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]

"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.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q was holding Harry's arm tight, reluctant to let him go.

"Looks like rain," was all he said.

[lepidopterologist]

"I hope the roof doesn't leak," Harry joked. "You know what government budgets are like these days."

[0_0_7]

Bond got out and opened the rear door.

"No thunder in the forecast. I checked," he assured him.

He was firm and yet remarkably gentle with Q as he ushered them both inside.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q nodded a little, wandering inside and still looking pale.

"I'm sorry," he managed to say to the pair. "I don't know what happened."

[lepidopterologist]

"It's fine," Harry assured him quickly.

He looked around the safe house, immediately scanning for any obvious security holes.

[0_0_7]

Bond fussed with the panel by the door, locking them down for the night.

”Make yourselves comfortable. I'll put the kettle on," he said, since Harry seemed to be keeping Q calm.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q sat down, still sort of holding onto Harry.

He felt like his heart was beating too fast, and his chest ached slightly. The longer he sat the more he felt like he couldn't breathe, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was having some kind of panic attack. ...He'd never had one before.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry saw Bond locking the place down, and wondered how he was supposed to leave...

... until he felt Q holding onto him, close enough that he felt his heart beating faster, too.

He learned in close to him. "It's all right," he said softly. "We're all safe, and.... no more yelling tonight, I promise."

[0_0_7]

Bond finally followed the pair and closed the bedroom door to shut them in.

"Let it out, Q," he commanded simply.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q glanced at James, swallowing nervously and shaking his head. He didn't want to cry, not in front of them.

Though even as he shook his head, it was as though he felt compelled to do as Bond asked anyway, a few tears coming as he looked away from them both.

"I was fine, I was handling the explosion fine," he insisted, even though fine was certainty not how he sounded.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry looked a bit alarmed, and then after a brief hesitation, wrapped his arms around Q from behind.

"James," he said quietly, "why is he the one in danger?"