Hello~
I know it's been a while since I've updated. Was hoping for more character development for Yuri or Fiona in the canon series, but it hasn't really happened, so enjoy!
Fiona is a veteran of many missions. She's infiltrated heavily secured areas to steal plans and blueprints. She's escaped from situations where she's surrounded by enemies while injured. She's outmaneuvered so-called "genius" tacticians more times than she can count.
She has a lot of confidence from her experiences. Her track record speaks for itself. But this is the first time she's ever experienced what it feels like to want to give up. Even that same confidence that's carried her so far is wavering.
"Wash your hands before doing anything."
"Don't just mix in every ingredient without thinking."
"Be careful when you break the eggshells. There should never be any pieces in the eggs when you cook them."
Anything that could be a problem is a problem for Yor when it comes to cooking. Fiona feels exhausted at the end of every lesson after needing to spell out every last detail.
Before the first lesson, Fiona looked down on Yor's coworker who taught her, seeing how Yor still didn't know how to cook by now. Surely, she has to improve under my tutelage. Fiona now has some respect for this unknown coworker's patience as Yor still holds her in high regard despite not absorbing even an inkling of knowledge.
Fiona only samples one bite of Yor's cooking every time to be safe. And she can still feel her health failing with every sample. She wonders again how Yuri managed to survive into adulthood when his sister's cooking was the only food they had growing up.
A week later, Fiona is coming around to the idea that it would be more efficient to teach Anya how to cook instead so that she can prepare the food when Loid isn't available. Let's put that on the backburner for now. She should be focusing on her studies to earn stella stars. And that would also take time.
After a few weeks, Fiona's irritation begins to outweigh her professionalism. She had imposed a rule on herself before she had taken this task to not lose her composure no matter what the results are. She is on the verge of breaking that promise.
If W.I.S.E. assigned Fiona any trainees this incompetent, she would've wrung them through hellish training multiple times by now. She also would've likely resorted to physical punishment at this point. The most aggravating thing of all is the smile that's always present on Yor's face.
Fiona finally asks about it one day. She finished a grueling mission earlier only to be greeted with another one here. "Why are you smiling?"
"It's just so much fun to learn and improve! Especially with a friend by my side!"
Improve? Does she really think that? Fiona cuts a tiny piece of the fish that Yor prepared and lifts it toward her mouth with a spoon.
Yor looks at Fiona with hopeful eyes. "I hope things work out between you and Yuri. I would love to have you as a sister-in-law!"
Fiona spits out the dish she is sampling, partly because of the taste, but also because she is horrified at the future Yor just predicted.
"Sorry, is it too soon to be talking about that? It's just it wasn't long after I met Loid that we got married. Please forget what I just said. Everyone's relationships progress differently… is what one of my coworkers said to me."
This woman's real talent is being able to get on my nerves. Multiple times now, Yor has brought Fiona close to letting out her true emotions. Namely, anger. "I've heard that story from Dr. Forger before." In other words, you better not bring that up again.
"He talks about me at work? I'm happy to hear that." Yor affectionately rests her cheek on top of her hand.
"...You still have food on your hand."
"What? Gah!" Yor looks down and sees that Fiona is right. A handprint of sauce is visible on Yor's chin. "How embarrassing. I'm going to go wash up!"
While Yor goes to the bathroom, Fiona glances at the clock. It's still early, which means there's still more dishes to come. She waves the white flag and thinks of a way out of this situation.
"Let's go out to eat today." Fiona says when Yor returns.
"Hm? All of a sudden?"
"Since you've… improved," Fiona's mind fights against her body rebelling against that lie, "we can go for a change of pace. I'll treat." She's quite certain that her immune system is reaching its breaking point.
"You really don't have to do that… but thank you. Let me just leave a note for Loid so he knows he doesn't have to cook me dinner."
"Of course."
Yor writes the note and puts on her down jacket. She then slings her bag over her shoulder. "Where are we going?" She asks.
Fiona had already put on her coat while Yor was writing. "Three blocks north from here is a restaurant I haven't gone to in a while.
They sit down to a hearty plate of pasta for the two women. "It looks great. This is the first time another woman has offered to treat me." Yor compliments as she grabs her portion.
Fiona takes the rest and they talk while they eat. "That's not uncommon. The only woman that's done that for me is my former supervisor."
"A female supervisor, huh? I wonder what that's like. I've worked at the same job my whole life and both the chief and the old man supervisor above him have always been there."
"With the economy the way it is, not many people want to take the risk of finding a new job. Especially from a stable government job."
"You're right. Even though my coworkers sometimes complain about the low pay, they say the same thing. None of them seem to want to leave. Which is a good thing."
"Are you close with them?"
"I mean- I like them." Is Yor's immediate answer. Fiona thinks nothing of it as she twirls the spaghetti around her fork. "But-" Yor puts her fork down, which causes Fiona to lift her head. "I don't know if they like me."
"What gives you that impression?"
"I'm not sure how to put this. It's like they don't really see me as a friend. More like… someone that they tolerate once in a while? Maybe not exactly like that, but it's along those lines. Like they wouldn't pay any attention to me if it weren't for work. Not like you."
Fiona's throat feels parched. She refills her cup of water and takes a sip.
"My coworkers and I have known each other for years," Yor continues, "yet we only went out together once. It seems to be a thing the three of them do regularly."
"When was that time you went out together?"
"Recently. Maybe around a month ago?" Yor taps her chin with her index finger.
"Before that, were there truly no other invitations?"
"Now that you mention it... they asked me a few times several years ago. I had... a lot going on then, so I couldn't go."
"I have a better picture of the situation now. If you didn't explain your reasons to them, they may have thought you were trying to ignore them."
"I wasn't trying to do that."
"Regardless of your intentions, from their perspective they saw you brushing them off without an explanation. That they reached out to you recently is a good sign. It may signal that they will invite you more in the future."
"I see. That all makes sense." Yor nods. "Thank you! I feel a lot better after talking with you."
"Glad to hear it."
The waitress lays the check on the table and Fiona reaches out to get it. As she is about to touch it, Yor's arm becomes a blur. Fiona's hand grabs nothing but air and she looks up at Yor. Yor is smiling while her right hand holds the check.
"I'm not just saying it without meaning, I really am grateful to you. I'm not shameless enough to make you treat me after all those lessons. Have you heard of the saying 'put your money where your mouth is?' This feels like one of those moments to me."
For the first time, Fiona becomes just slightly amused by Yor. "I'll treat you next time, then."
Fiona considered Yor an obstacle in her goal to be married to Loid when she first learned of her existence. She still feels that way, no doubt about it. However instead of only feeling jealousy like before, she now also feels some level of pity for the woman.
If there is another long-term mission assigned to Twilight and I after Strix is completed, she will lose her husband and, from her perspective, a friend in me.
She takes a moment to ruminate this information as she waters her plants. Well, it's none of my business. She concludes as the last droplets of water fall out of the watering can. I'm sure the same thought has crossed Twilight's mind before about both her and Anya.
Such is the life of a spy.
