Napoleon eyed the box on his desk warily.

"Ah! You're here!" Illya entered, smiling broadly. He peeked under the cloth that covered the box. "You didn't open this, did you?"

"No... is it safe?"

"Napoleon, don't be ridiculous! I brought it. After my courier mission to London yesterday, this came back with me. I thought your office needed to be homier."

"You what?"

Illya set down brown paper bag he had been carrying. "Yes. I'm glad you didn't open it before I got here. Well, go ahead."

He very gingerly lifted the edge of the cloth, revealing... a small orange tabby cat.

"You got me-- a cat? Illya...?"

"Several of the secretaries decided that he could live here. They will feed him whenever you are on assignment. Besides, having a cat will curb those paternal instincts you may have come across last week. The last thing I want is a human child to take care of."

"Well, I couldn't keep one in here. So... we have an office cat?"

"His name is DeLeon."

"As in Ponce DeLeon?"

"I could hardly call him Ponce. He's British, he would be insulted. I got him back from the shelter that took all of those cats that were experimented on."

Napoleon smiled, picking the cat up. It rubbed its cheek against his face, purring. "I could get used to having the little guy around the office."

"I think he's the same one." Illya nodded. "He missed you."

"I don't think he remembers me."

"Of course he does. You are unforgettable." He kissed his partner's nose.

DeLeon mewed petulantly.

"Apparently, he would like our undivided attention."

"He has already had the undivided attention of every girl I've run across today."

"Pity. It's a great excuse not to do paperwork." Napoleon shrugged, setting the cat on his desk.

"Once I put his food out, we will be free to finish the paperwork." Illya shook his head, opening the bag and removing a small box of cat chow and two plastic bowls. He handed one to the other man. "Go and fetch him some water."

"Sure."

"You like him?"

"Of course I do. He's adorable. And so is the man who brought him."

"We should get a tiny badge to fix to his collar. Make him an official agent. He's already been on one mission."

"And he's official feline assistant to the CEA." Napoleon grinned. "I know I can get one of those volunteer cat-sitters you spoke of to make one up for him."

Illya smiled and nodded. "Good. Water?"

"I'll get right on it."

Napoleon left his office, plastic bowl in hand, to get water for UNCLE's newest agent, an office cat named DeLeon.

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