AN: So, idea is that every episode will have its own chapter, where you you'll be able to see how a change in John and Sherlock's relationship would change the series. These three chapters are season one, and season two might emerge as well if I get the time. Feedback is love

A Study in pink

1.

"I'll get a candle for the table, it's more romantic"

"I'm not his date- ", John starts, but that's the second time it's been implied in the last two minutes, and the fourth that evening. He stops and turns to his new flat mate "- wait, am I?"

Sherlock turns to stare out the window, ignoring him. "You may as well eat; it might be a long wait."

There is a long and rather awkward silence after that, before John finds something to say. "People don't have arch enemies."

Sherlock comes back to life. "Sorry?"

"In real life. There are no arch enemies, it doesn't happen."

Sherlock turns back to the window. "Doesn't it? Sounds a bit dull."

"So who did I meet?"

Again, Sherlock doesn't give him a straight answer. "What do people have then, in their real lives?"

"Friends. People they like, people they don't like." John hesitates for a moment before moving on. "Girlfriends, boyfriends…"

Sherlock doesn't seem to notice "As I said: dull."

"You don't have a girlfriend then?"

"Girlfriend? No, not really my area"

The last bit makes John stop in his tracks. Hello. "All right. Do you have a boyfriend?"

Now Sherlock finally turns from the window to fix his gaze on John. "No", he says, keeping his eyes on him. It's just a bit too much for John to keep his cool. He breaks eye contact, turning to his food.

"All right. You're unattached, just like me. Fine. Good."

There is another awkward silence where Sherlock first looks out the window again, then does a double take. He takes a moment to decide on a course of action, then:

"John. Erm. I think you should know that I consider myself married to my work and while I'm flattered by your interest, I'm really not looking for anything…"

"Oh no, no. I'm not asking- no. I'm just saying. It's all fine"

The consultant detective looks a bit relieved. "Good. Thank you."

2.

"So the shooter, no sign?"

"Cleared off before we got here. A guy like that could have had enemies I suppose, one that would have been following him, but... we've got nothing to go on"

Sherlock tilts his head and smirks a bit "Oh, I wouldn't say that"

Lestrade half stops himself from giving off a sigh. "Okay, give me"

Sherlock gets up and off the ambulance. "The bullet they just dug out of the wound was from a handgun. Killing shot from that distance from that kind of a weapon, that's a crack shot we're looking for, but not just a marksman, fighter's hands, couldn't have shaken at all, so clearly he's acclimatized to violence. He didn't fire until I was in immediate danger though, so strong moral principle. You're looking for a man, probably with a history of military service and nerves of steel –"

Sherlock trails off as he sees John standing by a police car and connects the dots. Their eyes meet for a moment, then John looks away, as if he has no idea what is going on. Really? Sherlock composes himself quickly, but then realizes he has to deal with Lestrade.

"Actually, You know what, Ignore me."

"What?"

"Ignore all of that, it's just the shock talking."

"Where are you going?"

"I just need to talk about the- the rent"

"I've still got questions."

Sherlock stops in his tracks, realizing that this isn't going to work. "What now? I'm in shock, look I've got a blanket"

"Sherlock!"

"And I've just caught you a serial killer! More or less."

Finally Lestrade seems to give in. "Okay. I'll call you in tomorrow, off you go."

Sherlock walks over to John, discarding the blanket and turning up his collar on the way. John is still acting innocent, though he does avoid eye contact at first and a small chuckle betrays him. "Sergeant Donovan's just been explaining it to me. The two pills. Dreadful business that. Dreadful."

John's eyes wander over Sherlock as he says the last part. Sherlock just looks at him in amazement and with a tiny smile on his lips. "Good shot."

"Yes, must have been, through that window."

Sherlock keeps smiling at him, and there is almost something gentle in his voice when he says: "Well, you'd know."

There is another short pause and then Sherlock seems to snap out of it "We need to get the powder burns out of your fingers, I don't suppose you'll serve time for this, but let's avoid the court case." Then there is a look of concern. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, of course I'm all right"

"You know you've just killed a man"

"Yes." The first response is short, then John looks at Sherlock and smiles a bit when he says: "It's true. But he wasn't a very nice man."

"No, he wasn't, was he?"

"… And frankly a bloody awful cabbie."

The two of them laugh. "It's true, he was a bad cabbie. You should have seen the route he took just to get us here." John and Sherlock start walking, giggling like a pair of school boys.

"Stop it, we can't giggle at a crime scene"

"You're the one who shot him, not me"

"Keep your voice down!" John turns to Sergeant Donovan, who of course walked past right at that moment. "Sorry, it's just the nerves" Then he slows down and clears his throat.

"You were going to take that damn pill, weren't you?"

Sherlock stops and turns around to face him "Of course I wasn't. I was biding my time. Till you'd turn up." He looks away slightly at the last part.

John doesn't waver. "No you didn't. It's how you get your kicks isn't it, you risk your life to prove you're clever?"

"Why would I do that?"

"'Cause you're an idiot."

Then, finally, Sherlock breaks into a wide smile. There is a short pause.

"Dinner?"

John's smile widens. He clears his throat, still having to make sure. "I thought you were married to your work."

"Well, we work well together, don't we?"

"Yes, we do". John eyes Sherlock up and down again before nodding. "I thought you'd never ask."