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Loid felt the stares of strangers with every step he took back to the cruise ship. It made the back of his neck prickle uncomfortably, feeling too much like the undercover State Security agents were watching him for anything out of place. The only thing—well, two things—that stopped him from quickening his pace was one, him carrying Yor and Anya and two, the obvious approval in the strangers’ eyes and drawn out coos by older grandmotherly types were reassuring him that he was doing the right thing as a father and husband.
Loid grimaced as a bead of sweat pooled at his temple. He could do without the sun beating down on him though.
As he neared the entrance of the ship he adjusted his grip. Yor had slumped further and her face was pressed against his neck.
(Loid ignored how the warm puffs on his skin made him shiver and goosebumps rise all over)
Meanwhile Anya had started to mumble in her sleep—something about a barnaby sickle and about Yor and a theater act. Honestly, where does Anya get the imagination for all this? Certainly not from him. After sleep mumbling that, the exhausted little girl fell sideways into Yor's chest. To the right of him, a woman practically swooned at the sight and gave him a too bright smile to which Loid had no choice but to humbly return.
Entering the ship lobby, Loid abruptly stopped in place in the middle. Yor, he assumed, had been given first class room accommodations as part of her entertaining for work but all he and Anya had was a tiny bunk bed courtesy of a measly raffle win. He could put Anya in her bed and Yor could take his but that left him with the floor which he very much did not want to lay on. He'd slept on worse, of course, both during missions and war but with age came awful back pains he'd like to avoid when he could.
Loid sighed. Yor was out cold in his arms. He couldn’t blame her. All she'd done today is appease Anya's every wish and tried to make the day as fun as possible after working tirelessly. She deserved rest. He could give her that.
Mind made up, he turned to go down the hallway where their room was only to once again stop in his tracks when he heard his name called.
“Forger!” A deep voice said from behind him. He turned around to see an older man waving him down. When said man saw what he was holding in his arms, he merely quirked an eyebrow up.
Loid had to stop an annoyed look from spreading across his face. This was no doubt Yor's boss — he recognized the man from his past stakeout — but couldn't he take a hint and realize now was not the time for a social call?
Despite how he wished to simply turn back and head to his room, he knew he needed to remain polite for Yor's sake. So he offered a simple nod. “Yes?”
To his credit, the man went straight to business.
“Mr Forger, apologies,” he lowered his voice as he neared. “I'm Mrs Forger's boss and I'd like to offer your family an upgraded room to accommodate you all.”
Loid blinked. “An upgrade?” He questioned. It seemed too good to be true and suspiciously convenient but his arms were tiring by the second and the thought of being able to lay down in an actual bed was heavenly.
Yor's boss confirmed with a curt nod.
“As thanks for all her hard work. I also know it must be an inconvenience for a child to be away from their mother. Mrs Forger was quite antsy herself.” There was something in the older man's face that softened yet his expression never changed from the same stoic look.
It was true, Anya had gone from hot to cold the whole trip. One moment she was happy and giggling with joy and the next she acted as if the world was crumbling from beneath her with a weirdly scary look on her face. Loid had been confused at first with her behavior until Anya admitted it was because she missed Yor. That they could agree on.
“You have my thanks then,” Loid gave a grateful smile, almost completely genuine. “Third class rooms leave little room, much less for a family of three.”
He made a noise in agreement. “I'm sure.” From his pocket he pulled out a key. “If you'll follow me then, we can hurry quickly. Considering how your hands are…. full, I'll let you in and be on my way.” Without another word the man turned and walked down a different hall, presumably where the first class passengers' rooms are, leaving Loid to follow silently behind with an armful.
He internally sighed at having to walk even more but diligently kept pace with Yor's boss, who almost certainly walked slower for his benefit. After various turns and even more looks from strangers, they made it to a door that screamed of wealth just by how expensive the wood and detailing was.
The other man unlocked and opened the door, gesturing inside with a slight head bow.
“Please pass on my gratitude to Mrs Forger, without her we never would’ve been able to make such an important business deal.”
Loid paused just before entering. “I thought the deal fell through?”
His face remained impassive. “That's what I said.” And then he turned abruptly and left Loid standing there, blinking at his back.
How odd. I'm sure it's nothing though. The man must've misspoke.
Loid seamlessly walked across the room, mentally cataloging every item and square bit of space in the room. There were two large beds, each large enough to fit two people making it perfect for Yor and Anya to share while he took the spare. What surprised him the most was realizing all their luggage was already in the room.
His arms felt as if they were about to fall off so he was quick to gently lay the pair on the mattress (only after an ungraceful foot move to move the comforter out of the way first). After taking off their shoes and placing the blanket comfortably over them, he stepped back.
Loid took a moment to watch as Yor naturally pulled Anya to her chest in a protective yet loose hold and Anya, in response, curled around Yor, making her look smaller than she already was.
It was.… cute. Adorable was fitting as well. He regretted not bringing a camera. It would've made a good picture frame to add for their table and sell the whole family thing. It also wouldn't hurt to have a memory of this.
That was the reason Loid gave to himself as he stood there for a few minutes longer, gazing down at his family. To remember. It was good for family bonding and therefore vital to the mission, which was the whole point of the cruise, according to Handler.
He memorized the way Anya breathed easier when Yor tightened her arms around her, nestling further against her mother. Every detail on Yor's face from the scrunch of her nose to the soft exhale and relaxed look she had as she dreamt was neatly tucked away in his mind. They both looked so innocent like this, untouched by any hardships and this—this was why Twilight did what he did. So families could remain blissfully ignorant and worry about nothing but sunburns and blistered feet from vacations.
Anya, if anything, deserved that. He remembered the poor conditions of the orphanage he'd found her in. Remembered how she'd been passed along numerous families and brought back each time. He was hardly any better. Taking her in only to use her for his mission with plans to return her back once it was all said and done.
His heart did something funny at that thought. Some weird spasm along with his breath momentarily catching.
He shook his head. If the symptoms worsened he'd head to medbay. It must've been from all that sun and walking. Dehydration was a deadly thing.
Loid distracted himself by turning his attention to Yor.
Yor with her sweet expressions and upbeat attitude. Yor who always made sure to put Anya and him before herself. Yor and her dark beautiful hair with her long endearing eyelashes overwhelming him when he let his guard down. Like today. Like right now.
For a second—not even, just half—he wondered what it'd be like to be married to Yor for real.
And then he had to stop wondering because yet again he experienced the same awful symptoms as earlier. He frowned and actually placed a hand to his chest in concern.
Being dehydrated was not fun and he chugged a bottle of water, downing half its contents in record time. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Surely now he'd be fine.
He visibly startled when Yor mumbled, “No Miss Anya...no tearing out throats...till you get your home…work done.” And then she fell silent, snoring softly, while Loid choked on his spit and stared at her in horror.
Yor certainly has an imagination. What on earth did that business deal do to her? It was then he remembered how slightly swollen her face had been that morning and the reasoning she gave. His expression turned dark.
The urge to go find this couple and interrogate them and, maybe, make them beg Yor for forgiveness, was difficult not to follow. What stopped him was reminding himself that Yor can be surprisingly sturdy (he remembered vividly the bruises he'd gotten from one of her powerful kicks) and she could handle herself without Loid butting in.
He supposed that was why they'd gotten such a luxurious room, because her boss felt bad for her injury and saying it was for securing that deal was to save face. It made sense. In a kind of convoluted way that stretched logic beyond what was reasonable.
So yes, to Loid, it made perfect sense. As it always did when it came to Yor.
A yawn tore through, letting him know it was time for his own nap. They'd miss dinner at this rate but honestly Loid was beyond wiped out himself—his poor arms!
He took two steps in the direction of the second bed before a hand gripping his sleeve stopped him.
“Loid?” Yor asked blearily. She lazily raised her head to get a better look at him. “What're you doin’?” Though her words were slurred together due to sleep Loid managed to understand.
He curiously moved his arm and was both surprised and impressed when her grip tightened and no amount of tugging would release her grip. Even Yor mostly asleep was strong. Those self defense classes were amazing.
“I was just going to sleep in the other bed.” He smiled at her. “Go back to sleep, Yor.”
Yor frowned and it was her turn to tug at him, giving him no choice but to stumble closer until he had no choice but to lean over the bed.
“No,” she pouted. “Sleep here. C'mere.” and pulled at his arm again.
“Yor!” He hissed when he had to fling his other arm out to stop himself from falling on the bed with them. He almost crushed Anya!
Yor blinked owlishly. “Whoops.” she shifted, positioning Anya mostly on her chest with her spare hand and gestured for Loid. “In.”
Loid was at a loss for words. It was one thing when Yor and Anya fell asleep on each other to share a bed, but for him to join? For Yor to invite him in?
Maybe he can pretend. Humor her enough until she fell back asleep and sneak over to the other bed. The look she gave him told him she saw right through him though.
“Yor I—”
Anya made an agitated sound, glaring at the both of them. “Mama. Papa. Shut up. Anya needs sleep to ruler the world,” and then promptly fell back asleep with a loud snore.
Loid and Yor blinked at each other in the resulting silence.
“She gets that from you,” Yor said accusingly. Then she tugged hard and Loid was just too tired to put up any further complaints and let himself be manhandled into the bed.
He sighed as he settled in, both with contentment at the soft sheets and in exasperation at his girls. He turned to mostly face Yor, just barely able to see past Anya's head as she sleepily crawled between them. The little girl went from Yor's arms to pasting herself against Loid. He exhaled through his nose. It was hard to be annoyed when there was something warm settling in his chest.
Yor had gone back to sleep. Already mumbling incoherently in her dreams. But not before splaying an arm around Anya and his middle in a protective hold not unlike from earlier and her face nuzzling into her pillow.
Loid smiled softly at the sight in front of him. Then, when his eyes started drooping, let sleep pull him under.