Q

[0_0_7]

[Continued form here for length]

"I will," he swore. They drove on a bit and Bond checked the GPS again. "How bloody far is this place? We've got to be almost there. Zoom that out and see..."

He hated the countryside in the dark. But thank god for technology. It wasn't all that long ago he would have been relatively blind.

Comments

[0_0_7]

"Mm," Bond hummed, nodding at that. He'd already resolved that this man who had crept back into Q's life was going to die. It was just a matter of time before Terrance was caught.

"I'd agree with that. I've still not figured out his game- if he wants to kill you or not.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm not sure he knows either," Q shrugged. "I feel as though he would have already made a move if he did. As it is- he's just lurking. Waiting... It's unsettling."

[0_0_7]

"It can't keep on, Q. If he doesn't come for you soon, I'm going to go hunting for him and I'll cut him off that way." Bond said, utterly calm and matter-of-fact about it.

[quartermaster_q]

"You absolutely will not. It's too dangerous, double-o seven. He's a mad man. A lunatic. You can't hunt madness," Q warned, giving Bond a hard look.

[0_0_7]

"Oh, please, Q...that's what I do. Greene? Le Chiffre? Dozens of others. All of them, lunatics. The only difference is Terrance wants you and the rest want...power. Or money," Bond countered.

[quartermaster_q]

"I don't believe you take him seriously enough as a threat," Q accused. "He's nothing like those men."

[0_0_7]

"He's terrorizing you, England's most valuable asset, let's face it. You said it yourself, you can do more on your laptop in your pyjamas...and that's the sort of world we're in. And since you hold that position ad he's coming after you? I do take him seriously," Bond said. "He may as well be stalking the Queen."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm both flattered and horrified by that comparison. Though I'd argue that he has no interest in what I can do. He's just annoyed that he's lost his favourite toy. Like a child having a tantrum," Q said, eating a bit more, then putting down his knife and fork.

[0_0_7]

"I'm going to kill him," Bond said calmly. "I doubt he'll be stopped otherwise."

[quartermaster_q]

"Yes, well, I'll thank you when you do- In the meantime, however... Cake?" he offered simply, no longer wishing to speak of Terrance.

[0_0_7]

"Absolutely," Bond said. "Just a small piece. Maybe we can make it last for a few days."

Bond got up to clean up the table a bit and help Q. He wasn't about to have the other man wait on him hand and foot.

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded, Letting Bond clear away some of the plates as he set about slicing the cake.

"I'm sorry about all this," Q said quietly. "I feel as though I've brought this mess upon us all," he admitted.

[0_0_7]

Bond was quite in agreement, though he couldn't hold Q's past against him. They all had demons behind them.

"Eat your desert," he said, rather than offer comfort.

[quartermaster_q]

Q sat down, poking at his cake, then taking a taste. He was quiet for a while then, not saying anything as he stared at the sweet confection and considered everything that had brought him to this point in his life.

He'd made such a mess in his youth.

[0_0_7]

"Q," Bond said after a long moment of watching Q sit there and poke at the chocolate. "Don't punish yourself," said then. "I know that face."

[quartermaster_q]

Q pushed his plate away, frowning a bit.

"I'm not," he lied. "I'm just tired, James. I'm sorry. I think I'm going to go to bed. Is that alright?"

[0_0_7]

"Of course. I'll put things right and stay up for a bit," Bond replied. "Keep watch while you get some rest."

Bond could see the lie for what it was, but they were all liars in the end. Bond felt Q was entitled to it, being false. Of course he'd punish himself...Bond would do the same.

He ate his own cake then sorted the dishes, listening for Q and at the same time listening for cars and planes.

[quartermaster_q]

Pyjamas on, Q lay in bed, silent and staring at the ceiling. He could hear Bond moving around, and the sound of the other man calmed him- it soothed him even.

He thought about Terrance, about the people the man might hurt. Would he go after Bond? God, he hoped not.

[0_0_7]

Bond had a drink and sat with his gun watching the front window until nearly midnight. Then he decided that if Terrence was going to attack then Bond may as well be rested. He changed into his own bottoms and brushed his teeth, then carefully and quietly slipped into bed beside Q.

[quartermaster_q]

Still awake, Q looked over as Bond Joined him, watching him for a moment, then moving closer.

"We're safe here," he said softly. "I feel safe here, James- You should too," he said softly.

[0_0_7]

Bond rolled toward him and draped an arm around Q to keep him close.

"I never feel safe. Not really. It keeps me alive sometimes," he chuckled.

[quartermaster_q]

"You are though. Eve wouldn't have sent us here if she wasn't certain. She might have killed you once- but I don't believe she'd risk it twice," Q said softly, attempting to sooth the other man.

[0_0_7]

"No. I know she wouldn't," Bond said, and he did relax a little. Not completely, never completely, but he could calm down enough to hold Q and kiss him softly.

[quartermaster_q]

Returning the kiss, Q rolled a bit closer, slipping an arm around Bond in return, embracing him tightly.

"And I'm here- I'd never let harm come to you," he said quietly.

[0_0_7]

"I know. That much I believe with all my heart," Bond said as he savored the press of Q's body. The weight of his lanky arms. The very smell of him. These were the sorts of things that kept him going in the field, just as much as the sound of Q's voice in his ear.