Work Text:
Already married. No.
Underage. No.
Has a criminal record. No.
Hu Jing sighed in irritation as she patroled through the streets of the humble town, matching each face she encountered to the confidential profiles that she stayed up all night to review. Who knew that finding a husband in this day and age was so difficult? But she knew that she had to see this mission to the very end. Agent Silent Lake (under the guise of being a simple zither player) would never back down from a mission that was guaranteed to put an end to the current war being helmed by the deceptively-illustrious Cuevas family, after all. All she had to do was find a husband and adopt a child to enroll in the international branch of Hope’s Peak Elementary school, and she could finally live in peace.
Whit: (energetic) Hey! Hey! Mama! Am I being sold off somewhere?! Would they like the “delivery” of my jokes? Hahahaha!
Hu: (sighs in irritation) Not if you behave, Whit…
And with the little black-haired boy running around her legs, it’s suffice to say that she managed to accomplish the first half of the plan.
A short-for-his-age six-year-old boy by the name of Whit, his shocking intellect for his age makes for an easy entrance into Hope’s Peak Elementary. Based on what Hu learned from Whit’s frank self-introduction, he liked chocolate candies and disliked almost all vegetables, and oddly enough for his age, likes watching romance anime. While Hu may not have much experience with a normal childhood, even she knew that such anime are probably outside of his age demographic.
Upon witnessing the despondent state of Whit in the orphanage, however, Hu vowed to never let anything less than a smile cross his face, no matter how much of a trial it would be.
After all, Hu was no stranger to hopeless scenarios, even before becoming a spy.
But while Whit was running around and telling jokes to his disgruntled mom on one side of town, the other side of the town told a very different story.
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One hand grips hair. The other grabs the chin stained with sweat and tears. One swift movement, and the cracking of the petty criminal’s neck bones fills the alley. And through this whole ordeal, the only thing uttered by the remorseless attacker, while staring down at the blood spilt out over his hands and pure white shirt, was-
Levi: (sighing) How troublesome…what should I wear to the dinner party now?
—-----------------------------
Setting aside her spouse-finding troubles for now, Hu entered the local tailor, with the overhead bell ringing to signify her arrival. A bunch of petite women raised their heads up from their work, and offered several friendly greetings to the green-haired woman, which she returned with a kind and tranquil smile on her face.
However, amongst the petite boutique workers, he quite prominently stood out. A notably handsome brunette working amongst the textiles. He was very tall and muscular, with his clean and proper suit jacket struggling to contain his large biceps. In spite of his appearance, his hands delicately sorted through the fabrics with all the precision of a surgeon. Looking at his rugged features, Hu could easily recall that face from one of the profiles she perused through.
Levi Fontana, same age as Hu, spotless criminal record, and is currently a personal stylist at this very boutique.
At that moment, the puzzle pieces clicked. And at that same moment, sharp blue eyes met equally sharp green eyes. The two awkwardly jumped back at the sudden proximity, and muttered out apologies to each other. Hu wondered how the bulky guy managed to appear in front of her, in the blink of an eye.
Levi: (awkwardly) M-My apologies. It was not my intention to frighten you. I just couldn’t help but notice your outfit.
Levi: (professionally) If I am not mistaken, it’s a traditional Chinese hanfu. And an expertly-worn one with a beautiful color scheme, on top of that. Based on that, I can easily tell that you’re a cool-headed and meticulous individual who holds her culture with great pride.
Upon hearing Levi’s analysis of her, from her wardrobe alone, Hu’s mouth hung ajar in shock, and she could only nod in response. Upon catching herself in this flustered state, Hu tried her best to shake away her flustered expression.
Hu: (internally, flustered) No, Silent Lake! This is no time to get all flustered over a temporary husband!
Levi: (apologetically) Ah! I apologize again. I didn’t even get your name.
Hu: (shaking off the embarrassment) I-I’m Hu. Hu Jing.
Whit: (smiling) You think that guy is pretty! Don’t you, Mama?
Just when the green-haired woman thought that she could get a moment’s peace from the flustering thoughts, Whit’s words promptly pulled her back into the sea of embarrassment, like a particularly malicious Kraken.
Upon seeing Hu trying to regain control of her son, the brunette quickly became overtaken in disappointment.
Levi: (disappointed, internally) So, she has a kid, after all. I guess I can’t take her to the dinner party. I do not want to deal with any infuriated exes.
Levi: (contemplative, internally) I mean, I could always assassinate them-
Levi: (angrily, internally) No, Levi. You may be an assassin, but now is not the right place or time. People will know the truth of your profession, and we can’t have that. I must successfully pass as a normal member of society.
And much to the oblivion of both adults, Whit could hear all of their thoughts loud and clear. And he seems to find the woman and man’s secrets as entertaining as one of his not-so-funny jokes.
Whit: (shocked, internally) That guy’s an assassin?! And my mom’s a spy?! This…is…
Whit: (amazed and excited, internally) …So cool!
However, the internal monologues of the two grown-ups were quick to put a damper on Whit’s excitement.
Hu: (sighing, internally) I was considering him as a candidate for my false husband, but I guess I shouldn’t…
Levi: (worried, internally) I was considering making her my pretend date for the dinner party, but maybe I should search somewhere else…
At this point, the little boy made up his mind. He needed to be a “matchmaker”, like one of those characters on his favorite shows! Just needed to act like those matchmakers! Folding his arms in and swaying around, Whit made absolutely sure that his pretend sorrow looked as overt as possible.
Whit: (dramatically) Ah! My house is soooo empty without a Papa in it! And I’m just so, so lonely!
Needless to say, the state of confusion the two adults were in, only helped amplify the awkwardness.
Hu: (confused) What is this about?
Whit: (dramatically) Oh, how I long for a true father figure in my life!
Levi: (confused) Hmm…do you not have a husband, Mrs. Jing?
Hu: (looking away) Oh, well…I actually lost my previous husband, a couple of years ago. So, I’m now currently raising my son, Whit, as a single mother.
At this moment, Levi’s sharp eyes gleamed with a sense of opportunity. With his persistent fear of encountering any romantic rivals now evaporated, the tall man gained enough confidence to speak to the green-haired woman again.
Levi: (slightly awkwardly) Um…excuse me? Ms. Jing? Would you like…to attend a dinner party with me? My coworkers regularly hassle me for my status as a single man, for some reason. If I had a date to the party, I'd avoid-
The personal stylist's ramble was cut off by affirmation from the green-haired woman, allowing for a pair of grins to stretch across their mutually-blushing cheeks.
Little did either of the adults or the child know, however, this little meet-cute and quick date offer was about to escalate and morph into something that all three of them have desired for their entire lives.
A family.