IMPORTANCE
To have a friend and be a friend is what makes life worthwhile.
-Unknown
"Is this what it's like to be normal?" Sherlock slurred.
Doing his level best not to laugh, John continued to haul his drugged flatmate down the empty street. "Compare to you, I suppose."
"That's miserable," the genius persisted, brow uselessly furrowed while his regularly brilliant intellect scrambled helplessly to comprehend anything.
"Well, we don't really know any better," John offered, stumbling to keep his friend upright when they had to traverse a curb. "We can't miss what we haven't ever had."
Sherlock ignored him, continuing to share every thought running through his slowed mind. "I don't understand how anyone can live like this. It would be abysmally dull. And you'd have to pretend to be interested in stupid people to discover if they really are morons. No wonder you and Mrs. Hudson are always making those daft lists of things you need to do - you really can't remember anything. And that explains why all the idiots out there choose to attempt relationships. They actually don't know any better. It's only because I'm objective and not in denial that I can see that everyone will always let everyone else down."
His voice didn't change, but John felt Sherlock's body tense.
Stopping in place, the shorter man pulled the detective into a tight hug, which Sherlock melted into, going quiet.
With the same gentle concern he always used on hurt children, John spoke. "Sherlock, I can't promise I'll never disappoint you. I can promise, though, that I will always do my best to fix it when I do let you down. You're my best mate, and nothing you or anyone else says or does will change that. Alright?"
Sherlock didn't respond.
John looked up and chuckled when he discovered that sharply molded face had gone slack with sleep. Shuffling around, he managed to pull out his mobile without losing hold of Sherlock, and figured he should call Lestrade to send someone to pick them up.
Then he smiled fondly as a huffy little snore escaped his friend and he heard the call begin to ring through. Even if the detective hadn't heard the promise, it was still in effect. Sherlock had become the most important part of the ex-soldier's life, and just as he had said, nothing would change that.
end.
