(no subject)

[heroichearts]

When Q found himself on 004's bad side (worse side, worst side?), it had been like a lightning bolt of fear through him, a sudden knowledge that Q was in danger, like they were in the same room and could hear his frantic cursing. Bond hadn't given it a second thought, hauling himself down to QBranch, pulling the wayward 00 from his victim, and putting up a resoundingly one-sided fight (given the tactical stabbings 4 had already received).

Hadn't given it a second thought, but in the hours since, he's given it plenty of thought. And plenty of thinking that he's not going to bring this up. It's not allowed, if it's what he presumes this is, not for people like him, like the both of them.

He gives voice to none of it, later, when he's out and about with only a few scuffs and bruises to his name. Could call Q, he supposes. Text him. But he finds that he doesn't need to, and if he was still in doubt as to what this is, he isn't any longer. Tracks him down, not by any of his usual means, but simply knowing where he is, down some side street alley, practically a hole in the wall of a cafe he doesn't think he's ever heard of before.

He knows Q's here.

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[heroichearts]

There is the thought, idle, stray, unbidden, that he could perhaps help Q change. But he certainly doesn't say it.

No, he'll go set out food in the kitchen that, while definitely a kitchen, he wonders if it was ever really meant to be one. Compared to Bond's flat, this is terribly humble. By the time Q's done, Bond's hung up his jacket, tossed his tie over it, and rolled up his sleeves.

"Cozy place you've got."

[wetware]

Don't fret, Bond. Q had the exact same thought. As he gingerly strips down in his room (which is less a room, and more where he keeps his closet and it's still open to the rest of the flat), he continues to talk. Does Bond see his reflection in the windows? Maybe.

"I rather like it. It used to be part of the farriers below, which is now more laneway than horse-way, but it's private and I've access to a workshop." When he returns to the kitchen, he's wearing what might be the world's oldest and softest t-shirt. The ink on it is so faded that it's hard to make out a picture of a bee and the saying 'if we die, we're taking you with us'.

[heroichearts]

Oh, he sees. Not looking deliberately, but, well. Clearly Q doesn't get much company. Unless...he does and is a tease about it. Hm.

"Well now I'm feeling overdressed," he jokes.

He wants to touch, if he's honest. Suss out all the bruises, find every bit of hurt on him and ease it away. Offers up some utensils instead.

"You heard the lady, food before pills."

[wetware]

Does he see? Well then, hopefully he enjoys a wide range of bruises, clearly some old scar tissue, and a smattering of ink. Q is certainly keeping an eye on Bond's forearms mood.

"I'd loan you something, but I think you'd stretch it out. I refuse to allow your shoulders in my good shirts." He accepts the utensils and goes to sit at the table. It's a proper beef stew, with sides, and various veg. There's even two slices of pastry for desert. "If you really want, I think there's a pair of sweatpants that are hilariously oversized lurking in the back of a closet."

Men's sweatpants. That don't belong to Q.

[heroichearts]

Bond quirks an eyebrow, the mild amusement coming through between the cracks of worry. "I would never stretch your good shirts, but do I want to know why you've got hilariously oversized sweatpants in your closet?"

He won't take them (yet), but keeping the mood light over food seems like a good idea. Or, a not bad idea, anyway.

[wetware]

"My ex came through town on leave a while back and forgot them here." He makes a pleased hum at the stew and mops up a bit with some bread. "Years ago, never felt right to donate them or toss them away."

This is probably the most personal information anyone has gotten out of Q since he was hired by M. Is it shocking?

[heroichearts]

Given it's just said, out loud, just...out there for Bond to hear? It's not the content that's shocking, just the sheer personal detail of it. But then again, here he is, in Q's flat, avoiding the topic of them being connected.

"But it feels right to let your overdressed coworker slip into them," he teases. "I'll have to remember not to forget clothes here."

[wetware]

Q opens his mouth as if to say something, and then quickly, thinking better of it, takes a bite of his meal instead. Can Bond tell that he'd had a sudden image of himself wearing only Bond's dress shirt? Maybe.

Christ, even if medical cleared him from any sign of a concussion, maybe he'd had one too many hits to the head.

"I'm not saying that I'm a thief. Merely that if it's left behind, I'll claim it as my own."

[heroichearts]

"And offer it up to blokes who it might actually fit, which is not you."

He's not grinning. Nope. Nary a smile on these lips. How about an image of Bond in just sweatpants? That could become reality soon enough.

"Promise I'm comfortable enough as is."

[wetware]

"Caring is sharing, 007." He can certainly imagine it. It's unfair, really. Deeply, profoundly unfair, although it might be unfair enough to improve what has been a generally pretty rubbish day.

"Alright, but if you need anything, I like to be a good host." Even if and when he's sore all over.

Briefly, Q hopes and prays to any and all little gods that might be listening that while Bond can (maybe) tell if he's hurt, that he won't be able to pick up on if he's turned on. He really does need to get his shields back in place, nice and solid.

"And, ah, once I'm neatly drugged with the very nice things medical provides, you don't have to stay. If you don't want. I'm ...I don't want to impose."

[heroichearts]

"I don't have any plans. I'm the one who shouldn't impose." He takes a bite of dessert, mulls it over. If he senses anything, he's not saying anything, but they're also Not Talking About It right now, so. "Do you want me? To stay."

[wetware]

Yes. Yes, he wants it. He wants Bond. And he wants Bond to stay.

"I would like company, just in case something goes awry, but I can always call on another friend." That's right, you're his friend, Bond. "And once the drugs kick in, I tend to be, ah, a little loopy and not always able to keep up as strong a barrier as you might prefer."

[heroichearts]

"I'm here." He's the one who came. He's the one who's here. He's staying, if that's what Q wants.

"Suppose we'll just have to learn how to keep ourselves to ourselves. You have more practical experience at this, probably." Sure, Bond's got walls, defenses, but they're more...figurative.

[wetware]

"I've been in sync with others before, it's ...it's not a bad thing, not always, but it's usually only lasted a couple days, maybe a week." Not however long it's been since Morocco.

"And if it does get bad, you can just put some physical space between us. That ought to help." Q finishes off the last few crumbs of his pastry and then knocks back whatever dosage medical suggested. "Until then, I'm planning to sit on the sofa with a hot pack on my shoulder and ignore Netflix."

[heroichearts]

M had thought, before, that Bond was this type of liability. After Vesper. God, he wishes he'd been that way with her; maybe he could have prevented all that went wrong, at least half the mistakes he made. Maybe she'd still be--

That's a door slammed shut. Focus. "Then I'll ignore it with you."

[wetware]

Very quietly, almost so soft that Bond can't hear it, he responds: "Thank you."

They can just leave the dishes in the sink while he heats something up for his shoulder. "If you want anything, just help yourself. Tea, coffee, that sort."

It's a small kitchen, but clearly well-used. He can cook, but it's not something that he does beyond necessity.

[heroichearts]

"That's very kind of you. I'll try not to be too much of an intrusion." Maybe a spot of tea is all.

"He won't be hurting you again. Not ever. And if I get my way, or M hers I imagine, not anyone else."

[wetware]

"Good." He gestures towards wherever the tea and tea-things are kept and slowly makes his way to the sofa. There are big soft cushions and it's clearly where he prefers to spend a good deal of his time. Wincing as he settles in, Q can't help the noise of relief once he's in place with a hotpack on the worst of his aches.

The only way it would be better would be if Bond was right beside him. (Not that he'd say such a thing and the pills don't work quite so fast that the thought will easily escape.)

[heroichearts]

But honestly, where else would he go? Linger awkwardly on the arm of the sofa, maybe? Hardly. He makes himself a cuppa, sets it down where it won't spill, and ends up right there next to him. In fact, he is so bold as to throw an arm (gently) about his shoulders and tug him in a little. Protective and comforting.

"Not hurting you, am I?"

[wetware]

"No, not at all." If anything, he's content and finally unwinds the rest of the way. He'd been afraid of dying today. He could've been beaten and bled out on the floor of QBranch. Something to think about later, when he's alone in the small hours of the night.

"You can watch whatever you like, I mostly just want the noise." Cautiously, as if he's afraid one or the other will spook, Q leans against Bond. Touch makes it stronger, so occasionally, fluttering flashes of emotion or thought appear.

[heroichearts]

Don't mind if he scrolls through some netflix then. Something that's noise, something that's not too dark and serious. He'll take to the leaning like it's natural. The thing that's less natural is the shared connection. The one that shouldn't exist. Not if they want to keep their jobs.

Some cooking show or another it is, then. Might even pick up a few tips and tricks along the way if he even half pays any attention, which, maybe he won't, with a Q against him.

[wetware]

"Nadia is a saint."

After a time, Q begins to drowse. The painkillers have taken the edge off and he doesn't hurt so much as he doesn't mind that he hurts. With a lazy hum, he adjusts how he's sitting and if there are no complaints, will likely end up with his head on a pillow in Bond's lap.

The only thing that's readily slipping through their connection is that Q is content. (And, occasionally, very distracted by Bond's shirt sleeves, how they're rolled up, and/or his forearms.)

[heroichearts]

Hard to resist petting that fluff of hair when it's right there in his lap, so he doesn't resist it at all. He'll do some very light petting and revel in the contentedness. (And the forearms? That's fair, people like the arms. And the arse.) Even Bond's worry seems to start ebbing away. Not gone, by any means, just less intense.

"Bed?"

[wetware]

"N'yet. This is good." Q smothers a yawn while he could sit up, he would much rather just laze about on Bond. Very comfortable, he is. Cozy, practically.

"You're good at that. Petting. My hair, I mean." A long, slow blink. And another. "Ah, yes, there's the drugs. Working very nicely, because I am not bothered by anything and I would really rather like to say too much."

"If I suggest that I would like to do anything appalling to you, I hereby grand you permission to tease me about it, so long as it's not in front of the QBs. Or Eve. Use your power wisely."

[heroichearts]

He laughs. "I would hate to meet someone who could somehow screw up petting. And, if you do say something appalling, I will most certainly tease you, maybe even take you up on it latter, depending. We should find excuses to get you loopy more often."