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[0_0_7]

There was a sharp crack of gunfire that made the comm squeal in Q branch. The Double-0 in the field grunted, then began to pant, and continued making familiar sounds of effort as he ran full bore.

"Report," M barked in his ear.

"He ran," Bond replied, as if that should be obvious.

"Can you catch him?"

There was no answer. For a few tense moments there was only measured breathing, Bond's rhythm driving him on. On Q's screen, the small dot that indicated the agent moved north, then northwest, then vanished entirely in the middle of an intersection.

"I'm in the sewer," he said simply.

The announcement gave Q time to find him.

A moment later, there was an explosion and the comm cut out entirely.

M looked at Tanner and Q, Moneypenny...only looked at Q.

"Get me satellite," Tanner barked at Q's underling and a moment later there was an image of a smoking crater where Bond's signal had been. The smartblood monitor blinked OFFLINE. That didn't mean dead, but it certainly wasn't good.

"Bond?" M said. "Report."

Silence.

"Double-0-Seven, report," M repeated.

Silence.

"Keep the comm open," M finally said, then stalked out of the room.

Comments

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"It was unexpected, but yes, we were involved for a while," Q admitted, oblivious to James' past with the other man. "Schedules got in the way though. He still reaches out occasionally, but I haven't had time to see him in person lately."

[0_0_7]

Why did it have to be Harry? Bond could have handled almost anyone else. Anyone not so personal.

Feelings Bond tucked away in the place where there was no tell. His bluff was perfect.

"Do you intend to see him?" he asked. Paused. "Because he'd be an excellent decoy to keep eyes off us."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I... I don't know," Q replied. "I would have thought, maybe, you wouldn't want me seeing other people. ...And I don't like the idea of using him, Bond. Harry's nice, he's very sweet, really. Above all, he's become a good friend."

He'd also been feeding Harry information. Harry seemed certain that someone in the British government might be attempting to start a war. Something Q had pointedly not brought up with anyone- Least of all James, who'd no doubt fixate until the mystery was solved. ...And Q still wasn't convinced there even was one. He let Harry know when he saw unusual orders go out, but so far he hadn't found any solid proof that a war was coming.

[0_0_7]

Bond chuckled softly.

"I would rather you didn't see anyone else, Q. But the nature of what I do, I can't promise to be faithful, and I wouldn't expect the same. I understand if you'd rather not use your friendship that way...but consider it. Give someone for Moneypenny to look to, other than me."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Alright," Q said softly. "I'll think about it."

He didn't like the idea much though, didn't want to be dishonest with Harry, and... Well, he already hated the idea of Bond with other people. Q was nearly always the first to turn of the coms when Bond was seducing someone.

[0_0_7]

"Think about it in the morning," he said. "Come to bed."

He didn't give Q much of a choice as he climbed in and dragged the boffin with him.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q settled in beside him, slipping an arm around him to keep him near.

He wondered if he said what he was thinking- If it would scare Bond off. It was right there though, on the tip of his tongue, and he couldn't bite it back...

"I love you," he said suddenly, feeling ill the moment he said it, certain he'd just spoiled everything.

[0_0_7]

Upon hearing it, Bond gathered him closer. Hugged him to his chest and pressed a slow kiss to his brow.

"I love you, too," he said quietly.

They weren't words he said often. He'd told three other people. One had died, one had left, and one had utterly betrayed him.

And yet, for Q, he was ready to risk it all again.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Relief flooded through him, and Q curled up closer, a hand settling on Bond's hip.

He almost couldn't believe it, but- It felt real. Bond might vanish, might make a mess, might feed his gadgets to lizards- But in Q's experience, he wasn't a liar. Not unless the work called for it.

[0_0_7]

Bond held him close, content to dose. But he didn't rest long. Q was asleep when he woke and he laid there a moment, watching him.

Part of him felt like now that he'd said it, Q had a ticking clock counting down the last hours of his life now.

He knew this was a mistake. That wasn't going to stop him.

When Q rolled over, Bond took the opportunity to slip out of bed and leave without a word.

---

"Bond turned up in medical this morning," Moneypenny said, bringing Q a new report in his office. "No worse for wear."

She smiled at him and offered him the green file folder.

"I brought you specs from the thing that we brought down over the North Sea. The Navy recovered it, and now it seems they'd like your opinion."

Bond appeared in the doorway of Q branch as she spoke.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Bond appeared, and Q was immediately distracted.

"Erm- Yes, right, of course. Thank you, Moneypenny," he said, gaze still on James.

Eve rolled her eyes.

[0_0_7]

Bond sauntered casually into Q branch, flashing a brilliant, heartbreaking smile at Moneypenny simply because he liked when she rolled her eyes.

"I brought you equipment, Q," he announced, as if there should be some sort of celebration.

From his pocket, he produced a single bullet.

"That's what's left."

His cocky smirk just begged to be slapped.

Or kissed.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q looked at the bullet, then sighed.

"Lovely. ...Does this mean you need another gun issuing? And honestly, I might have to put my foot down about the coms, if you can't bring them back, I really must insist on an implant, double-o seven."

Tanner was watching them, and if it had been anyone else, Q wouldn't have worried- But Tanner was sharp, he'd pick up if the energy between them was even a little off.

"Come find me in my office in about an hour and a half, that'll give me time to approve a new weapon and a coms install."

And yes, alright, the com implant was for him. He wanted to make sure that communication loss was rare, not a constant occurrence. ...He wasn't losing James now he was finally his.

[0_0_7]

Bond visibly bristled at that.

"You're not implanting anything," he said firmly. "You press-ganged me into the smart blood. I didn't want that, either."

Tanner looked down at his work. They'd all heard Bond's opinion on implants.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"You vanished for over fourty-eight hours," Q countered, doing his best to remain calm. "I suppose we should be thankful it wasn't months this time."

R glanced over, her brows raised.

[0_0_7]

"Be reasonable, Q," Bond said, his jaw set. "Surely you can invent something you could not implant..."

They all knew Q could. They all knew Q had.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I have, double-o seven, and you've lost every bloody one," Q said, finally raising his voice.

Tanner was looking again and Q bit the inside of his cheek to try and calm himself.

"My office, this isn't a discussion to have in the middle of Q branch," Q said finally, gesturing at the door.

[0_0_7]

Bond looked put out as he stalked after Q. R and Tanner shared a glance, both clearly expecting a row.

But when Q's door closed and his blinds clouded the glass, Bond only took a seat.

"Implant what you like," he said simply. "If I'd agreed out there, we'd have been blown."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q looked annoyed, clearly not aware they'd been putting on a show.

Eventually he sighed and slumped into his seat. "It's been one day, and I'm already exhausted. This is never going to work, James."

[0_0_7]

"I think you can do anything you set your mind to," Bond countered.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Don't be nice, I'm so not in the mood for nice. You've got me all wound up," the boffin complained.

[0_0_7]

"Q," he started, then paused.

"...You're overthinking this. All we have to do is Shut Up. Surely you know how to keep secrets..."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q was silent for a long moment, then nodded a little. He picked at a loose thread on his sleeve, then sighed.

"You know, I used to have daydreams about us having quarrels in my office. ...This isn't generally how they ended," he quipped, as though trying to recenter himself.

"If you don't want the implant- I won't make you," he added quietly.

[0_0_7]

"I really don't, but I think- strictly from a budgetary point of view- you'd better get one ready," Bond said.

He leaned forward and then smiled.

"But you've got to promise to be with me. If it's in there, I expect you to be, too."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q looked surprised, but nodded.

"I'll be there, whenever you require me," he promised, before glancing at the time.

Q seemed more frazzled than usual, noticably so, and he sighed to himself. "I'm due in a meeting. I'll arrange for medical to get your implant ready, and I'll have your gun by end of day..."

He paused, then dared to look hopeful.."Will I see you tonight?"