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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?"

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q wasn't sure he'd sleep, but he did let his eyes fall shut, trusting he was safe with James and Harry here.

He rested his head against James, and reached blindly to hold Harry's hand

"Goodnight," he said softly.

[0_0_7]

"Sleep, boffin," Bond said, quiet and firm.

Then he held him, feeling the heat of Harry's body, right there, so close to his arm.

They really should talk. He knew they should.

He also knew exactly how Harry felt about him and didn't see how talking would ever happen.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry squeezed Q's hand.

And then looked over him to see Bond looking at him. It was the first time they'd touched in many years.

He really didn't know what to do or say. So he just... closed his eyes, too.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q slept hard, but not for long. It was early when he woke, even earlier than Bond tended to rise, and he listened to the rain hitting the roof for a while as he lay between the two men. He was feeling more himself this morning, and it was easier to let the mask of calm slip into place.

He was afraid to speak, to even breathe too hard, not wanting to shatter the peace that seemed to have settled over them all for a moment. He needed the bathroom though, and eventually he untangled himself from the pair to slip off to the loo.

[0_0_7]

Bond was wide awake before Q was entirely out of the bed, but he kept his eyes closed and didn't move until the man had successfully made his escape. It was only then that he shifted and stretched a little before settling more comfortably.

He'd give Q five minutes, he thought.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry was typically very early to rise. He didn't even have to set an alarm anymore. And yet... somehow he slept right through.

He stirred when Q climbed off of the bed, and watched him go, before looking over at James.

"It's been a long time," he said.

[0_0_7]

"Lifetimes," he replied.

The gunshot wound that marred his chest was bad enough that that was likely true.

[lepidopterologist]

"I confess, I'm almost surprised you survived that long," Harry said.

[0_0_7]

"Proverbial bad penny," he answered simply, keeping his voice low.

He could hear Q poking around somewhere beyond the bedroom door.

"He's not meant for the field," he noted quietly. "The explosion rocked him."

[lepidopterologist]

"No kidding," Harry said, a touch shortly. "He should be in a basement on a computer."