The Nanny // Faye Yoko AU

Chapter 24 In or Out part 2

Yoko's heart raced as she tried to push Faye away, her hands trembling against Faye's chest. "Why would I want anything to do with this?" Yoko's voice cracked as she spoke, her emotions fraying. The weight of everything was crushing her, and the proximity of Faye wasn't helping-it was making her more confused, more vulnerable.

Faye's expression remained calm, but there was something in her eyes, something that made Yoko pause. She wasn't angry. No, Faye wasn't enraged, but she was searching-searching for an answer, trying to understand. "You tell me," Faye said, her tone steady yet tinged with a hint of something softer, more personal. "You were the one digging around on my family's network."

"I'm sorry! All right?" Yoko's voice cracked, and the tears finally spilled over, her chest tightening painfully. "I was only curious... I didn't know-" The sobs escaped her, her words trembling as the guilt crushed her. How did I not realize what I was doing? How could I have been so reckless?

Faye's grip tightened, her hands firm but steady as she held Yoko, trying to anchor her in the midst of the storm. "She was a marked person either way," Faye's voice was low, almost soothing. She wasn't pushing Yoko away, but holding her, stabilizing her. "In fact, because I was the one who found her, Raquel had a quicker exit than intended."

Yoko froze, her sobs faltering as she tried to process what Faye was saying. "I shouldn't have involved you in tracking her down," Faye continued, her voice soft but resolute.

"Knowing it was my fault..." Yoko shook her head, her heart pounding. "I don't blame you," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she felt the weight of Faye's gaze on her. Their proximity was overwhelming, the closeness making her face heat up. She didn't know what to feel anymore-anger, guilt, confusion, and something else, something that stirred in her chest whenever Faye was near.

"That wasn't why," Faye said, her voice dropping lower, as if confessing something that had been buried deep. "Your skills with a computer are unmatched among my team."

Yoko's breath hitched, her tear-filled eyes meeting Faye's, surprised by the compliment. She hadn't expected Faye to say anything like that-especially not now, not after everything that had happened.

"You were my best chance of resolving it quickly," Faye added, her tone still calm but carrying the weight of the truth. "Any hesitation would have been..." Faye hesitated, her voice faltering slightly, "Dangerous. My loyalty has been above question, but-"

"And my actions made you seem otherwise," Yoko finished for her, her voice shaking. The realization hit her harder than she'd expected. It wasn't just about Raquel. It was about Faye's position, her standing, her survival. I didn't just mess up-I put her in danger.

Faye didn't deny it. She couldn't. Yoko could see it in her eyes-the silent burden she carried, the weight of being the Malisorn underboss. It was always there, simmering beneath the surface. Faye had never been able to show weakness, not to anyone. But here, now, Yoko could feel it-just for a moment, that vulnerability.

Yoko's voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Why didn't you fire me on the spot?" She couldn't fathom why Faye had kept her after everything she'd done, after all the mistakes.

Faye's expression softened, a hint of something deeper flickering in her eyes. "We each have our secrets," she replied, her voice low and steady. "Just because I haven't lied to you doesn't mean I've told you everything." There was a weight to her words, an unspoken understanding between them, deeper than anything Yoko had anticipated. "I trust you to protect Mikey," Faye added, her voice gentler now, her gaze unwavering.