Anya was staring at him.

Anya was always staring at him, he realized – at home, out on the street, on the way home from school...He'd always wondered what she was thinking or what she was waiting for but brushed it off as harmless childhood curiosity. Nurturing a child's desire to soak up as much sensory information as possible was necessary for their healthy development, at least according to the books he'd borrowed all those months ago.

Now he knew better.

It was Saturday morning so, per the Forger family habits, Yor was humming away as she washed the dishes from their breakfast, he was finishing reading the morning paper, Bond was lounging beside the table, and Anya was supposed to be posted in front of the television, deaf to the world around her as the opening theme of a show began to play. Keywords – supposed to be. Loid had even checked the schedule; there was meant to be a new episode of her second favorite show, Bear Squad, airing in a few minutes. Normally, Anya wouldn't miss such an opportunity.

Instead, she seemed to be trying to burn a hole through his newspaper with her gaze alone.

'Don't think, don't think, don't think…It is advisable to remove the recoil spring from the barrel. A few drops of acid-free, non-resinous oil should be applied to the various ports…'

"Papa?"

When he'd returned from his meeting with Nightfall the previous night, he had found her still awake even though it was past her bedtime. Yor had sheepishly said that the girl insisted on her papa putting her to bed because she missed him. Loid hadn't believed it for a second. He imagined she had just wanted to get him alone and pick through his mind about highly sensitive information that a six-year-old had no business learning about and…

He had feigned tiredness.

He hadn't run from her. Agent Twilight did not run from a challenge. But he had needed to…regroup.

Now, he took a small breath before glancing at her over his paper. Making eye contact with her still felt raw, like he was being flayed. He didn't think she could help it, and he was trying to be better than what she had experienced before, but he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by this little girl's ability to steamroll over every instinct that was beaten into him. The lockbox was that Agent Twilight's mind was not meant to be breached at all, let alone so easily.

At least he could suppress the urge to flinch openly.

"You don't have to…" she fidgeted, glancing over at Yor. The older woman was not paying attention to them, caught up in scrubbing a frying pan, "Papa's always thinking cool stuff, but I can focus on Mama…"

'So, you can direct your telepathy? Since every person is thinking all the time, do all the internal voices overlap, or can you tune out whoever you're not focusing on? I know you can't handle crowds so is there a limit to the number of people standing in your ability's range? What is that limit? How do you handle classes?'

Anya frowned, "Too much too fast."

Loid snapped out of his analysis, shaking off a frisson of irritation at having dropped his guard again, 'At least she has that as a weakness…'

Anya's brows sank deeper, "You don't like it…"

Loid raised an eyebrow, 'Can you turn it off?'

Anya's eyes widened for a second before she shook her head slowly. In that second, he made his decision.

'We should talk. Like you wanted yesterday.'

She scrunched up her face and glanced over at the television.

'Ohhh no, you're not running away now. You can watch cartoons after.'

Anya folded her arms.

This was the strangest pseudo-conversation he had ever taken part in. Twilight was used to non-verbal communication on missions. Contrary to the myths spread about him by the younger agents, although he specialized in solo undercover work, he was not the brooding, lone wolf type. He was efficient, and he did not turn his nose up at working with a partner or team if it heightened the mission's chance of success. Delicate operations often called for sending and receiving messages to fellow agents in the same room as hostiles without blowing one's cover – or theirs, for that matter – and it was one of the first skills the Fullmetal Lady made sure he'd mastered.

But this was a different level.

A small part of him, for a fraction of a second, contemplated the usefulness of an agent that could read minds…

Across from him, Anya's eyes lit up. The flayed feeling returned.

"Okay Anya," he said aloud, folding his paper and putting it aside, "How about we study now? I'm sorry I couldn't help you last night, but I'm free today."

Yor looked up at the sound of his voice, "Good idea, Loid! Oh, but Anya usually has her cartoons first, right?"

A beat of silence. Anya looked down at where Bond was curled by her feet, making eye contact with the dog as she made her decision.

"No, that's okay!" Anya said cheerfully, her tone catching both adults off guard. Before Loid could say anything though, she hopped out of her chair and ran to her room.

"I guess she really wanted to spend time with you," Yor said, watching the nameplate on Anya's bedroom door rattle as it was closed a little too roughly.

"I guess so," Loid narrowed his eyes, as he stood to follow. Was it worth being suspicious of the girl's change in attitude when, mere seconds ago, she'd considered stalling?

When he entered Anya's room, she wasn't at her desk, but sitting at the edge of her bed, clutching Mr. Chimera and kicking her feet, clearly waiting for him. None of her books or study supplies were on her desk. At least they were on the same page about this not being a normal study session. But what had happened in the span of a minute for her to go from insisting on talking with him, to trying to avoid it, to being excited about it…?

"Anya wants to tell Mama!" she blurted as soon as he closed the door.

He blinked, "…Okay? What has made you change your mind?"

"She wasn't mad when she found out Anya wasn't Papa's, even though we kept it secret, and Bond can see the future and he just showed Anya hugging Mama so Anya think things will be okay and she won't be mad –"

Wait, what?!

He didn't need to assume Anya read his mind to pick up on his reaction to the bomb she had just casually dropped – he figured it was written all over his face.

Anya's legs stopped kicking, "Bond has magic powers, just like Anya!"

…Right.

A telepathic daughter and a clairvoyant dog. That wasn't natural. That wasn't possible. How did that happen? How did that happen to him? The thought that he had been set up, and that Operation STRIX was being sabotaged from the shadows, flitted back into his mind.

He'd ask for proof, but he had no idea how to get it. He knew how to train a dog to attack, to defend, to sniff out bombs. But how on earth do you test an animal for super-cognitive abilities?! He only had Anya's word and, while she wasn't a liar by nature, he couldn't trust anything that he could 100% verify for himself.

"Can Bond…also read minds?" Loid couldn't believe those words were leaving his mouth.

Anya shook her head, "Just Anya."

"Alright," Loid took a breath. Even if the dog could read minds like Anya and she just didn't know, it wasn't like anybody would be interrogating a dog for his secrets.

Anya's giggling snapped him out of his thoughts. He raised an eyebrow when she offered no immediate explanation and she wilted a little, "Papa's thought was funny."

At least she understood that she should look apologetic.

"You really can't turn it off."

She shook her head, but then hesitated, "Anya can't hear thoughts when the moon disappears. The doctors called it 'eclipsing'?"

"Doctors," Loid's eyes narrowed, "What doctors?"

"The doctors that made Anya hear thoughts."

'So, she wasn't born like this?' "You said you didn't know how you got your powers."

"Anya doesn't," she took a second to think, "There were pokey machines and they made Anya study a lot. But Papa makes Anya study a lot too…"

How old would she have been, when this all started? This was child experimentation, if he was deducing things correctly. Multiple actors, since Anya said more than one doctor. Multiple professionals, machinery…this would have taken money, space, and time. Who would sponsor such an undertaking? Was Anya the only test subject? Was she the only successful test subject?

This was the kind of information that WISE needed to know immediately. When he'd believed that Anya was the only one, he'd felt secure in the knowledge that he could handle her well enough that she wouldn't be a threat. But if she was one of many, with the others completely invisible to WISE's radar…

"So, you can hear everyone? All at once?"

"Yes," Anya squeezed Mr. Chimera, "Crowds are scary."

'Well, that answers that. Sounds like eye contact isn't a factor.'

"What's your range?"

Anya merely tilted her head in confusion, "Range?"

'Right. Six-year-old.'

She could barely measure the time, why should he expect her to measure physical boundaries.

"Is that why you have trouble in school with some subjects?" At least saying it that way was less harsh than outright accusing her of sabotage.

"It's too hard to focus on one person, and if Anya tries, they think too fast to catch the answer. And, anyway, learning is more fun now and Papa said that cheating will make people hate Anya…"

Loid blinked, "When did I say that?"

Anya thought about it for a second, putting her fist to her chin, "Dunno. Ages ago. Or thought it, I guess."

She really was picking up whatever he said and whatever he thought around her. Months of strategizing, planning, detailing. Months of highly classified information being snatched up by a child who had no idea what she was carrying. But then again…

"Anya, how much of what I think do you remember?"

Anya's scrunched up her face, "Is Papa mad? Anya promised not to tell any secrets to anybody!"

"And what secrets do you remember?" he pressed.

Anya looked away and mumbled something.

"What?"

"Is Papa gonna be mad at Anya?" she said, quiet, but more audible.

Loid sighed. He needed to know what she knew in order to make an accurate threat assessment, but he wasn't going to get anything out of her if he treated her like a threat. Especially when she was actually a target.

"The key to raising a child is trust," he reminded himself.

"No," he said, finally sitting beside her on the bed, "I won't be mad. I am just concerned about what I may have let you know accidentally. What I do…it's not for kids to know."

"But Anya thinks its super cool!"

Loid frowned, "It's not like Spy Wars, Anya. This is real life."

"Anya knows! Anya's helped Papa before!"

He ignores the shiver that runs down his back at that statement. There were stories there that he desperately needed to know, but it was all too sensitive to ask with Yor still in the house, "Well, you can't 'help' anymore."

Anya pouted, "Not even with STIX? Isn't that why you got Anya in the first place?"

It was said so innocently, but it felt like a slap all the same, because she wasn't wrong.

"Does this mean Papa is sending Anya back?"

"No," he said firmly. He couldn't have her going down this line of thought again, "I am not going to leave you or Yor."

Anya sniffed, "Papa's a liar."

He was the one to look away this time.

"If Anya can't help Papa –"

'Did she really think that she'd be abandoned if she wasn't being useful?'

It was…mildly horrifying to think. Certainly, he knew that was who he was to WISE; as long as he could efficiently complete missions and gather intelligence, he was an asset to the organization. He was a tool. He had made his peace with that. And he had never had a problem using targets as tools too. But he wasn't cold enough to callously use a child?

Was he? Was that what he'd become?

He was suddenly very, very, aware of how many times he had thought about leaving the Forgers once STRIX was over.

"Can Anya still help with STRIX?"

Damn it all! He couldn't deny that two thirds of his plan to get closer to Donovan Desmond relied heavily on this little girl who was volunteering to be used for his mission. Maybe he should re-strategize his course of action? How did he go this long without caring one iota…

He knew, though. The difference now was that she knew.

He didn't know what that said about him.

"Well, it is still good to keep up your studies," At least Plan A was a goal that any normal parent would strive for…

Anya clearly saw past his excuse because her expression lit up with (in his opinion, misplaced) excitement. Then, almost as abruptly, she frowned.

"Anya can also keep doing Plan B, too, even if Sy-on Boy is a meanie!"

Loid huffed, "I wouldn't…discourage you from befriending the Desmond boy. It would be good for you to get along with your classmates…."

Anya giggled, "Papa's such a softie."

Loid frowned at the accusation and opened his mouth to ask another question when –

"Will you tell Anya what the scary lady said?"

Nightfall's face flashed into his mind for a brief second, but he locked down his thoughts before the previous night's conversation could be recalled. "Stop that!" he said, tone clipped. She giggled again, as he mentally recited his pistol's cleaning instructions again.

A part of him was relieved that she had stopped him from vocalizing his new line of inquiry. This girl's power was dangerous. Given how easy it is to instinctively think about something, she would be able to extract a trove of information from anyone if she asked the right questions. He had considered asking her more about the man she heard before the Roches' home was set ablaze, but he knew that if she got an inkling of her current danger from his thoughts, she would try to get involved. He had to go.

He needed more information. He just didn't know where to start.

"Thank you," he said. The 'for trusting me' didn't need to be verbalized. Credit where it was due, she could have run from him or made excuses or tried lying to him, but she didn't, even if she had considered it for a second or two, "Will you tell me more if I come back with more questions?"

Anya nodded, "Is Papa going on another mission now?" Her eyes sparkled, watching him as he made his way to the door. He really needed to get it out of her head that his work was anything but a necessary burden. It wasn't exciting, or fun. It was thankless and grueling.

Twilight was no hero.

"When do you want to tell Yor," he responded with instead, directing her back to what opened their talk, "Would you like me to be there?"

"Yes!" Anya said firmly, suddenly serious, "Family sticks together."

His heart flipped as he nodded, "Just tell me when. I won't leave you alone."

At least, in that, he could be honest.

XXX

Loid continued mentally reciting nonsense until he was back in his own room. Only then, did he allow himself to think of the most important thing that Anya had revealed.

"Bond has magic powers, just like Anya!"

"Project Apple," Handler had said, "It was a research initiative conducted by the previous Ostanian regime to produce highly intelligent animals for military purposes."

"The doctors that made Anya hear thoughts."

He would start with Project Apple.

XXX

He was being followed.

Just to be sure, he cut through a path that took him outside the park limits before jogging around the block, and then re-entered the park at another entrance.

Yes, he was being followed.

Twilight had no planned rendezvous with any agents and he'd gotten no messages from Handler since he informed her of the possible threat to STRIX. Nightfall had also been notified on what new information to keep an ear out for while surveilling the Roches and their new stalkers. He was just a normal civilian, this early Sunday morning, out for a jog to keep up his physical fitness. There was no reason for the tall man and woman to keep the same distance behind him, refusing to slow down. They were dressed similarly, probably posing as a couple out for some exercise, but, while they seemed to exchange words every once in a while and keep pace with each other, their eyes remained trained on him in a way that set off alarm bells.

Were they SSS? They weren't in uniform, but that didn't mean anything. Were they related to the tails that Mr. Roche had managed to attract? Would it be safe to stop and ask what they wanted?

There was no way he was going to lead them down the seldom used path he normally ran, in case this was the precursor to an ambush, but he didn't want to stop and head back home either, as that would only lead them to his address.

He decided to leave the park again and duck into a nearby coffee shop. He had never been in here before, but it had just enough traffic coming in and out – not too busy but not sparse on customers either – that the likelihood of his pursuers trying anything with him would dip drastically.

He ordered an apple tart to have an excuse to stay and saw the man enter the shop out of the corner of his eye.

The woman stayed outside.

The man went up to the counter and ordered a coffee. A single coffee. As the barista turned their back, the man looked over at Loid. Loid looked back, undaunted, taking a bite of his pastry.

'I know you two have eyes on me.'

He wasn't sure how his information had been pulled so easily, especially since Nightfall had promised that Loid Forger's personal information was encrypted, but it was clear that whoever was behind this was hemming him in, just like Roche. Public spaces were no longer safe. He wouldn't be able to interact with fellow agents, Handler, or Franky directly in public for a while. Re-calculating his moves with this new obstacle was easy, but still an annoyance.

The man received his coffee and left. Both he and the woman left the view of the shop window, but Loid was sure they were still nearby, waiting for him to emerge.

The good thing was, they didn't seem to be experts at stealth, given that he easily noticed them, so it should be easy to give them the slip as well. All he had to do was ask to use the shop toilet, slip through the back exit, and return home via the alleyways he had mapped out months ago.

Every good agent had multiple exit strategies, after all.

XXX

Operation STRIX asset connections under investigation.

Threat Level: Moderate.

Phew! Another dialogue-heavy chapter. I felt more confident about this one, though. Loid still has mixed feelings about Anya's telepathy. This isn't the kind of thing he can just shake off. And complicating his feelings even more, it would be very out of character if the man who is all about creating a future where children don't have to cry didn't have a mild ethical crisis over using a child for his own gain, not to mention knowing that she knows exactly what he's doing.

Anya's comment of finding learning fun is my way of mentioning the Authens. As a manga reader, I am having a TIME of trying to write this without spoiling things too much for anime-only people here while this story is supposed to be set months AFTER where the manga currently is.

I wanted Anya to call Loid a tsundere SO badly when he's trying to 'nicely' make excuses for why she should continue helping him with Operation STRIX literally seconds after saying he didn't want her help anymore, but if I'm gonna be accurate about household fire alarms in the 1960s, then I can't have a six-year-old in fake!East Germany speaking Japanese. :(

We don't see much of anyone's POV outside of Loid's, but I just want to put out there for future chapters that Loid essentially giving Anya permission to not FORCE herself to be friends with Damian helps Plan B. Damian always bristles at the idea of people trying to interact with him for his status, so any space Anya gives him will only help their relationship (especially because he already likes her). This is a series that repeatedly shows that, in this world of liars, progress on a personal level only really happens when all parties are honest and just being themselves and I think it is important to keep that theme going.