lepidopterologist

for Q

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.

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Bond reached for the bottle and poured himself another glass. He thought it was a bit ludicrous to think of all of them in bed together when Q couldn't stand to be in bed with him alone. Though, then a creeping doubt took him over. Maybe he wanted to sleep with Harry and maybe suggesting the three of them together might make it more palatable? Could that be it? Surely not. No, Q was being too raw to be that callous.

He swallowed the entire glass and poured another.

"I think..." he started, then took a deep breath. "I think I need a cigarette while Harry gets dinner ready."

What he needed was to think this through. Harry was quite right. This was a lot.

Q sat silently, watching Bond go for his cigarette, and trying to let Harry's touch center him. ...It didn't, but he wasn't certain anything could right now.

He wished he had his laptop and a strong signal, then none of this would matter. He could shut it all out and just get lost in his own world until this mess faded away.

"You're upset," Harry observed, his voice gentle, as he pulled his hand away.

"No," Q insisted quietly. "I'm not upset, I understand this is a complex issue and an unorthodox solution."

"It also has only been about twenty minutes since you've known how I feel," Harry said. "And you seemed surprised, so I can only assume you hadn't thought much on it before this..." He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "This might not even matter, if there's nothing there between us. So perhaps that's a first step."

"I am very fond of you, Harry. If I had no interest, if I wasn't attached, this would be much easier for me," Q assured him.

"You could be attached to a kindly uncle," Harry pointed out. It wouldn't be the first time in his life he'd made someone feel safe. The way Eggsy had thrown himself into the task of getting him back. And yet, Harry knew well enough that Eggsy saw him as the father he never had.

"That's not how I view you," Q assured him, looking down at the table again. "The truth is you're very much my type. ...A nicer variation anyway."

A nicer variation of Bond, Harry supposed. Not completely inaccurate.

He hesitated, and then said, "Earlier when you spoke about how you were tossed aside by older men - I couldn't help but compare myself to them. I'd never have allowed myself to get to close to someone like you. I might have done the same."

"Might have, but didn't. What matters is what you think you'll do now," Q pointed out.

After a beat, Harry said, "I might kiss you... were it not for the fact that James may walk back in any moment."

Q smiled at that, a tiny quirk of his lips. "I would like that, but it's best saved for another day. Baby steps for all of us, I think. I'm used to sharing my lovers, I'm not certain Bond's ever found himself in that kind of arrangement. I mean, he's had his share of married women, but that's not the same, is it? That's not sharing, that's more... Taking."

"I'd like to know first what you and I are like, before I think of anything beyond that," Harry said. "But I'm not in any hurry either."

Q nodded in understanding, then exhaled slowly.

"This is all going to take time, I suppose."

"I'm not sure if this solves your original problem," Harry said. "He could still break your heart." He nodded in the direction Bond had departed.

"He probably will, but- I think I might take that risk," Q confessed.

Bond had smoked and thought. In a brief time he ran through every scenario possible that he could think of. In the end he came to a few realizations- Harry was a good man, and Bond loved Q and wanted him to be happy. He found while he was a bit jealous, it wasn't about sex. Bond was afraid Q would fall for Harry and not him. But, he reasoned, that could happen whether they were a trio or not.

He came back in and Jack gave a bark. He picked the pup up.

"Did you hash it all out?" Bond asked.

"I do not think we've quite solved all the world's problems, no," Harry confessed.

"I'm not certain this is anything that can be resolved in one night," Q admitted.

"No, I'm sure you're right," Bond agreed. "But for what it's worth, I'm willing to give it a try. You're right, Q. We have to stick together. I'm sure it will be a bit messy, but we'll find a rhythm."

He picked up the bottle again and poured another glass.

"I should hope we can all be adults."

Odd, coming from him...and he knew it. Of the three of them, he was the most childish.

At this point, Harry really wanted to know what this all actually entailed. But he suspected that even Q didn't quite know. He was willing to go along for now, see what happened, and put an end to it if he became uncomfortable.

"I think that's possible," Harry said, who yes, was thinking that Bond was the least likely to uphold that.

Q only nodded, not certain what more to say for now. Honestly, this all had him a bit tense and was giving him a headache- And he really felt as though he only had himself to blame.

"Good," Bond replied succinctly. "Now...what's for dinner? I think that's more important at the moment than sleeping arrangements," he added, just a little drunk.

Harry glanced at Bond for a moment, to read him - and mostly read how drunk he was. Well, this was bound to be interesting dinner conversation.

"Pasta primavera," Harry said. "Which is a fancy way of saying spaghetti noodles and canned vegetables."

"It sounds lovely," Q assured him, doing his best not to worry about where an intoxicated Bond might take the conversation next. "Can I help?"

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