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

[quartermaster_q]

Q zoomed out, studying the map and smiling.

"About twenty minutes out. We'll be there before you know it, double-o seven," Q smiled.

[0_0_7]

"We're going to be unpacking the car for an hour," Bond replied. But he smiled at the news, eager to get settled, the food put away, the luggage unpacked...and the guns arranged strategically.

[quartermaster_q]

"Yes, but once it's all sorted, we can eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving, double-o seven," Q smiled.

[0_0_7]

"I could definitely eat," he agreed.

Surely enough, about twenty minutes later they came upon the entrance to a retreat. Within its confines were several cabin, each quite distant from the next. The retreat belonged to MI6 and was often used by teams for trust exercises, but right now it was empty. Bond pulled up to a cabin and got out.

It was lovely, quite well appointed, not all that rustic- though it had been decorated that way. Raw wood and plain fabric was quite the cover for hidden technology. The cabin had its own secure server, a dedicated as well as a secondary power system, and bullet proof glass and exterior walls.

"I like this place," Bond said once it was all unloaded.

[quartermaster_q]

"Mmm, it is quite idyllic," Q smiled, picking through what they'd bought and selecting a bag of crisps.

"I'd love to live somewhere like this one day- long after I'm ready to retire."

[0_0_7]

"I have a villa in Italy that overlooks the sea," Bond said. "If I retire, I'll retire there. And if not...well, unless I make changes to the documents in ten years it ownership will pass to the local orphanage."

Because it was his, his secret, and even MI6 wouldn't know to do anything with it in the event of his death. But it was his, and Bond felt that if he died then some good should come of it.

His secret.

And he'd just told Q.

[quartermaster_q]

Q looked over, raising a brow.

"It sounds lovely. I'd love to see it one day," he added, but he didn't demand it, he just let it be known that he'd like to go- If Bond was ever willing to take him.

"What do you think you'd like for dinner?" he asked, gently changing the topic.

[0_0_7]

"I honestly don't care so long as it goes with scotch," he chuckled, taking the bottle he'd bought and finding a glass.

Once he had his drink he slowly got to work, opening a duffel bag so he could place guns in strategic locations around the cabin, hidden from sight.

[quartermaster_q]

Q, for his part, began to cook. He was no culinary expert, but he could make a decent meal. By the time Bond was done, Q had fish in a pan and two potatoes in the over. A salad sat waiting on the counter in a large bowl. Lush and fresh.

"Dinner wont be much longer," he said, glancing back over his shoulder to offer Bond a smile.

[0_0_7]

It wasn't that Bond couldn't cook...he just didn't cook. He was happy to have Q willing to jump right in. It would likely taste infinitely better done by the younger man.

Bond walked up behind Q after the announcement, slipped his arms round Q's waist and buried his face against Q's neck.

"How much longer?" he asked.

[quartermaster_q]

Q smiled, enjoying the attention.

"Soon enough that you can get plates out, if you'd like," he offered.

[0_0_7]

Bond kept his face against Q's neck as he grumbled in protest. But then he let go and set about pulling out the plates and silverware.

Do you want to eat at the table?" he asked. He'd have been just as happy eating here at the kitchen counter.

[quartermaster_q]

"Mmm, yeah, let's," Q smiled. "A civilized meal outside of a resteraunt might be a nice change," he laughed, finishing up and starting to plate the food.

[0_0_7]

Bond got his plate set as well and then took a seat. He smiled at Q across the empty bowl in the middle of the table, meant for fruit no doubt.

"This is rather domestic, isn't it?" Bond smiled.

[quartermaster_q]

"Uncomfortably so," Q laughed, taking a seat and starting to eat. "No worries, I'm sure danger is just around the corner. It usually is after all."

[0_0_7]

"Hopefully we'll have at least a day to settle in before the slings and arrows come. I'd hate to think Terrance or his men could be so close on our heels when we've taken every precaution," Bond relied between bites.

[quartermaster_q]

"I find it unlikely he has men. Though I do think he's nudging people and pulling strings. Manipulating things behind the scenes," Q said.

[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.