[March 23rd] [The Man From U.N.C.L.E.] Interlude at a Candy Store
Title: Interlude at a Candy Store
Day/Theme: March 23rd - while we live, we hold our heads high
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye, Illya Kuryakin, Napoleon Solo
Rating: K/G
By Lucky_Ladybug
Ecks had always had a certain sweet tooth. As he went out job-hunting one morning in the wilds of Manhattan, he spotted a candy store and ducked in to look around.
He wasn’t expecting to run across an unwelcome and familiar face while reaching to investigate a box of caramels with peanut butter centers. Someone else grabbed the box at the same time, from the other side of the display.
“Oh, excuse me,” the man said, a Russian tint to his voice.
Ecks stiffened. “By all means, Kuryakin. Take it.” His tone was dark and unpleasant.
Illya Kuryakin, Russian U.N.C.L.E. agent and the man responsible for the ghastly scar across Ecks’ stomach, whipped around the display with a start. “What are you doing here?!”
“Looking for something to eat. Isn’t everybody?” Ecks picked up another box of the same caramel candy, looked it over, and decided to take it.
Illya frowned. “I tracked you to a motel, but the manager informed me you had left.”
Ecks sneered. “So you still don’t know where we’re holed up.”
“Quite frankly, no.” Illya took a box of the caramels and followed Ecks to a chocolate-covered strawberries display. “That disturbs me. It also disturbs my boss.”
“You don’t think I’ll really help you out on that point, do you?” Ecks retorted.
“No, I suppose not,” Illya replied. “But I can follow you when you leave here.”
“And I’ll lose you,” Ecks grinned. “You’re never going to get the drop on me again. I’ll make sure of that.”
“I won’t come after you with ill intent unless I learn you’ve become an enemy again,” Illya insisted.
“I’m certainly not a friend,” Ecks grunted.
“No, but as far as I know, you’re not working against me on a case. Neither is your friend Mr. Wye.”
“Then you believe me about Mr. Wye having survived as well as me,” Ecks said.
“The motel manager informed me the both of you were there,” Illya replied.
“We were, and we’re still staying together now.” Ecks slipped his hands into his trenchcoat pockets and started to circle Illya in a threatening manner.
Illya watched him, on guard but unmoved. “How nice for you to not have to make the adjustment to being a civilian all alone.”
“You think it would be difficult for me?” Ecks taunted. Illya might or might not know that Ecks had never known anything else but the organization. Ecks certainly wasn’t going to reveal it voluntarily.
“I believe every agent has difficulties with that task when the time comes,” Illya said calmly. “And you have just admitted to me that you have not been hired by anyone to undergo any new espionage affairs.”
Ecks curled his lip in displeasure. “I did no such thing. I only asked you if you thought I would have difficulty adjusting if that were the case.”
“Perhaps,” Illya responded.
“You think we’re not capable of it?” Ecks asked. “There’s always a high demand for freelancers.”
“A high demand for freelance mercenaries and assassins,” Illya said. “I don’t know about freelance spies in particular.”
“If you’re so concerned about what we’re up to, maybe you should learn more about it,” Ecks smirked.
“Have no doubt that I will.” Illya stepped out of Ecks’ circle. “Now, if you will excuse me.”
“By all means,” Ecks gestured at the cash register.
****
Wye, who had gone looking for Ecks after attempting a job interview, stumbled across Napoleon Solo quite by accident outside the candy shop. “You’re that other U.N.C.L.E. agent!” he exclaimed.
Napoleon raised an eyebrow. “The other?”
Wye sneered. “We never really met, but I saw you in the park the day your partner gutted my partner.”
“Ah.” Napoleon nodded, suddenly understanding. “And you would be the enemy agent who planted a bullet in my shoulder right after that.”
“You got that right.” Wye stepped closer to Napoleon. “You’re lucky I’m not in the revenge-taking mood. I would be if Ecks wasn’t alive and breathin’ right now.”
“I’m sure you would,” Napoleon said, holding his ground despite a certain nervousness welling in his veins. “I remember what Illya told me about your attack on our lady friend back at Mr. Zed’s house. But for what it’s worth, I feel I should tell you that I wasn’t fully in support of Illya’s actions. We could have subdued your partner without being so gruesome.”
“Maybe you could have,” Wye said. “Ecks is a scrapper, he is.”
“I did get that impression,” said Napoleon.
The door opened then and both Ecks and Illya stepped out. Napoleon and Wye both stared at them.
“Well, isn’t this a fine thing,” Wye grunted. “How did you two meet up like this?”
“Apparently we both like desserts,” Illya said.
“Did you have a nice visit?” Napoleon asked.
“Let’s say no one used any weapons,” Illya said. “That makes it about as nice a visit as we could hope to have.”
Ecks nodded in agreement. “I hope I won’t see you later, Kuryakin.”
“For a while you couldn’t stop stalking me,” Illya said. “I take it that game is over.”
“I don’t need to stalk you now,” Ecks said. “I’ve accomplished my purpose, letting you know I’m still around.”
“And if you’re done collecting your sweets, I suggest we take our leave of these gentlemen,” Wye said flatly.
“I’m perfectly agreeable to that,” said Ecks. He smirked at Napoleon and Illya, touching the brim of his hat. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” Napoleon said with definite uncertainty.
Illya nodded his farewell.
“That was . . . interesting,” Napoleon said slowly, watching the two former enemy agents head off down the sidewalk.
“I suppose the chances of our running into them repeatedly are quite high,” Illya remarked. “I can’t help wondering if they get along living together any better than we did on that one case.”
“If they do, perhaps we should take a lesson from them,” Napoleon said.
“Meanwhile, I find that a more pressing question is whether this city is big enough for the four of us,” Illya intoned.
Napoleon inclined his head slightly. “I suppose we’ll soon find out.”
Day/Theme: March 23rd - while we live, we hold our heads high
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye, Illya Kuryakin, Napoleon Solo
Rating: K/G
By Lucky_Ladybug
Ecks had always had a certain sweet tooth. As he went out job-hunting one morning in the wilds of Manhattan, he spotted a candy store and ducked in to look around.
He wasn’t expecting to run across an unwelcome and familiar face while reaching to investigate a box of caramels with peanut butter centers. Someone else grabbed the box at the same time, from the other side of the display.
“Oh, excuse me,” the man said, a Russian tint to his voice.
Ecks stiffened. “By all means, Kuryakin. Take it.” His tone was dark and unpleasant.
Illya Kuryakin, Russian U.N.C.L.E. agent and the man responsible for the ghastly scar across Ecks’ stomach, whipped around the display with a start. “What are you doing here?!”
“Looking for something to eat. Isn’t everybody?” Ecks picked up another box of the same caramel candy, looked it over, and decided to take it.
Illya frowned. “I tracked you to a motel, but the manager informed me you had left.”
Ecks sneered. “So you still don’t know where we’re holed up.”
“Quite frankly, no.” Illya took a box of the caramels and followed Ecks to a chocolate-covered strawberries display. “That disturbs me. It also disturbs my boss.”
“You don’t think I’ll really help you out on that point, do you?” Ecks retorted.
“No, I suppose not,” Illya replied. “But I can follow you when you leave here.”
“And I’ll lose you,” Ecks grinned. “You’re never going to get the drop on me again. I’ll make sure of that.”
“I won’t come after you with ill intent unless I learn you’ve become an enemy again,” Illya insisted.
“I’m certainly not a friend,” Ecks grunted.
“No, but as far as I know, you’re not working against me on a case. Neither is your friend Mr. Wye.”
“Then you believe me about Mr. Wye having survived as well as me,” Ecks said.
“The motel manager informed me the both of you were there,” Illya replied.
“We were, and we’re still staying together now.” Ecks slipped his hands into his trenchcoat pockets and started to circle Illya in a threatening manner.
Illya watched him, on guard but unmoved. “How nice for you to not have to make the adjustment to being a civilian all alone.”
“You think it would be difficult for me?” Ecks taunted. Illya might or might not know that Ecks had never known anything else but the organization. Ecks certainly wasn’t going to reveal it voluntarily.
“I believe every agent has difficulties with that task when the time comes,” Illya said calmly. “And you have just admitted to me that you have not been hired by anyone to undergo any new espionage affairs.”
Ecks curled his lip in displeasure. “I did no such thing. I only asked you if you thought I would have difficulty adjusting if that were the case.”
“Perhaps,” Illya responded.
“You think we’re not capable of it?” Ecks asked. “There’s always a high demand for freelancers.”
“A high demand for freelance mercenaries and assassins,” Illya said. “I don’t know about freelance spies in particular.”
“If you’re so concerned about what we’re up to, maybe you should learn more about it,” Ecks smirked.
“Have no doubt that I will.” Illya stepped out of Ecks’ circle. “Now, if you will excuse me.”
“By all means,” Ecks gestured at the cash register.
****
Wye, who had gone looking for Ecks after attempting a job interview, stumbled across Napoleon Solo quite by accident outside the candy shop. “You’re that other U.N.C.L.E. agent!” he exclaimed.
Napoleon raised an eyebrow. “The other?”
Wye sneered. “We never really met, but I saw you in the park the day your partner gutted my partner.”
“Ah.” Napoleon nodded, suddenly understanding. “And you would be the enemy agent who planted a bullet in my shoulder right after that.”
“You got that right.” Wye stepped closer to Napoleon. “You’re lucky I’m not in the revenge-taking mood. I would be if Ecks wasn’t alive and breathin’ right now.”
“I’m sure you would,” Napoleon said, holding his ground despite a certain nervousness welling in his veins. “I remember what Illya told me about your attack on our lady friend back at Mr. Zed’s house. But for what it’s worth, I feel I should tell you that I wasn’t fully in support of Illya’s actions. We could have subdued your partner without being so gruesome.”
“Maybe you could have,” Wye said. “Ecks is a scrapper, he is.”
“I did get that impression,” said Napoleon.
The door opened then and both Ecks and Illya stepped out. Napoleon and Wye both stared at them.
“Well, isn’t this a fine thing,” Wye grunted. “How did you two meet up like this?”
“Apparently we both like desserts,” Illya said.
“Did you have a nice visit?” Napoleon asked.
“Let’s say no one used any weapons,” Illya said. “That makes it about as nice a visit as we could hope to have.”
Ecks nodded in agreement. “I hope I won’t see you later, Kuryakin.”
“For a while you couldn’t stop stalking me,” Illya said. “I take it that game is over.”
“I don’t need to stalk you now,” Ecks said. “I’ve accomplished my purpose, letting you know I’m still around.”
“And if you’re done collecting your sweets, I suggest we take our leave of these gentlemen,” Wye said flatly.
“I’m perfectly agreeable to that,” said Ecks. He smirked at Napoleon and Illya, touching the brim of his hat. “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” Napoleon said with definite uncertainty.
Illya nodded his farewell.
“That was . . . interesting,” Napoleon said slowly, watching the two former enemy agents head off down the sidewalk.
“I suppose the chances of our running into them repeatedly are quite high,” Illya remarked. “I can’t help wondering if they get along living together any better than we did on that one case.”
“If they do, perhaps we should take a lesson from them,” Napoleon said.
“Meanwhile, I find that a more pressing question is whether this city is big enough for the four of us,” Illya intoned.
Napoleon inclined his head slightly. “I suppose we’ll soon find out.”