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

[lepidopterologist]

"And will he be safe now?" Harry asked.

[0_0_7]

"Harry, Q is- perhaps- the most valuable asset in the Empire's arsenal. Six will see he's safe. I will see he's safe," he said.

Then smirked.

"You'll have to pull your weight and take a shift, too, you realize."

[lepidopterologist]

"Why... why would you want that?" Harry asked, genuinely baffled.

[0_0_7]

Bond looked vaguely confused.

"Because Q's is going to need you to," he said, as if it should be obvious.

[lepidopterologist]

"Shall I repeat all of the names you've called me that suggest what you think of my competence and character?" Harry said flatly.

[0_0_7]

"And I stand by it. All those years ago. But I'd hope you've done some growing up, Harry," Bond said, not sounding like he thought Harry might have.

Not in the moment.

"Are you going to do it?" he asked plainly then. "Because I can make certain there's an agent glued to his hip at all times if you don't think you can handle it."

[lepidopterologist]

"You are such an asshole," Harry hissed. Then looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "But you can tell MI5 that if he's with me he's safe."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q slipped quietly out of the bathroom, only to find both men awake.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake everyone," he said.

He seemed more himself now, mask firmly in place and doing his best to seem as though nothing had happened the night before. Though he had to admit, that was a bit hard to pull off when he was standing nearly nude in front of the two men.

"Perhaps we should have breakfast?" he suggested awkwardly.

[0_0_7]

Bond smiled, pleased with himself that he could still get under Harry's skin after all these years. It didn't even take all that much effort.

"I'd love breakfast," Bond said as he looked away from Harry to Q with a genuinely affectionate smile.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry was tense again. He couldn't help it; James knew just how to get under his skin.

"It's all right, I slept very well," was all he said, quiet, and climbed out of bed.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"So did I," Q said, hesitating and then adding, "Thank you. ...Both of you. I apologize for my reaction yesterday, I didn't... It wasn't my intention to let myself get so upset by something so silly."

[0_0_7]

"I hope you don't think that, Q," Bond said. "You survived an explosion and lost things you treasured. I can promise you that I've had to sit through enough psych appointments to assure you that can upset people. I'm told," he added dryly.

Q was well aware of what Bond thought of 6's psychologists, but for all that he didn't see they could do anything for him, he did see the value for people with...less damage.

[lepidopterologist]

"I don't think that any of it is silly," Harry said. "Though I apologize if right on the heels of everything else that's going on with you was not the time to tell you about James' and my history. I just thought... it would be better than keeping it from you."

Which was, yes, a pointed dig at James.

"Shall I cook?" he asked. "Is there... actual food here?" He wasn't confident that either of them were cooking.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q wasn't sure, and he glanced at Bond.

"If we don't, maybe we could have some delivered?" Q offered, forgetting, for a moment, that they probably shouldn't.

[0_0_7]

Bond's answer to that was a simple, slow shake of his head.

"You'll find the kitchen well stocked, and I know you can make an omelette out of anything," he said.

Then smiled.

"If I'd expected you, I'd have gotten dijon and a lemon so you could make hollandaise."

He was trying so hard to make peace. In his way.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry blinked at James. He was so... hot and cold.

"Ah, sure. I can make omelets, yes." He headed into the kitchen. "Any requests, Q?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm sure whatever you make will be lovely," Q smiled, sort of excited to try Harry's cooking. Enough so that he seemed a bit less tense for a moment.

[0_0_7]

Harry knew what he liked, but that wasn't why he didn't ask, Bond was sure.

He gave a good stretch and a groan, then got out of bed.

"If you're cooking, I'm taking the loo," he said and left the pair there.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry smiled back at Q, glad that this seemed to please him.

And he did know what Bond liked, though for multiple reasons cared more about making something Q liked. Though... if he really didn't care, then sure, he'd make something Bond liked, too.

"I used to cook a lot," he said conversationally to Q as he started to pull some things out of the fridge. "Not these days. I'm just so busy, and usually by myself, it's not as fun to cook for one."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"What did you like to cook most?" Q asked. "What's your favourite dish to prepare?"

[lepidopterologist]

"Well, as James seems to remember, I made a very good eggs Benedict," Harry said, bending over the fridge. "My grandmother taught me to make hollandaise sauce." He emerged with an onion, a pepper, and some bacon.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I do like hollandaze," Q admitted, nodding a little and watching Harry work.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry threw some bacon onto a skillet and went about chopping the vegetables. "Well, next time then. Just need a few ingredients that aren't here. Would you like to make some coffee?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I prefer tea, but I can make both," Q offered, wandering off and doing just that.

"I am sorry about last night. I don't- I'm not one for dramatics," he promised. "I think, maybe, my anxiety just got the best of me is all."

[lepidopterologist]

"I do think that it was legitimately... a lot," said Harry quietly. "I mean, you've been through a lot lately. And to add interpersonal drama on top of that..."