"SNAPSHOTS" 3 stories: 'Nina', 'Sigh' and 'A Hard Decision' for International Cat Day on Section VII

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

                                                     

Nina:

Illya was alone at last, finding the peace and quiet of his apartment most satisfying at the moment. He'd made the mistake of accepting a double date with his partner, though he knew he'd find no enjoyment, and if there was any, it would doubtlessly be short-lived.

Napoleon practically begged him to accept the invitation as the girl he was taking out would only go with him if he'd found a date for her roommate.

It was against Illya's better judgement, but he accepted it for his partner's sake.

They sat Napoleon's regular table at the 21 Club, and it was all Kuryakin could do not to stare at the girl.

Solo's smart remarks about Russian women being homely would have held true for this one. She did have flawless pale skin as did many people of Slavic extraction, her blonde hair was not well managed, being somewhat over teased, her laugh was indescribable, seemingly close to the bray of a donkey, and during the course of conversation her eyes drifted close to being crossed.

It was most distracting, and sadly she was not the best of conversationalists either. There was no hope here for a pleasant evening. Illya supposed that if she were drop-dead gorgeous, he'd have let his libido kick in for once, but she wasn't and that he supposed was why her roommate Erica was trying to get dates for the poor girl.

Illya could be kind and charitable enough and was still a gentleman, but he drew the line when the girl started flirting at him with those crossed eyes.

He wasn't lying when he begged off, saying he had a terrible headache. He left his half of the check, plus a little something for his date's cab fare home.

Napoleon, though disappointed his partner was leaving, but knew the headache was legitimate when the Russian had left nearly his entire dinner uneaten...

Illya said his goodnights and headed home.

After arriving home he snuggled up on his old lumpy green sofa, after having taken a couple of aspirin tablets along with a shot of vodka, and dimmed the lights; hoping that would help the pain in his head go away.

Everything was nicely quiet when he heard a thud in the kitchen and recognized the sound of the kitten he was fostering. The one Napoleon accused of being a wild beast when she clawed his arm while trying to save herself from falling from the sofa.*

She'd grown long and sleek, and he guessed she was somewhere around seven months old now, and Illya had to admit he'd grown overly fond of the little black cat.

He'd finally given her a name. Nina, after one of his favorite singers Nina Simone, who purred like a kitten when she sang.

The kitten jumped up onto his lap with a soft "prrrrt" and flopped onto her side and she always did. She could be mischievously playful, yet very laid back at times.

As he ran his hand across her sleek fur, she began to purr loudly, and that he found very soothing.

Illya signed, wishing his damnable headache would go away, and as soon as he thought that, Nina climbed up his chest. She wrapped herself around the back of his neck, with her head resting on his shoulder and began to purr again.

'Purrrrrrrr."

He closed his eyes, with a smile, as his headache began to fade.

"Spacibo, malyshka_thank you baby."

He decided perhaps this one might be a keeper for himself. Nina was good company, fared well when he was away and the unconditional love she showed him was good for his spirit.

"Yes Nina, it is you who are my girl," he smiled.

"Miaow..."

.

* Snapshots~ "Wild Kingdom"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sigh:

He was asleep on his sofa, taking a well earned nap as he'd returned from an assignment that resulted in a fair few contusions and abrasions...nothing serious but enough for medical to send him home for some down time.

A distant rumble of thunder disturbed his light slumber and he opened his eyes, focusing for a moment on footsteps out in the hallway, listening until they faded.

A moment later there was a loud thunderclap and the little lady asleep next to him raised her head in concern.

"Do not worry little one, you are safe with me,"Illya whispered, giving her little head a scratch. His black kitten, Nina, stared at him with her wide green eyes.

Stretching with her front legs, she opened her mouth in a small yawn, and rested one of her paws on his face, just for a moment her eyes met his.

Nina curled up, snuggling close to her blond human friend as if she understood his reassurance of safety.

Illya closed his eyes, pulling up the throw blanket around him, and feeling very content at this little bit of unconditional love cuddling up next to him.

He at last fell into a deep sleep, dreaming that he was floating...as if he were laying on an invisible bed, covered only with a diaphanous sheet, so soft and fine that it was barely hiding his nakedness.

It was a wonderful feeling of lightness, cocooning him in a sense of total serenity.

"Boom!"

Another very loud thunderclap, this one very close, shocked him awake; his heart pounding at being startled from his lovely dream.

"Prrrrt," Nina stuck her face next to his and gave him a little lick on the nose.

"Thank you, now it was your turn to comfort me..."he nuzzled next to her with a sigh. Illya Kuryakin, master spy and a trained killer laughed to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A hard decision:

It was time; the moment Illya Kuryakin had been dreading.

He was going off on an extended assignment; the location of which he had yet to have been briefed upon.

Mr. Waverly had asked him to infiltrate a group of black market smugglers known for dealing in every sort of weapon or system available; from guns,grenades and rocket launchers to enriched uranium for small nuclear devices called ‘dirty bombs.’

It would be dangerous and he would not have Solo there to back him up but still Kuryakin was confident he would accomplish his mission.  Once he obtained vital information on their operations; he would be out of there like a shot.  There’d be no engaging them, just observation.  Hopefully that’s how the mission would go.

Illya exited his apartment, carrying with him a precious cargo down the hallway of his third floor walk-up, and knocked on a neighbor's door.

An older woman, grey haired with it tied up in to a severe bun answered; calling out

“Who’sa there?”

“It is Illya Mrs. Manetti.”

She opened up the door with a smile. “Please-a come, come in.” She gestured, waving her hand.

“No Mrs. Manetti, I better not.  We must get this over with quickly.” He looked at her with soulful blue eyes.

The woman always found him captivating and often wished she were thirty years younger. She’d been quite a looker and was considered a catch in her youth.

“I understand-a.” She glanced at the bulge beneath the Russian’s jacket.

“Thank you so much for doing this for me,” Illya’s voice cracked ever so slightly. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small furry black bundle.

“I know you will give Nina a good home. Though I have become very attached to her; I know this is for the best. In my line of work, I simply travel too much...that is not fair to her; she needs companionship.”

As far as the neighbor knew, Illya worked as a salesman for a company ‘Acme Novelties’, so his cover about traveling was appropriate enough.

“You can-a visit Miss-a Nina as often as-a like,” Mrs. Manetti smiled.  Though she was missing a few teeth, Illya thought she must have been a handsome woman in her younger days….

“Thank you but no...better to cut the ties completely.”

Illya handed over his young cat to the loving arms of his neighbor; not giving Nina a scratch or saying good bye.

Like everyone in his life he ever loved...he was losing another one. He’d lost everyone who’d ever mattered, with the exception of his best friend Napoleon.

This time however, the loss was on Illya’s terms and not at the hands of death. That made giving up Nina easier to handle.

“Goodbye Mrs. Manetti and thank you again.” He handed her a paper sack containing the cat’s dish, toys and a small box of kibble.

“You-a welcome Illya. She have-a good-a home with me...I promise.” She closed the door as he turned away.

Kuryakin squared his shoulders, not looking back. He never looked back...well almost never.

He turned his head. “Goodbye my Nina and thank you for the joy and companionship you have brought me...may you have a long happy life.”

Illya trotted down the three flights of stairs to the street below, where a checkered cab from headquarters was waiting for him curbside.

The driver, removing his cap, turned to him as he slipped into the back seat.

"You look like you just lost your best friend,” Napoleon said.

“A dear friend yes,” Illya spoke softly,” but not my best friend. Thank you for picking me up Napoleon.”

“Hey, I wanted to see you off. I’m going to miss you chum...just be careful on this one and no heroics please? I won’t be there to cover your back.”

“Understood,” Illya winked. “Now we better get going...I do not want to miss my flight.”

“Gotcha buddy.”

Comments

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

All three are excellent. The third is really moving.

And that photo is terrific! Luna? It seems the sort of thing she would do. Or possibly an outstandingly cute alien.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Sadly not Luna. Except for one pic last year...I can never get her to sit still for a good photo in proper lighting. Glad you liked these...especially the last one, which I wrote this morning to finish the trio. JantoJones gave me an idea for a good sequel though...

Thanks for commenting!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I wrote that one this morning. I wish it was Luna...she won't sit stil long enough for a good pic. Lu's a short hair, but sleek and shiny,(and squirmy) She still keeps her distance at times but has become more and more affectionate. Rarely meows but has cut little voice.

I didn't handle her that much when she was little...I let her bond with Bowie more I guess but she'd making up for it and has stopped being nippy and fresh. She's a good little cat and is crazy about Minnie...who I think softened the loss of Bowie. (for Luna and me too)