Q

[0_0_7]

[From here]

"I've been told I'm very good company," he replied, softening around the edges as he did around Q- and only around Q. Only the young quartermaster got to see this side of Bond.

He began to walk backward slowly, leading Q to the bedroom so they could undress and Bond could take him into the shower.

Comments

[quartermaster_q]

Q limped slightly, undressing as he walked.

"The best, in my humble opinion."

[0_0_7]

"You say the kindest things," he replied softly, then he leaned in to kiss Q. He was still buzzing with barely restrained energy but he held himself in check for now.

[quartermaster_q]

"I only say what I know to be true," Q smiled against Bond's lips, doing his best to hide a wince as he removed another item of clothing.

[0_0_7]

Bond wasn't fooled, try as he might to hide it from the double o. He saw how Q hurt and as the clothes came off he could see the bruises.

He gasped softly.

"Someone really worked you over," he said. There was a note of sympathy but mostly just pragmatic honesty. This was an unavoidable hazard of their business.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm sure it's not as bad as it looks," Q soothed, shaking his head. "I just bruise easily, that's all. A hot shower, clean clothes, and perhaps just one more cup of tea, and I'll be right as rain, double-o seven."

[0_0_7]

"Oh, I know you're made of stronger stuff," Bond smiled. He peeled off his own clothes, his body at the peak of fitness since he'd been training for his test.

Clothes shed, he lead Q to the shower.

[quartermaster_q]

Q followed, slipping his arms around Bond before they were even under the spray, his head against the double-o's shoulder as he allowed himself a moment of weakness. Just a moment of not having to hold himself up and carry on as if all was well.

[0_0_7]

Bond held him tenderly and was silent, allowing Q his dignity. It wasn't often the man showed weakness and the double-o never wanted to draw attention to it. He simply held him as the water poured over them.

[quartermaster_q]

"I love you," he said quietly, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, before standing up straight and pulling himself together.

[0_0_7]

"And I love uou," he replied. Bond cradled Q's face and have him a small flash of a smile and a nod. "Now back to business. Shower, hmm?"

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded, moving to run the water, then stepping in under the spray.

"That feels better," he confessed as the hot water released the tension and aided the ache in his limbs.

[0_0_7]

Bond took the sponge and the soap and began to scrub the day before off of Q's abused flesh.

"How does that feel?" he asked softly, pressing a kiss to Q's shoulder.

[quartermaster_q]

"Perfect," Q said, sighing softly and leaning into the tender touch. "Thank you, James."

[0_0_7]

He ran his hands over Q, tracing the path of the sponge with the roughness of his calloused palm.

"No need for thanks," he said, kissing Q's newly clean neck. He hummed softly, appreciating the clean taste of him and the fresh smell as he drank water from Q's skin.

[quartermaster_q]

"You deserve thanks," Q assured him, turning slightly and leaning in to steal another kiss, his hands roaming over the solid muscle if the other man's torso. "You're so good to me."

[0_0_7]

As Q pressed against him Bond couldn't help but arch closer, gasping softly before clutching at him to pull him tight to his chest.

"I will be. FOrever. Always," he promised. "I...I'm so glad to have you home. I was going out of my mind."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm sorry I worried you, I'm so sorry," Q murmured, holding on a while longer, then forcing himself to pull away and finish washing up.

"God, I'm exhausted," he confessed.

[0_0_7]

"No time for rest. Not yet. We've got to go while the trail is hot," he said, scrubbing up himself, mostly just to get the soap off himself.

"...But when we've found out what happened I promise you can sleep for days."

[quartermaster_q]

"That's something to look forward to at least," Q sighed, rinsing off, then stepping out and wrapping himself in a towel.

"I'll get dressed and we'll go."

[0_0_7]

Bond finished up and followed Q out, a towel round his own waist.

"Take your time," he said. "We should wrap your knee before we go."

[quartermaster_q]

"I have a brace in the first aid kit, that will do," Q assured him. "I might need some help getting it on though."

[0_0_7]

"As luck would have it, I'm rather good with bandages and dressings," Bond said lightly. "Let's get that sorted, then we can go."

[quartermaster_q]

It took some time, but eventually Q was bandaged and dressed, and soon enough they were in Bond's car, headed to the bookshop.

"Park around the back, I'd like to go inside and see if I remember anything."

[0_0_7]

Bond had put on comfortable, casual clothes and had his gun hidden beneath a jacket.

"You can't seriously think I'll let you go in alone," he said as he pulled around back.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm only going to look around," Q replied, but as he glanced over at Bond, he nodded his head slightly. "Though I suppose there's no harm in you joining me."