Q

[lepidopterologist]

Harry was feeling very good about his burgeoning relationship with Nyx - it was casual, still, and he doubted that Nyx was interested in anything serious - but he still found himself frequently thinking of Q. It wasn't as if things had ended badly, in fact they hadn't really ended at all. And it wasn't as if that had ever been serious either, Harry had just.... hoped that it might be. Or maybe he was just realizing now that he actually missed him, which was not something he was accustomed to feeling when he dated.

Maybe this was why, when he found himself walking by a cafe the two of them had been to once, he found himself stopping even though he had no need for coffee. He and Q hadn't been planning to stop here either, they'd been on their way somewhere else, but it was raining, and they'd ended up getting coffee and scones and just sitting in here for hours, missing whatever they'd been planning to do before.

He bought a coffee, and the same type of scone that Q had raved about before, and then sighed to himself and stepped outside. And immediately saw Q.

It was just such a coincidence and so unexpected that he was visibly startled. "Oh, I - hello," he said, awkwardly holding the coffee in one hand and a scone wrapped in paper in the other.

Comments

[0_0_7]

It was time for the changing of the guard. Bond had been chatting with Q's guard, a young agent named Smythe who had been watching Harry and Q chat the entire time, though he'd relayed to Bond he couldn't make out what they were saying.

That was alright. Bond knew enough that when he walked in to switch, he'd be walking into precisely what he'd been avoiding this entire time.

"-you're still free to do what you like when you're letting him control you - I'm sorry. I just - I know what it's like. And I do care about you, so much," was what Bond walked up on and he stood over the pair of them as if he couldn't possibly be more comfortable.

"I'd love to meet the person who will ever be able to control Q," he interjected, looking from Harry to Q.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q looked startled, and was unsure of what to say for a moment- Though a glance at the time was enough to make him feel like an idiot. He should have known it was Bond's turn to play babysitter, since he wasn't off on a mission.

"You should have told me," he said to Bond, rather than offer a 'hello'. "And for the record, no one controls me, I obey because I choose to."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry felt himself die a little inside when he heard Bond's voice.

He started to say something, but then stopped himself. He didn't want to speak over Q, because frankly, he was right.

So he just took a drink of his coffee and didn't look at Bond.

[0_0_7]

"Of course you do, Q," he said.

He looked at Harry pointedly not looking at him and smirked a little.

"I've clearly interrupted something.Enjoy your tea. I'm going to get one of my own. Let me know when you're ready to go and I'll go first," he said.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Stop it," Q said, looking a bit annoyed. "Sit," he demanded, using the tone he might if he was in Bond's ear and starting to get frustrated.

[lepidopterologist]

"Don't bother," Harry said dryly. "He thinks I'm beneath him."

[0_0_7]

"I was under the impression that was where you preferred to be, Harry," he said, taking a seat as he'd been told.

He looked to Q.

"And so now you know," he said.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"You should have told me," Q said again. "Why on Earth didn't you?"

[lepidopterologist]

Harry very intentionally did not react to Bond's comment. It was, of course, exactly what he would say.

[0_0_7]

In response to Q's question, he looked at Harry in surprise.

"You must not have told him why," he said to the older man before he looked back to Q.

"I don't make a habit of talking about the past," he said simply.

And that, at least, was the truth.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q looked confused, turning his attention to Harry.

"What does he mean?" he asked Harry.

[lepidopterologist]

"I have absolutely no idea," Harry said. He looked at Bond. "I am in fact eager to hear your very good reason."

[0_0_7]

"If you've forgotten, old man, then there's nothing to talk about at all," he answered.

"I didn't tell you about Harry for the same reason I've never told you about Tracy or Vesper, or dozens of people, Q. I don't talk about other lovers. It's rude at best and cruel at worst, and disrespectful. Wouldn't you agree?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Not when I'm sleeping with them, no," Q replied bluntly. "You knew that was wrong, don't pretend otherwise. When I told you I was seeing Harry, all you had to say was you used to date him. Nothing more."

Taking off his glasses, he rubbed his face with both hands. This week had been too much already, and the weight of whatever this mess was only made it worse. He'd been managing his stress well, he'd thought, but even Q had his limits, and he went shockingly quiet, going still with his face in his hands. It was a weak effort at keeping himself from cracking right there in the middle of the cafe.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry saw the moment that Q shut down. He felt bad about it.

"I should go," he said. And then, begrudgingly, "This is between the two of you."

[0_0_7]

Bond looked at Q with genuine concern.

"At least help me get him home, old man. It looks like he's cooked," Bond noted. "The car is out front."

He rested his hand against the back of Q's neck and held on.

"Come along, Q," he said.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q tensed a little, and usually now was about the time he'd have told Bond not to fuss him, or assured Harry he was fine. ...He didn't though. Instead he just remained still, before exhaling with a shudder.

"I'm fine," he said finally, but it sounded more like he was trying to reassure himself than them.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry really didn't think that Bond actually needed his help. But he was a little worried about Q.

He hesitated, and then nodded.

"Just making sure," he said gently as he got to his feet.

[0_0_7]

Bond ushered them both out to the car. Once there, he took one look at Q and decided for all of them.

"Harry, help him into the back seat and come along. I'll get you back when he's safe in bed."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q wanted to protest that he was fine, but he couldn't seem to bring himself to speak. So when Harry ushered him into the back of the car, he just slid in, keeping one hand on the other man the whole time.

He wasn't used to not being in full control of his emotions, wasn't used to letting things get to him. He knew it was the explosion, that he had tried to not let it upset him, and as a result he was now very sensitive and easily upset. ...And he hated it. He didn't like feeling so emotionally vulnerable.

[lepidopterologist]

Once he was back there with him Harry thought of apologizing for upsetting him, but feared that might be patronizing, and besides, the truth was....

"I'm finding this whole thing upsetting too," he said quietly to him. And then added lightly, "He probably does too, despite having the emotional range of a teaspoon."

[0_0_7]

For perhaps the first time in his life, Bond drove in the most sane, law abiding manner. He took care not to do anything abrupt.

The radio played softly, an old song Bond recalled fondly.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q nodded a bit, then exhaled sharply.

"It's not- It's just been a lot," he said, looking down at his hands rather than at Harry.

[lepidopterologist]

"Yes," Harry said quietly.

He glanced up, honestly partly because he was surprised that Bond was driving so sanely, and unexpectedly met his eyes in the rearview mirror.

[0_0_7]

He met Harry's eyes and watched him for a long moment, until traffic pulled his attention back to the road.

It wasn't long before he pulled up to a nondescript building in a convenient part of the city. He pulled into the drive, which took the car round back. Behind them, a gate closed.

It was night, but the back porch was brightly lit as soon as the car tripped the sensor.

"Here we are," he announced quietly.