Q

[0_0_7]

The mission was based in Paris and Bond had insisted on the finest accommodations. He'd made sure to get a two bedroom suite to keep up appearances as Q was going with him. It wasn't entirely the Quartermaster's job to be in the field but they needed some real time on site hacking done (or whatever wizardry it was that Q did) and so the mission was really his. Bond was his muscle, his guard dog, and his gun. Bond's job was to protect Q at all costs.

The train ride was pleasant, Bond dozing for the majority of the ride. He had a habit of falling dead asleep while travelling- he never knew if he'd get sleep while active on a mission so he stocked up on trains and planes.

And then they were at the hotel, their luggage unloaded onto a cart. Bond told the porter to be careful in flawless French and then escorted Q inside.

Comments

[quartermaster_q]

Q wasn't a fan of field work, nor was he sure how he felt about Bond following him about like a bloody bodyguard. Paris was always nice though, and he knew there wasn't any one else who could take his place- Not anyone who'd get the job done as quickly and efficiently as he would anyway. That wasn't pride, just a fact.

"Did you choose the accommodations?" he asked once they were alone in their room, eyeing the two beds, and feeling only a slight bit of disappointment. H could understand if Bond wanted to keep this professional.

[0_0_7]

"Of course I did. Moneypenny made the reservations, but I told her where. This is my favorite hotel," Bond said. The porter had put all the luggage in the room Bond had indicated and he went for the champagne that was chilled and waiting.

"There's champagne and caviar, or if you'd rather I can order up some strawberries. I suggest you set up shop in whichever bedroom you don't want to sleep in. We've got until tonight after ten to get ready so relax, shake off the train ride, and then we'll get to work."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'd prefer tea and some biscuits, actually. If that's alright," Q replied, pulling his phone out and choosing the room with the strongest wireless signal.

"This will do," he decided, taking in the space, and then starting to set up shop.

[0_0_7]

Bond immediately got on the hotel phone and ordered up a pot of Earl Grey, hot as could be, and a selection of biscuits as well. With the order in he took his flute of champagne and followed after Q.

"I'm useless at this sort of thing. Tapping on laptops and such. So until you need me to do something, I'll do my best to not be a nuisance," he said.

[quartermaster_q]

"Mmm, noted," Q replied, glancing over at Bond, then returning his full attention to his laptop screen.

"I can only do so much from here," he admitted. "I'll get as much done tonight as I'm able, but most of it will have to be done on site tomorrow. Refresh me on our covers," he prompted, even though they'd been over it several times already. Q wasn't completely comfortable in the field, and his nerves showed every time he asked to go over the plan 'just one more time'.

[0_0_7]

Bond recognized the anxiety of someone unaccustomed to the field. It was a liability, but that would have mattered more if Q was an actual agent. But he'd only been through the most basic training. Q was hardly former SAS, was not even a formet agent for 5 or 6. He was the head of Q Branch, prized for his mind, not his muscle.

So Bond took mercy on him.

"You are Matthew Porter, IT specialist of Chiba Industries. You're here for a meeting with some political officials from various third world nations to offer them the same intrusion countermeasures for their governments that the most secure companies use. That is enough to get us into the Ugandan Embassy. And I am your personal bodyguard, which isn't really a stretch for me. You've got the credentials and you know enough computer whatsit to make the cover convincing. But if we're very lucky you'll only have to get past a few people with the story. This isn't deep cover, you don't need to build a whole life for Matthew."

[quartermaster_q]

Q listened as he worked, then nodded.

"Sounds simple enough," he agreed. "I believe I'll manage- Though I have concerns about getting hold of the ambassador's laptop," he confessed, frowning slightly to himself. "It's not exactly something one leaves unattended, and I'll need at least twenty minutes to install the new hardware and keylogger."

[0_0_7]

"Leave that sleight of hand to me," Bond assured him. Then he smiled. "This is what i do, Q."

Which wasn't wholly reassuring, especially not for Q who had listened to Bond's comm as he did his job in the midst of gunfire and explosions, not to mention the running. Unbelievable amounts of running.

[quartermaster_q]

"What you do, double-o seven, is get shot and break your toys," Q tutted, finishing up and closing his laptop.

[0_0_7]

Before Bond could snap back a retort there was a knock at the door. Bond scowled and looked at his watch, then drew his gun and went to the door.

"That can't possibly be room service," he said.

He opened the door and it was indeed a hotel employee who smiled and handed Bond a yellow envelope, completely ignoring the gun. Bond thanked her and brought the envelope back in.

"Were you expecting a parcel?" he asked.

[quartermaster_q]

"No, I wasn't," Q frowned, though he took the envelope and opened it cautiously- aware that anything could be inside.

There were no suspicious powders or items though, just blank papers. A thin stack of them.

"There's nothing here," he frowned, looking for a return address or anything that might explain what he was looking at.

[0_0_7]

"Pack up, we're moving," Bond said sharply, going to the phone to summon a porter for the luggage and to get the concierge to get them a car.

"We're compromised. Someone knows we're here," he said once he'd hung up. "Hurry, we have to go."

[quartermaster_q]

"I haven't even had my tea yet," Q protested, putting the papers down and then accedently knocking over Bond's glass.

Champaign spilled over the blank paper, and as it poured, words began to materialize.

No, not words... Code.

"Wait," he said, gathering up the pages and taking them, and the bottle of bubbly, through to the bathroom. Laying each page out along the bottom of the tub, Q soaked them all, watching as the code slowly showed himself.

"We've not been compromised... I think someone is trying to help," Q said, kneeling in front of the tub and reading each page. "This is- This is very good," he admitted. "With this, I just need to be near enough to the building to connect to their network," he said, glancing over at Bond. "Though I'd still need to take remote control of his laptop- but if you could distract him long enough, I would never even need to touch it."

[0_0_7]

"That's a shameful waste of Perrier-Jouët," Bond sighed. "Who would have sent it, Q? This mission is classified and only a few people know we're here. And I can't think of any of them who would play such cloak and dagger with getting you the code."

[quartermaster_q]

"Does it really matter? We can use this, Bond. I can use this," Q insisted, smiling and rising to his feet as he wrapped his arms around the double-0's neck and kissed him soundly.

[0_0_7]

But Bond didn't bend.

"If you don't know where it came from then you can't trust it, Q," he protested into Q's mouth. "That's a good way to get yourself killed. Or worse...caught."

[quartermaster_q]

"I know code, James- And that's all this is," Q insisted. "If anything, this makes our mission even safer. I don't even have to leave the car."

And something told him Bond would like that. He didn't believe the man wanted to waste his time being his babysitter.

[0_0_7]

He did like that, quite a lot. So he did bend, just a fraction, and he let his hands fall on Q's waist to hold him. He kissed him then, too.

"You still can't trust it," he murmured, then tilted his head so he could kiss Q deep and proper.

[quartermaster_q]

"Mmm, then I'll be cautious," Q promised between kisses- pulling away almost immediately when there was another knock on the door. Hopefully it would be his tea. He could really use a cup after such a long day.

[0_0_7]

Bond was on edge now, aroused but still on alert with the notion they were found out. He had his hand on his gun as he went to the door but when he opened it it was indeed Q's tea and biscuits.

It was brought in and set up for them, then the hotel staff left- with Bond admiring her body on the way out.

"Have your tea while you work. I'm going to contact Moneypenny and see who is privy to our location."

Of course while he did that he dug into the caviar, eating it on the delicate toast points provided.

[quartermaster_q]

For a brief moment, it looked as though Q was sulking, though he sad nothing. He simply nodded and took his tea with him, leaving Bond on his own.

It was late when the young quartermaster finally finished, and he tucked everything away, neat and safe, before changing into a pair of striped pyjamas.

Quietly, he crept into Bond's room to see what he was up to.

[0_0_7]

Bond had slipped into a pair of soft pajama bottoms and laid on the bed. He was propped up on pillows, his gun beside him on the bed and his kit with the lube and condoms on the bedside table. He was hopeful but they were on a mission and he wasn't about to disturb Q.

He looked away from the television and smiled at Q. Then he patted the bed to beckon him.

"Getting tired?" he asked. "You've been working for hours."

[quartermaster_q]

Q crawled onto the bed, tired enough that he wasn't thinking about appearances, or what was right or wrong. Instead he simply lay beside Bond, slipping an arm around him.

"A bit," he admitted. "Not so tired that I can't enjoy a night in a nice hotel though," he assured him as he gave Bond's shoulder a sly but playful bite.

Like a pup begging for attention, Q nudged and nipped at the double-o. As if silently urging him to look at him and to pay attention to him.

[0_0_7]

"It would be a shame to let it go to waste," Bond purred. He let Q nip at him for a bit before he tightened his hold and hauled Q onto him where he took hold of he face and craned his neck to kiss him.

"Where did you get those pyjamas?"

[quartermaster_q]

"Marks and Spencer's," Q replied, leaning back just enough to keep out of Bond's reach. "There's nothing wrong with them. They're comfortable."