I put A Spell On You Chapter 4

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

link to chapter 3: http://section7mfu.livejournal.com/59056.html
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Twenty minutes later Illya stood in front of Solo’s penthouse door, opulent digs for a spy whose annual pay barely put him in a lower-middle class income bracket.  Napoleon’s home had been his inheritance along with a sizeable trust fund from his beloved Aunt Amy.



He could have quit his life of espionage and lived quite comfortably, but he simply wasn’t ready to do that.  He craved the action, the danger and lived vicariously through his work, keeping the loneliness at bay by bedding beautiful women.  

Napoleon once thought he’d have a life with his beloved Clara, but she rejected him because he wouldn’t give up his work. It was too late now to try to rekindle a life with her, though his trust fund gave him the means to actually walk away from it all. She was married now. End of story.

Illya had put it succinctly after the Terbut Affair...”Just think how life would have been had you not met Clara. The love that you felt for her, the joy of being with her never would have been. Yet by knowing her, though she was lost to you, your life was all the more richer." *

Napoleon Solo had few friends, some buddies from his army days, and Illya of course, who had become more like a brother than a partner and friend.
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He set out a pair of lowball glasses on the bar, opening his decanter of scotch and pouring himself a double on the rocks. A bottle of Stoli he had for Illya would stay in the fridge until the Russian arrived.




He paced, sipping his drink as the thoughts about their last mission filled his head. Illya being tortured again, and taking the brunt of the abuse for him. The Russian’s selflessness took its toll on both of them,  but perhaps more mentally than physically this time. When they had parted at headquarters he sensed his partner slipping into one of his dark, melancholy moods.

He heard the familiar knock on the door, and taking a deep breath, prepared himself for whatever might come out of the mouth of his partner or not.

Illya was a man of few words and did not like to be probed when it came to emotions, especially those of the heart.  Napoleon knew that he’d have to tread lightly if his friend was indeed feeling as down as he suspected.
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* ref “Things are what they are” http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7736122/1/Things_Are_What_They_Are (under mlaw)

Comments

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

Love this part... and this "prepared himself for whatever might come out of the mouth of his partner or not." is really great!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yes, Napoleon knows his partner well enough in that he's unpredictable when it comes to private matters. But Napoleon is still ready to 'go the distance,' to help Illya in spite of his partners lack of cooperation.

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Waiting for what did or didn't come out of his partner's mouth. He knew what Illya needed even if Illya didn't, nice chatper.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks, second time that line was pointed out. I guess it really sticks out to a reader. Funny how that happens.