Chapter Text
They had been at home when Q first heard it (and it was only at home that he’s heard it since). James had been gone for nearly a month on assignment and had returned with a broken (read: shattered) ankle. To say the agent was exhausted would have been an understatement, and being on bedrest hadn’t done much for him.
He was ranting as he lay on the couch while Q finished up dinner before he brought it out to the living room. Q could hear his lover from the other room, even if he was talking to himself.
“Of all the damn things to happen on assignment, I brreak my bloody ankle on the otherr side of the worreld…”
Q blinked, pausing in taking the pizza out of the oven. For a moment, he thought he had imagined the differences in James’s speech. But when he thought about it, he knew that he had heard the short roll of the r’s, a single tap really…and did James add a syllable to the word “world?”
“James?” Q poked his head into the living room.
The agent looked back toward Q from where he was laid out on the couch, “Yes?” He asked.
After a moment, Q shook his head, “I just wanted to know how much you wanted, and if you needed anything to drink.”
James nodded, rubbing his face tiredly, “Yeah, Ah hink I’ll start wi' tois slices furr noo, thocht Ah woods enjoy some scotch rreit noo if ye coods poorr some.”
Q stared at James for a long while, not sure what to do. There was no mistaking it, Q had heard what he thought he had heard. And judging by the tingles running down his spine, he rather liked it…
James noticed Q staring, “What?”
“Oh, nothing…” Q cleared his throat, “Just um…could you repeat that? I didn’t quite…understand…”
It took the agent a moment to realize what he had said, “I’m sorry Q.” James cleared his throat, his voice retaining its usual clipped tone, “Sometimes when I get tired…”
“It’s fine, I just wasn’t expecting it.” Q chuckled, “I like it actually…”
James nodded, “Right…just two slices and some Scotch please, love.”
Q chuckled, returning to the kitchen to fix up their plates. Of all the things to discover about his lover…of all the things to get turned on by…the Quartermaster bit his lip as he finished plating up dinner, wondering if he should…
It only took Q a moment’s contemplation before he hurried to the bedroom and went straight to the bookshelf on the far wall. It took Q a few moments to scan the bookshelf to find the book he was after (he was so used to having everything on computer), but soon he had it.
By the time Q came into the living room, he had dinner in his hands and a book tucked under his arm.
James noticed it immediately after Q handed him his plate, “You’ve got an honest to goodness book there. And it’s on paper.”
“Your accent’s gone.” Q pouted slightly (not that he would admit it).
“Well I try not to let it show too much, but sometimes when I’m tired…” James shook his head.
Q frowned, “Then I don’t suppose you’d want to read any of these?” he said as he held up the book for James to read.
The agent raised an eyebrow at the title, “Poetry, Q, really?” He chuckled, taking the book of poems from him. Seeing Q’s somewhat (read: very) hopeful expression, he smiled, “Alrrecht, but jist one…”
The Quartermaster suppressed the shivers that danced down his spine, instead he leaned against James (careful not to hurt his injured ankle) as the agent opened the book and selected a poem.
“O my Luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June;
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.”
The tingles were back with a vengeance, and Q could practically feel his cheeks burning red as he leaned his head against James’s chest, feeling the rumble of his chest as his brogue took over.
“As fair art thou, my bonnie …lad,” James shot Q a knowing look as he changed the word. If Q was blushing before, he was on fire now.
“So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:”
By now, Q was starting to feel hot all over. And James must have felt it as well, by the way his hand was wandering up and down Q’s waist, even dipping below the waistline of his trousers.
“Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.”
They never made it to the last quatrain, seeing as Q had firmly attached himself to James’s lips. But then again, James didn’t seem to mind that much.