[March 16th] [The Man From U.N.C.L.E.] New Plans

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: New Plans
Day/Theme: March 16th - The Knight Wonders What, Exactly, He Rescued
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye
Rating: K+/PG


By Lucky_Ladybug

The day Ecks came back to the motel room after searching for jobs all day, his eyes gleamed with an unusual and deadly spark. Wye hadn’t seen that look from him since they had worked for the organization. He had to admit, it disturbed him.

“See here, Ecks, what’ve you been up to today?” he demanded.

“I saw him,” Ecks hissed, his eyes still flickering.

“Saw him?! Saw who?” Wye got up, glowering at the boy in bewilderment and confusion.

“The U.N.C.L.E. agent who tore a hole in my gut.” Ecks leaned on the table, spreading his hands. “He’s a Russian named Illya Kuryakin. Apparently he lives here.”

Wye frowned. “The blond one? He’s the one I was fighting with when I got shot in the back.” He looked hard into Ecks’ eyes, usually so frosted over with ice. Now they fairly danced with the fury of the ocean itself.

“Then we’ve both got reasons to want to pay him back for something or another.” Ecks straightened and began pacing the room.

Wye felt a shiver go up his spine. He didn’t like seeing Ecks this way. It was as though their usual roles had completely reversed, and not for the better. “You’re all better now,” he retorted. “You’re not gonna be damaged for life, like some people would be in your position. You know spies goin’ after spies is just part of the trade. Chalk it up to personal experience and move on!”

“Yes, I know that. But he didn’t have to stab me; it isn’t U.N.C.L.E.’s usual policy. I want to give him something to remember us by,” Ecks mused.

“A knife in his gut?” Wye said dryly.

“No! Nothing that drastic. Or permanent.” Ecks turned back to him. “I just want to let him know he didn’t manage to kill at least one of his victims. I’m going to . . . haunt him a while. Drive him mad.” He smirked. “See if he even remembers what he did.”

Wye wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or not. “What does it matter if he does or not?!” he exclaimed. “He saw you for two minutes tops. You’re just a nameless enemy to him. Let’s keep it that way.”

“You know, I’m surprised at you,” Ecks said. “Normally you’d be jumping at the chance for some sort of revenge.”

“Somethin’ quick, not dragged out for weeks!” Wye retorted.

“You’re right. You’d never have the patience for that.” Ecks started to pace the room. “I want to start out with a direct attack that will shock him and all the rest of U.N.C.L.E. out of their very minds. I want to hack into their computer system.”

“You want to what?!” Wye folded his arms. “And just who are you gonna get to handle a technological job like that?”

“Myself.” Ecks looked pleased with himself. “I’ve had some experience with computers.”

“Some experience, sure,” Wye snarled. “Enough to take down one of the most highly protected computer networks in the world?”

“Let’s find out, shall we? I don’t want to knock their computers offline. All I want is to send a little message and have it printed out.” Ecks turned to the door. “There’s an Internet café not too far away. I’ll use one of their computer stations.”

“You’ll use one of their computer stations,” Wye mocked. He walked around to stand in front of the strangely impulsive boy. “Don’t you understand, Ecks? You almost died because of that agent. You almost bloody well died!” His voice lowered. “I almost lost you. And thinking I was going to is what knocked me off the trolley. I couldn’t take it; I lashed out at that woman, at Kuryakin, and the only thing that happened is that I almost got myself killed too! Ecks . . .” He gripped the younger man’s shoulders. “I didn’t rescue you from the park for this. If you have any feeling for me at all, you won’t do this or put me through it.”

Ecks stared at him in shock, not having expected the outburst at all. They didn’t tend to be that open about their caring for each other.

“. . . I’d never do it if I really thought Kuryakin would try to kill me again,” he said at last, the tempest having died from his eyes and his voice. “When I was recovering in the hospital, I did some research on him. We’re no longer in the organization and we’re not a threat to U.N.C.L.E. or anyone else. I honestly believe he would let us live.”

“You did research?” Wye exclaimed in disbelief. “Have you been planning this since then? Is that why you chose New York City as our new home?”

“It was an idle thought,” Ecks said. “But I chose New York City because I thought it would be easier to hide from the organization in such a large metropolis. Although I have to admit that when I went out today, I was at least partially hoping to run across Kuryakin.”

Wye’s shoulders slumped. “You’re really determined to try this out, aren’t you?”

“I’d say so,” Ecks said quietly. “I have a reason. I promise I’m not just trying to be vindictive or impulsive. That would be pointless.”

“And your reason isn’t?”

“I feel it’s an important reason.”

Wye heaved a sigh. “Then I’ll come with you to the Internet café. I won’t let you do this alone.”

Ecks smiled. “Thank you.”

“I just hope I won’t regret it,” Wye growled.

“I’ll make sure you won’t,” Ecks promised.