Short Affairs for September 19, 2016: The Surprise Party

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Special Prompt: Happy Birthday, Illya Kuryakin!

I was sitting in April and Mark’s office bouncing around ideas as we tried to figure out how to get my birthday – ignoring partner to the gym for his surprise party.

“Maybe we’re overthinking it,” Mark said before demolishing what was left of his candy bar.  “I mean, the party’s set, everybody knows about it, The Old Man has promised that, unless the world is ending, we’re not being assigned to affairs before Wednesday.  All we ’ave to do is get Illya into the gymnasium in a few hours!  What is the big bloody deal?”

“Illya is stubborn,” I answer, “Actually, I think rejecting the idea of birthday celebrations is his way of protecting himself.”

“Oh, so you think he cares, but prefers to act like he doesn’t?” April asked.

“Something like that,” I reply, “Remember how we literally had to chase him around the building when we wanted to take him out to dinner?*  When Glenna, Marian and some of the other support staff approached me about throwing him a party, I started to say no, but I really think a party might be just what Illya needs.  He’s been wound up tight as a drum for the last few days, I have no idea why.”

I watched April reapply her lipstick and check her look in the mirror and for the umpteenth time, felt a twinge of envy that such a beautiful woman found Illya attractive.  She’s so good for him.  “Do you have an idea, April?”

She smiled mysteriously and said, “Of course, Darling.  You and Illya meet Mark and me when I call.  Leave it to me.”

“Okay, see you two later.”  I left their office and headed back to Illya’ and my office.  “Hey, Tovarisch, I thought you were working in the lab this morning.”

“I was just about to leave; I needed to get some notes from my desk.  Just then his phone rang.  “Kuryakin.  Hi, April.  What?  I see, well, I was planning to eat at my desk…All right.  Of course.  I will.  See you later.”  He replaced the handset in its cradle.  “April wants to have lunch with us as she and Mark have to fly out to Idaho late this afternoon.”

“That works for me,” I said as I shrugged and pull some reports from my IN box.  “Did she say what time?”

“Between noon and twelve – thirty, she will call when they are ready.”

At twelve – fifteen, the office door slid open to reveal my Russian.  “She called you?”

“Yes, she and Mark are dancing in the gym in preparation for their mission and want us to critique their routine before we go to the Canteen.”

I knew that everyone who was attending had been instructed to be inside no later than noon and I was hoping there weren’t any stragglers.  We got to the door and, as I knew he would, Illya opened the door to allow me to go through first.  I put my hand on the door and indicated that he go ahead of me.

He stepped in and froze in his tracks when he saw everyone in the place looking at him.

“Happy Birthday, Illya!” we all yelled before bursting in applause.  

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

A good plan! Love it!

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Definitely a good thing April took over.