A note - given the unique nature of the central partnership, the vast majority of fanfictions have capitalized on the Ho Yay (there's a reason we have an entire page for that) and feature slash or preslash between the two protagonists, Illya Kuryakin and Napoleon Solo. You have been warned.
Waging World Peace
by Alex 51324.
- "There is something you should know before making a final decision.”“I’m already aware he’s Russian, sir,” Napoleon said. “And he’s still on good terms with them, so he must at least technically be a Communist.”Waverly brushed that aside. “All of the Russian agents are. Kuryakin, however, is also an admitted homosexual.”(An original-recipe Man from U.N.C.L.E. fic.)
Meticulously written, clever, historically mindful take on Napoleon and Illya's evolving partnership. Slash.
Phoenix by Shayheyred
- Illya Kuryakin was not an emotional man
42k of exquisite love story with a focus on Illya, his psyche, and trauma. Very thoughtful, great pacing/buildup, incredible attention to detail, I cannot recommend this more highly. Slash.
The Curious Nature of Felines by rallamajoop
- The thing is, Illya's daemon doesn't behave like a daemon. She behaves like, well, a cat.
A clever, original take on the daemon AU in the Man from UNCLE universe. Featuring Napoleon, Illya, their delightful daemons, and slash.
For Every Good Reason by Orockthro
- /Illya dreams of fire. Of smoke, of saltwater rising and locking his legs into quicksand, of Napoleon’s mouth over his as they bob in the water, breathing life into him./"You’re supposed to be the strong swimmer,” the shadow said from above. The image swam as he blinked his eyes clear of stinging saltwater until, finally, the edges narrowed and refined, and he was left with Napoleon's face staring down at him, pale against the blue sky."(Or, trapped on an island after a mission gone sour, Illya must reconcile his broken memory and what Napoleon tells him of past events, putting their partnership and trust on the line.)
Compelling, twisty mystery that's a thrilling rollercoaster of action and emotion - all in less than eight thousand words. Slash.
Three Mistakes by Corvidology
- Whoever thought the life of a spy was a glamorous one had never sat by a hospital bedside in Des Moines at 1:00am in the morning.
900 word ficlet that packs a powerful punch - three mistakes that Napoleon Solo has made in his relationship with Illya Kuryakin. Slash.
A Unified Theory of UNCLE, in four parts by rallamajoop
- Illya has never in his life known any man so enthusiastically heterosexual as Napoleon. He’s not entirely sure he believes that a man so heterosexual as Napoleon could exist at all.
If the summary hasn't sold you, I'm not sure what else to tell you. It's hilarious. Trust me. Also very thoughtful. Slash (by this point, are you surprised?)
The Better Gadget Affair by Lady Ra
- Where did Napoleon get all those great gadgets from?
Pre-canon, set before Illya and Napoleon are partners. Slash.
Lessons by fallingintodivinity
- How to pass the time while one waits for an opportune moment to escape from one’s T.H.R.U.S.H. captors.
To Napoleon's consternation, Illya is a very effective tease. Slash but mostly humor.
Significant Effect by Xparrot
- Illya is going to drive Napoleon crazy. One way or another.
After a revelation about his sexuality, Illya decides to explore it. Napoleon is perhaps a little bit jealous. But only a little bit. Slash.
Sublimierung by Xparrot.
- "I'm sorry you're missing your date," Illya said, at four thousand feet over the South China Sea.
Sublimierung: in psychology, a defense mechanism in which socially unacceptable impulses are channeled into socially acceptable actions or behavior, possibly resulting in a long-term conversion of the initial impulse. For instance, the impulse to kiss your partner silly being channeled into the impulse to kiss anything in a skirt. Just spitballing. UST. (Check out the comments section for further author thoughts on this if you are so inclined.)
Until Next Time by Annethe Cat Detective
- They get captured a lot in this line of work.Illya usually gets the short end of the stick, too. But he'd rather take a little torture than see Napoleon undergo the same, and he knows if he makes it out of something alive, he'll always have his partner to lean on.Napoleon still really wishes he wouldn't.
Illya does get whumped a lot, doesn't he... Hurt/comfort, slash.
Ded Moroz by Aconitum Napellus
- On a sleeper train on the way to Oslo, Illya has concussion, and the train gets stopped by snow.This is gently slash - i.e., nothing steamy. After all, poor Illya has concussion.A Down The Chimney Affair gift for Pfrye, who asked for A Christmas surprise, emotional, forgotten memories.
Another mission and Illya is injured (as he so often is.) The train is stopped and they have to stay in town for the night. POV from a concussed Illya with some excellent character work and beautiful, dreamy writing. Slash.
drozd-belobrovik series by rallamajoop
Ongoing series featuring THRUSH!Illya and UNCLE!Napoleon getting it on with dubious regard to safety or sanity. Seeing Illya go full hedonist is very, very fun. And there's some real plot, too!
Brisé Volé by Anonymous.
- Illya Kuryakin is one of the most famous ballet dancers in the world and the pride of the Kirov ballet.Illya has secrets, secrets of the most dangerous kind. Secrets if shared that can do damage to the powerful, and if not, can do damage to the world. He is no longer safe in Russia. But UNCLE has caught wind of his intelligence, and they arrange for him to defect. Illya will share what he knows, and in exchange, he will be protected and he'll be able to continue his ballet career in the West.Napoleon Solo is one of UNCLE's star agents. He has little time for enigmatic Russian dancers - or at least, he shouldn't. But good sense has no domain in affairs of the heart, and Illya's draw is one from which he cannot pull away.
An AU wherein Illya Kuryakin is a Soviet ballet dancer who defects to the West. Shocking nobody, he and Napoleon become very (slashily) close
Unit I, Series LYA: Press to Activate by Orockthro
- “Look, can I call you something else? Unit I, Series LYA doesn’t exactly, ah, roll off the tongue.”Blue eyes stare at him dispassionately. It’s horrifying how human he looks. Probably because he was, once. Those blue eyes belonged to some poor brain dead potato farmer, or a mortally wounded KGB officer, before he became... this... instead. Whatever this is. He’s seen what’s between those eyes now. It’s metal and flesh and wires and fluid that looks like engine oil but smells like blood, and Napoleon doesn’t want to see it again.“A common Soviet name is Illya. If it makes you more comfortable, and will increase our success in the field, you may call me that.”(Or, the Soviets have made a leap in technology, and Napoleon is assigned a new partner. Just not one he was expecting.)
Inspired premise, impeccable execution. Strange but excellent.
It's a Restless Hungry Feeling by Orockthro
- Sitting there in the dark, something clicks in Illya’s brain (I was betrayed by Mandor). Even as he hears Napoleon wake up, his mind is slipping blank (I was betrayed by Mandor) and quiet (I was betrayed by Mandor).“Look at me,” Napoleon says.Illya looks at him. He’s beautiful. He’s pretty sure he’s always known this, but it’s different now, on the bed looking up at him, seeing not the carefully controlled Don Juan, but the man on the brink of losing control. A brown-eyed mirror of his own fear.
A much-needed coda to "The Master's Touch Affair"
