"Run!" For the PicFic Tuesday Challenge

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

The two men were struggling for air as they ran along the the icy gravel covered road. It would have been rather picturesque with the snow laden pine trees on either side had it not been so bitter cold. With those frigid temperatures it made it not only difficult but painful for the two men to breathe.

Still they couldn’t stop, they had to keep going.

“Illya can you see them?” Solo gasped as he slowed down just a bit.

“Keep moving, and no, but they cannot be that far ahead of us, there have been no tracks indicating they have left the road. The instructions were to stay the course.”

Napoleon stopped, coughing as he tried to calm himself and take deeper more even breaths. Still it hurt to do so.

“How the hell can you keep moving like this and not even look like you’re breaking a sweat?” He gasped at the Russian.

“That is because I jog nearly every day, no matter what the weather conditions, you on the other hand spend too much of your time wining and dining the ladies. Eventually all those bourgeois dinners will catch up with you...there!” Illya suddenly pointed at two lone figures just ahead of them as they rounded the bend. “They are right there! Hurry, we can still get ton them.”

Illya dashed ahead, catching up with and passing their quarry, and crossed the finish line ahead of them.

Mark Slate fell to his knees, struggling to breathe as was Kitt Kittridge, Napoleon however, barely trotted past them, coming in last but looking none the worse for wear as he’d stopped long enough to catch his breath.

“Gentlemen, that was terrible!” Jules Cutter barked while holding up a stop watch. He turned to Alexander Waverly who was seated in a nearby sleigh, comfortably covered with a fur throw blanket.

“Indeed,” the Old Man harrumphed.”This Winter Survival School was a masterful idea. Apparently the annual recertification requirements will have to be updated.”

“Mr Kuryakin’s time was acceptable enough, but the others weren’t in my book Alexander. None of our agents are in tip top condition as far as I’m concerned,” Cutter growled. “These four are supposed to be our best.”

Waverly cleared his throat.“That settles it then, going forward we will have both a warm and cold weather Survival School...as well as a physical fitness program for our current field agents.”

All four agents merely glanced at each other, not giving away their real thoughts on the matter...which weren’t happy.

“Now gentlemen if you’ll return with me to the chalet, we can discuss the particulars of this new program. Mr. Kuryakin if you’d be so good as to drive my sleigh. The others can...ahem, jog behind. No time like the present, eh wot? Jules if you’ll join me? “Waverly held up the fur blanket.

“No thanks Alexander, I think I’ll bring up the rear to make sure there’s no slackers.” He gave Napoleon the stink eye and whispered to him on the side. “And you were the best of the best, you’ve really become a disappointment Solo. You’ve let yourself go.”

Napoleon squared his shoulders. He knew that wasn’t true, well not completely. Maybe it was time to cut back on those late night suppers. He could make up for it other ways with the ladies. That thought brought a twinkle to his eye.

As Kuryakin walked over to the sleigh, Napoleon pinched him by the sleeve of his coat, pulling him to a stop.

“Show off. You realize you’re going to pay for this.”

“To use your phraseology...Moi? I merely keep myself in good physical condition in order to properly do my job,” The Russian climbed up into the sleigh and took hold of the reins.

“Chk-chk,” he clicked to get the horses moving and flicked the whip, prodding them to a quick gallop.

Waverly chuckled,” Not too fast young man, don’t want to wear them out completely.”

“The horses sir?”

“You know exactly to whom I’m referring young man,” the Old Man said, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice..

“Yes sir,” Illya flashed a crooked smile.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I guess there'll be some new "Winter Survival School" stories coming out of this one. "D