Q - vacation part 2

[0_0_7]

They had island hopped through the Caribbean and today found them on the small island of St. Vincent. White sand beaches, comfortable huts set on the water, palms swaying in the warm ocean breeze. Bond could not have asked for a better spot to relax. He had been swimming and emerged from the water, skin golden from the sun and water beading on his skin and running down in rivulets. He spied Q and smiled at him, walking to meet him.

"I think we should go to the marina and rent a boat," he said. "We could snorkel on the reef. It would be fun. What do you say?"

Comments

[0_0_7]

That made Bond smile and he looked over at Q.

"I do my job," he said, the smile fading away. He returned his eyes to the road. "What did you get from his phone? Anything of use?" he asked.

[quartermaster_q]

"His schedule, his passwords, his contacts... He knows his way around computer the way you know your way around a gun shop- But he's got no idea how to protect a phone. His only security was a free antivirus app," Q tutted. "I'll be able to empty most of his accounts simply by logging in. For now, however..."

He pulled out his phone, tapping away and then sending an address to the GPS.

"You'll find his buyer in the honeymoon suite with his fiancée. She's innocent, but it's your call, of course."

[0_0_7]

"I should drop you off," he said. "I've dragged you through enough. You don't need to see any more of this. You should be behind your screen and in my ear," he said, ignoring the GPS and turning toward their bungalow.

[quartermaster_q]

Q's fingers drifted to the cut on his lip, touching it lightly.

"Whatever you think is best," he replied.

[0_0_7]

He drove almost a hundred meters before he took a sharp turn, and another, and then followed the directions of the GPS.

"Taro knows we're in bungalow seven. I'm not leaving you there alone," he said. "But you'll stay in the car and I'll be quick," he added. He was deeply unsettled by the events of the night and just wanted to get blind drunk. That wasn't an option right now, though. He had to push on and see the job through to the end.

[quartermaster_q]

Nodding, Q said nothing.

"Once we're done here, we can get some rest," he promised. Perhaps spend the last day of our medical leave back home, in London."

[0_0_7]

"Very good," Bond said, driving on to the location, passing the rest of the time in silence.

Bond had no desire to draw this out or pretend it was anything other than an assassination. He left Q in the car and was quiet on the comm. All there was to be heard was a knock, a gunshot, then two more gunshots. A bit of grunting as Bond moved the bodies then he hung the 'do not disturb' tag on the door and walked away.

And mere minutes later he was back in the car.

"Did you empty his accounts while I...?" he asked.

[quartermaster_q]

"Yes. I've also made arrangements for a friend of mine to meet us after dinner tomorrow night. He's offered to make sure David is taken care of," Q replied.

He was quiet for a long moment, then finally voiced something he'd wanted to say all night.

"It' not like that you know. The places I go- or when I'm with Hex. It isn't like that at all"

[0_0_7]

"I should certainly hope not," he said. "Because I've seen interrogators go more lightly than all that."

He was quiet for a moment and drove on into the night.

"I don't quite know how to ask this, Q...I would like to understand what you enjoy. I would like to know what it's all about. When we get back to London I'd like to share this with you. I want to...to understand."

[quartermaster_q]

"Do you? Or do you just want to feel more certain that I'm not sick in the head?" Q asked bluntly.

[0_0_7]

Bond gave him a sharp look, then put his eyes back on the road. To even ask to learn had exposed him as vulnerable. He'd not thought Q was sick, had never thought that, but to get such a rebuke he pursed his lips and drove on, saying no more about it.

[quartermaster_q]

Q hadn't meant to upset him, falling silent for a while before speaking again.

"I apologize, I just- I'm somewhat shaken I suppose. I think we both need our rest."

[0_0_7]

"Mmm," he agreed without actually speaking. He laid on the gas and raced to the bungalow, pulling in and parking in the gravel patch. Bond got out and looked around as if he expected an army to attack. But there was only the moonlight and the sound of the ocean.

"Get inside," he said when Q got out of the car.

[quartermaster_q]

The young boffin didn't argue, nodding and then slipping inside.

Quietly, he sorted out a pair of pyjamas and changed. He considered putting some water on to boil, but even tea sounded like too much work tonight. He just wanted to go to bed and erase tonight from his mind.

[0_0_7]

Bond checked around and then took note of the next bungalow over where he knew Taro was staying with David and his body guards. The lights were dark. The man hadn't yet come back from the club.

When he walked in he pulled out a bottle and poured himself a glass. Two fingers. He drank it as he began to slip out of his suit. He went slowly, as iff he were peeling off armor.

Undressed, he sat on the edge of the bed, slowly finishing the scotch.

[quartermaster_q]

Q didn't ask if Bond was alright. In fact, he nearly just slipped between the sheets and called it a night- But the hard line of tension in Bond's shoulders drew him closer, and eventually he settled behind him, his fingers beginning to loosen the knots and rub away the tension.

[0_0_7]

His muscles were rigid, but Q's touch slowly had him relaxing and leaning back into his hands. He sipped. Sipped. Swallowed the last and put the glass aside.

Bond looked back over his shoulder and caught sight of Q for just a moment. That was his undoing.

"I do want to understand," he said quietly.

[quartermaster_q]

Q's fingers stilled for a moment, then started to move again.

"Alright," he agreed softly. "When we get back, I'll take you somewhere. Just to watch. Just to get a feel for what it's really like."

[0_0_7]

He was quiet and still for a long moment and then nodded.

"With Hex," he said. "I don't want to watch you with a complete stranger and I know he's a good man. And he's medical, so..."

He wasn't sure what he was saying, just that he knew if he was going to do this he needed to control as many variables as possible.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'd actually thought we might watch another couple, but if you think you'd gain more from watching me with Hex, I can ask him if he's open to letting you watch," Q nodded.

[0_0_7]

"I'm not interested in anyone else," Bond said, rising and turning so he could face Q as he joined him on the bed.

"I want to see what you like," he said. "I want to learn to be the one who drives you mad with need. I want to be the one beating you and petting you. I want to make you beg like that boy on the stage when we first arrived. That wasn't torture. I...I don't know what that was. I know they were both enjoying themselves, though."

[quartermaster_q]

The thought of sharing something like that with Bond was enough to make Q flush slightly with arousal, and he nodded in agreement.

"You don't have to do this though, I understand now why it's so strange a concept to you. The things you do for the job, the things you're subjected to... The people you deal with. I can understand wanting something softer and kinder. You deserve that."

[0_0_7]

"You deserve to be happy, too, Q," Bond pointed out. "I want to satisfy you. I want you to run to me for comfort...even if- especially if- it's comfort from something I've done. All I'm asking is to understand, Q. I can't promise I'll like it. Or need it. Maybe I will if I can learn how what you like is different from what I know. I've seen things like Taro's display so many times. It's coloured my perception, I think."

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded a little, settling back against the pillows and then reaching to touch Bond's cheek.

"We'll see," he offered softly. "Let's not talk about it tonight, Bond. Right now I'm not even certain I want that any more. I'd forgotten how brutal people can be. How cold and unkind..."

[0_0_7]

"No more tonight," he agreed, glad to let the topic rest. The liquor had warmed him and relaxed him and Bond stretched out and settled against Q to hold him lightly.

"I love going to sleep to the sound of the ocean," he murmured, his hand exploring Q's body and yet demanding nothing.