[March 14th] [The Man From U.N.C.L.E.] On the Run

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: On the Run
Day/Theme: March 14th - the story of how I never stopped running
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Wye, Mr. Ecks
Rating: K/G


By Lucky_Ladybug

It was peaceful in the motel, albeit not as fancy as they were used to. But the rest was quiet that night and that was something they both needed, especially away from hospitals.

Wye was the first to awaken in the morning. He had been lying on his side to sleep; his back was still too tender for that much pressure, especially after the airplane ride.

He looked over at the other bed, somewhat amused at the sight of Ecks sprawled all over the mattress. That would’ve given the hospital staff a hissy fit.

He wondered what they were going to do today. Look for jobs and a proper place to live, perhaps. But it wouldn’t be so easy finding jobs that suited them. One couldn’t find listings for Spies Wanted in the local Classifieds.

Of course, he had worked at other jobs in the past, before he had ever joined the organization. Ecks, however, had only known that one place, that one job.

Ecks had asked him why he had joined the organization when he had been free to choose. His answer had been that he had wanted a change of pace. However, had that strictly been the truth, or had he been running again?

He had always looked for something more than what he had. That was how he had tried several jobs over the years, including military service. Ironically, it had been there that he had learned some of the skills that had served him as a spy.

He had even tried marriage once. But that had fallen apart in a completely shambolic way, and not by his fault, when his devoted wife had run off with his devoted best friend. Oh, how he had laughed about that, before seeking them out and having a little revenge on them both. They were far away now, or at least, they had fled London. It would be an immensely disconcerting irony if they had ended up here.

In any case, that had been the last time he had tried to take any kind of personal vengeance, until Ecks had been hurt.

And now they were both running, thanks to their attempt to help Zed betray the organization.

He was starting to wonder if he would ever settle down anywhere for good. He hadn’t thought he would ever leave London except on trips, but here they were in New York City.

He also hadn’t thought he would ever drag anyone else into his running. But here was Ecks, and at least for the foreseeable future, they were staying together. That suited Wye fine; they got along splendidly and he preferred not to be alone to start this new venture. He had thought he would have to be, and Ecks had thought likewise about himself.

It still amazed him to remember the doctor’s words from yesterday. He had wanted to keep believing that Ecks was alive, but he had been so afraid that there was no way it could be true. And then it was.

Ecks stirred, rolling over onto his side. “It’s morning already?”

“That’s right.” Wye propped himself up. “Are you ready for a day of figurin’ out what we can do with ourselves?”

“Maybe.” Ecks frowned, sitting up and letting the covers slip off his shoulders. “If we’re going to keep working as spies, how will we even find another place that will take us?”

“That’s a good question. Maybe we’ll have to be freelancers and take whatever work we can get.”

“There’s still the question of how we’d get word out there that we can be hired.” Ecks ran a hand through his hair, which had become very wild in his sleep.

“We’d figure it out,” Wye said. “Alternately, there’s at least one other thing you can do: train dogs.”

“That’s true,” Ecks mused. “But it would drive you mad to have them all over our yard.”

Wye sighed. “That it would. But I’d be willing to put up with it, if there was no other work for us.”

“I’ll keep it in mind, then.” Ecks swung his legs over the edge of the bed but then paused, just looking at Wye.

Wye stared back after a moment. “What is it?” he frowned. “I surely can’t look as disheveled as you do right now.”

“No. I was just thinking how I woke up and started talking to you like it was the most natural thing in the world.” Ecks shook his head. “But it isn’t. Not anymore. It’s amazing that you’re here to talk to at all.”

“That goes double for you, what with your injuries,” Wye remarked. “The doctor gave me all the gory details.”

Ecks winced. “Even I don’t know everything that happened to me. He didn’t tell me when I was still recovering, and when I was better, I wondered if I wanted to know.”

“It’s just as well if you don’t,” Wye sighed.

“Fine with me.” Ecks got up, shuffling towards the bathroom, but then stopped and looked back. “This running thing is something new to me, even though part of me would have liked to have done it years ago. But you seem quite at ease with it.”

Wye shrugged. “I’ve had a lot of practice. Never run from anything on as big a scale as this, though.”

Ecks nodded slowly. “I hope I won’t make it difficult for you.”

“You won’t.” Wye smiled a bit, fondly. “I rather like the idea of running off with you, actually. I was always alone before.”

“Wasn’t that lonely?” Ecks wondered.

“Sure,” Wye nodded. “But, like you’ve said, you get used to it.”

“Hopefully we won’t have to any more,” Ecks said.

Wye smiled. “We won’t.”

Pleased, Ecks turned and vanished into the other room, leaving Wye for the moment with his thoughts.