londoncallingrpg | Gathering Post : 2/24

"I was hoping you'd say that," Q confessed, following behind James as they made their way up to their borrowed flat.

Bond pushed open the door to the building then checked the door to their flat. It was securely locked. He listened at the door for a long moment before he unlocked it and let them in, sweeping the room just in case.

"All right. Quickly now," he said.

"If you pack our bags, I'll get the cats into their carriers and pack some food for us all," Q offered, relaxing a bit when Oberon appeared from beneath the coffee table and Titania slunk out from whatever tiny hiding spot she'd claimed as her own.

"Teamwork, excellent," Bond said and went in the bedroom to put together a couple bags. He chose clothes for Q that he was particularly fond of and made sure they had all the toiletries they'd need. Then he grabbed a few gadgets he thought might be helpful...and a few more guns and ammunition.

"Done," he announced, carrying two laden duffels.

Q had coaxed the animals into their carrying tote, where Oberon had promptly curled up while Titania stood near the front with her face pressed against the mesh, quietly protesting.

Standing at the counter, Q managed to fit a few more bottles of water into the bag he'd been packing, aware now that it was best to prepare for the worst.

"So am I," he nodded, zipping up the bag and stumbling a bit when he put it over his shoulder. The bag weighed nearly as much as he did it felt like.

"We'll take the Range Rover," he said of the second vehicle parked round back. "It's bigger and a bit hardier in case anyone comes up on us. Do you want me to carry that?" Bond asked, already heading for the door.

"Oh, please," Q replied, offering the heavy bag so he could focus on carrying the cats. He wasn't ashamed to pass off things that were too heavy for him.

Bond took on the extra weight as if it was nothing and went to load the rover. Everything in the back, except the cats in the back seat. Then he hopped in.

"Why don't you find us a hotel. Something nice. Or maybe an airbnb we can be safe in," he suggested.

Q got to work right away, as soon as he climbed in, then smiled. "There's a lovely home in Watford we can have for the full week. Nice, somewhat remote."

"Book it," Bond said decisively. Watford was well away and he turned the Rover in that direction, randomly driving around to lose any tails before he set out for their destination.

"We need to find out what Valentin's interest is in you. Why he's even in London."

"Could be he knows I'm connected to you," Q suggested, booking the home and tapping the address into the GPS. "It's hardly a secret, and we're both aware I'm currently one of your biggest weaknesses. Id there any reason he might want to lash out at you?"

If not, that was at least one thing he could cross off the list of possibilities.

"He has dozens of reasons to lash out at me, the most recent being I broke up a very lucrative deal of his, trying to sell smallpox on the black market," Bond replied. "Clearly I stopped him."

"Revenge can't be ruled out as a motive then. In fact, your connection to him seems like a likely reason I'd be targeted, no matter what his intentions," Q replied thoughtfully.

"Oddly enough, he could just as likely be looking for asylum or some sort of deal. As much as I stop him...he seems to think we're friends," Bond replied.

"Attempting to abduct your fiancée hardly seems friendly, James," Q replied, tone bland and calm as ever.

Turning in his seat he offered his fingers to the cats, who both meowed softly and started pawing at their carrier. "Isn't that right?" Q cooed softly. "Those mean men trying to take me. Don't they know I've cats who need their food? Silly men."

Bond smiled to himself as Q talked to the cats. Some things he did were so terribly endearing. And he thought, too, of why Valentin would come now, and after Q. He'd have to find out. They'd have to contact Moneypenny again.

"There's some food coming up. You know it's not my favorite, but would you like a burger or a sandwich or maybe some fish and chips?" he asked, wanting to eat before they got too far away from the city's luxuries.

"I'd like that a lot," Q smiled. "A burger might be best, I'd like to stay on the road."

Q was far more nervous than he'd been letting on, and his fear of being still too long was a clear indication that he was uneasy.

Bond found a local family owned burger place with a drive through and ordered some burgers, chips, and drinks. If they'd been in the car he'd have balked at eating inside near the fine Italian leather upholstery, but the Range Rover was hardly clean now, though easy enough to get detailed.

Bond at chips from the bag as he drove on.

"I'll have you unwrap my burger when we're out of the thicker traffic," he said.

"I'll glady feed you," Q smiled, digging into his food and sneaking the cats tiny bits of meat to nibble on.

Once his own burger was finished, he unwrapped Bond's and held it out in offering so the other man could take a bite.

"You spoil me, Q," he chuckled, then took a healthy bite. They drove on like that, Bond eating the burger Q held for him. It was a bit romantic- for what passed as romance between them. Take away while fleeing Russians would not be high on, say, Moneypenny's list of romance.

Q chuckled, happy to feed the double-o as they made their way to safety.

The house they were staying at was large and recently renovated. Somewhat remote as well, which was a bonus.

"The key's in a lock box on the door," Q announced as they pulled up. "The owner's have emailed the combination. They also want us to know that there's complementary wine in the fridge."

"Excellent," Bond said. "I'll get the baggage. You take the cats and go let us in. No one's followed so we're quite safe. We can enjoy the night."

Q nodded, trusting Bond's instinct and doing as the double-o asked.

Lifting the cats out of the car, he fetched the keys and opened up the house, smiling at the sight of the classic looking but clearly modernized home.

"Lovely," he smiled, eyeing the cat condo built into the corner and holding the cats up so they could see it too.

Bond came in after, laden with bags.

"Oh, this is quite lovely," he said as he put the luggage down and began to wander around the house, flipping on the lights in every room to investigate. "Oh, Q, come see the bathroom..."

Setting the cat's down, Q let them out before wandering off to see what James had found.

"It's lovely," he agreed. "Practically a spa."

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