What happens when at Reichenbach Falls, Moriarty wins? Based off my headcannon that when Moriarty does the dirty work he keeps whatever the person cherished most. For Carl Powers it was his shoes and for Sherlock…
so moriarty goes to visit john in his doghouse every once in a while. sherlock has been dead for a couple of years. and he kneels just outside of john's reach. of course john's hands are in manacles and he strains against them and stares at moriarty in rage. shortly after moriarty started keeping him he cut out his tongue because john would scream and yell obsenities and horrible things that even got to moriarty and we can't have that.
moriarty is kneeling in front of john and staring at him. john growls like a dog. a faint hint of a smile appears on moriarty's face, but it doesn't reach his eyes it never does, its like moriarty's eyes died long ago along with his heart. "still so loyal after all these years johnnyboy?" john's eye twitches and he snaps his teeth. "why, you can speak johnnyboy." he smiles fully at this, but again no light or joy reaches his eyes.
"s-sir?" comes a small voice from behind.
moriarty rolls his eyes and grinds his teeth. "yes?" he says sweetly.
"your plane is ready, sir."
moriarty looks at john then stands up and stares at the boy, his head cocked to the side. "will the plane leave without me?"
"n-no sir."
"then why are you telling me its ready?"
"u-um. i don't know."
"LEAVE!"
"yes. yes sir." and the boy runs away. moriarty turns back to john who has a look of disgust on his face. "oh don't look like that johnnyboy. i was just having a bit of fun. i won't harm him." they both know he is lying. the boy won't last a day. his body will never be found.
moriarty kneels in front of him again. "you intrigue me john. i think i finally understand why sherlock holmes kept you around."
"sir." comes a deep voice from behind.
"what?" moriarty asks, but softer than when he asked the boy.
"its time, sir."
moriarty straightens up and fixes his suit. "how do i look, john?" … "dashing?" … "daring?" … "dangerous?" … "haha." the sound is empty and it echoes in john's cage as moriarty turns and leaves sliding past moran on the way out.
moran follows soon after, but not before throwing the newly washed blue scarf at john and smiling kindly at him before following his master out to the waiting plane.