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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

[0_0_7]

"Top secret," he purred. "Classified."

He rolled half on him and kissed him. It ached with love, but Bond controlled him with it, too.

"Eyes-only..." he whispered against his lips.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q protested a little, but eventually returning the kiss with eager lips.

"And what about you? Do I get to claim you?"

[0_0_7]

"You're going to be in my ear any time you like. You'll be with me wherever I am."

He kissed him softly.

"You'll be the only one inside me, too."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Given your apparent preferences, that hardly seems fair," Q pushed back.

[0_0_7]

"What do you propose as fair?" Bond asked, genuinely curious.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"You only fuck me, unless it's a mission," Q shrugged, wondering if Bond would accept. "In return... I'm yours. You can have what you want from me anytime you want, and I wont say no. ...Even at work."

[0_0_7]

Bond smiled darkly at that.

"And when I'm on mission, will you talk me though every step of how you want me to come?" he purred.

Agreement, but more than that, enthusiastic agreement at the prospect.

It couldn't be possible he'd already been considering it...

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm rarely alone when I'm in your ear, but when I am... Yes," Q agreed.

Why did this feel like he was negotiating a deal with the devil?

[0_0_7]

Bond kissed him again, enjoying his victory, but ultimately got up to take a shower, leaving Q to answer the door when Eve arrived with her car filled with necessities.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q had barely cleaned himself up, but at least his pyjamas were back on as he let her in.

"Are you alright?" She asked, distracted when Beta and Glitch both rushed over to complain to her. "Oh, I know, how scary," she said, soothing the pair with little head scratches. "I've brought you lovely new beds, and you some fresh clothes," she added, looking at Q.

"Thank you, Eve," Q said with a soft smile.

"You look stiff, were you injured?" Eve asked, starting to fuss him.

"Just a bit bruised," Q assured her, brushing her hands away. "Bond's just gone for a shower."

Eve nodded, then smiled. "I was going to offer to stay tonight, if he wants to go home."

[0_0_7]

Bond emerged while they were chatting, a towel around his waist and a bloom of purple on his shoulder where the blast had introduced him to the street.

"Hello, Moneyppenny," he said, instantly and outrageously flirting with her, like he always did.

"Your go bag is there, James," she replied simply.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Eve was offering to stay in your place," Q said. "Don't see why we should all be miserable though."

Eve gave him a look, as if to say she knew Q just wanted more time with Bond

[0_0_7]

"I'm certainly not driving home now," he protested petulantly. "I was going to put on my pyjamas and call it an early night..."

Moneypenny gave him a pointed look.

"It's more trouble than it's worth. I'll stay, and tomorrow we'll get Q a detail when we figure out who may have done this. It's perfectly fine," he assured her.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q had a sneaking suspicion Bond was going to find a way to be his detail.

"It's fine, you know he won't sleep anyway," Q said, rolling his eyes a little. "I, however, really need the rest."

Eve softened a bit at that. "Let me bring in the last of what I got and I'll get out of your way. Go to bed Q, I'll feed the cats and set up their litter before I go."

[0_0_7]

"Let me slip on some sweats and I'll carry something," Bond offered, wandering to the bedroom intended for the Detail.

Moneypenny looked at Q.

"I'd lock my door, if I were you," she told him, then went to collect what she'd brought.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q sighed, watching her go, then going to James, who was getting dressed.

"How are you going to convince M that you should be my security detail then?" he asked. "I assume that's the plan after all."

[0_0_7]

"Why would I be your detail, Q? I'm sure M would rather I look into who attacked the Quartermaster," he said.

In fact, when M put him on Q's detail, as he indeed intended, he'd be sure to protest.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q raised a brow, then turned when Eve returned with the cat beds and the litter, moving to help her set it all up. Beta and Glitch were all over her right away, purring and rubbing against her legs.

[0_0_7]

Bond carried his assigned load and then offered Moneypenny tea and nibbles, but soon enough she bid them both goodbye, gave Q a knowing look, and left.

Bond yawned when he locked the door, securing them for the night.

"You'll be set for a bit," he said. "Until we can get to the bottom of what's going on..."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Hopefully by tomorrow we'll at least know what caused the explosion, that's a start. ... Right now I just want to go to bed," Q admitted.

Glitch and beta were inspecting their new beds, but eventually both climbed into one, curling up together. It was enough to draw a small smile from Q.

[0_0_7]

He let Q enjoy the moment for a few before putting out the light.

"They have the right idea," he said. "Let's do that, too..."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q nodded catching Bond's hand with his own and tugging him into the bedroom.

"I do feel safer with you here," he admitted.

[0_0_7]

"I'm glad of that," he said, moving to settle in bed first while Q took of his glasses and such. He made sure he left just enough room for the Quartermaster to fit in against him.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q settled right into place, as though he lived there, as though it was simply his place.

"I love you, James," he said softly.

[0_0_7]

"I love you, too," he promised softly.

And that much was true. Whatever other madness drove him to extremes, he did love Q. Beyond reason.

"Sleep," he whispered, then kissed him softly.