Author's Note: A drabble that I thought was quite a plausible situation in the BBC's Sherlock. My own sibling rivalry seems trivial in comparisson to Sherlock and Mycroft's. As much as I love Sherlock I have to say he can be...immature to say the least.
Still if I owned Sherlock there might be a bit more sheet action and a little less plot (which means it's probably better that I don't own it).
Mycroft Holmes did not like to stoop to his brother's level.
Which was why he refused to hostage take in order to get cases done. No matter how tempting it became.
After all, what would Mummy say?
Doctor Watson had come and gone, simply acknowledging his presence in the flat with a half grunt and a "please don't provoke Sherlock into destroying any more of the furniture". Mrs. Hudson had popped in to say hello which (though he never would admit it to anyone) he rather liked.
Finally his brother had arrived, bursting into the living room like a terrier. He bounded through the door yelling for John.
Mycroft turned. "He said he had told you this morning he was going out tonight. On a date with a woman apparently, engaging in whatever people do these days."
"What do you want?"
Mycroft suppressed a grin. Unfolding his arms he eyed his younger brother, skeletal towering figure with bouncing charcoal coloured curls. Sometimes, especially when he pouted, he looked just like he had when he was a teenager. Acted it too most of the time.
Sherlock Holmes never grew up. Mycroft was quite sure he did it on purpose.
But children, contraire to popular belief Mycroft was actually quite good with children. Sherlock had been an intelligent, questioning, awkward child but not a difficult one. Age thirteen he grew an attitude and that was when the problems began.
Mycroft did admit that his brother had grown into a remarkable man even if he hadn't grown up. Maybe one day he'll be a good one. The words echoed in his skull.
But the British Government was relying on his brother having that ridiculous pride and of course plain stubbornness.
"And that is why you must not, under any circumstances become involved with the case," he finished. "It isn't one you would be interested in anyway. Only one body apparently. But I need you to stay away from it. Leave it to the police. I mean it brother. I forbid you from coming anywhere near the investigation."
Sherlock stared at him. "You forbid me?" his back straightened. "You the man who can barely control his diet yet alone run a country in a satisfactory manner forbids me to take a case that you trust the police with?"
Mycroft nodded. "I believe that you're involvement would simply...complicate matters. After all, you'd probably be more of a liability, a hindrance."
"Is that all?"
"I'll see myself out."
SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH
'Delilah' looked up from her phone. Her carefully manicured nails skipped across the keys even as she made eye contact with her boss.
"Did you impress the importance of the case upon him Sir?" she asked.
Mycroft nodded. "I made it absolutely clear that under no circumstances was he to attempt to solve it for it's far too boring yet difficult for him. Of course it's not. But he doesn't know that."
'Delilah' chuckled softly. "Do you think it'll work?"
"I heard him shooting the wall as I left."
"I'll make sure the file is hackable and that there are a few people on the team handling it willing to take bribes or work with him. Any names spring to mind Sir?"
Mycroft did not need to think. "Detective Inspector Lestrade."
"Done and dusted Sir."
SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH
Reverse psychology had worked when Sherlock refused to wear a coat in the coldest of winters as a child. It was easier then- Mycroft found telling him to go freeze to death so that he could have his room and inheritance was easier than telling him to put a coat on in case he froze to death.
The technique developed when Sherlock was a teenager and the problems began, Mycroft found that a lot of them only worked once 'I think you should set fire to the school, it will show your sudden (and short lived) love of anarchy' and 'Don't listen to Father, dying your hair green is a good idea, everyone will take you seriously then'.
Unfortunately it didn't work with drugs.
As an adult it reached peaks such as 'If you take this case and I find out I'll have you arrested'.
But it still worked.
The genius detective still fell for it.
And when Mycroft explained it to John, he couldn't help but let his lips quirk into a small smile as the good doctor burst into laughter.