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

[quartermaster_q]

"It is," Q nodded, still a bit more quiet than usual. "I don't usually drink so much- Certainly not that quickly," he confessed.

[0_0_7]

"You don't handle your liquor very well," Bond said without any real judgement in his voice. "I was afraid you'd vomit."

[quartermaster_q]

"A fear I'd have shared had I been more myself," Q confessed, scooping up Oberon and moving to sit on the couch.

"I am sorry," he said after a moment. "For- Well, behaving so poorly."

[0_0_7]

"Of course. Nothing to forgive," he said, trying to deflect the conversation he felt was coming on.

[quartermaster_q]

"That's rubbish and you know it," Q sighed. "Please don't pretend nothing happened- Because I can't."

[0_0_7]

Bond took a slow breath.

"Q, you weren't yourself. It was a bad night. But you weren't out of line. Not really. Not if it's how you feel," he replied, giving in now that the topic was inevitable.

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded, then looked down at the purring cat that had settled on his lap.

"Would you be fine with it?" he asked quietly. "If I came home smelling like some other man? His cigars, his scotch..."

[0_0_7]

"No, Q. You know I wouldn't," he said. "But the women...that's just work. They don't mean anything. They're part of the job."

[quartermaster_q]

"A part you enjoy," Q replied, a touch sharply. "You can fake many things, James- But not that. Not arousal, not lust."

[0_0_7]

"Maybe it's not fake but I'm saying it means nothing. I don't care about them. They never touch my heart. That's yours alone," Bond insisted, unable to articulate why there was a difference.

[quartermaster_q]

"In that case, perhaps it's time we changed things. Perhaps our relationship should be more open," Q said- Though he didn't really want that. He didn't want mindless shags. He wanted Bond. Just Bond.

[0_0_7]

That struck Bond to the very core and he was quiet for a long moment. Hurt twisted in him.

"You can fuck all the women you want," he said finally, a touch bitterly.

[quartermaster_q]

"Except I don't fuck women," Q replied, a spiteful part of him enjoying the hint of bitterness in Bond's tone.

[0_0_7]

"Don't you want to be on even ground? Fuck some cunt stupid enough to sell her secrets for an orgasm? Or do you just want me to be jealous? You already have Hex, do you need more?" he threw back at him.

[quartermaster_q]

"I only have Hex because you're too coward to-"

Q cut himself off, startled by the cruel words that had threatened to slip out.

"I need some tea," he said quietly, putting Oberon down and heading off towards the kitchen.

This was stupid, and so very unlike him. He didn't get jealous. He never had. Not with Bond, not with anyone. Even when Terrance had been his whole world, he'd never baulked at all the other boys he shagged, or the wife he went home to.

[0_0_7]

The words Q had uttered, cut off or not, were like a slap. Bond stood quietly, his face stony as he grit his teeth together.

Then as Q made tea, Bond went to the cupboard and got himself a drink.

[quartermaster_q]

Q was sensible enough not to comment, brewing his tea and filling his favourite mug.

"I've never had someone who was only mine," he said finally. "Never. ...And I never will, will I?"

[0_0_7]

Bond looked at him a long moment and weighed the truth of what he might say. What he might offer. What he could.

And he found the truth not hard at all.

"You could have," he said softly.

[quartermaster_q]

"I don't want anyone but you, Bond," Q said quietly, looking down into his earl gray, then cursing at himself as he realized his eyes were damp.

"As your lover, I want nothing more. ...As your Quartermaster I'm obligated to tell you it's stupid to even offer that sort of thing."

Taking a deep breath, he wiped away the tears and straightened up.

"What time are you due in? I'll come in with you."

[0_0_7]

He left his glass and moved to Q, tipping the man's chin up and wiping a damp patch with his finger.

"Eight. Alone," he said. He paused. "And it's not beyond reason to think that when I get home I won't have a job...so you won't be my Quartermaster anymore."

[quartermaster_q]

"They wont sack you. C's not yet got his way, and there's no proof you left England. ...Other than the car, which we can easily lie about- Though I shouldn't have to," he scolded lightly.

[0_0_7]

"I never intended to lose it," Bond replied. "I was going to return it."

Which may well have been his intention but they both knew he never returned the tech.

[quartermaster_q]

Q only gave him a look, then sighed.

"You should go. You'll be late if you don't leave soon," he said, picking up his tea again and holding it in both hands. "If I'm not needed at the office, I'll be here."

[0_0_7]

He was quiet for a long moment, looking at Q before reaching out to lay his hand on the man's arm.

"I am serious. I would. I will. For you I'll find a way around women. I can do my job without being a whore for the crown."

[quartermaster_q]

"No. You'll use every weapon in your arsenal," Q said quietly. "And I'll get over it. ...Go to work, James. ...Then come home to me."