Chapter Text
Yuri turned the light on after he opened the door to his flat. He stepped back to allow Anya to walk in the flat building. She walked in slowly as if she were surveilling her surroundings. Her little frame lit up the second she spotted the television set in the corner of the living room. She gasped and ran dropping her belongings onto the floor along the way save for her giant stuffed penguin. She plopped down in front of the TV and turned it on. She changed the channel until she landed on Comrade Detectives. She looked around and saw a clock on the wall and nodded at the stuffed animal. Yuri smiled and shook his head at how easily she made herself feel comfortable in his flat.
Yuri didn’t watch Bondman, but he could only surmise that a rerun of the show came on around this time seeing how she missed the usual showing. He took the grocery bags and set them on the counter. “Hey, Anya!” he called from the kitchen. “Do you want to make a bowl of ice cream so you can eat it while you watch it?”
Hearing the stories about the pup’s obsession from Yor, he knew he’d be hard pressed to pull her away from the show and he didn’t want her eating sweets so late. He was about to call again when he felt small hands on his pant leg. He glanced down to see Anya. “With nuts!” she declared smiling.
Of course, now she wants nuts. Yuri rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. With Nuts.” he said. “If you go sit at the table, I’ll bring the ice cream over and we can make the Banana Splits.” He reached over and opened a cabinet and pulled out a plate. He handed it to her, and he pointed to a drawer. “The spoons are in there.”
He watched to make sure she was tall enough to open it. He smiled when she had no problem and practically ran to the table. “Careful! Don’t hurt yourself running like that.” He called despite his warnings going unheard.
He carried the bags with the ice cream supplies over to the table along with a plate and spoon for himself and set them on the table.
“Now, you never had a banana split before?” he asked taking out the contents of the bags.
“No.” she shook her head.
“Alright, well tonight we’re going to make some and then you can go home and teach your mama and papa.” Yuri said smiling. “Now, you’re going to take the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream and put them in a row together.”
He demonstrated and then gestured for her to do it. Anya struggled to get the ice cream out of the container. It was a little too frozen for her and her little muscles were weak, but she tried her hardest. Regardless, Yuri encouraged her, “Wow, look how strong you are!” She had a determined look on her face. Anya smiled big when she got enough ice cream onto her plate.
Clearly proud of herself. “Now what?” she asked waiting for the next instructions.
“The next step is a little easier.” Yuri said. He handed her a couple of bananas. “Now, ice cream melts, right?”
“Right!” she chimed in.
“So, we need to protect it from getting everywhere and spilling because we’re using plates.” Yuri said, “So, we take two bananas and put them on either side, like this.”
They did it at the same time and continued to build the banana splits together. It was getting to be a really messy endeavor because of how inexperienced Anya was at making them, but she tried her hardest and seemed to be enjoying it. Once they were finished, Anya looked so happy with her concoction despite how chaotic it was. Nuts, chocolate syrup and sprinkles were everywhere and when she lifted the plate up, some fell onto the table.
“Careful.” Yuri said. “You can eat it in the living room, but you need to be careful to not get it everywhere.”
“Okay!” Anya said.
“Do you want help carrying it?” He asked reaching out noticing how wobbly she was.
“I can do it myself!” Anya said indignantly.
“Okay, okay.” Yuri said putting his hands up.
She held the plate and hopped down from the chair, causing sprinkles and nuts to fall onto the floor. Yuri was about to say something but stopped himself. Anya walked happily to her spot in front of the TV and sat down, spilling nuts and sprinkles the entire way. So much for no spills. Yuri sighed and sat down on the couch just behind Anya. He would sweep up the mess later.
It wasn’t long before Bondman came on. Yuri had never actively watched the show before because he was normally too busy to watch TV at this hour. He was more of an early morning, while he ate breakfast and got ready for the day kind of TV watcher. Though, he knew what it was about because it was so popular, but he really didn’t see the appeal. On the other hand, Anya was loving every minute of it. She was engaged and actively participating despite the characters being unable to hear her commentary. She was more entertaining than the show itself. Yuri smiled at her.
Suddenly, the phone rang. The SSS officer got up, taking his and Anya’s empty plates with him and set them on the counter before answering the phone.
“Hello,” he said.
“Yuri, good evening.” The director’s voice sounded through the phone. “I am sorry to bother you, but you are needed for an important matter.”
“Hello, director.” Yuri said somewhat nervously. He can’t remember a time where he wasn’t readily available to do whatever his country needed of him. “I am sorry. I have my niece with me tonight.”
Yuri noticed Anya’s attention was on him despite her eyes never leaving the TV screen. He needed to make sure he chose his words wisely. He didn’t want her to overhear something she shouldn’t even though she is just a pup.
Understanding Yuri’s situation in addition to not discussing top secret business over the phone, the Director answered, “Surely your sister and brother-in-law would understand if they had to end their night early.” There was a strange urgency in the Director’s voice.
No. They would not. Yuri knew Yor and Loid needed this time and he would be damned if he called his sister after what she went through that day. However, the Director always sounded confident, and, in this call, his unease was apparent. It scared Yuri, making him think that it was a dire situation. Maybe interrupting Yor and Loid’s much needed discussion might be a matter of national security and if Yuri doesn’t go, they might not have to worry about their martial discord at all. Yuri shuttered at that thought.
He felt a small hand tug at his pant leg. He looked down to see Anya. She was holding onto her penguin that Yor insisted that Yuri take with him when she gave him the pup’s overnight bag. Her eyes wide with worry that made Yuri wonder what made her feel that way.
“Lieutenant Briar?” The director’s voice on the phone inquired. Yuri jumped, his attention going back to his boss.
“Yes, Director.” Yuri said. “I’ll work something out. Give me an hour to make arrangements, please.”
“Very well,” The director said, relief filling his voice. “Thank you, Yuri.”
Yuri looked down at Anya. “Hey, Chihuahua girl.” He said softly. “Why don’t we see if Uncle Dominic is home.”
Anya nodded and clutched onto the penguin more.
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Yuri saw the lights on through the curtains despite how relatively early in the evening it was for a date night. He looked down at Anya, tightly holding his fingers. Sighing he knocked on the door.
It wasn’t long before Dominic opened it looking confused. “Yuri?” he looked down at the little pink haired pup and back up at the SSS Officer.
“Hey, Dominic.” Yuri started sheepishly. “Can I ask a really big favor of you?”
He explained that the office called him saying it was an urgent matter. Dominic nodded, “Uh, yes. I would be delighted to take care of little Anya for the evening.” He smiled warmly and waved at Anya, who hid behind Yuri’s legs.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back.” He warned his friend, who acknowledged his statement silently assuring him it would be fine. He handed him a piece of paper with Yor and Loid’s phone number on it.
Yuri was grateful he was being so kind as to not make it sound like a problem. He could tell Anya was on edge. He bent down to talk to her. “Anya, I have to go to work. My friend, Dominic.” He gestures upwards him. “He says he can play with you until I get back. He’s a really nice man and I think you’ll have a lot of fun with him.”
Anya looked very panicked. “I want to go with Unkie.” She said.
“You can’t go with Unkie.” He said softly. “I promise I’ll try to be back as fast as I can.”
“Don’t go.” Anya said burring her face into his chest. Yuri was startled by her reaction. He hugged her back. His chest ached at her reaction. She had been acting strange and distance most of the night. So, her sudden need to hold fast to Yuri was surprising though not without precedent. She had clung to Loid the night before as if her life depended on it. Though, she didn’t try to scent Yuri as she had her father. Probably because he was still an unfamiliar figure in her life. Regardless, she acted like he was abandoning her.
“I’m sorry, Chihuahua girl.” He whispered. He pulled her away so he could look at her face, which just looked miserable and on the verge of tears. “Hey, Anya.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Will you play a game with me?”
She looked confused but nodded and wiped her nose.
“You and Dominic must wait for me to bring you back information for your mission.” He said. “Just like Bondman had to wait for his fellow agents to tell him what he needed to know in order to save Princess Honey tonight in the show.”
“How is this a game?” she asked.
This kid is sometimes smarter than he gives her credit for. Yuri panicked on how to answer that.
This time Dominic knelt down. He smiled kindly at Anya. “Hello, Anya. I am Dominic.” He said putting his hand out as if cueing for Anya to shake it. The pup just looked at his hand with a puzzled expression. “Have you ever had to crack a code for a mission?”
She shook her head and Dominic continued. “I have some letters that were written in a strange code with strange letters, and I need help figuring it out. Could you possibly help me with it?”
Anya looked at Dominic and then back at Yuri. Yuri smiled at her. “My friend could use the help. He’s always been rubbish at codes. Maybe you could teach him a thing or two.”
“Oh, yes.” Dominic said. “I am terrible. Do you know what I thought morse code was when I was a pup? Horse code. I thought horses wrote codes for spies to read.”
Anay just looked perplexed. “What is Horse code?”
“If you hang out with me, I’ll show you.” Dominic said. “And then we can write secret messages to each other. Or you can write your papa and mama a message in code. What do you say?”
Anya finally nodded. “Agent Penguin probably knows more Horse code than both of us.” She said.
“I bet he does.” Yuri smiled and internally sighing with relief. How does Yor and Loid do this day in and day out. Convincing the pup to stay with Dominic was like pulling teeth.
Both men stood up. Dominic stepped aside as Anya dragged Agent Penguin into his home. Yuri handed him her over night bag.
“I don’t think I’ll be gone all night…” Yuri started, but Dominic waved him off.
“Get going. The sooner you leave, the sooner you can come back.” He said cheerfully. “I’ll warn you though. Anya and I will have so much fun. She’ll wish I was her ‘Unkie.”
Yuri laughed. “You wish.” He said and took off.
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Yuri ran into the SSS building and was immediately greeted by the Director. “Get dressed and meet us in interrogation.”
“Who are we interrogating?” Yuri asked once they passed security, and he knew the area was safe to communicate.
“Do you remember Josef Mason?” The Director asked.
Yuri stopped. “The man that Müller was investigating for the possible kidnappings of Ostanian pups?”
“The one and only.” The Director said grimly. He handed Yuri a file folder thick as a brick. "I am sorry for what you'll have to see, but it's important that he tells us where they are."
Yuri breathed in deeply. “I’ll be quick.” he apprehensively takes the file.