Ch. 5: Getting Started
Q blew out a breath. He'd turned over control of Q-branch to R, assured that each of the current missions would be operating smoothly, and put together his own kit. He and James would go in as partners in a growing sales firm looking for new pharmaceuticals clients. He'd sent the materials and specs to James while the man was en route to Sydney, along with a note that he'd meet him there at 0800, local time, in the lobby of the Four Seasons.
They'd have breakfast there, in public (Q was really hoping he could avoid a row if he managed the briefing publicly), then check in and prep for a 1 p.m. appointment with the company president.
Their cover was good; Q had spent the time that James was in transit wisely, setting up a solid cyber-trail for their fledgling company and wangling the appointment out of Dr. Prescott's administrative assistant. Q also had set up his own cover, and stopped at his own home for mission clothes.
While Q tended toward casual in house, missions, especially those requiring him to be a bit of a corporate sales figure, required a bit more. James, of course, was always impeccably turned out on mission, and his personal collection of Tom Ford and Armani suits served him well. Q didn't have quite the same collection, but he did have a few lovely, tailored suits that would do.
And if he needed more, he'd transfigure something.
He also needed a bit of grooming, so he'd stopped off at the in-house barber for a cut that left him with an almost-military short head of hair, with soft spikes on top that highlighted the few silver thread that had worked their way in over the years. Q wrestled his contacts into his eyes with a murmured charm to keep them there without fuss for as long as needed, allowing his own green eyes to shine. He didn't bother with them in branch, preferring his usual glasses, but wearing contacts instead of his glasses changed the look of his entire face, making him less recognizable to the magical community.
He dressed himself in a dark grey three-piece Armani suit, with a white shirt and a deep purple tie, added black Ferragamos, and checked himself out in the full-length mirror on the back of their bathroom door.
He'd do.
Q tested his wand holster for ease of use, picked up his garment bag and slung his black leather duffle over his shoulder before tapping his platinum tie-pin and disappearing with a soft, "Outback."
He reappeared in a safe alcove on the magical side of the Four Seasons, adjusted himself, and stepped out into the Australian sun on the walk in front of the hotel, blending into the crowd hurrying by in their rush to business for the day. Q only needed a few paces before entering the lobby proper, and handing his bags off to the bell desk.
"I'll be in the Jonas Suite, I expect," Q explained softly. "But let me have a ticket anyway until I confirm."
"Yes, sir," a bellman filled out a ticket for his bags and placed them in a locked bin in the cage room hidden discreetly behind the desk. "We'll bring them up when you've checked in."
"Wonderful, thank you," Q said, again softly. His role would be to blend in behind James' loud sales presence, so he decided he'd start by acting the part.
Behind him, a familiar voice added, "I believe we'll be in the same place, so you can place my bags with his."
Q turned to see the tense blue eyes of his bonded, who smiled broadly and handed his bags over. "James! Well met."
"Evan," James leaned in and shook his hand, giving him a manly half hug. "Good to see you. Breakfast?"
"Yes, let's."
The pair moved confidently together toward the hotel restaurant, where James held up two fingers and the hostess seated them in a quiet booth.
"I didn't realize you were going to come yourself for this meeting," James said, adding a "thank you" to the server, who brought him coffee. "I thought you were needed back at the office."
Q smiled coyly. "Well, you know how it goes. Sometimes things seem to happen all at once, and in this case, our sales folks had to be sent off elsewhere to nail down a couple of contracts. I was the only one left."
James narrowed his eyes. "How many contracts?"
"At least three others. I've sent our best salesmen out to manage, and that just left me to come out and assist you with this one," Q added brightly. "I hope you're not too disappointed that I came to see you."
James cocked his head to the side, reading what Q wasn't saying, then slid his hand across the top of the table to to take Q's up from where it rested next to his own coffee. "Darling, I'm never disappointed to see you, only disappointed that you had to get involved here. I know how much you prefer the office, and frankly, I do think that's where you shine."
"Well, that might be true, but it's hardly the first time I've had to go out and help," Q murmured softly, running his thumb along James' hand.
"Really?" James asked with a small frown. "I don't recall your ever coming out before."
"Ah, well, that would be because most of my saleswork happened while you were out of the country for an extended period," Q acknowledged. "Before we met, actually. It wasn't a regular thing, but sometimes only I will do, apparently."
"Sometimes only you will do, I suppose," James said, offering Q a true smile. "I'd love to chat about your sales experience sometime."
"I'm sorry it's never come up before," Q said, looking up at James through sooty black lashes, letting his eyes almost glow green.
James' own eyes grew heated at that look, and he leaned in to whisper softly in Q's ear. "I almost swallowed my own tongue when you turned around, darling. You look edible in Armani."
Q drew back with a smirk. "Does that mean we won't row about this?"
"No, darling, we won't row, but we will discuss it when you're not too busy distracting me with your charms," James said huskily.
Q swallowed. "I'll need breakfast first."
"Then let's eat."
IMBM
Severus stepped out of the secure portkey point in magical Mumbai with a nonchalant air. It was hardly his first trip to the Indian subcontinent, and quite likely not to be his last; some of his best potions ingredients, including the venom of the Black Mamba, could only be obtained in the marketplaces here.
Thus, his cover remained simple; Severus Snape went to Mumbai as himself.
Though he didn't discount the hotel suite set up for him by MI6, Severus had his own resources in Mumbai, and as he walked through the market, he made sure to be seen by those who would share the knowledge that Snape was in town.
He'd have some answers about magical involvement by nightfall. And then he'd go to the source to get the data Q needed for analysis.
IMBM
Alec got out of baggage claim and greeted Felix with a clasp of the hand and a wide grin. "Howdy, Felix!" Alec cried out, using a perfect Southern Alabama accent. "How y'all doing in this here heat?"
Felix knew Alec was British, knew he was MI6, had even heard Alec's true accent before, but was surprised every time by Alec's ability to mimic almost any speech pattern he heard. He shook his head. "On cover already?"
"Better than not and be caught out," Alec pointed out with that same broad grin. "Where we headed?"
"We've got a suite in downtown Austin that I'll get you set up at," Felix said. "And I've got preliminary intel for you."
"Let's go, then."
IMBM
"Mum, I told you, Harry and James don't want a party," Ron said for what seemed to be the millionth time. "The bonding was unexpected, and they're happy about it, but it's not safe for them to get too much attention over it."
"Nonsense," Molly Weasley scoffed. "We can just have a small family party, right here at the Burrow."
"I don't even think they're in the country right now, Mum, and at any rate, you need to talk to them before you go planning anything," Ron tried again.
"Not in the country? Where did they go?" Molly asked, busying herself with pouring another cuppa.
"Ah, well, who knows, exactly? Their jobs take them places," Ron hedged. He, in fact, did not know precisely where they were, but he did know that something major was going down. Alec had begged off lessons that week, because despite having just gotten back from a mission, he was going right back out again. And somehow, Severus was gone, too.
"Those boys work too hard," Molly muttered to herself. "And we need to celebrate their bonding. The Ministry is starting to breathe fire over not having details. I know Kingsley is keeping a lid on it, but the rumors alone! They'll have to address it soon. A small celebration would soothe things a little bit."
Ron looked at his mother with new eyes. "So this isn't just about throwing a family party?"
"Oh, Ronnie, dear, you know that I love to throw parties," Molly patted him on the cheek. "But no, in this case, I truly think we need to do something soon, or who knows what people will come up with?"
"Hmmm," he said noncommittally. "I'll see if I can talk to Harry."
Which is all Molly wanted in the first place, so she smiled and offered him a plate of biscuits.
IMBM
Q and James lingered over their breakfast, enjoying each other's company as they spoke quietly about inconsequential things and maintained their cover of being business partners-and more. While James had added the handholding, Q had no objections, as it meant it would be easier for him to stake his own claim if he needed to.
Q might have okay'ed the use of honeypot missions as a last resort, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
Both men were startled when Q's smartphone rang. Q pulled it out of his inside pocket to check the caller, saw it was Ron, raised an eyebrow at James, and answered it.
"What's up, Ron?"
"Mate, I have to tell you, you're going to need to do some damage control here, and soon."
"I'm fine, thank you. Are you well? And Hermione?"
"Oh, we're just peachy, except the Ministry and the Prophet are breathing down everyone's necks about you and your bonding. I keep trying to feed the rumour mill and buy you time, but the natives are restless, mate."
Q rolled his eyes. "I sent the Muggle Affairs office an owl to let them know we were out of the country, and would come in at our earliest convenience."
"Yeah, well, the public seems to think you're leaving us for good, and they're starting to panic. You should see the headlines."
"I wish I cared, Ron, but I truly don't."
James leaned forward. "Put him on speaker."
Q complied. "Ron, James and everybody else can hear you now. Try to be subtle."
"Mum wants to throw a bonding party for you, not just because you're family, but because she thinks it'll help quell the rumours and appease the public."
James slid around to Q's side of the booth and put an arm around his bonded. "Ron," James said, "tell your mother we'd be delighted, and we leave everything in her hands."
"James, you know this trip doesn't have a definite end date," Q hissed. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking I'd like my husband's family to have a chance to celebrate with us, and that there's no harm in it. Ron, you'd have to let Molly know that she'll need a back-up date and plan, though, right?"
"I can do that," Ron acknowledged. "Meanwhile, we can let word get out that we're planning it, so that the public can be reassured that you're not going anywhere."
"You're starting to sound like my PR manager," Q mumbled.
"Ah, well, no, just your friend," Ron said. "Hermione's better at the actual press stuff, as you know. But I've learned a thing or two. And besides, the party and the reasoning behind it was all my mum."
James ran a hand along Q's tense right arm. "Ron, tell her we're grateful. Can we help pay for anything? Shall I provide a budget?"
"I'll ask, but she'll have her ideas," Ron said.
Q leaned back into James and pulled out his tablet, rapidly tapping a few spots on it. "Ron, I've just transferred 500G into the Weasley family fault. Let's shoot for two weeks out, on a Sunday."
"How did you do that so quickly?"
"The bank likes me," Q said, smirking.
James continued stroking Q's tense arm. "Let us know if she needs more, Ron, and don't let her get away with not telling us."
"Will do," Ron said. "Thanks, mate."
"No, thank you and Molly. I'm sorry you've all been stressed about this," Q said.
"It's nothing that hasn't happened before," Ron pointed out. "We've got your back."
"It's appreciated, Ron," James said.
"Laters, then."
Q disconnected and drummed the fingers of his right hand against the table. "I really, really, really, hate the magical press. To infinity."
"And beyond?" James asked jokingly.
"And beyond." Q sighed. "Shall we go check in?"
"Let's. And then maybe you'll let me peel you out of that suit."
Q laughed. "As long as you don't wrinkle it."
"I, wrinkle Armani? Never."