Be Mine - Valentine's Day 2017

[londoncallingmods]

Lucky in love or not, London was a lovely place to find yourself on Valentine's Day. From romantic walks through various parks, to intimate dinners or shared deserts in the many restaurants and cafe's- There was something for everyone, because if wandering or dining wasn't for you, well, there were plenty of organised events to attend.

London couldn't claim to be the city of love, but it was certainly a city of possibilities.

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[0_0_7]

"If I thought M was temperamental as all that I would have never done it. But Mallory isn't like her and I doubt he'll hold it too much against me," Bond said. "And he's still firmly in our corner when it comes to SPECTRE...he needs allies, too."

[quartermaster_q]

"You just said you think he's going to send you somewhere dreadful," Q frowned.

[0_0_7]

"Anywhere away from you is dreadful," he replied. "But there are places I'd rather not go. I'll be thrilled to go to China if it means I don't have to go to Caracas or somewhere like it."

[quartermaster_q]

Q nodded a little, but fell silent- He didn't want to talk about this anymore. Not tonight.

[0_0_7]

Bond drove near the river for a while but the traffic annoyed him. So many other people seemed to have the same idea. So he turned off and headed for their flat.

"You've gotten awfully quiet," he noted.

[quartermaster_q]

"Ran out of things to say, I suppose," Q said softly.

[0_0_7]

"You? Not possible," Bond replied. "Quick wit like yours doesn't simply dry up."

But he didn't ask what had caused it. He knew.

[quartermaster_q]

"Don't have to flatter me, Double-o Seven, I'm already coming home with you," Q quipped gently, offering a small and tired smile.

[0_0_7]

So they were back to Double-o Seven. It never ceased to amaze him how quickly Q could go from James to his job title, pushing him away to a safe distance with little more than the choice of an address.

"Mm. So you are," he replied.

[quartermaster_q]

"Mmm, forever and always. Till death do us part and all that," the Quartermaster added. "...I'm sorry I got snippy. Everything's just so tense. This, us, it's the only happy thing I have right now. I hate that work is forever pulling us apart, but that's not on you."

[0_0_7]

"I have been giving some thought to retiring. Now that...well, now it seems I might be getting a bit long in the tooth for this sort of thing. Might be a younger man's game, as Mallory so kindly pointed out," Bond said, slowly...testing the waters a bit.

[quartermaster_q]

"I think you'd be miserable if you retired- But that's not my choice to make," Q replied, looking over at James. "For whatever it's worth, I'm not ready to pack it in yet. There's a fight that needs fighting- And it's likely going to cost me my job in the long run, but I'm still all in. ...I'd understand if you wanted out though."

[0_0_7]

Bond smiled just a little at that.

"I don't think there will ever truly be an 'out'," he said softly. "But you're not wrong. I'd be bored to tears, and there's so much more to do. I couldn't rest on my haunches when there's so much work to do."

[quartermaster_q]

"I don't know, death's quite the out," Q replied quietly.

[0_0_7]

"But not the out for me," Bond replied. "Death doesn't suit me."

[quartermaster_q]

"Good. I'd never forgive you if you died on me, James," Q said softly.

[0_0_7]

"And we can't have that. Only forgivable offenses, I promise," he replied, holding back a smile that he couldn't keep from crinkling the corners of his eyes.

[quartermaster_q]

Q loved that smile, it made all the common sense in his head simply melt away.

"I believe you, Bond. Though I din't know why..." he sighed, smiling in return.

[0_0_7]

"You believe me because I'm right," he replied. Bond reached over to lay his hand on Q's leg. "I'm right about quite a few things. Age has it's benefits."