Damn it.
Sherlock's eyes flicked between the two people opposite him, trying to assess the situation and figure out what he could do.
Moriarty stood at the other side of the room, watching the consulting detective with that usual creepy look on his face.
Or maybe that was just his face. Sherlock wasn't sure. Either way, he didn't like this situation one bit. He had been very interested in the case when it had come up: there were sudden disappearances happening everywhere within a 10-mile radius. The people started showing up one by one, dead and in a horrible state. Sherlock had been working on figuring out where they were being hidden and was so wrapped up (as always) that he didn't even notice something missing in the apartment.
This was why he took a double take when he saw that something sitting against the wall, hands and feet bound and mouth covered with duct tape.
Damn it.
"You really didn't see this coming, did you?" Moriarty gave that high-pitched giggle and Sherlock remembered something John had said about it – that he sounded like one of the villains in some children's cartoon… Powerpuff Girls, if he remembered correctly. And he wasn't sure why he did.
Him. That was the villian's name. It had struck Sherlock as odd at first, but then he'd thought it a little brilliant. HIM – His Infernal Majesty, otherwise known as the devil; no one would see that in a kid's show.
"I figured out your puzzle," Sherlock stated, getting his mind back on track.
Moriarty shook his head. "No, you didn't. If you had, you wouldn't be so surprised at your partner being here. You really are so single-minded, aren't you? And not in the typical way."
"The typical way?" Sherlock inquired. He knew people were stupid, could it be because they were one-track minded in the wrong way?
"Sex, Sherlock."
Sex? Well, that made sense, he supposed. Though it was stupid as well, why distract yourself with something so trite and unnecessary?
"You're boring me," Moriarty stated, turning on his heel. "Who'd have thought I'd see the day? Let me know when you're back on your game."
As soon as the door shut behind him, Sherlock ran to John and freed him, too distracted by the situation to focus on the rest of the case and the evildoer behind it.
"Ow! Careful!" John cried as the tape was ripped off his mouth. "You obnoxious git, you didn't realize I was kidnapped? I was gone for almost 24 hours! What's wrong with you!?"
"There is nothing wrong with me," Sherlock told him simply. "I was simply focused on the task at hand. Now come on, let's just get home."
"Why, so you can just completely forget about me again while I get torn to pieces? I was a doctor in the war, not a soldier!"
Sherlock helped John to his feet and put his hands on either of his friend's shoulders as he looked into his eyes. "I will never let that happen to you again."
John was surprised by something about the consulting detective. His voice, his expression, it was different somehow. He couldn't quite place it, though, so he just nodded and mumbled an "alright" before quickly following his companion out.
"Sherlock?"
…
"Sherlock."
…
"Sherlock!"
"I'm not deaf, John, I can hear you just fine. What do you want?" Sherlock asked in his too calm voice, not bothering to look up from his computer.
John sighed, exasperated. "Then why weren't you answering me? I asked what you wanted to do about dinner. I'm not much fancying the idea of eating out tonight after getting jumped by Moriarty's men and there's nothing in the fridge, as usual."
"How about take-out? Our usual place is still promising for food, whether or not we actually stay there."
"Well, considering the situation at hand, I was hoping you might just take care of it yourself. You know, get the food and everything. But of course that was just me being my usual stupid self." John grabbed Sherlock's wallet and left with a few more choice words as the detective's eyes stayed glued to his laptop.
