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This is wrong. This is all wrong.
It’s the only thought that can go through Illya’s mind as he continues to watch Strothers question—no, torture—Napoleon into a false confession of guilt.
Nevermind that Napoleon agreed to this—that he was planning something to expose the actual THRUSH traitor in U.N.C.L.E. by willingly putting himself through all of this to prove his innocence.
It shouldn’t have been you, Napoleon, can’t you see that? Illya silently asked his partner. He winced in sympathy as Strothers threw a glass of water onto Napoleon’s face—poor Napoleon hated the sensation of water on his face. If something goes wrong, you will be dismissed as a traitor and mentally reprogrammed when you are innocent! …And even if you succeed, your reputation might never recover…
It also pained him to see Napoleon in such a state behind the glass.
…To say nothing of your physical and mental strain from all of this. Oh, Napoleon… If there had been some way for me to have taken your place, I would have done it, if only to spare you from this.
Illya cared less about his reputation—he didn’t have the prestige and respect that Napoleon had, and, in truth, he didn’t want nor need it. He worked best from the shadows, aiding Napoleon and supporting him while Napoleon basked in the spotlight. It suited him.
But now, Napoleon was on the verge of losing everything, breaking in front of Strothers. Illya could tell he couldn’t hold out for much longer, and he wanted nothing more than to break into that interrogation room and comfort his partner.
But Napoleon had made him promise not to intervene. He had to endure this all for the sake of proving his innocence.
Illya could only hope that Napoleon would be able to recover by the end of it—both his sanity and his reputation.
“Why do you seem so distressed, Kuryakin?” Beldon asked. “You were never one to get attached before.”
Illya didn’t reply to his former boss. There was no point in explaining how Napoleon was different from all of the other trial partners that Illya had been partnered up with, and that had been why their partnership had endured. They had been through too much together to not be attached.
Illya owed Napoleon a lot—and so, he would see to it that Napoleon would recover to the best of his ability from all of this.
…It was the least he could do for his poor partner.