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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

lepidopterologist

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

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

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

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

When the voices raised, Q tensed a bit, and when Harry said he was leaving, Q reached for him- Then for Bond. As though he didn't know what he needed more. Bond's firm tone, or Harry's kindness.

From:

0_0_7

Bond moved a fraction, easing in behind Q and forcing him into Harry's arms. Sure hands worked to begin to undress him.

"Relax, Q," he ordered gently, as if the man could simply obey him out of this episode.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry held Q, and couldn't help but feel... well, happy, just to be holding him again. Regardless of the utter strangeness of this situation. He glanced at Bond, wary, but for right now Q seemed okay.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

Q was unusually well behaved, letting Bond undress him as he held onto Harry. He seemed a bit detached from it all, and Harry seemed to be the only thing keeping him grounded for the moment.

From:

0_0_7

Bond was remarkably good at stripping him while also disturbing him as little as possible.

"Would you like Harry to lay with you?" he asked, maintaining the same calm, sure tone. He was kind, but he was utterly in control.

He'd gotten much better at this since he'd been with Harry.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry looked surprised. He glanced at Bond, and then turned his attention entirely to Q.

"Whatever you want, darling," he said quietly. "I'll do whatever you want." Not because Bond ordered it. For either of them.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

"I want Harry to stay, I want- I want you both to stay," Q said quietly, hating how weak and lost he felt. He didn't know how to make these feelings pass faster though, and right now the only thing keeping him calm was Harry and James.

He was trembling again, and he clenched his fingers into fists, as though angry with himself for looking so weak in that moment.

From:

0_0_7

"Then I imagine we should undress, too," he said.

He smoothed a hand down Q's back, then moved away to undress and turn down the bed.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry truly did not understand what was happening. James always seemed to have a plan, an angle.

In any case, he had no intention of taking off his clothes. But he did take off his shoes.

He spoked quietly to Q. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me to, okay?"

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

Q nodded a little, wanting to say more, but finding himself short on words. A rare thing four the usually sharp tongued Quartermaster.

Bare, he climbed into the bed, only then speaking.

"I'm not used to being afraid," he admitted.

From:

0_0_7

Bond walked around the far side of the bed and slid in on that side of Q. He only wore his pants and the years between when he'd left Harry and now were written in scars that mapped his body.

He pressed close to Q.

"Be afraid all you like," he said quietly. "I'm not. I'm not afraid, Q. I'll put an end to it."

He looked to Harry.

"You're really sleeping in your clothes, old man?" he asked, a touch of a long ago affection still there.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry felt his guard come down, a little.

After a brief hesitation, he stripped down to underwear and an undershirt, and then he climbed into the bed on the other side of Q.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

For a moment, Q was perfectly still between them, before slowly relaxing. He wasn't sure how to have them both close, but he wriggled a little until he was touching them both.

It was enough to calm him for a moment.

"Thank you," he said softly.

From:

0_0_7

Bond waited for him to settle, to still, and then he pressed closer. His body was a solid wall of muscle between Q and the window.

He reached across the boffin then and rested his hand on Harry's side to tug him closer.

And he resolutely ignored the way Harry's bare skin felt familiar in a way he was unprepared for.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry shifted a little closer to Q, and relaxed a little at Bond's hand on his skin.

"You should get some rest," he said softly, and kissed Q's shoulder.