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section7mfuShort Affair 2/15
Prompt: Forgive
Color: White
Title: Regret, part II
Author: Rose of Pollux
Word Count: ~550
(This is a continuation of a non-challenge piece I did here and had some requests to continue; the first part is gen-mature for injuries, but this part is gen)
Napoleon hadn’t moved from the chair in hours—not since Illya had been brought in to Medical. The staff had assured him that the Russian’s injuries were not life-threatening, and it would just be a matter of dealing with the pain—and some painkillers would help with that.
Even so, Napoleon was not able to get rid of the guilt he had been feeling since he had found Illya in that THRUSH dungeon. A moment’s distraction on his part had led to Illya getting captured. And as an agent, distraction was something he should have guarded against, for reasons such as this.
He glanced back at his partner, lying tucked beneath the white sheets. For the past hour, Illya had been drifting in and out of awareness, but now, it seemed that he was, finally, waking.
Several minutes later, the blond’s blue eyes fluttered open, blinking a few times as he contemplated where he was.
“Illya?” Napoleon asked, softly.
The Russian’s head turned to face the American, and his expression looked content. He attempted to move, but found that his arms weren’t coordinated, and Napoleon gently grabbed his stray hands and place them back at his sides before he accidentally hit himself.
“They’ve given you some painkillers,” he explained. “You’re likely to remain a little loopy for a while.”
“Oh… I see…” Illya said, a slight slur evident in his voice. He frowned, trying to focus. “How… long…?”
“You’ve been out since I found you last night,” Napoleon said. “It’s ten in the morning now—nearly twelve hours.”
“Oh…” Illya said, again.
“Illya… Do you remember anything about what happened?” Napoleon asked.
“Da. They wanted information… I would not give it to them…”
“Illya…” Napoleon said, not sure that the Russian fully realized what had happened. “Illya, the only reason they were able to take you was because I wasn’t there to back you up. I let myself get distracted—”
Something seemed to click in Illya’s mind—as though he was remembering what had happened just prior to his abduction.
“Not your fault,” he slurred, at last.
“Illya…!”
“Got frustrated… Wasn’t paying attention…”
“You wouldn’t have gotten frustrated if I hadn’t…” Napoleon began, but he trailed off. “I shouldn’t have gotten sidetracked. And I shouldn’t have let you go off alone. Illya, I am so sorry. I realize it’s rather empty for me to be saying that now, but--”
“I forgive you.”
Napoleon could only stare.
“Illya…”
“Napoleon… you are my partner,” Illya reminded him. “I know… you would never… abandon me. The fact that I am safe now… is a testament to your concern.”
Napoleon gave one of Illya’s hands a gentle squeeze with his own.
“Of course it is,” he agreed. “But just tell me, Illya—if there’s anything I can do for you now—anything at all… All you have to do is ask.”
“Just… stay,” Illya said.
Napoleon blinked in surprise. He had been intending to go after Illya’s attackers now that he was on the mend. But, clearly, Illya didn’t want him putting himself in danger alone—and, perhaps, simply wanted his company during his recovery.
“Of course I will, Tovarisch,” Napoleon promised. “I’ll be right here.”
Content, Illya gave a quiet sigh and drifted back to sleep as Napoleon continued to keep a watchful, caring eye over him.
Prompt: Forgive
Color: White
Title: Regret, part II
Author: Rose of Pollux
Word Count: ~550
(This is a continuation of a non-challenge piece I did here and had some requests to continue; the first part is gen-mature for injuries, but this part is gen)
Napoleon hadn’t moved from the chair in hours—not since Illya had been brought in to Medical. The staff had assured him that the Russian’s injuries were not life-threatening, and it would just be a matter of dealing with the pain—and some painkillers would help with that.
Even so, Napoleon was not able to get rid of the guilt he had been feeling since he had found Illya in that THRUSH dungeon. A moment’s distraction on his part had led to Illya getting captured. And as an agent, distraction was something he should have guarded against, for reasons such as this.
He glanced back at his partner, lying tucked beneath the white sheets. For the past hour, Illya had been drifting in and out of awareness, but now, it seemed that he was, finally, waking.
Several minutes later, the blond’s blue eyes fluttered open, blinking a few times as he contemplated where he was.
“Illya?” Napoleon asked, softly.
The Russian’s head turned to face the American, and his expression looked content. He attempted to move, but found that his arms weren’t coordinated, and Napoleon gently grabbed his stray hands and place them back at his sides before he accidentally hit himself.
“They’ve given you some painkillers,” he explained. “You’re likely to remain a little loopy for a while.”
“Oh… I see…” Illya said, a slight slur evident in his voice. He frowned, trying to focus. “How… long…?”
“You’ve been out since I found you last night,” Napoleon said. “It’s ten in the morning now—nearly twelve hours.”
“Oh…” Illya said, again.
“Illya… Do you remember anything about what happened?” Napoleon asked.
“Da. They wanted information… I would not give it to them…”
“Illya…” Napoleon said, not sure that the Russian fully realized what had happened. “Illya, the only reason they were able to take you was because I wasn’t there to back you up. I let myself get distracted—”
Something seemed to click in Illya’s mind—as though he was remembering what had happened just prior to his abduction.
“Not your fault,” he slurred, at last.
“Illya…!”
“Got frustrated… Wasn’t paying attention…”
“You wouldn’t have gotten frustrated if I hadn’t…” Napoleon began, but he trailed off. “I shouldn’t have gotten sidetracked. And I shouldn’t have let you go off alone. Illya, I am so sorry. I realize it’s rather empty for me to be saying that now, but--”
“I forgive you.”
Napoleon could only stare.
“Illya…”
“Napoleon… you are my partner,” Illya reminded him. “I know… you would never… abandon me. The fact that I am safe now… is a testament to your concern.”
Napoleon gave one of Illya’s hands a gentle squeeze with his own.
“Of course it is,” he agreed. “But just tell me, Illya—if there’s anything I can do for you now—anything at all… All you have to do is ask.”
“Just… stay,” Illya said.
Napoleon blinked in surprise. He had been intending to go after Illya’s attackers now that he was on the mend. But, clearly, Illya didn’t want him putting himself in danger alone—and, perhaps, simply wanted his company during his recovery.
“Of course I will, Tovarisch,” Napoleon promised. “I’ll be right here.”
Content, Illya gave a quiet sigh and drifted back to sleep as Napoleon continued to keep a watchful, caring eye over him.
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no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 11:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 07:57 pm (UTC)Good chapter! Are you continuing the story as a WIP?
no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 11:44 pm (UTC)And yes, if I get the inspiration, I would like to continue this!
no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 10:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 11:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 11:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 11:40 pm (UTC)Very touching. One was hurting physically and the other, emotionally.
no subject
Date: 2016-02-15 11:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-16 04:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-02-16 07:31 pm (UTC)And indeed, Illya has more than one reason for wanting Napoleon to stay, and, of course, he will.