The Yesterday Affair - part 2

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Part 1

~~~~~:

Katya slowly pulled away from Illya, too much more of that and they would draw attention for a completely different reason.  Napoleon, who had witnessed his partner’s unusually ardent behavior with this mysterious woman, spoke up from his position at the bar.

“If you two are finished, I think we can safely get out of here now.  Those soldiers weren’t looking for us, but someone else will be.”

Napoleon was surprised that Katya’s presence seemed to have thrown the normally reserved Russian; this behavior was not what the American was used to. 

“Yes, I believe you are correct.’

Illya turned again to Katya, his face expressionless as he scrutinized the pretty brunette.  He must not let her get to him again, not like that.

“Katya, you go first, with Napoleon, and I will follow; just in case someone is following you.”

The two designated for the lead both nodded their heads.  Napoleon took Katya by the arm and led her out, laughing and talking as though they were enjoying themselves.  Illya followed at a discreet distance, watching the other side of the street for any type of interest in his partner and the woman who accompanied him.

At the end of a row of buildings Kayta turned into a little house.  She had a key, and Illya wondered if this was her house.  Foolish to let it be used like this, he thought.

Katya opened the door and stood aside for Napoleon to enter, not waiting for Illya.  She assumed he would enter some other way.  Illya smiled, just a little, remembering what a clever girl Katya was, and how she enjoyed trying to outsmart him.  Too long ago to remember the details, and yet he did.

When Illya was satisfied that no one was watching the house he crossed the street and walked around the house and into what appeared to be a small garden at its back.  There was not a fence of any sort, only a small clump of shrubberies and a little pathway to a small stoop.  With his typical stealth, Illya made his way to the back door, utilizing the shadows and always watchful for prying eyes at his back.

From within Katya heard the small rapping noise on her back door.  She nodded to Napoleon who had withdrawn his gun from the concealed holster and was poised for action, should it be necessary.  The outline of Illya’s head through the small window in the door eased Katya’s nerves as she reached for the doorknob.  Illya quickly entered as she was pulling back the door, not allowing it to be opened completely.

“Illya, you are as quick as ever.’

The woman felt an old memory returning, of late night rendezvous and stolen moments of pleasure.

“Did you see anyone?”

Illya shook his head in a familiar quick motion.

“Nyet, the streets were empty.’

Then, with a mischievous grin he asked…

“Do you have any food Katya Mikhailovna?”

She nodded, laughing at the familiar inquiry.

“Da, da… as always, I find some way to meet your hunger moy drug.”

That brought a genuine smile to Illya’s face.  He felt the weight of the years fall away then as he also remembered their youthful escapades, the passions of forbidden love and the real affection he had for this woman.

He kissed her on the cheek, and noticed the flush that filled Katya’s face.  Perhaps not only youthful emotions were present.

Napoleon watched this little scene from the adjoining living room, almost like a spectator in the audience of a play.  He didn’t often see Illya in this role, perhaps not since Marion Raven had he been aware of so much chemistry between his partner and a woman.  Once thing about his Russian friend, when he did have that connection with the opposite sex, it radiated a wide swath; that was something they didn’t need at the moment.

“So, did I hear something about food?  I believe I am a little peckish myself.”

Katya looked to Illya for a translation, eliciting a smile from the blond agent.

“He’s hungry, as am I.  May we impose upon your hospitality?”

As impulsive as the first time, the kiss Katya planted on Illya’s lips was more playful and did not linger in wait of a response.

“Da, I will fix you something. Sit and talk, I will be quick.  We are to meet the professor in less than an hour.”

Katya was true to her word and within a few minutes was serving them a meal of cold meats and cheese, with some pickled onions and hearty brown bread.  For this part of the world it was a sumptuous  offering.

“Katya, they pay you well to live here?  I do not recall such feasting in the old days.”

She frowned, a mock seriousness in her voice as she replied.

“I told you, Illya Nickovetch.  I am a spy, and I have ways of getting things to eat as well as sneaking people out of the country.”

The two men exchanged wary glances at that.  Illya had told her to be serious earlier, scolded her for being exposed to danger.  What if she really was a spy?  He hadn’t really believed it the first time she mentioned it.

“Katya, who do you work for?  Is it the Soviets, or …’

The look on her face made Napoleon stop in mid sentence, a realization dawning on him in tandem with many questions he would ask when back in New York.

“You work for UNCLE?”

Illya’s frown conveyed concern, frustration and surprise.  Katya was with UNCLE, and yet Waverly had chosen to leave out that detail. He must have known at least some of the history between them, the old man knew everything.

“Illyusha, you do not look pleased.  You are not the only Soviet recruit in the Command, you know.  Your lofty position is well known, but there are a few others of us who have been given permission to assist in achieving world order.”

Napoleon was completely astounded at this revelation, but he could tell by Illya’s expression he was not alone.

“And do your superiors know that you are helping to remove a respected intellectual from their control, to defect to the West?”

Katya shook her head, a memory of heated discussions and of this man’s superior attitude towards everything she ever tried to achieve.

“You have not changed, have you?  Always assuming that you know best, that I am some foolish little girl whose actions must be monitored by you!”

Illya rose up suddenly, pushing his chair away from the table as he stumbled around it.  Gone was the grace of movement that marked the man, he was angry and it was interfering with his usual calm demeanor.

“I only watch you to protect you, Katya.  This is dangerous business, something..”

Katya relaxed a little, no longer angry she walked to where Illya stood and, with great tenderness, caressed his cheek as she whispered something into his ear, out of Napoleon’s hearing.

The American saw his friend’s tension dissolve as Illya closed his eyes and seemed to drift into some faraway place, Katya’s effect on him almost hypnotic.

Who was this woman?

Comments

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

He he... Napoelon feels unsure, doesn't he? This Katia... Mmmm.... This is a quite pleasant situation!
Like the biys finding out that perhaps there are things about UNLE they don't know...

Wait for the next...

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Who was this woman indeed, "to have thrown the normally reserved Russian" Very good chapter and a nice little twist with Katiya's employer.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

So many things lay hidden, and yet Illya is responding to his memories as though ... well, they must be good memories.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I love it when Napoleon is left with a puzzled expression on his face.

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Very interesting, a woman from his past that seems to be able to make him appear happy--

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Katya and Kuryakin must share quite a past!
And look, she's an UNCLE agent, an excellent development.

I heartily agree with your observation about Kuryakin and women, Glenna: when he did have that connection with the opposite sex, it radiated a wide swath

I always noticed that, too. We don't see if often, but when we do, oh, baby.

So, tell me: Do you have your main plot figured out ahead of the time, or do you just sit yourself down and write each installment, and let the story evolve? Just wondering about your process in posting a serial!

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

That wide swath includes us, I suppose ;)
As to the process... hmmmm...
Sometimes I have a long term vision for a story, generally several 'scenes' that I know belong there. The actual writing of it is as much an adventure for me as it is for the reader, however, and I find myself discovering things along the way. I think it's part of the reason i enjoy doing them in the serial form, it's always fresh.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

I don't know if he's happy or not, but she does seem to know some triggers.