AU - On THe Third Day
Nov. 15th, 2022 07:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
provocateur_kingOn 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.
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.
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Date: 2022-11-19 11:59 pm (UTC)"He knew I wanted to see you," Q argued. "He knew I-"
He cut himself off.
John had known Q had a crush on Bond.
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Date: 2022-11-20 12:05 am (UTC)"Maybe he knew what you wanted," Bond said quietly.
"And maybe you're a wizard at court with power and influence because John knew what your life would be if I turned up again. Like now."
He sipped his tea.
"It's going swimmingly, don't you think?" he quipped.
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Date: 2022-11-20 12:08 am (UTC)In that moment he was fifteen again, rebellious and angry for no reason. It wasn't fair that John had chosen for him, wasn't fair at all.
Before he could think too hard about what he was doing, he grabbed Bond by the collar and hauled him down to his level for a kiss.
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Date: 2022-11-20 12:13 am (UTC)Bond kissed him, his heart swelling as he finally tasted the younger man's lips.
When Q finally broke away, he studied him for a moment.
"A kiss for luck or a kiss goodbye?" he asked.
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Date: 2022-11-20 12:38 am (UTC)"A kiss because I want to kiss you. Because I always wanted you, you bastard. ...He had no right to-"
He cut himself off, huffing through his nose.
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Date: 2022-11-20 12:59 am (UTC)"Q," he said, his voice warm and sweet as honey.
"You were a child at 9. A child at 12. When you left here at 17, you were barely beyond childhood. He did the right thing."
It stung to say it, but it was true.
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Date: 2022-11-20 01:10 am (UTC)Q leaned in as if to kiss him again, then sighed. "Surely we're near enough now. Let's head to shore."
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Date: 2022-11-20 03:48 am (UTC)It was a process to lower the boat and row to shore. Bond manned one oar, another pirate, the other.
That left Q to watch the dock. A shadowy figure waited with a lantern in the shadowy cove..
"He'll be happy to see you, at least," Bond said as they approached the dock.
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Date: 2022-11-20 04:19 am (UTC)Upset though he was to learn John had chased off James', Q couldn't help but feel his chest swell as John approached.
"John," he said softly.
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Date: 2022-11-20 04:22 am (UTC)"What's happened? Why are you here?" John asked as he tied the boat.
But before Q could answer, he repeated, "Why are you here?" to Bond.
"He asked to see you," he said, as if that explained anything.
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Date: 2022-11-20 12:34 pm (UTC)"I've been abducted, apparently. Snatched from the gardens like a bloody princess on the eve of her wedding," Q said, pulling himself out the boat and onto the dock to stand facing the other man.
He was angry. Furious that John had apparently chased Bond away- But at the same time it was such a relief to be home. After a beat he leaned in close and held the other man tightly, feeling once again like a lost little boy. ...An ongoing theme this week it seemed.
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Date: 2022-11-20 04:28 pm (UTC)John pulled him in and hugged him tight.
"Welcome home," he said quietly into his ear.
Bond did not get out of the boat.
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Date: 2022-11-20 04:31 pm (UTC)Q held on longer than he might usually, then let go, a tiny bit of that hurt bubbling to the surface again.
"You should have told me he came looking for me," he accused. "That he at least came to see me. I can't believe you'd keep that from me."
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Date: 2022-11-20 04:37 pm (UTC)John looked at him, looked at Bond, then back to Q.
"You were young, Q. I wasn't going to let you lose all your training to go steal the king's gold and learn to murder," he said, firm, but calm.
"He brought you to me in the first place for a reason. And...I love you. How was I supposed to let you go?"
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Date: 2022-11-20 04:57 pm (UTC)"Could have at least told me," Q said, grumbling a little. "It's cold. Invite us in?"
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:01 pm (UTC)"I've got the kettle on. Let's get you some cocoa," he said.
Then he glowered at Bond.
Bond wasn't put off. He finally stepped out of the boat onto the dock.
"You can have water," John grumbled at Bond, then led them up the path to his tower.
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:09 pm (UTC)When they stepped inside Winter was his usual pixie size, fluttering around the kitchen excitedly.
"Guests!" he said excitedly.
"I'm not a guest, I live here," Q assured it, frowning slightly, then looking at John. "A pixie? Really?" he asked.
Winter spotted Bond and squeaked, taking off upstairs to John's room to hide.
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:18 pm (UTC)"You still have it?" Bond asked in surprise.
"Not it," John told the pirate sharply. "And...yes."
Then he looked at Q.
"I took him in. Nasty habit," he said.
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-11-20 05:35 pm (UTC)"No, your room is just how you left it," John promised.
He busied himself making drinks while Bond sat down.
"So you stole him, hmm? Couldn't leave it be. Bloody pirates," the wizard asked him.
"I needed a talented wizard," Bond replied.
"My ass," John dismissed.
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:39 pm (UTC)Q watched the pair and rolled his eyes.
"Bond wants me to work for him. Says he'll pay better than the castle. ...I wanted your opinion."
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:46 pm (UTC)"You already know what my answer is going to be," John replied.
"Money isn't worth the danger, Q."
"It's more than money, Constantine. When I reclaim my throne, I'll install him as High Wizard," Bond explained.
"You'll die trying," was John's answer.
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Date: 2022-11-20 05:58 pm (UTC)Q looked confused by the mention of a throne, then decided to leave the pair to squabble as he headed up to his room.
It looked just like he'd left it, full of things he'd left behind. Sitting down on the bed he found his old journal, flicking through while he thought about what clothes he might take with him. What he found was entry after entry about wanting to go with the pirates one day, all jotted down between memories of adventures he'd had with John.
After sitting for a while, he wandered to the window, looking out into the woods. Eventually he grabbed a new journal he'd not started before setting off into the world alone- And a ring John had given him, slipping it on before wandering back downstairs.
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Date: 2022-11-20 06:09 pm (UTC)"...not a boy anymore. You can't steal people, you barbarian," John scolded in a low voice.
Then he looked up at Q.
They'd clearly been arguing. John's color was high, and Bond's jaw was set.
"Just like you left it, wasn't it?" John said, managing a quick flash of a smile.
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Date: 2022-11-20 06:17 pm (UTC)Q looked uncomfortable, nodding a little. "It is, thank you for keeping it," he said. "...I like knowing I have a home to come back to if I need to."
He glanced at James, then swallowed hard before wetting his lips with a flick of his tongue.
"I am going with James though. I just- I think I thought I wanted your approval, but the truth is I just needed you to know where I was- And reassurance that if I'm making a mistake, I still have a home to return to."
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