Q

[0_0_7]

He'd returned the file now that they had what they needed. Bond picked up some of Q's favorite biscuits on the way home.

Bond was trying his best to give Q time and space, to not push him or hound him. He knew the man needed time. He simply wasn't the most gentle of people and feared he was going to make everything worse.

So.

Biscuits.

"Well, hello, darling. Are you starving to death? Wasting away?" he asked the cat that wound around his ankles the moment he stepped inside.

Comments

[cuppa_q]

Q was on the sofa, curled up under a blanket watching one of those 'masked' shows, where people had to guess who was singing or dancing, or whatever. He sat up a little at the sound of Bond's voice, peeking over the back of the sofa.

"Where've you been?" he asked curiously.

He didn't mean to cling, but he hated being home alone lately.

[0_0_7]

"I was returning some material," he explained. "I might have a lead, but I've put it to bed for the night. We'll talk tomorrow. Have you not fed the cat? What's wrong with her?"

Even now he couldn't believe the gat simply liked him.

[cuppa_q]

"She's just got terrible taste in men like everyone else in this flat," Q quipped, relaxing a little and laying back down.

[0_0_7]

"Oh. Well if that's all..." he chuckled. Bond headed for the bedroom, peeling off his suit along the way. "Is there anything to eat?" he called from the other room. "Should we get delivery?"

[cuppa_q]

"Oh- Sorry, I was going to order something, but... Forgot, I suppose," Q confessed.

He was forgetting a lot lately. Tinkering less than usual, taking sick days- All things he'd never done before.

[0_0_7]

Bond returned in a pair of low slung flannel pajama pants and a soft shirt he knew Q liked.

"Rough day?" he asked, looking at Q with a challenge for him to be honest.

[cuppa_q]

"No rougher than yesterday, or the day before that," Q said softly. "I'm alright, James. ...Or- Well, I suppose I'm not, but I'm no worse either, and that's good, isn't it?"

[0_0_7]

"You're getting worse," he countered flatly. "I think it's time we look to outside help, Q. Harry and I can only do so much."

He was kind in telling him. Bond held everything in check, so the mere fact he was expressing worry spoke volumes.

[cuppa_q]

The idea of talking to someone, anyone, about what had happened to him- It was enough to make Q panic slightly. Though Q was too clever for his panic to translate into anything but another form of self-preservation. His instinct was to distract, and the easiest distraction with Bond was...

Sitting up, he let the blanket fall away, revealing he was shirtless. He looked somewhat young and slight, but there was a seductive edge to Q. A hint of filth dressed up in innocence.

"Can we talk about this tomorrow?" he asked softly.

[0_0_7]

His mouth went dry and he swallowed hard in search of some relief.

"I imagine we can," he nodded, gravitating closer.

[cuppa_q]

"Perhaps we could go to bed," Q suggested casually, pretending not to notice how Bond came closer.

[0_0_7]

Bond was tempted. Truly tempted. But he also was no fool and saw right through Q's little game.

"You should eat first," he said. "We'll skip delivery. I'll make us omelettes."

[cuppa_q]

The boffin deflated slightly, but nodded in agreement.

"Harry said he'd be home, but not until quite late," he noted, in case James wasn't aware.

[0_0_7]

"He might not be home at all. I found a lead and sent it to him. If he gets a stroke of luck we might not see him until morning," he said as he went into the kitchen.

[cuppa_q]

"He's not alone though, is he?" Q said, looking a bit panicked.

[0_0_7]

"Q, relax. Harry's a professional," he said. "He's got Eggsy."

[cuppa_q]

Q relaxed a bit, but it was obvious he'd be at least a little on edge until the man got home.

"I'm really not hungry," he said softly.

[0_0_7]

"Have you put anything nutritious in your mouth at all today?" he asked. "Tea and biscuits don't count."

[cuppa_q]

Q pursed his lips and rested his chin on the sofa back, somehow appearing both pouty and thoughtful all at once.

"Do Turkey Twizzlers count?" he asked, before smirking just a bit. "Could put you in my mouth," he purred, his fringe falling in his face slightly.

[0_0_7]

"You're going to eat one egg. One single egg, and then I'll leave you alone," he said, turning away so Q couldn't see how amused he was by the line.

[cuppa_q]

Q stuck his tongue out, but didn't argue. Instead he just flopped back down, inviting one of the cats to hop up onto his chest.

"How was your day then?" he asked while Bond fussed in the kitchen.

[0_0_7]

"I met the most interesting man," he said across the distance. "He's a profiler for the FBI. Or he was. He's here in London, wasting his time with the police. He's sharp, though. I like him."

That was saying something because Bond liked almost no one.

[cuppa_q]

That made Q sit up slightly again, watching James while peeking slightly over the back of the sofa again.

"You don't like anyone."

[0_0_7]

"That's not true. I like plenty of people. You and Harry. I like..." Pause. "...Moneypenny." Another pause. "Tanner."

[cuppa_q]

"My concern there being the people you 'like' heavily overlap with who you want to fuck," Q noted, narrowing his gaze slightly and then humming before laying back down.

He'd have to look this man up later.

[0_0_7]

"Tanner isn't like that," he protested dryly.

It didn't take long and he had one egg, simply done, plated professionally for Q.

[cuppa_q]

Q took the plate and sat up so he could eat.

"Is he handsome? How old is he? Is he fit?" Q asked.

[0_0_7]

"Pretty more than handsome. Very, very smart. Multiple degrees. Dr. Spencer Reid. You can search him," he said. He ha no reason to not be honest.

[cuppa_q]

Q did not look impressed.

"I have a degree," the boffin muttered to himself, stabbing his egg.

[0_0_7]

Bond sat down with an egg of his own.

"Of course you do. But I'm not telling you about you. You asked me about him. Young, pretty, trim and smart. What more would you like to know?"

[cuppa_q]

"Do you intend to seduce him?" Q asked bluntly, before taking another bite of egg.

Not 'do you intend to have an affair'. That was something very different. Seduction was a tool where sex could be a pleasent side effect. An affair was something he wouldn't stand for.

Or sit for, for that matter.

[0_0_7]

"Not unless I have to," he answered honestly. "I don't think he'd fall for it, anyway."

[cuppa_q]

"Oh, you're terribly easy to fall for Bond," Q assured him as he finished his meal. "I knew better, and yet here I am. ...Smitten," he sighed, feigning disgust with himself.

[0_0_7]

"No, I mean he wouldn't fall for it. He wouldn't be smitten, he'd see right through it. He knew too much to be guessing, and was too accurate to be lucky," Bond said.

[cuppa_q]

"We both know you love a challenge," Q replied flatly.

[0_0_7]

"There's challenge and there's fool's errand," he chuckled. "You might hit it off, though. You, he might have a harder time unpackaging."

[cuppa_q]

Q wrinkled his nose.

In the moment he seemed so normal. Completely fine. ...Then one of the cats knocked something off the counter. The glass didn't shatter, instead hitting the floor with a deep and echoing thud, and the boffin flinched before going completely still. As though waiting to be struck. Panic was plain to see in his eyes, his breathing quicker, his hands unsteady. In an instant he was another man entirely.

Or, perhaps just a frightened boy.

[0_0_7]

Bond's fork paused halfway to his mouth.

"Breathe, Q. It was just a cup, I think."

[cuppa_q]

Q exhaled with a shudder, nodding and doing his best to appear calm.

"Sorry."

[0_0_7]

"You're getting worse," he noted, gently as he could. "I think we've exhausted what help Harry and I can give you, Q. We've been through it, but I don't think you'd consider either of us healthy for what happened to us. I'd like for your outcome to be different.

[cuppa_q]

"I'm fine," Q insisted. "Please don't make me speak about this with some stranger," he begged softly.

"I promise I can work through this."

[0_0_7]

"I'm sorry, Q, but we're going to insist. Harry and I have been waiting for this, honestly. We agreed you need help. Out patient...or inpatient. Your choice," he said, kind but firm.

[cuppa_q]

"Please don't do this," Q said softly. "I've only just regained my freedom. Don't take this from me. I flinch sometimes, I have bad dreams, sometimes I struggle... But my work is still good, I'm still active and intimate with you and Harry. I'm doing as good as anyone could hope to, surely."

He looked genuinely distressed by the idea that Harry and James might conspire to rob him of his freedom. That they'd even consider having him taken away.

[0_0_7]

"Q. Be realistic. You've barely been going to work. You don't go out. You're suffering whether you see it or not and we won't stand for it. We love you too much to watch you shatter slowly," Bond said. "Even if we have someone come here, you need help."

[cuppa_q]

"I've taken less than the recommended time off!" Q argued. "I have bad days, but I'm... I will speak to someone if and when I choose."

He seemed genuinely upset then, getting to his feet and storming off.

He didn't care what James' intentions were, he wouldn't be controlled. He knew what he needed and how he needed to heal better than anyone else.

[0_0_7]

That went well. It actually went better than he'd anticipated.

Bond went to the bar and poured himself a drink. The cat rubbed his ankle.

"At least you still like me," he said. She turned and thrust her behind up at him.