Molly Hooper never had problems with rent before, unfortunately her landlord wasn't kind enough to inform her of the raise in her flat's monthly rent. So when the man appeared at her doorstep, complaining about rent Molly was upset. She never saw this coming.
"Get a flatmate or something, it's not my problem." He had told her.
She wasn't really keen on sharing her flat with anyone. Her work and timid nature tend to give people the wrong impression. Her last flatmate, Caroline was difficult and they never got along properly, she groaned at the memory. Getting a second job would prove to be more difficult than letting a person in her home, and consequentially her life.
Defeated, Molly headed to her laptop. After endless typing and retyping, she managed to write up a decent ad.
Looking for a flatmate, Central London
Fully furnished room and flat. The flat only has one bedroom but has ample space for a second bed. The place has lots of windows for sunlight to come in so it's quite warm. It is located in a nice quiet neighborhood and just a block away from neighborhood supermarkets, restaurants and coffee shop. I have a cat named Toby so you must be good with cats. Hopefully you'd be female. Rent is £600 a month including water and electricity, two months-advance and a deposit to the landlord is required. Contact me at gmail. com
She told most of the people she knew, her good (only) friend Meena, even Caroline asking if they knew anyone who was interested in a flatshare. A few replies turned up, a few university students, and even some males, but most of them were odder than she was. One early morning, she just received an email and decided to open it on her phone.
I'm interested in your flat. Eurus Holt, female, 31 years old.
It was short, simple, and to the point. She deduced that the person behind the mail might be the same. She replied immediately, happy someone was interested in her flat.
Oh hello, I'm Molly Hooper. The address is 92B, Zephyr Building, King Edward St. 7pm. Just drop by whenever you can so we can discuss details.
She felt good about Eurus, Molly hoped she'd get along well with her potential roommate. She got back signing autopsy paperwork, humming.
"So, what do you do for work, er Euro is it?"
The woman sat in front of her, eyes scrutinizing every corner of Molly's flat. The gesture made Molly feel insecure about herself, and her home. They sat together in Molly's dainty living room. Eurus looked out of place in her dark clothes compared to Molly's colorful home. Euros—Eurus? Eurus' eyes seemed to scan everything with her cold unfeeling eyes. She was intimidating, that was for sure.
"Eurus." She stated. "I work for the government but I dabble in different fields when convenient."
Eurus was a tall gorgeous woman with long dark hair and a pair of eyes that rivaled the blizzards of Antartica. She was mysterious and silent. Only speaking when necessary as Molly droned on about herself.
Talking to her proved to be difficult, as she found nothing that Eurus and her had in common. She wasn't even sure she liked Toby—her cat, who was very fond of the stranger but his attempts at rubbing her leg was met with apathy.
Eurus tilted her head. "You're unsure, why?"
Molly's eyes widened at the female's deduction. She waved her hands, embarassed at the statement.
"I-I'm no-"
"Don't. You're visibly uncomfortable, nervous, withholding something, and unsure. " She paused. "Do you not want me as a flat mate?"
She was nervous. Uncomfortable only because the woman hasn't responded as she would hope. Withholding the fact that they might be uncomfortable living together. Unsure about the prospects of living together with someone like Eurus. Still, she lied.
"I'm not—How did you?" She squeaked. Like a mouse, she thought.
"You're squeaking like a mouse."
Molly gaped as her thoughts were "read".
Did Sherlock turn into a woman to ruin my life?
Molly exhaled through her nose. She wasn't going to let this lady make a fool of herself in her own home. She was ready to tell off Eurus, but she was stopped before she could speak.
"I'm just teasing." Eurus said smiling.
Molly paused at her smile. The smile felt forced and unnatural, but there was something sincere about it. She couldn't put her finger as to why.
Instinctively she smiled back. Eurus was certainly intimidating but there was this odd gut feeling in Molly's chest that she was a good person. Or was she wrong? For now she had to trust in herself. Eurus looked lonely, like her. She's doing the right thing, she tried to convince herself.
"Well then," She said straightening herself. "When can you move in?"
