AU - On THe Third Day

[provocateur_king]

On the morning of the third day, Bond had ordered his men to prepare the cannons. Q had promised and Bond expected delivery.

When the wizard didn't come for breakfast, Bond was irritated. He paced and fumed, but he waited.

Until he could wait no longer. They were going to miss the tide.

"Q!: he shouted, pounding soundly on the wizard's chamber door before throwing it open.

"You promised three days!" he shouted to the man still abed.

Comments

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"You just kicked me out," Q replied flatly. "Called me a shrew and told me to sleep in a hammock, remember?"

Q asked, hating the way his body reacted to that firm grip.

[provocateur_king]

Bond looked at him for a long moment.

"Perhaps I was...hasty," he admitted. He wanted to let him go, but he found he couldn't will his hand away.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q held his gaze , wetting his lips with a flick of his tongue.

"I thought pirates just pillaged and took what they wanted, but here you are with your manners and restraint. How odd."

He shook his arm free from Bond's grip, then straightened his shirt, not wanting James to notice that he was clearly a bit flustered again.

[provocateur_king]

"You think murderers don't have manners?" he asked, arching a brow.

Then his eyes darted to the bed.

"Is that what your bedtime stories tell you? Your books spin tales of savage men, masters of death, taking what they want by force?" he asked, his tone growing more heated as the words tumbled out.

Suddenly, he caught Q and hauled him tight to his chest.

"You have dreams of being ravished at sea?"

His lips twitched into a taunting smile as he awaited the answer.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q looked torn between embarrassment and annoyance, pulse pounding as he found himself pressed tight to Bond's chest.

"You flatter yourself if you think you're in my dreams. Do I look like some dainty damsel in some bodice ripping fantasy?"

He didn't pull away though, didn't struggle. The only resistance here was from his ego.

[provocateur_king]

Bond held his gaze a long moment, then couldn't stifle the slow smile that spread.

"I'd love to see you in a bodice," he purred.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q blushed, looking away.

"You're dreadful," he tutted hating that part of him would wear one if he truly believed that might entice Bond.

"It's wrong, this desire," he said quietly.

[provocateur_king]

"Do you really think so?" Bond asked, holding him tight.

"Wrong to want? To be wanted?"

Bond moved in close, as if to kiss him, but stopped.

"Or to want me?"

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"All of it," Q insisted, one hand braced against Bond's chest. "Laying with men is my darkest sin."

[provocateur_king]

"Who told you that? Constantine? A relic from eons ago? The man hasn't had a lover. He doesn't even know love," Bond said bitterly.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"John never said anything," Q replied, looking upset. "I've never told him."

[provocateur_king]

"Then why do you think it's a sin?" he asked. "Who gave you that idea?"

His hold eased, but he didn't let go.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"The Church," Q replied simply, pulling away when Bond's grip loosened.

[provocateur_king]

"Oh. The Church. The Church says a lot of things that are rubbish, Q," he replied, letting him go.

"The idea of sin only works on those who still fear. The Church holds to sway on the sea."

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q looked unsure though, shrugging one shoulder, aware he'd killed the mood.

"Even if I did lay with you... Surely by now your interest in me has faded," he said softly.

[provocateur_king]

"I know what I want, Q. And I always get what I want," he replied.

He reached out and touched his cheek.

"Go back to bed. Go back to your book. I have a course to plot for the voyage after we leave Lonely Island."

Because he wanted Q. Wanted him terribly. But not now. He couldn't compete with the Church's hold on him.

Bond was patient.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q wanted to beg the man to make it easy, to choose for him- But he knew he couldn't. Whatever sort of man Bond was, it wasn't that.

"Actually, I'll just get some air, I think," Q said quietly, the attitude gone for now.

"I'll see you in the morning," he promised, turning and leaving before James' could stop him again.

[provocateur_king]

When Q was gone, Bond found he couldn't concentrate. The map made him dizzy. His mind was too much on Q. On what sort of man he was. He'd watched him from afar, but now he realized how much he didn't know. The Church? Q? Really? Bond was certain Constantine had no love for the Church.

He finally moved to lay in his bed, to perchance rest, but he had to move Q's book.

He picked it up and began to read. Most of it was boring, but as he turned the pages, it became rather juicy.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

When bedtime came Q went to his hammock, reaching for his book only to realize where he'd left it.

He knew he should just forget about it and go to bed, but the threat of insomnia loomed. It was the only book he'd thought to grab though.

Slightly sheepish, but doing his best to hide it, he returned to Bond's rooms. He tapped on the door before peeking around it

"I left my book," he admitted quietly.

[provocateur_king]

Bond was reading, and paused to look at Q.

"It's a gripping tale," he noted, a hungry look in his eye.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q went bright pink, marching over and snatching the book away.

"It's full of information on pirate culture," he insisted.

[provocateur_king]

"The only factual thing about pirates in the entire book is the fact we sail," he scoffed.

He slowly sat up.

"That captain is a rake," he said.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"He's dashing," Q argued. "...Not that it's important to the story," he added quickly.

[provocateur_king]

"The parts of the story I read, being a rake is crucial," Bond replied.

He laid the book aside and rose from the bed, walking slowly to Q.

"Would you like me to read you a bedtime story, Q?' he purred.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q swallowed hard, that night on the boat as a child coming back to him.

"Don't," he said softly. "Don't sully that night. It was special. It meant a lot to me as a boy." he pleaded quietly.