Moments to Remember

Sweet Slumber

Based on the VLD story, "The Pidge Hunt" by Titans_R_Us. Hope you enjoy! Also, if you have any story or headcanon suggestions, feel free to leave a comment, and I'll try to write as many as I can if I find the time.

Illya and Napoleon were on the hunt. They had been pacing around Gaby's apartment for what felt like hours, in search of their small Chop Shop Girl. Neither of them was willing to voice their nervousness, but Illya could tell that Napoleon was as worried as he was. After all, even Cowboy's offhanded comments lacked their usual strength or charm, as if the effort required to conjure them couldn't be mustered up. And Illya felt the same way. He knew he had gone more silent than normal, but even as the fact registered in his brain, he didn't think it was important to waste any energy making small talk with his American partner. After all, they had been working together for just over a month now, but their thoughts and actions seemed to be in perfect tandem; Napoleon knew what Illya was thinking, and Illya could tell exactly how Napoleon was going to act. So, the tedious search dragged on.

Neither individual had much cause to believe that Gaby had been kidnapped, but only because this situation had already happened a couple of times before. In fact, each member of the team had their quirks. Napoleon eats an unhealthy amount of cake when he's angry. Illya can stare at the wall for hours at a time when he's lost in thought or some long-repressed memory. And Gaby will fall asleep almost anywhere once she's worked herself to exhaustion. Hence their current predicament.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

When they were back in Britain a couple of weeks ago, Illya had gone to visit her on a rainy day. The lights were on in the apartment, but the door was locked and no one had responded to his increasingly frantic knocks. So, he decided to act like any other person would, and a short minute later, the lock was picked, and he was standing inside her apartment. Yet still no response. And then, in a short moment of heart-wrenching panic (that he'd never admit to) Illya panicked and reached for the phone.

"Solo speaking. Who might this be?"

"Cowboy. I'm at Gaby's home. Cannot find her." He said. And Napoleon was there in five minutes.

Together, they searched the cramped apartment. The cupboards in the kitchen were empty. There was nothing under the coffee table. A cursory check of Gaby's bedroom and closet - which Illya insisted on doing alone - also led to nothing...until Cowboy shouted from the next room.

"Hey Peril, I found your girlfriend."

Illya rushed out, and his racing mind didn't even bother to correct Cowboy for his assumption. There, under an old maple desk, was Gaby. She was curled up in the wooden cubby, with a forgotten book resting in her lap. To his right, Illya heard Cowboy chuckling softly at the ridiculousness of the sight, but Illya ignored him and reached out to take Gaby to bed.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Since then, it wasn't uncommon for them to find Gaby asleep on top of the coffee table or underneath a car, still wearing her greasy coveralls. But Illya and Cowboy had gotten better at finding her - now that they knew some of her favorite spots.

However, now they were in Portugal, in a foreign hotel room with different spots for the small German to hide in. So Illya sighed and continued his search. It could be a long one, but he didn't really mind anymore, so long as he could make sure she was safe (And of course, Napoleon knew this, and Illya was forced to put up with all of his American comments while they scoured the rooms).