This is my first Sherlock fanfic so let me know what you think I'm truly sorry if I messed up Sherlock's character. Enjoy!
OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO
John rubbed his eyes for the fifth time since waking up less than ten minutes and desperately tried to stay awake. As he sipped at the scolding hot coffee, John tried to think back to exactly when he had become so dependant on caffeine. All his life he'd never had a taste for coffee, much preferring a nice cup of tea. He supposed it began when he'd start sleeping on Sherlock's schedule.
Sure, he got a few extra hours sleep when they didn't have a case but when they didn't have a case, Sherlock became dangerous to himself and others so John tried to make sure Sherlock always had a case. That was all well and good for Sherlock, who could not sleep for days and still have energy to bounce around London but John had fallen back onto caffeine to keep him alert enough not to fall on his own face.
When their friendship progressed into a relationship, John's sleeping time took an even bigger hit. For someone who had been a virgin up until three months ago, Sherlock really liked sex. Well, according to Sherlock it wasn't actually the sex that was his favourite part. (although he promised John he liked that very much too) No, Sherlock liked what came after sex when he was utterly and totally exhausted and his mind was completely vacant.
There was only two things in the world that made Sherlock stop thinking, cocaine and sex. John was willing to do anything he had to in order to keep Sherlock away from cocaine and if that was mind blowing sex with the man he loved, well John would just have to struggle through it.
"John I have a case." Sherlock announced as he whirled past John and into the kitchen.
John blinked and looked up from his cup of coffee. It was barely six in the morning and his brain wasn't fully functioning yet. He never could understand how he could be less alert after nine hours sleep then Sherlock was after three days with no sleep.
"Don't you mean we have a case?"
"If I meant we, why would I say I? Really John, pay attention."
John closed his eyes and breathed deeply, inhaling the rich smell of coffee to calm himself down. It something he'd started doing once he and Sherlock had become a couple. Things were different in a relationship compared to a friendship and John was pretty sure breaking your boyfriend's nose because he pissed you off was considered domestic abuse.
"I need you to buy me a new riding crop." Sherlock continued, nibbling on the piece of toast that was supposed to have been John's breakfast.
"What happened to your old riding crop?" John asked, more focused on the fact that Sherlock was actually eating something for the first time in days.
"Well obliviously I broke it, or wouldn't need a new one would I? Honestly John, what's wrong with you? Even you aren't usually this dense."
"I'm tired." John grunted.
"How could you possibly be tired? You've just slept more in one night then I usually do in a month." Sherlock pointed out, throwing himself on the couch.
"You're well aware of how much I disapprove of your sleeping habits Sherlock, lets not start an argument."
"We only argue because you refuse to believe that I can live quiet happily on three hours sleep every few days." Sherlock pointed out, standing up and brushing the toast crumbs off his dress pants.
"That's because it's biologically impossible!" John snapped back, repeating the same thing he always did when Sherlock's sleeping schedule came up.
"Whatever. I have to go. This triple murder isn't going to solve itself and we both know Scotland Yard isn't going to do it. Bye John." Sherlock dipped down quickly and pecked John on the lips which somewhat alleviated his bad mood.
"Where am I even going to find a riding crop?" John called after him before he could escape to the stairs.
"If I knew that, I wouldn't need you to buy me one now would I? Sherlock yelled back before dashing down the stairs.
John cursed to himself silently and tried to think exactly where he was going to find a shop that sold riding crops in the middle of London. It took him less than a minute to come up with the answer and then he spent another ten trying to think of another way. His coffee was cold buy the time he resigned himself to the truth.
"Bollocks."
OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO
Standing on the sidewalk, John stared up at the sign declaring to everyone who walked past exactly what kind of shop this was. 'Lovers' was written in large swirly red letters, a heart replacing the 'O'. John was nervous. Not just nervous, he was embarrassed about being nervous. He knew he shouldn't be feeling this way. He was a Doctor, sex and nudity calm with the job. He'd seen hundreds of naked patients over the years and he was far from a virgin.
There was just something about sex shops that made him blush. It was something about the fact there was no way for him to pretend there was any other reason for him to be in one. At least when he bought condoms and lube at the grocery store he could pretend they were an after thought, pretend that the bread and milk were really the only things he planned on using.
"Bollocks." he muttered again under his breath.
Come on, just go in. The longer I stand out here, the more attention I'm going to attract. I'm a grown, mature man with a healthy sex life, nothing wrong with that. People go in here everyday, so can I.
The only difference was, John wasn't planning on buying something new and fun for him and Sherlock to use together. No, he was about to buy a new riding crop so his boyfriend could whack corpses.
"Oh bugger it all." he muttered again before pulling himself upright and walking into the store. His posture was stiff as he fell back into his military stance like he always did in stressful situations.
Inside was mostly like he'd expected. Well, apart from the lighting. John had thought the lighting would be muted, but it was startling bright and the hope of melting in to the shadows was dashed from John's brain. Although he had to admit, as long as he didn't focus on anything particular on the walls or shelves, he could pretend this was just any other normal shop.
"Can I help you?"
John turned quickly to the counter, surprised to see a relatively young girl behind it. According to her name tag she was Laura. In all honesty no, John didn't want her help but he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible so he'd take it.
"I'm looking for a riding crop."
He expected her smile to falter, a look of surprise, any kind of recognition that he'd asked for something just a little bit weird. But all she did was smile wider and move out from behind the counter in a manner that reminded his eerily of Sherlock.
"We have quite a large range of riding crops here as well a full line of bondage equipment. We have rope, ball gags, humblers, blindfolds to name a few. Although if you're into the more hard core stuff we can always have things ordered in." Laura explained as she guided him down to the back of the shop.
"Just the riding crop for today." John mumbled, feeling rather uncomfortable when he spotted the bondage equipment displayed on the back wall.
She wasn't exaggerating, they really did have a large range. John had never really understood the lure of bondage or BDSM. Over the years he'd known a few people who did it and it worked for them, but he'd never seen the point and the thought of hurting Sherlock like that made his stomach twist. Although a ball gag for Sherlock would certainly come in handy.
"Any particular colour you had in mind?"
John didn't know if Sherlock had any colour preference for his riding crops and was about to say black when he remember Sherlock had a fondness for the colour blue.
"Uh…blue please."
"Perfect! I like blue myself." Laura admitted, picking a blue one off the rail and heading back to the counter. "Is that all for today?"
"God I hope so."
OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO
Sherlock was sitting at Lestrade's desk when John arrived at the station. Lestrade, Donovan and Anderson standing around the desk bending over what John guessed to be crime scene photos. John noted with a quiet snort that Sherlock had made himself very comfortable in Lestrade's office, kicking his feet up onto the table. Entering the office with a nod to Lestrade, John waited for Sherlock to notice him. Moments passed and Sherlock didn't even glance up from the photo currently holding his interest.
"I got it." John announced finally, irritated at being ignored.
"Hmmm? Got what?"
"The riding crop you sent me for this morning."
"That was ages ago! Where have you been?"
John felt his teeth grinding and forced himself to stop. The last thing he needed was a trip to the dentist. Sherlock was absolutely infuriating when he became immersed in a puzzle and although John knew he shouldn't take it personally, it always stung a little that Sherlock didn't really notice if he disappeared for a few hours.
"Sherlock, do have any idea where I had to go to find a shop that sells riding crops in the middle of bloody London!"
"There's no need to make a fuss about it." Sherlock muttered, putting the photo down and picking up another one.
"Go to hell Sherlock!" John yelled, tired of being ignored in favour of a photo of a dead body. Since he'd walked into the office Sherlock hadn't even looked up.
Even Sherlock couldn't miss the acid in John's tone and looked up from the photo startled, not sure what he'd done wrong. "What have I done wrong?"
"Do have any idea how embarrassed I was today? How uncomfortable I was?" John pushed, tossing the riding crop onto the desk.
The other were looking quite uncomfortable and had stepped away from the desk to put ample space between them and the couple. John suspected that the only reason they hadn't made a run for the door was because he was blocking the exit.
"What am I supposed to say John?"
"A simple 'Thank you' would be nice!"
"It's blue. Why blue?"
Sherlock sudden change in topic made John stumble in his little hissy fit. "It's….It's your favourite colour."
"I know that. My do you know that?"
John couldn't help but think Sherlock was cute when he was confused, it really didn't happen enough in John's opinion. He felt his anger at Sherlock dissipate, Sherlock really had no idea what he'd done wrong. He didn't ignore John to be hurtful, he did it because he dedicated his whole attention to the Game. It was who he was and John would have to accept it. Sherlock was Sherlock and John loved him, no matter how irritating he could be.
"You're not the only one who pays attention."
"Of course."
John waited for Sherlock to say anything else but realised Sherlock probably wanted to get back to the triple murder mystery.
"I'll head back to the flat. Try to be home for dinner, I'm making your favourite."
John nodded goodbye to Lestrade, who still looked massively uncomfortable and turned to leave.
"John!"
John stopped and turned back to face Sherlock who himself was looking rather out his element.
"What is it Sherlock?"
"Thank you."
OOOoooOOOoooOOOoooOOO
Well that's the end of my first chapter, second one wont be too far away. Please REVIEW and let me know if it's any good. I'm really nervous about getting Sherlock's character right.