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]

As he slept Q curled up closer, holding Bond tighter than usual, and trembling slightly in his sleep as his mind taunted him with vague memories.

Lean muscle tensed beneath pale skin, and the young quartermaster seemed uneasy despite his deep slumber.

[0_0_7]

Bond awoke with Q's fitful jerking and slipped from the bed to get back to work. There has to be something. Anything. Bond's search turned homward and he began to comb through Q's files and communications to see if he'd maybe left a breadcrumb.

[quartermaster_q]

It was quite some time later when Q woke, reaching for Bond and sitting up with a startled look when he found himself alone.

The soft tapping of the double-o's typing was enough to quell his panic though, and he let out a soft sigh before getting to his feet and making his way closer.

"What are you looking at?" he asked, rubbing his eyes and reaching for his glasses.

[0_0_7]

"Video of the doorway we took to get in here. But if he slipped in this way he's altered the footage. I'm watching the time stamp now..." he mumbled, eyes on the screen.

[quartermaster_q]

"He's too cleaver for that," Q assured him. "He'd have made sure to alter the time stamp as well- Or to have found another way out..."

His gaze drifted to an old looking iron vent.

"Can you boost me up there so I can take a peak? As far as I'm aware it's sealed off- Not connected to any of the modern vents at all, but I suppose it must lead somewhere. Perhaps another room?"

[0_0_7]

Bond nodded and rose from his seat. He gave a good stretch and groaned with satisfaction as his back popped.

"Up into it then," he said. "Do be careful."

[quartermaster_q]

Slipping his shoes back on, Q waited for Bond to help him up, then pulled on the heavy vent cover.

"Yes, someone's definitely moved this recently," he said, using all his strength to pull it open, then pulling himself up.

[0_0_7]

Bond boosted him up and then turned on the flashlight of his mobile and passed it to Q so he could see.

"Here," he said, putting it in the man's hand. And then he called up, "Anything?"

Not that he expected much, but he hoped maybe their mystery friend had left some clue.

[quartermaster_q]

"Not yet," Q called back. "I'm going to see how far I can get though..."

He crawled slowly, mindful of the rust and the muck as he followed the vent all the way along- There was another room at the end, but the vent on this side had been screwed back into place, and despite Q's best efforts, he simply couldn't shift it.

When he returned to Bond he was coated in dust and grime, and he wrinkled his nose at himself as he looked over at the small basin in the corner. When paired with the hose he'd hooked up, it made for a dreadful, but passable, shower.

"I need to wash this off, I think I'm going to be ill," he huffed. "There's something there though Bond. Perhaps we should do some exploring. If that's where he went, there must be another way to get to that room."

[0_0_7]

The older agent nodded. "Yes, there's got to be another way in and out. You clean up."

Bond wouldn't mind in the least watching Q in his haphazardly created shower. Any excuse to see him naked...almost.

[quartermaster_q]

"I've some casual clothes stashed away in a bag beneath the bed, could you find me something to wear?" he asked as he started to undress and fill the tub.

[0_0_7]

Again he nodded and dutifully did as asked. He found sensible clothes, generic and clearly designed to blend into the tube crowd.

And then he turned, clothes in hand, and gave Q a lascivious looking over.

"Mmm," he purred, soft and appreciative.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'd offer to let you join me, but I'm not sure we'd both fit," Q replied, smirking faintly, then wincing as he bent over to scrub his knees.

When he was finally clean, he wrapped himself up in what looked like an old beach towel. The water had been ice cold, and he was visibly shivering as he dried himself off.

[0_0_7]

"I'm content to watch," Bond replied. When Q was finished he moved in closer and rubbed his hand over the man's chilled skin.

"You are so beautiful," Bond said. "It strikes me every time I look at you. You take my breath away."

[quartermaster_q]

Bond's hands were warm, and though Q knew they shouldn't linger, he leaned into them with a soft and content sigh.

"I'm glad I can entice you, even while bruised and shaking," he said softly, leaning into James just a bit more.

[0_0_7]

Bond gladly held him close.

"I see beyond all that," he said. "I only see the beauty of you. The lines and angles and curves. You are incredibly tempting..."

[quartermaster_q]

"As are you," Q assured him, wishing for a moment they could just go back to bed.

There was work to be done though, and he sighed as he pulled away and began to dress.

[0_0_7]

Bond smiled at the praise, puffing a little. He knew Q's feelings but it was always nice to hear.

Once Q was dressed Bond took hold of him to give him one slow, hungry kiss. Just one.

"Let's get to work," he said softly.

[quartermaster_q]

It was easy enough to get into the access tunnels, and Q seemed confident as he lef the way towards the direction of the other mysterious room.

He knew he'd never seen it before, which meant the entrance wasn't obvious- It seemed most likely that the door to that room was either covered up or hidden within another room. To make matters even more complicated, almost everything was covered in layers of rust, and opening many of the doors proved nearly impossible.

"I feel as if I'm missing something very obvious," Q said, humming thoughtfully as he tried another door.

[0_0_7]

Bond was walking slowly, looking at the dust on the ground as Q tried doors. He got to a panel that looked to be a switch box and noticed scuffs.

"I think I've found what we're looking for," he said and gave the box a pull. It swung open just like a door.

[quartermaster_q]

Q raised a brow, clearly a touch upset that he'd not been the one to solve the puzzle, but nodded a bit as he offered Bond a mildly impressed look.

"Good work double-o seven. Shall we?" he asked, nodding at the newly opened door.

[0_0_7]

The older agent drew his weapon. With a nod he made to go first, not thinking that Q's friend may have laid traps. He was ready to thunder in, gun at the ready.

[quartermaster_q]

Q was right behind him, and though there were no traps, there was a foul stench- And a body.

[0_0_7]

The smell of death was thick and sickly sweet. Bond felt his gorge rise. But there was no danger so he tucked his gun away.

"Your friend?" he asked.

[quartermaster_q]

"Yes," Q replied quietly. "It seems he didn't get very far."

The scene painted a very clear picture of what had happened- The splatter and minimal gore indicating it had been quick and sudden. This man had been a casualty, not a target.

"We need to clean out the safe room- It's not secure here any more."