[summary] – Teddy/James II [James Bond!AU] "Mister Bond," P said, nodding as Teddy entered the room. He still wasn't used to the name — still didn't react quite fast enough when someone referred to him as such — but he was getting better. He had to.

A/N – Written for Round Seven of QL. I had to write for the characters Teddy Lupin and James Sirius Potter (H.M.S Remix, I think it was) with the optional prompts: [word] Bond, [quote] 'Just have to have a little faith.' – Michael Scofield, Prison Break.

And thank you to Rose [RawMateriel] for Beta'ing.


Just have a little faith

.oOo.

"Mister Bond," P said, nodding as Teddy entered the room. He still wasn't used to the name — still didn't react quite fast enough when someone referred to him as such — but he was getting better. He had to.

"Yes, sir?" he asked.

"Take a seat," P said, gesturing to the empty chair opposite him. Teddy sat quickly. "Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you, sir," Teddy said. Harry nodded slowly, regarding Teddy with a calculating stare for a moment.

"Very well," he said quietly, still not taking his eyes from Teddy. "On to your task." P pulled out a folder from the top desk draw. "You will need to locate these people. Memorise their faces." He slid the folder across the table, watching Teddy carefully as he flicked through it. "Their names will likely have changed," he said when Teddy had finished. "And, if not, then they likely aren't worth our time."

"What did they do?" Teddy asked. P remained silent long enough for Teddy to think that he wasn't going to answer — long enough for Teddy to regret having asked the question in the first place — before he eventually spoke.

"They remained loyal, even after the defeat of their… Lord, as they liked to call him." The expression on P's face showed how little he thought of that.

"That was at least twenty years ago!" Teddy said before he could stop himself.

"Yes." P spoke slowly. "Only a few remain now," he said. "But they've started recruiting once more."

"And I need to—" Teddy trailed off.

"Stop them."

"In what way?" Teddy asked hesitantly.

"Whatever it takes."

.oOo.

Teddy sat at the bar, looking around the crowded room. He didn't know who he was supposed to meet — he didn't even know what she looked like — but P had said he would be sought out. He just had to—

"Can I get you anything?"

"Uh, yes," Teddy said, trying to think. "A dry martini… three measures of Gordon's… one of vodka… half a measure of Kina Lillet," he said slowly. "Shaken, not stirred," he added, the phrase so obvious he knew he wouldn't have forgotten had he not been so nervous.

"That's quite the drink," the bartender said.

"Yeah." Teddy nodded, really hoping he wouldn't be forced to actually drink it.

"Mister Bond, I presume?" Teddy turned quickly, seeing a man standing behind him. He held up his hands, a smirk twisting his features. "You are, aren't you? I was sent to meet you."

"Oh. Yeah, that's me. Bond. James Bond," Teddy stuttered.

"I have to admit," the man said, taking the empty seat beside him. "I thought you'd be cooler." Teddy frowned, a little offended, but before he could speak the bartender returned with his drink.

"I added a slice of lemon peel," the bartender said. Teddy nodded his thanks.

"You drink martinis, do you?" he asked, leaning closer than Teddy felt was strictly necessary.

"Yeah," Teddy said, feeling a little defiant, and took a large swallow of the drink. "Is that a problem?" he asked, trying desperately not to choke. He was not a big drinker.

"No, no problem." He seemed amused.

"What's your name, anyway?" Teddy finally asked.

"James," he said. Teddy waited, but he didn't elaborate.

.oOo.

"So… do you have a plan?" James asked.

"Of course," Teddy said, looking around. "We should, um… I have a car."

"Oh?" James looked disinterested, clearly not expecting much. Teddy felt a need to change that, but he couldn't say why.

"Yeah, it's just over—"

"Oh, cool!" James interrupted, running over to the black BMW parked across the road.

"Yeah, very… shiny," Teddy said, opening the door of a battered Ford Anglia. James turned slowly.

"You– This is your car?" he asked. "Seriously?"

"Yeah," Teddy said, climbing in. James sighed, but pulled on the handle of the passenger side door. "Oh, sorry!" Teddy leant over and unlocked the door from the inside. "It sticks."

"Of course it does."

.oOo.

Teddy glanced over at James quickly, before returning his eyes to the road, his hands firmly in the ten and two position.

"Can we at least listen to some music?" James asked, sounding bored.

"I don't have any CDs," Teddy said.

"CDs? Don't you have an AUX cord?" James asked, but continued before Teddy could answer. "No. Of course you don't. I bet you don't even have a gun."

"I have a–" The rear window shattered, glass covering the back seats. Teddy chanced a brief glance behind, and immediately wished he hadn't.

"Where is the gun?" James yelled over the noise.

"In the glove box!" Teddy gripped the steering wheel harder, wide eyes staring at the road ahead. He could hear James rummaging through the compartment.

"I swear, Bond, if it's in this lock box…"

"Safety–" Teddy slammed on the breaks "–first." The two cars behind them, unable to stop in time, drove straight into oncoming traffic.

There was silence in the car for a moment, and the sirens and screams from outside seemed a long way away.

"Not bad," James said. "Probably the smartest thing you've done all day."

"Well, I'm not a criminal," Teddy said, finally turning to look at him.

"What?" James asked, frowning in confusion.

"Red light."

.oOo.

"Look," James said, pulling a thin piece of glass from the back of Teddy's hand. "I don't mean to insult you or anything, but have you considered a different career?"

"Why?" Teddy asked, face turned away so he didn't have to see what James was doing.

.oOo.

The door crashed open, wood splinters flying across the room. Teddy awoke with a start, looking around the room in panic, momentarily forgetting where he was.

A bullet embedding itself in the wall right beside his head brought him quickly back to reality.

"You need to run, you moron!" James yelled, grabbing his wrist and dragging him from bed towards the window.

Teddy risked one last glance back. Several figures in dark clothing, hoods covering their faces, created rather androgynous figures as they stood in the doorway. Only their left forearms were visible, clearly showing the tattoo they all shared. One he clearly remembered from the folder.

"Wait! I need to–"

"Not now, Teddy!" James yelled. "There's too many of them! You'll die."

He allowed James to pull him from the room, and didn't object to the theft of a car. He felt dizzy, nauseous, and the loud ringing in his ears created a barrier between himself and reality.

.oOo.

"What?" James snapped, turning to glare at Teddy. Teddy didn't bother to mention that he should keep his eyes on the road. "You've been quiet since the hotel. What's wrong?"

"We almost died," Teddy said. "Surely that's reason enough to be a little shaken up?"

"Isn't that part of your job description?" James asked.

"You know my name," Teddy said instead of answering.

"Of course I do, you idiot. You told me."

"You know my real name," Teddy said. His eyes fell down to James' arm, trying to get a look at his left forearm. He was wearing long sleeves.

"Oh." James didn't even bother to pretend not to know what Teddy was talking about, and for that he was thankful.

"Here's fine," Teddy said.

"What?"

"Here's fine. I can walk," Teddy clarified, hand already on the door handle. "I'll find my own way back."

"You're not even wearing any shoes!"

"I'll make do."

.oOo.

Teddy trudged over to the same bar he'd met James at. The return journey had been mostly uneventful without James. Teddy was not bad at his job, despite what the other man might have believed. His skills lay with secrecy, and that was a little hard to achieve with the enemy able to track your every move.

"I can make you your drink, if you like?" the bartender asked.

"My what?"

"Your drink. People seem to like it." He nodded to a booth in the far corner. "He ordered one not five minutes ago." Teddy looked over, the motion more of a reflex than an actual show of interest.

His eyes met James'.

The man pushed himself slowly to his feet, walking over with a lot more confidence than Teddy felt.

"I suppose you're here to kill me," Teddy said as soon as James was within earshot.

"On the contrary, Teddy," James said. "I've come to warn you."

"Warn me?" Teddy asked incredulously. "Warn me about what? That you happen to be working for the very organisation I'm trying to help bring down? That–"

"You should leave." Teddy remained silent, staring at James blankly. "Leave this job. It's not something anyone should do."

"Someone has to."

"Do they?" James asked.

"Yes. Because there are always people like you." James flinched, but didn't back down.

"And I was forced into this because of people like you," James said. "This is all I've ever known. But you can do–"

James staggered forwards, eyes wide and gasping for breath. He fell to his knees, and from this angle Teddy could see the blood covering his back. The knife may have been small but, with such a well-aimed throw, had done all the damage of a sword.

A figure, dressed all in black, turned from the scene.

.oOo.

"Mister Potter," The Woman said, watching James with cold eyes, a wry twist to the corner of her mouth. "We have a task for you." Her voice was oily. She sounded like the kind of person you'd usually avoid, but here James was: willingly working for her.

"And you won't mind going against your father's organisation?" The Man drawled, stepping out of the shadows. The symbols on both their arms were clearly visible.

"Not at all."

"Good," The Man said, smirking.

"You've provided us with some excellent information," The Woman said. "But now we think it's time for you to go out into the field, as it were."

"We're going to make an exchange," The Man drawled. "You will take the place of a Ms Victoire Weasley."

"I'm guessing she's going to be removed?" James asked.

"Naturally," The Woman said. The Man didn't look pleased at being interrupted.

"Her codename: Miss Moneypenny," The Man said, as though nothing else had been said.

"You are to gain Edward Lupin's confidence," The Woman continued. "He will say the phrase 'shaken, not stirred,' and that is your signal to introduce yourself."

"Make it believable," The Man said. "Befriend him. Do whatever it takes. But remember, your job is to bring him here."

"He will give you the name James Bond," The Woman said. "The codename given to the highest ranked spy in the country."

"Failure will not be tolerated."