As the early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of their cozy cabin in the French countryside, Denise hummed softly to herself in the kitchen, preparing snacks for the day ahead. The aroma of freshly baked croissants filled the air as she carefully spread butter and jam onto the warm pastries. She smiled to herself, the peaceful setting making her feel completely at ease.
In the living room, Uno was lounging on the couch, dressed in his signature suit—navy blue coat, navy blue vest, white shirt, and his iconic navy blue tie neatly in place. His attention, however, wasn’t on his usual news channels or spy documentaries. Instead, his eyes were glued to the TV, where colorful animated creatures battled one another with electric shocks and water blasts.
Denise glanced over from the kitchen, her eyebrows raised in amusement. “Are you seriously watching Pokémon, Uno?” she called out, walking over with a plate of croissants in hand. “The Uno Winter, England’s finest spy, is a Pokémon fan?”
Uno looked up, startled at first, but then smirked. “It’s entertaining, okay? Don’t judge.”
Denise placed the plate on the coffee table and crossed her arms, leaning against the back of the couch as she peered at the screen. “Entertaining? I never pegged you for the type to watch cartoons.”
Uno shrugged, unbothered by her teasing. “It’s a classic. Besides,” he pointed to the screen where Pikachu was dodging attacks, “look at that strategy. Quick moves, sharp instincts—he’d make a good agent.”
Denise laughed, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe it. Uno Winter, the man who once took down an entire criminal organization with a single, well-placed shot, is a Pokémon nerd.”
“Hey,” Uno said, turning his head to give her a playful look, “I seem to remember a certain junior agent who used to write fanfiction about me. What was it again? Oh right, Agent Frost and Starlight: The Unbreakable Duo.”
Denise’s cheeks flushed pink at the mention of her old stories. She playfully swatted his shoulder. “That was different! I was just starting out back then, and you were my mentor. It was... motivational!”
Uno grinned, clearly enjoying the upper hand now. “Oh, really? So writing stories about us going undercover as a married couple in Monaco wasn’t because you had a slight crush on me?”
Denise’s blush deepened, but she smirked, not backing down. “You have no proof. Besides, I recall you read every single one of them.”
Uno leaned back on the couch, folding his arms. “Of course I did. They were... well-written. I was impressed by how you captured our missions. Except for the parts where you had me doing ridiculously dramatic things, like taking a bullet for you.”
Denise laughed, her earlier embarrassment fading. “It was for dramatic effect! You’d have done the same if it had come to it.”
Uno raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know, Denise. You had me making heroic speeches while bleeding out. I don’t think I’m that poetic under pressure.”
She plopped down next to him on the couch, still chuckling. “Okay, fine. Maybe I exaggerated a little. But admit it—you liked it. You were my inspiration.”
Uno smiled softly, his tone turning sincere. “You were a great junior agent, Denise. You didn’t need fanfiction to show it. I knew from the start you’d be one of the best.”
Denise smiled back, touched by his words. “Thanks, Uno. But let’s be real—without your training, I wouldn’t have made it this far. You taught me everything I know.”
“And now look at you,” Uno said, his eyes twinkling. “Running your own missions, commanding agents. You’ve more than earned your place.”
She gave him a playful nudge. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’m still the best partner you’ve got.”
