*Authors Note Please Read* Hey Sweeties! I know I am in the midst of writing The New Case, but I have had a few requests lately (on Tumblr, AO3 and .) to write some burlesque!sherlock, so Sweeties, if it is burlesque!sherlock you want, you may have it!
Enjoy!
When The Curtain Rises…
"Come on, Sherlock, we are gonna be late to go onstage!"
"Coming! Just wait! I need to put on my lipstick!"
Sherlock rolled his eyes, his lips were already a bright red, Sherlock just said that to get Sally off his back, she was quite the control freak sometimes.
Sherlock was at the height of his career, only last night was the theater full just to see him perform, yes this was a gay strip club, of sorts, but all sorts of stars came to see him, and rumor had it the most eligible bachelor was coming tonight, Mr. John Watson. He was sent home from fighting in Afghan a few months ago, and now he was coming just to see him, well hopefully, butterflies were flying around Sherlock's stomach. John Watson, the most eligible bachelor in London, everybody wanted a taste of him, good thing he was bi. With a quick ruffle of the hair and a pout of the lips Sherlock ran upstairs placing his angel wings on carefully, to perform tonight were a mixture of men and women, in the crowd to watch, just the same, then Sherlock's eyes fell upon someone, his heart started beating a thousand times a second. It was John Watson, he was laughing with his rugby mates who usually came here to watch the performance. Sherlock breathed deeply trying to calm his fluttering heartbeat.
"Everything alright, superstar? You look a little frightened."
It was Lestrade, he always had Sherlock's back, and in some cases, literally.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just someone, i-in the crowd."
Lestrade turned around and scanned all the seats
"Oh my Lord, John Watson is here, I can see why you are trying to calm myself down."
Lestrade rasied his hands and fixed Sherlock's messy curls
"You want to look your best for a fine gentleman, now give us a twirl superstar"
The costume Sherlock was wearing was new, in vintage terms, shipped in especially from New York, it used to belong to Irene Alder, and she was a famous, very famous, for a stripper, of sorts. It was like a sparkly one piece swim suit, but then not quite, with silver sparkly tassels on the ends of it, Sherlock wore gloves and diamond stockings to help complete the costume, he even especially re shaved his legs for this performance, giving a small shake of his butt to complete the twirl, Lestrade gave out a laugh.
"No wonder the crowd is here just to see you, superstar."
The small bell rang backstage signaled it was time, everyone grabbed their massive feather fans, carful not to bump anything with it, they were very delicate.
Sherlock took his place in the center stage and everyone else formed a circle around him, covering him with the hand held feather fans, Sherlock let out a shaky breath, the curtain rose and the jazzy music began, they circled around Sherlock, from the audience it would look like a massive clam about to open, and Sherlock was it's pearl. Sherlock was lying side on fanning his body with his feather fan, he slowly rose up, the other performers in sync formed a line raising both arms in the air holding the feather fans with both hands, Sherlock gave a wide naughty wink, the crowd gave a chuckle, fanning himself with the feathers he fell in line, and started to dance, he knew it well, it was the dance that made him famous, he went over the steps to the music over in his head, he needed to, he couldn't stumble, not tonight, Sherlock could not tear his eyes away from John Watson.
… 8, and, 8, and…
As long he went over the steps in his head, he would be fine, Lestarde was by his side.
When Sherlock had to spin away for his solo, Lestrade mouthed 'He's so hot!' from behind his fan, Sherlock could not contain his smile. When Sherlock danced alone, he scanned the crowd, finally able to take his eyes off the bachelor, this was his final moment to be able to impress anyone and everyone, he had to do it looking at the crowd, not just one person. Sherlock swung his arms wide at the same moment the music stopped and the crowd erupted with applause and the curtain fell. Sherlock stayed like that just for a moment, listening to the sound coming from the other side of the silk. With a huff Sherlock let his arms drop to his sides and he whisked away to his dressing room with quick light feet, the next group of performers gave him murmurs of praise for his performance on his way there. Sherlock leaned against the door2 when he shut it and let out a deep breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"That. Was. Amazing."
The voice made Sherlock jump. No one other than John Watson stepped out from behind the rack of costumes. He was even more handsome up close, he was wearing a work suit, with a long trench coat to complete it nothing too shabby but yet nothing too fancy, his tie was lose from his throat and his hair was ruffled, it took all of Sherlock's energy not to let his knees buckle beneath him.
"W-why thank you."
Sherlock took his seat in front of the mirror
"So, what brings the most eligible bachelor of London to a burlesque club? Yet alone a dressing room?"
Sherlock wanted nothing more to stand but his legs were shaking beneath the make-up table
John simply shrugged.
"I just wanted to congratulate you for your amazing performance and see if you needed someone to walk you home."
Sherlock squealed with excitement internally
"Of course, I just need to, uh, freshen up a bit and grab my coat."
John nodded and leaned against the wall
Sherlock had no idea what to do or what to make of this, he was so excited but yet nervous, he grabbed the make up pad and re applied some foundation power to his nose, looking in the mirror to see if it helped, it only seemed to make it sparkle…good enough… with a quick re application of blood red lipstick, Sherlock hurriedly flicked through the rack of costumes to find his coat. When he finally found it, John stood just behind it and motioned that he would hold it so Sherlock could slip into it, Sherlock allowed him too. Sherlock's heart was pounding inside his chest, Sherlock grabbed his bag and flicked off the light to the dressing room and stepped outside, quickly followed by John. Sherlock shut the door behind then and checked to see if it was locked. Lestarde was just down the hall and gawped when he saw both men walk past him, Sherlock gave Lestarde a wink over his shoulder, which made him gawp even more.
"So, uh, how did you find out about this place?"
Sherlock waved his hand in gester to the question
John simply shrugged. He had a habit of that.
"Just some rugby mates."
They walked in silence to the exit, Sherlock had to say something, anything, John beat him to it
"So, uh, where do you live?"
"221B Baker Street, not far from here, actually."
They walked in silence for a few more paces
"So, uh, John, what interests you?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, like rugby, do like solving crimes, doing puzzles, playing games, what interests you?"
"Oh! Uh…"
John scratched the back of his neck
"I like lots of things, maybe not solving crimes, but rugby, yes, I am good a poker, I enjoy doing the crossword puzzles in the morning paper, I enjoy watching dance."
Sherlock smiled at the last part
"What interests you, Sherlock Holmes?"
Sherlock let out a laugh
"I love dancing, always loved it, I find myself being good at solving crimes, I also enjoy those crosswords in the morning paper, I am no good at poker, although I do enjoy watching a good game of rugby."
John let out a hearty chuckle
Sherlock wanted to talk more, but they had arrived at their destination
"Here we are."
"So it seems."
Sherlock wanted to invite him up, but his apartment was crap, it was all he could afford with the payment from the club, and with his experiments causing mould on the walls, definitely not.
Sherlock placed a kiss on John's cheek
"Good night, John."
John looked lost for words. Sherlock hurried up the stairs placed they key in the lock to the door, trying to turn it so it would open, the door was old and stubborn
"Come on you stupid thing."
The door did not give way when Sherlock tried kicking it, and he was glad that it didn't because Sherlock was spun around and before he could say anything John's lips were pressed against his, Sherlock wanted it to last forever, it was passionate and powerful.
John slowly pulled away
"Good night, Sherlock"
Without another word John spun around and headed off down the stairs and into London's night. Sherlock couldn't help but wonder when and if he would see him again, Sherlock gave a full push against the door, which finally gave way. He ran up the stairs and let himself fall down onto his mattress on the floor his room, letting out a sigh, prepared for what might happen next between with John Watson and Sherlock Holmes.
The next morning Sherlock groggily closed the door to his apartment behind him and put the kettle on the stove for it to boil, sitting down back on his mattress he opened up the morning paper, a little flyer fell to the floor from it, Sherlock picked it up. It was a flyer about poker classes held in Soho, on the back of it was a scribbled note
Be here, 2pm, best dress in men's clothes for this particular occasion. Look for the table by the glass stained window, I will be waiting.
-JW
Sherlock read the note over and over, his grin growing wider and wider every time that he did. Sherlock ran over and threw his shitty closet doors open, he had to find the perfect outfit, and by 2pm.
*Authors Note Please Read* Hey Sweeties, well, there you have it, I shall label it complete for now, unless I get feedback that you guys want more or there is a lot of likes or views or whatever, maybe for a special occasion I might do a chapter or something, I don't know to be honest, it's you to guys! Anyway Thank you so much for reading, hope you enjoyed it, I did (Well, writing it) Jand well back to The New Case! J
Love you all guys
-allthewaysweets xoxo