Disclaimer: nothing is mine (well, I do share Jim's opinion on politics). I just take with them the same liberties Moffat took on Conan Doyle's creations. I didn't pay to buy the rights though (and make no money from this). I wonder who's wiser?

Economics

"Do you reckon he knows exactly when he lost – nay, forfeited this game, Seb?" Jim looked up from his phone at his colonel. Another teasing text just sent, no doubt.

"I suspect he still thinks he can win," his lover replied dispassionately.

"Right! So amusing, isn't he?" Moriarty exclaimed, clapping once. When he was hyper, interesting things tended to happen.

"When did he, by the way?" Sebastian asked airily. He'd learned the hard way not to claim the prey he hadn't killed yet. But Jim was so much more that he could be allowed to...probably.

"But at the pool, silly!" Jim gave his companion a sharp look that added, 'Do I have to explain? Really?'.

"If that's so, why drag it out till now?" Sebastian wondered. Hell, they could have been through with all this months ago! He thought this was just Jim's pet project, but did he have to get truly jealous and enforce the point that he didn't share?

"Come on, tiger, you're not the only one here with a feline attitude. It's play. And he's the best toy I've ever had," Jim said, rubbing against his lover, much like an affectionate cat.

"The best?" the man rumbled darkly.

"Toy. Do focus, Seb!" the mastermind reproached, poking him sharply with a manicured finger.

"Ok. You explain how he forfeited and I won't complain, however long you keep the game going. And I'll reward you handsomely later," the sniper replied. Christ, only Jim could make him use such words instead of 'shag you six ways to Sunday'!

"Well, for that I'd give you a whole master's thesis," Jim agreed with a smirk. "It all comes down to simple economics. Last time, I kept upping the ante every round of the game, until I finally caught Sherlock's pet. I wasn't sure how much the doctor was worth, logically, and the show was for the exact purpose of determining his value. Sherly would try to buy his live-in's life back...or not," Moriarty recalled, with a fond expression at that last prospect. It hadn't happened, but how he would have loved it if it did, even if, nay, because, it made the game exponentially harder.

"I even made sure Sherly had something to bargain with. It wouldn't do if he had nothing to offer in exchange, hence my 'targeting' the missile plans. I expected to work my way up to them. That he'd offer something else first, like not turning me in to the Yard. Then, you were supposed to come into play and make him realize he was trapped and needed to do better than that," he continued.

Sebastian had been there, but he hadn't even started to figure out Jim's plans and how many variables his lover was accounting for at the time. Well, he and his croonies just had to keep the red dots steady to ensure Jim would come out on top.

"And what does Sherlock "I'm too posh to have needed to bargain before" Holmes do? He cuts off the chase when the chase was the point. He gives up! So now it's clear just how much his pet is worth. He'd betray Queen and country and let me unleash a war or two to save the man. Instead of trying to keep his composure, he should have simply begged 'anything but John'. It's not like he fooled anyone there. I'll up the ante again, but really...strictly speaking, I do not need to. Repeats are so unbearable," he stated with a languid wave of his hand. He'd have looked much like a professor, if his contempt for his enemy/toy/prey hadn't tainted his words.

"Who are you playing with, Jim?" Sebastian inquired suddenly. "If Sherlock has already forfeited, you should have lost interest a long time ago and let me clean up. Who exactly is this game against? I can't work properly if I don't know that."

"I knew there was a reason I loved you!" Moriarty purred and continued, "well that and your perfect aim. Even my little toy hasn't realised what you've just noticed. Sherly may have forfeited the game...but Iceman? He's great at economics. Obviously, he's an expert in politics, which are a subset of that, aren't they? I'll win that game too!" Jim promised, enthused, jumping up to hug his lover.

"Sure," Sebastian agreed, steering him unsubtly towards a more adequate place for his reward.