Chapter Text
Loid Forger was a man with very few needs. He needed money, shelter, his precious daughter, but certainly not a wife.
"I’m telling you, you need a wife!"
Loid groaned for the umpteenth time, his calloused hands swiping down his face as his best friend repeated the same thing again.
"I have my hands full enough with Anya. I don’t think that I can afford any other distractions," the psychiatrist shot a glare at his stout and curly-haired best friend, Franky.
Franky hopped up to pull Loid by the collar of the shirt, lowering his friend to lock a serious glare. "Getting a woman in your life is not a distraction. She will help take care of Anya and you."
Loid shoved his friend away. "Right. Any woman in Ostania thinks it’s perfectly reasonable to get with a man with a daughter."
From behind the comforter, a pink-haired girl peered over, gazing up at her father. "Anya’s in the way?"
Loid sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before giving his daughter a small smile. He brushed his hand over her little head, giving her an assuring pat. "No, of course not. I’d never trade you for any other woman regardless."
And he meant every word he said. Despite Anya being a child that he had adopted two years ago, Loid had grown to be terribly fond of the little girl who used to be ostracised in the orphanage for having gone through various inhumane experiments. It wasn’t her fault that she happened to be an abandoned child and an easy prey for some unethical scientists. The poor child had gone through several tests in the scientists’ warped attempt to create a child with the ability to read minds, and failed terribly. Ever since the day Loid took her in, he had vowed to protect Anya with all his life and never leave her sad for a day. He had even given up on his previous job as a spy, despite performing swimmingly in it, in exchange for more free time with his daughter, and a safer life where he could protect her directly instead.
"Anya, I know you love your father, but one day when you become a big girl, you will leave your father for another man and your father here is gonna grow old alone. Do you want that?" Franky mounted his tiny fists against his hips and stared down at the little girl.
"Papa can’t grow old with Mr Curly?"
Both Loid and Franky deadpanned at the thought.
"No, he cannot. Neither do I want that to happen. I’ll end up with a beautiful woman someday, and that looks absolutely nothing like your father."
Tears swirled around the little girl’s green orbs. Anya rushed forward to place her tiny hands on her father’s knees, before looking up with an earnest expression. "Anya doesn’t want Papa to be alone. Anya will stay with Papa forever!"
Loid shook his head, before getting up and lifting Anya into his arms as gently as he always did. "No, Anya. As Franky said, you’ll grow up one day and find someone too. I don’t mind being alone."
Anya started to bawl in his arms, tightening her hold on his shirt.
"Anya, do you want a mama?" Franky interjected.
The little girl immediately stopped, sniffing. "Will having a mama make Papa happy?"
"Not just any mama, your papa needs the right mama, but he doesn’t even want to start looking now. If you have a mama, you’ll have someone else to look after you and play with you all day, and you can go on family outings together too!" Franky gave a sneaky smile.
"Ootings! Anya loves ootings! Anya wants a mama!" The eight-year-old forgot all about her tears from earlier and immediately showed gleaning puppy eyes at her father.
Loid groaned inwardly. "But if I get you a mama, you’ll have less attention for me too."
Anya shook her head furiously. "No! Anya won’t! Anya will love both Papa and Mama with hundred points! Anya wants a mama!"
And that was what got Loid Forger looking for a wife.
Being the expert informant he ever was, Franky had secured Loid a blind date the following day. Considering his previous profession, Loid did still have many professional-looking suits left behind. He was thankful that he never made the decision to dispose any of them in exchange for more closet space for Anya’s trinkets which could no longer fit in her old closet. It was a smart decision to teach Anya to Marie Kondo her belongings after all.
Loid now sat across from Karen, who was rambling about how her father wouldn’t let her purchase the latest branded good in the market worth a million Dalc. The blonde woman was harping over how her father had no empathy to her sense of necessity, oblivious to how Loid was tuning everything out and sipping his tea quietly throughout.
The table to their left suddenly caused much commotion, and Loid observed that the man had gotten on one knee and was professing his love to his partner. Karen watched intently, eyes glistening. "Say, Loid, when we ever get married, I am so going to have-"
Loid did not wait around for her to finish her sentence. He gingerly wiped his lips with the napkin, before getting up to leave. "Thank you for the meal, Karen, but I do not think that this will work out between us. I wish you all the best."
Curse Franky - he may have been great at obtaining all sorts of information but he clearly needed to work on his ability to filter the right and wrong information. Clearly Karen was a mistake.
Loid headed to the counter, making the payment for his table and also swiping up the nearest package - a cake set he thought would be perfect for Anya. The store did have a seasonal special using peanuts, Anya’s absolute favourite. Without turning back, Loid made his way out of the store, half-aware (and ignorant) that Karen was left fuming behind in the restaurant.
Perhaps he had walked up till the second store from the restaurant, when he was suddenly stopped by a pat on his shoulder.
"Excuse me."
Loid immediately turned around, eyes wide in shock. In his years of arduous training as a spy, Loid had been trained to detect any individual even meters away from him. It was crucial for spies to be cautious about individuals lurking behind, in the event they could be assassins targeting them. After all, a spy could never be short of enemies.
Yet, here he was, a beautiful, raven-haired woman standing behind him, and he had no idea. Just how long had she been behind him?
You’ve gotten sloppy, Twilight! Loid cursed under his breath, while still maintaining his courteous smile to the woman.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
"Ano… it seems that you may have taken my package by accident. I came from the restaurant earlier too," the woman smiled sheepishly, lifting a similar package while peering away shyly.
Loid blinked in surprise, before opening up the package in his hands to check the receipt. It was certainly not Anya’s favourite.
He let out a polite-sounding laugh, before handing over his package to exchange with the woman. "I’m sorry. I left in a rush and didn’t realise it."
A giggle that sounded like tinkling bells rang through the air, surprisingly making Loid’s heart leap in excitement. It was the first time he ever felt that way. "That’s fine. I noticed that you seemed to be having an unpleasant afternoon tea. It’s natural that you would want to make your way out quickly."
Loid was slightly surprised. This woman seemed different - perhaps this was more apparent because he had last interacted with an extremely stuck-up and self-entitled woman. She was certainly easy on the eyes too, with eyes as bright as rubies and an elegant demeanour.
"Ano… is everything okay? You’ve been staring at me for a while now."
Loid immediately blushed, before he shook his hands and head quickly. "Ah! I was just thinking that you look beautiful."
Smooth move, Twilight. Since when were you ever such a shameless flirt?
The woman’s eyes widened as she took a step forward. "Did you mean my appearance?"
"Er, yes," Loid couldn’t imagine why the woman was doubtful of the praise.
A sigh of relief and a grateful smile. "Thank you, you must be confused. I’ve just been teased by my colleagues for being single, but it’s assuring to know that it’s not because of my appearance."
Loid couldn’t imagine how the woman before him did not have even a suitor. She was absolutely stunning, and would easily have passed off as an angel. She must have had absolutely nasty colleagues, or they must have just been jealous of her. He wouldn’t be surprised if it was the latter, after all, she seemed gullible, being the sweet individual she was.
"I can’t imagine that you have a lack of suitors."
She immediately retaliated by waving her hands frantically. "Ah, of course! I don’t really have anything outstanding about myself. I’m not pretty or smart - it’s natural anyone wouldn’t go for me. Ah, I’m so sorry for rambling on about myself like this to a stranger. You must well be on your way."
Loid shook his head with a smile. Perhaps…
"Loid Forger, nice to meet you. I’m certainly not in a rush anywhere, and I’d love to know more about you," Loid held out his hand.
"… Yor Briar," The woman stretched out her hand doubtfully, before giving Loid a firm shake. Contrary to the hands that Loid had brushed his against during his multiple missions, he noticed how this hand in particular was unlike the smooth ones belonging to all the previous spoilt daughters he had pretended to date for his missions.
"Yor…" Loid let the name roll off his tongue. He wanted to call her name more, but probably not right now, since he’d certainly come across as creepy. "If you’re not in a rush anywhere, could I have the honour of taking you out for afternoon tea?"
Yor giggled. "Even though you just walked out of one?"
Loid laughed. "Well, the tea was certainly distasteful thanks to the company. I could use another cup."
Yor nodded her head. "Of course."
Loid held out his elbow, and Yor bashfully looped her arm over it as she proceeded to let him lead the way.
And that was the beginning of their story.
Loid and Yor both learnt many things about each other over this afternoon tea. Loid certainly found her company refreshing compared to Karen’s. He learnt that Yor was working with the Berlint City Hall, and how she had single-handedly raised her brother, Yuri, since they were orphaned as kids. Yor learnt of how Loid was an orphan from Westalis previously, and had moved over to Ostania for work purposes.
Loid knew that it may not be wise to share about his adoptive daughter, but he also knew that he would not be making use of his time effectively if he spent any longer with a woman who could not accept his circumstances.
"Yor, how do you feel about children?"
Yor immediately turned entirely beet red.
"Ah, I didn’t mean it that way," Loid quickly added, realising how direct he sounded. "I mean… you seem to have a knack for raising children, seeing how you raised your brother from a young age. I assumed that you like children."
Yor nodded. "I do love them. They are a joy to be around!"
Loid heaved a sigh of relief, earning a curious look from Yor.
"Ah, could it be that… you may have children?"
Loid blinked in surprise. He didn’t know if Yor was sharp or dull.
"How did you guess?"
Yor shrugged with a smile. "Gut feeling?"
Loid laughed. "Strong gut you have there then. I do have an eight-year-old who I adopted two years ago. Anya is incredibly curious and energetic."
"Adopted?"
Loid nodded his head again. He would have taken offense if it was any other person who had asked him that, but not when it was Yor, who seemed incredibly good-natured, and whose eyes were glistening in awe.
"I mentioned moving to Ostania for work purposes?" Yor nodded her head in response. "Shortly after, I did some volunteering at an orphanage and that was where I met Anya. She didn’t come from the best conditions, and yet she seemed to be a pretty optimistic child. We hit off pretty well as father and daughter."
"That sounds incredible! It’s not everyday where you hear of a single adult deciding to adopt a child. That’s really respectable," Yor beamed.
"You don’t mind, then?" Loid was surprised.
"Of course not!" Yor nodded her head, before pausing. "Loid… when you ask me that, are you…?"
Loid nodded his head in return. This was it. "I’m looking to find a partner for myself, and a mother for Anya. Of course, I’m not saying we should rush into this, but if you feel that I could be a potential partner for yourself, I’d love to give us a try."
Yor turned so red that her ears steamed. Loid quickly handed her a glass of water, giving a amused laugh as he watched her pick it up with shaky hands and try to gulp it down. Either Yor had no dating experience, or she was just not used to such straightforward confessions.
"I… I do think we seem to hit it off well. I’m just not sure I’d be a good fit."
A confidence issue, Loid concluded to himself.
"Well, what do you say we head on a few dates to test things out? Twenty-six dates, I promise. If along the way or after you feel that things are not working out, we can part ways, though… I am taking a liking to you," Loid smiled earnestly.
"Why twenty-six specifically?" Yor mused.
"I’d pop a much larger number, but I wouldn’t want to scare you off," Loid earned a laugh from Yor, pride welling up within him. "Twenty six is a perfect number because it gives me enough time to explore A to Zs with you. I’d take today’s afternoon tea as our first date."
"Creative and witty," Yor giggled. "Are you sure you’re not pushing yourself too hard to go out with me though?"
Loid reached over the table to squeeze his fingers around Yor’s hand. "You give yourself way too little credit. At least give me a chance to win you over."
A twinkle in her ruby orbs sent Loid’s heart leaping.
"It’d be my honour."