A/N: Sorry for slow updates. I rewrote this one loads of times, there are just too many story possibilities when Q is around. Enjoy.
"-are you even listening to me?" An annoyed Q was standing over Garak with his arms on his hips like an attention-starved child. Garak, who's eyes had glazed slightly with reminiscence snapped away from the painting and locked onto Q's as he remembered where he was.
"My apologies I'm afraid I was somewhere else for a moment." Garak said pleasantly.
"You should be sorry, I'll have you know more powerful people than you have given up bars of latinum for some of my time." After giving a not very intimidating stare at Garak, he continued, "As I was saying, you were looking quite glum these days and seeing as you're my favorite spy, I thought bringing back your lady friend Ziyal might cheer you up a bit."
"Well that's a very generous of Q. Unfortunately, I have to decline."
There was a slight pause. Q looked at Garak expectantly.
"Well?" Q sounding even more impatient.
"Well what?" replied an innocent sounding Garak.
"Is there any particular reason why you would decline my offer? Or is it something you always do when given a once in a lifetime opportunity from a godlike being."
"Well, as an ex-agent of the Obsidian Order I have learnt never to accept any sort of gift or offer or bribe-"
"Don't flatter yourself, Cardassian. You can't be afraid of being indebted to me. You couldn't possibly hope to owe me anything. I have everything."
"So am I to assume you want to bring back to life Ziyal out of the kindness of your heart?" Garak used his characteristic imploring tone of voice.
"Is that so hard to believe?" Q asked with mock indignation. "You've barely known me an hour and you're already making assumptions about me. Have the Captain's misguided words about me affected your opinion? I'll have you know I have shown him nothing but selflessness. Is it my fault the Captain is too shortsighted to see the value in my gifts? You know the Starfleet type. Nothing but pretentious idiots with an unscalable moral high ground. I have it on good authority that you Cardassians are much smarter. Always ready to seek personal advantages."
"While that may be true, I must still decline."
"But why?" exaggerated Q.
Garak paused thoughtfully for a moment
"Because I don't want her to see Cardassia like this." he said quietly and for the first time in his life, truthfully.
Although he knew that lying to an omnipotent being like Q would be an exercise in futility, it wouldn't have stopped him before. Age and his new life had worn him down.
"We always talked about returning to Cardassia together and how great it would be. She deserves better than what's here."
Garak always knew that the conditions of his return from exile would not be idyllic, otherwise he would not be able to return in the first place. What he couldn't be prepared for was what he faced now.
He had the mammoth task of bringing back Cardassia from war-torn ruin and hopefully regaining some of state's dignity along the way. The rebellion led by the unfortunate Damar was thought of at the time as an unequivocal success but the death and destruction caused by the Dominion left citizens to question whether it was a good idea to side with the Federation. The Dominion were ruthless in their handling of the rebellion. There were mass public executions in Victory Square and they purposely positioned innocent citizens in military bases to try and prevent terrorist attacks. They systematically tried to destroy the culture of the civilisation by demolishing monuments and the unique buildings that made Cardassian culture so distinctive. Where once stood grand architecture worthy of study throughout the quadrant now stands dull grey federation shelters. Thousands were built in a rush to house refugees of Dominion attacks.
Since the end of the war, the only way the Cardassians could survive was with the charity of the Federation. The downside was that the constant presence of the Federation and Starfleet just made the Cardassian people more divided. Garak's love for his home made him resent his current position. He didn't feel like he had returned home. He felt the universe laughing at him. Q understated Garak's disposition with "a bit glum". He was miserable and he didn't want Ziyal to see him fail to rebuild Cardassia.
Garak waited for Q to mock his sentimentality as he did so when he first spoke to him. Instead Q's tone wasn't mocking but enigmatic.
"Perhaps something else can be arranged." He snapped his fingers with his usual flourish and with that Garak saw his office disappear.