InsaneJournal

Dec17, James Bond, James/Q, On Time
Title: On Time
Fandom: James Bond
Pairing: James/Q
Rating: G



The scent of pine and the sight of a snowy valley filled Q's senses as he stood freezing in front of the doorway of their rented cottage.

Their.

He crushed his cigarette under his boot heel and answered the text he'd received.

I know he left Istanbul yesterday morning. I saw his check in confirmation myself -E

He didn't come. He should've been here by now and he's not.

Eve didn't reply. She might've been working or been trying to think of something that wasn't sentimental or trite. Q didn't care.

James... He'd probably done a runner on Q. His psychological profile suggested it. He and Q had been dating for the past year and in the last three months had been seriously dating. They'd had half conversations about moving in together and sharing lives. James had been the one to suggest this holiday trip together and Q, though hesitant, had made the booking himself. A remote cottage in Scotland with a gorgeous view and no neighbors. The kitchen was stocked with plenty of food and there was plenty of firewood to last even through a sudden storm. He'd gotten them both the vacation time approved and all that was left for them to show up.

Even with a last minute mission to Turkey, James should have made it.

"Damn it," Q muttered to himself. James had become scared, he suspected, of their closer emotional intimacy and run off to avoid getting in deeper.

I should've known. He texted to Eve.

Still, nothing from her.

"You knew better," Q kept muttering. "Of course James Bond would never want... How thick headed do I have to be? Youngest department head and I couldn't see..."

He bit back tears. Of course James wasn't coming.

"I wish you had even a fraction of M's faith in me," James said from Q's right.

Q turned, startled and frowning. "James?"

James smirked and crossed the last feet to the cottage. "Sorry I'm late. There was a few terrorists on board my plane; I had to dispatch them before we could safely land. Though of course when we did land, it was in Afghanistan. I bartered my way onto a small cargo plan that landed me in Germany. Do you know how packed those trains are at this time of year? Nightmare to get here."

Q swallowed and blinked back tears. "I... I'm sorry. For doubting you."

James shook his head. "It's I who should be apologizing. There is nothing in my history or actions that would support your belief that I would have come. After all, it's well known through MI6 that one beds James Bond, but never falls in love with him."

Q winced and reached out to snag the edge of James' coat to pull him close. "No. We have an equal partnership. That's what a relationship is supposed to be and it's built on the trust that two people have in each other. If we're going to work, I should have faith in you and trust that you'll be here when you say you will. That you want to be here until you tell me otherwise."

James' smile was still a bit sad, but Q kissed it away. James sighed against his lips. "Thank you."

Q closed his eyes and rested his head against James'. "I think I might love you. I'm going to trust that you know what to do with that and won't be frightened of it. I was scared of telling you."

"Don't be scared," James said. "Remember? Trust me."

Q smiled and breathed deep, not just the scent of pine but the scent of James close and the feeling of good beginnings. They'd been dating for a year now, but this was their beginning.