Q (Continued from 7/16/2014 meeting in cafe)

[goodfellow]

Q covered Rob's hand with his own, guiding it higher and then turning away. With his attention focused back out the window, it was hard to believe he'd said anything at all. Q was so terribly good at appearing disinterested and calm.

It was, actually, terribly impressive how Quentin pretended not to care as with that encouragement Robin slid his hand higher. Determined to get some reaction out of him, he began to very lightly massage his groin, and then leaned in and whispered into his ear, "I'm going to make you forget your own name. More than once. I'd start now if this were a longer trip."

Comments

[quartermaster_q]

Q would have preferred some more privacy, but in the moment he didn't have much choice as he pulled out his phone and dialled Bond's number.

All he got was the man's voice mail, and he left a fairly cryptic message.

"You asked that I ring you if I felt he was getting dangerous- So this is me. Telling you. Call me back when you can."

Hanging up, he turned his attention back to Rob. "I should warn you, I think he's been stalking my friends as well. There's a chance he's been watching you."

[goodfellow]

"That would be unfortunate for him," Robin said neutrally.

[quartermaster_q]

"No, don't make light of this," Q said, pulling Rob to a stop.

"He is dangerous. Truly dangerous."

[goodfellow]

What was Robin supposed to say? I haven't survived for thousands and thousands of years to be taken out by some human as a casualty of someone else's grudge?

So instead al he said was, "Okay... okay, I'll be careful."

[quartermaster_q]

"Thank you," Q replied, relaxing a little as he started to walk again. "I wouldn't ask you to be on edge if I didn't think he was a real threat."

[goodfellow]

"Well you're safe for tonight," Robin finally said as they neared his building. "A fly couldn't get into my place without security knowing about it."

[quartermaster_q]

"I bet I could," Q said, but he didn't elaborate as he followed Rob inside, glancing around in search of Terrance, and relaxing when he saw no sign of him.

[goodfellow]

"With your trusty laptop I'm guessing," said Robin as they walked past the security guard (a friendly wave from Robin) and onto the elevator.

[quartermaster_q]

"Of course," Q replied, though were he'd have usually flashed a smile or made a joke, he still seemed on edge and on the lookout for trouble. He was tense and wound up, and he wasn't sure he could relax again.

[goodfellow]

This did not go unnoticed, but Robin decided to wait until they were out of the elevator and opening his door to the penthouse before saying anything. Once they were inside, he slid an arm around Quentin's waist and pulled him in. "Relax, kitten," he said softly, and it was more soothing than purring. "I promise you you're safe here."

[quartermaster_q]

"Don't call me that," Q replied, suddenly a bit defensive as he pulled away. "I'm not your pet, Rob. I'm not some docile little house cat waiting to sit in your lap."

[goodfellow]

At that, Robin sighed a little. The mood swings were giving him whiplash, especially considered how happy Quentin had seemed to let him take the lead, earlier in the evening.

"Fine," he said, putting up his hands. After all, it wasn't as if the boy had said anything the dozen other times he'd used the pet name. "You're not my pet. And I'm not convinced you still want to be here at all, so if you don't... you're also not my hostage."

[quartermaster_q]

Q didn't mean to be so sensitive- It wasn't like him really at all. Seeing Terrance had him on edge and defensive. After all, the man had basically owned him for years. It had taken Q a lot of time to mentally get where he was today.

"I'm sorry- I am. I didn't mean to be so short, Rob. I'm just a bit on edge now is all. I'm not sure I'll be much fun tonight."

[goodfellow]

Robin thought of offering to go find the stalker and kill him, but he had a feeling that wouldn't go over well.

"You can still stay if you like," he said. "Is there anything that would make you feel better?"

[quartermaster_q]

"I wouldn't say no to a cup of tea," Q admitted, pushing his hair back as he calmed himself.

[goodfellow]

"Have a seat," Robin said, nodding to the couch, and then went into the kitchen. He might not do much cooking here but he at least knew how to make tea.

[quartermaster_q]

Q sat, though he was perched on the edge of the sofa, slightly nervous looking and ill at ease. Eventually he got back up and began to pace a bit.

[goodfellow]

Robin put the tea on to brew, and then watched Quentin from the kitchen for a moment before walking in to where he was pacing.

"Tell me why you're so anxious," he said.

[quartermaster_q]

"I don't know, Rob- Perhaps it's because I'm being stalked?" Q said, his tone sharper than usual. "-Sorry, I'm sorry, just I think it's obvious why I'm nervous. You can tell me your home is safe, but it doesn't matter. Mine's a bloody fortress and it hasn't kept him away."

[goodfellow]

Robin looked at him for a second and then asked, "Is he human?

He had no idea if Quentin was clued into the supernatural world. He honestly didn't care. Worst case, he thought Robin was crazy or joking. But if the stalker was an actual threat Robin wanted to know about it.

[quartermaster_q]

"Yes, yes he's human. ...God, I hope he is. He was terrifying as a man, I can't imagine what he'd be like as a vampire or something," Q frowned, shuddering at the thought. "He's just- terribly clever, and dreadfully vicious. I'm clever, alright, but even I used to feel like a dunce around him."

[goodfellow]

Well, that answered that question at least. Good, because Robin didn't like actually making a serious effort to pretend to be human.

"You're more than clever," he said, and walked back into the kitchen so he could get the tea. "So that's saying something. Do you want him dead?"

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that," Q said, looking somewhat putt off by that. It was one thing when Bond offered to end people, it was quite another when someone who sold themselves as a 'businessman' offered. It unsettled the Quartermaster, and he studied Rob with sharp eyes.

[goodfellow]

Robin walked over with two cups of tea, and arched a brow at Quentin's expression. "I wasn't offering, I was asking," he said dryly. "I like you quite a lot, though I'm not sure I like you that much." Because Robin was not an assassin; he could defend himself if need be but he didn't go around killing people. If that needed done, he'd hire someone. And getting that done well was both very risky and very, very expensive.

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm still pretending you didn't say that," Q replied flatly. "My understanding was that we don't confide in one another Rob, that's not how this works."