A/N- the fic has a book cover and a video trailer, for more please look into my profile. It can be a companion fic to my other story "One day at the exile", but you do not have to read it to know the whole plot.
reviews are welcome :)
10th of August, John's & Mary's Wedding
Everything goes easy, Sherlock Holmes thought.
John and Mary looked happy, as well as Mrs Hudson and Molly (after several drinks, Gavin/Greg(?) would cheer up as well). The detective could not say the same about Hooper's boyfriend, but that was a totaly diffrent story. Furthermore, the rest of guests did not cause any troubles.
Now, he only had to survive the speech. Sherlock almost wished for a some fatal accidents to come and free him from this extraordinary duty (even saving a cat from a tree seemed like a sufficient excuse to leave the party).
"Excuse me sir", a familiar irish voice brought him back from his thoughts. "Do you know where I can find the toilette?"
No...
Holmes quickly grabbed the man and pushed him into a first empty room, which he found. With a similar speed, Sherlock checked if somebody had seen them (fortunately - not) and made sure that guests or staff would not disturb them.
The room could be called lovely. Yellow walls, extra tables with a wedding settings, baroque wardrobe and cupboards. Additionally, a day's light made it look heavenly peaceful. However, with Jim Moriarty in town, no place was safe.
"What are you doing here?!"
"Hush," the criminal warned, while putting away his big glasses. "Somebody can see us and we both do not want to cause a panic on a wonderful day like this."
"You better have a good reason for being here! Is a great Moriarty so bored that he lowered himself to cause a bomb attack on a mundane event like this? You are pathetic."
"Be careful, what you say." Jim's cheerful humor vanished. "I like to be dead. Nobody bothers me, but it doesn't mean that I can't have some fun... from time to time."
Sherlock shut his mouth, but his glare spoke for itself.
"Anyway," Moriarty continued with a smile." if somebody is pathetic, it is surely you. Look at yourself - worrying about the speech, illogically accusing me to bring a bomb in a wedding cake, you are so...domestic." He ended with a disgust. "I am not here to waste my time on a..."
"I have wasted 2 years with you, I am sure that you can survive a couple of minutes." Holmes said, comming back to his furious self.
"Did you really believe that after our happy time, I would just abandon you?"
"Happy is not a proper word."
If not for John and Mary, Sherlock would just jump and kill the man.
Two years ago, he was nearly defeated. But before his jump took place, Jim proposed a brilliant idea: in exchange for his friends, Sherlock would come with him. The solution was not expected. Holmes did not want to work for him, but somehow he had no choice.
It was difficult to get used to the new life. For Sherlock, it was obvious that, beside his company, Jim also would like to exploit his talents. He agreed, the other option included the complete isolation (Moriarty made it painfully clear). After months, they nearly learned to trust each other. Only thanks to that the detective managed to run away.
Immediately, Jim was thirsty for the revenge, but in the same time he was aware that at first his kingdom had to protected. Holmes brothers destroyed main cells of the criminal network. However, they did not succeed in catching the villain. The detective had known Jim's nature, but Moriarty had learned it in the same way. It was a game with cat and mouse, with constantly changing roles, for many years...
Sherlock was dead for the world, but his friends were not. (It surprised him that Moriarty did not aim in them in the first place.)
Unknown to the younger Holmes, Mycroft arranged a meeting with the mastermind. A new pact was made: Both consultants would live. Sherlock would be able to return to London, Jim officially will be dead, but free to go (As long as he would not put Great Britain's business in jeopardy. Additionally, the government will be watching him and intervene needed.).
Hardly a bargain, detective thought, one country would be safe, but there are more than 50, where he could play.
Sherlock Holmes survived. Not because he could, but because - Jim let him. And let John and rest of his friends live. The second deal was only an excuse for starting a different game.
For stars' sake, why now and here!?, he thought furiously.
"I see that the underground plot was not enough for you." the detective said.
"Parliament? Interesting, but please... I am not a suicide man." He clearly emphasised that the project did not belong to him.
"You will get bored soon or later," Holmes insisted. " and the break of the deal, would be a suitable distraction for you."
"A bloody soldier would be a suitable distraction for now." The mastermind rolled his eyes, saying to himself.
"Let me guess a Mayfly Man is a part of your plot as well?" Sherlock pointed at him.
"Mayfly? About what are talking about?"
"The man, who meets a girl for one day and the next he is off!" he threw his hands up.
Jim looked at him like on a mad man. Quickly, Sherlock realised that Moriarty did not invented a misterious man. Nor, his past case with a soldier. Basing on the glint in Jim's eyes, he deducted that Holmes unintentionally revealed topics for the speech.
Jim slapped him.
"I thought that your mind is above these things." Moriarty exploded. "Stop worrying about your pet or his future wife and think!"
Surprised Sherlock brushed his cheek, still not convinced. Jim took a mobile phone from his pocket and showed him the screen.
"Look at this. During one of my runs, I found this video. It shows a man watching a particular movie. Imagine my suprise, when I discover who had the lead role."
It was him and Mary, when John was nearly burned alive. His voice, calling Watson's name, was watched over and over again.
"Nothing new, I expected that." Holmes replied.
"You misunderstood me." Jim said in serious voice. "He was watching the same scene for whole 50 minutes."
It made him worried. Sherlock was so proud of himself, that the scheme with parliament was discovered, but unintentionally - gained a new enemy.
"Later, my team entered the building." Moriarty continued. "The watcher vanished, but not all data from CCTV was deleted and I managed to restore its last 57 minutes."
Holmes looked once again at the screen, it was difficult to match the surrounding to any places he knew.
"Where was the footage taken?" the detective asked.
"I am afraid that I can't reveal it. By having that information, you would gain an upper hand in one of my operations, than anybody else in the world. And knowing you, my dear, our chaise would start again."
"Do you know who he is?" He was still looking at the cell phone.
"Possibly."
"Then, when was it taken?"
"After, 6th of november." It still didn't helped. "Sorry." Moriarty added.
"Are we in danger?" he asked seriously.
"Not now, but I would be careful in coming time." Jim said in the same tone.
"You could just send an email." Sherlock exhaled loudly.
"Well, you should be glad that I came in a disguise. We would not like to make Watsons worry, would we? "
"Why now and here?"
"The time is crucial."
"Jim." he warned the criminal.
"Let me think, a criminal consultant at the wedding?" he crossed his arms and took a thinking position, then changed his voice to more female one. "Oh, come on, I was not born yesterday. It isn't possible." He moved his arms indicating astonishment, then returned to his normal voice. "So, you see. Nobody would expect it, especially the man, who wanted your pet to be the next Guy Fawkes."
No one, even not the great Sherlock Holmes. But that brought other facts. Jim knew with whom, he was fighting. The video coudl be sent via email and Moriarty's presences woudl not be needed (It was possible that Jim wanted to broke a temporary havoc in his life, but quickly discarded the idea. There were easiest ways to cause the same effect. Or maybe, the mastermind really became too sentimental regarding Sherlock's person). As any electric message could be easy tracked, he could not trust anybody with it beside himself. Plus the parliament was nearly destroyed... In conclusion, the watcher was not only a man with unique abilities, but also was protected by someone powerful or the government itself. Holmes mentally sighed. It reduced the number of defensive actions.
"Soo... haven't I imagined that Moran accompany you?"
"Well, I would not put myself in danger without a good bodyguard."
"And Izzy."
"She insisted. I had to take her." He explained. "Anyway, she is a specialist, when it comes to enter a party, for which you have not been invited."
"And do explain me why." Sherlock groaned.
"She mentioned something, that it is a very important day for you, the stress surely would make butterflies in your belly, and even in current circumstances, our four must be together. We would cheer you up! " He was clearly enjoying himself. "We spent a happy time together, we just can't leave each other."
"Stop using word happy!"
"Why?" he asked innocently.
Sherlock sighed.
Lady Izadora Klein (She liked to be called Izzy), a unofficial PR specialist regarding high/rich society. When a young girl wanted to marry an old businessman, she arranged it. When a noble couple broke with each other, she caused it. When a married lady wanted to spend a night with her husband's friend, she helped with it. In exchange, Lady Klein was given a gigantus fee. Izadora loved to being a matchmaker, choose dress for the bride, pick a color of flower for her puppets' the first date. She trully believed that her happy and ever after was the best - no matter the cost. And the world gave her resources... Izzy, herself was married three times, all her husbands died from natural causes and Klein inherited a big sum of money. Life was really unfair.
Jim used her services quiet often, Izzy also liked to hear his advice concerning her clients.
However, when Moriarty only needed to run from the boredom, Izadora adored playing with people like with dolls from Barbie's house.
In last months, during his stay with Moriarty, she practically moved in. Jim didn't mind, Izzy was a good base of information. It was very handy that she was near when needed. And Moran...damm...deadly serious ex-colonel, who mostly was concentrated on his work...they started flirting with each other! For Sherlock, she was so annoying. Izadora acted like a mother hen or rather as a younger sister, who wanted his constant attention (Holmes had never thought that he would be glad not to be the older brother). Izzy called him a mystery, for which she had not created a happy ending yet.
Thankfully, she hated a poor life, when Moriarty's work included staying days in a cheap hotel in the middle of nowhere. Lady Klein returned to her villa and was waiting for their return.
And now - the wedding. Of course, she would not miss it.
"Why haven't you contacted Mycroft?" the detective asked.
Messages could be intercepted, but his brother have ways to avoid the danger.
"I am sure that he would help." Jim said with the disgust.
Sherlock frowned. It was a painful reminder, but he survived and
"Do I have to remind you, how you have been put in my hands?" Jim insisted. "Or who allowed it?
They only asked him nicely and here I had you. A big present with a ribbon on the top."
Moriarty's outburst was strange. Two years ago, he was deeply hurt by Mycroft's betrayal. The effect not only made a mark on him, but also on his brother. They survived, only that counted.
But for sure, Holmes put the information for a later use.
The mastermind looked at him expectantly, cleary waiting for the answer. Fortunately, Holmes was saved from the reply by Janine, who chose to enter the room.
"Oh, Sherlock." She smiled. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have almost finished eating." Then turned in direction of Jim. "Hello, I am Janine." she greeted Moriarty with a charming smile.
The detective, with a light speed, came between two people.
"I am afraid that James is leaving. He was not invited and only makes some errands for me. Anyway, he is a gambler and his old fashioned suit indicates that most of his fee were lost during last unfortunate game. He hardly is a type good for you. Look at this awful glasses."
"Oh, so I will just wait for you in the main hall." She was clearly disappointed.
Janine said her goodbyes and once again both consultants were left alone.
"That was good."
Jim was very pleased. Sherlock could not suppress his smile as well.
"You know," Moriarty said with a hint of conspiracy in the voice," there is a vacancy in my team..."
"No." Holmes said immediately and to underline the sentence, the detective took casual steps from Jim.
The boredom was a constant pain in his life. Detective cases, nicotine, in the past – drugs, seemed as the only solution. Then, he met John. Sherlock still could not survive without a good puzzle, but something had changed. Only after the failure at Bart's hospital, he realised what. Holmes had never had friends, people couldn't stand his presence, but John, Mrs Hudson, Greg, Molly...they stayed. What's more, when most people wanted something in return, they had never asked. All of them stayed, because they wanted to. (Sherlock hardly could admit it.) They cared for him.
The universe surprised him once again. Seeing that Mycroft deeply regretted his decision. Sherlock forgave him. Older Holmes helped him with the escape and made sure that Moriarty would never threaten him again. Somehow the tension between each other vanished. It was like for the first time, they could experience a warm feeling, meant only for brothers.
Detective cases were still needed, but without his friends, the world would be a totally different place. It was different. It was strange. Illogical!
It felt nice.
"The domestic really doesn't suit you," Jim said.
He knew that Moriarty could offer him an escape from boredom as well, but ...
"It's not worth it."
He regarded him silently. Holmes could almost see as wheels in Jim's brain were working.
"Well, at least I see that you are not lost completely to it." the mastermind said.
Sherlock's serious face had not changed.
"OK. The criminal's word that I haven't prepared anything deadly today and I am leaving right away." He put his hand on the heart.
The detective seemed satisfied with his reply and moved in direction of the door.
"Good luck with the speech, my dear."