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Twilight stared daggers at his worthless leg propped unceremoniously on the coffee table in the middle of the Forger living room. He had sustained an injury while acting as Loid Forger and had been rushed to the hospital by his wife and daughter. Normally, he would never allow any show of weakness or allow anyone near him while injured, but Loid Forger was a family man. He wouldn't hide away in his room and pretend he was fine. For the mission. It's for the mission. He thought.
Anya sat in her short pink chair, across from him, drawing. She scrunched her little brows, looked up at him and seemed to contemplate something. She then crumpled up her drawing and tossed it aside to join all the other crumpled paper balls. When he had asked her what she was doing earlier she stated, 'planning what to draw on papa's cast. It's gotta be the best so you get better. That's what Becky said.'
He sighed. He wouldn't let her come anywhere near him with a marker in hand. He wasn't too worried about it. It doesn't look like she will make a decision anytime soon. She's drawn at least twelve other failures. What is she even trying to draw? A giraffe? No, maybe a cat like that other time? he thought. She then paused and stared at him, looking scandalized. "It's Bond," she said. He crooked an eyebrow at her and she immediately looked back down at her new drawing. She could be incredibly perceptive. Almost like she could read his mind at times.
Yor flitted around the kitchen. A moment ago she had offered to make tea. Normally, he would ask for coffee, but today tea seemed like a good choice. She walked back into the living room with the refreshments and sat down on the couch next to Loid. They sat in silence enjoying their afternoon tea, while the news on the TV droned in the background.
Eventually, Twilight groaned in exasperation, but played it off as tiredness. Anya gave him a look. He went to push himself up off the couch and announced, "I think I'll go to my room and lay down."
Before he could even stand Yor was grabbing his shoulders and sitting him back down on the couch. "Did you forget what the doctor said?" she frantically chided, "You can't walk on your foot for at least a week!"
"I was going to use the crutch," he stated, pointing to its spot on top of the armchair.
Yor looked at it with a flush bright on her face. He had not meant to embarrass her, but the damage was already done. However, rather than conceding and letting him leave, she hopped up from the couch. "I know I'm just your fake wife," she started, "but let me help you. The doctor said you should completely avoid walking on it for at least two days."
"Alright, but I still need to be able to get around."
"Then I'll carry you!"
"What?" he gaped.
"Don't worry you're not that heavy."
"Mama and Papa are flirting," Anya chimed in without even looking up at them. He somehow knew she was smirking.
"We are not," he reprimanded. He looked back to Yor who looked extremely enthusiastic about the prospect of carrying her invalid husband to and from bed. He would relent. If she finds fault with me for not accepting her help she might report me or leave which would be incredibly detrimental to Operation Strix. This is for the mission. I'll let her carry me for the sake of the mission.
Anya looked up at him again, her eyes squinting with an expression that looked like a mix of exasperation, annoyance and pity. She then looked away, heaving a heavy sigh and went back to her work. He felt himself getting irritated, but was quickly pulled back from his thoughts.
"Loid?" Yor looked at him with genuine concern. Concern he didn't deserve.
"Yes? Ah… sorry," he composed himself and settled back into his soft fake smile, "but, if you really think you can. I'd really appreciate the help."
Yor beamed at him and before he could even blink he was up in her arms bridal style. He knew Yor was strong, but he wasn't expecting to be carried like a blushing bride.
"This is a little uncomfortable," he said softly. He could feel a tingling burn climb his neck and reach his ears.
"Oh," she exclaimed, putting him back down and then picking him back up again this time piggyback.
They stood there in the middle of the room. Well Yor was standing.
Twilight blankly stared ahead of him, "This is worse," he spoke a little too forcefully. She quickly moved him so he was in front of her instead.
"Now I feel like a toddler," he said coolly. Her eyes widened in shock. She then tentatively moved him again so his upper torso was falling over the expanse of her back. Though he didn't have any time to admire it as all the blood rushed to his head.
"Am I a sack of vegetables?!" he exclaimed. His face flushed bright red. Whether this was from embarrassment or all the blood in his face, he didn't know. From his vantage point, he could see the growing smirk on Anya's face.
"Papa and Mama are flirting," she said with a giggle in her voice.
"We are not!" Loid shouted. A burning sensation ran up his spine and bloomed on his cheeks. He could only pinpoint it as a sense of shame. He tried to steady his voice, but in the end he was far too flustered, "Now, Yor… please put me down already!"
Yor jumped almost dropping him, but was able to catch him before he slammed on the hardwood. He could feel the sweat dripping down his face as he was seconds from making contact with the living room floor.
Bzzz
They all turned their heads to the door. Yor carefully put him back down on the couch and went to get it.
"Papa's hair is all. Whoa!" Anya said while throwing her hands up to mimic how his hair was standing on end.
"Thanks, Anya," Loid sighed.
"Hey Forger family! I brought dinner!" Franky boomed as Yor let him in through the door.
"Uncle Scruffy!" Anya shouted. She bounced out of her chair rushing over to the informant. Loid draped his arm over the couch turning as best he could to watch the scene unfold by the front door.
"Hey there, Anya," Franky beamed. He ruffled her hair as Yor took the take-out from his hands.
"Thank you for coming, Franky. I don't know what I would have done for our meals for the next few days," Yor said as she carefully pulled out the take-out to place at the dining room table.
"It's no problem at all. As soon as I heard about Loid's accident I knew I had to help," he said. But not before I laughed for a solid three minutes, he thought.
Twilight turned back to the TV not wanting to deal with Franky's antics. Please don't say anything. Don't talk about it.
"So, Loid, I can't believe you As You Wished down the hill," Franky smirked. Everyone in the apartment was silent. "What no takers? That was a good one."
"No one gets your obscure movie references, Franky," Loid said in exasperation.
"It's not obscure! It's a good movie! A classic!" Franky shouted.
"Anya only watches Spy cartoons," Anya said.
"Well I knew you wouldn't get it," Franky sighed.
"Um…well I don't really get it, but if it's a classic film maybe we could watch it tonight?" Yor smiled softly.
"Don't placate him, Yor," Loid said.
"Ah don't be a downer just cus you got a little ouchie," Franky jabbed at Twilight. He turned his attention back to Anya, "Right, Anya? You wanna watch a movie with your mom and dad, right?"
"Anya will watch the classic," Anya said with a determined look on her face.
All Twilight could do was sigh and wish this day would end sooner.
"Anyways, so…" Franky started, "You were going for a walk tripped on your dog's leash-," Bond interrupted with a loud BORF from his spot on the floor, "Then went tits over tea kettle down a hill and broke your foot. Am I getting that right?" Franky was barely holding in his laughter as Twilight sunk deeper into the couch trying to hide his scarlet face and ears.
Franky leaned in close and whispered, "Bet WISE ain't too happy about this."
"Tell me about it, and Yor has taken the week off to help me so I can't do anything at all or I'll blow my cover," Twilight wordlessly responded in code back to the informant. At that Franky really did let his laughter slip.
"Franky, I know you and my husband are very close, but it really isn't right to laugh at another's misfortune," Yor said. She looked stern. That quickly went away as she blushed, "Ah I didn't mean to chastise you I just don't want Miss Anya to learn any bad habits."
Too late Franky and Loid thought simultaneously.
Anya looked shocked. "I'll only learn good stuff," she declared.
"Yea that's good," Loid nodded to his daughter. Anya nodded back at him.
Yor then brought over dinner for Loid. She offered him the plate, "Here you go."
"Oh thank you, Yor," he smiled at her, taking it gratefully.
Much to his chagrin, after dinner they ended up watching The Princess Bride. When it got to the scene of Wesley rolling down the hill Franky poked him and whispered, "There you go." That ticked him off, but there was nothing he could do. At least Yor and Anya seemed to like the film so the night wasn't completely wasted. Franky ended up staying late, and passed out in the armchair. Yor carried Anya to bed and tucked her in. Again like earlier Twilight tried to get up and take himself to bed. Just like before, Yor was back by his side stopping him. She quickly scooped him up again bridal style. His face and neck tingled once more.
"You seemed to hate this way the least," she whispered.
"Um…yea…thank you, Yor," he stammered.
Her face beamed and she swept him off to bed. She carefully tucked him in, made sure his foot was properly propped up, his pillows nice and fluffed and that he'd be snug and warm. Without warning or thinking she leaned down and pecked his forehead. They both froze. Twilight could feel that burning sensation again up his spine and into his face but this time it took a detour and set his chest aflame as well. Yor looked completely shocked.
"I-I'm so sorry, Loid!" she stammered, "It's just when I used to tuck Yuri in I'd always kiss him on the forehead goodnight. I've been doing the same for Anya recently and I just… oh I'm sorry."
So, it was just a habit? he thought. I can work with that. Placate her then go from there.
He was going to try and calm her. Ease her worries then find a way to use this new found information to his advantage, but his voice completely betrayed him. "I-it…um…it," he stuttered. He was trying his best. He really was. What the hell, Twilight? What is that pathetic display? You're a spy. Why are you stuttering like a grade schooler? Get it together.
"It's okay," he barely managed to squeak out as he turned his head away from her. The flush on his neck was easily visible in the dim light. She peaked over at him.
"I don't mind being tucked in like that," he breathed out. No no no Twilight! Too much! Pull back! Pull back! But again his body refused to listen to his brain.
"Okay then. At least until you're better I'll tuck you in like this," she said.
He peaked back at her to catch her bright smiling face before she walked out. "Good night, Loid," she whispered, closing the door behind her.
I wouldn't mind if you tucked me in like that every night, Twilight thought. He froze. No, that wasn't what this was. The burning feeling in his face, neck and chest wasn't that. But if it was he'd have to stamp it out. He was a spy. He couldn't afford feelings. But, Loid Forger, he could afford to have feelings for his wife. For the sake of the mission he should love her. So, those feelings he would compartmentalize them to Loid for now. Until he could no longer contain them. He knew he should completely snuff it out now, but somehow he knew he wouldn't be able to. He looked over at the clock on his nightstand. This week was going to be long, and now that he realized something was off with him it would be even harder than he first anticipated.