Harry and James 12/20/20

Time stopped mattering at some point, though Q tried to keep track. He knew he was taken on the last day of November, and that it had, he believed, been twenty days. Twenty days. Five of pure misery and torture. Two drugged up beyond belief. Three settling into his 'new life'.

Ten days he'd been with Rodger Viktor now, but this was the first time he'd been taken out. It was a big event, and he'd been cleaned up, shoved into a suit, and told to behave, or else. Q didn't need to be told twice, not after the last few days. Rodger was violent on a good day, he had no interest in seeing him on a bad one.

For a while he'd let himself fantasise that Harry and James would burst in and rescue him- But each day that passed chipped away at what hope he had. Eventually he had none.

His name now was David, that had been drilled into him early on. He'd lost his glasses a while ago now, and Rodger had no interest in buying him another pair. His hair had been trimmed exceptionally short on the sides, and when he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror, he didn't recognize the man looking back. He looked broken, pale and slightly too thin. And if he looked tired, it's because he was. Sleep had become something to fear, something done in short bursts when possible.

Here, at the party, Rodger kept introducing him as his partner, pinching the boffin's side as hard as he could if he didn't smile fast enough or take offered hands. He'd been told not to drink unless given a drink. Told not to speak unless Rodger was at his side. Still, it almost felt like freedom, and panic set in as he realized Rodger was getting bored and itching to leave.

"We should dance," Q suggested, offering a smile and attempting to turn on the charm.

"You want to dance with me?" Rodger asked, looking doubtful.

"It's been a nice night, a dance would be lovely," Q lied.

Rodger seemed to soften at that. Cruel as he could be, he'd picked Q because he liked the look of him. Having the boffin even a little interested fed into his ego.

"I suppose we can dance. Let's have another drink first. Give me a fair excuse before I trod on your toes..." Rodger agreed. "Stay here, I'll fetch us each a glass. Do not wander."

Q nodded, though part of him did wonder if he could slip out. ...Unlikely given the security.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

0_0_7

M had been more than patient, but Eve was clearly a mole and told the man Bond's state. He was recalled to active duty. M figured if he was going to be a weapon, Six may as well be the ones pulling the trigger.

He'd been sent to the villa to the party where one of the guests was also a guest at the party where things had gone badly. Bond took it as an opportunity to dig into Q's death, but he was aware the priority was the traffickers. They'd already missed them four times, Eve had reported. It was imperative Bond broke into the ring.

He'd dragged Harry along, unwilling to be apart. He wouldn't say it, of course, but he was in no fit state to lose the tailor, too.

"We're looking for a woman named Xi," he said, looking at the guests. At least twenty of them were Chinese women of varying ages. They'd need something more to go on.

From:

lepidopterologist

"I'm going to need more to go on than that," Harry murmured.

He wasn't thrilled with being on a mission, with doing anything really than looking for Q, even if he still knew that it was likely to drive them both into the ground.

From:

cuppa_q

Before Q could really plot anything like an escape, Rodger was back, drinks in hand.

"Drink up," the man instructed, passing Q a glass. Honestly though, the boffin was happy to numb himself for a bit, polishing it off quickly and feeling a bit of relief as the alcohol hit his system.

Rodger looked tense though, a slight frown on his lips. Q definitely didn't want that, and he dared to step closer.

"Would you still like to dance?" he asked nervously, going still when the man grabbed his arm and squeezed.

"Why do you want to dance? What are you up to?" Rodger snarled, giving him a shake and then slapping his cheek. It drew some attention, but not as much as it would have anywhere else.

From:

0_0_7

The commotion drew a casual glance from Bond, just to see if it was going to be a problem.

He saw a hand and a man's head rock to the side and he nearly looked away...but then the young man righted himself.

Bond grabbed Harry hard.

"It's Q," he said quietly, nodding to where. It didn't look like Q. No glasses. And that hair. And what was he wearing?

Bond knew what must have happened and to his credit he didn't immediately open fire.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry was holding a glass of wine, and he very nearly dropped it. He went completely pale.

"Oh my god." He could barely think. "What... plan?"

From:

cuppa_q

Q had no idea the pair were even there, all he knew was he didn't want to go back 'home'. Tonight had been an escape from the misery of it all, and he was reluctant to let it go.

"I just thought it would be nice to dance," the boffin soothed. "That's all it is, Rodger. Just dancing."

Rodger held his gaze a beat, then exhaled through his nose. "Alright, a dance," he agreed, finishing his own drink. "Then we should get going."

From:

0_0_7

"I don't have a plan," he admitted. A beat later he said, "We'll split them up. I'll take the man, you get Q out of here. Get him in the car. Don't wait for me."

Solid enough plan for having no weapons, intel, or time.

From:

lepidopterologist

"Like fuck we're not going to wait for you," Harry hissed. "I'm not going to get him back and then lose you because you do something idiotic out of vengeance."

He looked towards Q and the man, hoping Q would catch a glimpse of them.

From:

cuppa_q

Without his glasses, most of the world was a soft blur, but as Rodger pulled him onto the dancefloor he thought- He thought he could see Harry and James in the crowd. ...No, he must be finally slipping into madness. Still, as Rodger stepped on his toes and held on just a bit too tight, he tried to focus on the pair, pretending they were here to take him home.

From:

0_0_7

"You won't lose me," he said. "Go that way and circle around. When they leave the dance floor we'll break them apart," he said, tugging Harry closer to the pair. It looked like the man was ready to go. They didn't have time to argue.

From:

lepidopterologist

Finally, Harry nodded, and moved to stand in the doorway that seemed to be the direction they were headed.

Bond could take care of himself. Right now, Q couldn't.

From:

cuppa_q

The song ended and Rodger almost immediately started to lead him to the door.

"You don't want another drink?" Q offered. "It's been a nice evening... We could stay up late, then sleep in later..." he suggested, trying to seem flirty, as though the booze had gone to his head. He was no actor though, and Rodger just hummed, ignoring him.

As they approached the door the man lingering there came properly into focus for the half-blind boffin, and Q- Q froze. Harry. Harry was here. Before he could react someone bumped into Rodger, and he heard the man swear and the sound of glass hitting the floor, but Q couldn't bring himself to look away from Harry. As though he was certain the moment he looked away the man would vanish.

Was James here too? Was this nightmare actually over?

From:

0_0_7

Q only had that long to think about it before Bond pushed ROdger forward. He had the man's arm bent cruelly behind his back and he charged him through the door, away from the party.

The valets were smoking and talking when Bond shoved Rodger to the ground. Looking down at him with cold, soulless eyes, Bond suddenly had a very good plan.

He kicked the man hard in the gut until he crumpled into a ball. Then he looked up.

"Get the car, Harry," he said.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry took Q gently by the arm as soon as Bond had the man, and steered him out. “It’s over,” was all he murmured.

“Come with me,” he said when Bond told him to get the car.

From:

cuppa_q

Q was uncharacteristically silent, nodding as Harry spoke and watching James for just a beat before following.

It wasn't until they were in the car that he dared to say a word.

"I lost my glasses," he said quietly.

From:

0_0_7

The valets watched as Bond triggered the boot and hauled the man in, punching him several times until Rodger wouldn't be any trouble.

As he closed up, two couples came out of the party, laughing. Bond straightened his cuffs and smoothed his lapels and then climbed in.

"Pull around the kitchen entrance when we get to the hotel, Harry," he said, then looked at Q. Simply looked. He was far too angry at the man in the trunk to be sentimental. However...

"I knew you weren't dead."

From:

lepidopterologist

Had he? Harry thought. He hadn’t, and he felt like a shit for it.

He just drove.

From:

cuppa_q

"Liar," Q said, a faint hint of his old self peeking through. Though he seemed terribly far away.

The body in the trunk thumped as they drove over a small bump. The sound triggered a sort of panic in Q, prompting him to tuck his head between his knees as he tried to keep his breathing calm.

He was fine now. Safe. So why did he still feel so... this?

From:

0_0_7

The villa hadn't been that far out of town and the drive was easy. Only one other car on the road, and it turned off at the first road away from the water. The hotel was beautiful, but like most grand facades, around back it wasn't impressive at all.

Bond had Harry stop by the bins, near an employee door.

"Go to the room. Lock the doors. Harry, see to him. I'll be up when I'm done."

He shut the door and went round back to take Rodger in for a little chat where they wouldn't be bothered.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry turned to Q. He wanted to grab him and kiss him, hold him. But he didn't know what Q had been through, and he knew he had to be more careful than that.

"Q, love..." he began, and looked for a moment as if he might cry. "I'm so sorry."

From:

cuppa_q

Q watched James go, before following after Harry.

"You've nothing to apologize for," the boffin replied, tone soft but uncomfortable, as though he had forgotten how to speak freely.

From:

lepidopterologist

"Sit," Harry said, ushering him to the couch. He didn't argue with him on the apology. Even though Q was wrong.

From:

cuppa_q

Q sat down on the sofa, still and quiet.

"Can I take my suit jacket off?" he asked, as though he needed permission.

From:

lepidopterologist

"You can do whatever you like," Harry said gently. "You can take off your clothes, you can scream into a pillow, you can drink scotch until you get sick. And you can have whatever you like from me, I will... hold you, or I'll not touch you. Whatever you want, my love."