One Shots/Episodes

The Man From Romania

"I don't mind Jane Austen." Leoda said calmly as she and Solo sat in the back of a cab, driving through the busy streets of London.

"I prefer a good western myself." Solo replied.

Rain pattered down on the roof of the cab and Leoda sighed adding,

"I hate it here."

"It's not my favorite place to be, but it's the safest place for us right now." Solo said.

Leoda looked at Solo as he glanced out of the window and a small grin tugged at the corner of her lips before she turned away.

"That's true." she swallowed and then said, "But Illya seems to be a bit restless."

"That's because the young woman who was part of our team was his love interest until she came here and married an MI6 agent." Solo said, looking at Leoda with a hint of pity in his eyes.

"Well she's not here right?" Leoda asked.

"No she's not." Solo said, "Thank God. If she was, I honestly wouldn't be able to handle the awkwardness."

"Poor Quina." The German added.

"She's doing a good job at hiding any restlessness." Solo said. "Does she ever talk to you about it?"

"Not really," Leoda replied, "Just some little things here or there."
"Oh, well then--" Solo began

"We don't really talk much." Leoda cut him off. "Well not recently anyway."

"Why?" Solo asked.

"I have no idea." Leoda replied.

It was then that the cabbie stopped and Solo looked out of the window to see not their destination but an old motel. He glanced at Leoda then said to the cabbie,

"What are you doing? This isn't our stop."

The cabbie didn't turn around but only took off his hat and fumbled around with something in the front seat before turning back to them. The man watched them with his bright blue eyes then the barrel of a hand gun appeared over the top of the seat and Solo immediately reached for his own.

"Don't even think about it Mr. Solo." the cabbie said.

"Who are you?" Leoda asked.

The man looked at Leoda as if he had forgotten that she was there and a flash of interest came over his face before he said,

"Someone you have no reason to fear unless you decide to not listen to my instructions."

"Name." Solo said sternly.

"Can't say." the man replied.

"Then at least tell us what you want." Leoda cut in, "And stop playing this stupid little game."

"You found yourself a feisty one Mr. Solo, nothing like that other German girl."the man added with a grin.

"Again, who are you?" Solo persisted.

"I'm a friend of a friend." he said, "Now if you don't mind, get out of the car."

Leoda raised her eyebrow then looked at Solo who just made a motion toward the door, before opening his own. They walked out onto the side walk and waited as the driver approached them from around the car. He had a very chiseled jaw and cheekbones that Leoda thought could be very well as sharp as Solo's.

"Now what?" Solo asked.

"Now you go into that motel." the driver said, slipping his weapon into his pocket.

The two were very reluctant to move when he suddenly slipped his arm around Leoda's waist and pressed the barrel of his weapon against her side saying,

"Shall we?"

Solo watched Leoda for another moment and then turned and continued to walk toward the ancient looking motel. In the mean time, as people scurried about them, the driver was not discrete about his observations of Leoda.

"Can I help you with something?" Leoda asked, her jaw set and every muscle in her body tensed.

"Yes." the man said, coming closer to her as they walked through the double doors, "Smile for me."

Leoda rolled her eyes and swallowed hard. She glanced at Solo quickly who watched the man carefully and cautiously. They arrived in the lobby of the motel and Leoda felt the man's hand travel slowly down her side and she frowned. Her elbow shot backward and into the man's side and immediately regretted it as she felt the barrel of the gun dig deeper into her side .
"I wouldn't do that if I were you my dear."
"Don't dear me, you son of --"
"Leoda." Solo cut in quickly. "It would be best not to antagonize him." He added.
"Really ?!" Leoda said.
Solo pressed his lips together and let out a sharp breath.
"Well now that we've gotten that out of the way ," the man said, "I may as well introduce myself. I am an agent from Romania, call me Red." He ended with a smirk .
"Red huh ?" Leoda said, "that's stupid ."
Red and Solo both looked at her and Red added,
"She's got more guts than most men I know."
"Trust me, I know." Solo ended.
The three entered the elevator and the doors shut slowly as they all stood in silence. Leoda was one moment away from breaking Red's hand when the gun was pulled away and Red stepped back.
Leoda took this opportunity to try and swing her lebow into his face but was stopped by the palm of his hand.
"What on earth are you doing?" he said, sounding genuinely shocked. He shoved her arm away then straightened his suit before adding,
"You're lucky I got to you first."