PicFic 2/26
Feb. 26th, 2013 11:36 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
avirra.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
section7mfu
Reflections
Napoleon and Illya were in their shared office catching up on a seeming mountain of paperwork when a dark haired, deeply tanned beauty stepped through their door without so much as a tap first. It took a total of three beats before the tension eased out of Illya.
"April?"
Now that his partner had spoken, Napoleon could see their fellow agent and friend underneath the altered skin and hair.
"Going undercover, I take it? Impressive disguise, by the way."
April seemed taken aback for a moment, then shook her head.
"I'm sorry - I'd forgotten all about this disguise bit. I could really use some help from you two."
"Of course, April. What's the problem?"
"It's Mark. Something seems to have freaked him out, but he won't talk to me about it."
"Freaked out in what way?
"It was the strangest thing, Napoleon. We'd just finished with getting the basics of our cover disguises done and were about to go through wardrobe when Mark stopped and stared. He threw the towel he had in his hand at the mirror in the room and then left. He's refusing to talk to me and he's locked himself in our office. I could get in, but I don't think forcing myself on him right now would be good. I was hoping -"
"That he might talk to one of us?"
"Exactly, Illya. Please?"
The two partners rose in unison, each of them laying a hand on one of April's shoulders briefly.
"We will try. Wait here."
Napoleon approached the door first and tapped. Mark's voice answered almost immediately.
"Give me a little while, April. I'll be fine - I just . . . need some time."
"I'm not April, but I'm willing to talk or listen if you need either, pal."
"Napoleon?"
"Illya's here with me to. We left April in our office. She's concerned."
"I know. I didn't mean to worry her."
Illya moved closer to the door.
"Please - can we come in?"
There was a pause and then they both heard the click of the door unlocking. They opened the door and entered without a word.
Mark was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. His skin had been darkened to a swarthy tone. His hair had been tightly permed, then it and his eyebrows dyed to a glossy blue-black. When he raised his head to look at them, his eyes were also changed to a rich chocolate brown. All in all, he looked nothing like his usual self.
"Talk to us, Mark. What is it?"
"I passed by that damn mirror and you know who I saw?"
Mark's eyes were looking down, so he didn't notice the glance that Illya and Napoleon exchanged before Napoleon answered softly.
"No. Who?"
"No idea. I caught a glance from the corner of my eye and thought it was some bloke I hadn't met yet. Then I realized it was a ruddy mirror. What kind of life am I leading that I've gotten to where I can't even recognize myself in a mirror?"
Acting in tandem, Napoleon and Illya flanked Mark as Illya spoke.
"You are an agent who is becoming very proficient in his job. We all occasionally lose track of where the mask ends and where we begin. That is one place where your partner is there for you. To help you strip off the mask and remember what was beneath it when the mission is over."
"You pair do that for one another?"
Nodding, Napoleon gave Mark's shoulder a tight sqiueeze.
"All the time. Very few people know us. They know the image that we show to the world - even when we aren't on a mission. Our partners though? They're the ones that really know us for who we are. April probably has the same concerns as you - or will, once she's thought it all over enough. You kids need to have a nice long talk before you head out on this mission tomorrow."
"I guess we do. Send her my way, would you? And thanks, mates."
As they walked back toward their own office, Napoleon nudged Illya.
"That really ever freak you out, tovarich? Not knowing yourself in a mirror?"
"Not so much that, Napoleon."
"Then what?"
"When the reality of how easy it would actually be to lose oneself in a role struck me. There have been moments when the role that I was leaving was more desirable than the reality I was returning to."
"But?"
"But? I am not built that way, my friend. In the end, I would rather live as a pauper in truth than a king in a lie."
"This is too heavy a conversation for a Tuesday morning. Let's go shoo April to her partner and go grab some lunch. Knock one off of that list of meals that I owe you."
"How did you know I was ready for lunch?"
"Because you're always ready for lunch, tovarich."
"You know me so well."
"April?"
Now that his partner had spoken, Napoleon could see their fellow agent and friend underneath the altered skin and hair.
"Going undercover, I take it? Impressive disguise, by the way."
April seemed taken aback for a moment, then shook her head.
"I'm sorry - I'd forgotten all about this disguise bit. I could really use some help from you two."
"Of course, April. What's the problem?"
"It's Mark. Something seems to have freaked him out, but he won't talk to me about it."
"Freaked out in what way?
"It was the strangest thing, Napoleon. We'd just finished with getting the basics of our cover disguises done and were about to go through wardrobe when Mark stopped and stared. He threw the towel he had in his hand at the mirror in the room and then left. He's refusing to talk to me and he's locked himself in our office. I could get in, but I don't think forcing myself on him right now would be good. I was hoping -"
"That he might talk to one of us?"
"Exactly, Illya. Please?"
The two partners rose in unison, each of them laying a hand on one of April's shoulders briefly.
"We will try. Wait here."
Napoleon approached the door first and tapped. Mark's voice answered almost immediately.
"Give me a little while, April. I'll be fine - I just . . . need some time."
"I'm not April, but I'm willing to talk or listen if you need either, pal."
"Napoleon?"
"Illya's here with me to. We left April in our office. She's concerned."
"I know. I didn't mean to worry her."
Illya moved closer to the door.
"Please - can we come in?"
There was a pause and then they both heard the click of the door unlocking. They opened the door and entered without a word.
Mark was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. His skin had been darkened to a swarthy tone. His hair had been tightly permed, then it and his eyebrows dyed to a glossy blue-black. When he raised his head to look at them, his eyes were also changed to a rich chocolate brown. All in all, he looked nothing like his usual self.
"Talk to us, Mark. What is it?"
"I passed by that damn mirror and you know who I saw?"
Mark's eyes were looking down, so he didn't notice the glance that Illya and Napoleon exchanged before Napoleon answered softly.
"No. Who?"
"No idea. I caught a glance from the corner of my eye and thought it was some bloke I hadn't met yet. Then I realized it was a ruddy mirror. What kind of life am I leading that I've gotten to where I can't even recognize myself in a mirror?"
Acting in tandem, Napoleon and Illya flanked Mark as Illya spoke.
"You are an agent who is becoming very proficient in his job. We all occasionally lose track of where the mask ends and where we begin. That is one place where your partner is there for you. To help you strip off the mask and remember what was beneath it when the mission is over."
"You pair do that for one another?"
Nodding, Napoleon gave Mark's shoulder a tight sqiueeze.
"All the time. Very few people know us. They know the image that we show to the world - even when we aren't on a mission. Our partners though? They're the ones that really know us for who we are. April probably has the same concerns as you - or will, once she's thought it all over enough. You kids need to have a nice long talk before you head out on this mission tomorrow."
"I guess we do. Send her my way, would you? And thanks, mates."
As they walked back toward their own office, Napoleon nudged Illya.
"That really ever freak you out, tovarich? Not knowing yourself in a mirror?"
"Not so much that, Napoleon."
"Then what?"
"When the reality of how easy it would actually be to lose oneself in a role struck me. There have been moments when the role that I was leaving was more desirable than the reality I was returning to."
"But?"
"But? I am not built that way, my friend. In the end, I would rather live as a pauper in truth than a king in a lie."
"This is too heavy a conversation for a Tuesday morning. Let's go shoo April to her partner and go grab some lunch. Knock one off of that list of meals that I owe you."
"How did you know I was ready for lunch?"
"Because you're always ready for lunch, tovarich."
"You know me so well."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-02-27 05:42 am (UTC)I enjoyed how you gave all four of them good parts, too.
:)
Date: 2013-02-27 04:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-27 08:37 am (UTC):)
Date: 2013-02-27 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-27 01:20 pm (UTC):)
Date: 2013-02-27 03:51 pm (UTC)From one of the site maintainers
Date: 2013-02-27 02:41 pm (UTC)Re: From one of the site maintainers
Date: 2013-02-27 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-27 04:10 pm (UTC):)
Date: 2013-02-27 04:19 pm (UTC)