Chapter Text
Spring. The season of new beginnings. The season where the bright shine of the sun thawed away the remaining patches of snow, where grass greener than emeralds sprouted from beneath the frost. The season of new life. The season of change. Nightfall liked spring.
To her, spring was more than just the season of change or new beginnings or new life. Nothing lasted forever. Seasons went by, new beginnings turned old, new life faded and shriveled just as quickly as it popped up, and change…change was the worst offender. Change was a fickle thing. Wild and unpredictable, which as a spy, were two of the worst things that one in her line of work could deal with. Forget change. Spring was her favorite season because spring was Twilight’s favorite season, and coincidentally the same season that the two of them met.
Nightfall…no…Fiona Frost exhaled, a puff of steam forming in the chilly morning air in front of her face, and leaned back against the hard and slightly moist wood of the bench she was sitting on. Tilting her head up to the clear blue sky above her, a shock of pink at the corner of her sight caught her sharp gaze. Slowly raising her head up, her eyes followed what seemed to be the large branch of a nearby tree to the most beautiful cherry blossom tree that she’d seen in years. Without anyone else at the park close enough to notice, Fiona allowed herself the tiniest of smiles as she took in the majestic sight.
Spring being her beloved Twilight’s favorite season wasn’t the only reason why she loved it. With spring came flowers, and while no other living soul knew this about her, Nightfall loved them. With flowers came the fond memories of a childhood long gone, and while every bit of her wanted to cast aside the memory of the stupid girl she’d been long ago, somehow flowers were a gentle reminder of the good parts of a life long forgotten. Running through sunflower fields, brushing a small hand through rows of dandelions, and of course watching the sakura blossoms bloom every spring.
For one moment, she could relax. For one moment, she wasn’t Nightfall the spy or Fiona Frost the psychiatrist, just a woman enjoying the moment, even if it was just for one moment. Fiona looked to the sky once more. Blue and beautiful, although not as much so as Twilight’s deep blue eyes. Twilight…speak of the devil.
Fiona immediately sat up and dusted off her steel gray overcoat with gloved hands at the sight of her Twilight. Twilight with his soft blond hair and beautiful blue eyes and handsome face and a very very large white dog on a leash beside him. The moment Fiona’s gaze fell on him, Twilight looked up from stroking the dog. Their eyes met in what felt like a scene in a romance movie where the protagonist first locks eyes with their eventual lover and Fiona swore she saw sparks flying quicker than the pounding of her heart. Twilight gave her the tiniest of nods before walking towards her, large dog in tow.
“Fiona, it’s nice to see you!” He greeted her with a warm, albeit fake, smile.
She nodded. “Doctor Forger.”
His eyes flicker to the sides, assessing for potential eavesdroppers. Brilliant, Twilight. She loved him so much. After his brief scan, he reached inside his brown overcoat and handed her a single yellow file. “Handler wants to see you. Details are in here.”
Fiona ignored the hammering pounds of her heart as their fingers brushed while exchanging the file. She held it close to her chest and nodded stiffly. “Thank you, Doctor Forger.”
Twilight tipped his hat to her. “I’ll be on my way now. Have a pleasant evening.”
“You too.” Fiona replied curtly. With that, their interaction concluded. Twilight turned and left the way that he’d come, back across a little bridge to a large grass field, where the rest of his fake family was waiting for him. Fiona didn’t miss the way he visibly relaxed when he was greeted by the pink-haired child and his fake wife, Yor Briar. Twilight really was an excellent actor.
Fiona tenderly stroked the file with her thumb, on the spot that he’d held it. It was almost like she could still feel the ghost of his warm hand on the thick paper. She would be keeping this file. After she read the instructions of course. She pressed her thumb to her lips and pecked the gloved digit before opening the file.
“AMErica LEbera paTient records needed AT Hospital wing Q TOMORROW AT 10 O’clock, also might need 8 extra copies of article 005 for tHe staff meeting On ThURSday. Can you please take care of it as soon as possible? Thank you very much!”
Fiona closed the file and carefully placed it inside her coat before leaning back against the park bench once more. A meeting at HQ, 8 o’clock in the morning.
How interesting.
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It was 8 o’clock the next day when Nightfall stepped inside W.I.S.E’s Ostanian headquarters. As always, Handler was already waiting for her, interlaced hands placed carefully on top of the desk. She nodded curtly to the silver-haired agent when she entered the enclosed room. “Agent Nightfall.” Handler’s sharp green eyes pierced her as always. “The time has come for you to join Operation Strix.”
Nightfall’s eyes flew wide open. Was she serious? Of course she was serious, the Fullmetal Lady would never joke about something so serious. Finally, her time had come for her to join her precious Twilight’s side as his faithful wife. After months of asking and asking she had finally gotten her wish! W.I.S.E finally saw how useless Yor Briar was compared to her! Ah, she could finally be with her darling Twilight, her heart wouldn’t be able to handle it!
“You will be playing the role of Anya Forger’s-”
She could imagine it now, living with her darling Twilight, sharing a home with her one and only true love. Ah, the wonderful life they will have, cooking in the same kitchen, sitting together in the living room swapping stories about their adventures, sharing a bed together and sleeping under the same covers, dancing to music after Anya Forger’s bedtime, perhaps even kissing under the cover of night. How amazing, how exciting! She could imagine it, the feeling of-
“-Aunt.”
.
.
.
What?
“Aunt?” Nightfall repeated weakly, dumbstruck.
“Yes.” Handler continued on like she didn’t just crack open Nightfall’s bubble of hope and therefore destroy any and all of her fantasies in a single word. “You will play the role of Anya Forger’s aunt by getting into a relationship with Yuri Briar and-”
“Excuse me?” Nightfall interrupted. “I thought I misheard you for a moment, did you say that I must get into a relationship with Yuri Briar?”
Handler raised an eyebrow at her. “You did not mishear me, then. Yes, you must get into a relationship with Yuri Briar. Ever since Agent Twilight has informed us that Mr. Briar is a member of the Secret Police, W.I.S.E has seen this as a golden opportunity to both extract information and keep tabs on him and the movements of the Secret Police. This role that you must play is crucial to the success of Operation Strix. I trust that you’ll play it to perfection. Twilight himself has recommended that you be the agent to play this role, in fact.”
Twilight…what?
Handler must have seen the stony expression Nightfall was trying so hard to conceal under her veil of hair. Her face slightly softened. “He noticed that you were extremely eager to contribute to Operation Strix, so he recommended that you play the role. As one of our best agents, both him and I have complete faith that you will be able to pull off this mission to the best of your abilities. Do you accept this mission?”
Twilight…believed in her? If it was her dear Twilight that had given her this role, believed that she would be the best one for this role, then of course…
She nodded. “I accept.”
Handler smiled at her. “Good. Your first interaction with Briar will be at a work function hosted by the hospital. Twilight has secured his invitation, so just make sure to get the ball rolling when you meet him. Do what you must. That is all, you are dismissed.”
Nightfall nodded once more and bowed respectfully before stepping away to exit the room.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
She turned back towards Handler. “Yes?”
The older woman looked at her with iron in her gaze. “Remember, Operation Strix depends on this. Be careful.”
Nightfall stared back with just as much coldness in her gray eyes, like frost on steel. “Of course.”
With that, Fiona Frost finally stepped out of the room.
Handler sighed wearily. Head in her hands, a twistedly tired sort of smile grew on her lips. “Whatever will I do with you, Agent Nightfall?” she mumbled to herself. “Whatever will I do?”