A/N: Hey guys, thanks for reading. First shot at Sherlock drabbles, working off a 30 prompt table from the 100_prompts forum on LJ.
Promt: Defiant
Word count: 419
Warnings: mild swears, slight one-sided Johnlock, one-sided Watstrade if you squint, and mild reference to homophobia I guess?
"Hold on." Greg scratched the back of his neck, looking at his companion questioningly. "You're going to have to run that by me again."
"You heard me," John replied, burying his nose in his drink, a feeble attempt to hide the light blush spreading across his cheeks.
"So let me get this...straight..." the silver-haired DI smirked slightly at the unintended pun, "The only reason you're so determined to keep a date...the reason you spout 'I'm not gay' like a bloody mantra as soon as anyone so much as looks at you sideways...is because of a bet with your sister?"
John, now an intriguing shade of pink, set his beer down and cleared his throat. "Ah...yes, that's about right. It's become a bit of a game for us, who can stay publicly closeted the longest. Obviously we can't out each other. Only our closest friends can know, and if it ever becomes common knowledge..." He shrugged. "Sort of a nostalgic pull from when we were both hiding it from our parents."
Lestrade chuckled and shook his head. "I knew you were a stubborn bastard, but that you're so sodding defiant as to deny yourself because of some twisted sibling rivalry..." He took a sip of his own drink, considering. "Does Sherlock know?"
John shook his head. "No. Never saw point in telling him, really."
At this, Greg raised a brow.
John sighed. "Alright, fine. Honestly, d'you think he'd see the point in keeping it a secret? One passing comment and the whole damn department knows. I'd rather not risk it, stupid as that is."
Lestrade tilted his head, thinking, measuring the slightly forlorn look on John's face. "You know..." he began slowly.
John's brow furrowed, recognizing the contemplative look on his friend's face. "Do I want to?"
He waved his hand dismissively. "Well, I was just thinking...I'm not exactly one of Harry's close friends..."
John blinked, still not catching on.
Greg sighed and continued. "And technically you didn't out her to me, Sherlock did..."
Slowly, a look of understanding dawned on John's face. "So what you're saying is..."
"You've won." Greg took a satisfied pull from his beer. He could see why Sherlock actually deigned to feed information to John until he understood, just to see that enlightened look.
John sat back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "Well that's...uncomfortable."
Greg looked at him, his expression asking the unspoken question.
John gave him a crooked smile. "Now that I have no reason not to tell Sherlock, I'm going to want to."
Reviews are the biting Sherlock to my bumbling John.