Fic Rec: "pursuit of happiness" by mitzvahmelting

[terresdebrume]

pursuit of happiness (6981 words) by mitzvahmelting
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Illya Kuryakin/Napoleon Solo
Characters: Illya Kuryakin, Napoleon Solo
Additional Tags: Period-Typical Homophobia, Internalized Homophobia, apron kink?, Enthusiastic Consent, Hurt/Comfort, Super fluffy ending, the homophobia is real but softcore, no slurs
Summary:

Illya flirts with Napoleon, and Napoleon's reaction is... not at all what Illya expected.

Written for the prompt, "Illya comes into the kitchen and sees Napoleon wearing nothing but an apron." Then it got away from me, because it's Pride Month, so it ended up ruminating a lot on cold war homophobia, the "lavender scare," and all the gay British spies.

So I know this fic is already in my "favorite reads" post for The Man From U.N.C.L.E., but guys I like it so much I want to give it its own rec post.
I just...I have a thing for very uptight and/or repressed people being basically forced to confront their feelings. There's something weirdly cleansing about a breakdown--not ideal or agreeable by any means, but it's like opening a dam and leaving room for something calmer and healthier. Seeing Napoleon go through this, and have it be deatl with in such a delicate and sensitive manner, with Illya reacting with such delicacy and tenderness--I could only ever love it.