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

[0_0_7]

Bond's answer to that was a simple, slow shake of his head.

"You'll find the kitchen well stocked, and I know you can make an omelette out of anything," he said.

Then smiled.

"If I'd expected you, I'd have gotten dijon and a lemon so you could make hollandaise."

He was trying so hard to make peace. In his way.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry blinked at James. He was so... hot and cold.

"Ah, sure. I can make omelets, yes." He headed into the kitchen. "Any requests, Q?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm sure whatever you make will be lovely," Q smiled, sort of excited to try Harry's cooking. Enough so that he seemed a bit less tense for a moment.

[0_0_7]

Harry knew what he liked, but that wasn't why he didn't ask, Bond was sure.

He gave a good stretch and a groan, then got out of bed.

"If you're cooking, I'm taking the loo," he said and left the pair there.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry smiled back at Q, glad that this seemed to please him.

And he did know what Bond liked, though for multiple reasons cared more about making something Q liked. Though... if he really didn't care, then sure, he'd make something Bond liked, too.

"I used to cook a lot," he said conversationally to Q as he started to pull some things out of the fridge. "Not these days. I'm just so busy, and usually by myself, it's not as fun to cook for one."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"What did you like to cook most?" Q asked. "What's your favourite dish to prepare?"

[lepidopterologist]

"Well, as James seems to remember, I made a very good eggs Benedict," Harry said, bending over the fridge. "My grandmother taught me to make hollandaise sauce." He emerged with an onion, a pepper, and some bacon.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I do like hollandaze," Q admitted, nodding a little and watching Harry work.

[lepidopterologist]

Harry threw some bacon onto a skillet and went about chopping the vegetables. "Well, next time then. Just need a few ingredients that aren't here. Would you like to make some coffee?"

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I prefer tea, but I can make both," Q offered, wandering off and doing just that.

"I am sorry about last night. I don't- I'm not one for dramatics," he promised. "I think, maybe, my anxiety just got the best of me is all."

[lepidopterologist]

"I do think that it was legitimately... a lot," said Harry quietly. "I mean, you've been through a lot lately. And to add interpersonal drama on top of that..."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I don't- I'd rather not talk about it more, I just want to apologize if I behaved poorly," Q said quietly, looking a bit uneasy. "But thank you, Harry, for understanding."

[lepidopterologist]

"I actually don't think you behaved poorly," Harry said, "but you're welcome." And then went back to chopping vegetables, leaving it at that.

[0_0_7]

Bond sauntered in, clean and dressed and ready to go to the office, except he was still sorting his tie.

"The shower is free," he announced, looking at the pair. "What's on the menu? "

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q saw Bond was dressed, and realized he should do the same. He gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek, then slipped off to get himself ready for work, daring to leave the pair alone and hoping they managed to not start a fight.

"I'll only be a moment," he promised. ...Or warned, perhaps.

[lepidopterologist]

"Omelets," said Harry. And smiled when Q kissed him.

He waited for him to leave and then added, "Q was going to make coffee and tea, you could finish up for him."

[0_0_7]

"Where did he leave off?" he asked, moving in to take over.

The kettle was going, so Bond went to get the coffee to prep the pot.

"Are you having coffee?" he asked.

[lepidopterologist]

"I'm not sure," Harry said. "I was preoccupied with the vegetables. But yes please. I drink tea the rest of the day but need a good jolt of caffeine in the morning."

The bacon was making the kitchen smell delicious, and he turned off the burner now before beating some eggs in a bowl. "I assume you are still a fan of copious amounts of bacon in your omelets?"

[0_0_7]

"Not really," he said. "Bacon is a young man's game."

He chuckled to himself at that as he got the pot going.

[lepidopterologist]

"... right," said Harry, and chopped up another pepper. "I suppose it's good that any of us remember to eat at all."

[qu4r73rm4573r]

Q reappeared in a shirt that was notably nicer than anything he'd usually wear. Bond and Eve had replaced most of his wardrobe, and other than the cardigan he had on, he looked a bit more sophisticated than usual.

"That smells nice," he noted.

[0_0_7]

"Harry's always been a good cook," Bond noted as he set the coffee to brew and then set about getting the pot for the tea warmed.

[lepidopterologist]

"I'm out of practice," Harry said as he poured eggs into the skillet. He glanced back at Q. "I like your shirt," he said fondly.

[qu4r73rm4573r]

"I'm fairly certain Bond bought it," Q said, tugging at it a little bit. It was a solid colour, no wild patterns, but it wasn't plain white, something Q avoided now he was more settled at six. The boffin wasn't afraid of standing out at the office anymore.

[0_0_7]

Once the tea was steeping and the coffee brewing, Bond moved closer to the pair.

"Sorted," he announced.

"If I timed it right, it should be ready when the first one's made," he said.