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]

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?"

[0_0_7]

"We aren't sure, but Q seems to have other dangerous men in his past," he said, coming closer to them.

He rested a hand on Q's arm.

"He couldn't be anywhere safer than here, though," he said as he moved to pin Q between he and Harry.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"Harry knows about my past," Q said quietly. "He knows how I got my job. You can just say it. I know M suspects it's one of the men I used to work with. Another hacker. ...He has a history with explosives."

He wanted to be upset that Bond essentially had him trapped between himself and Harry, but in truth this was the calmest he'd felt in a while.

[lepidopterologist]

"You don't think it was someone after him instead?" Harry said, slightly surprised after what Q had said earlier.

He too wasn't sure how to feel about having q between them. But for right now, he just ignored Bond's presence, and stroked a hand lightly down Q's arm. "I just want you to be safe."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I don't know," Q admitted, and for him there was nothing worse than not knowing. "I know M thinks it seems more likely the attack was intended for me though. However, it wouldn't be the first time someone tracked James back to British soil... I think it's worth looking into."

[0_0_7]

"And Six is on it. Nothing to be done tonight from the bedroom about it," Bond said, calm and firm and level.

"No speculation or worry in here, hmm?" he said.

Because unless they happened to guess it was the man before them, it would be a futile exercise.

[lepidopterologist]

"He can't be stuck here forever, James," Harry pointed out.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"He's right here," Q said. "And it's not forever, M knows I wont tolerate that," he added quietly.

[0_0_7]

"I said tonight, Harry," Bond said, looking at Harry without patience.

"Tonight is not forever. Tonight is Q needs to rest, so let him," he scolded in a tone that came so terribly naturally, even now, years later.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry noticeably tensed at James' tone. But he didn't say anything, didn't push back, only because he didn't want to risk upsetting Q further.

"You should rest," he said gently to Q. "Let's get you to bed, and then I'll be on my way."