PSL

[ill_take_bottom]

It was way too hot to just hang around the hotel room. He needed to really cool off so he'd decided to put on his bathing suit and then he'd headed down to the pool. He took a few hours just swimming and enjoying himself before coming back up, entering their room dripping wet. He eyed Illya for a moment, smiling. "You really should have joined me. That pool was amazing."

He grabbed a towel he'd tossed over a chair before heading out, drying his hair and rubbing the towel over his skin. "You really need to cut loose sometimes. You would enjoy yourself a lot more and maybe you wouldn't look so constipated all the time."

Comments

[lovingyourwork]

Illya's eyes didn't look much better, mostly all black with a light blue ring around them. He averted his gaze the moment he noticed Napoleon looking so...edible, if he was allowed to think that.

He really didn't want to, because those were troublesome thoughts, ideas that could get them both killed. He felt his hands start to shake and clenched them into fists, trying to keep calm.

"You don't know many things about me, Cowboy." The voice was almost a whisper and Illya cleared his throat and spoke much louder a moment later."Shall we go?"

[ill_take_bottom]

He continued to stare at him, clearing his voice before speaking. "Not for lack of trying, Peril. I've wanted to get to know more about you since we left Italy." He shrugged a shoulder before slipping away from the wall and going to the mirror.

He fixed his hair, making himself presentable before going to Illya and straightening out his clothes, making sure not to look him in the eyes.

[lovingyourwork]

"You might not like what you find out."

Came the quick reply even before Illya realized he had opened his big mouth to speak. He tilted his head at Napoleon's next move, it was almost domestic the way he was making sure Illya looked presentable. He allowed himself a small smile, taking advantage of the fact Napoleon wasn't looking at his face.

"Could ask if you wanted to know things." He wasn't promising an answer, but asking was allowed.

[ill_take_bottom]

"You don't seem much for volunteering the information. Didn't think you'd want to tell me anything." He smoothed his hands down Illya's shirt, swallowing hard before finally looking up at him, locking eyes.

"You may not believe me, Illya, but you aren't just my partner. You're my friend." He withdrew his hands then, turning to go to the door. "Come on. There should be a car waiting for us."

[lovingyourwork]

"I don't, usually."

But anything that had happened today was far from normal by his standards. So what was some more madness in his life right now? He could always not answer if he became too uncomfortable.

He followed Napoleon quite meekly when the man walked away. Friend. What an odd concept, he didn't had many, if any, before. But he understood it well enough. He liked the American even if it was hard to admit.

"I believe you, Cowboy. It's just...why?"

[ill_take_bottom]

He continued walking, thinking over the question and his answer carefully until they reached the car. "In Italy, you came back for me. You didn't have to, but you did. It meant more to me than I'm sure you know. Any other agent would have left me to continue the mission."

He got in the car, shrugging a shoulder and clearing his throat. "I want to know things outside of this life. Your childhood, your favorite things. Everything."

[lovingyourwork]

"And you fished me out of the water at the harbour." It meant a lot to Illya, especially because back then they didn't know each other all that well yet, and it would have been easier for Napoleon to just let him drown. Of course, gratitude wasn't the only reason why he came back to help him and the American probably knew it, but Illya could pretend and try not to be too obvious.

"Childhood is not interesting subject of conversation." It hurt too much and it would only make him angry. Illya didn't want that when they were finally having an amicable conversation. He looked outside the window, trusting Napoleon to get them where they had to go and offered a proper answer. "I like playing chess, reading...dancing too, on occasion, if it doesn't end in a wrestling match."

[ill_take_bottom]

"I wanted to fish you out, even if we didn't exactly get along the best. Not that we do now either." He said absently, clearing his throat before staring out the front window. "You like chess? We should play sometime. I might be a bit rusty though, its been a while since I found anyone worth playing against."

He smiled at the wrestling comment, shaking his head. "You keep bringing up wrestling. Gaby must have done a number on you." He teased, laughing as he looked over at him. "I promise no wrestling. We'll just have to see how you put those dancing skills to use tonight."

[lovingyourwork]

That got Illya to look at him. "We do get along." And because he wasn't naïve, he quickly added. "Sometimes? I'd still rescue you from torture." What are social interactions and how you can master those? Someone send this Russian some help.

"She could take you down too." He wasn't even going to mention that she mostly took him off guard, it was a weak excuse and Gaby deserved better. She was a lil ball of angry that had earned his respect. Illya didn't look disgusted by the idea to dance with Napoleon, quite the opposite, but doing that in public..."We still need to finish the mission, don't forget that."

[ill_take_bottom]

He chuckled, looking over at him briefly. "I would still rescue you as well. Every time." He said pointedly before looking away. "That is what partners do. What friends do." He said, giving a bit of a nod.

He laughed at the next, nodding. "Oh I know she could. That is why I don't bother trying to challenge her because she'd likely put me on my ass." He said, shrugging a shoulder and raising an eyebrow. "We will be pretending to be a couple, so dancing is on the charts."

[lovingyourwork]

Illya tried to hide a smile but it had become harder to do that since he spent more time around Napoleon. Napoleon wasn't looking and that help him save face but thee was to hiding the fondness of his voice. "So I've heard."

Then he snorted. Damn right, Gaby could and would.

"Hm. Not all couples dance, maybe we can do some other..." Illya waved a hand, pointing really at nothing. "...activity."

[ill_take_bottom]

"We'll be expected to do...some things regardless. So its either we kiss a lot like a couple of teenagers and grope one another or we dance and talk." He said, glancing over again. "We want to sell this properly, remember?"

A few minutes later they were pulling up outside the club and he got out, handing the keys to the valet. "Not a scratch."

[lovingyourwork]

Illya gave him a suspicious look. No, it wasn't jealousy, not matter how close it looked to that. The Russian would always deny it.

"You seem to know very well how those clubs work, Cowboy."

Jesus, what did he get himself into? It wasn't because of the company, Illya just didn't like to put on a show, especially when it came to being intimate with a partner.

After Napoleon's line, he made sure to stare at the valet for a second too much, saying nothing. Illya wasn't trying to look threatening but he knew that his size alone made him intimidating enough and the valet quickly answered back with a 'yessirofcoursesir!' and scurried off. Illya almost grinned.

[ill_take_bottom]

"I do happen to know how they work very well." He said, shrugging a shoulder like it meant nothing to him, even though it was obviously a sore subject from the set of his shoulders.

"Come now, we shouldn't be discussing these things on our date, love." He said, tssking his hand and smiling as they headed into the club. He smirked up at him for a moment.

[lovingyourwork]

"You never mentioned them to me before." Illya knew that Napoleon wasn't all happy and that he was probably asking like a dog with a bone but he was curious. Perhaps Napoleon visited that sort of establishments for fun and not just for missions where he had too....He shook his head and stopped his own train of thought. There was no good answer to that question, both made him angry, jealous or both.

He blinked at the change in attitude and nodded immediately. Time to be professionals. And if he happened to enjoy itself a little, well, no one needed to know.

"Sorry, handsome. " He moved closer to Napoleon, letting go of his hand to wraps an arm around his shoulders and murmur into his ear. To the other people, they gave the impression of a casual friendly pair.

"To your left, the tall man with the mustache and the tattoo on his wrist. Our mark's bodyguard, the other can't be far away."

[ill_take_bottom]

He leaned into Illya, smiling up at him before glancing over and giving a small nod. He pulled the other closer to him, acting like it was nothing. "Buy me a drink, darling. I want to enjoy having you all to myself this evening."

He winked up at him, pulling him down into a deep kiss. He had every intention of driving Illya insane since there was a chance this would never happen again. "Maybe if you spoil me I'll show you a good time when we get out of here." He teased, leaning close to the bar.

[lovingyourwork]

This mission was going to be the end of him and Illya was sure of it now. Some people glanced at them when they walked it but their little display quickly made them look away and go back to their own affair.

"Of course....love." Endearments didn't come easy to him but hell if he was going to let Napoleon have the upper hand. Trying his best to relax and not make the kiss look forced, Illya bit down on Napoleon's lip for his audacity. The tip of his ears was beet red when he pushed away.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." He added between teeth before heading towards the bar.

[ill_take_bottom]

His eyes widened a bit and he groaned when Illya bit his lip, nudging him before ordering a drink. It put them just a few people away from their target and he glanced over at the man before looking at Illya. "Do you see anyone you think is attractive, darling?"

He was hoping Illya would choose their target, maybe if the man noticed they were talking about him they could draw him into conversation. Then Napoleon could take over for the most part.

[lovingyourwork]

'No one but you', Illya almost said but caught up on what Napoleon was trying to do before his own tongue could betray him. He made a small, humming sound as his eyes darted around. Their mark noticed and Illya held his icy glance a second longer before looking back at Napoleon.

"Hm. Perhaps."

He feigned disinterest, knowing that their target was listening and spotting from the corner of his eyes how the man's brows knitted together in confusion for a second. Their mark was known for having a prideful streak and he seemed offended at not being immediately recognized as more attractive than the rest of clients at the bar. Illya hid his smirk behind his drink when the man approached them to talk.

[ill_take_bottom]

He took a sip of his scotch, leaning closer to Illya and giving him a small smirk before his eyes shifted to the mark as he approached. He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head before his smile turned into something that looked much more genuine, though his partner would know better.

"Well hello there." He said, tipping his drink to him before clearing his throat. "I'm Anthony Simmons. This is my boyfriend, Pietro Markov. And you are?"

[lovingyourwork]

The blond did know better and while he admired Napoleon's abilities those also made his stomach churn. His free arm reached out to wrap itself around Napoleon as the mark answered and they engaged in conversation.

He participated in the conversation a few times but mostly let Napoleon work his magic and tried to keep his rising annoyance at bay, even smile from time to time. The way the mark was looking at them, and especially Napoleon...well, it was expected, it was their original intent, to get their full attention, but still bothered Illya.

[ill_take_bottom]

In the end they were invited to dinner with the mark the next evening. He gave Napoleon his card, his attention definitely drifting to him more often than to Illya. He smiled warmly, slipping the card into his coat before motioning for Illya. "Come on. Lets dance."

He winked at Illya, though he had noticed his annoyance more than anything and he wanted to draw the man away from the situation. "Dance with me and then we'll go watch the show they're putting on." It would undoubtedly be a few pretty boys dancing and stripping. He could hopefully distract Illya from being too uncomfortable.

[lovingyourwork]

Illya startled slightly. He was busy checking discreetly on the mark's bodyguard when Napoloen's voice got his attention. He looked up from his drink with a furrowed brow and put it down a moment later.

"Not sure if I am very interested in public shows." He murmured as he followed Solo into the dance floor, shoulders stiff but trying to relax as quickly as he could. As always, it was not an easy feat.

"We got what we needed." The voice was low, enough that only Napoleon could hear it. "I know we can't just leave or it would look suspicious but do we really have to stay for that?" People dancing he could take. Stripping? Not so much. "It's degrading."

[ill_take_bottom]

He pressed close, giving a slight nod. "We don't have to stay for the whole show. Just a little bit, Peril." He whispered back, sliding his hands up the man's chest slowly. He wrapped his arms around his shoulders next, drawing him closer so he could pull him into another kiss.

In retaliation for the bite earlier he latched onto Illya's lower lip, sucking firmly before letting his lips part so the other man could deepen the kiss if he so wished.

[lovingyourwork]

Still looking somewhat unhappy with the idea, Illya let Napoleon distract him with the kiss. He wished that there weren't so many people around them, looking at them...but if they weren't on a mission then Napoleon wouldn't be kissing him. So what was Illya thinking, wishing for the impossible? The American said he wanted to be friends with him and the rest of his actions were just part of their plan.

Illya's hands wrapped around Napoleon's waist, pulling him closer and almost melting against his mouth. Tension draining away, he pressed his tongue against Napoleon's, almost asking for permission.