Disclaimer: Spy x Family belongs to Tatsuya Endo.

Author's note: lmao so I strained my wrists by obsessively writing so... had to take a complete day off. But the story's done! Will be posting the remaining chapters :) Thank you for the kind reviews!

Chapter 3

"Twilight… what are you doing?"

Franky has his hands on his hips while he watches his friend go through forged documents for the third time. Now, don't get him wrong; Franky is well-accustomed to Twilight's meticulous methods in preparation for missions—so this isn't necessarily new.

However, it's the fact that he's forging papers for his identity as Loid Forger and doing this outside of a mission that baffles the short Ostanian man.

Twilight ignores him, too embarrassed to say the real reason for his unusual behavior. He leans on his left elbow while squinting through the fake resume.

"Twilight," Franky says again, this time with a warning tone. He sits across the taller man and leans close, "did you finally lose your mind?"

The blond man cuts him a sharp look, icy blue eyes glancing at him briefly. He doesn't say anything.

"This isn't a mission, is it?"

No response. Twilight moves onto the next document and puts the one previously in his hand face down on the table.

Franky watches Twilight closely, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Handler knows about this?"

"Yes, and she says it's fine." A shrug accompanies his answer and Franky is in disbelief.

"Wait—she's okay covering you up like this? Outside a mission?!"

During the war, they only utilized alternate identities for missions and missions only. It was too dangerous to provide other fake identities to the spies if it were not needed. There was always a concern for potential infiltration the more the spies were needlessly exposed, and WISE did everything to avoid that.

Twilight doesn't say anything again. Not only did Handler approve the use of Loid Forger; she even asked him if he would like to close this period of his life. Handler offered Twilight to take over a new identity if he wishes so… or resume his old identity before Twilight.

"Why don't you try it out, hm?" Handler had suggested, a soft smile on her face. Her chin was resting on her hand while she kept an eye on one of her best agents. "We're not getting any younger, Twilight. At least you still have a good chance to meet someone and start a family if you'd like," she paused when he shifted uneasily on the seat across from her, "or pursue something you've always wanted."

Twilight couldn't give an answer, and kept his hands folded on his lap.

"Well," she concluded, observing the unease he was displaying, "whatever you decide to do, I'll support your decision. It doesn't hurt to explore other things, especially now that we've achieved what we needed to."

Twilight is brought back to the present when Franky lets out a loud sigh.

"You really have lost your mind," Franky comments, sinking into the chair. "Maybe Handler too… maybe the stress of the war is finally sinking in and everyone's just losing their mind."

He ignores Franky's usual dramatic remarks. Twilight wonders if he should tell him about Yor, but instead asks, "Do you want to help me find a new apartment?"

"Why do you need to move to a new apartment?" Then he gasps, as if something clicked in his mind. "Someone's tailing you, huh? That's why you're changing your identity?!"

It is astoundingly far from the truth, but not a bad idea. Still, Twilight just gives him a blank stare while Franky jumps up to grab his jacket. "You know, I met this pretty lady who's a real estate agent! She might know a few good spots." He turns back as Twilight gathers the documents. The taller man places his hat on the top of his head.

"You ready?"

.

.

It's the weekend and for Yor, that used to mean assassination assignments that required longer hours to get the job done.

But now… it means doing her laundry and heading to the shop for her groceries.

According to the weatherman, there should be no chance of rain today, so she hung her damp clothes to dry outside her small balcony. She hangs the last of her laundry outside and slides the balcony door closed behind her.

The two-bedroom apartment seems too large for her now that Yuri has moved out, but she doesn't want to downsize in case her brother decides to randomly drop by. But it's far too quiet, and she doesn't like to keep the television on so she can save on her utility bills. So, she simply busies herself with her thoughts.

Her mind starts to drift off to Loid again, and she can feel her ears start to warm up. She hasn't seen him since that night two weeks ago, but she still thinks about him a lot. She thinks about how she cried to him, about how he comforted her, about how he asked if they'd see each other again, about everything.

I will try to live better in this peace.

Yor meant it wholeheartedly.

But when she thinks back to that encounter, Yor puts her face in her hands. Why does she keep thinking about him?! This is so embarrassing. "He called me a fellow comrade," Yor says to herself aloud, face still warm. "That means he is not interested, Yor Briar!"

And, she adds in her mind, I was the one who gave him my number, expecting him to call!

Her face is now incredibly warm, and she can imagine steam coming out the tops of her head. "This is so embarrassing, Yor," she says to herself. Yor closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, placing both of her hands to her chest, in hopes of steadying her racing heart. After a few moments, she can feel her face cool down and she lets out another deep sigh.

She's so screwed. Two interactions with Loid and he dominated her thoughts in no time. It is unexpected, to say the least, that someone managed to catch her interest in this way, but Yor reminds herself that he sees her as nothing more than a 'comrade.' They're not exactly friends, but not exactly acquaintances—and did that embrace mean anything? Or is Yor overthinking this again?

Her face is back to being red and hot, and Yor swears under her breath. "I really need to get groceries," Yor sighs. Why is she still hopeful he'd send her a text or give her a call? Does it really take this long to switch phone carriers? Whatever the case is, Yor is determined to avoid getting her hopes up next time (if there is a next time). Luna even said that two weeks is a long time to be waiting for a text or phone call… and she should know with all her dating experience.

Yor buttons up her red coat and slips on her cream-colored boots, empty canvas bag ready to be filled with her grocery items. After wrapping her soft scarf around the tops of her shoulders, she folds her grocery list to place inside her coat pocket, and then heads out of her apartment, in the direction of the shop. She's planning to make her mother's stew tonight, perfect for the chilly November temperatures.

The wind blows gently across her face, and Yor is grateful she wore her scarf. She's only a fifteen-minute walk to the store, but it often feels long when the weather is cold. It's almost Christmas time, Yor notes, and then remembers that Yuri had sent her a letter saying he isn't sure if he can make it home for Christmas. He's likely posted for the rest of the holidays for work. It makes Yor a little lonely, that she and Yuri won't be able to spend Christmas together this year. She wonders if she should take a trip to visit Yuri instead and thinks of calling him in the following days to ask about it.

Yor is so deep in her thoughts that when she turned the corner to get to the store, she didn't notice a familiar duo on the opposite side of the street until—

"Yor!"

The dark-haired woman stops in her tracks and follows the voice of the handsome man she's been thinking of nowadays. She is suddenly too aware of the way her lips curved up into a smile, the way her heart thudded loudly in her chest, and the way her knees felt like jelly as Loid crossed the street. The shorter man looked familiar too, but Yor doesn't remember from where she met him.

"Hi," Yor greets warmly. Loid has a smile on his face. He has a hat on, and he looks rather sharp in his brown two-piece suit. She peers at the other gentleman with dark thick hair and glasses, and then back to Loid.

"Sorry I haven't been able to reach out," Loid starts, and a look of realization hits the shorter man's face. "I've been busy with a lot of things at work lately," he explains charmingly; his clear blue eyes appear to be glittering, "but I'm glad to see you."

The other gentleman clears his throat.

"You've met Franky before," Loid gestures to his friend, who smiles knowingly, "At the mixer a while ago."

"Oh, right," Yor nods her head. "It's nice to see you again, Franky."

"You as well, Yor," Franky says. To test out his new hypothesis (as to why Twilight is using Loid Forger outside any official mission), he says, "You know, Loid's been talking about you a lot."

Yor instantly turns red and Loid's eyes narrow as he turns to Franky. Got him, the Ostanian thinks with a proud smile. "Yeah, he won't stop going on and on about you," he continues.

If Loid could hit him right then and there, he would've.

"Y-you work together?" Yor asks, hoping to change the subject.

Loid is too keen to do so, and nods his head when he turns back to Yor. "Yes, actually—"

"I have to work again tonight," Franky says cheekily. He's laughing in his head now—who knew teasing Twilight would be this fun?! He watches as Loid's eyebrow twitches. "But Loid doesn't. He asked me to cover his shift because he's been working too much, right, Loid?"

Loid is screaming on the inside. What the fuck is Franky doing? "Right," he says shortly.

"We just finished looking at apartments," this one is true, "and he's trying to decide which one to take. I guess if he decides to take the apartment near here, he'll have a friend nearby, huh?"

"F-friend?" Yor repeats, surprised. She knows they're talking about her, but she didn't think she and Loid were in the friend status just yet—or were they?

Franky can't stop smiling that smug smile, and Twilight swears he'll get him later. (Maybe after they leave Yor.) But he doesn't get a chance because Franky is already making his escape.

"I'll let you two catch up… gotta make sure I have enough sleep before my shift." With that, he sends a sly smile to a silently fuming (and mortified) Twilight and a nod to Yor before he hurriedly leaves the scene.

They're quiet for a moment, and then Yor says, "You have a thoughtful friend."

"I'm sorry about that," Loid clears his throat. Now Yor must think he said something about their interaction from two weeks ago and he's concerned this friendship thing wouldn't work out after all. "I didn't tell him anything about last time—just maybe, that you're, um, attractive."

Loid wants to smash his head against the brick wall behind Yor. Why, why, does he always use that line? He isn't lying, of course, but it's always the first thing that comes to mind. He did the same thing when they first met, too… "A-and kind, and hard-working," he adds, embarrassed.

"T-thank you," Yor blurts out, chin sinking into the soft scarf to hide her smile.

Cute, Loid thinks unconsciously, but he mentally shakes his head. She has been on his mind these days that when he saw her familiar figure turn the corner, he didn't expect himself to mindlessly call out for her. Stupid, stupid, he chastises himself.

"You must be tired," she continues, upturned eyes watching him with concern, "do you live far?"

"Ah, I'm staying in downtown Berlint right now," he explains, waving his hand dismissively. "Not too far."

"H-have you eaten yet?" she asks. Yor doesn't know why she asked; it isn't like she's going to offer him food! And it isn't like she's a great cook either.

"I haven't—have you?"

"No…" I was going to make dinner, is what Yor wanted to say, but instead wondered if she should ask him out to have an early dinner with her. "W-well, I don't want to keep you."

She said that last time, Loid notes. He notices that she always leaves the decision to someone else. Damn it. He goes through his mental to-do list and concludes that most of it is checked off. There aren't any reports to be done either (with the lack of missions and all); just to review the apartments he looked at today. He has the papers stuffed in his black attaché suitcase. "I don't have anything else to do," he says. He glances at her empty bag. "Do you have any other plans?"

"J-just groceries and laundry."

That's perfect, Loid thinks, eyes lighting up. "Want to have a quick bite with me?" Not only does it give Loid an opportunity to pursue a friendship with Yor, but it also gives them both a limited time to spend with one another. (In the case it gets too awkward, they can end their interaction quicker.)

Yor's cheeks are still pink when she accepts the invitation. "I won't take too much of your time," Loid tells her while they pass the grocery store. They agreed on a café that served bread and soup, just a few blocks down the street.

"It's alright," Yor reassures him. "My chores don't take me long."

They're silent again, a bit awkward, and Loid is thinking of what to say next when Yor starts speaking again.

"I meant it when I said that I was going to do my best to live better," she tells him, looking ahead. It's early evening on a Saturday, and the stores are beginning to buzz with more people. "In fact, I've been thinking about letting my other job go," she resumes, gaze ostensibly far away. "I don't think it's much use to assa—to do that. N-now that Yuri's a policeman and all," Yor explains.

"I'm not sure if you told me before, but Yuri is…?"

"My younger brother."

"Ah." Loid glances down at Yor with a faint smile. "He's incredibly lucky to have an older sister like you."

Yor's smile reaches her eyes. "I'm luckier to have him, to be honest. I wouldn't have tried to survive after our parents passed in the war."

Surprisingly, there is a comfortable silence between them, a kind of solemn understanding that existed between individuals with comparable experiences.

"It was pretty difficult trying to survive on my own," he says nonchalantly, more akin to an afterthought or reflection, and Yor glances at him fleetingly. She almost has the urge to give him a hug. He must've been so lonely, Yor thinks sadly.

"But we did it," Yor says while lightly touching his arm. Her fingers brush his coat, and she pulls her hand away before it makes too much contact. "You and I survived like we always do." One end of his mouth turns up in a smirk, remembering that that's what he told her that night.

They reach the café. Its warm colors of cream, burnt orange, and browns mix to form a very homey ambiance. The smell of coffee is the first thing to greet them when Loid opened the door for Yor.

"L-Loid," she says before he strides up to the line. Her cheeks are pink again when she says, "I-I'll pay. I owe you a lot."

"Nonsense," Loid says as they step up to the line, behind an older couple, both with greying hair. "I invited you out, so I'll pay."

"But…"

"Your company's good enough payment for me," he says it coolly (He probably didn't mean anything by it, she thinks), but Yor's face turns a bright red again.

Fellow comrade, fellow comrade, Yor repeats in her mind as she stands beside Loid. He asks her what she wants, and she points to a random soup and bread combo because her head spinning and fighting with her thoughts and feelings. On one hand, her thoughts say we're just acquaintances (or friends) having a quick bite and on the other hand, her feelings are screaming we're on a date!

Loid guides a quiet Yor to an empty table and pulls out the chair for her. Once they both settle in their seats, Loid takes his hat off and runs his fingers through his hair, wondering what to say next now.

"My boss offered to terminate my position," Loid says after a while, thinking about his discussion with Handler.

Yor gasps softly, finally looking up at Loid in concern. "Is that why you're looking for a new apartment? They're going to fire you?"

Loid almost chuckles at the obvious worry that Yor is showing. "I suppose I'm just getting ready in case things take a different turn. But… I don't think I need to keep that job anymore."

"You have two jobs too?" Yor asks curiously. She undoes her scarf and folds it in her lap.

He nods his head. "But I'm not sure if I should let the other one go. I've held onto it for as long as the war continued. Though, clearly, we're past it now."

Yor thinks of her own assassination work and nods in agreement. "It is a tough choice if you've been in it for a long time." She pauses, and then she asks, "What do you think will happen if you quit that job?"

Loid leans back on his seat as the server makes it to their table and serves their meals to them. Yor thanks the server with a kind smile and she waits for Loid to pick up his utensils before digging in.

"I never thought about it, but my boss says I can explore some options." He watches as her expression perks up as she tries the soup, and Yor closes her eyes in pure delight. Loid doesn't realize he's smiling at the sight. "Do you like it?"

"I love it," she says. "I've lived here for a while, but I never had the chance to try this place! Can you believe that?" She dabs the ends of her mouth with a napkin, suddenly self-conscious at her small outburst. "What kind of options did your boss offer? That's kind of nice!" Yor diverts the topic back while she breaks apart a piece from her bread. "My boss from my other job once asked me if I wanted to quit, but I said no at the time. He said I'm still young enough to do something else."

"My boss is… unconventional," Loid says after a bite from his meal. "She said she'll support what I decide to do, no matter what. Stay, not stay. I just don't know what to do."

"Me neither… it isn't like we had a choice back then," Yor answers after a moment. Her soup is almost done, and she takes a sip from her glass of water. An idea strikes her while she's watching Loid finish his meal. "T-this sounds crazy, I think, but what if we try to figure it out together? How to live in this, y-you know, 'new world' together?" Her face turns red. "But not like live together in the same place—"

Loid can't help the laugh that escapes his mouth. "I understand what you meant." He wipes the corners of his lips as he observes his companion. That doesn't sound like a bad idea. After all, Handler is giving him a chance to live a normal (or as close to normal) life, and he can either take it or be a spy forever. For once, he wants to try something different.

Yor is fidgeting in her seat, waiting for what Loid is going to say, when he pulls out his phone and hands it to her. "I lost your number," Loid admits sheepishly. "You can put your number in and we can figure out how to… as you said, live in this new world. Together."

The dark-haired woman takes the phone in her hands and adds her contact information before returning it to him. Her smile is shy when he looks back at her. "I look forward to figuring this out with you."

His gut makes a weird flip when she starts to put her scarf back on, covering the bottom half of her face. They're getting ready to leave the restaurant when they notice the wind outside carrying some rainfall.

Yor's expression drops. "Oh no. That's not good—" She turns to Loid hurriedly, clutching her bag close to her body. "I have to go—I left my laundry in my balcony!" Loid follows her out of the restaurant and attempts to keep up with her pace.

"I owe you one!" He hears her say under the gush of the rain. "Don't forget to call!" Yor uses her bag as a cover and with an apologetic smile, starts to run faster through the rain.

Loid watches her, feeling like each time they meet, Yor is always the first one to go. "I'll call!" He yells after her. He smiles when she lifts her hand up to acknowledge that she heard him. She runs and Twilight watches. He shakes his head, and he presses his lips together to keep himself from chuckling.

He might just take that offer for the apartment in this neighborhood.