[FIC] By Manner, By Measure (Bond/Q, with bonus Madeleine Swann)

BY MANNER, BY MEASURE
James Bond/Q & Madeleine Swann
Tags: Missing Scene, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Rewrite, POV Outsider

Author’s Note: Holy shit y’all. I finished writing a thing for the first time since August. And naturally it’s outsider POV fic from a fandom from eight years ago because I’m nothing if not predictable. Anyway, if you’re interested in a rewrite of The Hotel Scene ^TM from Spectre where Bond and Q are in a secret relationship and Madeleine Swann is deeply and abidingly unimpressed with James Bond, this fic might be for you.

“Oberhauser is still alive,” Q explained, tapping at the keys. “The ring proves it. And it seems they were all part of one organization. Le Chiffre, Quantum, Sciarra, and your friend Mr. Silva.”

Bond’s mouth quirked. “My friend?”

“He certainly isn’t mine,” Q replied. “There was trace DNA from all of them on the ring. And do you know who links them all?” He looked up before Bond could reply and met the other man’s gaze over his shoulder, mouth curling just a little as he prodded, “Go on, give us a guess.”

“Him,” Bond rumbled ominously, voice low and black. Near to Q as he was it would only take a shift of weight from one foot to the other to bring their mouths together.

Madeleine felt herself flush faintly at the realization, but didn’t look away. How very interesting.

Read it on AO3.