Prompt: Drowning

Summary: Takes place during “The Off-Broadway Affair.”  Napoleon wasn’t as frightened of his possible fate as he expected.

Cross-posted to AO3.  Light slash; there is no gen version

It was odd that Napoleon did not have his usual fear as
THRUSH carried him to Central Park.  He
knew they were going to dump him in the water; he wasn’t a strong swimmer as it
was, but bound hand and foot, he knew he had no chance.

But he hadn’t been too afraid.  What was it, then?  Acceptance?
Hope?

It must have been hope.

Because it was a relief when Illya showed up, though he was
concerned still—his partner was outnumbered, and there wasn’t anything Napoleon
could do while he was tied up–

His train of thought derailed as one of the THRUSHies,
falling, knocked him into the water.

The sudden inability to breathe was the worst part; he
hadn’t had any time to draw a breath in before having been knocked in.  Mercifully, he broke the surface once, for an
instant, allowing him to steal a breath of air, but he soon slipped under
again.

He tried to stay calm, knowing that the more he panicked,
the quicker the oxygen would be used up.
His heart beat at a steady pace; it was so bizarre, not being afraid…

Illya was soon beside him.
Sensing that Napoleon was running out of air, Illya thought quickly; he
placed his mouth over Napoleon’s and breathed some air to him.

Napoleon relaxed further, and soon, Illya brought him to
the surface; Napoleon had to inwardly marvel that Illya had quite literally
given him the kiss of life.  It was all
he could do not to try to kiss him again.

They joked and bantered briefly, despite the danger
Napoleon had been in—their way of reassuring each other that everything would
be fine.

Napoleon would put aside his nervousness for now—they still
had a mission to complete…

…But first, some well-needed time with his partner in a
Turkish bath was needed, as well as chance to properly show his gratitude.