section7mfu | The Double Blond Affair chapter 11

Napoleon and Illya had returned to headquarters with nothing to show for their efforts except for Illya’s memory of the kiss he’d received from Shirley. Whoever the man was they were chasing, he had certainly left an impression on the girl, and she had left quite an impression on Illya.

Napoleon took note of the uncharacteristic mood, not the usual Russian melancholy but something more wistful. He remembered what it had felt like to meet his own double, but that had been an unnatural encounter; the man’s features had been surgically altered to replicate the handsome American. This fellow Mallard, he was just a freak occurrence, and he wondered how Illya would react when the two met face to face.

“Illya, penny for your thoughts.”

The blond turned to look at his partner, the kiss evaporating once more as he determined to think only of the work and not of soft lips and …

“This fellow seems to be rather carefree, does he not? He comes here on holiday, meets women and encounters THRUSH in a museum… ‘

A smile bloomed across the Russian’s face, his eyes a shade of blue that usually reflected an elevated mood.

“He is having himself quite a time. I look forward to meeting this Ducky Mallard.”

“I imagine he’s keen to meet you as well, tovarisch. Being mistaken for Illya Kuryakin isn’t exactly a free ride, especially with a bunch of thugs chasing you.”

Illya steepled his fingers in front of his face, the stern expression returning.

“Yes, you are probably right about that. I hope…’

The phone rang, prompting Napoleon to reach for it and answer.

“Solo.”

He looked up at Illya as he was reaching for a pencil and paper…

“Yes. Great, thank you Vera. Oh… yes, Thursday is still on. B’bye.”

Illya’s brows shot up questioningly.

“Vera? The girl from …?”

Napoleon nodded, a grin on his satisfied face.

“And, she has a message for us from Mr. Mallard. He’s waiting for us at a diner outside of the city…”

Napoleon proceeded to fill Illya in on the details as they were exiting headquarters. By the time they had walked out of Del Floria’s they had a plan in motion.