Chapter Text
Q's POV
“Alright 007, there is a small grouping of guards on your left.” Q checked between his program and the CCTV he was monitoring Bond’s actions through. He knew James was frustrated at the simplicity of this mission, but it was needed after he demanded to be let out, even after such a major injury. Q gave a slight shiver at the memory of what happened only a month ago.
“Alright Q, I’m in.” Q checked his monitor, and began guiding James through the French embassy.
“The main computer, containing the guest list, is in the server room downstairs. There is a set of stairs coming up on your right.” James gave a nod at the camera Q was using, and a slight smile slipped past Q’s facade of nonchalance.
As Bond entered the server room, and quickly accessed the computer using Q’s pre-made code, Q leant back in his chair, taking a sip of his tea. He sighed at the heat ghosting across his cheeks from the steam produced from the hot drink, and couldn’t help his glance at his monitor. He told himself he was just concerned for his agent’s safety. That was all. Totally.
With a sigh, Q put his tea back down and wished he could get rid of this feeling in his chest. He could calm it sometimes, when he was distracted with thoughts outside of one particular agent, but often when he was drawn back to grey-blue eyes and sandy hair his chest became tight with warmth.
As much as Q attempted to refuse to feel this way, (it had only ever happened once before, on a much lesser scale, and that boy had left Q when he found out, with words like acid that burned themselves into Q’s young brain), it was a futile effort.
“Alright Q, I’ve got the list up.” Q jolted back to attention, banging his knee on the underside of his desk and almost spilling his tea.
“Alright 007, you’re looking for a Duke and Duchess Cadbury.” Q quickly scanned over his desk, shifting his belongings back into their proper disarrayed place.
“Got them.” James quickly saved the data onto the USB Q had given him, and made his way out of the server room. Q, knowing James could get himself out, once again lent back. He dropped his face into his hands, rubbing his tired eyes under his glasses, and thinking that he should probably head home today.
Q sat up, checking his small flip calendar, finding that the last time he had left the office was four days ago. He wasn’t sure if he’d slept in that time, but he was more surprised that Moneypenny hadn’t noticed yet. Her work load had increased recently however, one less person to worry about him, Q thought to himself.
Q stood, stretching, and called over one of his minions with a wave. “Would you mind doing the tea run this time?” He asked quietly to the tired looking woman, who gave a quick nod.
“Of course Q.” She quickly made her way around collecting tea and coffee requests, before heading out to the only decent tea and coffee machine on this floor: the one outside Moneypenny’s office.
Q made his way back to his desk, and quickly started up his work again, occasionally glancing up to make sure James was still okay. The paranoia that night had left Q with was still affecting him, and while it was better than before, James being out on another mission had brought some of those fears back. He knew even if he went home, he wouldn’t be able to rest easy till James was back.
Maybe it was the exhaustion eating away at him, or the fear resting low in his stomach, but whatever it was, Q did’t really care about how he felt for the Double-O agent anymore. He wouldn’t do anything about it, but at least he could accept himself and his feelings for his friend. Just so long as he makes it back okay...