Q

[0_0_7]

There are men in the world who prey on boys and girls, who capture them and take them and thos innocents become slaves. These walking piles of shit and money can get away with it because of names and titles, because of cash and reputation. And to serve them there are slavers. Oh, in this modern age they've been sanitized to 'traffickers' but it doesn't change what they are.

Once, years ago, a boy with red hair and mismatched eyes brought a fair price. Not that Bond knew that. But the man at the other end of the club in the black shirt with the hidden gun, he knew. He was watching the same man the double-o was.

Bond and Q had come together mostly because Q was the kind who could get them in and Bond was the kind who'd follow along as the boffin's musle. It wasn't uncommon. The club was a headphone club and they were issued pairs to plug into receivers. That way the crowd could dance to the same music without the neighbors complaining of any heavy bass.

But before dancing Bond took Q to get a drink.

"See him?" he asked.

Comments

[quartermaster_q]

"James!" Tony beamed. "So glad you came. Ah, and Quinton. Good to see you too. You're looking very handsome today," he added, patting Q's shoulder lightly.

"I was thinking we could hit the sauna. I know I promised you breakfast, but I really overdid it last night, so I'm doing a juice cleanse. Do you cleanse, James? Very good for you, you know," Tony said, gesturing for one of his staff to bring over some robes for his guests.

[0_0_7]

The flaw in the plan of a sauna was that Bond would have no gun. Not really a problem given that he could fight like a tiger.

"Sauna sounds wonderful. And I should probably go on a fast after last night. I had the most delicious chicken. Didn't it look delicious, Quinton?" he said, smiling at the younger man. It was a subtle move on his part, but telling of what sort of master he was.

[quartermaster_q]

"It looked lovely," Q nodded, deliberately eyeing the headphones in Bond's pocket.

Tony picked up on it all, but his smile never wavered. "I was actually thinking that while we enjoy the sauna, young Quinton might like to have a facial with my niece. She was supposed to be here by now- Oh, there she is. Alice? Alice, come here, come meet my friends James and Quinton."

Alice looked to be about twenty five, her hair bright blonde and her smile expensive. She was tanned and toned, currently wearing what appeared to be a tennis outfit, and she smiled brightly as she joined them.

It was clear that 'Niece' wasn't some cover or code. The girl didn't look like any slave Q had ever seen.

"Sorry, I was playing doubles and we ran late," she explained.

Tony's whole demeanour changed, the sleaze melting away as he offered a shrug. "No worries kiddo. You wanna take Quinton here with you for a little while? Me and James have some business to conduct."

Alice smiled and nodded. "Oh, yeah, totally,"

Perhaps this hadn't been part of Tony's original plan- Or maybe it was just an easy way to talk to Bond alone for a while. Either way, Q wasn't worried yet.

"That sound good to you, James?" Tony asked. "We'll meet up with the kids in an hour and then I'll take you and Quinton and show you the product I've been trying to move."

[0_0_7]

"Quinton doesn't go anywhere without me," Bond replied evenly.

"It's just a facial," Tony replied. "Perhaps a reward for good behaviour? Alice will take good care of him."

Bond glowered in thought then reluctantly acquiesced. He moved to Q and took hold of his arm, running his thumb over the tracker.

"Be on your best behaviour," he said, looking into Q's eyes for a moment. Then he nodded. "You can have him, Alice. Beat him if he's cheeky," he chuckled, passing it off as a joke.

[quartermaster_q]

Alice laughed softly, waving goodbye, then taking Q's arm in hers. She was gentle, and she spoke softly- Perhaps that was in her nature, or perhaps Tony used her to sooth their 'product'.

"You don't really fancy a facial, do you?" she asked. "You've got lovely skin as it is. There's a little juice bar near the lobby, we could be naughty, have some juice and a muffin. My treat," she added quickly.

"Oh, um- I don't think James would..." Q started to say.

"I don't think Tony would either," she replied. "But they aren't here. It's just us- Us and a bunch of tourists actually, but whatever. Come on."

He was on his guard, but she led him to a table right in the open, leaving him for a moment before returning with two sealed bottles of juice, and two muffins in little packets. ...As if she knew he'd be wary of accepting anything that could be tampered with.

Did she know what Tony was? Was she- Was she trying to help?

---

Meanwhile Tony lead Bond to his private sauna, the steam low enough so they could see each other as they sat down on the wooden bench.

"So, how long have you had Quinton?" Tony asked.

[0_0_7]

"Fourteen years now," Bond said, knowing that could have easily made Q 14 or even younger when he'd been bought. "He's grown into quite a man but he just doesn't...he's not exciting. I know him and he knows me. It's too comfortable. A man my age wants some excitement, you know?" he smiled.

[quartermaster_q]

"Of course, of course," Tony agreed, nodding a little. "Fourteen years though, you must be attached to him by now. What will you do when you've got someone new? I'm sure you understand- I just don't like seeing good boys go to waste."

---

So what is it you do, Quinton?" Alice asked as she sipped her juice.

"Oh, um- Well... I suppose I'm James' assistant," Q replied, not having expected to have to answer questions like that.

"Did you go to university?" Alice pressed. "You're very well spoken," she added with a smile.

"I was, um- I was tutored privately," Q lied.

Alice smiled at that, nodding. "Lucky you. That's good though- I mean, it means you can get a proper job one day, if you wanted."

Q nodded a bit, suddenly feeling very lost. "I- I don't see that in my future, to be honest. ...Um, what is it you do?" he asked.

Alice's smile turned sad, but only for a moment. "Well, I actually run an urban outreach program. I help people get their lives back on track and connect them with resources they need."

So she was trying to help. How odd.

[0_0_7]

"He's well trained. Quite obedient. I'm sure someone will take him off your hands. People need companions of all ages," Bond said blithely. "Honestly, Tony, when I trade in a car I don't worry about who's getting the old one," he said.

It would be so easy to kill this man right here and now and end all this, but that would leave them in the dark about those he had for sale, where they were kept. So Bond kept up the ruse.

[quartermaster_q]

"No, I suppose men like you don't," Tony replied, still smiling- though there was a hint of disgust in his tone.

"Come on, let's go find Alice and your boy."

---

"Oh my god, you're trying to save me," Q realized. "Is Tony in on this with you?"

Alice looked startled, then nodded a bit. "He's former CIA. He kind of made this his personal mission. It's going to be okay, Quinton, you're safe with us..."

Q rubbed his face, shaking his head a bit. "I know I am, but Tony might not be. He's pretending to sell children to a very violent MI6 agent."

Alice looked surprised, then covered her mouth to stop a nervous laugh. "Oh, shit- We should probably..."

Q was already on his feet though, texting Bond and praying the double-o had his phone. "Yes, we probably should," he agreed.

[0_0_7]

Bond's phone was in his pocket in his locker. So he had no way of knowing when he stood and stopped Tony he was making a mistake.

"What was that? I didn't like your tone there, Tony," he said, ready to lay the man out.

"I said...men like you don't."

Bond stepped in closer.

"Men like me?" he taunted.

[quartermaster_q]

"How old was he when you bought him, hmm? Fourteen? Thirteen? ...Younger?" Tony asked, his tone low and dangerous.

"A child. You bought a child, you ruined him, took his whole life from him, and now you're going to toss him aside like a used tissue. ...But it's over now. Surprise, Mr. Bond. There's no kids, no 'product'. As we speak Alice is telling your boy all about how good his new life's going to be. By now she's probably getting ready to take him to the clinic, then they'll be off to the hostel she runs. Few weeks from now he'll be employed, living his life- And do you know where you'll be?" he asked, drawing his gun.

[0_0_7]

Bond saw the gun and the nonsense coming out of Tony's mouth came together in his mind as having been found out. All he really heard was the bit about losing Q and then he saw the gun and his body went into action without much conscious thought behind it. He reached out and grabbed Tony's wrist to twist the gun away but the man countered. Bond didn't let go, pulling him closer and headbutting him in the nose and then sweeping his leg. Tony swung and Bond blocked only to then punch him with his left. Once, twice and the man hit his knees. Bond took the gun from him and took aim just as the door opened and Alice screamed at the sight of blood.

[quartermaster_q]

"Abort mission double-o seven. Do not shot," Q said loudly and firmly.

Tony was bleeding and a bit worse the wear, and Q sighed as he stepped closer. "He's former CIA," he explained, offering Tony his hand to help him up.

The man accepted, watching Bond the whole time.

"Maybe we should have that drink now," Tony suggested as he pinched his nose to stop the bleeding.

"I'm getting a medic," Alice said, still a bit pale, but calmer now as she turned to leave.

[0_0_7]

Bond took his finger off the trigger and when Q offered Tony his hand up he lowered the gun entirely. It was obvious to the room that the scenario that had been playing was the opposite of how things were. Q barked the command and Bond was at heel.

"Former CIA," he repeated. "Then where in the hell is the bloody target? I was told there would be a seller. Is that not the intel we had, Q?" he said, calm and cool, as if he hadn't just beaten and nearly killed a man.

[quartermaster_q]

"My current theory is that we were fed false information by an unknown party in hopes that you'd take Tony out of the equation," Q said calmly, offering Tony a tissue and an apologetic wince. "There's no seller here. Unless you have some competition we're unaware of."

Tony took the tissue, then shook his head. "Not anymore. I took over after I quietly took down a small time seller from this area. ...Hey, Quinton- Or, whatever your real name is, could you go make sure Alice is alright? She's not great with blood," he said, patting Q's shoulder just as gently as he had before.

Q hesitated, but Bond seemed calm enough, and he nodded before heading out to do as he was asked.

Tony turned his attention back to Bond then, wetting his lips as he looked the agent over. "You're a damn good actor, I'll give you that. The kid though- You can't tell me some of that wasn't real. This is what I do, these are the people I help, and that boy- He's textbook. You sure you want him heading back to- What are you? Interpol? Six? ...Either way, I could get that kid a new life. Something less... You know?"

[0_0_7]

"Q. Quartermaster of MI6. And he's not going anywhere. He's textbook for a reason and Six has given him more of a home than he ever had before. You can feel free to ask him yourself, though," Bond replied. "And I think that yes, now is the perfect time for that drink."

[quartermaster_q]

Tony nodded, gesturing for Bond to follow.

It wasn't long before they were back at the hotel- Alone, and sadly with no good news to report back.

Q sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his socks. One was navy, the other was black. He wasn't sure how he made that mistake so often, but here he was with odd socks, yet again.

"Are you alright?" he asked Bond quietly.

[0_0_7]

"I'm disappointed, but I'm fine," he replied. One drink had been three for him and now that they were back he opened the second bottle of champagne and poured a glass for each of them.

"I hate when missions go wrong. Sideways I can handle, but I've never had one go this wrong."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm just glad I didn't wind up on the black market," Q admitted, getting to his feet and making his way over to Bond to take one of the glasses.

[0_0_7]

"I wouldn't have let that happen. I'd murder the world to keep you safe," he said...and after Paris they both knew that was true.

[quartermaster_q]

"You say such sweet things," Q replied, pushing up slightly onto his toes, then stealing a quick kiss. "For whatever it's worth, you're quite sexy when you're being mean. ...Well, at least when I know it's not real anyway. ...Go on, grab my ear again, I was kind of into it," he teased lightly.

[0_0_7]

Bond wasn't amused by the joke.

"Tony knew. He asked me. He asked about you," he said. "He said you were textbook...I assume he means for an abused, oppressed slave. he offered to take you and give you a clean start."

[quartermaster_q]

"I was acting," Q argued defensively. "That just means I did a good job. That's why I was picked, isn't it? I had experience to draw upon. I could make it real- Or whatever it is M no doubt said about me."

[0_0_7]

"I know you were doing your job. You did it so well you disturbed Tony," Bond said. "You should be pleased with that, Q. But we both know...you knew what it was like to some degree. One day we should discuss that."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'd prefer if we didn't," Q replied crisply. "I'm no more eager to talk about my childhood than you are, Bond."