[Fic] all the things you are -- part iii + iv (a series of Mallory/Q drabbles)
Fandom: James Bond
Characters: Gareth Mallory, Q, James Bond, Eve Moneypenny
Pairing: Mallory/Q
Rating: PG
Word count: c.1600 (these parts)
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.
A/N: From this promptcentral table. Ten drabbles in this post, one per prompt.
***
079: steady
Q fastens the tiny listening and tracking device underneath the collar of M's coat, trying to stop his hands from shaking.
"Does this mean we're going steady now?" M says, but Q can only manage a weak smile at the joke.
M catches Q's hand as he withdraws it, pressing a reassuring kiss to his knuckles. "Bond's coming with me. I'll be fine."
"I know." Q straightens M's collar, making sure the device is carefully concealed, but he can't push down the worry. What should be the relief of Mallory having an office job instead of fieldwork is negated by the fact that apparently, when you're the head of MI6, that means nothing. He can't help but remember what happened to the old M, even if this M is more experienced than his predecessor in that regard, because this is dangerous, no matter his qualifications.
M kisses Q once more on the mouth before Bond comes in and tells him it's time to go. When M is gone, before Bond shuts the door behind him, Q catches his eye, and Bond gives him a tiny nod.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
066: box
Once, M finds a pretty music box at the back of a shelf in Q's apartment, dust collected on the surface of the wood and in the carved grooves. It plays a sweet, tinkling tune, but Q shuts the box with a snap, and can only offer a small, strained smile of apology.
M doesn't ask, doesn't say anything more about it, and the next day, the music box is gone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
019: coping
M's had Jilly for years now, but he still remembers when she was just a puppy, a sweet little thing with clumsy limbs when he picked her up from the breeder, when he still had trouble with human contact. When he wasn't sure that a dog would help at all, but as soon as he saw that puppy in the kennel, he knew that she would.
She's been his unfailing friend, greeting him every day when he gets home and nosing at his hand during the nightmares, curling up close for comfort when he's awake and shaking. M's not sure how he would have gotten through without Jilly, when he pushed away his family but let her lick his wounds instead, helping him cope with the memories of those three months.
They're both getting old now, but she's still the most loyal friend he could ask for, with the sweetest temperament. She loves Q, which is not surprising in the least, because she loves everyone, but M's relieved anyway when she licks at Q's hand as enthusiastically as anyone else, and Q kneels down to stroke her fur.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
014: programming
Q is rarely vindictive, and never without a reason, but when he really is annoyed, he doesn't do a half-cracked job of it.
It's when M's walking along with Bond, discussing his last mission, when he finds out what's going on. Bond lets him through one of the reinforced glass sliding doors first, but once M's through, it slides shut faster than either of them thought was actually possible and locks, keeping Bond out.
M's not sure what's going on, but then he sees the look on his face. "What happened."
"Q doesn't understand that I can't help what happens to his equipment when I'm out in the field," is all Bond says.
M sighs. "So...the incident with the emergency sprinklers the other day?"
Bond nods stiffly. M's phone rings, and he tries not to smile at the look on Bond's face when he answers the call.
"Q. Really?"
"M. I'm just teaching him a lesson. Maybe now he'll learn to stop questioning my value because of my age and respect my equipment."
"I'm not sure if programming the MI6 building to work against Bond is the best use of your time."
"I prefer to look at it as a demonstration of my skills," Q replies, and M can't help the smile then.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
093: lead
He loves his work, but sometimes Q wishes that the hours weren't so long for both of them. M's job is important to him, and it's important to the country, but he can't help feeling a little bitter about it sometimes.
It's been a long, stressful week and Q finally has a day in peace, and he wants to be spending it with M, a slow, lazy day. There was an emergency at MI6 and M had to go, so Instead, Q's alone in his flat, curled up on his lounge, trying to sketch.
But the lines are falling flat and there are marks too dark in the wrong places. His lead splinters and breaks, and he flings the pencil across the room, falling heavily back onto the cushions and pushing a hand through his tangled hair.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
073: order
"Why yes, come in, no problem at all," Q says, after Bond has pushed past him into his flat. He shuts the door and turns around. "007, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here on orders," Bond says, strolling around. Much to Q's irritation, he starts poking at his things, shifting through the books on his shelves.
"M said he was putting security around my building. Not sending you in here to chaperone."
Bond shrugs. "He doesn't know." He holds a large hardback in his hands, weighing it. "Is this yours?"
"No." Q narrows his eyes as Bond puts the book back and walks over to his couch instead. "Of course he knows, even if he didn't send you. I don't need a guard dog."
Bond sits down and picks up a large knitted jumper instead. "Well, surely this isn't yours either. You'd drown in the bloody thing. Or is it for someone?"
Q just crosses his arms and glares. "Go away."
"No." Making himself comfortable, he leans back and puts his feet up on the coffee table, making Q roll his eyes. "I think I might stay a while. M would be rather upset if anything happened to you, I'm just making sure that nothing does."
"You are insufferable," Q tells him, and sits down next to him with a huff.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
003: house
"Oh, no. Karen, what are you doing here?"
"How lovely to see you too, Gareth," Karen says, standing up and giving her brother a hug. "I was nearby and called by your office, but you were in a meeting. Your secretary gave me a key, told me that you'd be home soon."
Q raises an eyebrow. "Moneypenny has a key to your house?"
"I think Moneypenny has a key to the city," M replies. "And when did you get here?"
"Oh, about twenty minutes ago," Q says cheerfully. "We've been having a lovely chat."
"If you don't marry him, I might," Karen says to M confidentially, but loud enough for Q to hear, and M mouths I told you so, at Q over her shoulder.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
057: invest
"Stay on the line," Q says, his voice steady, although he feels anything but. "I'm tracking you now."
"There's not a lot of time." M's voice is hoarse, and Q doesn't want think about why that is, about what they've done to him, what they're going to do to him. "They'll be back soon."
"Got it!" Q sends the coordinates directly to Bond's phone. "007's not too far away. He'll--he'll be there soon." He can't help it when his voice cracks, and he hates himself for showing weakness.
M coughs. "Well. Do tell him to hurry."
"He is, trust me. He knows I'll give him hell if he doesn't. I'm rather invested in your survival."
Q can hear the smile in M's voice when he says, "Invested, hmm?"
"Very much so. Your bed is far more comfortable than mine." Q hears the sound of a door opening and slamming shut again, hears M's sharp intake of breath, and he can't help but flinch.
"Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint you. I'll see you soon, Q," M says, and the line goes dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
049: story
Q reads to M while he's in hospital, a room with 24-hour security. He brings his laptop and one of M's huge books from Q's flat in and hardly strays from his bedside, works when M's asleep, and reads to him when he's awake.
He reads the ancient epics, the stories of wars across the sea. Eve starts joining them sometimes too, taking over the reading so Q can work and listen to the story at the same time. Bond hovers outside, like he doesn't quite trust the security but doesn't want to impose, until M waves him in.
Q's not sure why nobody questions why the quartermaster, a double-oh agent, and a ex-agent come secretary spend so much time with M when they should probably be elsewhere, because this certainly couldn't be mistaken for purely professional concern, but he's not about to complain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
031: requisite
"It's not like I'm going out in the field or anything," Q protests, but M just shakes his head.
"You never know when you'll need this training. It's just a requisite, it's useful, but ultimately it doesn't matter if you don't pass the test." M steps closer and adjusts Q's grip on the gun. "Here, like this..."
Q bites his lip and says, "I don't think this is the most effective way of getting me to aim straight, sir."
M only presses himself closer and deliberately whispers right in Q's ear. "Hmm, I think I rather like it when you call me that."
"Oh, you bastard," Q says, puts down the gun, and kisses M.
Characters: Gareth Mallory, Q, James Bond, Eve Moneypenny
Pairing: Mallory/Q
Rating: PG
Word count: c.1600 (these parts)
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.
A/N: From this promptcentral table. Ten drabbles in this post, one per prompt.
***
079: steady
Q fastens the tiny listening and tracking device underneath the collar of M's coat, trying to stop his hands from shaking.
"Does this mean we're going steady now?" M says, but Q can only manage a weak smile at the joke.
M catches Q's hand as he withdraws it, pressing a reassuring kiss to his knuckles. "Bond's coming with me. I'll be fine."
"I know." Q straightens M's collar, making sure the device is carefully concealed, but he can't push down the worry. What should be the relief of Mallory having an office job instead of fieldwork is negated by the fact that apparently, when you're the head of MI6, that means nothing. He can't help but remember what happened to the old M, even if this M is more experienced than his predecessor in that regard, because this is dangerous, no matter his qualifications.
M kisses Q once more on the mouth before Bond comes in and tells him it's time to go. When M is gone, before Bond shuts the door behind him, Q catches his eye, and Bond gives him a tiny nod.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
066: box
Once, M finds a pretty music box at the back of a shelf in Q's apartment, dust collected on the surface of the wood and in the carved grooves. It plays a sweet, tinkling tune, but Q shuts the box with a snap, and can only offer a small, strained smile of apology.
M doesn't ask, doesn't say anything more about it, and the next day, the music box is gone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
019: coping
M's had Jilly for years now, but he still remembers when she was just a puppy, a sweet little thing with clumsy limbs when he picked her up from the breeder, when he still had trouble with human contact. When he wasn't sure that a dog would help at all, but as soon as he saw that puppy in the kennel, he knew that she would.
She's been his unfailing friend, greeting him every day when he gets home and nosing at his hand during the nightmares, curling up close for comfort when he's awake and shaking. M's not sure how he would have gotten through without Jilly, when he pushed away his family but let her lick his wounds instead, helping him cope with the memories of those three months.
They're both getting old now, but she's still the most loyal friend he could ask for, with the sweetest temperament. She loves Q, which is not surprising in the least, because she loves everyone, but M's relieved anyway when she licks at Q's hand as enthusiastically as anyone else, and Q kneels down to stroke her fur.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
014: programming
Q is rarely vindictive, and never without a reason, but when he really is annoyed, he doesn't do a half-cracked job of it.
It's when M's walking along with Bond, discussing his last mission, when he finds out what's going on. Bond lets him through one of the reinforced glass sliding doors first, but once M's through, it slides shut faster than either of them thought was actually possible and locks, keeping Bond out.
M's not sure what's going on, but then he sees the look on his face. "What happened."
"Q doesn't understand that I can't help what happens to his equipment when I'm out in the field," is all Bond says.
M sighs. "So...the incident with the emergency sprinklers the other day?"
Bond nods stiffly. M's phone rings, and he tries not to smile at the look on Bond's face when he answers the call.
"Q. Really?"
"M. I'm just teaching him a lesson. Maybe now he'll learn to stop questioning my value because of my age and respect my equipment."
"I'm not sure if programming the MI6 building to work against Bond is the best use of your time."
"I prefer to look at it as a demonstration of my skills," Q replies, and M can't help the smile then.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
093: lead
He loves his work, but sometimes Q wishes that the hours weren't so long for both of them. M's job is important to him, and it's important to the country, but he can't help feeling a little bitter about it sometimes.
It's been a long, stressful week and Q finally has a day in peace, and he wants to be spending it with M, a slow, lazy day. There was an emergency at MI6 and M had to go, so Instead, Q's alone in his flat, curled up on his lounge, trying to sketch.
But the lines are falling flat and there are marks too dark in the wrong places. His lead splinters and breaks, and he flings the pencil across the room, falling heavily back onto the cushions and pushing a hand through his tangled hair.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
073: order
"Why yes, come in, no problem at all," Q says, after Bond has pushed past him into his flat. He shuts the door and turns around. "007, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here on orders," Bond says, strolling around. Much to Q's irritation, he starts poking at his things, shifting through the books on his shelves.
"M said he was putting security around my building. Not sending you in here to chaperone."
Bond shrugs. "He doesn't know." He holds a large hardback in his hands, weighing it. "Is this yours?"
"No." Q narrows his eyes as Bond puts the book back and walks over to his couch instead. "Of course he knows, even if he didn't send you. I don't need a guard dog."
Bond sits down and picks up a large knitted jumper instead. "Well, surely this isn't yours either. You'd drown in the bloody thing. Or is it for someone?"
Q just crosses his arms and glares. "Go away."
"No." Making himself comfortable, he leans back and puts his feet up on the coffee table, making Q roll his eyes. "I think I might stay a while. M would be rather upset if anything happened to you, I'm just making sure that nothing does."
"You are insufferable," Q tells him, and sits down next to him with a huff.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
003: house
"Oh, no. Karen, what are you doing here?"
"How lovely to see you too, Gareth," Karen says, standing up and giving her brother a hug. "I was nearby and called by your office, but you were in a meeting. Your secretary gave me a key, told me that you'd be home soon."
Q raises an eyebrow. "Moneypenny has a key to your house?"
"I think Moneypenny has a key to the city," M replies. "And when did you get here?"
"Oh, about twenty minutes ago," Q says cheerfully. "We've been having a lovely chat."
"If you don't marry him, I might," Karen says to M confidentially, but loud enough for Q to hear, and M mouths I told you so, at Q over her shoulder.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
057: invest
"Stay on the line," Q says, his voice steady, although he feels anything but. "I'm tracking you now."
"There's not a lot of time." M's voice is hoarse, and Q doesn't want think about why that is, about what they've done to him, what they're going to do to him. "They'll be back soon."
"Got it!" Q sends the coordinates directly to Bond's phone. "007's not too far away. He'll--he'll be there soon." He can't help it when his voice cracks, and he hates himself for showing weakness.
M coughs. "Well. Do tell him to hurry."
"He is, trust me. He knows I'll give him hell if he doesn't. I'm rather invested in your survival."
Q can hear the smile in M's voice when he says, "Invested, hmm?"
"Very much so. Your bed is far more comfortable than mine." Q hears the sound of a door opening and slamming shut again, hears M's sharp intake of breath, and he can't help but flinch.
"Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint you. I'll see you soon, Q," M says, and the line goes dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
049: story
Q reads to M while he's in hospital, a room with 24-hour security. He brings his laptop and one of M's huge books from Q's flat in and hardly strays from his bedside, works when M's asleep, and reads to him when he's awake.
He reads the ancient epics, the stories of wars across the sea. Eve starts joining them sometimes too, taking over the reading so Q can work and listen to the story at the same time. Bond hovers outside, like he doesn't quite trust the security but doesn't want to impose, until M waves him in.
Q's not sure why nobody questions why the quartermaster, a double-oh agent, and a ex-agent come secretary spend so much time with M when they should probably be elsewhere, because this certainly couldn't be mistaken for purely professional concern, but he's not about to complain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
031: requisite
"It's not like I'm going out in the field or anything," Q protests, but M just shakes his head.
"You never know when you'll need this training. It's just a requisite, it's useful, but ultimately it doesn't matter if you don't pass the test." M steps closer and adjusts Q's grip on the gun. "Here, like this..."
Q bites his lip and says, "I don't think this is the most effective way of getting me to aim straight, sir."
M only presses himself closer and deliberately whispers right in Q's ear. "Hmm, I think I rather like it when you call me that."
"Oh, you bastard," Q says, puts down the gun, and kisses M.