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

[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.

[provocateur_king]

Bond moved closer.

"Then what do you want, Q?" he asked, close enough to touch, but keeping his hands to himself.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"I don't know," Q said honestly. "You, I think, but I know that's a terrible idea."

[provocateur_king]

"And why is it a terrible idea?" he asked.

Sin, Bond thought, wasn't a good reason at all.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"I don't know," Q admitted, voice cracking slightly. Because truthfully, he didn't care that it was 'wrong', it hadn't stopped him from laying with others.

"I don't know what's stopping me," he admitted quietly.

[provocateur_king]

Bond took a half a step forward and slipped his hand against Q's waist.

"It would be easier, wouldn't it? If I had you? Here, right now. If I gave you no choice. Then you'd be blameless, and your heart would be spared," he said, soft and low.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q didn't want to admit it, but Bond was spot on, and he looked away rather than answer.

Yes, it would be easier if Bond just pushed, if he made it so Q could tell himself it wasn't romantic, it wasn't even his choice. Q wasn't sure how he felt about resting all the weight on Bond though. As easy as it was to bicker with the man, or grow annoyed with him, he didn't want to burden him.

"I don't usually read romance," he said finally. "It's not my genre."

[provocateur_king]

Bond was close, close enough to kiss, but he only hovered there.

"You'll come to me, Q. You'll come to me in time. When you shed the Church. When you face your fear. You'll come to me," he said.

Then he slowly pulled his hand free.

"Sleep. We'll be to Lonely Island around noon."

It was taking every ounce of control to not throw Q to the bed. He wanted him. Wanted to taste him. Make him cry out.

But he wouldn't be resented. Not by Q.