Work Text:
Picard was working in the ready room when a harsh snap cut through the comfortable silence and a present appeared directly in front of his nose. It was wrapped in a deep red paper and decorated with a yellow bow.
Normally such an occurrence would have anyone question where and from whom the present came. But the sound of the snap had been more than enough evidence to clue Picard in to the culprit.
“Q.”
Surprisingly, there was no answer.
Picard considered the present and decided that placing a bomb on his desk wasn’t Q's style.
With a roll of his eyes he opened the box.
Only to immediately grind his teeth in anger.
Almost innocently, a black collar with a silver plate and a black heart tag was placed on a satin cushion. The plate read "Jean-Luc".
Unevitably, Data’s comment about Q seeing Picard as his pet rang in his ears.
With more force than necessary he put the lid on the box again.
This was typical Q behaviour. Doing something inappropriare that additionally indicated that Picard held an inferior status to Q.
There was another snap and the collar had disappeared, a note popped up in its place and suddenly Picard felt tight leather around his neck.
The note read “You look ravishing, my little pet.”
How did he dare!
Picard tried opening the collar but to no avail.
Another snap and Picard dreaded what would follow. A mirror appeared next to another note.
Picard looked into the mirror and almost glared at the collar just above his uniform. Something was engraved on the tag now.
“Q’s Beloved Pet”
Then his eyes caught the words on the new note.
“Remember this, Jean-Luc: You’re mine.”