for Q

[lepidopterologist]

For some time now, Harry had been considering a talk with Bond. The flirting did not go unnoticed, it seemed stronger every day. As did Q's discomfort, Harry thought, though that was also harder to judge... and Harry felt as if he were possibly the least qualified person in the world to give someone advice about this sort of thing.

Eventually, though, he decided that what he was mostly concerned about Q's wellbeing. Which he found he cared a great deal about.

He'd decided that he did want to check on Q. So he fell into step with him as they inadvertently met up on the way to home from the beach. "Good morning, Q," he said pleasantly.

Comments

[cuppa_q]

"What would you like to know, my sign? Perhaps my favourite colour?" Q teased, that tiny grin settling on his lips again

[lepidopterologist]

"Your favorite anything," said Harry. "Tell me something that makes you smile." He knew this was fake, but also found that he wanted it to go on.

[cuppa_q]

Q seemed thoughtful, resting his elbows on the table and leaning forward slightly. "Learning how things work. Taking things apart and then putting them back together so they're good as new- Better than, even," he said, deciding to go with what was true to offer a more genuine feel to it all.

[lepidopterologist]

“That’s a wonderful ambition,” said Harry pleasantly. “I like making things better, too... I’m a tailor.”

[cuppa_q]

Q couldn't help but smile at that, and he flashed a tiny grin. "That explains why you're so sharply dressed."

[lepidopterologist]

"This isn't even my best," Harry said, which was oh so very true, considering that he was wearing what he'd salvaged (though tailored) from the closet here. "But thank you. Your glasses..." He reached out, about halfway. "They're crooked, may I?"

[cuppa_q]

Q nodded in approval but said nothing for a moment.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry reached out and adjusted Q's glasses, his thumb brushing his cheek as he pulled away. "There, that's better."

[cuppa_q]

"Thank you," Q said, leaning into the touch slightly.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry's hand lingered.

Then he pulled away, almost abruptly. "Q, I'm - not sure this is a good idea."

[cuppa_q]

Q didn't either, but he'd found, recently, he was quite a fan of terrible ideas.

"We can stop if you're uncomfortable," the boffin assured him.

[lepidopterologist]

"I'm not uncomfortable," Harry said. "I'm too comfortable. I ah, I don't think you are a useful partner for this exercise. I react differently to you than I might to anyone else."

[cuppa_q]

"We're too familiar already, perhaps?" Q guessed.

[lepidopterologist]

"Something like that," said Harry quietly.

[cuppa_q]

"Perhaps you could try with Bond? He's the expert after all," Q snorted, shaking his head and then sighing.

[lepidopterologist]

"I'm afraid my pride couldn't take such a hit," Harry said, nearly shuddering at the thought of confessing his inexperience to Bond. "Besides, I don't think that his strategies are quite what I'm after."

[cuppa_q]

"Maybe you don't need a strategy at all. You're handsome, kind, a very warm person, I think. People will be drawn to that naturally," Q assured him.

[lepidopterologist]

Warm. Harry was fairly certain no one had ever described him as warm. He could be. With someone he felt close enough to. There was warmth, he thought, when he stood beside Eggsy at his wedding. Perhaps even a paternal warmth, but that wasn't what he felt for Q.

"Your assessment may be a bit subjective, but... thank you."

[cuppa_q]

"Perhaps, but I think you're lovely, and I have it on very good authority that I'm brilliant," Q grinned, all boyish charm for a moment.

[lepidopterologist]

"Q - "

He was going to regret this. But it had to be better than turning himself in knots.

He reached across the table again and grabbed Q's hand. "I think you're lovely, too. I don't expect anything, not at all, but it's true."

[cuppa_q]

The fact that Q seemed startled really spoke volumes. The boffin was bright, but absolutely shit at reading people sometimes.

"Oh. ...Oh," he said, his brain slowly making sense of it all. It was shocking, but... Nice, in a way. Harry was handsome after all, and Q had grown fond of him very quickly. He was certainly less likely to wound his heart than Bond was... But oh, for all he was very fond of Harry, tempted by him even, he knew there was no way he could just let go of his feelings for Bond.

"Well, this is all shaping up to be terribly complicated, isn't it?" he said softly, giving Harry's hand a squeeze and letting the touch linger.

[lepidopterologist]

The reaction certainly could have been far worse, and Harry felt himself relax a little.

"I'm sorry for that," he said gently. "I don't mean to complicate things further for you. I just didn't want to mislead you."

[cuppa_q]

"No, it's... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested, or if I said I wasn't curious. However, I'd also be a liar if I didn't admit that Bond has quite a hold on me right now. ...I'm also- Oh, Harry, I'm not sure I'm someone you want to get tangled up with. I'm an odd mess of a man," Q admitted, suddenly looking almost ashamed as he let go of the other man's hand. "Honestly, you should probably be warning Bond away from me."

[lepidopterologist]

"We all are," said Harry, counting Bond in that as well. "I think that's why we're so comfortable." And why the only men he'd truly had feelings for in the past decades, unrequited as it had been, were always more of the same.

And he felt surprise as well to hear Q confess his interest, impractical as it was. He'd meant it when he said he hadn't expected anything. He was, after all, far too old for Q.

[cuppa_q]

"Damaged attracts damaged?" Q asked with a soft chuckle and a smile, his expression softening again.