AN: What's a Spy x Family story without the Forgers? Exactly! Why don't we get to fixing that.
If you've been reading/waiting for this moment, I thank you for your patience.
Human Dictionary.
"Family ooting with Beck-y!" "Family ooting with Beck-y!"
From the living room, Lloyd and Yor Forger watch their daughter Anya as she excitedly sings, squirms, and shimmies in anticipation and glee. In less than half an hour, the three of them would be joining Ms. Blackbell at the grand opening of the Bondman Café.
"I know you're excited Anya, but please keep the volume down for the neighbor's sake." Lloyd reminds her. "And the word is pronounced 'outing.'"
"'Kay!" the girl replied before swaying in place and promptly going back to humming her tune.
As Yor giggles, Lloyd allows his lip to curl upward in a small smile as he looks at the pile of schoolwork on the table. Four days ago, the results of Anya's midterms as a second-year student had been posted, and while "Lloyd Forger husband father and doctor at Berlint General Hospital" was proud, the feelings of "Twilight the top agent of WISE" was a different story.
To put it in short, Anya's grades plateaued. Last year's finals saw her overall academic standing skyrocket from 213th place to 168th as well as the acquisition of a third Stella star (the first of which she received for schoolwork related endeavors). Much of the credit for this development came in great part via the efforts of their new neighbors Sigmund and Barbara Authen; the former of which was a retired professor who found a way to make learning seem fun for the academically resistant Forger girl.
And while these tutoring sessions with Mr. Authen continued into her second year and Classical Language classes (of all things) remaining the place where Anya shone the brightest, the fruit of their works yielded a nominal nudge upward; 163rd place to be precise She improved remarkably across the board and even if her Classical Language rank dropped down and put her out of the running for a fourth Stella, it was still a respectable outcome and worthy sacrifice.
In the end though, it was Becky Blackbell who lucked out with Stellas when all was said and done.
*{It's times like this I wish 'the Forger Family' was its own organic unit, and not something WISE concocted for World Peace.}* Lloyd thought to himself. *{Anya is improving piece by piece, and has an area that we know we can count on for her to excel in. And this on top of the fact that she hasn't gotten a single Tonitrus bolt so far. I dare even wager that the storm clouds may have even begun to clear away for good. A normal father would be proud…still, Operation STRIX rests solely on Anya becoming an Imperial Scholar. And I know for certain Damian Desmond isn't the type to rest on any laurels. Donovan would allow no such thing, especially since the older son, Demitrius all but coughs up Stellas at the snap of his father's fingers…}*
*{Papa seriously needs to unwind.}* Anya thought to herself from the other room as she looked at the clock. The big hand seemed to take its time resting on the giant 9 while the little hand just as lethargically hung inches away from the seven. 6:45pm didn't just seem to go agonizingly slow but freeze outright!
"Ugh. This is what I get for learning how to tell time." Anya moped as she flopped on a nearby chair. Her pet dog Bond flopped at her feet before 'borf'-ing sadly in agreement.
"Agent Bond!" She suddenly gasps. "I forgot to give everyone the debrief!"
(in her room)
In the span of five minutes, Anya (now dressed in her detective outfit) stood at the head of her stuffed animal collection which had been arranged in a semi-circle...the only notable exception to that rule of course being none other than Agent Chimera who as "Director" was held by the pink haired girl so as to articulate orders for tonight's itinerary. At her right stood Agent Bond.
"Ok." Anya said gruffly as she waved around Agent Chimera before a collection of stuffed playthings. "Agent Anya has a special 'run-DEE-voo' with Becky, and Agents Mama and Papa are tagging along. So the rest of us are holding things down at P2. Agent Bond will be on standby should things get too tough."
With an affirmative "Borf." the large white canine departed to his station, leaving the other agents to their yet-to-be-determined directives.
Chimera 'turns' to Agent Lion, the most recent toy Anya acquired and as such, P2's most recent recruit.
"Agent Lion."
"Yes!"
"You're new here, so you're teaming up with Agent Penguin. He's battle-hardened and knowledgeable."
"Hello Agent Lion." Anya said as her penguin toy salutes with his flipper. "It's a pweasure to be assigned with you."
A crisp knocking noise brings Anya back to earth.
"Five minutes to seven." Yor says sweetly.
"Alright. You have your assignments. World Peace is in your hands, or paws, or...flippers. Good luck." Anya said quickly as she quickly bolts back into the living room to await the arrival of Becky Blackbell.
From the backseat of the family limousine, Becky Blackbell stared out the window watching the city pass by on their way to 128 Park Avenue. While more reserved than her pink-haired classmate, she too (inwardly) found herself brimming with enough joy to power a ten-block radius. From the driver's seat, Martha smiled to herself as she pretended to adjust the rearview mirror. A proud grin slowly forming on her face as she stared back at her charge.
(Earlier)
Edward Blackbell thought he found the perfect reward: a 1500 Dalc gift card to Pret-A-Porter.
"And what's more." He continued once the card passed into his daughter's fingers. "The actress who plays Penelope in that show you like? Berlint in Love. Well, a little bird told me she's releasing her own clothing line exclusively at Pret-A-Porter in two weeks time…(he pulls out two lanyards upon which hang a pair of red rectangles with the store logo)… and dropped off in the process."
But to his surprise, Becky's joy over what her father's efforts at commemorating the latest Stella Star she had earned were brief. Instead, the girl's eyes darted toward the wastepaper basket where from the corner of her eye she saw a brightly colored brochure with a profile of Bondman which she gently picks up.
" 'The Brazen Corporation invites you to a special preview of our latest attraction; the Bondman Café.'" Becky read aloud. "'Based on the popular Spy Wars Franchise, guest will be treated to not only an immersive dining experience but a three-course dinner (appetizer, entrée and dessert as well as unlimited drinks and a goodie bag) for you and three others on the 21st…"
"Ah, that's Seamus Lee Brayzen for you; his company sent that over trying to get some Spy Wars café franchised." He said giving it a crumple. "I think his son is in your grade too-"
Becky clears her throat holds out her hand. It takes a while for Edward to do the math as he glances from the scrunched up advert and the dead serious, almost tombstone like, look on his little girl's face.
"Wait, this intersts you?" Edward said in disbelief. "P-Pret-a-Porter...and...and B-BB-Berlint in Love..."
"Sorry Daddy. I should explain." Becky said once Martha whispers something in her ear. "I have this friend in my class..."
(Present)
Despite Martha's insistence she remained dignified, Becky raced up the stairs on her way to the Forger's apartment. With a series of feverish knocks, the door opens and she finds herself greeted by none other than Yor.
"Becky." She says with a beam. "A pleasure."
While cordially acknowledging Mrs. Forger's greeting, Becky's eyes dart into the house and land on Lloyd. In the year or so since her last visit, Becky's feelings for her best friend's dad had started to mellow out; sure she continued to have palpitations, still addressed him as 'precious'/'darling', and would always hold him as the standard of measurement by which she judged the men who'd one day woo her. But as far as the whole 'stealing him from Yor' game was concerned, she lost to the best and conceded with grace.
"Becky!"
Before she could speak. Anya enveloped the girl into an almost bone-crushingly tight hug.
"Thank you for taking us to the Bondman Café. It's so COOOOOOOOLLLL!"
"Yeah. I figured it'd be something you'd like." She said trying to come off as mature. "Besides, I know how hard you pushed yourself, especially in Classical Language. But that Arnold Crowley is something else."
"He's full of himself." Anya giggled.
As the two girls chatted, Martha greeted Lloyd with a firm and professional bow and a small gift, as per the custom of Blackbell Heavy Industries. Placing the bag on the table by the door, Lloyd then locked up the apartment for the night and they all went off on a grand evening.
*{"Wait a minute..."}* Lloyd suddenly thinks to himself once the lock clicks into place.