#we've also got Her Majesty's Secret Baker

[dhampir72]

WIP Wednesday - Untitled Mystery Baker fic [00Q]

Here’s a snippet from my upcoming fic, which still does not have a title. It’s the extended version from this post.

If anyone wants to help me with a title, please throw some at me! I’m desperate!!

@mi6-cafe

It's almost a travesty, cleaving the little cake in half. Somehow, Bond does it with such precision that it doesn't ruin the perfect swirl of frosting, or crush the softness of the sponge-like body. Q supposes this is due to Bond's extensive professional experience with knives.

"You're not really going to eat it?" Q asks.

"You're really not going to eat it?" Bond asks. 

And with that, he takes a bite. He chews thoughtfully, then swallows. Q pointedly tries not to stare at the bob of his throat, the way his tongue darts out at the bit of frosting on his upper lip. 

"Well?" Q asks, hating how his voice pitches low despite his best efforts. 

Bond, the bastard, smirks knowingly, but at least he's more of a gentleman than he lets on, because he doesn’t comment and instead replies:

"I'm not one for sweets, but it's good. I think you'll like it."

"I'll consider it if you're still alive in 6-12 hours."

Bond laughs and takes another bite. 

"It's an awful lot of work to try to poison someone,” Bond replies.

"Not at all. Look how easy it is to get people to eat it. Even I was tempted.”

"Oh?”

"I mean, they're beautiful aren't they?”

Bond looks at him, and there’s something strange about it, the way his gaze seems to penetrate, like seeking something else beneath the surface. Q doesn’t know if he ought to feel flattered or uncomfortable, and settles somewhere close to the latter.

"Beautiful?” Bond prompts.

The word is seductive somehow, like a caress. Q feels some heat in his cheeks. 

"Each one is made so meticulously. There's so much attention to detail. Not just in the presentation, but in the composition. Look at the layering here. It's so precise. And the colours are complementary, like it's telling a story. It's all so cohesive it can't not be beautiful.”

Bond is leaning forward now, and he's smiling in this soft way that Q's never seen before.

"Didn't know you were such a cupcake connoisseur, Q.”

Q turns towards his computer, hoping that it hides his blush.

"I'm not. It's just my job. To notice the small things.” 

"And appreciate them.”