Chapter Text
Gaby was sitting in a hotel balcony, watching dimly lit swimming pool on the yard. Illya was swimming, other end to other end, over and over again. He would be swimming five kilometers. Some of us are weird like that
“Is he swimming again?” Solo asked as he entered the balcony.
Gaby nodded. “Every night, if he has the time.” She took the glass Solo was offering and leaned the sun lounger.
“He´s weird,” Solo muttered and sat down.
Gaby smiled herself and continued watching swimming Illya. “Just a bit.” She sipped her vodka and let it warm her throat. It was good being there. The night was still warm, yet the breeze was cool and tickled her bare legs. And watching Illya swim was oddly relaxing. His strokes were even and calming and strong.
”That’s somewhat hypnotic,” Solo said as he too was staring the pool. “Although, it´s a bit sad that we a watching swimming Russian instead of anything else. Isn’t there something else to do?”
“No,” Gaby laughed a little, “Not today.”
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Solo asked.
Gaby nodded. ”You?”
”Always,” Solo said and sipped his drink. ”And what about your boyfriend down there?”
“I believe you mean my fiancé,” Gaby corrected and her smile died. “Of course he is. When isn´t he?”
“Another one?” Solo asked and arise to fill his glass.
Gaby nodded. She stared the pool and his strong strokes. The pool was glistening in light blue in the dark. She was sure that Illya was ready even now. He would just arise at the pool if needed and get the job done, easily, strongly, efficiently. Gaby liked that sort of readiness. It was soothing to know you would be protected.
”Your drink,” Solo said and handed Gaby her glass.
Gaby sipped and turn then to Solo. “Why do me and Illya always play the couple if there’s need of that? Why not you and me?”
“Oh darling,” Solo smiled, “I didn’t realize that you would want that. I´m sure we can make arrangements.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Gaby laughed. “Just why is it always me and Illya?”
“Don’t you like it?” Solo asked.
“I don’t like not to know if there’s a specific reason,” Gaby said.
“Well, at first it was the logical thing to do. I was needed elsewhere because my knowledge of art and antiquities. So the role of fiancé landed on Illya,” Solo explained. “And after that it was just easier. You were already used to it and you know each other.”
“I don’t think we really do,” Gaby said. “I know you a lot better. I know even Waverly better.”
“Maybe knowing was wrong word,” Solo muttered. ”You… you have a routine. Yes, that’s it, you have a routine. You are believable because you have done it before.”
”I don’t think we have a routine,” Gaby insists. “I don’t even know what you mean by it.”
Solo smiled. “Oh, yes you have. You are very comfortable with each other out in public. You stood very close to each other. He offers his arm to you when you are walking. You smile to him, he smiles to you. Or at least his mouth twitches a bit, which I think is the same. He looks more relaxed with you. You two look like it´s real, like it´s the easiest thing to do, so natural. Quite sweet actually.”
Gaby didn’t say anything. She watched the pool. Illya must have almost been done with his exercise.
“It actually looks so easy and real, that someone would say you don’t fake it at all,” Solo said quickly and sipped his drink.
“What?” Gaby sighted.
”Plus, it´s not exactly a secret what was going on in Rome”, Solo explained almost apologetic. ”You didn’t hide it very well.”
“Hide what?” Gaby asked little red on her cheeks. ”If you are referring the fact that I was scared and needed some comfort, then fine, but that was all there was. And it was before we became partners.”
”Was and was”, Solo huffed. “Where did the thing go? You two just waked up in Istanbul the next morning and BUFF it was gone, just partners.”
“There wasn’t anything serious,” she insisted. “As I said, I was scared and who there’s better to protected you then a huge Russian.”
“And now you are just partners,” Solo said.
“Yes.”
“Who just happened to be acting like a real couple really well,” Solo continued.
“Yes. Acting,” Gaby said.
Solo grinned at her. ”I don’t believe you.”
Gaby just huffed. It really didn’t matter what Solo was or wasn’t believing.
“Your boyfriend is finished,” he said.
Gaby looked at the pool. Illya emerged to the light blue water. Even in three stores down, he manages to look big. He grabbed his towel and pressed to his face. Then he ruffled his hair and started to dry himself: shoulders, arms, thighs, shins, stomach and then the broad chest. Light from the pool make his wet skin glistening. He looked like someone sculpted him.
“You are holding your breath,” Solo almost whispered.
Gaby swallowed. “No, I'm not.”
“You were watching his muscles and holding your breath,” Solo smirked, “So if you are saying that Rome was just one time thing, you are lying. You may say it, but you don’t act like it. But you shouldn’t be worried; you are not the only one.” Solo stood up and left the balcony.
Gaby fallowed him quickly. “What do you mean? What do you mean I am not only one?”
“Well there’s two of you,” Solo noted, “And if I´m not talking about you, then…” He didn’t finish the sentence, just smirked. ”You really didn’t think that Peril would be that good of an actor? If he seems to like you, it´s because he likes you. And I think you do to. Sometimes I think it´s harder to you to act like you are just partners, to be not standing so close and not to touch.”
Gaby didn’t really know what to say. Eventually she didn’t have to say anything, because key was rattling in the lock and Illya walked the room.
“Cowboy,” he said at the door.
“We were enjoying few nightcaps and watching you exercising,” Solo said in a good mood. “Impressing stamina.”
Illya´s mouth tightened. He didn’t like to be tease with.
“Good night,” Gaby said as Solo left the room.
“See you tomorrow, lovebirds,” he said cheerfully.
The door shut and for a moment there Gaby and Illya just stood there. No one spoke, Gaby was holding her empty glass and Illya was dripping water in the carpet.
“You were watching me swim?” Illya finally asked.
“No,” Gaby lied, “of course not.” She didn’t think Illya needed to know the truth. He would just misunderstand and think that they were mocking him or laughing at him. And Gaby didn’t want that. She watched how there was still water dripping to Illya´s arms and chest. She noticed that she truly was holding her breath. She quickly lifted her eyes. She didn’t want to stare. Illya was looking at her, but she didn’t know did he actually notice what she was watching.
“You are dripping,” Gaby said eventually.
“Yes,” Illya said and they finally started moving. Illya headed to the bathroom and Gaby to bedroom.
She had to remind herself; just partners, colleagues, someone to work with. Nothing more.
Illya dropped the damp towel and his swim trunks on the floor. He stepped to the shower to wash the chlorine water of his skin. Water in the shower was warmer then the pool water and he let it warm him up. Hard working muscles deserved it.
After drying out, he put on his pajama pants and t-shirt. He had a habit of bringing those at the bathroom before he left his swim. For some reason he didn’t feel comfortable prancing around Gaby in half-dressed more than it was necessary. He felt weak and vulnerable when he wasn’t complete ready for anything. And he really didn’t want to feel that around Gaby. He needed to be ready because of her; it was his job to keep her safe. That’s at least how Illya himself saw things. And maybe, just maybe, he felt little shy around Gaby. Which he though was ridicules. He was a KGB agent; little girls shouldn’t make him feel shy. But still that was the case. Just moments ago, when Solo has left and Gaby was clearly watching him, he almost blushed.
Gaby was already in bed when Illya left the bathroom. Night lamps were on and she was flipping through a magazine on her side of the bed. The first nights in same bed in Istanbul were awkward. Illya laid down stiff as a board on his side and slept very badly. But since then he was used to it, they both were. After all they were both adults and the beds were always wide. They both fitted just fine. Nowadays sharing a bed wasn’t a problem.
Illya pushed his blanked aside and climbed to the bed. He took his alarm clock and made sure it was in right time. It always was, but still he checked, every night. He didn’t see Gaby smiling to his little quirk.
The phone ringed and Illya picked it up.
“Your trackers are still with me”, Solo said, “Remember to picked those in morning.”
“No,” Illya said, “I come now.”
He left the bed and took his rope. “Trackers,” he just said to Gaby who was looking him. The girl nodded and Illya left.
Solo´s room was one floor down and he opened the door after the first knock.
“Come in,” he said. ”The trackers are on the table.”
Illya picked up a black leather holster at the table and was going to leave right away. But then Solo reminded him.
“Do try to play civilians no matter what,” he said. ”If there’s a problem try not to kill anyone.”
“What are you talking about?” Illya asked annoyed.
“Gaby knows to watch you,” Solo continued.
“I do not need to be watched”, Illya hissed.
“Well, history can tell us that you do,” Solo smiled.
“I can’t help if people are picking a fight,” Illya noted, “It´s their own fault.”
“True,” Solo said, “but if people are looking at you, that doesn’t mean there are picking a fight. Not even if they talk to you. Not even if they talk to Gaby.”
Illya stepped closer to Solo. His hand was taping against his thigh.
“Not even if another man was to talking to Gaby,” Solo reminded, “It’s not picking a fight. You are supposed to act as her fiancé, not her extremely jealous fiancé. There’s a difference.”
“I know what I´m doing,” Illya assured.
“Do you?” Solo asked almost worried. ”I´m not that sure. You have a tendency to overreact when it´s Gaby.”
“What do you mean?” Illya asked agitated.
“I think it´s your insecurity,” Solo pondered, “You are acting all overprotected, because you think somebody is going to steal her from you.”
“You are moving thin ice, Cowboy,” Illya hissed.
”I think the situation would be easier if you two just pushed your faces together and get it over with. Then she would be yours and you could relax.”
Illya didn’t say anything. His face was tight and his hand was tapping.
“Normally I wouldn’t advise two agents to be together, but you two are different,” Solo explained. “There was a thing before you become partners and it’s not just doing to disappear, now does it. Now some part of your energy and concentration goes to pretending that there’s really nothing between you, and that it energy you could use to the missions. To be honest, I think you two would be more efficient if the extra tension was gone.”
Illya took a deep breath, then another. His fist closed and the knuckles went white. Then he relaxed his hand. He was able to stop the tapping. He manages to calm himself down.
“We are partners”, Illya said slow and sure. “That is how it’s going to be. That’s appropriate.” Then he left the room and Solo, who was shaking his head to his Russian counter partner’s stubbornness.
Gaby’s light was already off and she was lying on her side. But Illya could feel her looking at him when he crossed the room and enter the bed.
“I got our trackers,” he said because he felt like something needed to be said.
“How are you feeling about the mission?” Gaby asked.
“It´s fine,” Illya replied. His brows frowned little. Gaby didn’t usually ask about his feelings, only facts; what kind equipment’s they were using? What was the schedule?
“Are you worried?” Illya asked. He didn’t want her to be worried. But it was also weird talk about feelings, he wasn’t good at it.
“No,” Gaby said and yawned. Then she watched Illya eyes and smiled little. “I just hope it’s going to be nice weather tomorrow. It´s a ship after all. A storm wouldn’t be nice.”
Illyas mouth twitched a bit and his face softens. “Sunny. I promise,” he said, “It´s going to go well.”
Gaby smiled and closed her eyes.
Illya turned his night lamp off and lied down. His eyes get used to the darkness and he watched Gaby, her silhouette against the lighter wall, her face on the pillow.
“Good night”, she muttered.
“Good night,” Illya replied. In his mind he added little chop shop girl. He didn’t say it out laud. It felt too intimate. And they after all were only partners, colleagues, someone to work with. Nothing more.