Perhaps it should have come as a surprise that Alec's wife could be involved with the Russians, but Bond has been around too long for things like that to surprise him anymore. He's become quite jaded, he decides as they ride the elevator toward the upper floors, presumably to Q's office. Of course, it's not as if he didn't know this before, it's just not something he often thinks about until times like this.
"Did you find out anything else from your conversation?" Bond asks as he looks sideways at his companion, noting that he seems to be deep in thought and therefore might not even register that the agent had asked a question.
In fact, the younger genius did have a delayed response to Bond's question, his mind storing it for a moment in order to let him finish his thought. "I am not sure. I hope to enhance the background noise, I believe there were two people speaking in Russian. If I can enhance it, I can translate it." He says with confidence, obviously already sorting through the conversation in his head."
Nodding slowly, James crosses his arms over his chest before he looks at the young brunette again, "Odd that Alec's wife couldn't tell the difference between you and him. You would think if you spent your life with someone, you would know them anywhere, no matter what." He thinks to back when he first met Alec, and how he was briefly fooled before figuring it out, and he doesn't even think he knows Q that well, certainly they don't spend as much time together as married couples do.
Q nods as the doors to the elevator open, stepping out to walk toward Q branch as he considers his reply. "Yes, well. I cannot remember where we heard it, but when we were young, we were told that there is only one way you tell who is the one, who is your soulmate if you prefer. For identical twins like us, it is the person who can tell you apart. Always. We used to test eachother's girlfriends in school if it seemed the least bit serious. Everyone always failed. We knew it was bloody ridiculous, but still, when Alec and Becca got engaged, I went to congratulate him, not even thinking about it. She knew Alec had a twin, but until then he always hid her, didn't allow us to meet. I think he knew what would happen." Pausing when they enter Q-branch, the younger man makes his way into his office before he continues. When I arrived, Becca thought I was Alec, and kissed me. I tried to push her away of course, which confused her. She did not even make the connection, until I explained to her."
"Well, that sounds bloody awful." Bond says in a flat, detached tone. "And Robert? Did he ever meet Alec?" He asks casually as he walks over to sit down on Q's couch, idly noting how much it smells like the Quartermaster now, as he unbuttons his suit jacket and then rests his arms over the back of the couch.
Settling in at his desk, fingers flying over the keys on his keyboard, Q only pauses after Bond mentions Robert. "No, they never met. Never got around to it, really. Alec was always busy with the restaurants, I was busy with MI6. Not that it matters, I think we can all agree that he was not the one for me. In fact, besides out mother, you are the only one to be able to tell us apart right away." He says thoughtfully as he resumes his typing, bits of sound starting to come from his computer as he starts to enhance and analyse the audio file his program automatically recorded.
Of course, as soon as James hears that, he chuckles a little, wondering if the genius realized what he just implied. When it looks like he's not really thought about what he said, Bond decides to play it up a little, crossing his legs. "Well, you know what that means, Q." He says in a flirtatious tone, waiting until Q looks up before waggling his eyebrows. "Guess that means I'm the one for you, Q." He teases, finally winking at the younger man.
For a moment there is nothing else Q can do but stare at 007, the he clears his throat and adjusts his glasses before he focuses back on the screen in front of him, "Don't be ridiculous, James. It is a simple, silly superstition. I would be willing to bet any of the double-ohs could tell my brother and I apart. You are the best of the best, one would hope you are observant enough to recognize what sets one person apart from another. Otherwise, it is sad to say, you would be easily fooled by any set of identical twins." He points out in his usual casual but posh tones, even if he is fighting back a bit of a blush.
"Nope. It's a sign, Q. We are destined to be together. You should just accept it now." James teases playfully as he briefly puts his hands behind his head, then he gets up quickly and makes his way over to stand behind Q's chair. He is trying to lighten up the situation some, to relax the other man a bit more and keep him from overthinking everything.
Thankfully it is silly enough that even Q can pick up on it in his current focused state of mind, causing him to smirk a little. "I very much doubt we would be compatible, James. We are both too headstrong. I have seen quite a few of the women you chase after, remember. I do actually have a brain in my head and can see you for the arse you are." He says playfully, but in deliberately snobbish tones. "Case in point, when was the last time you brought your equipment back in one piece?" He challenges, glancing over his shoulder at the blonde agent with a slightly arched eyebrow.
Chuckling a little and beginning to enjoy this game, James looks innocently into the accusing face of his Quartermaster. "I brought everything back when I rescued you, my dear Quartermaster." He offers, a small almost purring sound to his voice. Bracing one hand on Q's desk on one side of him, the agent leans down, face close to the side of the other man's head. "If you keep talking like that, I will start thinking you've been spying on my more intimate encounters." He says close to Q's ear, smirking as he watches for a reaction.
Jerking away in surprise, Q flicks his hand back to swat him away, hitting Bond lightly in the forehead, but otherwise doesn't react. "For your information, I am not much of a voyeur, and try to give my agents as much privacy as I can. However, when you leave your ear piece in and your mic on, there have been one or two instances where I have been the reluctant witness to your sexual conquests. At least for a few moments until I cut the line, which is dangerous for you, as it would have taken me longer to respond, had you needed me. So for your own safety, do try and remember to turn off your microphone when you are with one of your conquests." Q finally finishes in a slightly irritated tone, fingers hitting the keyboard a bit harder than normal, brow furrowed in concentration, while sound bites continue to leak out of his computer.
For a brief moment, it feels as if all the electrical impulses in James' brain shorted out at once. He didn't realize he had ever left his mic on, much less that Q was always listening if he was on a mission. Although he refuses to ask, Bond wonders if Q does that with all the double-oh agents or if it's just him. Then, a slow grin spreads over his face as he regards the irritated young man working so expertly at his computer. "Why, Q, you almost sound a little jealous It's a bit irrational to get so worked up over what an agent does on their down time." He teases, testing the reaction since it's so rare to be able to get under the skin of their cool and collected Quartermaster.
"I am only irritated because you do not consider others, 007. You blatantly ignore those of us who are trying to finish up your mission for hours after you return to your hotel room to get off with whatever woman with loose morals you can find who will be seduced by your charms. The least you can do is turn off your bloody ear piece so you do not make any of us uncomfortable. It is not as if you appreciate the time and thought I put into the equipment you use, in order to keep you in one bloody piece, so the least you can do is turn off your microphone during your down time, so that I do not have to know what you are doing." Q snaps in annoyance, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm himself, well aware that his ire is only partially due to the agent, the rest is to do with the current situation.
Thankfully, it doesn't offend the double-oh. In fact, it only amuses him more. So much that he just grins and holds up his hands defensively before he heads back toward then couch. "Well, I do apologize, my dear Quartermaster, I will endeavor to be more mindful of your needs." He says suggestively before he sits on the couch and leans back, watching the younger man with a look that could be rather disconcerting to others.
To the young Quartermaster however, it is frustrating but not disconcerting. Instead of replying and risking baiting the agent any more, instead he plugs in some noise-canceling headphones and slides them on in order to hear the recording better, frowning in concentration as he finally clears up the noise enough to start translating.
Little late, but here it is. :) I had to do something lighter to break up the serious plotiness. And Bond & Q flirting is so much fun to write. :) I hope you all enjoy it!
Reviews/Comments welcome!
