“Q won’t be in for another hour, at least, and none of the work that Tanner would give you could be this important, so-” he quirks a brow expectantly, curiously, “You’re either waiting for Bond, or you’re waiting for Q. The former is, frankly, pointless because 007 and punctuality don’t belong in the same bloody sentence... And Q’s, well, your fling, if Eve’s gossiping is to be believed, which suggests that you shouldn’t have to meet up with him at work after working an entire shift of your own.”

He frowns at the other, almost manages an apologetic look as he huffs out a sigh. “I appreciate it, but it isn’t necessary. Operating with one arm is hardly an impediment when one’s sat in an office for half the day and commuting home for the other.”

He does, for once, allow his humanity to shine through, supplanting the sense of duty that has him more concerned with the fallout than everyone’s wellbeing. “Are you alright? What happened?”

“You know, most of my staff won’t be terribly pleased that they’re going to be starting from scratch around here-” himself included. It wasn’t in MI6′s best interest to share confidential medical documents with a civilian therapist. It was a security breach waiting to happen. “I’m not too terribly happy with it either, Mr. Ayers, especially given that my neurosis of choice is simply stress.”

please shout at me if i go to do the big dumb in the future