The New Kid on the Block~chapter 5

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

link to chapter 4: http://section7mfu.livejournal.com/168974.html
___________________________________________





 The next morning April was called to Mr. Waverly's office and given her first real assignment; she would go with Napoleon to   check out a report that T.H.R.U.S.H. was trying its hand in the gambling business in the United States. There were rumors the feathered ones had taken over one of the smaller casinos in Las Vegas.

It was surmised, Waverly said, that there was more than gambling going on at the casino and he needed Solo and Dancer to find out what it was.

April questioned that it might be better if Illya was on this mission instead of her. Napoleon flashed her a look, but it was too late. He knew better than to question the Old Man's judgement...oh well, she had to learn eventually.

"Now now, my dear. If I thought you incapable of handling such an assignment then you would not have even made it to Section II. Buck up and follow Mr. Solo's lead. I'm sure you will do well enough. Now the two of you are dismissed, as you have some preparations to make for your cover. Mr. Solo will explain that to you."

She was going to say something, but this time Napoleon got her attention and gave her a stern look that made her bite her tongue.

Once outside the office he let her know. "April, Mr. Waverly didn't become number one Section I on his good looks you know. He's one of the founding members of the organization and I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing. You got off easy today, as it's usually not a wise decision to question him."

"Oh dear, have I messed up already?" She smiled coyly. "Don't worry Napoleon, I'll do my best on our assignment. I was just concerned that a greenhorn such as myself would best serve the mission. I think Mr. Waverly got that."

"Oh he most certainly did. Now, we have to head down to wardrobe to pick up some proper clothing for Vegas. We'll be going as a high stakes gambler and his girlfriend. We're going to carry $100,000 in cash to bankroll any gambling I need to do to get T.H.R.U.S.H.'s attention.

Down in wardrobe, Napoleon eased through the choices in attire like one well versed in finer clothing. Come to think of it, he was wearing a pretty snazzy, and expensive looking suit.

As she gathered a few dresses, he eyed them.

"Those won't do, no Carnaby Street outfits for you my dear. You want expensive, couture..."

He took a black dress from the rack, holding it up for her to see. "Like this," he smiled. "Every beautiful woman should have a little black dress in her closet."

She cocked her head, not sure if he was flirting with her or was serious.

The dresser from wardrobe agreed with him, and that was an older woman's point of view.

"Mr. Solo is right dearest, you need chic not trendy. Nothing neon or bright colors except perhaps red." She held up a chiffon dress, that was maybe knee-length, and April reacted quite nicely to that."

"I see what you mean. Would you mind continuing selecting my clothes Napoleon?"

"I would be delighted," he smiled at her charmingly. He went to the rack that was her size and after sorting through it, he held up a few lovely dresses. These will do nicely I think, he said to the dresser. Now for a few pencil skirts, blouses and some casual clothes, and of course swimwear for the hotel pool."

"Swim wear? Honestly Napoleon I don't think we'll have much time for that."

"Oh, we'll...I mean you'll make time for that. T.H.R.U.S.H has no idea UNCLE has a female operative among its ranks, and you my dear will make a stellar distraction to what ever feathered folk wandering around the place, and that includes the pool. That will make a quite a spectacular début for you don't you think?" He held up a very tiny bright green bikini with yellow polka dots.

April exhaled slowly. "Wow, it most certainly will."

"And don't forget this Miss Dancer," the dresser held out a mink coat."No fashionable girl can be without one, especially if her boyfriend is a rich gambler."

"Oh, yes but of course." April hugged it to her. "Mmmm, a girl could get used to this."

"And please be sure that this comes back to us?"

"Scouts honor," April smiled.

"Hey that's my line," Napoleon whispered to her as he helped her slip on the coat. "You do look gorgeous in it."

"Down boy." April whispered.

"One more thing." The dresser handed Napoleon a black jewelry case.

He opened it finding a gold tie bar, money clip and cufflinks, all diamond studded, as well as a pair of diamond cluster earrings in the shape of a leaf, a diamond pendant and a charm bracelet, all seemingly set in white gold.

"The money clip and cufflinks are the usual explosive kind, as are the charms on the bracelet and the earrings. The tie bar and pendant have homing chips embedded in them and you can synchronize your communicators to them.

"Are the diamonds real?"

"Some are yes, but they're not of extremely high quality, the other stones are simulants."

"Well looks like we're armed and ready Miss Dancer," Napoleon said as they left to pack some more personal items.

.

By one in the afternoon they were winging their way to Las Vegas on board one of UNCLE's private jets. The flight would allow Napoleon some time to get to know UNCLES only female agent a bit better. He seemed to have gotten off on the wrong footing with her and wanted to remedy that, though their time spent picking up their wardrobe went well.

As they settled down to a light lunch of sandwiches and coffee served by the cabin attendant the pilot's voice came over the loudspeaker.

"I suggest you all buckle your seatbelts as we are going to run into a slight bit of turbulence. I am going to take her up in altitude to see if I can skirt above it...and yes Napoleon it is me."

"Is that Illya?" April asked. She could sense a bit of tension in Napoleon's voice when he answered her question.

"Yes it is. Excuse me, I need to have a word with him."

Napoleon entered the cockpit, and the look in his eyes told the copilot to make himself scarce.

"So what's the deal? Waverly didn't send a Section II agent to act as a taxicab driver and I wasn't told you were to be involved with this affair."

"No, I am not a cabbie and I am not on assignment with you and April. I have my own mission to complete. Your regular pilot took ill at the last-minute and rather than wait for another to arrive, I volunteered to fly, seeing as how I was to head to Las Vegas anyway."

"Oh, umm okay. So what's your assignment?"

"Seems there has been large amount of counterfeit money surfacing in many of the casinos, more than usual. I will be working with members of your American F.B.I as well as U.S. treasury agents to find the source...I wonder perhaps if your assignment might be better way than to circulate what you call 'funny money' than to distribute it through a casino?"

"That sounds like a very interesting hypothesis my friend, thanks. That'll give me and April something more specific to look for. Speaking of April...how'd your date go with her?"

"Date? I had no date with April."

"Wait, she told me she was going with you to Little Russia."

"Ah yes. We did go there but it was not for a date. I was merely helping her with her Russian as her accent was a bit off. What better way than to immerse yourself in a language than by surrounding yourself with native speakers. Unlike someone I know, she has an excellent ear and made great improvements in the short time we were together."

"Hmm, together?"

"Napoleon get your mind out of the street, there was nothing untoward..."

"That's 'get your mind out of the gutter' Illya. And you mean to tell me that you were with a gorgeous woman like her and nothing happened?"

"Yes, nothing happened, nor will it. We are co-workers and that is how it will stay." Illya flicked the switch for autopilot, and turned to his partner.

"I hope you are not planning to make any of the Solo moves on her. She is an agent and needs to be given respect...she is not one of your female playthings. April is a professional, just as we are..."

"My, getting a little defensive of her aren't you? Are you sure nothing happened?"

"Yes I am sure, now go away, I need to pilot this thing."

"Illya, it's on auto pilot."

"I know, but I still need to watch the controls. Vyklyucheniya s vami_ off with you." Illya dismissed his partner with a wave of his hand.

Solo returned to his seat, finishing his lunch before he finally spoke up.

"April, you and Illya had a date last night, and as your CEA I have to ask, did anything happen between the two of you?"

Her face flushed red. "Napoleon, number one I'm not that kind of girl, nor do I kiss and tell. But since you are my superior I'll tell you just this once...nothing happened, it was not a date. Illya was merely helping me with my Russian."

Solo cocked an eyebrow, thinking in all the times Illya tried to help him with his Russian, he never once took him to Brighton Beach and that made him to continue to wonder just a bit about his partner and April Dancer.

Before the flight landed, Napoleon suggested they change into attire to fit their parts. April disappeared to the back of the plane, and a short while later she returned dressed in a shimmering silver-grey clinging knit number and carrying the mink coat with her.

Napoleon whistled a cat call as she turned in place, modelling the dress he'd chosen for her.

"I bet you do that for all the girls," she laughed softly.

"Not all, and I must say my choice suits you well my dear."

"Okay, time to stop ogling and for you to change darling."

"I wasn't ogling, I was admiring." He went to the rear of the plane as well, carrying a garment bag with him, and when he returned April whistled at him as well. "Well don't you clean up nicely."

"I bet you say that to all the men you meet."

"Only handsome city slickers. That's a gorgeous suit Napoleon, I must say wardrobe has surprisingly expensive clothing for us to use."

"Um, actually this is my suit. It's made by an Italian designer."

"Well it's nice to know I'll be accompanied by a man of good taste."

"Thank you, I aim to please."

April found herself forming a different opinion of Napoleon Solo, though she was sure his reputation with the women was justified, she found him well-mannered, charming and quite handsome. He and Illya seemed as different as night and day, and thought it interesting how the two had managed to become best friends is spite of being so mismatched in many ways.

Napoleon was obviously a natty dresser, while Illya was very basic in his attire. The American was chatty and flirtatious while the Russian chose his words very carefully and as far as flirting was concerned, it seemed nonexistent. They were an odd pair, but they were the best. April considered herself lucky at that moment, having the opportunity to learn from and work with UNCLE's best.

Illya's voice came over the loudspeaker again, alerting them to the fact he was beginning the descent to the airport outside of Las Vegas.

Napoleon watched April as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Landings make you nervous?"

"No, just thinking about the mission. I have to be honest, I'm a little on edge about it."

"Hey, you're with me kiddo. You'll do fine." He reached out, taking her hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze just as the jet touched down.

Comments

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

Interesting converstaion! Love Napoleon sneaking... and "Solo cocked an eyebrow, thinking in all the times Illya tried to help him with his Russian, he never once took him to Brighton Beach"... so funny!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Seems people are hoping for an Illya/April romance in this story, but will see as it progresses. Thanks for commenting!