"Sherlock?"

"Yes, John?"

"Did you see this in the paper? 'The Reacher and the Settler'?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't have much time for the paper. It's full of trivial articles and columns and people with their trivial lives."

John sighed. "I'm just saying its interesting Sherlock. They say that in every relationship there's a Reacher who goes for someone out of their 'league', if you will, and a Settler who settles for someone below their 'league'. Its rather intriguing, don't you think?"

"No," said Sherlock as he got up and moved into the kitchen to examine a blood sample under the microscope.

"Who do you think is who?"

"What?"

"In our relationship. Who do you think is the reacher and who do you think is the settler?"

"Obvious."

"Well no, its not to me."

"Most people rank intelligence as one of the top three things required in a suitable partner, so considering that I'm the more intelligent one I'm the settler because higher intelligence makes me better than you in terms of genetic potential and attractiveness."

"I'm sorry- what?" John was standing now, his paper forgotten. "You think I'm the reacher."

"I don't 'think' I know as I was simply stating facts, one of which would be that this whole idea is trifling and silly."

"I think you've got it wrong."

"No, I haven't."

"Yes, you-"

"John you wanted my opinion of the matter, if you aren't going to listen to it then you shouldn't have asked."

"What am I supposed to do? Just stand here and let you tell me you're better than me?"

"That would be the general idea, yes."

"You...you are just so /full/ of yourself, Sherlock."

The taller man looked up, finally taking full notice of his boyfriend and realizing his mistake. "John-"

"You can be such an arrogant little git sometimes, you know that?"

"John I'm just tellin-"

"Nope. Goodnight, Sherlock." Dr. Watson grabbed his keys to the flat and stormed out.

Their orange tabby looked at Sherlock and mewed.

"What? I was just stating the facts."

John ascended the dusty steps of 221B the next morning, his keys jingling slightly in his hand. The sound of a violin being played furiously by its owner echoed down to greet him as he pushed open the unlocked door. Sherlock stopped playing and put the violin and bow back on their stand. He turned to face John. "Hello."

"Hello." John said, his voice edged with bitterness. "You want tea?"

"Don't bother." Sherlock hurried over and guided John to the couch. "I already made some." He grabbed the tray from the kitchen and set it down in front of John. "I hope it's better than my coffee."

John looked up, bemused. "Sherlock." The other man turned back to him. "Yes, John?"

"Did you just make a joke?"

"Well, I think we can both agree that the coffee was unsatisfacto-"

"Sherlock?"

"Yes, John?"

"I'd just like to enjoy my tea in peace, please."

"Right," Sherlock said, fiddling with the cuffs of his purple shirt. "I just..." He quickly moved to sit next to his doctor. "I'm...sorry, John. I understand now that I may have hurt your feelings and while the facts of my intelligence are true, I've thought it over and you're the settler."

"I am?" John sounded more surprised than affirmative.

"Yes, because, well, you've always had...other options. To date, I mean. But for me...you're my only option, really. No one else has thought of me like this, so you're settling for me because you don't need to be here, you choose to be." Sherlock looked down at his fingers, seemingly embarrassed.

"Sherlock?"

"Yes, John?"

"You know I love you, right?"

Sherlock smiled in spite of their earlier fight and leaned down to kiss the blonde man. "Yes," he said when their noses were touching. "I know."