Vie for a Valentine

Summary:
Both Irene Adler and Molly Hooper had been pining over a certain Sherlock Holmes since the day they've laid their eyes on him. Realizing their similar goal early, they turned into rivals. However when the school announces that a Valentine Ball will take place in February, their rivalry reaches a whole new level. Since Sherlock refuses to choose between them; they have to work this out between one another.

Disclaimers & Warnings:
I do not own Sherlock BBC, sadly enough. This will contain sexual themes in a same sex relationship;
Most likely having descriptive scenes of lovemaking between a Miss Molly Hooper and Irene Adler.
I've also taken the liberty of changing the setting and the age of the characters involved.

Prologue: The Tiger and the Mouse

Molly was looking down at the paper before her eyes, continuously fondling the edges of it with nervous movements. She knew it might be considered a childish way to ask someone to be their ball date, but she really thought stammering and stumbling on her words would be more embarrassing. She cast a glance over the classroom at the boy in question; he was sitting far back and staring out of the window with a distant gaze. His sharp cheekbones were highlighted by the brisk January light from the window, and John was sitting on the chair beside him, making Sherlock look taller in comparison. As her gaze ventured back to the teacher in front of the class, she caught a pair of stunningly green eyes looking at her intently. She felt the usual shiver travelling down her spine she felt every time this particular girl eyed her with a gaze that could seemingly see through both her clothes and skin. Irene Adler was staring at her, and by the angle of her neck Molly suspected that she also had been busy observing Sherlock. Molly couldn't look away – Not that she in any way wanted to challenge the other in a staring contest, no, she was like a rabbit in the middle of the road, paralyzed by fear as a car came closer and closer by the second. Irene narrowed her eyes, and Molly imagined Irene pulling up her upper lip in a quiet animalistic snarl. Molly winced and moved her gaze down; her head fell into a submissive pose. Her gaze landed on Irene's high heels, which were tapping the floor in a rapid rhythm. She was transfixed by the movement, but managed to change her focus to the note in her hand.

Her writing was small but neat, and she concentrated on it to shake the feeling of being carefully watched. Irene had always evoked fear in Molly – An irrational sickening anxiety grounded in the pit of her stomach, swirling every time she heard the clickety-click from Irene's heels. Molly guessed it was because she was powerful and strong in kind of the same sense as Sherlock was. However, where Sherlock was apparently oblivious to dating and, not to mention, sexual activity, Irene Adler seemed to embrace and revel in it in a way that made Molly Hooper blush. She couldn't deny that she, in a way, was jealous of her. Her openness, her boldness and fierceness. To compete with her was impossible, and Molly admitted to herself that she must look like a little grey mouse compared to the ferociously attractive creature that was Irene. However, she argued with herself, Sherlock was not ordinary. Maybe he doesn't want Irene, Molly Hooper thought with a whirling hope emerging in her stomach, Miss Adler is more beautiful than me, and certainly more intelligent as well. She admitted to herself. But I've proven myself to be trustworthy and loyal, she let herself to hold onto that hope, maybe that's what he's looking for.

Irene let her eyes rest upon Molly after the other had looked down, but at last turned her head forwards. Molly was so aggressively submissive – So utterly pure and good. It bothered Irene that seemingly nothing could persuade her to give up on Sherlock. She frowned; Well, she would bend sooner or later.

The teacher, at last, assembled his papers and gave a small sigh. "That was it for this class" He said, and Molly's head jerked up. Her gaze nervously darted towards Sherlock, who was already standing up and was bothering John who was putting down his notebook into his bag. Sherlock hadn't bothered even bringing his bag. A bit clumsily she gathered up her papers and propped them down messily into her bag. She glanced down at it; its side were bulging with badly packed papers and books. He clutched the note in her hand, swallowing hard and with her head bent moved out in the aisle between the tables. She heard Sherlock's voice from in front of her.

"Molly" He said, and Molly felt her head automatically jerk up. She swallowed hard, her hand clutching the piece of paper desperately. She opened her mouth to say something, but another voice came from behind her, followed by the sounds of heels clicking against the floor. "Sherlock" Irene's voice was soft, but strong. Molly promptly shoved the note into Sherlock's hands, before turning. Irene was cutting of the immediate path, and looked at her with an amused glint in her eyes and her lips smirking.

Irene moved her gaze to Sherlock instead. The boy was unfolding the piece of paper. "I was wondering, " She continued, while Molly found her escape route between chairs and tables, frantically trying to figure her way out of this maze before Sherlock would unfold the piece of paper and read the small neat letters.

"If you would like to go to the Valentine's ball with me?" She ended her sentence, as Sherlock's eyes found the last few characters of Molly's note. John noticed the slightest hint of an amused smirk ghost over Sherlock's lips, before disappearing again.

"It seems another one asked me as well" He said. Molly found herself stop. She tried to convince herself to move, to walk out of the door and never mind that Irene and Sherlock would go together to the ball, and just forget about the whole deal. However, the hope of Sherlock choosing her simply rooted her to the spot. She turned around, her head only looking up carefully, her eyes peeking up into Sherlock's, as if to make sure she had heard correctly. Sherlock gave Molly a soft smile, and Molly was about to reply with another when Irene spoke up again. Her voice sharp, but still playful.

"Oh, please-" Her hand came to rest upon her waist, and she popped her hip out a bit and leaned her head backwards to emphasize her rolling her eyes. "Little cute miss Hooper – Still using methods since kindergarten. She could rival you in innocence Sherlock" She continued, pursing her lips daringly against the other. Molly's cheeks had bloomed in colour, her eyes finding her own feet again and her fingers fiddled with her cardigan with cherries on. Sherlock seemed surprised when suddenly John spoke up, his brows tightly knit together and obviously tried to look more calm than he actually was.

"I think it is a valid way of asking." He said, and Sherlock turned his head to look at him questioningly. "If anyone wondered what I think." John continued, mumbling and also directing his gaze away from Irene's powerful eyes. This time Sherlock couldn't hide his amused smirk.

"Well," He decided, folded the paper as he spoke. "Since you two asked me at the same time, I simply can't choose either of you."

Irene tried to not show her shock, but her eyes widened and her mouth tightened a bit. Molly, however, couldn't help her mouth from dropping open, and she had to hastily rearrange her features.

"If not," Sherlock suddenly continued, after a well sculptured pause. "One of you decided that you don't want to go with me anymore."

Molly heard herself speak before she had even thought about what that meant. "But that's never going to happen!" The sudden urgency in her voice, made Irene, Sherlock and John to turn their heads towards her. Her cheeks bloomed up again, and she bowed her head. "I mean. I'm not going to give up, and I'm sure miss Adler-" She quietened when Irene scoffed, obviously irritated. Her voice was commanding, and dominant. "Speak up girl, if you have something to say. I can't hear you." Her voice shot through the air like a whip, and Molly was careful not to look up. She knew that Irene was eyeing here again. The atmosphere of the room intensified; the silence was thick. John was beginning to squirm, but Sherlock only observed Irene's intense glare at Molly. It was as just her eyes could keep Molly in place – and her figure seemed to be shrinking by the second.

At last Sherlock broke the silence with a soft cough and tugged John with him. "Well, we'll leave then"

Molly's ponytail swished through the air as she turned her head when she heard the soft thud of the door closing. She realised that she was alone with Irene, and heard the other take small steps towards her. She turned, Irene was much closer than she had expected. She gasped, and then put her palm in front of her mouth.

Irene didn't look amused this time; she had put her arms crossed over her chest. Her brows pulled down in an irritated expression. "We can do this the easy way" She said, her voice low. She was just about to continue when Molly's voice burst through. "I'm not giving up!" She sounded squeaky even in her own ears, and a familiar blush made its way onto her face.

Irene's lips moved into a smile, and her eyes gleamed. She had to give it to Molly, she thought, the blush really fits her face. She chuckled softly, moved towards Molly and the door. She nearly brushed the other when she past, as she hummed. "Oh, I also like the fun way more. It'll be a pleasure, miss Molly Hooper." The door closed behind her, and Molly was the only person left in the room.

Her heart was racing in her chest. She was in a competition against Irene Adler, to win Sherlock's hand in the Valentine's ball.