"What?" James asks in surprise at the sudden change of topic. "Where did you leave it?" he asks, tsking softly. "You had better not have lost it, especially after all your talks about me losing or destroying tech." he points out with a little smirk as he watches the other man.
Giving Bond an irritated look, Q gets up. "I just took it off before I got into the shower, Bond. Don't get too excited." he says as he gets up and wanders back into the bathroom. "It looks like our suitcases exploded in the bedroom." he notes as he comes back out, sliding the ring back onto his finger.
Leaning back on the couch a little, arms spread out along the back of it, James watches Q. "Leave it. It fits with our cover. If any maid comes in, it'll look like we ripped eachother's clothes off." he says with a smirk, looking over the younger man, finally reaching out to take Q's left hand when he gets closer, leaning over to kiss his knuckles near the ring. "Much better. I think I'm getting used to wearing mine. That's a scary thought." he says as he looks at the ring on his own finger. He's getting quite used to the ring, but he's also quickly getting used to being able to be near his Quartermaster, more relaxed than he's been in months, despite being on a mission. There is something soothing about Q's presence, he's noticed, especially when the technological genius is a little more open, like he's gotten used to the double-oh being around so he forgets to put up all his shields.
Q nods a little as he looks down at his hand, not even reacting to the kiss, as if it's not even important enough to register as shocking anymore. "Mmm. Me, too. I always thought a ring would be irritating, interfere with my typing, but these are made surprisingly well." he admits as he looks at them, sighing. "There's no tellie." he notices, grumbling a little. "They can't honestly expect people to shag for every hour of the day." Sitting back down on the couch, he leans forward to grab up his laptop again, relaxing back with his feet up on the coffee table.
"I don't know, maybe we should see if that's possible." Bond offers, waggling his eyebrows at Q, grinning a little as he causes a blush to come over those pale cheeks. Chuckling a little, he stretches, then yawns. "You never answered my question, earlier. Do you prefer one side of the bed to the other? You might have gotten quite a bit of sleep on the plane, but I got hardly anything, watching over you." he says with a little smirk.
With another slight blush, Q focuses on his computer screen. "Mmm. Left side of the bed. I tend to sleep on my side or my back." He explains with a little shrug of his shoulders, not looking away from the computer screen. "Just make sure there's nothing I can trip over in the dark, please." He says quietly, glancing up when he hears the thunder get closer, the pitter-patter of a sprinkling of rain starting.
James nods a little, slowly getting up. "Good. The right side of the bed is closer to the door, I was going to insist on taking that side anyway." He says quietly, wanting to make sure that he's between the door and the younger man, just in case.
Giving a little sigh, Q shakes his head good-naturedly. "You really are a throwback, Bond." he says quietly, though there's more affection to his tone than any sort of scolding. Still, he keeps his eyes on his screen, refusing to look at the double-oh and get distracted.
"James, Q. You are supposed to be calling me James." The agent reminds his quartermaster, smiling a little, turning and leaning down, hooking a finger under Q's chin to tilt his head up. "Goodnight, Q." he says softly before placing a chaste kiss on the brunette's lips, straightening afterward and turning to head into the bedroom, stripping off his shirt as he goes.
For a few moments after the kiss, Q just stares after James, admiring him. It's unsettling how easily he's getting comfortable with the agent. He really should be more careful and not allow the older man to get under his skin, that's a dangerous road. One that would no doubt be fun and enjoyable while it lasted, but it would be too easy to go careening off the cliffs. Still, no reason why he can't enjoy himself a little bit, while they're on this mission, right? He smiles to himself as he turns his attention back to the laptop in front of him, getting some coding work done, the rain outside eventually turning into a downpour that makes Q put his laptop aside and walk over to the balcony to look out, watching the sheets of rain coming down over the darkened waters. For appearance's sake, he takes out a digital camera and takes a few pictures of the view, before he goes and locks up the front door, then he returns to his laptop, doing a bit more work before shutting everything down to try and get some sleep.
When the lights are all off, Q smiles as he looks around, going into the bedroom. It's warm enough that he decides to sleep in just his boxers, getting a glass of water from the bathroom. After downing half of it, he has a little coughing fit that leaves him short of breath for a few moments. He sighs, shaking his head to clear it. Swallowing water is better than inhaling it, he reminds himself. After refilling the water, he walks into the bedroom, seeing Bond sprawled out on the bed, surprisingly almost fully on his stomach. Also in only his boxers. No surprise there. Not that Q can see much in the dark, and the light sheet he has draped over himself. With a little smile, the young man shakes his head for a few moments, putting his water down on the side table before he slips under the covers, finally removing his glasses and putting them on the end table, sighing a little as he tries to get comfortable on his side.
Unfortunately sleep doesn't come right away and he ends up tossing and turning a little, until Bond shifts in his sleep and throws and arm over him, as if to keep Q from moving anymore. Not able to keep the blush from his face, he looks at James in the dark but determines that the double-oh really is asleep. Q lets out a little sigh, pinned down by the other man's arm, he tries to relax, shifting enough to get comfortable, before creeping his hand across the bed to touch his index finger lightly to Bond's stubbled jaw. He allows himself that small indulgence, then withdraws his hand and gets comfortable, more easily falling asleep knowing that James' steady presence is there beside him, and listening to the heavy rain on the roof.
Two chapters in one day, because this scene wouldn't get out of my brain. Now that it is, I am finally off to sleep.
Enjoy, everyone, and please let me know what you think, Reviews/comments are always welcome!