im_torchwood | (no subject)

(no subject)

Jack raced after the blowfish and caught him in an aley behind, of all places, a fish and chip place.

"Give it up," Jack said.

"Pay me, fucker," the fish said clearly in English.

Jack reached into his pocket as if for a gun, but pulled out a thick stack of notes.

"Alright," he shrugged.

The blowfish came closer and took the money, then handed Jack a wrinkled paper sack. Then he ran off, keeping out of sight until he got his hood up.

Jack opened the bag, looked inside, and smiled.

"Well , hello beautiful."

Then he heard a scuff just down the way and he looked to see who it was.

"Oh. Hi there," he said.

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"Let's go to the cages. Alice had a brain fluke we can remove...if it works," Jack said, rather pleased with the work done. Q could be a hell of an asset...

Q nodded, handing the device over and following along.

"You have cages here? ...Calls?" he asked with a faint frown.

"THey're for things to dangerous to leave running around. Don't think I just lock things up willy nilly," Jack assured him. He lead him down, down, down to cages where weevils in their jumpsuits lounged in their cells.

Q eyed the creatures with caution, hanging back slightly.

"I see."

"See...I knew I could surprise you. Aliens...not really your forte, am I right?" Jack grinned. "That's exactly why I still have a job."

He picked up a can that looked like mace and opened the cell. Alice came at him but he sprayed her and she became docile.

"Come in. Let's see if it works. The fluke will be right between her eyes."

"I think I'd prefer to simply watch from here, if that's quite alright," Q replied, aware that if he got himself hurt, Bond would never permit him to wander into Torchwood territory again.

"Chicken," Jack said, then took the device. On the screen when he pressed it to Alice's head was an oval, wormlike thing. He held the machine in place, tracked the worm, and then it abruptly transported out and exploded. Violet goo splatters were everywhere.

"It's a success," Jack beamed as he put Alice back and stepped out of the cell. "We can work on the explosive extraction part..."

Q had managed to avoid the splatter, but he was still pulling a face as he nodded slightly.

"I believe it's now time for you to fulfil your end of the deal though, Captain."

"What exactly counts as 'my end' of the bargain?" he asked with a sly smirk. He was clearly going to twist this to his own advantage as best he could.

"A tour," Q replied. "...And a chance to look at those hard drives. The high capacity alien ones, that is."

Jack took a breath and nodded once.

"All right...looking. Looking only," he said. He meant to sound stern.

"Of course," Q replied offering as much innocence as he could manage as he smiled sweetly.

He lead the way back to the main station area where the servers were. The massive archive was two levels below them but there were some items in Jack's new hub. He hoped it was enough to appease Q's curiosity.

Q followed, sharp eyes observing and mentally cataloguing everything they passed.

"This isn't everything though- Is it?" he asked- Though it didn't sound like a question.

"You're bright for a youngster," Jack chuckled. "We have over a hundred years of artifacts from all corners of the Empire. So...no. This isn't all of it."

Q hummed, about to say something more- Then paused as his phone buzzed.

"Let me guess...your double I is getting antsy," he said as he watched Q with his mobile.

Indeed Bond was. His message was short and polite but knowing the agent meant knowing he was pulling at his leash.

Q frowned, texting back and wetting his lips as he thought.

"Perhaps you can show me around another day," he suggested. "I think I've been here long enough today."

Jack cocked a brow and the corner of his mouth tugged up in a cheeky but sweet smile.

"Saved by the bell this time," he replied. "I guess this means I get a second date."

His playful flirting was as harmless as it was natural. Jack really couldn't help himself.

Q was less amused, but not about to push his luck with Bond.

"I suppose it does," he agreed. "I'll come by mid-week," he decided.

"I'll be expecting you," he replied. It was a little funny but the more time he spent with Q the easier it was to forget how dangerous it was to be friendly with Six.

Q studied Jack for a long moment, then nodded his head.

"Goodnight, captain," he said finally, seeing himself out with little more than a wave goodbye.

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