The rest of the car ride is somewhat silent, and they do get a few curious looks at they walk together into MI6 toward Q-branch, making the younger man sigh in frustration. He knows how the rumor mill works and it's probably working overtime, especially since Q is carrying a suitcase. At least it's his newer suitcase and not the one he's had since before University which would probably raise some eyebrows.
When they are back in the safety of Q's office, one of his minions apparently having been informed that their boss was on their way up because he meets Q at the door with his mug of tea. "Cheers." He says gratefully as he accepts it, sighing when he gets to his office door. "Make yourself useful, 007." He says as he hands over his suitcase to the older man who merely looks amused, before he punches in his key code to the office and unlocks it to step inside.
Not taking the suitcase back from the double-oh, merely as payback for him showing up at Q's flat this morning, the boffin puts his mug down on his desk and sits down, loading up his computer before he picks up a file folder. "Our cover." He announces as he holds it out toward Bond.
Still bemused, Bond brings the suitcase inside and sets it down by the coat rack before he follows Q to his desk, accepting the file folder and starting to peruse it. An eyebrow goes up as he looks up at the younger man. "We've known eachother for a year, and we met at a museum?" He asks, chuckling a little as he thinks of their real first meeting and the beginning of their verbal sparring.
"I believe a certain someone told me to keep it as close to the truth as possible. We have known eachother for a year, and we DID meet in a museum, didn't we?" He points out as he looks up at the man, chuckling a little. Fingers fly over his keyboard as he logs into his system, looking between the two separate monitors on his desk as he goes over something or other. "Ah." He notes, suddenly seeing a cardboard box that was placed on his desk. Half-standing out of his chair, he pulls it over and digs through it for a moment. "Catch." Q says, already tossing a small box in Bond's direction.
James is not a double-oh for nothing, and he easily catches the small box in his hand, eyebrows going up when he sees that the object he so deftly caught is a small blue velvet box. "Rings?" He guesses, still having the file folder open in his hand. Turning slightly, he half-sits on the edge of Q's desk, one leg up on it, the other balancing himself on the floor. "Known eachother a year and getting married. That's rather impulsive of us. Must have been quite the whirlwind romance. I imagine I was reluctant to date you because of our age difference." he says as he looks at Q, trying to get a feel for the details instead of the bullet-pointed facts on the page.
"Yes, well, I can be quite tenacious." Q says casually, trying not to let his lips twitch up into a smile. "And you've never really been one to deny your desires, so I imagine your reluctance didn't last long, did it?" Turning his head a little to regard the agent - now sitting on his desk - from beneath his fringe, he considers before he adds, "I imagine after the first date I would have stopped having to chase you. You can be rather aggressive once you know what you want, Bond." He says casually, showing that he knows the agent a lot better than he lets on.
For the second time that day, James is caught a little off-guard by something that Q said or does, and it frustrates him because he's been trying so hard to get his unflappable quartermaster flustered. But, there is plenty of time for that, especially once their mission actually begins. He may be in control and in his element here in Q-branch, but the field is where James shines, and where he'll get away with being a little more physical. Slowly, he leans over, bracing himself with a hand on Q's desk, his head closer to the younger man's now. "You are right, Q. How could I resist someone so impish and charming as yourself? You would have been quite the challenge, I think I would quite enjoy unraveling all your mysteries, getting under your skin.." He speaks in a low voice, one that Q has probably heard before but only over the comms, a voice of seduction. Then he slowly, deliberately lifts his hand off the desk as he straightens a little, fingers brushing over the young boffin's bicep... only to pluck a piece of fuzz from his cardigan. "These really are a travesty." he says in his normal, casual tone. "Please tell me you brought something else to wear on the plane."
For a moment - only a moment - Q's fingers pause on the keyboard when James leans toward him, but he recovers quickly. "It's probably from that bloody car of yours." He decides when he sees the fuzz, "And apparently, seeing as we are married, you've gotten under my skin. Don't worry, James." He says, using the agent's first name for probably the first time. He also turns to look at the older man directly, a small, secretive smile spreading over his lips which speaks of a wealth of (possibly) naughty secrets. "I do enjoy indulging myself, and I am not, by any means, a virgin." He says before he rather pointedly looks Bond over. "I imagine it would have taken us.. hmm.. With our work schedules.. less than two months." He decides before he turns back to his computer. The smile fades from his face after a moment though, and he skips tracks. "Yes, I did bring something else a little more appropriate to our cover to change into. I hope you did as well. Also, that ring I gave you has a tracking chip in it, so please take care of it. Mine has one as well. Simple gold bands, I don't see either of us being the sort for jewelry, do you?" He asks, holding up another blue box which he then tucks into the pocket of his cardigan where he retrieved it from, before he returns his hands to the keyboard.
Trying very hard to control his thoughts, 007 takes a slow, deep breath, not wanting to get ahead of himself. He has a whole week to unravel his quartermaster, just like he promised. "Well, it's good to know that we enjoy a rather healthy sex life. I imagine you're the one that insists we get out of bed once in a while." He says with a slight smirk at the younger man. "Youth is no guarantee of stamina, afterall." he says casually as he continues to look through his folder.
A soft, warm chuckle comes from the younger man as he casually removes his glasses and picks up a cloth to clean off the lenses. Even slightly unfocused, Q is able to turn his gaze to Bond, the first time the older man would have seen him without his glasses. "Don't worry, 007. You don't have to worry about my stamina.. But yes, even I like a change of scenery once in a while." Eyes flicker over what he can make out of Bond's body. "Though at the beach it appears I will have the best of both worlds. All the scenery I love in one place, won't that be delectable. Fortunately I am rather secure in our relationship, and I don't feel the need to be jealous over the way others will undoubtedly stare at you. It may just make me feel a little smug, knowing that I've been able to tame the wild beast." By now he's turned his head back toward his screen, slipping his glasses back on his face. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do before our flight, would you mind taking that elsewhere?" he asks, making a dismissive, shooing motion with one hand toward James.
It's a very narrow thing, but Bond manages not to let his jaw fall open in shock. He had no idea that this side of Q even existed. Granted, they'd flirted over the comms before, but that's just Bond being himself, and it's entirely different to think that Q is just responding to keep him happy, versus the flirting and heated looks the young man is giving him currently. And yet he switches so quickly back to his cool facade that it gives Bond a bit of whiplash. Still, it also gives him hope that there might be a modicum of interest from the younger man that he can play upon once they're off. But he's also never one to do as he's told, especially when he's being ordered about by a cheeky young quartermaster. "I do mind, actually. I might have questions." But he does get up from the desk, moving over to the young man's sofa, laying out on it casually and putting his feet up on the coffee table that's in front of the couch, folder being placed in his lap as he looks it over.
Sighing a little in frustration over the agent once again not doing what he's told. "Of course you do." he says with some sarcasm. "I am surprised, you don't normally do this much preparation, I'm surprised you're even looking what's in that folder. You seem to fly more by the seat of your pants."
Bond snorts a little as he looks over what he can see of the rather adorable young man sitting at his computers. He allows himself a small, fond smile since Q can't see it from where he's sitting. "Does that mean you've been paying attention to the seat of my pants, Q? I often wonder what you look at on those cameras of yours. Abusing your power for cheap thrills?" he asks playfully, amused as he continues to watch Q, flipping the page in his folder.
With his head snapping around in shock, Q winces lightly since he turned his head a little too quickly. "I'll have you know, Bond, that when I am guiding you through a mission, the only way I am concerned with your arse is when I'm trying to keep it from getting blown off. And the only reason I use my cameras is for that means, to ensure that you come back in one piece." he says in an offended tone, not liking his professionalism to be questioned.
Well, that touched a nerve, and one that Bond would not like to touch again. He notices that any progress he might have made has just been sabotaged, so he nods mentally, making a note to say anything like that again.
"My apologies, Quartermaster. I was merely hopeful."
Poor, poor Q, he has no idea what he's in for. :D I have to admit, this chapter was super fun to write, having Q get a little of his own back against Bond. I am sure he will continue to hold his own, if only Bond would stop torturing him.
I hope you are all enjoying this as well!
As always, comments/reviews welcome!