Q

[0_0_7]

The plane touched down and soon enough they were on their way home. He got a text from M to meet him at 8pm and Bond replied he'd be there. That gave them a few hours to settle.

"Is your hangover gone with that nap on the plane?" he asked, picking up Titania to give her some affection. She tolerated it briefly, then wriggled to be let down.

He hadn't pressed Q for an explanation of the night before, nor would he, but he was terribly curious. Curious of just how jealous Q was. If he felt that women offered Bond something he couldn't. Or maybe it was a question of whether Bond was genuine with Q when he could be so very dismissive of the tarts he fucked and left. He was curious, but he was not going to ask.

Comments

[0_0_7]

Bond pinched a chip and broke it open to blow on it. It steamed in his hands.

"Will we need to bring food at the hotel or will their kitchen be open to us when we want to eat?" he asked, not sure how it would work staying two weeks instead of overnight.

Q's phone buzzed.

New number? Again? I can take them. No problem. I'm home about ten tonight, then tomorrow gym but no work. Ring me.

[quartermaster_q]

"The hotel will provide anything we request, food included," Q replied, tapping away without glancing up.

May be unavailable. Will deliver them to your place shortly. Will let myself in and set up their things.

Hex knew enough about him that he didn't think the man would question how he planned to 'let himself in'.

Thank you. :3

[0_0_7]

Hex sent back a simple text.

NP

"What does he say?" Bond asked curiously. "Will he take them?"

[quartermaster_q]

"He will," Q nodded. "I'll get them settled in at his on our way to the hotel."

Popping a chip into his mouth, the young Quartermaster seemed calmer now. More focused.

[0_0_7]

Q couldn't know but Hex was making arrangements to leave right away so he could be home when Q got there. It was just a bit early, and he had time saved up so he could go.

"Do you think it's safe to talk here?" Bond asked, looking specifically at the camera by the door and the other that was a dome over the register. It may only point to the drawer but then again, who knew where it was aimed.

Bond's paranoia rose to the surface and he felt as if nowhere was safe. And now with the nano-blood...they could always find him. That made him ill.

[quartermaster_q]

"With caution," Q replied, nodding. "Though I think it might be best that we wait until we get to the hotel. ...I've taken the liberty of acquiring a new phone for you as well, and new laptops for us both. If you can think of anything else, I'll have the hotel fetch it and put it on our tab."

[0_0_7]

"I'm mostly concerned about this cursed blood I have in my veins. Can you do anything about that?" he asked. "Get it to go off? Can we scramble the signal? Anything?"

[quartermaster_q]

"I... may have taken care of that. ...The less you know about that the better though. Just know that I'm making sure your signal is unreliable at best, and very hard to pin point. ...This is still new tech after all. So many bugs to work out."

He finished his food, then sipped his cola.

"Let's go. I want the cats settled, and I don't want to discus this any further here."

[0_0_7]

"I understand," Bond nodded. "Alright, home for the cats, then to Hex's, then the hotel. I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep...since my meeting with M I've been going on adrenaline."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm sure once I'm online I can find you something to do," Q offered as he got to his feet, aware that Bond needed to be run when he was wound tight. ...That, or well fucked, but Q didn't think the man would be keen on that while in the hotel.

[0_0_7]

Bond nodded and then lead the way out to the car. The trip home wasn't long, the pub being a favorite in part because it was close. Bond escorted Q in and was immediately assaulted by Titania, the glossy black feline winding around his ankles and meowing for his full attention. Bond picked her up and she began to purr so loudly it could be heard through the whole flat almost.

"You know, I got her for you but I think I'm her human," he chuckled.

[quartermaster_q]

"You saved her," Q replied. "She wont soon forget that."

Oberon came to see them, observing Bond, then hopping up to see Q, who picked him up and cuddled him tightly, before taking him over to his carrier. "You're going to stay with hex for a few days. Don't worry though, I'll come for you soon."

He moved to pack then, gathering only clothes, no tech but his new phone.

[0_0_7]

Bond cuddled the little girl for another moment before putting her down so he, too, could pack. He pulled out his garment bag to choose a few suits and in his bag he added the rest- shirts and socks and pants. Pyjamas, too. Two weeks was a rather long time but he'd need to go to work in the mean time so he had to have a wardrobe. Someone would notice if he wore the same suit every day.

"Is that all?" he asked. "We'll need to take food and such for the babies, right? I'll go box up some cans."

[quartermaster_q]

"The babies?" Q smirked. "I'll arrange to have their next order shipped to Hex directly, but we should pack some. I'll sort out their litterbox and Oberon's white noise machine."

[0_0_7]

It didn't take long before Bond had a box filed with plenty of food and a few little fur mice and feathery balls and crinkley mylar puffs. The cats were spoilt and Bond hoped Hex would have time to adore them as much as they were used to.

"I'm going to start loading the car," he called, then went out into the darkness to load up luggage and cat things. He left room for the cat carriers themselves.

[quartermaster_q]

Q packed the last of the cats things, then brought them down to the car, strapping the carriers in carefully before getting in himself.

it didn't take long to get to Hex's, and Q was surprised to fond the Nurse home.

"I hope you didn't leave work early on my account," he said, holding the carrier out in offering. "This is Oberon. James is getting Titania now. i'll help you set up their things if you like."

[just_hex]

Hex took the carrier and smiled, then ducked in to kiss Q on the cheek.

"I wanted to be here," he said happily. "Hello, Oberon. And Titania? How very Shakespeare."

[quartermaster_q]

Q smiled at the kiss, then headed inside.

"I'll set this up in the bathroom. It's self cleaning, but you'll want to remove and replace the attached bag every day. I've made sure that fresh litter and additional food will be delivered here in a few days, but I believe Bond has packed quite a lot to start with. ...Ah, here he comes with Titania now."

[just_hex]

Hex listened closely to all the instructions. He'd never had a pet, felt it wasn't fair to any animal, busy as he was, but he was quite looking forward to petsitting.

"She's new and might be standoffish, just so you know," Bond said. "We do appreciate you doing this, Hex."

"It's alright," the man said. "Up for some slave training. That's a big step, James."

Bond cleared his throat. And then he nodded. Who was to know if Hex's home wasn't bugged too.

[quartermaster_q]

"They're indoor only," Q said as he rejoined the pair, looking a little worried now. He didn't like the idea of putting the cats somewhere new for so long, and desperately wanted to take them with him. "So be careful not to let them out."

Oberon was crying in his carrier, and Q crouched low to sooth him.

"I'll miss you very much, both of you. ...I love you."

He looked up at Hex then, just a bit upset. "Send me photos, wont you? Just now and then. ...I don't like being away from them- Especially Oberon. We've become so very close."

[just_hex]

"I'll send you pictures," Hex promised. "You can use that as a reward for him when he's good, yeah? It'll help the training if you can give him something he wants."

He sounded so very sure of himself and Bond found himself wondering jst how many slaves Hex may have trained. He decided he didn't want to know.

"He'll get his phone when I allow it," Bond said. At that, Hex smiled.

[quartermaster_q]

Q managed not to roll his eyes at the pair. Really, as if anyone could 'train' him.

"Lovely," he said, wriggling his fingers at the cats, then getting to his feet. "We should be off then. Thank you, Hex. I very much owe you for this."

[0_0_7]

"You're very welcome, Q. I expect dinner as payment when you get back. I'll cook," he said happily.

Bond found he wasn't jealous of Hex, not really. The young nurse could never touch what he and Q had. He was no threat. In fact, he was a boon to have. A friend outside of Six. How unusual.

"Let's go, Q," he said, putting on that he may have some right to boss Q around now. Laughable, but hopefully Hex and anyone listening wouldn't know the difference.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'll look forward to it," Q smiled, waving goodbye and following Bond out to the car.

"Do you recall how to get there?" he asked, not wanting to use the GPS or give verbal directions if they could avoid doing so.

[0_0_7]

"I do," he said with a nod. He'd never forget. Though he drove haphazardly, passing it twice before pulling into the secure covered carpark.

"We weren't tailed," he said then. "Let's get inside."