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]

"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."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry didn't want to fight with him either. James, on the other hand...

He was momentarily distracted by the information. "Really," he said. He sighed. "Christ. It fits the pattern."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"It's certainly concerning," Q agreed. "The destination is one of the ports in London, but when I attempted to trace the order back, it was linked to an American corporation. ...Does that align with any of the other shipments you've seen?"

[lepidopterologist]

"We've seen evidence of an American shell company," Harry said with a sigh.

He looked at Q for a moment and then said, "I appreciate you sharing this with me. I don't want to put you at risk though. You don't think anyone has caught on?"

Anyone, including James.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Not as far as I'm aware, but I admit I've been more cautious lately- Working from home, if you know what I mean."

[lepidopterologist]

Harry nodded. And then after a moment he asked, "To your knowledge does anyone know that I'm behind Kingsmen?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Not as far as I know, no. Your file at six, at least the one I have access to, doesn't say much that you couldn't find on Wikipedia. There's a small amount of redacted information, but that predates what little information six has gathered on Kingsmen," Q assured him.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry was relieved to hear that.

He nodded. "Good. And - to my knowledge, James has no idea either."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q nodded, because James hadn't said anything about it to him, it hadn't even come up in conversation at work. James seemed uninterested, and Q didn't say so, but he thought that might be best. If James decided it was his concern, he wouldn't leave it be until he dug to the very bottom.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry supposed that was a relief. Though he also suspected that James didn't think him capable of anything but making money.

He hesitated, and then said, "Q, are you interested in seeing me again? Romantically, I mean."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm interested- Are you?" he asked seriously. "Or are you going to think of him whenever you see me?"

[lepidopterologist]

"I can't say you remind me of him," Harry said honestly.

He hesitated, and then reached across the table and took Q's hand. "I've miss you," he said. "And that has nothing to do with him."

Pause. He didn't really want to ask this. But. "But you said he has ground rules."