Pic Fic Tuesday 7/15 : Sitting by the SIde of the Road

[avirra.livejournal.com]

"This isn't my fault, Illya."

Seated on a curb, Illya cast a side glance at his partner.

"You were the one that checked out the car from the motor pool. You were the one that went over the checklist."

"I did go over the checklist. And everything checked. It didn't dawn on me at the time that a spare tire wasn't part of the checklist."

Illya considered that silently for a moment, then nodded.

"Agreed then. It was not your fault. It will be your fault next time if you do not have the motor pool correct that oversight on the forms."

Taking a seat on the curb at Illya's side, Napoleon let out an exasperated sigh.

"Oh believe me, chum - they're going to be altering that form tomorrow. In the meantime? We're stuck until they bring us either a new tire or another car."

"So, what shall we do in the meantime?"

"I suppose we can think up ways to apologize to the Ambassador and his family."

"You do not think the truth will be sufficient?"

One of Napoleon's hands rose and gave a tired rub to his forehead.

"Well, if he's like most ambassadors, he'll take it as an insult that we allowed anything to make us late. Especially something as mundane as a flat tire."

Illya looked again as his uncharacteristically frazzled partner. then tilted his head to study a passing cloud.

"Perhaps if we embellish the truth a bit then. If a flat tire sounds too common, perhaps it could be insinuated that our tire was shot out.

It was a sign of a serious lack of options that Napoleon was considering that very carefully.

"It does have dramatic flair going for it."

"Or we could throw ourselves on Mister Waverly's mercy."

"Throwing ourselves on our swords would be less painful. Or at least over quicker."

"Regardless, Napoleon, we must call in. It will only make matters worse if Mister Waverly finds out what is going on from any other source."

Rubbing his forehead again, Napoleon sighed.

"When you're right, you're right, chum. Better go ahead and face the music."

Napoleon pulled his communicator pen from his pocket, taking a deep breath before activating it and speaking.

"Open Channel D. Solo to Mister Waverly."

"Mister Solo - excellent timing. I was in the process of trying to reach you before you arrived at the Embassy. Seems there was a mix-up in translation. The Ambassador's dinner is next Tuesday, not this Tuesday. You and Mister Kuryakin may take the rest of the evening off and I will be expecting you in the office tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir - thank you, sir. Solo out."

The two men exchanged looks and then both began laughing.

"I should have known that the Solo luck would even extend to a flat tire."

"Even better, chum? That looks like our ticket out of here coming into sight. Once they get us back on the road again, what do you say we go eat?"

"When have you known me to turn down an offer like that?"

"Never, partner mine."

Getting up, Napoleon brushed off his suit before reaching a hand to help Illya up. Luck? Coincidence? Whatever it was, he'd take it.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Very nice use of the prompt! I enjoyed this a lot! Thanks for joining in the Picfic! :D

[avirra.livejournal.com]

Yay! Credit to my other half who gets the same type of expression on his face when we get a flat *l*.