“Liaison” by Lee the T (NC-17)

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya, Illya/OMC
Author on LJ: leethet
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

There’s a slippery slope between surveillance and voyeurism, as Napoleon discovers when he impulsively listens in on a meeting between his partner and Damien, a British courier who, on Waverly’s orders, is subject to sound-only monitoring.

The door shut, snicked as Damien locked it. Silence. Napoleon waited, tense. Just hand the data over, you bastard. What are you doing?

"I believe we were discussing preferences," Damien said.

"You're mistaken," Illya said. His voice was clear; Napoleon's experience with the particular bug UNCLE was using enabled him to place his partner as within five feet of Damien. Don't you get any goddamn closer.

"If you've none--"

"Don't assume yours take precedence," Illya cut the courier off.

"I was merely planning to voice them," Damien said, laughter warm under his words.

Heart racing, nerves jittering, Napoleon pictured the two men in the hotel room, facing one another. What in God's name was going on?

Then Illya learns from a third party that Napoleon had been listening, but before they can talk about it the agents depart for the opposite ends of the country. As Illya is settling into a funk, Napoleon’s unexpected arrival gives them a chance to work things out — provided they can live through the night...

Napoleon closed his eyes briefly. "Illya. Please." He knew this was hard on his partner. He doubted Illya knew how hard it was on him. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

A sharp crack caused them both to dive under the table. The plate glass window shattered in the next split second, showering glass across their table, chairs and hamburgers. A woman screamed and a man shouted: "What the hell?"

"Get down!" Napoleon shouted at them.

"I thought you said they wanted you alive," Illya said from under the table as they both drew their guns.

Napoleon shrugged. "Oops."

Action! Angst! And yes, we do find out why Damien was oh so conveniently bugged (and bear witness to Illya’s priceless reaction to the explanation).

Liaison

Note: This story is formatted so that all the paragraphs are centered, which is mildly annoying.

ETA: When I wrote up “Liaison” I was unaware that it had a sequel, “Safe,” in which Napoleon and Illya are assigned as bodyguards to none other than the alluring and infuriating Damien. Can they get through the mission without kissing or killing the courier?

Comments

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Just had to say that I loved this story, and the sequel to it (name escapes me at present) and just about everything of Lee the T's that I've ever read. One of my favourite authors. Even her gen is slashy!

*boggles*

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Hiw did I not notice that there was a sequel? Thanks for tipping me off; I’ve found the follow-up fic and provided a link.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec!
(the centered formatting was a glitch, honest; not some funky idea of mine.)

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the story!

[dinahmt.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favourite LeetheT stories ever. Damien is one of the few OCs I actually quite like, despite what happens (no spoilers). Come back to writing MFU Lee!

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Oh ... should it matter, the feedback email addy on these File 40 stories is no longer valid. So send those pages and pages of gushing praise ("Er ... sorry, Lee who, again?") to lee_the_t@sbcglobal.net. ;)

And thanks again. :)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite from Lee the T (I intended to rec it if I was registered for driving Crack Van next time. The green eyed boy is a wonderful OC and personally I find his cynical philosophy very sympathetic. Moreover I feel there must be some form of balance with Napoleon's dalliances. Just fair, I think!