"Deconstructing Illya"~ for the Short Affair Challenge 10/10

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Challenge: The Short Affair

-Prompt Word #2 – Adapt

-Prompt Colour – Black

Author: mrua7

Title: “Deconstructing Illya”

Word count: Approximately 1000

Illya Kuryakin was often accused of being a bit inflexible, and rather stubborn, at least that’s how he came across to some people...correction, everyone who didn’t know him well.

One of the lab technicians...a woman from the south once referred to him as mulish and cantankerous. The Russian as usual shrugged it off; his face placid and unrevealing.

These remarks were merely a matter of opinion and he held little store in people’s assessments of him, other than Mr. Waverly of course.  Illya told himself he was there at the U.N.C.L.E. to do a job and not to make friends, yet in spite of that mantra he managed to pick up a few friends along the way.

They were his partner of course, April Dancer, Mark Slate, George Dennell, Wanda and Heather and a number of the women in translations. He’d charmed a few of the secretaries, namely Dawn, Glenna, Adrienne and Marian and yet he still managed to keep to himself.

It was Napoleon Solo who was the one who had Kuryakin’s number. Despite the Russian’s standoffishness, the American managed to get Illya to lower his guard just enough for them to become the best of friends who’d see each other through thick and thin.

Illya had his secrets, though most spies did, but his were deep and dark and not all were related to his profession. Some he finally shared with Napoleon, but, no one else.

Only Alexander Waverly knew more about Kuryakin, but that information was in a private dossier kept secure in the CCO’s office, for his eyes only.

Knowing some of Illya’s private background revealed by the man himself allowed Solo to see a side of the Russian that no one else knew existed. Illya was admittedly determined and single-minded, tenacious, focused and Napoleon knew why. Illya’s Persevering and opinionated could also be applied to Kuryakin’s personality.

Napoleon now knew the ‘Ice Prince’ had a soft side to him...even a gentleness. He was actually a caring person, devoted and unwavering in his loyalty. He had a wickedly dry sense of humor as well, and well, opinionated too. Sometimes he came across like a know-it-all.

Truth be told, the man was brilliant. Earning a Master’s degree and his Doctorate from the Sorbonne and Cambridge respectively were nothing to sneeze at either. Illya was the only Section II agent who could easily work in Research and Development as well...and sometimes he did so.

Others saw Kuryakin as stiff-necked and unyielding but Solo saw a man who could adapt to any situation when needed. Illya Kuryakin was a chameleon, physically and even emotionally.

He’d seen Illya with children, and cats...well not dogs, that underlying fear of canines was another story.  Illya could soothe a crying child and have them smiling and laughing in a minute...making that silly quaking sound that he did.  And cats, those darned cats flocked to him like moths to a flame. If there was a cat in a room, it would be in Illya’s lap in a second.

The man, to many, was simply an enigma, a mystery.  In a way Napoleon supposed that was an apt description of a good spy.

“Hmmm,” Napoleon thought to himself.”Maybe he needed to work on that mysterious persona himself?” He was pretty predictable when it came to women. Perhaps he needed to dress in black and swear off the ladies for a while; be aloof like his partner.

“Nah!” Solo laughed to himself. “Black and practically being a monk were Illya’s thing.”

The pneumatic doors to the office opened with a quiet whoosh, and in walked the Russian, dressed in his black suit and wearing a black turtleneck.

“What are you finding so amusing?” He asked.

Napoleon eyed his partner’s attire and laughed again. “You know you really do have your own style tovarisch.”

“And this is funny? There is nothing wrong with the way I am dressed.” He flopped down on the office sofa.

“No not funny at all. I was thinking about dressing all in black myself when you walked through the door dressed in your usual black attire. I was thinking of adding an air of mystery to my look.”

Illya squinted at his partner, scrutinizing him for a few seconds.

“Stick with your own style my friend. You are who you are, and you should never change. You and I, we balance each other perfectly.  Dark and light, a pessimist and an optimist,” Illya snickered.”You a snappy dresser and me, who prefers functionality.”

“That’s pretty much what I decided,” Napoleon nodded.”Black is definitely not my color.”

“Black is not a color; a black object absorbs all the colors of the visible spectrum and reflects none of them to the eyes,” Illya corrected him, as usual.

“So it sounds like black almost makes you invisible,” Napoleon chuckled again. Though it was true, if there were ever a man who could make himself invisible it was Illya Kuryakin.

“Only in the dark my friend,” this time it was the Russian’s turn to laugh.” He looked at his watch. “Come it is time for lunch and I hear they are serving a Halloween themed menu.”

“Oh really? And what pray tell is that?”

“Blood sausage and peppers, frankenweenies with beans, roast beast, and dead man meatloaf, hand sandwiches to name a few. There are ladyfingers in some sort of dessert called ambrosia, though it has been renamed witches brew, I think.”

“Sounds delish,”Napoleon cringed.”Could we just go get some Chinese food instead?”

“Where is the fun in that my friend?” Kuryakin cocked his eyebrows, with an impish smile.

“Illya, are you up to some devilment?”

“Hmmm, perhaps. I thought you might like to be in on it.”

Napoleon followed his partner out the door, mentally adding ‘mischief maker’ to his list of Illya’s personality traits.

Comments

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I trust this is going to be followed up :-D

You have describes all the facets of our favourite Russian just perfectly. He is much more complex than most people realise.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you liked it, though I wasn't sure about this one.

Not sure if I'll follow this one up or not...sometimes things might be better off left to the imagination. "D

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

Very nice, I really like the character study of Illya through Napoleon's eyes. Although I'm with Napoleon on the matter of the Halloween delicacies on offer. Bleh.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Ahhh good, someone else grossed out by the Halloween menu! Thanks so much for the compliment, and for commenting on the story. Glad you liked it.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Frankenweenies with beans sounds deadly. I'm with Napoleon. Go for the Chinese food.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Chinese-schminese...they can have that any day. It's only Halloween once a year, and with Illya having some mischief in mind... you know where I'd rather be. :D

Thank for commenting!