AN: A reminder if you need it.

Codenames:
Loid: Bondman
Yor: Rose
Anya: Peanuts
Franky: Mop
Yuri: Chihuahua

There's a masterbation scene at the end of the chapter but it's barely described (like 1 explicit word used only once) so if you still want to skip it just start skimming through when Yor begins fantasizing :P

Chapter 10 Collaboration

The Forger's house had never been so quiet.

Yor was no stranger to silence. The woeful silence left behind by her dead parents, the unsettling silence after her targets' desperate cries and vengeful screams died down, the suffocating silence that awaited her at home after Yuri moved out, the awkward silence between her and Loid when they shared a bed for the first time and neither could fall asleep in the other's presence…

But no silence had ever made her feel so feeble, so impotent.

She could smash walls with her fist and send a man flying with a kick, but in the face of the overwhelming influence and authority of a government agency, she couldn't do a single thing when Loid and Yuri were taken and could only hold onto Anya as the girl cried herself to sleep.

What use was power when she couldn't take action when it mattered?

Sitting with her back against the headboard as Anya lay sleeping curled up in her lap, Yor was forced to come to terms with her powerlessness for the first time in her life. Gone was Yuri's cheerful demeanor that could light up the whole house, gone was Loid's soft smiles that made her feel all warm and loved inside. Even Bond had gone quiet as he rested his head on his paws, staring off into space.

The Forger family was in shambles and rather than catching the pieces, she resigned to watch inertly as they fell into a cluster on the ground.

"I won't let anything happen to you, or to the rest of my family, if I can help it."

Yor huffed out a self-deprecating laugh.

What a joke.

"You can do it, Mama."

Yor didn't realize Anya had awakened and was so startled she accidentally banged her head against the headboard in response to the voice.

"A-Anya, you're awake!?"

"Mama thinks too loud." Anya yawned, shoving her chimera plushie out of her way as she pushed herself up to a sitting position.

"Sorry for waking you up." Yor ruffled her hair and let her hand drop to caress her cheek, rubbing her thumb over the dried tear tracks. Her heart ached at the sight of those red-rimmed eyes gazing up at her with so much sorrow yet still filled with so much hope for the future.

Anya shook her head and leaned into the touch. "Mama worries too much. We have Papa's Plans. We can do it!"

Bond gave a quiet worf as if to voice his agreement on this matter.

Yor hadn't forgotten about the plans Loid had made and drilled into them in case something like this happened. It was the first thing she thought of when they got arrested. She knew those Plans would work because Twilight himself made them, but she was the one who had to carry them out.

Could she do it? She, who was frozen in fear at the mere sight of those SSS officers at her door, who couldn't utter a sound of protest when her loved ones got forced into handcuffs and hauled away, who did nothing when she had all this power within her? Even Anya had run up to Loid and clutched his pants leg tightly, bawling and refusing to let go. Even a 6 year old had done something.

And now, the fate of her loved ones rested on her, her, who could barely keep up with the coded conversation they used to fool Yuri, who had to carry out Twilight's plans and fool the SSS and the Garden. Plans like such required someone brilliant, someone who could think on their feet and improvise on the spot, someone who wasn't a clumsy, bumbling fool like her.

"But Mama is strong." Anya argued, yanking on her sleeves. "You saved me from kidnappers! Two times! Also, you took down that chain frogman on the ship!"

"Chain frogman?"

Snapshots of Yor's scuffle with a hitman flashed through her mind. Sickle attached to a chain, a crowd watching their fight, and amongst the crowd was…

"Wow, that was awesome! You're the coolest, circus lady!" Anya cheered monotonously, and Yor breathed out a sigh of relief seeing how her daughter didn't recognize her in her Thorn Princess attire.

"S-So you did recognize me back then!"

Anya scratched her head sheepishly. "Ehe."

Yor knew Anya was aware of her and Loid's secret since their first meeting (due to her telepathy), but she didn't realize what this could imply. All the times Anya took the words right out of her mouth, all the times she did something unbefitting of her age and maturity, all the times Anya said something that just so happened to alleviate the suspicion after Yor let slip something she shouldn't have… Anya's telepathy not only explained all these baffling behaviors, but also disclosed the fact that she had been covering for her all this time, and this made Yor even more upset with herself.

How pathetic was she, to fail so horribly as an assassin and as a mother that she needed her own child to cover for her, and to not even realize she was dragging Anya into her missions and putting her in needless danger? That confrontation with the chain hitman could have gone so horribly wrong in so many ways and served as a testament to her growing ineptitude as an assassin, as a mother, as a…

"Mama is NOT in ape!" Anya shot to her feet and grabbed Yor's face, staring into her eyes and pouting with her cheeks puffed like a chipmunk. "Mama is perfect! That's why I gave you 100 points, full score!"

"But I didn't even realize I've been putting you in danger."

"Because you didn't know I can read minds."

"That doesn't excuse how dense I've been. I should have been more heedful. I should have realized something was wrong this whole time." She should have been better. She needed to be better. The ferocity in Anya's eyes rekindled Yor's own determination. It was okay to fail, to make mistakes, as long as she strived to be better and make up for her faults. "Anya, I'm sorry for unknowingly dragging you into my mess, and for not doing anything when your papa and uncle were taken. But things will change now. I'll try to be better, to become worthy of the 100 points you gave me. I might not be the best candidate to carry out Loid's plans, but let's do our best!"

The big smile that manifested on Anya's face made Yor crack a smile as well. It was okay to make mistakes. The only way to move forward was to leave the past behind, not to forget it but to learn from it and move on. She could make up for her inertia earlier by doing her best to ensure the plan was a success. So what if she was the worst candidate? She wasn't working alone. With Anya's telepathy, Bond's precognition, and Franky's information gathering skills and connections, nothing would stop them from reuniting with their loved ones.

As if sensing the shift in atmosphere, Bond leaped onto the bed and fell onto them, burying a giggling Anya and a laughing Yor underneath his furs.

Nothing could separate the Forgers.

Nothing.

Yor woke up early the next day to sort through the plans in her mind while preparing breakfast for Anya. Hard boiled eggs and buttered toasts toasted with a toaster. Nothing could go wrong with that.

Loid had prepared fifteen plans in total to counter any situations that could come up as a result of them being investigated by the SSS. The plans were numbered from least risky to most risky. Because Yuri was no longer suspicious of Loid, Plan 3, 7, and 11 could be removed. And since Yuri got arrested along with Loid, Plan 4-6, 8-10, and 12 were nullified, leaving them with Plan 1-2 and 13-15.

It was to their best interest to go with Plan 1 because it was the least risky and Yor would prefer something simple and easier to understand and carry out. But the problem was Plan 1 sacrificed risk factors in exchange for a longer process, and they didn't have the time to drag out the rescue process. Loid had already briefed her on his mission: rescuing a certain spy from the SSS's clutches, which he obviously couldn't do when he was also in captivity. And since (according to Anya) the deadline of his mission had changed to two days from now, Yor had to choose a plan that could clear Loid's name and liberate him within two days.

And the only plan that could do both within such a short amount of time was Plan 15, but it was the riskiest, and its success or failure wholly depended on someone else who Yor wasn't sure she could trust…

"Let's go with Plan 15!" Anya exclaimed as she waited patiently at the table for her breakfast.

"But it's too risky. Plan 15 requires us to enlist the help of someone else, and we don't even know who that's going to be. Loid never told us and since he's the one who said Plan 15 is risky because of that person, that means even he doesn't trust them either."

"Anya knows who that person is!"

Yor's hand stilted while peeling the egg shell as she turned to Anya in belated realization. "That's right! You can read his mind!"

Anya nodded proudly as she hopped off her chair and made her way into the kitchen. "Yup!" She gestured for Yor to lean down and cupped her mouth, whispering in her ears.

Yor gasped, an elated grin appearing on her face as she gushed, "Oh my god, really? Is that really true? Since when? Does Loid know!? And are you sure!?"

"Yup!" Anya beamed, putting her hands on her hips and puffing her chest out. "I'm sure because the mind doesn't lie!"

If this was the case, then Plan 15 wasn't the riskiest, it was the least risky!

"Plan 15 it is, then!"

Later that day, the radio station the Forger family loved to listen to received a call.

"The next caller is named 'Anyaman.' Pardon me, Miss Anyaman, but are you related to Mister Loidman? I heard you're calling about the chihuahua issue as well. Has it not been resolved yet?"

"A-Anya… *sob* Anya forgot to recode episode 15!"

"E-Episode 15?"

"Episode 15 of Spy Wars season 2! I heard Bondman got captured by the League of Chihuahuas! I want to go save him! But Papa didn't let me watch Spy Wars cause I didn't finish my homework and I forgot to recode it…"

*distant voice talking*

"Sorry! I didn't realize my daughter was on the phone! Anya, what did I tell you about–"

"But Mama! Spy Wars…"

"They can't help you with this. Also, it's the League of Evil, not the League of Chihuahuas."

*gasp*

It was around five in the afternoon that Yor received a reply back on the radio.

"The next caller is our old friend, 'King Scruffy'! What do you have for us tonight?"

"So you know how I stopped coaching youth baseball about a year ago, right? I was unemployed for a while before beginning to work part-time, but I couldn't stay at one job and something always came up and caused me to change jobs. My current job is a delivery man at Schnelli Express, and let me tell you. I heard the most insane story the other day! One of my coworkers, let's just call him Mister H., got attacked one day while out on a delivery! And you know what's crazy? His attacker stripped him and–"

Yor turned to Anya who was listening intently beside her. "Want to order takeout for dinner?"

Anya nodded enthusiastically. "Oui!"

The delivery man arrived an hour later with their ordered takeout.

Upon opening the door, Yor was hit with a wave of deja vu at a strangely familiar face.

A single earring on the left earlobe, long lower eyelashes, and a head of curls pressed flat beneath Schnelli Express' red cap and bandanna.

This was Franky's disguise, his new persona since "Franky Franklin" could no longer be used.

But for some reason, Yor felt like she had seen this face before…

Franky looked up at her from beneath his cap and asked with a knowing grin, "You must be Mrs. Forger, I presume? Here's your takeout."

"Thank you." Yor hurriedly accepted the boxes and brought them into the house. "Anya, go get the money for…um…"

Franky took off his cap and tilted his head in greeting. "Franz Frankenstanz at your service."

"For Mister Frankenstanz."

"Okie dokie!" Anya saluted and ran into Loid's room. Half a minute later, she came out with a thin bundle of the disguises Franky had requested telepathically to her. "Here you go, Mister Stanz!"

"Thanks, kiddo." Franky ruffled her hair with a soft smile and put his cap back on.

As he turned to leave, Yor caught a glimpse of movement from around the corner. Even without asking Anya, she knew that must be the SSS agents keeping an eye on them. Yor may be dense but even she wasn't dense enough to believe the SSS wouldn't suspect her and keep an eye on her after her husband and brother got arrested. Fortunately, she was on leave from her assassin job so she didn't have to worry about sneaking out of the house, and they already had codenames and a clandestine communication method set up so information could be exchanged through the radio or with the help of Anya's telepathy if they had to meet in person, which was what they had just done.

Yor kept a neutral expression on her face as she closed the door and waited until she and Anya were within the confines of her room (they'd already made sure there were no bugs installed within their home, aside from the wiretapped telephone) before asking, "I know our involvement ends here for Plan 15, but… Just in case, it's not that I don't trust Frank– I mean, Franz, but just in case something goes wrong, I'm thinking maybe we can help out, so… Do you want to visit your papa and uncle tomorrow?"

Tomorrow was the deadline for Loid's mission. So if Franky was going to execute the rescue operation, it would be tomorrow.

Anya's face brightened considerably. "Oui!" She skipped over to hug Bond, who was wagging his tail and panting. "Bond, we get to see Papa and Unkie two mar row!"

"We're not bringing Bond."

Anya's face fell. "What? Why!?"

"I don't think they'll allow dogs inside. Plus, it'll be hard to move around when Bond is tagging along." I don't want to call him a burden… But, if something happens and I'll need to fight, I won't be able to watch over him, so it's best to let him stay home. Yor knelt beside Anya to pat both her and Bond's head. "We won't be away for long. Did Fran– Franz say when he's starting it?"

"He said early in the morning."

Early in the morning, to surprise attack them before the agents were awake and prepared. Yor suspected Yuri had been hiding his SSS job for quite some time now, which meant all those time he woke up early when they were still living together, it was actually for his SSS job. He often woke up at around six to exercise and left the house at seven to catch the train. Which meant, Franz was most likely to begin the rescue operation at around seven in the morning.

"You know what that means? We need to get you to bed early tonight," Yor said as she guided Anya and Bond out of her room to the dining room where she unpacked the takeout and filled Bond's bowl with kibbles.

They brainstormed while eating dinner, throwing out ideas that could help make their accomplices' infiltration easier. Despite the revelation earlier making Plan 15 the least risky, Yor reminded herself not to be too complacent because that was when she started overlooking things and making mistakes. Looking back, there were so many signs that pointed towards Loid being a spy and Anya being a mind-reader, but she was too at ease around the both of them (and too gullible in general) that she believed everything they said, no matter how ridiculous it was (concussive therapy? What kind of therapy would include physically assaulting patients who carried guns and what kind of doctor would be fine with throwing a grenade at his patients?).

Thus, she must be thoroughly ready to deal with any mishap. What if their accomplice betrayed them? What if their disguises were seen through at the entrance? What if she and Anya were denied entrance? Have an excuse prepared for everything, Yor. This is what you're trained for: to protect your family. Put all you've learned into use tomorrow.

Sleep did not come easily that night. It did for Anya, who insisted on sleeping alone because Mama's thoughts were too loud and had fallen asleep almost immediately after her head hit the pillow. The fact that Bond apparently saw "Papa and Unkie and Sy-on boy talking together" seemed to be the reason why she was less distressed than she was the night before. But even after knowing the plan might proceed successfully due to Bond's precognition, Yor found it difficult to fall asleep, even more difficult than that night after she failed her first mission in 11 years.

It wasn't exactly the nerves jabbing around in her stomach (that was a small aspect of it); it was more the sheer cold terror that wrapped around her throat in a deadly grip and the sudden despondency of being the only one awake in this huge apartment, way bigger than her own apartment before moving in with Loid. She knew nothing was going to harm her, nothing could harm her. The SSS were keeping an eye on her and as the secret police, it was their job to exterminate all threats to Ostania's peace (which would include any wrongdoers attacking a defenseless woman in the middle of the night).

This apartment was full of people and things that filled her heart with love and warmth. Anya and Bond sleeping right next door, the kitchen where Loid busied himself at, the coffee table where the family had their tea time with their cute little teacups… This place was a place of comfort, of safety, of everything she and Yuri had ever hoped for growing up with just the two of them.

But it felt so empty.

It had everything, except Loid.

If Anya was the one bringing warmth and laughter into this family, then Loid was the one who made her feel safe with his presence. It was strange, because she was much stronger than him in close-quarter combat. But there was something about him… His firm hands that cradled her head when he kissed her, his broad back always so straight and unyielding like it could carry the entire Westalis, his eyes that gazed at her with so much love, genuine love, that made all his past lies forgiven… One of these, or perhaps all of these, made Yor feel so at peace and so safe around him.

And without him, this house, this bed, her heart, felt so empty, so cold, and made her feel so scared.

Yor laid an arm out parallel to her shoulders and couldn't even touch the edge of Loid's side of the bed. Usually when she did this, her arm would rest perfectly across Loid's chest so she could entangle her fingers with his, hear his soft, breathy laugh, and snuggle into his back as sleep pulled her eyelids shut. And if she felt daring, she would rest her arm across his stomach and feel his abs through the thin layer of his shirt, tracing her fingers over the lines and dips and painting the imagery in her head as she fell asleep breathing in the freshness of his scentless shampoo (as expected of a spy).

The other side of the bed seemed to stretch on forever, even though the edge was only supposed to be a foot away from the tip of her fingers. Without the warm body for her to cuddle with, the smell of Loid to ease her jittery nerves, Yor felt her heart thump so hard against her chest it was hard to breathe. She gasped, clawing at her throat, swallowed thickly, trying to ease down the discomfort, and grabbed the material of her shirt, hitting her chest with her fist to force her heart rate to slow down.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Yor told herself.

The plan will succeed, and by this time tomorrow, Loid will be back on this bed with you, sharing his warmth and telling you goodnight with that sweet voice of his.

She imagined him wrapping his arms around her. She imagined warmth enveloping her body.

Her heart rate slowed.

She thought about him leaning in to kiss her, his hand tracing the scar on her cheek, and his gentle blue eyes filled to the brim with guilt, worry, and pain.

Her breathing evened; her eyes melted shut.

She remembered him sitting on the couch with his legs apart, breathing ragged, cheeks flushed, and damp hair plastered over his forehead as he covered his mouth with a hand, his eyes widening in embarrassment at the sound he made, but then she grabbed him and tore his hand away from his mouth, revealing those lips that spread sweet lies to poison her impenetrable heart, and demanded to hear him. And that flash of arousal and something else in his eyes in response to her order awakened something within her as well and made her want to do so much more than stroking him and hearing him moan underneath her…

A jolt of pleasure shot straight to her groin.

.

.

…?

What was that?

…No.

She knew what that was.

It wasn't the first time she had had such thoughts about Loid Forger after all. Loid was a sexy man with a handsome face, enthralling eyes, and a fitting figure that often had her gaze instinctively landing on the dress shirt that accentuated his toned upper arm, the jacket that wrapped snugly around his slim waist, and his dress pants that hugged his firm ass… N-Not that she had touched it! It just looked firm…and captivating…

Yor turned so she was facing Loid's side of the bed and curled into a fetus position, hiding her rapidly heating face into her pillow.

She had always hated herself for having such thoughts about a man who was just her pretend husband, a man who would eventually divorce her and find a woman he actually loved…, so she had been holding back on this department and forcing herself to look respectfully (his eyes are up there. Up THERE!).

But ever since their confession of secrets, the consolidation of their bonds, and that sexy time which usually would have filled her with apprehension at the mere idea of it but now, now, after everything they'd gone through, she found herself having those thoughts about him more and more often, and herself becoming less and less guilty about it. There was nothing wrong with thinking of your boyfriend, of your husband in that way, right?

And so, Yor clenched her eyes shut, slipped her hand into her underwear, and let her imagination run wild.

She imagined Loid– no, Twilight, sprawled out across the pavement, struggling to catch his breath after their little tussle ended with his loss. His thigh, bleeding profusely, twitched as he shuffled back, desperately trying to get away from her.

With fear in his eyes, fear that only made her want to bully him more.

Yor licked her lips, her middle finger rubbing over her clit.

"Like I said, you won't win. Not with those injuries."

Twilight raised his gun but Yor kicked it out of his hand and sat on top of him, cuffing both of his hands (with a pair of handcuff that her imagination helpfully supplied) and raising them above his head, pinning them in place with her left hand while her right hand tore open his suit jacket and revealed his white dress shirt that fluctuated with the rise and fall of his chest.

"Heh, big talk from someone with her name, face, and address exposed." Twilight winced, but quickly hid it with a smirk, which instantly turned into a pained gasp when Yor pinched his nipple through the shirt and twisted. He bit his lips, face flushed red in embarrassment as she leaned down to huff her hot breath on the perky nipple, and let out a stifled moan when she nibbled on it.

Yor's breathing came out quick and ragged, her hand movement increasing in speed.

"S-Stop that! Don't you care about Anya? No one is there to babysit her right now, so my colleagues can kill her at any time. While you're wasting your time with me, who kn-knows what's going on at your house?"

Yor's eyes flashed. "You've talked enough." She ripped out the pocket square from his outer breast pocket and stuffed it into his mouth, shoving it as far back as her fingers could reach and watching coldly as he gagged, his chest heaving with effort. His eyes, slightly watery from the unexpected intrusion, glared at her defiantly but lacked enough intensity to be effective.

She leaned down, pressing her breasts flat against his, and raised her lips to his ear.

"This is your punishment."

Twilight, the greatest spy from Westalis, reduced to a blushing mess because his wife was too good with her hands.

Twilight, the bastard who threatened her family, moaning loudly under her touch, his masks and poker face shattered into pieces.

Twilight, the man who stole her heart, reacting to her sadistic statement with a flash of arousal and something else in his blue eyes.

Yor's lips curled into a smug grin when she felt his hard-on poking her through the thin material of her underwear…

Her fantasy ended abruptly when she came with a muffled moan, biting onto her fist so she wouldn't wake up Anya and Bond next door. She yanked the quilt to cover her head so it could smother her heavy breathing and took her trembling hand out of her underwear, filling the enclosed space with the smell of her arousal and ejaculation.

She realized, with slight panic and a lot of excitement, that she was totally down bad for her husband.

But would he be down for some sadistic play during their future sexy times?

I'll think about that in the future, after I've rescued him and Yuri.

More determined than ever, Yor got up to wash her hands and fell asleep almost immediately after hitting the bed.

AN: I don't know what female masterbation feels like so I didn't even try to describe it lol

What I love about this fic the most is coming up with all these coded messages and conversations. Makes me feel like a secret agent too ehe

Franz Frankenstanz, a ridiculous name for a ridiculous man. I really wracked my brain for this one.