Modern AU… really, really AU – The Spy Who Loved Me

I was watching the James Bond marathon last weekend, including the All or Nothing documentary, and was reminded about how Robert Bathurst had been considered for the role of Bond… I apologize for nothing.

M!

Anthony crept quietly through the downstairs hallway, certain that he wouldn't be missed from the lounge where the party was carrying on. There were a great number of people who had drifted away from the activities, namely couples. Robert Crawley was known for his lavish parties, gatherings that would, at times, make the likes of Caligula blush. Alcohol flowed freely, lavish spreads of fine foods, and plenty of rooms available for… use… The only room Anthony was interested in was the private library belonging to his host.

In addition to hosting parties, Robert Crawley was also next in line to head up SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion). As such, Anthony Strallan, 005, was sent in to collect intel on the new man and what his plans may be.

Getting into the room was easy enough, but he hadn't expected there to be anyone else there.

"You won't find anything in his desk." A soft voice called from the leather chair in front of the fire.

"No?"

"No. Papa is surprisingly clever when he puts his mind to it. You won't find anything in here… other than me."

Anthony moved closer to the fire, pausing when the owner of the lovely voice came into sight.

"Papa?"

"Yes. Edith Crawley." She smiled, holding her handout for his.

She was quite beautiful, especially compared to the tarted up women roaming the floors of the house. Her short hair curled just above her slender, pale neck, the blonde locks taking on a red glow in the firelight. She woke a simple fitted sweater, a short skirt that allowed him a full view of her long legs.

"Strallan, Anthony Strallan."

"I know, how do you think you got on the guest list?"

"You're…?"

Edith raised a finer to her lips, urging him to stay quiet. Putting her book aside, she took his hand and led him out of the library, up the stairs, to a locked door. As she pulled out a key, Anthony suddenly became aware of someone lingering at the end of the hall, watching them. Without a moment of hesitation he moved closer to Edith, molding his body to hers as he dropped his mouth to her ear.

"We have an audience." He whispered before moving to kiss the curve of her neck.

"You better be convincing."

"Some how I'll find the motivation." His hands tightened on her hips. This was the sort of thing he always heard about from other agents, a part of the job he often missed out on.

Anthony wasn't oblivious to what was happening at work. He would be phased out shortly, moved towards retirement from fieldwork. After they took him off active duty he would be given the option of deskwork or a new identity and a one-way ticket to a dull life.

"In we go." Edith purred, pushing the door open and pulling him along with her. Before closing the door she peaked out and called, "Goodnight, Mr. Carson!"

"Friend of yours?"

"Household watch dog, head of papa's security." She locked the door behind them before gesturing towards the bed. "We've got about three minutes before they turn on the security cameras in here."

"Your room is under… right, three minutes." He nodded, moving to the bed and settling into the spot next to her. "My inside contact?"

"Correct."

"I believe there was a code phrase." He smiled rather wickedly, suddenly enjoying this part of the job.

"Of course. I love you." She recited slowly, the code phrase M had given to her a week earlier when they met.

"But darling, we've only just met." He teased.

"All the information you're looking for…" She paused, listening as the soft buzz of a shifting camera monitor fell on her ears. She moved closer, her voice dropping to a whisper as her fingers moved across the buttons of his shirt. "Is in a thumb drive."

"Where is this thumb drive, dear?"

She grinned wickedly, lying back on the bed and resting her arms behind her head.

"Somewhere on my person."

"Is… is that so?" His hand slipped carefully to the hem of her sweater. "Will you give me a hint?"

"You're getting warmer."

"So are you." He murmured, leaning down to kiss her. "Warm… soft…"

She sighed into his kiss as his fingers brushed the bare skin of her hips before moving upwards.

"Willing?" He asked cautiously, holding his hand just below the lacy material of her bra.

"Oh, very." Edith grinned. "Now, you've got some searching to do."

Anthony was pleased to hear her excitement as he pulled her sweater up and over her head.

"What on earth…?" He questioned, his gaze falling to her simple black bra… well, mostly simple.

"I told you it was on my person." She pulled him closer to whisper again, "Your Q-branch is rather ingenious."

Instead of a standard front clasp there was a USB drive locking the material firmly in place.

"Truly." He made quick work of removing the barrier, setting his original goal for undressing her aside and focusing on a new one. Her skin was soft and heated under his fingers; suddenly it struck Anthony just how long it had been since he had touched a woman. Miss Moneypenny had always made suggestions, but he couldn't bring himself to take her up on the offers.

She didn't even try to muffle the moans that escaped with each caress. Edith was pleased to welcome is attentions, not even the party downstairs could dissuade her from being quiet.

The footage on the video monitor was a bit grainy. Charles Carson did not especially enjoy this portion of his job but it was required to watch out for the Crawley enterprise. So he stared at the circulating feed, each giving him glimpses of the different rooms of the house. At the moment the feed from Edith's room was of particular interest. She never had guests, never took an interest in those attending her father's parties. For her to welcome a man into her room meant something. At the moment the man in question was brushing his tongue across one breast, while his hand teased the other.

"Oh, please let them finish quickly." Carson muttered, turning down the sound so he didn't have to hear Edith crying out.

"Feels marvelous, Anthony…"

"You sound surprised."

"I've heard stories, about some of the others in your line of work."

"You'll find that I'm quite different."

"Pleased to hear it." She chuckled, moving her hands to find his belt buckle. "Much as I enjoy this, we haven't much time."

"Oh."

"Next time though."

"Next time?" He questioned, distracted by the way her fingers were quickly undoing his trousers.

"Didn't they mention?"

"Edith!" He gasped as she seamlessly had his hard manhood free of the boxers and in her firm grasp. "M-m-mention what?"

"Not just a fact finding mission. Extraction as well." She grinned, raising her head to kiss him again. Her voice dropped to a low whisper, he could almost feel her words against his lips. "Have to wait a bit till that though. No way to get out of the house at the moment. Party nights like this no one goes to bed until late. You'll go out through the front door, I'll sneak out through the downstairs, pick me up down the road."

"You've been planning this escape long?" He asked casually, as though he weren't busy pulling her skirt and knickers off at the same time.

"My whole life."

"You don't agree with… what goes on?"

"Not at all. Hence…" Her sentence was cut short as his index finger moved between her folds, checking to see if she was ready.

"Hence?"

"Hence." She nodded weakly, assuming that he could understand what she had meant.

"Lucky me." He positioned himself between her legs. With a quick thrust he was inside of her. He stared down at her, in awe of the way she reacted to him. Her head was turned to the side, eyes shut, lips slightly parted as she tried to slow her breathing.

"Lovely… lovely man." She panted, her hips thrusting against him in the search for greater friction. Since time was of the essence it was clear that this wouldn't be the slow exploration. "Take me, Anthony."

He lost control at her words, setting a relentless pace, each stroke seemingly harder than the one before. Edith's legs wrapped around him, her hands snaking up to hold the bars of her headboard. He could already feel his climax building, his fingers moved between them hoping to ensure her pleasure as well as his own. It only took a few well-placed, firm strokes to set her off. With a cry Edith tightened around him, her body going rigid as a long scream escaped her mouth. That was more than enough to trigger his release, he murmured her name, his lips pressed against her collarbone as his movements slowed.

"Oh, Anthony." She sighed happily, stroking his hair as she closed her eyes.

"When will you be ready to go?" He whispered.

"Things should quiet down in about half an hour."

"What on earth shall we do till then?"

"I've got a few ideas."

Oh yes, Anthony could definitely understand the stories of his coworkers now. If Edith was coming with him he would have to reconsider disappearing with a new name… unless she would come with him then too… suddenly his last mission seemed to lead to future.