Hey guys, This is part 2 of the 'Title Rehaul' series. A series based on the titles of each James Bond movie.
I didn't expect to have completed another of these already, but I just have these two on my mind lately. It's also longer than I expected it to be, but everyone had a lot to say and who was I to stop them.
I should probably mention that with this series, I am trying to keep to the canon (Daniel Craig movie wise. There could be some divergence though) up til the end of Skyfall, but basically ignoring Spectre and No Time To Die.
This one is based on the film title 'From Russia With Love'
The title of this fic is based off of lyrics from the theme song for this movie, specifically the line "Much wiser since my last goodbye to you"
Let me know what you think, much love xox
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Since the moment James had laid eyes on his new Quartermaster, he'd known that he wanted to get the man, young and geeky as he was, naked and in bed with him. He had been instantly attracted, and over time that hadn't faded, in fact it had only gotten stronger.
There was something about Q that had James very interested. Maybe it was his snappy personality and genius brain hidden behind woolly cardigans and a curly mop of hair. Maybe it was how he always smelt of fresh earl grey tea on a cold morning. Possibly it was the way that he would let his wiry glasses fall to the very end of his nose before pushing them back up when he was in full concentration mode. Whatever it was, James was hooked on the Quartermaster. Q on the other hand found Double-oh-seven irritating at best.
James had made a few passes at Q, making vague and then very straightforward suggestions that they should sleep together. Q had turned him down time and time again, using multiple excuses; mostly that it was against policy for them to sleep together, even if he did want too - which apparently he didn't. James couldn't care less about policy and had pursued Q regardless.
After a while, as he got to know Q better, James switched from suggesting just sex to asking Q out on dates instead. Yet the genius still refused.
"I've never seen you so relentless to get someone into bed Double-oh-seven," Moneypenny had commented after watching James get rejected for the hundredth time, "and I've read your file, and seen you go after a target. Why is our Quartermaster so special?"
"I want to see what's under the layers of cardigans," James told her dismissively, while he watched from afar through the glass walls of Q's office as he worked, "Why are you so interested?"
"Well, Q is a friend, and you have a reputation of shagging anything that moves. Something tells me that this is different though. I've seen you give up after a few attempts, like with the girl in the cafe. It's been months and you're still trying," Moneypenny pointed out, "so…why him?" she gestured to the genius in his office.
James gave a noncommittal shrug, "I like him."
Moneypenny turned in her seat to fully stare at James, raising an eyebrow as she did so, "You like him?"
"What? He's more than just attractive. The bloke's a genius, and witty; he gives just as good as he gets," James told her like it was obvious.
"And?"
"And what?"
"What else do you like about him?" there was a glint in her eye that made James suspicious.
"Why do you want to know?" he asked cautiously.
"Because Double-oh-seven…I might be starting to feel a little bit sorry for your pathetic ass, and if I like what I hear I might be so inclined to put in a good word for you with a certain Quartermaster…" Moneypenny smirked.
"And what exactly would you like to hear Miss Moneypenny?" James leant in so that he could speak in little more than a whisper, "That I think his quirks are adorable? That it's a turn on when he gets bossy? That it's not just about sex and I want to take him out and snog him senseless? Or maybe you want to hear that it's him that I think about when I'm fu-"
"Double-oh-seven?" a gruff voice spoke as a door opened behind them.
James straightened up and immediately stopped mid word as he was summoned, "Yes, sir?"
"Come in," he was instructed.
Moneypenny cleared her throat as James got up, he glanced back at her, fixing his tie.
"Are you sure you just like him?" she queried knowingly.
"What else would you call it?" James asked from the doorway of M's office.
"What indeed Double-oh-seven…"
XXX
Russia was quite beautiful covered in snow, and a Russian woman naked on a bearskin rug in front of a crackling fire was also quite the sight to behold. James had seen both of those things before, yet it was always breathtaking. So far this time, he'd seen the snow, he had yet to meet the woman, but there was time.
James had met with his contact at the hotel he had checked into, a stunning woman dressed in an eye capturing outfit that said business, but beckoned for you to take it off. She was KGB; they had agreed to work with MI6 to find a mole that was selling information on both sides. She introduced herself as, "Ms Karklosnokoff, or Yolanda, if you're going to butcher it."
They spent the day going over what each side knew and meeting with Yolanda's boss. By the end of the day they had done all they could until the following morning when they would be able to meet with yet more people. Which left them with the night to kill.
So of course James asked Yolanda to have dinner with him in his room. He'd called room service and asked them to bring up champagne with two glasses and their finest caviar – a classic move. A minute later he called back and requested a bottle of vodka too. When in Russia…
The fireplace was burning away merrily, the lights were dimmed, and the champagne and caviar chilled. James had freshened up, and was awaiting Yolanda. The only thing that was missing was the bearskin rug.
Soon enough there was a knock on the door and James answered it with a charming smile.
"Welcome, do come in," he invited, holding the door open for her while taking a good look at where he thought she might be hiding a gun. Being a gentleman, James took her huge fur coat and hung it up, leaving her in a deep green, sequin dress that cut off just above the knee. Not many places to hide a gun in a dress.
Naturally as a KGB agent her eyes darted to all of the entrances, exits, and sharp implements in the room. Though she jumped as James popped the top from the champagne, her hand twitching toward her gun – thigh holster. He'd be surprised if her heels didn't have secret blades in them to.
"Apologies…champagne or vodka?" he offered as she came further into the room to where James had the alcohol.
"Why not start with one and then move on to the other," she decreed with a flirty smile.
"Hmm, a woman who likes variety. I can certainly appreciate that," James handed her a glass of champagne and then poured himself one too. "Caviar?" he offered next.
"Since we are indulging…" she answered, voice matching the smile, and positioned herself on the sofa so as to accentuate certain features.
James brought over the crystal dish and spoon with him to the sofa. He sat with open body language, but he was alert, ready for anything.
"I've heard what everyone thinks about this mole situation, but I haven't heard your suspicions…" James casually prompted as if they'd be talking about the weather.
"Me? I'm not high enough rank to have such an opinion," she deflected, sipping from her glass.
James smiled encouragingly, "You obviously have enough rank to be on this case. Come on, surely you have someone in mind…someone you've seen acting strangely?"
"Well," Yolanda started thoughtfully, "there is Ivan in the, uh, what you call…the technology department. He has been very interested in every mission, asking for details, you know."
"Have you told anyone else about this?" James queried, slowly working through his own glass of champagne, all the while undressing Yolanda with his eyes.
"I tried, but I was dismissed. Do you think it is worth looking into?" she asked, moving so that her dress hitched up higher.
James scooped up a spoonful of caviar and slid across the sofa to be right next to Yolanda, their thighs pressed together, he lifted the spoon to her lips. Without taking her eyes from his, Yolanda took the whole scoop in her mouth, her lips sliding back over the metal as it was pulled away, leaving a thin smear of her lipstick.
"Mmm, exquisite," she commented, her eyes sparkling.
"It certainly is," James confirmed, responding to not only the question.
Yolanda used just the tip of her tongue to lick her lips seductively, "You should try it."
"If you insist," James leaned closer as she did, and their lips connected while James slid a hand well up her thigh.
All too soon Yolanda pulled out of the kiss and put her finger to James' lips, "Mmm," she shook her head, "it is as I had suspected."
James sat back on the sofa confused, "What is?"
"It is empty," she declared.
"I don't understand…"
"There is no…how you say; passion. Your eyes, they have no fire. You act and sound charming, but there is nothing behind it," Yolanda stated, she didn't seem upset or even angry with him though.
"I have plenty of passion, if you-" James tried, unused to this kind of rejection.
"I am sure that you do Mr Bond, but not for me," she pulled down her dress, "I have seen this before. Most woman that you sleep with would not notice, but I am trained KGB agent," Yolanda continued to explain, and James hoped she would get to the point soon, "Your heart, Mr Bond, it belongs to someone."
James schooled his features, "What makes you think that?"
"Oh, it is new, even you are not aware of this yet. You are in love Mr Bond," she laughed, downing the resting of her champagne.
"No, you're wrong, I…"
James made to continue his protest but a cardigan wearing, tea drinking, shaggy haired genius popped into his head alongside the conversation he'd had with Moneypenny before he'd left for Russia. Shit.
Yolanda clapped, "Ah-ha! There it is; you see, your eyes are alive now. You thought of them, did you not?"
James just stared at her, in disbelief that this woman that he'd met that morning knew what he felt when even he didn't know. Now that the thought had occurred to him, he couldn't unthink it, and that was potentially dangerous.
"Do not worry Mr Bond, I will keep your secret," she told him getting up and adjusting her dress.
James watched in dismay as she collect her coat, and then picked up the bottle of vodka, "You don't mind, do you?"
"By all means," James gestured for her to take it.
"Goodnight Mr Bond, I will see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, as they say," she laughed again and then let herself out.
James let himself flop back on the sofa and exhaled deeply. Moneypenny had somehow known too, she had hinted at it but James was too obtuse to realise. Maybe after Vespa, James didn't think that he could trust anyone enough to love again, or maybe he was being deliberately obtuse. After all there was no worse pain than heartbreak, and no prescription good enough to mend it.
Whatever it was, the barricade was gone, and James knew it to be true. He loved Q. Somehow that quirky, scrawny, gorgeous, computer nerd had wormed his way in under James' armour and settled in his heart. The next problem James faced was convincing Q to go out with him finally.
Idly James wondered if Moneypenny would still put in a good word for him…couldn't hurt at least. He pulled out his phone from his trouser pocket and opened a new message to Moneypenny's number. James stared at the blank message, what should he say?
Watching the minutes tick over on his phone, James continued to look at the blank message. He couldn't just come out with it, especially not over text. He considered something suave, but nothing sounded right, it all came off too cocky or blasé, he needed something genuine…
'I know what to call it. Will you put in a good word for me?' James typed, referencing their last conversation. Maybe it was too cryptic, would she even remember what they'd spoken about?
He hit send and then dropped the phone on his chest sighing. How he'd managed to fall in love again was beyond him. Somewhere inside he knew already though, which was probably why he wasn't as shocked as he could've been. Looking back it seemed obvious; it was no wonder that two women had picked up on it, but why hadn't Q?
A few minutes later James' chest vibrated. He picked up his phone and opened the reply, ignoring the twinge of anxiety he felt.
'And here I thought I was going to have to spell it out for you. I'll do my best.' Was the reply. She remembered.
James smiled at the message as he picked himself up off of the sofa, and headed over to the open champagne bottle.
"Waste not…"
XXX
The mission was over within a few days. It had been all very standard really. James had even returned with all of his gear except for his phone, which had been shattered when he'd hit the water fountain. He was lucky that his phone had been the only thing shattered considering how huge that guy was.
All in all it was a successful mission, and with only a couple of bumps and bruises for medical to look at, so James had been released from the doctor rather quickly. She had scolded him for one thing or another like usual, but James had stopped taking notice of her when he'd become a double-oh. Double-oh agents had a short life expectancy, and James intended to live life to the fullest before he died for his country.
On his way to Q Branch, James was intercepted by none other than Eve Moneypenny, wearing a smug look on her pretty face.
"Miss Moneypenny, quite the coincidence seeing you here, I'm sure," James greeted her, unsurprised that she would be here waiting for him.
"Welcome back Double-oh-seven. Did you manage to bring any of your toys back, or are you just going to see our dear Quartermaster for a scolding?" she teased, not missing a beat as they walked through the corridors.
"Both, if you must know. The phone got smashed up," James admitted.
"He'll be impressed you brought back anything after last time," Moneypenny reminded him, "though, I should warn you…he's been here for fifty six hours, and slept maybe five of them. Now might not be the best time to get your flirt on."
James sighed and shook his head, "He works too much, doesn't he have minions for this exact reason?"
"Yes, but he rarely lets them manage a double-oh on their own, and there were three of you in the field at once," she explained as they reached the doors to Q Branch.
Q Branch was separate to where Q had his office. Down here was where they created the gadgets, upstairs was where all the computer nerd stuff happened. Q flittered between the two, but his main work space was upstairs.
"Then he needs to train one of them up so that he can go home once in a while," James grumbled, putting his hand on the door to open it, but Moneypenny stopped him.
"What made you realise?" she asked, all teasing gone from her voice.
"Realise that he works too hard?"
"You know what I'm talking about James…" she gave him a hard look.
"I just did," James lied, there was no way he was going to tell her what had really happened. She'd laugh for days, and he didn't need his reputation ruined.
"Right, and pigs fly now…" Moneypenny laughed disbelievingly, "What really happened? Don't tell me you couldn't get it up…" her tone low and mocking.
James hesitated too long in debating how much to tell her and Moneypenny gasped, coming to her own conclusion.
"No, it wasn't like that!" James protested, "It was…somehow she could…tell…" he didn't know how to say it.
"The woman you tried to sleep with realised you were in love and told you so?" the ex-field agent sniggered, but her eyes said that she felt sorry for James.
James cleared his throat and glared at her, "I'm so glad that you find this hilarious Moneypenny."
Done with the conversation, he pushed the door open and strode into Q Branch, Moneypenny on his heels.
"Where is he?" James asked one of the minions, and they pointed across to a little booth across the room before going back to their clipboard and pulled apart gadget.
"Ah, Double-oh-seven, I hear that you actually brought me back most of your gear this time…" Q didn't even look up from the watch he was tinkering with as he spoke to the approaching agent.
"From Russia with love, dear Quartermaster," James charmed as he sat his watch, tie clip, ear piece, unloaded gun and magazine, and broken phone on the counter.
Q just hummed in response, his focus still on the watch he was fiddling with, so James just stood there, wanting to get the younger man's attention. Moneypenny stayed just behind and to the side of him, clearly waiting for whatever James was going to do.
"…and then if I just…ughh, why!?" Q was obviously frustrated as he set down his tools and rubbed his eyes. He went to take a drink from his mug, only to discover that it was empty. He growled at it and then shouted to no one in particular, "Someone get me some tea!"
"Q, perhaps you should take a break…" James suggested gently.
"What are you still doing here Bond?" Q snapped.
"Let me get you some food and drive you home," James offered, wondering when was the last time he'd eaten.
"I swear to god Double-oh-seven, I am in no mood for your playboy antics today," Q thundered.
James raised his hands, "I'm not trying anything, just concerned with your health Quartermaster."
"Q, you need to get some rest," Moneypenny insisted, "James is just trying to help."
"What I need is for you both to go away so that I can get on with my work."
"Don't make me tell M how long it's been since you went home," Moneypenny threatened, standing her ground.
"You wouldn't!" Q exclaimed, looking betrayed.
"Let Double-oh-seven take you home and I won't have to…" she compromised.
Q slid his chair back and stood up shaking his head, "This is blackmail!"
"It's for your own good, you'll thank me when you've slept properly," Moneypenny told him, "now go, I don't want to see either of you for at least twenty four hours."
"Fine, I'm going," Q grumbled, "Leighton, you're in charge til I get back!" he called out to one of the minions.
"Thank you," James said quietly to Moneypenny.
"Just don't fuck it up Double-oh-seven," she warned him, voice low, serious look in her eyes.
"Bond!? Do you want me to leave or not?" Q yelled across Q Branch.
"Coming dear!"
XXX
Six minutes into the car ride and Q had passed out from exhaustion. James wasn't surprised. He stopped to pick them up some takeaway, keeping an eye on Q the whole time. He tried to wake up the genius when they arrived at Q's flat, but he just babbled some nonsense about code monsters and started to snore softly.
James ended up carrying Q to his flat from the car, where he found a problem. Luckily Q was light, and Moneypenny was able to tell James how to get in without the agent shooting off the front door. Eventually, James put Q down on the bed and removed the younger man's shoes before tucking him in.
Q looked so peaceful as he slept. The stress lines eased on his handsome face, and his mouth parted just a little, letting air in and out as he breathed. James brushed a few strands of hair out of Q's eye and then leaned in, kissing his forehead softly.
"Mmm, 'ames," Q murmured, as he adjusted his position in his sleep.
"Sweet dreams love," he whispered.
James left the room to settle himself out on the three seater lounge and eat his noodles. The T.V. remote was on the coffee table, so James turned the telly on low volume and sat his gun next to the remote – he always carried a gun, no matter where he was.
After a few hours James felt his eyes get heavy, and then he was blinking the sleep out of them, glancing around in the dark flat, the only light coming from the telly. It took a moment to realise what had awoken him; the toilet flushing.
Q came shuffling into the kitchen yawning, James heard the faucet turn on and then the sound of Q drinking thirstily.
"Feeling better?" James asked.
The sound of glass shattering on tile filled the apartment, "Shit!" Q yelped, "Bond, is that you?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said sincerely, getting up from the lounge to help sweep up the glass.
The kitchen light was turned on and James blinked, readjusting his eyes to the sudden brightness.
"What the hell are you doing in my flat?" Q demanded as he reached for the dustpan only to have James pry it from his hands and do the job for him.
"You passed out in the car, I didn't want to just leave you alone," James admitted, motioning for Q to step back out of the glass.
"How did you get in? I swear, if you broke my door…" he threatened, not that it was very menacing, especially with the epic curls of bed head.
"I called Moneypenny, and she was kind enough to explain to me how to get you inside," James explained calmly as he stood to dispose of the glass. "Best if you don't walk around barefoot in here for a while."
"I don't understand you Double-oh-seven," Q sighed.
Once he was rid of the glass and the dustpan, James opened the fridge and pulled out the noodles he'd ordered for Q and his own leftovers, "Are you hungry?"
"You ordered food?"
"I picked it up on the way, you were out cold," James clarified putting the food in the microwave.
Q's stomach audibly rumbled, James chuckled, which made Q glare at him, "It smells really good," he muttered defensively. "How long was I out?"
"About thirteen hours," James told him, glancing at his watch.
"Shit."
"You probably need more," James suggested as the microwaved beeped.
"When was the last time you got thirteen hours of sleep Double-oh-seven?" Q countered, taking his food box from James.
"Coma, sedation, or brink of death, take your pick…" James answered casually before heading back to the lounge and tucking in to his noodles.
"Bond, how did you know to order me this?" Q asked suspiciously poking a fork into the box, and coming to sit at the other end of the lounge.
"I'm a spy Q," James reminded him, "and you leave your takeaway boxes lying around your office all the time, it wasn't hard to figure out."
One mouthful of his food had stopped Q complaining while he shovelled food into his mouth, groaning in delight.
The noises put James off his food, but not in disgust. He wondered if Q made similar noises in bed, if he was loud like James suspected. He felt that familiar rush in his chest watching Q eat. It shouldn't make him feel that way, and yet, he wanted to chase that noodle between Q's lips with his tongue and kiss him. He wanted to wrap his arms around a narrow waist and hold him while he slept some more, then make love to him all morning.
"This doesn't count as a date, just so you are aware," Q had finally stopped slurping noodles long enough to speak, dragging James out of his thoughts.
"I figured. I'm just here as a concerned friend…I'll leave when you go back to bed," James did know that it wasn't a date, but it was as close as he'd ever gotten with Q. He couldn't deny that the younger man's words didn't sting just a little either though.
After another mouthful Q spoke again, "Moneypenny reckons I should give you a shot, you know."
"Not with a gun or a needle I should hope," James joked, but his heart sped up just a fraction.
Q smiled slightly, "Believe me, I've thought about it, but no. Apparently you have her convinced that you're not just after a booty call," he sighed and put down the empty food box. "So what is it that you actually want from me Double-oh-seven?"
James was blindsided by the question, he hadn't been prepared for this conversation now, especially when he hadn't been the one to bring it up. What was he supposed to say? It was easy when it didn't mean anything, but this was Q, and Q meant…a lot. Don't fuck it up Double-oh-seven. Moneypenny's voice echoed in his mind; he hoped that he wouldn't.
He knew he had to be honest if he was ever going to get anywhere, so he opened his mouth and tried to say something from the heart, "I…Q…I-"
"Really Bond? That's the best you can do?" Q raised an eyebrow at him, "After all this time, flirting and harassing me to-"
"I want to kiss you," James blurted out, and shit that hadn't been what he meant to say, but he couldn't stop, the words just tumbled out of his mouth, "I want to cuddle on the lounge and watch shit telly together, I want to take you to fancy restaurants, and bring you your earl grey when you're sick. I want to see you in my clothes, and spoil you on your birthday. I want to spend nights sleeping next to you, and mornings making love to you…" fuck, he'd said too much, Q was going to freak out on him.
The Quartermaster was silent, but never took his eyes off of James. It was eating the agent from the inside, maybe he should say something else, maybe he should take it back, maybe he should apologise for coming on too strong. He could just leave, but that would make things more awkward, and they had to work together. Oh god, what if Q asked not to work with him anymore? Love is painful, he should have learnt his lesson the first time with Vespa. Why did he have to fall in love again?
After the longest silent scrutiny of James' life, Q finally spoke, "Provided none of you lot are getting shot at on Monday night, I have no other plans. You can pick me up at seven pm.
It was James' turn to stare. Had he heard right? Was he having a stroke and this was all in his head? After a few moments he realised that he should say something.
"I've been asking you out for months. I don't understand, why now?" James queried, trying to stop his mouth from making him look like a goldfish.
"You've been asking me for sex for months, I just assumed you added dinner to make it more appealing. You also flirt with just about anyone. How was I to know that this was different?" Q pointed out.
"I suppose I could've made it clearer. Flirting is easy for me though…real feelings…well, that's harder," James admitted, even more so after Vespa.
"It's your armour; your charm and your wit. You wanted to know why now?" James inclined his head signalling that he did, so Q continued, "Because, I have seen you half dead in hospital, and heard you take fire, and listened while you lost good people, and I have never seen you more human or more vulnerable than you were a minute ago."
"That's my job, Q. At the end of the day all that shit goes in a report and gets filed away, then I move on to the next one. This," James motioned between them with his hand, "I care about, and not for Queen and country, but…for me…"
"Why me?"
It was a fair question, "I like you."
"You like me?" there was that eyebrow raise again.
James chuckled, feeling a little more at ease now, "Maybe I'll tell you more on Monday."
"You'd better if you want a second date," Q advised with a bit of cheek.
"Already thinking about our second date, Quartermaster?" James smirked.
Q rolled his eyes, "Don't make me regret this Bond."
"Apologies," James sobered a little, "and call me James; we aren't at the office."
"You still call me Quartermaster," Q objected.
"I don't have clearance for your real name, and I doubt you're going to tell me anytime soon. Regardless, I'm kind of attached to the letter Q now," James grinned, but it wasn't cheesy, just a real smile.
"You should try being genuine more often, makes you far more likeable," Q stated, then he yawned and stretched. He still had dark rings under his eyes.
"I'll take it under consideration, but for now you should go back to bed."
Q sighed, "Yeah, just another hour or two and I'll be right."
"Mhmm, sure," James was sceptical, but he didn't argue. Instead he followed Q back to his bedroom.
Q climbed back into his bed, eyelids at half-mast already, "Thank you…for this. I needed someone to tell me to go home, I'll be okay now, you can go home too Doub-James."
"I do care about you Q, I hope I'll get the chance to show you that," James confessed, standing by the bed. "I'm just a call away if you need anything. Sleep well."
James made it to the door before Q spoke, "James…you showed me today," he smiled sleepily, and James smiled back in return before continuing to let himself out of Q's flat.
In the car, James let it really sink in. He'd finally gotten a date with the Quartermaster! He couldn't believe it. He needed to thank Moneypenny, he'd send her flowers. Though, James couldn't help but to be grateful to Yolanda for helping him to realise just what it was that he felt for his Quartermaster too. He may never have gotten that date without her.
It was a shame that he'd had to shoot her in the end though, you know, with her being the mole and everything.