Decipher the intercepted report. Prepare intel for Handler. Pick up groceries. Loid ran through his seemingly endless list of tasks, calculating each step of execution and strategizing on the most efficient plan of action. But when he set the laundry to fold on the couch, Yor appeared with a smile.
“Let me help with that.”
It would take two minutes and thirty seconds to fold it himself, and he only had three minutes to spare on this mountain of clothes before he had to start on his patient files. But Yor was humming a tune as she started separating the clothes, and, after a moment, he sat down beside her and quietly started folding.
The afternoon sun streamed in, warm and fuzzy. Bond yawned disinterestedly at them and shuffled into Anya’s room. Sitting so close to Yor, Loid wondered again why she never seemed to wear perfume.
Focus. Like any operation, Operation Strix could collapse in an instant if he wasn’t vigilant. There was the slightest tension in Yor’s shoulders, a slight discomfort or unsureness, that he’d noticed before in these very quiet moments.
“Do you miss your life before this?” He asked, blunt in a way that only a moment like this could allow.
She looked up, surprised. Her eyes drifted to the window as she absently smoothed the creases in Anya’s frock. Loid found his next breath hinged on her answer.
“In an odd way, yes.”
He knew it. Operation Strix was in danger. He had to find out more, a way to fix this. He had to keep this fake family happy for the sake of world peace.
Yor continued on. “After my brother and I came to the city, I was by myself. I kept a small apartment. Just a bed, a kettle, a few clothes. I didn’t go out much, didn’t have friends really. Yuri would visit, of course, but he was busy with work.”
Loid tried to picture this life and found a familiar echoing pang. “That sounds lonely.”
Yor shrugged. “It was all I knew. Pain doesn’t feel like pain when it’s all you know. But this?” She looked around, noticing the room and him in the same way he’d done. “This is unfamiliar. And that’s harder.”
Her eyes widened, and red colored her cheeks. “Not to say that I don’t want this or- or I’m not grateful!” She rushed to explain. “This is arrangement has been the best thing to happen. It’s just…”
“New?” Loid supplied, though it wasn’t quite the right word.
She hurried through the folding, and a moment later, nervously asked, “Do you miss your life before this? I mean- I mean, before Anya and your first wife?”
Loid slowly buttoned the shirt he was folding. He remembered the brutal military camp he infiltrated to get close to an officer. The snooty soirée to seduce the minister’s daughter. The loud explosions of the battlefield.
“There wasn’t much of a life before,” he admitted.
She nodded gently, and the slight tension in her shoulders eased. And to Loid’s surprise, so in his. They folded the rest of the clothes, taking in the warm sun and noises from the street.
He gathered his clothes and she took the rest to hers and Anya’s rooms. Putting them away, he ran through his list of things to do again. He’d wasted too much time. He still had to prepare reports and patient files and get dinner. But the buzzing, stomach-turning anxiousness to get everything done had quieted, and that left him nervous and paranoid.
So when he heard a ruckus, he rushed to Anya’s room, grateful for something to snap him out of this calm.
Anya had gleefully seized Yor’s interruption to abandon homework and was playing spy with Bond and her toys.
“But Agent Anya, what about your homework mission?” Yor cried in her TV-spy voice.
“The mission is in trouble! Agent Anya needs hot coca to save the day!” Bond borfed. “And cookies!”
“Okay, if Agent Papa says it’s okay to take a break,” Yor said, turning to him standing in the doorway.
“Agent Papa!” Anya saluted. “Hot cocoa and cookies!”
Their eyes were shining bright in excitement. Bond wagged his tail. The house wasn’t just warm with the afternoon, but with the joy of this little fake family.
Loid remembered the cold of the military camp sinking deep beneath his clothes, leaving him freezing and sick. He remembered the bitter bile taste of choking back his words when highbrow ministers spewed hateful words. He could feel the splintery wood of the makeshift cot as he lay at night, waiting for bullets to rain down on them in the morning.
He put on his best impression of Handler for his waiting family, but he suddenly understood what Yor was talking about. All of his past lives were hard. Terrifying even.
Summary: You’ve had a crush on him since you met him. He’s firm, but sweet. Rough, but gentle. He’s just helping you hide from bad guys, nothing more. But little do you know, he secretly likes you too.
Warnings: there is a kiss, but no other smut, fluffy fluff, mentions of guns and/or violence, mention of death, a bit of angst, short and sweet, mostly plot.
Key:
-------- = Little time skip (few hours or few minutes)
⏭⏭⏭ = Bigger time skip (could be a few days or few years)
Credits to all gif owners
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You remember the first time you saw him.
It was late at night and you were walking home from your shift at Travels Tavern. You smelt a horrid stench leading up to your door. You unblocked your door, finding someone’s body sitting on your couch. It was one of your co-workers, the smell made you gag. You rummaged through your bag, getting out your phone and calling the police. You couldn’t be in there anymore, seeing your co-workers' marked up body scarred your mind.
The police arrived, marking your place as an active crime scene. They housed you in a hotel far from your home, in case someone was following you as well. The hotel was filled with silence, making you replay the scene in your head a million times. You knew you wouldn’t be able to sleep, so you curled up on the couch and watched a couple movies. Though none of them helped.
A few minutes later the hotel room door opened. You jumped up, running into your room and locking the door. The person came to the door and knocked, stating they were an officer for the FBI. You answered back asking for proof or the door was staying locked. The officer slid his badge and card with his identity on it under the door. You analyzed it, seeing a similar symbol for the FBI on it. You slide it back under the door, still not opening it.
The officer didn’t pester you, he slid his gun and badge back under the door, saying you could shoot him if he wasn’t who he said he was. You took up the items, slowly unlocking and opening the door. The officer had his hands up in surrender, awaiting your next move. You pointed the gun towards the living room area of the hotel, silently telling him to go there. He got the signal, turned around with his hands above his head and walked towards the living area.
You gave him his stuff back, including the gun. He introduced himself as Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent. You thanked him for letting you confirm his identity. He said you didn’t have to explain, he knows you’re scared, anyone would be. He explained what’s going on, how your coworker was killed and ended up in your house, named possible suspects and stated how you could be next.
“ Why would anyone come after me? I'm nobody ” you asked, confused.
“ To be honest, we don’t know. That’s why we’re trying to protect you ”
“ So what’s next? ”
“ We are following clues and tip offs for now. Though I have a feeling they’ll try to use you as bait. So I’m gonna try to keep them from doing that, if you don’t mind trusting my judgment ” he looked to you for an answer.
You nodded your head. He got up, asking if he could stand watch in the room. Stating that his crew was standing watch outside the door and down the hall as well.
You nodded your head again, going to your room. You left the door open and got into bed, still struggling to fall asleep. You laid awake in bed, replaying Peter’s figure in your mind. He was tall and built, but not too built. He had beautiful chocolate brown eyes and a fair complexion, faint freckles across his face. He was sweet for an FBI agent, you expected to be put through the ringer with no regard for your humility. You wondered what his life was like, childhood, teenage years, etc. You fell asleep to those thoughts, finally being able to distract your brain.
In the morning, Peter woke you up, saying he was moving you somewhere else more safe. You grabbed your belongings, following him to his car.
There were no shortage of bumps on the road, figuratively, not literally. Car hijackings, blindside shootings, arguments between him and his superiors. It was all overbearing, but you were still alive, so you stuck with him.
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It’s been a few bad months, constant running and hiding. Your name was all the news like a wanted criminal. Peter reassured you that you won’t be considered a criminal for long, they just do that to try and draw you out of hiding. You learned a lot of things about the FBI along the way, as well as fighting and handling a gun. Though your favorite was learning about Peter, he didn’t share much about himself, never over boasting.
You understood how he felt when it came to his dad, your father was a firefighter, but you never pursued it. You always felt like you didn’t honor him, that’s probably what’s been keeping you at the Tavern.
“ We gotta move to a new place tomorrow, are you up for it? ” he asked, seeing the exhaustion behind your eyes.
“ Yes, we have to keep moving, ” you reassured him.
The sun rose and you were gone from your current hideout. He hijacked another car, driving to an offshore house in a forestry area. You looked out at all the trees, hoping to feel some sun out here.
Peter looked at you, smiling at your smile. You were always optimistic even though you are going through this. He felt bad about having to do this to you. He made the choice to hand you off to another trusted officer, while he turns himself in to create a distraction. You weren’t happy, he saw your face as they dragged him away. You were calling his name, trying to scramble out of his friend's arms. You barely knew him, but he knew you’d have taken his place, so he was happy to do this for you.
They took him away and locked him up. His friend stored a secret phone in his cell, it had your location in it and a number if he wished to call. He didn’t wanna risk anything since his plan was working nicely. A couple hours went by, multiple questions, threats and bribes later, they had to let him go. His friend drove him to his house and he hijacked another car, driving to you.
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You were very upset for the first few minutes, until his friend explained the situation. He had to sell the scene in order for the plan to work. You understood, but were still a little upset. Peter’s friend fed you and gave you new clothes to wear. You trusted him very little, but stayed calm for Peter. You worried your head off for the rest of the day, before falling asleep.
Peter reached the house, gave his friend the key, thanked him and asked him to return the car for the police report about to be filled. His friend shook his head and took the car. He entered the offshore house, showering and putting on fresh clothes. He found you fast asleep in the master bedroom. You looked so peaceful like this, no stress picking at your features.
He went to leave but he heard you say his name. He turned, but you were still asleep. He went up closer to you, caressing your cheek softly, removing the hair stuck to your cheek. You stirred at his touch, but didn’t wake up. He settled into the chair, watching over you and checking out the windows every 30 minutes to an hour.
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The sun beamed through the blinds, waking you. You got up, stretching. You called out for Peter’s friend, but didn’t receive an answer. Panic overtook you and you grabbed your stuff, ready to run away. You ran down the stairs, throwing a coat on and some shoes, causing a loud racket.
“ Y/n? ” Peter called for you from the kitchen.
You knew that voice, but wouldn’t believe it until you saw it. You stalked to the kitchen, peaking around the corner. You didn't see him there, so you chopped it up to your imagination and headed back for the door, but ran right into something. You brought your hands up into the fighting stance you were taught, preparing for a fight.
“ Woah woah, it’s me. Y/n it’s me, Peter ”
At the sound of his name you actually looked at him. It was him, all in one piece, still fair skinned and freckled. You dropped your guard, running into his arms. He hugged you, rubbing the back of your head. You remembered what happened and switched up, hitting his chest.
“ Don’t. Ever. Do. That. Again ”
He started trying to dodge your hits. “ Okay okay I won’t. I’m sorry ”
You stopped, tears picking at your eyes. You turned away from him, hiding your face. “ I thought I’d never see you again. I didn’t wanna have to imagine what they’d do to you” you were sniffling now.
He hugged you again from behind and you turned to his warmth. “ I’m sorry Y/n, I won’t ever do that again ” sadness pinged in his chest, you really cared for him.
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You 2 stayed there for a good month, enjoying the sun, private beach and getting to live normally a little. You and him bonded a lot, spending endless hours talking and playing board games. You laughed and giggled with each other, he’d wrestle you in the water, letting you win every now and again. You showed him different stars and constellations at night and picked out funny clouds in the day time. He enjoyed this time with you, wishing it would last forever, he loved seeing you smile and not all stressed and exhausted.
You were playing chess at the dining room table, you made your final move, ending the game. He was appalled and playfully claimed you cheated. You battled back with him, saying you were stronger than him. He pouted a little and you started tickling him. He swatted at your hands and started grabbing them to stop you. You slipped out of his hold every time and he got up, chasing you around. He trapped you in his arms and fell back onto the couch, you falling into his lap.
You didn’t notice it at first, until his breath fanned against your neck. You blushed red, hopping up and apologizing. He dismissed your apology and brought up the next activity for the day. It was wine tasting, a bit of cheese as well. You didn’t drink that much, even though you worked at a tavern. So you sipped lightly at the different wines, already tipsy.
You brought up old lovers asking if he had any. He described a few women, but none of them stayed. His job was a big no for them. You talked about old boyfriends, ex situationships and one night stands, stating they all never seemed right. Treating you differently and wrong. Peter couldn’t understand, you were amazing, generous, kind, patient and beautiful.
“ I’d treat you way better ” he said out loud, not meaning to.
You blushed red at his words. He realized he had said it out loud and apologized. You dismissed his apology, the wine giving you courage.
“ Would you? ” you asked, continuing his statement from earlier.
He was confused at first, but caught on immediately “ I’d try, because you deserve way better than them ” he paused. “ You’re a kind, generous, strong and beautiful woman, Y/n ”
You turned your head shyly, processing his words. Peter leaned in closer, bringing his hand to your chin, pulling your face back to his. You looked at him, your breath hitching at how close he was to you. He closed the distance slowly, giving you every opportunity to turn away. You didn’t, his lips now ghosting over yours. He still gives you more time, wanting you to feel like you have a choice.
You take the offer, pressing your lips to his. His lips were soft against yours, immediately reciprocating. His hands slid to your cheeks and you opened your lips more, his tongue intruding into your mouth. Your hands come up his chest, resting on his shoulders. The kiss was sweet and short, not lasting long. You both pulled away, searching each other’s eyes for regret or disgust. You both found neither and rested your forehead against each other.
“ I’ve liked you for a while now. I’ve never wanted to save someone so much in my life. I hate seeing you all stressed and exhausted. I wanna see you smiling and hear you laughing, ” he confessed.
“ Me too, I don’t want you to suffer for little ol’ me. I wanna see you free and happy, smiling up at me with pure joy. Since your actions in the hotel room, I’ve liked you. You respect and show humility. ” you could feel his smile from his features.
You pull back from him and he pulls you into his lap. You curl up against him, both of you laying there in each other’s arms. You fall asleep not long from then, him drifting off after you.
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I loved him in The Night Agent, though I'm not really a fan of the other seasons. It fell off almost at season 1
He's a sweetheart and we need them every now and again
Cody and randy are kicking my behind. I've rewritten their stories like 6 times, but it'll all work out.