[March 18th] [The Man From U.N.C.L.E.] Constant

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: Constant
Day/Theme: March 18th - the sky knew he was there
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye
Rating: T/PG-13


By Lucky_Ladybug

It was a strange feeling, to be lying on the ground, bleeding out whatever life was left in him. Everything was so hazy, sometimes so dark, and then light again.

He could feel the sun on his face and hands. Sometimes people walked past, but no one stopped to help. More than one person laughed about him being completely plastered.

I’m not drunk! he screamed in his mind. I’m dying. Can’t you see that? Can’t someone help me?

He couldn’t get the strength to speak or he would have done so. And there must not be as much blood visible as he thought there was or someone would have seen it.

Help. . . . Please help me.

Wye . . . where are you? I need you. Even if I can’t survive, I don’t want to die here alone. Wye, please. Help. . . .

Funny, how he had spent most of his life alone and had grown used to that, yet couldn’t handle the solitude now. Wye hadn’t been with him for that many years, really, but it had been so nice to finally have someone there who cared about him again. His overworked parents hadn’t been around very often, but they had tried to show their love when they could. Still, Ecks had wondered sometimes if they would have rather not had any kids. Then they could have better relaxed when they weren’t running around the world bringing rue on U.N.C.L.E. and other agencies.

Since Wye was his partner, there had been plenty of time for them to be together. They got along well and liked their moments, both on and off-duty. Wye had come to truly love him, and vice versa.

That was a nice thought to take with him, if this was his last moment as a living, breathing human.

Still . . . he really hadn’t thought that only inanimate things like the sky would be watching him at the last.

His eyes fluttered and closed as he again sank out of awareness.

Everything was so hazy again after that. He was lying there in agony, but he was standing up, not in pain, and he could see Wye running over, staring at him in heartbroken anguish, and falling to his knees next to him. “Ecks . . .” He desperately searched for a pulse, even though he knew he wouldn’t find it.

And suddenly Ecks was lying on the ground again, gasping, and Wye was startled beyond belief.
****
Ecks started awake, bouncing in the bed. For a moment he lay there, gripping the pillow, and tried to come into the here and now enough to realize what was going on.

He was alright now. He was healed.

So many times he had dreamed about that day in the park and had flown awake still confused. Sometimes it didn’t take very long to remind himself that time was past. Other times, he was still so shackled by the remnants of sleep and nightmares that it took several minutes before he could fully process being awake.

This time it went faster. He rolled onto his back, marveling that he could move about normally again, without pain, and looked over at the other bed. Wye didn’t seem to be having any trouble sleeping. He was lying on his stomach, seeming fairly peaceful.

Ecks glanced out the other direction, at the window. It was a clear night; stars were twinkling in the deep black sky.

There had been years worth of nights when he had lain in bed and looked out at the sky. As a child he had decided that the sky was just about the most constant companion he could have. It was certainly around more than his parents. And it couldn’t be taken away, like everything he owned, and even people, could.

Wye abruptly started, awake for some mysterious reason. “Ecks?” He looked over, blinking sleepily. “You’re awake again? You’re never going to get a decent night’s sleep this way.”

“Neither are you,” Ecks retorted.

“True, that.” Wye sighed, tired, and slumped into the pillow.

“Bad dreams?” Ecks asked.

“You could say that.” Wye took a handful of sheet and mattress.

“. . . Was it that stuff I told you tonight?” Ecks frowned.

“I don’t know what it was,” Wye said honestly. “It wouldn’t have had to have been. I dream a lot about when I found you lying there.”

“I see.” Ecks was troubled by that. While he was glad that his injuries meant that much to someone, he didn’t want Wye to keep being tortured over the past.

“Ecks . . . won’t you please give up this nonsense about Kuryakin?” Wye begged. “You sent your hacked message. You’ve been following him for days. It’s enough. Let it go.”

“I’ll stop soon,” Ecks promised. “But I still don’t think there’s a need to worry. He had provocation to stab me before, even if that was an extreme method by U.N.C.L.E.’s standards. I was trying to kill his undercover man, after all. This time, I haven’t tried to do anything to hurt anyone. He’ll keep that in mind.”

“You’d just better be right,” Wye growled. “I’m guessing that what with what you’re hoping to accomplish, you plan on going right up to Kuryakin and letting him see who’s been causing such an upheaval for him.”

“Yes, that’s how I plan to end this,” Ecks said slowly.

“I’m coming with you when you do,” Wye declared. “No arguments; it’s non-negotiable.”

Ecks looked at him in surprise. He really was worried. “You don’t have to do that,” he protested.

“I do if I don’t want to drive myself daft climbing the walls waiting for you to come back,” Wye shot back.

Ecks had to smile a bit. “Alright.” He laid back down.

The sky might have been his only companion as a child, but that wasn’t the case now.

And he was quite happy with that.