[Amnesty Day] [The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and The Rockford Files] Three Vignettes

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

And done! It's bittersweet to get through with another prompt set. But it's a nice triumphal feeling, too.

Title: Loyalties
Day/Theme: March 1st - a witch without love was dangerous
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Ecks, Mr. Wye, OCs
Rating: K+/PG


By Lucky_Ladybug

Wye was forever disgusted by Vivalene, a mercenary whom they had run across more than once and who clearly had her sights set on Ecks. He was young, and innocent where it came to the matter of romance, and she recognized it and preyed upon it. Sometimes it seemed to Wye that the only thing keeping Ecks from getting in serious with her just to see what would happen was the fact that he did not like for one minute that Vivalene was constantly putting Wye down.

“What do you see in him, Darling?” she would purr while running her finger down Ecks’ cheek or stroking his thick blond hair. “He’s such an old spoilsport. He doesn’t like me and he’s just holding you back.”

Wye was relieved, touched even, that Ecks never faltered. Wye had learned that Vivalene’s main method of attack was to try to turn family or friends against each other when she wanted someone in particular for her gold-digging collection. She had succeeded more times than Wye wanted to think about, proving all the more, in his mind, how stupid people were.

But Ecks was loyal. Even though part of him was fascinated by such a brazen woman, he really knew that she was poison and never deliberately sought her out. And he was always disgusted, even angry, when she bashed his mentor and friend.

“You don’t even know him,” he snarled once.

“I know he doesn’t like me and that’s enough,” she answered.

“Then he has a good reason for it. He’s worried about what you’ll do to me!”

She put her arms around his shoulders and kissed him on the lips. “Are you worried?”

Ecks slipped out of her embrace. “I know you don’t really love me,” he said.

“I’m sure I could convince you otherwise.”

“No, thank you.” Ecks started to walk off, but froze at her next words.

“You enjoy it, Darling. You always enjoy the attention I give you. Why don’t you simply accept that fact? You’re a big boy, not a child out past curfew. You don’t have to shun me just because your precious teacher says you should.”

“It’s not just because of Wye. I don’t give in to base pleasures, especially if I already know it will end poorly. I’m smarter and more professional than that.” And Ecks walked back to where Wye was waiting, all the while feeling Vivalene sneering after him.

“Just wait,” she called. “You’ll give in.”

“I won’t.”

Wye glowered after Vivalene before following Ecks. “That rotten cow,” he muttered under his breath.

Ecks didn’t reply, but from his body language, he was annoyed with her.

“All that woman wants is to have some kind of a conquest with him!” Wye exclaimed one day as he sat in the bar at the organization’s headquarters with Ms. Kay, another of the elite alphabet agents. “It’s not like he’s rollin’ in dough. But she just can’t leave him alone!”

Kay sighed and pushed her empty glass back. “And she’ll just keep at it, from what I hear about her,” she said in her pronounced French accent. “You are wise to be worried.” She got up from the bar, her flipped hair bouncing with the motion. “But as long as he values you enough to put you above her, he should be fine. He is too smart to be led into one of her infamous deathtraps after she has no more use for him.”

“Oh, I’ll agree with that,” said Wye. “But what I’m afraid of is that she’ll get so angry that she can’t get anywhere with him that she’ll get hold of his umbrella dagger and slit his throat. Even a good agent can fall prey to someone like that loveless witch.”

“Well. I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” Kay said soothingly. “You are both better than Vivalene and I have confidence that she wouldn’t get the drop on him like that.”

“I guess I’m just an old overprotective mother hen,” Wye grumbled.

Kay chuckled, running a hand through his curly hair. “You care about the boy. Zed knew what he was doing, to put you two together.” She started to walk off. “Au revoir.”

Wye watched her go. He leaned on the bar, sighing to himself. He was still worried.
****
It was strange that Ecks was sitting slumped on that park bench after those bizarre drunkards had grabbed him and danced around with him. Wye approached him with a frown. “Who were those people, Ecks?”

There was no response or even movement, which was very strange. Wye bent down, resting a hand on Ecks’ shoulder. “Are you feeling poorly?”

He stared in shock when the boy tumbled off the bench, unable to hold himself up, and lay sprawled on the concrete. Now the hole in his coat was obvious—and the blood beginning to come through it.

He’s dead, Wye realized in sickened grief. One of those men had stabbed him with his own dagger.

And something inside him snapped. He looked up with a jerk towards the park exit. They had gone out through that way, with two other people they had met. Maybe they were still near enough that Wye could catch them.

They would pay for what they had done. No matter what had happened or why, they would pay.

He had worried long ago about Vivalene taking Ecks’ dagger and killing him with it. Now someone else had actually done it.

He took off at a brisk walk and soon broke into a run, his heavy coat flying out behind him.


Title: Partners
Day/Theme: March 2nd - my eyes are the color of water
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Wye, Mr. Ecks, Mr. Zed, mentions of Bryn Watson
Rating: K+/PG


By Lucky_Ladybug

Wye had been one of the top men in the organization for some time when Mr. Zed called him into his home to discuss a new proposition for the future.

“Your track record is excellent as always, old friend,” Mr. Zed smiled as he handed Wye a drink.

“Thank you, Sir,” Wye replied, pleased by the compliment but on alert for the proposition. “I just follow orders as they’re handed out to me.”

“Ah, but you do it with such a flair, Wye.” Zed settled back in his favorite chair. “Sit down, please. We have a great deal to discuss.”

Wye sat across from him. “You mentioned a new proposition,” he noted. “Am I being assigned elsewhere?”

“No, no, nothing like that. We’re quite happy with your work here, and quite content for you to remain here.” Zed gazed into the wine glass for a moment before looking back up. “Have you ever met any of the children of our organization?”

“Now and then.” Suddenly Wye stiffened. “You’re not saying someone wants me to work with kids?!”

“Not exactly. He’s not a child anymore.” Zed studied his right-hand man, enjoying his reactions. “He’s an adult as far as this organization is concerned, ready to be trained as a full-fledged agent.”

“And you want me to do this,” Wye finally realized. He slumped back, reeling.

“Is there a reason why you think yourself incapable of handling it?” Zed asked, calmly.

“Oh no, not at all. It’s just . . . well, why me, Sir?” Wye exclaimed.

Zed smirked. “We think you’ll be good for the boy.”

“Well . . . thank you. I’m flattered, really.” Wye set the wine glass aside. “When will I meet him?”

The smirk melted into a smile. “Right now.” Zed looked towards the partially open door into the den. “You can come out now.”

The door opened farther and a young blond man in a trenchcoat and sunglasses walked into the room.

Wye stared at him for a moment. His first thought was, This boy is too strait-laced for my tastes. The blond had his coat closed and tied, proper but formal, and now he had laid one hand over the other, as though standing at attention and waiting for inspection.

Wye’s second thought was, I’ve seen him somewhere before.

“For Heaven’s sake, take off those glasses,” Zed abruptly broke into Wye’s train of thought. “Let the man see you properly. After all, you’re going to be partners.”

The boy reached up, whipping off the sunglasses in complete obedience. “I hope I’ll meet your expectations, Sir,” he said.

Wye stared at him. His eyes were blue, like Wye’s, yet they were a blue all their own. They were deep and vast and icy; Wye felt like he was looking into the Atlantic Ocean itself.

And suddenly Wye remembered him. “You!” he exclaimed. “The daft boy with the dogs!”

The boy nodded. “I remember you, Mr. Wye. I’m to be given the codename Mr. Ecks.”

“So, you made it to the elite,” Wye said, trying to prompt him into a little excitement. “One of the alphabet agents. You must already be good.”

“They say you are to make me better, Sir.” The boy, Ecks, remained matter-of-fact and unmoved.

Wye felt a definite chill. Ecks had been unhappy when Wye had met him before, but now he almost seemed robotic. How would he ever work with someone like that?

Zed seemed not to notice that there was a problem on either person’s part. “You two go ahead and get to know each other better,” he encouraged. “It sounds as if you’ve already had an intriguing meeting that I was entirely unaware of.”

“Yes,” Wye said slowly. “We met once, several years ago.”

“Good!” Zed stood. “That should help to break the ice.” He headed into the study, probably to set up his movie screen and watch disaster films—and laugh at them. It was his favorite pastime.

Ecks did not loosen his pose when Zed departed. Sighing, Wye shook his head and began to walk around him. “See here,” he said. “What happened to you? You weren’t happy when we met before, but it was nothing like this.”

“I became an agent,” Ecks said flatly. “And you’re right—I’m not happy. I never wanted to be part of this bloody organization. My parents saw to it that I was born into it. It’s my birthright. And there’s no way to even get out of something like this, once you’re in. If I might speak bluntly, I think you and everyone else who joins voluntarily are fools.”

“You sure speak bluntly alright,” Wye mused, not really offended. “Would you have said that to anyone else?”

“I’m blunt, but not stupid,” Ecks said. “There are very few I would have said that to.”

Wye nodded. “You just felt I wouldn’t punch your lights out for saying it? I’m generally known as one of the most dangerous in the organization, you know.”

“You liked me when we first met. And you still see me as a boy. No, I don’t think you’d hurt me.”

“Well . . .” Wye reared back and swung his fist, as though about to punch Ecks anyway. But Ecks was unmoved and Wye let his arm drop. “Oh, you’re right. I see I can’t fool you.” He sighed again. “But how am I going to train someone who really doesn’t want to be here?”

“You said it yourself—I’m already good. I’m efficient and I learn quickly. I won’t give you any trouble.”

“Now that’s where you’re wrong,” Wye declared. “You see, you bein’ so somber all the time is going to give me trouble. You’re not the sort what finds amusement in anything. Me, I’ve learned to find amusement in everything. It’s the only way to keep from going daft.”

“Then perhaps you’ll teach me.” Abruptly Ecks faltered and looked down, embarrassed. “To tell you the truth, I was . . . hoping they’d choose you as my partner. I liked you when we met years ago. I’ve . . . tried to follow your work since then.”

Wye stared at him, stunned. “You really mean that?”

“Every word.” Ecks looked up again. “The thought that they might choose you made my membership bearable. Since I had no choice but to become an agent, I pushed myself to be the best because I wanted to be allowed into the elite alphabet agents sector.” Something sparkled in his ocean eyes. “When I was informed I’d made it, I did have a moment of silent celebration, by myself. I was completely collected when I was with others.”

Humbled now, Wye smiled. “Well, I think we can work with that.” He drew an arm around Ecks’ shoulders. “Come on; I’ll take you away from here and start our first lesson.”

Ecks smiled too. “I hope I won’t be a disappointment to you.”

“Eh. Like you said, you learn fast. If I can just get you to loosen up, we’ll be doin’ fine.”
****
The words echoed through Wye’s mind as he ran out of the park. Ecks’ lifeless body was behind him. The ones responsible were ahead, trying to board an autobus.

Wye wouldn’t let them get away. He would never let them. They had killed Ecks and they would pay.

He drew his gun as he followed them aboard. It wasn’t professional, and he was sure he heard some gasps of alarm and surprise, but he didn’t care any more. He raised, aimed . . .

. . . And the woman in the company of the killers appeared out of nowhere, hitting him on the shoulder. His aim lost, he accidentally fired the gun into the dark-haired man’s shoulder.

He had no time to relish the pain he was bringing on one of the people responsible for Ecks’ death. The woman was coming at him again, frantic, hitting him and hitting him as she tried to knock him off the platform.

He really didn’t have a strong foothold. Finally she succeeded and he tumbled, crashing hard to the curb as the autobus roared past.

For a moment he remained there, dazed, stinging where he had hit hardest upon the fall. Several passers-by rushed to his side, appalled by what they had seen and asking if he was alright.

He wondered if they would be so eager to help if they knew the full story. He was technically the enemy, after all. The woman’s actions would be considered heroic.

He knew he had been stupid and unprofessional, to pull out his gun in full view of all the passengers on the bus. He had been so blind with rage that he hadn’t even cared. The proper thing to have done would have been to calmly poke the gun into the side of one of those men, keeping it concealed all the while, and order him to get his friends and get off the bus, not alarming the passengers in the process. But the only thing he had been able to think of was the sight of Ecks falling off the bench and lying on the ground dead, and all sense and logic had left him.

“Yeah,” he told them. “I’m not hurt. Go on now.”

He struggled to his feet, muttering curses under his breath at the pain running down his left hip. Hopefully he would not be limping for long. He had to go back to the park and get Ecks out of there, if someone hadn’t already rang the police and the medics about the dead body by the bench.

It was strange in a way, how hard he was taking it. He had thought he had prepared himself for either his death or his partner’s. In the spy business, it could happen any time. But he had come to love that boy. He wasn’t prepared at all to stumble upon him and suddenly realize he was dead, just like that, without even a word of farewell.

Not that exchanging final words with him would have eased the hatred boiling in his heart right now. Oh, how he loathed those men. The woman, too. No matter which one had used the dagger, he blamed them all.

I will avenge your death, Ecks, he said darkly in his mind. It’s the only thing I can do for you now.


Title: Old Acquaintance
Day/Theme: March 31st - it's time for goodbye again
Series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (specifically, The Odd Man Affair episode)/The Rockford Files (specifically, The Queen of Peru episode)
Character/Pairing: Mr. Wye, Mr. Ecks, Ginger Townsend, Lou Trevino
Rating: K/G


By Lucky_Ladybug

Ecks and Wye were sitting at the counter in a diner, ordering food to go, when two people in a window booth suddenly caught Wye’s eye. He did a double-take and turned on the stool, staring at them in amazement.

Ecks turned too. “What is it?” he asked. He didn’t see anything so particularly surprising—just a blond and somewhat gruff-looking man sitting with a balding, heavyset man. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, carrying on a lively conversation as they ate.

“Well, blow me down,” Wye chortled. “I never thought I’d see him again.”

“Which one?” Ecks demanded, still confused.

“The blond chap there,” Wye indicated. “Name’s Ginger Townsend. He’s English, like us.”

“Ginger?” Ecks looked incredulous.

“It’s his real name,” Wye said. “Never could figure out what his parents were thinkin’. He sure wasn’t about to tell.” He got down from the stool. “Grew up with him, I did.”

Ecks jumped down too. “Really?!”

“Well . . . I guess I’m exaggerating a mite. We were from the same approximate neighborhood. We’re both East Londoners, although he’s not Cockney like me. Saw each other around sometimes. Never knew what became of him when we both grew up and left. Neither of us was willin’ to stay put in that rubbish dump.” Wye started over to the booth.

Ecks trailed after him. “Do you think he’ll like you poking into his conversation?”

“Just to say Hello,” Wye defended. “We won’t stick around.”

Ginger and his friend both looked up as they approached. “Uh . . . hi?” the heavyset man blinked, clearly baffled.

Ginger looked like he was trying to work out in his mind what was happening. “Is there something we can do for you?” he asked. His voice was low and gravelly, definitely English, but indeed, not quite Cockney.

“Now, come on, Ginger, surely you haven’t forgotten me,” Wye exclaimed, taking off his sunglasses.

Finally recognition sparked in Ginger’s blue eyes. “. . . Of course not. Yes, I remember you.”

The heavyset man looked to Wye in surprise. “You know each other?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Ginger replied. “We were acquaintances as children. Never really more than that. Lou, this is . . .” He spoke Wye’s real name, something which gave Ecks pause. He knew the man’s name, but to him he was still Wye. “And this is my chum, Lou Trevino.”

The heavyset man, Lou, nodded. “Hey.” He smiled, genuinely friendly, and held out a hand. “I’m glad to meet somebody who knows Ginger.”

Wye shook his hand. “Likewise.” He introduced Ecks, proclaiming the boy his friend.

Ecks nodded and gave a slight wave.

“So, what are you blokes doing here in the wilds of Manhattan?” Wye asked.

“It’s my hometown,” Lou said. “We’re here for a business conference and are visiting my folks while we’re at it.”

Ginger nodded. “That’s right. We live in Los Angeles.”

“Los Angeles.” Wye shook his head. “I guess that suits you, eh, Ginger? You always hated the cold.”

“It’s not a bad city. In some ways.” Ginger eyed Wye somewhat warily. “What about you? You acted like you never intended to leave England.”

“I never did,” Wye said. “Things just . . . turned out that way.”

“I understand.” Ginger was definitely not the prying sort. He turned back to his meal, taking a sip of chocolate milk.

“Still a chocolate hound, I see,” Wye smirked. He looked to Ecks. “I tell you, Duck, I never saw anybody so into chocolate. Savored it every chance he could get. I think he even knocked off a few pieces from the neighborhood grocer now and then.”

Ginger grunted in displeasure, but didn’t confirm or deny the idea that he had been a chocolate thief.

“I heard you graduated from chocolate to jewels when you grew up,” Wye said.

“That’s in the past now,” Ginger said flatly.

“I suppose you had to stop after that Borland Diamond incident I heard about,” Wye said. “Just as well; you look like you’re doing alright for yourselves going legit.”

“That’s right,” Ginger said.

Lou looked back and forth between them, sensing the need to diffuse some tension. “Well,” he said slowly, “so have you guys been friends for a long time?”

“Quite,” Wye nodded. “We met . . . eh . . . because of work.”

“They partnered us off,” Ecks added.

“Oh yeah? That’s funny; the same thing happened to me and Ginger,” Lou said.

“Great way to meet good people, I say,” Wye said.

“It can be,” Ginger said. “In our case, it definitely was. And apparently in yours as well.”

“Oh, of course,” Wye nodded.

“Do you still work there?” Lou asked.

“Nah, we up and quit a year or so ago,” Wye said vaguely. “Had to. We’re out here lookin’ for a fresh start.”

“I see.” Ginger kept eating. “I hope you find it.”

“We’re well on our way to it, I’d say,” Wye said.

“Good to hear,” Ginger said, his tone noncommittal.

Wye sensed they had worn out their welcome. “Well, Ginger, it’s been good seein’ you again, catching up on old times. Maybe we’ll see you and Lou around sometime.”

“Maybe,” Ginger said guardedly.

Lou bade them goodbye as they departed. Ginger watched silently, not turning away from them until they were back at the counter.

“Funniest thing about him,” Wye said to Ecks as they collected their orders. “Always serious. He reminds me a lot of you when I first met you.”

Ecks nodded, leaning on the counter with both elbows behind him. “He does seem like that. And since you had so much trouble with me when I was that way, how did you ever get along with him?”

“Very badly, I think,” Wye mused. “He was smarting from some bird dropping him cold turkey, and after he’d saved her life! She said his hatred frightened her. But so anyway, he wasn’t lookin’ for any other chums after that. Certainly not me. I acted friendly with him because I wasn’t lookin’ to start any trouble. He was a tough bloke, that’s for sure.”

“Really?” Ecks blinked. “With his build?”

“Everybody was fooled because of that. If they got on his bad side, they regretted it. He was a tiger, he was. Saw him in action sometimes. Once he fought off four bullies all built like that friend he has now. He came out the champion.”

“I can see why you’d want to try to be friendly with him,” Ecks smirked.

“Yeah, but he was smart. Knew I wasn’t really interested in getting to know him. He tolerated me, nothing more. He was always loyal to people he loved. Indifferent to most everyone else. Hated a few, mostly those who went after those he loved. I have to agree with him on that. He’s the vengeance-taking type, like me.”

Ecks nodded. “I’m not sure he likes you much better now than he did then.”

“Eh, I don’t think he does. You can’t blame him, really.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“Of course, he really doesn’t like most people in general.”

Ecks smirked a bit again at that. “I can relate. If we meet up with him again, it will probably be an accident.”

“Most likely. Or we might not see him again at all; New York’s a big city.”

“True.

“But so he didn’t ever lighten up, like I did?”

Wye looked over to Ginger and Lou, watching as they returned to their conversation. “No,” he said. “He did. Look at them, Ecks. They’re happy together. That Lou, he might be the only one Ginger lightens up around.”

Ecks watched them briefly and then nodded. “That’s good,” he said. “Everyone should have someone who can make them happy.”

“That they should,” Wye agreed.

They headed out of the café together, happy to be together. Behind them, Ginger and Lou were happy as well. Though it was unlikely that both pairs would ever be friends with each other, each could understand and appreciate the value of friendship.