Chapter One-Engagements

If you have what you say you have, I will make you rich. If you don't, I will make you into shoes.

James Moriarty (please call me Jim, everyone does), walked purposely from the pool, closing the doors behind him, and closing his phone, both with a definitive snap. He slipped his phone into the pocket of his expensive, tailored, Westwood trousers, and walked down the back hall of the swimming pool with a confident smirk. In his mind, he replayed the scene with Sherlock and John, specifically the looks on the great consulting detective's face as he revealed his plan to him. Jim scowled to himself, making a mental note to give Irene Adler a firm repercussion for interrupting such a FUN engagement.

His annoyance at Adler-formally known and referred to as The Woman-was brought to a halt as he exited the building that still contained a consulting detective, a blogger, and enough explosives to blow the entire building up, and was greeted with an unexpected surprise. A tall, well-built man, clothed entirely in black, and with a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder in a case, was leaning against the wall of the alleyway the door opened into. He has one hand in his pocket, the other behind his back, and a confident grin on his scarred face.

"Sebby!" shouted Jim, dropping his cool and confident façade to run into the broad chest of his sniper, Sebastian Moran. Jim wrapped his arms around Moran, and squeezed until his arms felt numb, and still found the strength to pull himself still closer to the now-chuckling amiably sniper, apparently attempting to join his slight form with Moran's larger, more muscular body. Then, Jim pulled away, and looked up at Sebastian with a pout, wondering why his favorite assassin wasn't hugging him back. Sebastian, apparently aware of the reason for Jim's sad face, grinned and said, "You almost crushed them," and pulled a bouquet of blood red roses from behind his back. Jim squealed with joy, and reached eagerly for the flowers, and caressed their silky petals. He then reached his hand up, and set it gently against Sebastian's face, brushing the grown-out sandy locks out of his eyes, before wrapping his open arm around Sebastian's neck, and pulling him into a loving kiss. Sebastian smiled against Jim's eager lips, and pulled away, one hand still in his pocket. Jim was annoyed and confused, and he looked up-or rather, down at Sebastian, who had sunken to the ground on his knee.

Sebastian brought his hand out of his pocket, and placed both of his hands around Jim's. "I've missed you." He said, staring up into the criminal mastermind's glinting eyes.

"I've missed you too," choked Jim, furiously blinking away tears, "I thought…I thought…"

"You thought I was dead," stated Sebastian simply. Knowing that he would cry if he opened his mouth, Jim bobbed his head up and down in a frantic nod. Sebastian chuckled, and lovingly stroked Jim's hands, "James. You know I'd never do that to you. And three years away in Afghanistan doesn't mean I'm dead. Besides, I still have something important that I've got to do, and I couldn't let dying stop me."

Jim's breath caught in his throat as he watched Sebastian slowly reach back into his pocket, and extract a small, navy blue velvet box. He brought it up, so Jim could see it properly, and opened the lid. Inside was a ring. It was a simple ring, a band of flawless silver, but to Jim, it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"James Moriarty," began Sebastian, "will you marry me?"

Jim couldn't breathe. A shaking hand flew to his mouth, as he whispered, "yes." Tears began to stream freely from his eyes, as Sebastian slipped the ring onto the ring finger of his left hand. Sebastian then rose to his feet, tucking the ring box back into his pocket, and setting down his rifle case. He reached out to Moriarty, and tilted his face up to kiss him. Jim forgot all about the roses, as he dropped them and snaked both arms around Sebastian's neck, pulling him closer. The assassin responded in kind, threading his muscular arms around Jim's slender figure, and pressing himself against the consulting criminal, and kissing him harder.

Jim made a noise deep in his throat, halfway between a whimper and a growl, and pushed Sebastian against the alley wall. Sebastian ran his fingers through Moriarty's slicked-back, perfect hair, and slid his tongue into the evil geniuses mouth. Sebastian only broke away once, to kiss a trail down Jim's neck, whispering "I love you," and hugging Moriarty tightly to his chest.

They stood in the alleyway for a very long time. Neither of them could remember how long, but they only broke apart as the beginnings of rain and rumbles of thunder broke their intimate silence. Jim giggled, and reached up, as if to touch the darkened clouds, and allowed the rising amount of rain to trickle over his delighted face. He spun in a circle, nearly toppling over from slipping in a puddle, but Sebastian caught his elbow and righted him, laughing at the silly expression on James's face. Jim giggled too, and stood on his tiptoes to kiss Sebastian lightly on the cheek.

"C'mon, we should really be getting home." Jim said with a grin, his features looked animalistic, and his pupils were blown wide, giving him a rather frighteningly mad appearance .

"Home?" asked Sebastian, confused.

"Well yes, you dolt! I just accepted a marriage proposal from you, of course I'm not going to let you freeze on the streets or stay at some cheap motel. As your new fiancé, I insist that you come and live with me, and go out with me tonight, for a celebratory dinner."

"What're we celebrating?" asked Sebastian.

"Your return, healthy and whole. Or our engagement. Or both!" Answered Jim, happily swinging his and Sebastian's intertwined hands, and grinning and giggling madly. "But for now, let's get you home and cleaned up." And with that, and a surprising amount of strength for a man his size, James Moriarty pulled Sebastian along the alleyway, and out onto the street, where a sleek, black car was waiting.