Q

[0_0_7]

One of the nicest things about being Commander was that he could go into engineering any time he pleased. Some days he liked to turn up, always unannounced, for inspection and debriefing. That made it sound professional.

He wandered in through the monitors and deeper in toward the engines. He walked back to Q's office and work room and entered with his credentials.

"How's the ship?" he asked with a bit of a cocky smirk. Bond was well aware Q wasn't fond of how brash he could be, as if he were daring the entire ship to catch them.

Comments

[cuppa_q]

"I have no preference, but I understand if you don't wish to watch. You will come back though, won't you? I promise to be in a much better mood when you return," Q added.

[0_0_7]

Bond smiled warmly with genuine pleasure. Closing in, he caught Q's face and kissed him.

"I'll give you some time. All the tools are over there."

One more stolen kiss, then Bond left the deck. His step was light and a curious little smile playing on his lips. He knew at this hour the sushi bar would be packed. It would give Q plenty of time before he came back to bother him.

[cuppa_q]

James was gone long enough that Q had a good amount of time to tinker with the car, and when James returned he had it in bits.

He was a bit dirty, but he looked pleased with himself, visibly in a better mood.

[0_0_7]

He carried a bag with a selection as he walked in. He was relieved to see the plan worked.

"Now that you've ruined Christmas, come eat," he chuckled.

[cuppa_q]

Q wandered over, sitting at the table beside James.

"Thank you for this," he said softly, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

[0_0_7]

"I'm glad you like it. I was going to put the file code under the tree for you, but I think you need it now," he said. "Before we go I'll give you the code so you can visit all you like."

[cuppa_q]

"Thank you," Q said softly, "I appreciate it. I'm sorry I've been so... Well, less than pleasant lately."

[0_0_7]

"We all have our days, Q. I love you, good and bad. I'm glad this helped. Here, these are yours," he said, pushing two boxes toward Q.

[cuppa_q]

Q ate in happy silence, visibly in a better mood now. Q needed to be stimulated mentally and physically. He wilted without something to entertain him, be it work or his own hobbies.

[0_0_7]

"Tell me what you've been doing," he asked.

"I was sure you'd like the automobile. I didn't realize it was an option until I started writing the program," he smiled.

[cuppa_q]

Q lit up, turning a bit in his seat to look in the car.

"I've cleaned as much as I can, stripped away the exterior, and am rebuilding the engine. I might even add some extras to it... We could take it to another simulation when I'm done, drive it around," he suggested. "The downside to all that being I could use a shower. I don't suppose any of your programs can accommodate that? If not... I have one," he offered shyly.

[0_0_7]

"That first room in Paris has a shower. I didn't think to include one in here. I'll create a patch and include one for next time," he replied.

[cuppa_q]

"You needn't do that," Q assured him, hesitating a beat. "Would, um... Would you like to see the program I use most?" he asked.

[0_0_7]

"I'd love to, Q," he nodded. "Show me."

Sometimes he crashed into q and felt like he knew him down to his cells. Other times, the man was a complete enigma. Bond loved the challenge of him. It was terrible, but it was exciting to get so many things wrong...and Q still let him try. Bond loved him beyond reason and he was determined to puzzle the man out, no matter how long it took.

[cuppa_q]

Q nodded, then cleared his throat.

"Computer, run Q one dash seven dash home," he said. A soft sound chimed and the holodeck loaded a new program, replacing the lab with... A bedroom. Q's bedroom, from when he'd been in university. A deeply private space for him, recreated perfectly from memory. Everything from a tatty carpet, a faint scent of takeaway and pot, a messy bed and piles of now out of date tech and various other personal items.

Q had rebuilt everything here, from his laptop, to toys tucked under the bed from his early years of sexual experimentation. The room was, in many ways, his soul laid bare. He'd never shown it to anyone- Until now.

[0_0_7]

Bond drank it in. It was a glimpse into Q's life he'd never seen. If this was where he found comfort, it was no wonder a Parisian hotel wasn't nearly as interesting.

"Oh, Lord," he said, lighting on a computer. "I haven't seen one of these since I was an Ensign."

[cuppa_q]

"I like to fix them," Q admitted. "Then I restart the program and do it again. ...You're the only person I've ever shown," he admitted.

[0_0_7]

Bond turned to look at him in surprise. It wasn't easy to shock Bond, but for a long moment he was quiet as he studied Q.

"I'm honored," he said softly. "Thank you for bringing me here."

[cuppa_q]

Q sat down on the bed, fidgeting a little.

"It's sort of exciting to have someone here. I neer actually managed to convince anyone to come back here in uni. I was only with one person and, ah- They weren't going to risk being seen in the dorms. I had all these fantasies back then of bringing home some handsome man. ...Strange to have that wish fulfilled so many years later."

[0_0_7]

Bond hovered close, standing over him.

"So I'm the first to be here with you?" he asked, then moved to join him on the bed. "That's so much more romantic than Paris."

He rested his hand on Q's back and leaned in close.

"What's your fantasy, Q? What have you hoped would happen in here?"

[cuppa_q]

"I was just barely in my twenties, the fantasies were hardly riveting. Sometimes it was terribly basic, heavy petting and a needy fuck. Other times I got a bit more creative. There's a dreadfully cheap pair of furry handcuffs somewhere... This reality is far more exciting. You are more exciting than any youthful fantasy I dreamed up," he added, leaning in a little closer, as though he might kiss James.

"And I'm much better at thinking up ways to play now. Less fuzzy cuffs, more... Teacher with bad intentions? You'd be a terribly distracting professor. The best sort, really."

[0_0_7]

"I'd definitely make you earn your marks," he said. Bond leaned in, but to the side so he could whisper in his ear.

"I bet you're a dreadful student. One who stays after class, hmm? One in need of personal attention," he purred softly.

[cuppa_q]

Q couldn't help but smile at that. He couldn't help himself, no matter the game or the mood he might be in, Bond always pulled a smile out of him eventually.

"The worst," he agreed. "Desperate for some tutorage and a scolding."

[0_0_7]

"Then my next deck project will definitely be a classroom," he purred and then caught Q's lobe with his lips briefly.

[cuppa_q]

Q laughed softly at that, the sound fading to a moan. A beat later and he was moving to straddle Bond's lap.

"I want you," he whispered.