cuppa_q | Bond + Harry

Bond had offered to escort him on his trip back to his old base to collect the last of the things he'd left behind, but when the man had failed to meet him at the gates, Q had decided to go alone. It wasn't terribly far, after all, and Q had once traveled on his own.

What he hadn't considered, however, was the notoriety he now carried, being associated with such a large camp. He barely made it halfway before being grabbed by some raiders who were keen to have their own power grid back at their camp- And perhaps, later, a ransom.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

cuppa_q

"I don't need to explain myself," Q said. "My gut instinct says I'm safer here though. As it is, neither of you should have come looking for me when I was taken. You've left your posts, and for what? ...No, I'll not be leaving tomorrow."

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry was just staring at him. "So, what, we should have just let you rot down there? Q. You can't possibly think that we'd let something happen to you..."

From:

0_0_7

"You're not living out here in the rubbish like a rat, Q. Absolutely not. Where did this idea come from? Better off? Starving? Struggling? Alone?"

He scoffed then, sharp and derisive.

"You're coming back."

From:

cuppa_q

Q looked over at Bond, at the state he was in, then back at Harry.

"Yes, perhaps you should have," he said quietly. "You're both too important to be out here looking for me."

From:

0_0_7

"Are you mad? Are you legitimately concussed?" burst from Bond, perhaps a bit of an over reaction.

"Wembley can't run without you, Q. The parliament, the society, it's not possible without power and water. Be realistic. Among the three of us, you're the one who has the control."

He realized after he said it that it applied to being Quartermaster as much as it did in their bed.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry also had the feeling that there was something more underlying this than the little adventure they'd just had. When he'd told Q that he and Bond had slept together, Q's reaction had been... subdued. A bit awkward perhaps, but he'd hardly said anything bout it at all. Of course, everything had been so busy lately, so much to do, that Harry hadn't seen much of either one of them. Though he couldn't help but wonder if Q had some sense that he wasn't.... needed anymore, in more ways than the power grid. Which of course was utterly ridiculous.

"We couldn't have done it without you," Harry said quietly. "And I for one wouldn't have wanted to."

From:

cuppa_q

Q was silent for a long moment, then wet his lips with a flick of his tongue before speaking.

"I'd rather be alone than an unnecessary burden on you both. ...We can discuss it more in the morning, right now I think we all ought to eat and get some rest."

From:

0_0_7

Bond looked at him for a long moment, his blue gaze boring into him.

"Burden. On us both," he said flatly.

He looked at Harry, then Q, back and forth once more, and then he realized.

"You think you're in the way of something between the two of us," he decided aloud.

From:

lepidopterologist

"Ridiculous," Harry blurted before he could help himself.

From:

cuppa_q

"Is it?" Q challenged. " You're both nearer in age, you share a leadership role... You're both men of wealth and certain social statures."

From:

0_0_7

"Why, exactly, are you trying to force us together, Q? It was your idea to cooperate. Your idea to merge. And now your idea that, what, we should get married and rule the kingdom? I picked you if I recall," he said.

He looked to Harry.

"You picked him, too, did you not?"

From:

lepidopterologist

"Well I certainly didn't pick you," Harry said irritably. It was a bit frustrating at just this moment to be accused of preferring Bond considering that he was pretty annoyed with him at the moment. Both for allowing Q to go off on his own, and because he hadn't said a word about what Harry had done today. Not a 'well done' or 'I had no idea you knew how to shoot a gun' or 'you're less useless than I've been implying' or even 'sorry you had to kill a bunch of people.'

That sounded too harsh though, so ehe sighed and rubbed his temples. "Sorry."

From:

cuppa_q

"You didn't pick anyone. But that isn't what this is about," Q sighed. "Have either of you considered that perhaps I'm just... Tired? Of organizing, of worrying about where I stand, of just everything? When I'm not feeling ignored and in the way I'm fighting to just get out of bed and get on with it. I don't want to go back, I don't want to do it anymore. I'm tired. I was tired before the bloody war ended, and I'm exhausted now."

From:

0_0_7

Bond moved to him with slow confidence and took hold of him.

"You won't be less tired going it alone. Come home. Let me take care if you," he said quietly.

From:

lepidopterologist

To this, Harry said nothing. He honestly wasn’t sure what to say. He agreed with Bond, but also… he wouldn’t object to Bond taking care of him. He just wanted Q to be okay.

From:

cuppa_q

Q pressed closer, melting against Bond. As much as he wanted to be alone, he couldn't pretend it didn't feel good to be held by the other man.

From:

0_0_7

Bond pulled him in to hold him and offer a warmth that no one else got to see. Not even Harry.

Not like this.

"Let's sleep on it," he said quietly before pressing against his hair. Bond closed his eyes and breathed him in, allowing himself, finally, to feel relief.

And he exhaled and pulled Q into the tightest hug he dared. He turned his gaze to Harry.

"...Together."

From:

lepidopterologist

Now it was Harry’s turn to feel as if he was intruding. He looked down, awkwardly, though gave a small nod.

From:

cuppa_q

Q's defenses seemed to come down fully as James held him close, looking over at Harry and hoping the other man didn't object.

"I'll make the bed," he offered quietly, holding James a bit tighter before reluctantly letting go.

From:

0_0_7

Bond let him go, only to move to Harry. He slid his hand down the man's back, letting it rest low.

"We've all had quite the day," he said quietly. "Not your average. How are you holding up, old man?"

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry found himself a touch surprised by the gentleness. "I'm not the one who had the shit beat out of me," he said, even though he was glad for the small acknowledgment. "I just... I'll be fine. This is the world we're in."

From:

cuppa_q

Meanwhile Q was in the other room, unrolling the blankets and bits that had once been his bed, unrolling and stacking it all until they filled the small room. It wasn't as plush as Bond's bed at camp, but it was good enough for one night, surely.

Rejoining them, it was hard not to feel that fear creep up on him again as he watched the pair together.

From:

0_0_7

Bond gave Harry a bit of a push.

"Go," he ordered. Quiet, but firm.

He could sympathize with Q. He, too, was very, very tired. A night away from the stadium was welcome.

He'd never admit it.

Urging Harry forward, the two of them met Q. Bond offered him a smile.

"You should both get settled," he told them.

From:

lepidopterologist

Harry sat down on the edge of the mattress and carefully took off his shoes. "I confess, I wasn't very good at taking vacations before either," he said, trying to lighten things a little. "My assistant kept a running tally of the number of days since I'd had a day off."