Incident in a Stairwell by Debra Hicks (PG-13)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E./THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya, Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown

Why this must be read:

As for me, because it's a cross-over between my two favourite fandoms, faithful to the genuine spirit of both. And also because it's a good buddy-action story, lively and fast paced, with all the required ingredients: partners (two pairs), friendship and mutual comitment, danger and suspense.

There is nothing AU in this association because the time shift is perfectly adjusted; it may be assumed there is about 15 years difference of age between the two teams. Bodie and Doyle are still operative agents in CI5 while Napoleon and Illya are not any longer in the field: they are now in charge of recruitment (among other management tasks, we may guess), sent to London in order to "borrow" two top agents for U.N.C.L.E.

This peaceful mission is dramatically interrupted before having even started by a dangerous international terrorist, whose unexpected intervention immediately takes back Napoleon and Illya in the line of fire. Partners loyalty is firmly backed up by professional solidarity .

"Doyle looked down the stairs, could feel the fear in the midnight blue eyes that never left him. "Good partners are hard to find." He returned Napoleon's words to him. "Watch yours...if you'll watch mine?"

"Deal," Napoleon agreed."

Eventually we wont never be told if Bodie and Doyle could have been recruited for U.N.C.L.E.! But if we trust the show and the "Pros" abundant fanfiction, we may reasonably assume the "Bisto Kids" would never forsake CI5, his charismatic and ill tempered boss (pardon, "Controller") and the London rain for all the glamour and effervescence of New York.

This story is a sequel to "The Waiting Room Affair" by the same author and reading this one first seems necessary for a good understanding of some allusions to past events in the dialogs. So, I'll give both links.

The Waiting Room Affair
Incident in a Stairwell

Comments

[alinewrites.livejournal.com]

Very good stories; very moving. Good plot, good characterization. What more would I ask for? Thanks for reccing it.

...and continued in:

[maaseru.livejournal.com]

People Bending Broken Rules by the same author.

Great rec! It was the first time I met B&D when still in UNCLE fandom. A million years ago, it seems.

m

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

And still more thanks for your comment; sometimes I was irked because nobody bothered to reply. A rec is a service rendered to the readers, not merely and primarily to the writer; it implies a fair amount of searching and formating; that's why there are not many volunteers for this chore. I am more curious to know the reactions to my recs than to my texts because I am not sure at all of my own writings' interest for others, while I am quite convinced about the authors' whose stories I recommend.

Re: ...and continued in:

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did read it too but a long time ago and didn't remember the topic. I'd wish there would be more cross-overs between "Pros" and MFU, there is a real common "flavour" in both, though the background and style are quite different. I like the stronger sense of realism in "Pros".