriages get boring after a while. It's good to rekindle your passions."

"I don't know that Loid is the jealous type." She bit her lower lip. Loid wouldn't be jealous—he didn't think of her that way. He'd just be suspicious. If it seemed like she was being unfaithful she would disqualify herself as Anya's mother. "But regardless, I don't want to get a divorce. Maybe it's best I cut Thomas out, then."

"No!" Millie cried. "Your old friend is back after all these years and you'll just abandon him? No, it'd be better if you, Thomas, and Loid all meet up together and talk it out!" The girls argued about that idea for a long time. They had only made her more anxious about the situation. Yor's eyes were trained on the ground as she closed the apartment door behind her. 

"I'm back." Yor said quietly. When she turned back around she saw a beautiful bouquet of roses, lilies, and hydrangeas tilted toward her. The scent brought a smile to her face. "What's this?"

"A new bouquet for you." Loid replied with a grin. He had just showered so his hair was messy and damp. He was terribly handsome, she thought. Yor felt a her blush creep across her face as she took them into her hands.

"I didn't do anything to deserve this," Yor talked low into the petals. She remembered the look on Loid's face last night when she rushed passed him. She was a terrible wife. 

Loid's smile fell. "Of course you deserve flowers, Yor." Something sizzled in the kitchen and he turned to attend to it. Yor set the bouquet in a tall vase and admired the blooms. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to get you some. I don't really know the meaning of flowers so I just picked ones that reminded me of you." Loid continued as he sautéed. Yor's heart ached.

"Listen, Loid," Yor held her hands to her chest and turned to face him. Loid froze and looked like a deer in the headlights, terrified of the words that might leave her mouth. Onions sizzled on the pan. She wanted to apologize, beg for forgiveness, or even confess all her sins to this exceedingly thoughtful man, but she couldn't find the words. She needed help. "C-can we drink some wine tonight?" 

Loid nodded with forced enthusiasm. "Anya is staying at Becky's tonight. She'll be back tomorrow morning." 

When Yor came out of the shower Loid had made the table and poured two glasses of wine. He had cooked pot roast, potato au gratin, honey glazed carrots, and set out some chocolates for desert. Loid looked up from his book and grinned at her, but she saw the tension in his face. "Ready to eat?"

"Yes. This looks delicious, Loid." Yor replied as she took her seat. He was truly a perfect husband. How could she keep such awful secrets from him? She took a long drink from her wine glass. It would be hard for her to explain herself to him, but he deserved answers. "What's the occasion for the feast?"

"Stressful day. Cooking helped me relax."

As they ate they mused about what Anya might be doing at her sleepover. Loid talked about how Bond had been following him around like a shadow in her absence. Yor kept complimenting the meal. Then they fell into a lull as they ate. Yor's mind raced. 

'I should tell him I meant to meet Yuri but ran into Thomas. No, that doesn't make sense. I met with Thomas because he called me about an emergency, yes. There was a gas leak in his apartment. No, wait, why would we drink wine then? Or maybe he wanted to say something to me. Yes, he wanted to ask me to be his wife because we're both assassins—no, Yor! M-maybe he was confessing his love for me. That sounds even worse than being an assassin!!'

"Yor," Loid put down his silverware and looked at her with eyes as deep as the sea. He was always so composed but tonight across the dining room table he looked vulnerable. "Can I ask you something?" Yor gulped and drained the rest of her wine glass. A comforting haze overcame her.

"Of course, Loid," she whispered. Loid put his hands in his lap and held her gaze. He seemed to struggle with his own words.

"Do you still... want to be married to me?" 

Yor's cutlery clattered noisily as she dropped them on her plate. "What?" Yor gasped. "Of course I do Loid!" She saw Loid visibly relax. "I'm so sorry if anything I did make you think otherwise. Y-you are a wonderful husband. You deserve a more attentive wife. I'm sorry, you and Anya are so very important to me, I swear I'll improve—"

"Don't worry, Yor. I'm glad to hear that." Loid's grin seemed lighter now. Effortless. "Just, uh, it just so happened that Thomas worked in the flower shop where I bought the bouquet." Loid took a long drink of wine and refilled both their glasses. "He said some things that made me wonder." 

A hush fell over the room.

"What did he say?" Yor's voice turned as dark as her expression.

"That you two used to live together. He said you were practically dating. I know you were young, but it was clear that he's still interested in you." Loid stared at the wine glass as if it were suddenly fascinating. Blush tinged his cheeks. "It made me think... I don't want you to feel like you're trapped, if being with him was something you want."

"I'm not interested in Thomas in that way." Yor said firmly. Did Yor notice a sigh of relief? "It was wrong of him to say that to you, Loid. He was in my life at a very low point." Yor's voice faltered. Loid knew better than to pry. "Thomas can be a little manipulative." A look flickered across the blonde man's face but he suppressed it quickly. 

"I don't think we made good first impressions on each other." He replied mildly. "I don't want to overstep Yor, but do you want to continue being friends with someone like that?" Yor thought about it for a long moment. 

"After our parents died Yuri and I were living on the street. Thomas was a kid too, but he worked hard to keep a roof over his head. He offered it to us for nothing. It was because of him that I got any education, and Yuri was able to focus on his studies instead of working."

Loid listened to his wife attentively. He seemed to appreciate how hard this was for her to talk about. 

"I know he can be arrogant and rude, but he has a kind heart. I think he's very lonely." Yor looked determinedly at Loid with a shine in her crimson eyes. "Since meeting you and Anya my life has been so much more fun. I think I want Thomas to understand that there are other ways of living. I want to try and help." 

Loid looked at Yor the way he looked at Anya when she demanded to adopt Bond; troubled but filled with affection. "Very well, Yor." He sighed with a nod. "You're loyal. And kind. That's admirable." Yor bowed her head again.

"Not at all. Don't you think when someone changes your life for the better you should try to give something back to them?" A surprised look passed over Loid's face. Then he leaned forward to admire her. 

"That sounds like a good way to live." He replied. Yor's eyes shone brighter.

"Then what do you think about the four of us all going to coffee? You, Thomas, Anya, and I?" Yor was clearly tipsy but her face was filled with such enthusiasm that Loid could barely stutter out his protests.

"I-I'm not sure that's a good idea..." He began.

"Just a short coffee! Then we can show what a good family we are to Hem--him, and maybe he'll be inspired to live different!" Loid grimaced but he couldn't immediately go back on what he had just said; not after admiring Yor's idealism.

"Sure." He eeked out. Yor clapped her hands together and smiled. This was going to be exactly what Thomas needed. She would have to thank Millie for the suggestion. 

Loid couldn't sleep. 

When getting ready for bed they bumped into each other in the doorway to the bathroom and she put a hand on his chest. Yor looked up at him surprised, flushed, but she didn't pull away. Dark strands fell over her face and his hand automatically tucked her hair behind her ear. His fingers grazed her soft cheek. Yor's brilliant red eyes stared up at him. She was warm.

Loid nearly kissed her then, but he didn't know why. Instead he stepped aside. 

Westalis' greatest spy laid on top of his bedcover with a hand on his forehead, wondering what the hell had happened to him.

Operation Strix was safe. Yor wasn't interested in Thomas. That was all that needed to be confirmed. There was relief, sure, but even moreso he was happy that Yor still wanted to be with him. He felt overjoyed. He wanted to kiss her. But, it would endanger the mission if he crossed a boundary with Yor. Loid found himself wondering if Thomas had kissed her all those years ago. Then he rolled onto his stomach and put his face into a pillow. 

Loid came to the grim realization that Franky was right. He had been jealous. He was still jealous. It didn't make any logical sense. Yor had just confirmed Thomas was a non issue. Still, the memory of the green eyed man's smarmy smile and the ease with which he talked about Yor set his teeth on edge. 

Even if Yor and Thomas had never been physical, they had been deeply intimate. They relied on each other. They had felt unguarded and close to one another. That's where the envy came from. He wanted that intimacy with Yor. He wanted to be close to her.

The thought was so dire that Twilight mode engaged. He was a spy. Spies could not be afforded intimacy. This was bigger than him and his ego and his stupid pissing contest with some swaggering idiot. Peace between the East and West hung in the balance. They would have a polite coffee and Yor would be satisfied, and maybe Thomas would be inspired to change his ways. It didn't matter to him. That would be the end of it.

Still, Loid couldn't sleep.

~~~

Anya was a ball of energy when she arrived home the next morning. After telling her parents all about her sleepover, Yor posed the question. "Anya, what do you think about meeting Mama's old friend for some hot chocolate today?" 

Anya gasped loudly. "Flower man?" She cried. Loid wondered how Anya knew to call him that, especially since he threw away bouquet's note as soon as he could. "Papa, you're meeting flower man?!"

"Yup." Loid responded tersely. "Actually, for the second time. It will be nice for us to all be together." Anya gasped again and complained about how all the action happened while she was at a sleepover. 

"Let's go now!" Anya bounced eagerly. Yor seemed to mirror her excitement and said she'd call the flower store to see what time would be good for Thomas. 

For all their gusto Loid felt equal and opposite exhaustion. It was not just exhaustion; he was overcome with dread too. He doubted Thomas would provoke him in front of Yor and his child, but he wouldn't put it past the bastard the man. If Loid had a good night's sleep he could be confident that he could endure any taunts and still restrain himself. But Loid did not get a good night's sleep.

~~~

They saw Thomas sitting in the window of the teashop. He was wearing a casual grey shirt and dark green work pants. He waved at Yor (and only Yor) as they came in and gave her an awkward side hug that she didn't know what to do with. It occurred to Loid that Thomas was a tiny bit taller than him—his irritation deepened. 'Don't get angry about stupid things, Twilight,' he chastised. Anya giggled and gave his hand a squeeze. She looked far too excited.

"Thomas, this is the wonderful Anya! And you've met Loid." Yor was doing an excellent job of masking her nervousness. Anya swung around Loid to offer Thomas a handshake. He took her tiny hand in his cheerfully.

"Hi there. I'm Thomas," he said with a charming smile. "How old are you, Anya?" The pink-haired girl looked up at her father for a second before answering.

"I'm six." She replied.

"Oh, you're a big girl then." He said with a nod. Anya beamed at the compliment and agreed. "It's nice to meet you Anya." Yor looked happily at Loid but her husband was glaring daggers at Thomas. For some reason Loid hadn't considered that Anya could actually like this guy; the thought made him bristle. Then Anya observed Thomas' face with extreme concentration as she often did and she scrunched up her face.

"Nice to meet you, flower man." She said blankly, then took the seat farthest away from him. 

"Why don't you sit down, Yor, I'll get us some—"

"No!" Yor clutched her hands to her chest. "I'll get our drinks! You sit down and chat with Thomas a little." She gave him a proud smile and left to the counter before he could say any more. Loid realized that if he sat next to Anya Yor would be between him and Thomas. He reluctantly placed himself right beside the green eyed man and they exchanged forced smiles. Thomas took a sip of his coffee. 

They sat in awkward silence. Even still, Anya looked concentratedly back and forth between them as if she were watching a tennis match. 

"I'm glad we were able to see each other again so soon." Loid finally said politely, though it sounded like a lie even to him. He really couldn't be bothered to be charming with this guy. Thomas chuckled. 

"Yeah, I was excited when Yor called me at the shop but I guess she just wanted to do a show and tell." Thomas replied, staring out the window. Both of the men's smiles dropped and they turned to glare at each other, unabashed. "How did she like the flowers you got her?"

"She was thrilled when I surprised her." Now that was a lie Loid put effort into. "She says they really brighten up the room."

"Glad I could inspire you." Thomas smirked. Loid felt his shoulders tense. Anya was looking directly at him and it would be inappropriate to call this man out, and he would use words unsuitable for a child's ears. He knew he needed to let it go, but it was more difficult than he imaged. Loid let out a small sigh.

"Anya, do you have a favorite flower?" Thomas leaned his head against his palm and looked at the young girl. Anya shook her head no firmly.

"Flowers are stupid." Thomas' smile faltered.

"That's true, they're a little pointless. I bet you like cartoons though. Do you have a favorite cartoon?" Thomas tried again. Anya's lips tensed to a line and she looked at her feet. 

"It's a secret." 

Loid smiled at his daughter. He felt oddly proud that she was able to see through his rival's half-baked charms. She gave him and opening. "Anya, this is mama's childhood friend. He just came back from—where were you again?" He asked.

"Maustriya." Thomas replied, suddenly sounding bored to death.

"What brought you out there?"

"Doesn't matter." Thomas crossed his arms and leaned back into his chair. Loid looked at the dark-haired man with a calculated expression. Thomas was a bad liar and the question made him uncomfortable, but it was difficult to know if he was hiding something or just being withholding.

"So what brought you back?" Loid pressed. Thomas's emerald eyes glinted with a violent hatred.

"Doesn't matter." He repeated firmly. He leaned his head back with a cocky smile, but Loid could tell Thomas was defensive.

Yor came back with drinks in tow. She wore a cheerful expression but it was easy to see her calm facade was faltering. She took her seat between Loid and Anya and their daughter kicked her feet excitedly.

"Thank you, Mama." Anya chirped as she took a sip of her hot cocoa. Thomas let out a surprised scoff.

"Mama?" Thomas glanced at Yor. "How long have you all known each other again?"

"Loid and I have been married for a year." Yor answered shakily. Loid could see that Thomas didn't buy it and he quickly remembered that, despite his distaste for the man, they still needed to put on a convincing ruse. 

"I'm grateful that Yor and Anya bonded immediately." Loid said, flashing a genuine smile at his two girls. "She's been an outstanding mother." Yor's cheeks flushed a light pink as she grinned into her teacup. Thomas made a miserable attempt to hide his annoyance.

"Where's your first wife then?" Yor jumped twice as much as Loid did.

"Thomas, don't be rude!" She chastised, her face flushed with embarrassment. In truth Loid was surprised Yor had never asked such questions, though he was thankful for it. Tomas seemed to back down a bit and they let the question slide. "A-anyway I thought it would be nice if we all went out together instead of just talking about each other. And, I wanted to show you how wonderful my family is." Yor looked at Thomas with a kind, almost pleading expression. Loid felt a stab of jealousy again. It was almost as if she was asking for his blessing. 

Thomas gave no such gentleness in return. His smug expression was gone, and Loid saw the man was struggling to stay calm. Still Thomas perked up when he addressed Anya again. "How's your new mom, Anya?" He asked.

"Mama's the best. She gives bad atvice but I want to be strong like her. We train together sometimes!" Anya said stiffly. The corner of Thomas's mouth lifted slightly.

"Training, huh?" He mused. "Yor was a brute even when we were young. A little odd she's so athletic, since she's also quite clumsy. How do you stay so strong while you're wasting away at an office all day, Yor?" Yor's eyes narrowed. Loid was too distracted to notice. His fists were clenched in his lap and he looked down at his untouched coffee. Loid couldn't stand this man judging Yor, and using Anya to do it. He needed to find some excuse to leave before things escalated.

"Mama does a lot of pushups every morning!" Anya said suddenly. Thomas let out a thin laugh. 

"Hah," Thomas locked eyes with Loid and his eyes glinted like daggers. "We got into working out together, you know. We'd help each other stretch and—" For a moment Loid saw red.

"AH!" Yor yelped and spilled her tea on the table. She was flushed to her ears and started wiping up the liquid with some napkins. "T-that's quite enough Thomas!" Loid stayed silent. He no longer had any thoughts, he was focused entirely on keeping his fists placed on his lap and not propelling themselves toward the man to his right.

"A-anyway, Anya and I love learning new sports and going on walks together. We take our dog Bond to the park often. It's really nice to share these moments together as a family. Did you have favorite things to do while you were in M-maustrya, Thomas?" " Yor continued genially, her face still bright pink. 

"No, I just worked." he replied quietly. "It seems like you're taking mothering pretty seriously, Yor. Are you sure you can do that while keeping your job?" Thomas could not conceal the edge in his voice. Yor's brow furrowed and finally Loid had simmered down enough to speak.

"Yor's doing a wonderful job with Anya as-is." Loid said with his eyes closed. "We share responsibilities so we can both continue working. It's rather old fashioned for a woman to stop working in order to care for a child." Any restraint Thomas had for Yor slipped away when he addressed Loid.

"Call me old fashioned then. There are certain dangers at city hall." Thomas' voice had a sarcastic inflection. "She has other talents, you know. She could be using them instead of being a glorified babysitter. It's a waste she's so distracted by—"

"Oh look at the time! W-we have a busy day today so I think we'll probably have to get going." Yor suddenly stood up. She was visibly upset, biting her lower lip. Anya chugged the rest of her hot cocoa and jumped to her feet. Thomas and Loid stayed seated.

Thomas was looking for a fight, of course Loid knew that. He knew he should back down, shake it off, and leave. There was nothing more to gain from the conversation. His wife had given him the out he wanted. But the rage that had been simmering in his belly needed an outlet. He could have handled Thomas's jibes if they were only mocking him, but after Thomas berated Yor he couldn't hold back any longer.

"You know, Yor was grateful to you." Loid turned to the dark haired man with an even, measured voice. "She wanted to share some positive changes that have happened in her life. She knows you don't have many people here, and despite my hesitation she wanted to invite you to our family as a friend. In return you embarrassed her, undermined our family, and all because she's not exactly the same person you knew 10 years ago. You really are..." Loid held his gaze with an icy precision. "The worst type of man."

Both men rose to their feet. Their bodies were taut and fists clenched.

"Maybe so." Thomas sneered through grit teeth, moving his face an inch away from Loid's. "I'd still rather be a man than a fool like you. You don't know shit about me, and you don't know shit about your so-called wife."

They went for each other. Or, they tried to, but Loid was shoved off balance and Thomas's fist was pushed up into the air. When the blind rage subsided both men saw Yor between them, fast and ferocious, with tears stinging her eyes.

The entire tea shop was silent and everyone stared at the group by the window. The only sound was Yor's meager sniffles.

"Enough. This is my favorite tea shop. Anya's here." Her voice cracked and two tears slid down her cheeks. "I'm sorry for being so foolish." She turned and Anya grabbed her hand before she slid out the door. Both men were frozen in shock. When Loid regained himself he didn't give Thomas a second glance.

Yor and Anya were half way down the block and Loid jogged to catch up with them. She brushed tears from her eyes even as Anya cooed supportively at her side.

"It's okay, Mama, it was exciting." Anya said cheerfully as they walked. "Anya likes having a popular Mama. And you were so fast! Whapam! No fighting!" Yor squeezed the girl's hand and thanked her quietly between sniffles. 

Loid followed a pace behind and stayed in shameful silence. He just had to have the last word, and now Yor was even more upset. As soon as Thomas' fist began to move Loid knew he could have gotten seriously hurt; he moved with the strength of a soldier. Still, he wanted to tear that annoying smile off Thomas' face. 

That desire had been driven by protectiveness and an ugly envy. In fact, seeing Yor crying with her back turned toward him only made that envy bloom in his chest. Loid wanted to pull his beautiful wife into his arms and smooth her hair. He wanted to kiss her forehead, comfort her, and apologize over and over again. 

He wanted intimacy with every fiber of his being, but it was still just out of reach.

She was just out of reach.

Chapter Text

The Forgers made it home in solemn silence. Anya kissed Bond on the nose and they both quickly retired to Anya's room, though the pink haired girl gave her parents long, meaningful glances before she left. Yor tears had dried but her face was still forlorn, and her mouth was pulled into a taut frown that made Loid's chest tight. As soon as Anya's door clicked shut he put a tentative hand on Yor's shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out. Loid had been stewing in his regrets the entire walk. "That was totally uncalled for. I shouldn't have... I was stupid. I'm sorry." His blue eyes turned down to the floor, unable to meet his wife's gaze. 

What he wouldn't know, couldn't know, was that Yor was hardly upset at Loid's outburst. The thing that had lodged a thorn into her heart were Thomas' words. She did take mothering seriously. She had been in denial but the truth was that she didn't think of her family as a means to continue working. She loved her family deeply, irrevocably. Thomas helped her see that, and it reminded her how her two lives as a wife and Thorn Princess could never safely connect.

Her husband's hand drifted feebly off her shoulder. He turned to face her with soft eyes, entreating. 

"It's not that, Loid. Thomas said things—he was out of line." Her voice was quiet. Yor's hands were clutched to her chest. "I was just foolish for thinking..." Tears sprung to her eyes again and she rushed to wipe them away. Loid stepped toward her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Can I?" He asked in a whisper so gentle it broke her heart. When she didn't move away Loid stepped closer and embraced her fully. He wrapped his arms around her and gave a tender squeeze. Yor felt silent sobs shake her body. She moved her hands to caress his back and wept into his chest. "I'm sorry, Yor. For how I acted, for everything." He whispered into her hair. "He meant... He means a lot to you. I'm sorry."

Yor wanted to say he had nothing to be sorry for; she had trapped herself in a lie that she couldn't break free from. She wanted to say that she wanted Loid fully, and that she cared for him and Anya so intensely that it scared her. But she couldn't find the words, so she held her husband and cried. Loid led them to the couch, still holding one another, and he stroked her back until there were no more tears to shed.

A long time after she stopped sniffling Loid squeezed her tightly and began to speak. "Yor, I..." he began, as if daring himself to say more. Yor moved to look up at him with tear-stained eyes. Loid's handsome face was tense with his unspoken words. 

"What is it Loid?" she asked after some time. Loid looked away from her, color rising in his face.

"I was jealous. It made me stupid." He choked out. Yor sat up and put a hand on Loid's chest, wet with her tears. "I just never want to hurt you again."

Her head spun. 'Loid is... jealous? Does that mean...' He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. His ears were pink. 

"Jealous?" She asked. Loid had once said he was jealous of how close she and Yuri had been. This seemed different. 

"Yes." Loid said, this time brave enough to look at her. "It was juvenile. I know that. And, I know this marriage isn't even..."

"It means something to me." Yor admitted. The two looked at each other tenderly on their couch, in their home, with their daughter and dog in the other room. Yor cleaned their apartment with the utmost care. Loid cooked delicious meals to nourish them. They were raising Anya, who brought more light into their lives than they could have ever expected. 

Loid pressed Yor's hand into his chest with his own. He wrapped his fingers around hers. The words barely escaped his lips. "It means something to me, too." Yor's crimson eyes were glistening from tears, and now from something else. She was so beautiful that Loid could barely stand to look at her. The spy almost lost composure and tilted his face closer to hers, but Yor spoke again.

"I will do everything in my power to keep our family safe." She declared, overcome with a newfound determination. "You and Anya come first to me, Loid. I promise you. Trust me, Loid." The blonde nodded his head and closed his eyes, tightening his grip on her hand.

"I trust you with everything, Yor."

~~~

That night Hemlock proved himself on his first job back in Ostania. He had taken out four highly trained security forces with well placed poisons and a single throwing knife. Only Thorn Princess was so bold as to enter from the front door with her stilettos drawn, and that's what she did tonight. Hemlock looked up from his kill with that familiar smirk.

"I figured you'd show up." He said. "Did you get a babysitter?"

"I came to say goodbye." She said curtly, red eyes glistening like the blood on the ground. Hemlock sighed and rolled his head.

"So dramatic, Princess." The green eyed man chuckled. "Did that square you married put you up to this? He really is so boring. I would have thought your fake husband would at least have something interesting about him." A metal thorn whizzed past his face and thudded into the wall behind him. She caught him on the cheek. Hemlock's eyes narrowed as blood trickled down his face. "Touchy."

"Don't talk about him like that." She demanded with an edge to her voice. Thorn Princess walked behind him to retrieve her weapon out of the wall with a lurch. "Do you have anything else to say before I go?"

"Where are you going?" Hemlock teased. "Yuri and your precious fake family are here."

"We will stay here, but you will not see us again." She looked beautiful and fearsome in the moonlight, stiletto in hand. Hemlock never grew tired of looking at her. 

"What will you do, Yor? When I approach you on the street are you going to attack me like an assassin? You can't do that while maintaining your silly ruse." Hemlock put a hand on his hip and pursed his lips. "Obviously you care for those people. But you wouldn't have to lie if you were with me."

"Hemlock, when we sparred I wasn't trying to kill you. If you try to get between me and my family, I will." She said this with more decisiveness than anything Hemlock had ever heard. Her bloodlust sent a shiver down the fellow assassins spine.

"It's like that, then?" He mused, flipping his knife over his knuckles to admire the glimmering blade. "After everything?"

"After everything." Thorn Princess did not allow herself to soften. "I wish it could have been different. I wish we could have all been friends. But you obviously don't want that." Hemlock gave a slow nod. 

"I don't want to lie to you Yor. And I certainly don't want to lie for you for your fake family. So, I'll back off. You won't see me." He said agreeably, cocking his head back with that sly smirk. Green eyes shone in the dark. "When the truth comes out and you break the doctor's heart you know I'll always have a spare bed for you. I always have." 

~~~

A few days passed and the Forger family got back to a normal rhythm. Loid didn't ask what Yor planned to do with Thomas, but she asked him to trust her and he did. Their family dinners returned to cheerful banter about the goings on of Eden College. Loid and Yor maintained a polite physical distance from one another despite Loid's desires. He had been thinking about holding her again, but he wouldn't allow himself to fantasize further.

One day as he walked home from the hospital Twilight noticed the familiar sensation someone following him. They were professional; he couldn't glimpse anyone specific among the crowd. The spy diverted his route into an alley between two apartment buildings and hid behind a dumpster in wait. Was it an SS agent? An assassin? He peeked over the dumpster when he heard footsteps in the alleyway.

"Doctor Forger!" The green eyed man chirped cheerfully, though Twilight was still hidden from sight. Realizing it was Thomas sent a wash of simultaneous relief and irritation through him. "Hiding behind trash again?" Loid stepped into the alleyway.

"Thomas. Why are you following me?" Loid asked point blank, thinking of ways he could skip this interaction all together.

"I was surprised you could sense me. Do doctors have experience being tailed by their patients?"

"Answer my question. Why are you following me?" Loid snapped. He didn't owe Thomas an explanation. The green eyed man sauntered over to him until they were only a body's length apart. Any closer and they might have just leapt for each other. 

"Just wanted to talk after our little spat." Thomas smirked. "You know, Yor mentioned it was a marriage of convenience at first. But you have feelings real feelings for her now, I'm guessing. I can tell from your eyes. And by the way you want to hit me in the face."

Loid felt his stomach tighten. He had initially suggested they reveal the truth to Yuri; he shouldn't have been surprised that Yor offered the truth to Thomas when they first met. Yet the idea of Yor trusting this man enough to reveal that made him feel sick to his stomach.

"How can I help you, Thomas?" Loid kept his tone even but every muscle in his body was fighting to restrain his impulses. 

"I have feelings for Yor too, but you've beat me to her, I admit that. But I hate losing, and I hate not having any catharsis, so I figured I'd offer you a trade." Thomas's green eyes glinted mischievously. His posture was open, relaxed, with both his hands at his side. Loid said nothing and continued staring him down. 

"I'll let you get one punch on me. I'll hit you one time in return."

Twilight thought of all the strife his man had caused. The flowers, the drunken night, the terrible meeting. He remembered Yor falling to tears. Loid's jealousy toward Thomas had morphed so fully into hatred that boiled his very blood. Despite how much he wanted to hurt this man, the thought of keeping yet another thing from Yor was enough to make him turn away.

"No thanks. Find your catharsis elsewhere. I'll be going home to my family now." Loid began to turn. Thomas sighed an obnoxious whine.

"I can't believe Yor married such a coward." He chided. "You're lucky Yor's strong. For such a family man you sure are making a habit of hiding behind her skirt, you can't even defend your wife from a guy like m—"

Loid closed the distance so quickly that he didn't have time to dodge. Loid's fist connected hard with Thomas' jaw. The assassin barely had time to extend a hand out before his head smashed against the alley wall. He stumbled and caught himself before collapsing to the ground. The shockwave of pain rung in his ears and Thomas pinched his leg to regain some awareness. The blonde man loomed over him like a shadow. His blue eyes were dark as storm clouds. 

"There." Loid muttered grimly. "Now take your shot and never show your face to my family again."

Thomas wiped a small amount of blood from the corner of his mouth. Several of his teeth felt loose and his left canine was barely hanging on. The green eyed man stood tall before channeling all his killer instinct into a punch right in Loid's solar plexus. While Thomas was hoping to see the doctor keeled over and moaning on the ground, Loid took the hit with nothing more than a small grunt. The blonde man straightened up slowly and smoothed his suit before turning to leave. 

"Never show your face to my family again." Loid reiterated before continuing home.

"Pretty sturdy for a doctor, huh? What the hell is with you?" Thomas growled after him. When Loid continued walking in silence Thomas yelled again. "Enjoy the ruse while it lasts, Forger!"

~~~

Loid was just outside the apartment door when his knees collapsed. Every breath sent a sharp pain through his torso. Thomas had broken at two of his ribs and potentially fractured another. Loid had lived through worse and knew how to treat himself, but it would take a while to recover. The man had some experience fighting, that was for sure. Loid eventually struggled to his feet and gripped his side as he opened the door.

"L-loid! What happened to you!" Yor came immediately from the kitchen to his side and set him down on the couch. He slowed his breathing to reduce the pain.

"Don't worry Yor, I look worse than I feel." Loid gave his wife a relaxed smile. "I just need a few days rest." 'And lots of ice, and pain medication, and no extra missions for the next six weeks' he thought grimly. As if she read his mind Yor ran to the refrigerator to grab an ice pack and pressed it gently on his side. He sighed in relief. 

"What happened?" Yor was on her knees next to the couch and she cradled Loid's head in her hand. "Was it another patient?" He closed her eyes to focus on the warmth of her touch. No more lies, he decided. Not about this.

"I ran into Thomas." Loid said, shyly. He began to feel embarrassed about the whole thing as he described it. Perhaps he should have restrained himself. Yor stiffened and her hands clenched into fists. A darkness passed over her face that he had only seen when Anya had cried during their admissions interview. He  stroked her shoulder to comfort her. "We settled it, Yor. We won't be seeing him again."

Yor's eyes welled with tears and she pressed her forehead to Loid's. "I'm sorry, Loid." Her voice trembled. "He hurt you. That man—I should have never—" Tears ran hot down her face and dripped onto Loid's cheek. He caressed the curve of her jaw and wiped away a tear.

"Yor, it's okay. It's over." Loid whispered. He looked up at her crimson eyes. "I landed a good shot on him too." Loid's mouth lifted to a small, prideful smile. Yor closed her eyes and let out a tentative laugh. Her breath on his cheek made Loid was suddenly aware of how close their faces were. 

They gazed soft into each other's eyes. Yor's hand was nested along Loid's neck, entangled in his hair. Loid brushed his thumb against the curve of Yor's chin. All the jealousy Loid had felt in the last few weeks had morphed fully into desire: for intimacy, for honesty, for everything Yor. At last he could not stop himself. 

He tilted her face closer to his and Yor followed his lead. When Yor felt Loid's breath on her lips she closed the distance. They closed their eyes as their lips met, soft and tender. Yor's lips were plush and warm and Loid felt himself melt into her. Everything fell away. They kissed for all they could not say. They kissed for everything they meant to one another.

With every kiss Yor's past drifted further and further away to make way for the expansive, wonderful now.