section7mfu | The ABC Affair Challenge 2019

Napoleon Solo was taking a circuitous route to U.N.C.L.E.’s New Orleans field office, making sure to double back on himself several times, and even taking cuts through stores and restaurants. His intention was to avoid detection by Thrush and, therefore, safely deliver the microfilm he was carrying. He’d already picked up and lost one tail, but now had acquired himself another.

Ducking into an alley, Napoleon soon found himself with limited options. The alley was a dead end, and there was seemingly only one door open to him. With no other choices available, he entered into, what turned out to be, the kitchen of a restaurant in an upscale hotel. Suddenly, Napoleon once again had wiggle room.

Rather than go straight into the main public areas, Solo stuck to the service corridors, which were normally used by the staff. After a few minutes, he deemed it safe to go out into the open, and look for the main exit. Pushing open the next door he came to, Napoleon found himself in some sort of dressing area. The only occupant of the room looked at him questioningly.

She was a slender blonde woman, with exceptionally green eyes, and was dressed in an opulent white and gold gown. On the vanity in front of her was an ornately bejewelled crown.

“Do I have the honour of being in the presence of the Queen of Mardi Gras?” Napoleon asked.

“You do indeed,” the woman replied, showing no fear at there being a strange man in the room. “May I help you?”

With an extravagant sweep of the arm, Napoleon bent at the waist in a long, low bow.

“Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty,” he said. “There are people following me with whom I have no wish to become entangled. Would you mind if I use this room as a means of escape?”

“Are you an escaped criminal?”

“No,” he assured her. “I’m one of the good guys.”

“Pity,” she said sadly. “That would have been much more exciting.”

If only you knew, thought Napoleon, wryly.

“You may pass through, on one condition,” the woman continued.

Standing up, she took hold of Napoleon’s face, and drew him in for a kiss. Solo, without stopping, moved her hands aside and took her in an embrace. The kiss lasted for several long seconds before the woman finally pulled away.

“If anyone comes looking,” she said, huskily. “You were never here.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Napoleon replied, offering another bow.

Blowing her a final kiss, he left her alone once again, and resumed his journey to the field office.

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