Loid Forger stepped through the front door the familiar scent of dinner wafting through the air, mingling with the soft glow of the living room lights. His heart always settled at the sight of home, even if it was a façade built for the sake of his mission. He glanced around, noticing the neatly arranged living space, a comforting contrast to the chaos of his day as a spy.

"Welcome back," a soft voice called from the kitchen. He turned to see you, the woman he had married under the pretense of a perfect family. You looked up from stirring a pot, smile warm and genuine, yet laced with an air of mystery that intrigued him.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” you continued, eyes sparkling with affection. “How was your day?”

“Busy as usual,” he replied, slipping off his shoes and stepping into the warmth of their home. “Nothing too extraordinary.” It was a practiced answer, one that danced around the truth of his life, filled with secrets and subterfuge.

As he moved to help you, you brushed against him, their shoulders grazing for a brief moment. A jolt of electricity passed between them, a sensation that had grown more familiar with each day. In those fleeting touches, he found a connection that transcended the necessity of their arrangement.

“Thanks for holding down the fort,” he said, a hint of sincerity in his tone. The way you organized their home, filling it with laughter and warmth, made his heart ache with a feeling he couldn’t quite place.

Meeting his gaze, your smile softening, and for a moment, the walls between them felt a little less solid. "We’re a team, right?" you said, a playful glimmer in her eyes.

“Right,” he replied, and in that simple exchange, Loid felt something shift within him—a hint of longing that was both unexpected and terrifying. As they shared this ordinary moment, the lines of their mission began to blur, revealing the potential for something deeper beneath the surface.