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

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q frowned slightly, then shook his head.

"You sound bitter."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry ran a hand through his hair, slightly agitated. "We did not part on good terms. I'm not bitter, I'm just... concerned. I care about you."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"James is good to me, he probably saved my life the other day. Hell, he even saved the cats, and I don't even think he likes them very much," Q replied. "I'm sorry you both have an uncomfortable past, but his relationship with you doesn't mean there's anything wrong with my relationship with him. They're two very different things."

[lepidopterologist]

"So it's serious then?" said Harry quietly, and he hated the way it twisted his stomach into knots.

Because the truth was, he got it. Of course he did. What he'd seen in both of them he could easily see how they would see in each other.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I can't answer that, I'm still..."

He trailed off, frowning to himself. Q didn't go in for traditional relationships, he never had. But he couldn't pretend it wasn't serious, not when James was laying down rules and Q was simply agreeing to them.

"I'm still figuring that out myself," he said finally. "And it's not as though you and I have seen much of one another recently, and you've been spotted with others. I didn't know you knew him, I didn't think it would be a big deal."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry glanced around them, and then said quietly, "I fear this has become more serious a conversation than a street corner allows. Perhaps we could go somewhere to talk more?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Alright, but know there will be company," Q added, nodding back towards his security detail.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry glanced back at them. "Are you wired? Can they hear us?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm not wired," Q assured him. "They're just keeping an eye on me."

[lepidopterologist]

"But I suppose there's still no point in suggesting you come to my place," Harry said. "Perhaps we should just go inside then, I'll get another scone." It wasn't too crowded at least.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q felt guilty, he hadn't expected his detail to be a barrier between them. He supposed he should just consider himself fortunate that James wasn't the one shadowing him today.

"Sure. I'll instruct them to wait outside," he added.

[lepidopterologist]

"Sure, I'll see you in there," Harry said. Then offered a little smile. "Would you like some coffee, too? My treat."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I can come in with you," Q assured him, communicating silently with his detail before heading inside. "I would love a cup of tea though, if they have it."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry went to the counter to get tea and another scone, and then joined Q at a booth. Fortunately the place was not very crowded.

"I'd ah, I'd like to say something first, before we talk about any of... that," he said once he sat down. "I've missed you. I just want you to know that."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I've missed you as well," Q assured him.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry actually felt a little relieved at that simple assurance.

"And I suppose you saw that I've been seeing someone," he said. "I... well. I got on that app, the one for celebrities. I was, ah. Lonely. I like him. Quite a lot. But I confess, I still think of you often. I should have reached out sooner."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Erm, yes, I mentioned before I was aware," Q replied simply. "I'm not old fashioned, Harry. Plenty of people have multiple partners these days, it's not a big deal. We live busy lives, it's to be expected that our schedules might not always sync up... I do question how his reputation might reflect on you, but if you like him, you like him. I don't judge."

[lepidopterologist]

"And you like James," Harry said simply.

None of this was about multiple partners. He just missed Q. And also, the idea of him and James really threw him for a loop.

Especially since now it occurred to him: James had known, that Q and Harry had dated. When he saw him recently.... that's why James had asked about his love life. Thinking he was poking at a sore spot. Of course.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm not suggesting we have a threesome," Q replied. "I'm just saying... I don't mind you seeing other people as well. It's good, I think, in a way."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry blinked at him. "That um, did not occur to me. I was just making an observation. It's not about you seeing someone else, it's just thrown me for a loop that it's him, of all people."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I didn't know," Q said again. "If anything, I knew him before I met you, and James and I always had an... Odd relationship. It never occurred to me you might know one another, and you didn't come up in conversation until recently. If it's a problem, you should say so."

[lepidopterologist]

"To be clear," Harry said, shaking his head, "I'm not blaming you for anything, not at all. If anything... he should have mentioned our relationship to you, as soon as you told him we'd been seeing each other. Not because it was a problem, but because it was relevant information." Pause. "And if you really are that close he shouldn't be keeping things from you without a good reason."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"And you're just assuming he didn't have one. I'll speak to him about it, but- My relationship with James is not your business," he decided. "You don't like him, that's fair, but have you considered maybe that's why he said nothing?"

[lepidopterologist]

Harry felt himself deflate a little. "All right, Q," he said quietly. "You're right. It isn't my business."

And he had no excuse for being upset, beyond his feelings for Q. And his feelings for James. Neither of which were Q's problem.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Harry, I'm not looking to fight with you, and I do sympathise, I know he can be a bastard, but..."

He trailed off, then decided to change the subject, deciding to offer Harry some intel he'd come across this past week.

"I noticed an order the other day," he said after a beat. "Chinese steel. Quite a bit."