Jalix

"I owe it to Leiter. He’s put his life on the line for me many times."

- Bond to M about Felix, License To Kill

Jalix is the slash ship between James Bond and Felix Leiter from the James Bond fandom.

Dr. No
On Bond’s arrival to Jamaica, Felix tailed the spy. When Bond engaged in a fight with Quarrel and a bar owner, Felix calmed the fight down—by holding Bond at gunpoint. Felix introduces himself as an ally. He explains to Bond that he was on the same mission. Throughout, Felix supplies Bond with information.

Goldfinger
Felix travels to Miami to meet Bond, and tells him about Goldfinger, who was suspected to try to steal gold from Fort Knox. Felix also points him out. When Bond is captured and kept as Goldfinger’s guest, Felix regularly checks up on him secretly. When Fort Knox is attacked, Felix worried for Bond, who was being held captive inside, and is relieved to find that he was alive.

Thunderball
Bond and Felix investigate a hijacked plane that carried two atomic bombs. They also find the corpse of a fake NATO observer. When Bond was being chased by Fiona, he told Felix to watch over Domino, who was in danger. When Bond is in the underwater cave, Felix rescues him. He later leads a distraction along with his men so Bond could sneak into Largo’s ship.

Diamonds are Forever
While in the diamond smuggling pipeline, Bond and Felix run into each other. They successfully retrieve the diamonds. Bond is then part of an assassination attempt, which he only survives because Felix switched the real diamonds with fakes. After this event, Bond tells Felix to hurry with the real thing. In the oil rig, Felix assists Bond, and later rescues him.

Live and Let Die
Bond and Felix meet in New York, and try to locate Mr. Big. Bond is captured when Felix steps outside, leaving him puzzled as to where his friend went. Later, Felix manages to get Bond out of trouble with the police. Later, Bond and Felix destroy Mr. Big’s crops and rescue Solitaire. He bids Bond farewell when he leaves.

The Living Daylights
When Bond fake-assassinates General Pushkin, Felix manages to rescue him from the police. Felix tells Bond some more information about Whitaker, and discusses his theories to the plans of Orlov. Later on, Felix helps Bond to eliminate Whitaker.

License to Kill
Bond and Felix successfully arrests a drug runner, just before the latter’s wedding. However, Felix is kidnapped and maimed when the drug runner escapes from prison. Bond was shocked at the news, and this would lead him to seek personal vengeance against the drug runner - Sanchez. At the end of the film, Felix has almost recovered and talks to Bond.

Casino Royale
Bond and Felix both play in a poker game against Le Chiffre. When Bond is forced out after misreading a bluff, Felix backs him with a $5 million buy in, with the agreement that the CIA would arrest Le Chiffre.

"Listen, I’m bleeding chips. I’m not going to last much longer. You have a better chance. I’ll stake you. I’m saying I’ll give you the money to keep going. Just one thing: you pull it off, the CIA bring him in."

- Felix, Casino Royale

Quantum of Solace
Felix learns that Quantum was trying to kill Bond, and lies when he is shown a picture of him. Later, Bond calls up Felix and asks to meet him. Felix knows that Beam was trying to kill him, so he made the meeting discreet. Felix warns Bond about Beam, and manages to get him away.

Goldfinger

 * Bond appears happy when Felix appears in Miami.
 * Felix tries several means to try to keep an eye on Bond, such as spying through a bush and following Oddjob. Likewise, Bond writes a secret letter and and slips it into Solo’s pocket, along with his homing device, so Felix could find it.
 * Near the end of the film, when Felix and Bond are talking, Felix mentions that he put some champagne on board. When Bond asks who the other people were going to be, Felix tells him that there were no other people.

Live and Let Die

 * Felix covers for Bond three times in the film: once when he gets involved in a car accident, once when he tore a plane’s wings off, and once with the police.

License to Kill

 * Felix and Bond fight alongside one another in the opening.
 * When Bond drops his hat after catching Sanchez, Felix points it out.
 * Bond is Felix’s best man at the wedding.
 * When M blames Felix for his accident, Bond gets defensive.

Fanon
Despite Jalix being a rare ship in the fanfiction fanbase, there are several who support the idea. The idea of Jalix first originated in License to Kill, where the plot rolls around Bond trying to avenge Felix and his maims. Bond decides to go rogue to chase Sanchez, not for his own sake, not for his country’s sake, but for Felix’s sake. This is an event which sparked the ship. This ship wasn’t supported before, as there was always a sort of strained relationship. More Jalix fans came around at the start of the second era, with the introduction of a second Felix.

Jalix is shipped because of the relationship that the two have. They have both saved each other’s lives, and have been loyal to a fault. In the books, the relationship is not as explored as much, but still shows a strong relationship between the two.

It is also shipped because of the contrast of personality. While Bond is more care-free in the first era, Felix is more serious. In the second era, Bond is more serious, while Felix is more easy-going. In most films, Bond and Felix have a similar personality.

It has also been shipped due to the moments the two share. During the wedding scene, Felix - along with Della - gives Bond a special lighter. Observant fans notice this is both a play on Felix’s last name Leiter, but also a reference, as in Live and Let Die, Felix uses a lighter gadget as a telephone. This was also playfully dubbed a “Felix lighter” by Bond.

In earlier movies, it is shipped due to Felix rescuing Bond and saving his life many times.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * Felix is one of the only regular characters who has called Bond by his first name.
 * Bond actor Roger Moore and Felix actor David Hedison (who were in Live and Let Die) were friends in real life, even before the roles were cast.
 * Bond and Felix are often described as having the same personality, but with different nationalities.