John wasn't quite sure how the idea came to him. One day he just snapped and stomped into the other room. Apparently Sherlock hadn't noticed because when John remerged the man was still ranting about whatever and the hell he'd been ranting about. John strode forward with the strip of duct tape and slapped it across Sherlock's mouth. Sherlock looked up at him in surprise.
"Finally!" John shouted, "I can hear myself think!"
Sherlock scowled at him (though it wasn't easy around the duct tape) and reached up to rip it off. John grabbed his hand before he could do it. He glared deep into Sherlock's eyes.
"You had better not," he said in low, dangerous tone.
John could feel Sherlock's pulse jump under his fingertips and Sherlock's eyes had dilated. John smirked. Sherlock was afraid. Good. Then he dropped the detective's hand and went back to his chair. He picked up his book and resumed reading. He was aware of the glares Sherlock was throwing him and it just made him happier.
A few days later, Lestrade texted with a case. Sherlock held the phone up in front of John. John read the text and looked up at Sherlock with a raised eyebrow. Sherlock was giving him a questioning look. John grinned. Sherlock was asking if he could go.
"Let's go," John said, getting up and grabbing his coat.
They were at the crime scene and out the cab when Sherlock halted suddenly and turned around. John stopped and backed up a few steps. Sherlock pointed at the tape and gave him a pleading look. John grinned again.
"No way in hell," he said.
Sherlock eyes seemed panicked for a moment, but then he calmed. He spun on his heel and marched into the crime scene, John following after him with a huge grin on his face. Sherlock immediately located Lestrade and hurried over to him. John followed close behind, not wanting to miss anything. Sherlock tapped Lestrade on the shoulder. Lestrade turned around, looking up from his notepad.
"Ah, Sherlock, we think this might-what are you wearing on your face?" Lestrade squinted at Sherlock, "Is that duct tape?"
Johns stepped forward.
"He's not allowed to talk right now," John said brightly in explanation, "Please, go on with the details."
Lestrade rolled his eyes and launched into the case. Sherlock listened closely as he walked around the room. When Andersen entered, Sherlock's head whipped up to say something witty and rude, but the tape prevented it. Sherlock scowled and John felt pretty happy about that.
"New experiment?" Andersen questioned in an almost friendly tone.
Sherlock looked up in confusion and his eyes flicked to John. Andersen followed the look.
"Ah, lover's quarrel then," Andersen said in what sounded like understanding.
John's grin vanished as quickly as it had come. His eyebrows furrowed.
"No," he said firmly, "Sherlock was just being annoying so I put duct tape on his mouth."
"Right," Anderson said, looking back to the crime scene.
Sherlock and John shared a confused look as Andersen went about doing his job. A few minutes later Donovan walked in and told Lestrade someone was outside for him. Sherlock's face looked strained as his eyes quickly scanned Donovan. He looked to John and his eyes pleaded with the older man. John shook his head.
"No," he stated firmly, causing Andersen and Donovan to jump.
"What's with the tape, freak?" Donovan said as she noticed it.
Sherlock glared ice daggers at her, but she didn't seem fazed. John noted the angry look she threw at Andersen before she moved forward to continue her attack on Sherlock.
"Experiment? Or trying to prove something?" Donovan questioned in a cold tone, "All it's doing is proving is that you're even more of a freak than I thought."
John opened his mouth to defend Sherlock, but the other man straightened up to his full height and glowered at Donovan with an unspoken threat. Donovan took an involuntary step backwards. Sherlock narrowed his eyes and John could see the tape twitch upwards on one side. He was clearly smirking. John had never felt so proud of the man before.
"Sherlock, do you have what you need?" Andersen asked, standing up from where he'd been on the floor (he was apparently unaware of the fight that had just happened).
As he stood, he noticed the tension in the air and Donovan's glare turned to him. John suddenly realized that they'd had something of a fight. Clearly Andersen was calmer about the fight. This meant he'd told her something that outraged her. John thought back to the way Andersen had talked smoothly with Sherlock and the way his face looked when he said "lover's quarrel". He hadn't looked as though he was disgusted or outraged at John and Sherlock. He'd actually looked happy for them and almost…envious? Did that mean…? He looked at Sherlock with a question in his eyes and Sherlock nodded curtly.
"Listen, Donovan," John said, his face turning to the woman and his jaw setting, "Just because you have a problem with Andersen being gay doesn't mean you can come in here and be a bitch."
Donovan sputtered a bit and Andersen blushed slightly, bowing his head sheepishly.
"Oh great!" Donovan shouted, "Now there are two of you!"
With that she stormed away and John smiled again. He looked at Sherlock who nodded and tried to say something, but the tape prevented it.
"You can take if off now," John said.
Sherlock reached up and eagerly ripped the tape from his mouth.
"This was done by the florist's brother," Sherlock said, gesturing to the crime scene, "And you are brilliant!"
Sherlock was beaming at John with a proud look in his eyes. John blushed a bit.
"Thanks, Sherlock," he said quietly.
They held each other's gaze for a few moments before Andersen cleared his throat. They turned to him and he was looking around awkwardly.
"I really don't think you guys should do what you're thinking about doing in here," he said quietly.
"Good thinking," Sherlock said, coming forward and hugging the man.
John and Andersen stared in shock as the detective released the other man and started for the door. John hurried forward to follow him. Sherlock strode towards the main street to hail a cab and John struggled to keep up. When they made it to the curb, Sherlock threw his arm out and turned back to John.
"I should shut up more," Sherlock observed, "You are full of surprises."
John grinned at him as a cab came to a halt in front of them.
"Doesn't that mean you'll be wearing tape more often?" John questioned cheekily as they slid into the cab.
Sherlock turned to him to say something, but thought better of it. He looked out the window with his eyebrows furrowed. John could tell by the blank look that Sherlock was somewhere deep in his mind palace. He saw Sherlock's hand move on his lap and saw that the detective was still clutching the strip of duct tape. John frowned, wondering what that was about.
Little note: So yeah...Have this. ^_^