Harry and Q

[0_0_7]

Harry had made the arrangements and Bond and Q arrived just on time to the restaurant where they found Harry waiting with wine. As soon as they sat, a server brought a lovely amuse.

Bond wore a dark blue suit, white shirt and a blue tie Q favoured. Beneath his clothes, he had worn a ring to keep himself in check. One day he'd prove to Harry he didn't need it, that he could find a bit of self discipline, but so far he'd proven otherwise.

And this dinner was certainly not going to go the way the last one had.

He waited for Q to sat, then sat as well.

"I've been looking forward to this all day," he remarked.

Comments

[0_0_7]

"Not the entire week," Bond protested with a smile.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"Just the last 70-odd hours, hmm?" Q suggested, sharing an amused smile with Harry.

[lepidopterologist]

"Perhaps you can suggest a starter for us to share, James," Harry said.

Since they all had wine now, he also held up his glass. "And perhaps we toast to... new beginnings."

[0_0_7]

"To new beginnings," Bond smiled.

This time he was determined not to ruin it.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"New beginnings," Q agreed with a little smile, clinking their glasses and taking a sip.

He so badly wanted things to go right this time.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry was thinking much the same thing.

Also for a moment he was struggling to think of something to say that wasn't about work. And finally settled on, "I saw today that the London Butterfly Garden is opening a new area dedicated to tropical insects soon," just as the waiter approached.

[0_0_7]

Bond took Harry's suggestion as a command and ordered the starter, then the entrees. He did look to Harry and Q to confirm his choices were acceptable.

"I think you'll both be delighted," he said.

When the server left, he jumped right back into the topic.

"The butterflies in the Amazon are gorgeous. I'm sure the exhibit would tell me their names, hmm?" he asked.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"I've never been," Q admitted. "Zoos, aquariums... I always say I'm going to go to these places, and I never quite make it. I've been to most of the museums now though."

[lepidopterologist]

“I’m sure the exhibit has labels, with photos, though…” Harry looked a touch sheepish. “I can probably identify them for you. I’d love to take you both there.”

[0_0_7]

"That sounds delightful," Bond smiled.

"It'll have to be better than my last wildlife encounter," he added with a chuckle.

Q had lost a very good gun to the komodo dragon in Shanghai, but that wasn't the part that amused him.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"Yes, well, one would hope you're not planning on bringing a gun to a butterfly exhibit," Q replied, raising a brow. "It does sound nice though, Harry. A day out."

[lepidopterologist]

"I really don't want to know what you did at the wildlife exhibit," Harry said with a snort.

[0_0_7]

"Survived, mostly," Bond mumbled into his glass as he took a sip.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"At least you brought Eve back in one piece. ...Or she brought you home. I'm still not clear on how that played out," Q admitted.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry glanced at Bond and said, "Well, anything that happened was certainly before it was under my jurisdiction."

[0_0_7]

"I promise I won't shoot the bugs," Bond told Harry, smiling at that thought rather than linger on memories of the prior M.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"You should try and get that in writing," Q quipped to Harry.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry chuckled. “I confess though, as much as I would not want to see it, shooting a quickly moving target that small would be an impressive feat.”

The server returned with their first course then, and Harry looked pleased.

[0_0_7]

"I'm not sure I could do that," Bond chuckled warmly. "I recognize my limitations."

It was truly remarkable that he said that, out loud, like it was the truth.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q raised a brow at that, but he didn't comment. Though he did finally try his drink.

"Mmm, that's nice," he noted.

[lepidopterologist]

"So what do you two think we should do after dinner?" Harry asked casually as he spread some butter onto an absolutely marvelous looking piece of bread. He wanted them to know that he didn't always need to take charge of every detail.

[0_0_7]

"I was hoping for dessert at your house," Bond mentioned casually.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q chewed his bottom lip, then suggested something else.

"I was thinking we could try a club again," the boffin said.

[lepidopterologist]

Since Q had brought up that possibility the night they'd been together, he was glad that he was the one to raise it again now.

"That sounds like a very promising idea," Harry said. "I confess, I'm not that knowledgeable about the options. James, do you know of a different one that might suit our needs?"

[0_0_7]

"I know several," he replied with a nod.

"That wouldn't be a problem."