Disclaimer: Don't own Spy X Family, nor any of its characters.

Rating: T

A series of connected one-shots, where the duo have come to realize a certain reality they've been trying to deny, and gradually move forward from there.

Home; midnight

Yor fidgeted on the edge of her bed, taking in a breath or two as she waited.

It had been some time since their last talk together, a lot of which she'd needed just to 'cool down' from what she'd said... and what he'd said too. Even now though, the thoughts about their marriage being real, and that she now loved Loid and Anya for real, a-and that he loved her back- she had never had anything like this outside of her brother Yuri, and part of her still felt like it's 'stuck' in the wondering, embarrassed reactions.

Yet it's so nice, so wonderful... she wanted to know more, and to gradually experience more of such feelings, even though she's nervous and woefully inexperienced.

Especially if it meant that they could keep being a wonderful family!

Then she shook her head- um, maybe that's not something she should dwell upon right now. After all, it'd only get in the way of what Loid wanted to instruct her on...

"You previously said that, regarding affections, you mostly don't know about them. Right?"

"Um, yes, Loid."

"Then, would you like me to teach you?"

"Ah...?"

"Of course, it'll just be a discussion about the subject. There'll be no demonstrations, visual material, or the like. And it doesn't need to be right now; just whenever you feel ready."

Yor shifted a bit. "Well, even if I'm nervous... I think I'm as ready now as I'll ever be" she thought, trying to psych herself up. "I think this education will help distract me too."

Then:

Knock knock

Yor nearly jolted, but thankfully she was okay. "Loid?"

"Yeah. Anya's been put to bed now" he breathed, from the other side of the door. "Are you ready?"

"Mmm, yes. As I'll ever be anyway."

Just like that, he opened the door and slid inside, closing it behind him without looking - she half-watched as he sat down beside her, feeling her heart beating faster. Yet though she was nervous, her gaze flickered to where his hand was laying, wondering if she should right now...

Almost as she thought it, Loid's hand shifted; it moved toward her briefly, before opening up and staying there.

Letting out a breath, she glanced at him - he had a small smile, briefly nodding.

Reassured, smiling a little too, Yor gently took his hand... even just resting between them, it felt really nice.

"So, about the affections" she breathed, curious as she looked at him. "The ones that um, romantic partners can share."

He glanced off, his expression thoughtful. "Well, best we begin broadly" he started, "Basically, there are four different levels of affections, sometimes called the 'Four Bases'. Beginning with the first, this involves kisses, hugs, holding hands, along with a plethora of smaller affections."

"Oh" she wondered. "Does that include rubbing my back? Or is that merely friendly?"

Loid nodded once, looking at her. "That one can be friendly, or romantic" he admitted, mild. "Some others fall under the same category too. But then there's things like gently stroking behind a person's ear, lacing their fingers through another's hair, brushing their fingers over their sides, their stomach, their legs... far more often than not, those typically only happen between romantic partners. Well, unless there's a mundane reason for friends to do so, such as pulling a prank."

Wow... she remembered how when, during her second kiss with Loid, he'd gently touched her hair while doing so. So that gentle touch had been an affection of sorts, and one that she'd wondered about doing in return - it felt nice to have that confirmed, even as her mind wandered over the idea of the other things.

"So these brushes, do they feel good, Loid?" she asked, honestly curious.

To that, he briefly rubbed his head with his free hand. "Overall yes, even if it's not much" he said, glancing upward. "But the primary purpose of such affections is to build feelings of closeness, of intimacy with each other, along with anticipation toward the higher levels. And it's important to consistently apply such foreplay - as it is called - through every level of affection."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Without such, going straight to the big stuff feels... mundane, and therefore unsatisfying. And of course, doing so gradually makes easing into things easier for the partners" he explained, assured. "Psychologists have been studying this as well for some time now. It's also important to vary things up every once in awhile, or the sensations can become stale. Sort of like how you get bored of your favorite food if it's all you ever eat, and the enjoyment only comes back when you've had time away from it."

By this point, she was excited to hear more, with her nervousness forgotten (for now).

...

"Yor almost seems entranced" Loid inwardly noted, but nonetheless kept his smile- it's good that she's excited.

"This is all so fascinating, Loid" Yor breathed, earnest - her hand was squeezing his even now, though she hadn't seemed to notice. "I never imagined there was this much to learn. Thank you."

He inclined his head. "You're welcome" he assured, "Of course, there's much that only be learned about these affections by physically experiencing them. In fact, a person can still learn new things about what they like or not years down the line, because their own body develops as this experience is gained. But for now, the telling itself shall do. And next up is the second level, or the second base, which put simply... is the chest area, for both partners."

At that last part, her expression changed a bunch in surprise, even as her cheeks turned a bit pink.

Inwardly, he was starting to feel a bit awkward himself, if mostly for what else he had to discuss.

"Ah..." she breathed, blinking once. "Wait, both? I- I guess I thought touching a man's chest would be in the first one."

To that, he gave a little sheepish expression. "It's easy to think so, but it's a little more complex in practice, Yor" he explained, though he would admit to a slight warmth in his chest now. "It's true that for many men, touching their chest can be considered a low level affection, and therefore it's easy to lump it in with the first level affections. But there are also men who find the touch sensual, and therefore special... and then there are those who might have both reactions, depending upon the person and their preferences. But for the sake of convenience, it's easier to say that it's a second level affection overall."

"Oh... I see."

Loid glanced at Yor, only to blink; her cheeks were still pink, but the way she was looking at him with wonder seemed different than merely "I didn't know about this". In fact, as time passed, she continued to stare at him while subconsciously half-turning toward him- he wondered what it is that she's thinking, and if he should ask or wait for her to speak.

After a 'brief' thought, he decided on the latter.

Eventually:

"Loid... um..." Yor breathed, her eyes shifting a bit, even as her color deepened. "W- Which level is yours?"

For a micro-second, he was equal parts surprised and confused, until the meaning hit him-

-and that warmth (plus the awkwardness) definitely increased, while unnoticed by him, Yor had a mini-reaction as she realized what she just asked.

He quickly closed his eyes for a bit, which not only helped him keep his focus, but it also let his mind go over the details. As per his cover story, Yor sees him as a (previously) single father trying to take care of his daughter, which obviously meant that at some point, he'd had to have gotten physically intimate and conceived Anya with his late wife. In reality, Anya is adopted and there is no late wife, but he has also been physically intimate on some missions because it was necessary... though in those instances, he had merely faked passion and connection while keeping a laser focus on his true goals. If he were to become physically intimate with Yor - a thought he pointedly tried not to explore, not until it seems inevitable - this would be the first time that the passion and connection were real, and that's new for him, so he would also be inexperienced in a way.

So he's a man who's been physically intimate and so has experience, but it's been some time since and so he's 'rusty' as well. Yeah, that works.

"...For me, it's both" he managed to reply, if a bit halting. "Simply touching my chest would be normal at first. But if you keep at it, or know what I like... that would change. But it's also been some time for me, Yor, so I may be a little rusty in this department."

"O-Oh no, don't apologize, Loid" she breathed, still embarrassed but also earnest. There were also flickers of surprise that he'd answered her anyway, along with some curiosity and relief to know this. "I- I don't have any experience myself, so I doubt I could even tell the difference. But um... I know that you would try your best anyway, as you always do."

After a moment, Loid slowly nodded; he didn't quite smile, due to feeling awkward, but he made sure to show that he appreciated it.

In response, Yor leaned closer (seemingly without realizing it), and just rested against his side-

-he didn't mind at all, and gently squeezed her hand.

"Thank you, Yor."

"Mmm."

...

It's definitely true, what she'd said... still, the realization of that/what they're discussing was starting to make her head steam a little bit...

"But of course-"

Ah? Yor looked up, seeing Loid smile a little.

"-I know you'd do your best too" he assured, before glancing off. "You know... if the situation called for it."

R-Right...

Then, Loid let out a breath. "That aside, we've strayed a little off-topic. Sort of" he said, with a bit more force - she nearly jolted when she realized, but was also relieved, sitting up straight as she did so. "So perhaps I'd best get on with explaining the last two levels of affection. That is, if you'd still like me to tonight."

It took her a little to decide, but Yor held her hands close to her chest.

"I'd like to hear the rest, Loid" she whispered, feeling her heart beat faster. "T-That is, the basics."

Loid glanced at her, but when he nodded, his expression seemed to be relieved.

"Alright then. The third level of affection is... well, each partner's groin area. That, and one other small thing... sort of."

Even his cheeks reddened, Yor almost squirmed, if mostly because she was trying to keep her mind from imagining such things! If she did, she'd have trouble going to sleep, and she didn't need that... a few seconds afterward though, she stopped and blinked several times.

"Ah, what other thing?" she wondered, slowly looking at him.

He slowly took in a breath. "The inner thighs" he said, after a moment - she made a sound, curious yet confused. "Particularly on women, such an area typically feels more sensitive than the rest of the leg. Being touched there can imply that the partner wishes to touch you 'above', making it close to being a third-level affection... though it can also be a simpler touch that doesn't imply such, which also puts it in the first level of affections. Communication is important on that one."

O-Oh... that's the first she's heard of this. Yor glanced down at her own thighs, wondering how sensitive he means.

Wait, Loid said "particularly on women"... so this means that guys feel that way too, if maybe less so?

Then Loid exhaled, seeming rather tired of a sudden (or so she later thought). "Then, the fourth level of affection is... the most physically intimate that two partners can get" he said, all-but-mumbling and barely looking in her direction. "I... trust that will be sufficient?"

"...M-Mmm-hmm."

Then he slowly got up, and she didn't move either as the bed shifted- she knew exactly what he's talking about, and was just trying to keep her mind off the imagery, blurry or otherwise!

He just walked toward the door and opened it, before he paused.

"...Oh, one small thing I forgot."

"Ah?"

Loid wasn't looking at her, and he certainly sounded tired, but he kept going. "Regarding the second and third levels of affection, there are additional steps to be aware of" he said, to which she slowly lifted her head. "Using my chest as a hypothetical example, you would normally start touching me there over my clothes, then underneath them... and finally without my shirt. This applies to all major articles of clothing."

All she could answer with was a small breath... though she remained nervous and embarrassed, deeper down she was curious to know this.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum...

"...Of course, how fast or slow, or even whether they follow that order at all, is up to the partners" he breathed, before moving again. "As with all such things, communication is important."

By the end, he'd closed the door behind him and left silence in his wake-

-and it was barely any time afterward before she 'fell' onto her back, staring at the ceiling.

Her face was reddening to a very dark shade, she's still trying to keep her head empty, and her heart was beating really fast... but she merely laid there, t-trying to wait out the nervousness. What really helped was focusing on his last words, that communication is important, and also that she knew Loid would never push her to do anything that she didn't want to, and nor would he surprise her unless she told him that she wouldn't mind.

Those thoughts made her chest (and face) feel even warmer, but- but it wasn't a bad kind.

Yor had to bury her head in her pillows, trying to think about past jobs to help herself calm down, if for no other reason than she was familiar with them. She didn't even know how long she stayed like that, only eventually moving to get herself changed for bed... but though this helped, getting to sleep afterward was still a little difficult.

As Loid has mentioned, knowledge is key, and it's an important step to outline how things generally might occur. If nothing else, one hopes it makes things less scary for the future XD