4'O'clock at last! Thought work would never end. I packed my stuff, said a cheery bye to Sherlock who ignored me as usual, and practically skipped to the exit.
The moment I stepped outside the hospital I could feel him. The hairs on my neck stood up and a tingle ran down my spine as I felt his eyes on me. Don't ask me how, but I know he's watching. I suppose I should feel scared. A normal person would be terrified if they knew uk's most dangerous criminal, homicidal maniac, Moriarty was watching them. I just felt (Absurdly) safe.
I reached the coffee shop in good time but stepped on 4 cracks on the way. He was there, waiting for me as always. No matter how early I could arrive, he would always be there before me.
His voice lit up with a boyish smile when he saw me and indicated to the seat opposite where I promptly settled myself into.
"I got you your favorite, Caramel latté wasn't it? fully caffeinated? Half the fat?" He said in his lyrical Dublin accent looking at me with those dark brown eyes, almost black in the right light, almost soulless, Like a shark's.
" mmm...Perfect, thank." I said, taking a sip and nearly burning my tongue. "So, how was your day?"
"Oh, you know. Boring. Some imbecile wanted me to bump off his wife, fame his best friend and make sure he got a promotion in America. I mean, please, I'm a consulting criminal, not a hit man deluxe." He rolled his eyes at me then grinned. "So, what have you been up to today, my angel?"
My heart jumped suddenly at his little pet name but I quickly regained composure, determined not to let him see what affect he had on me. Pointless of course.
"Ummm... Yeah, it was ok, I guess," I said sipping at my coffee. "New girl came in today. That was a laugh. Had a masters in Gaming, I mean who has a masters in gaming?" I glanced up, "She seemed to be very taken with Sherlock."
"Oh?" Jim's eyes flashed at the mention of Sherlock's name.
"Yeah. He insulted her life's work, she threw a microscope at his head. I felt they had a special something."
"Oh really?" He mused, leaning back into the leather coffee chair, smiling slyly. I gave him a , what I hoped to be, stern disapproving look.
"Don't get any ideas. She seems nice and she certainly doesn't need any emotional fuckwittage from you."
His big brown eyes widened in mock surprise, as he said innocently; "Moi? Emotional Fuckwittage? MOI?"
I shot him a look.
"Ok, Ok, I'll play nice," His gaze darkened, "For now." He waggled his eyebrows at me over his cup of steaming expresso.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head in despair. You couldn't make Jim do anything he didn't want to. No one could do that.
Well, except Sherlock maybe.
Sufficiently cooled I took another big sip of coffee. Jim lowered his thick eyelashes and looked up at me though them with his most charming smile.
"So, You. Me. Dinner. My place. Tonight?"
I almost choked on my coffee. Inner poise, I told myself, Inner poise. You're an ice-queen. Make him chase you.
"Come on Eve," He said leaning towards me seductively. "I need a serious word with your blouse. It's extremely thin. Almost, When you examine it, So thin almost to the point of transparency. Has it ever occurred to you, your blouse may be suffering from...Bulima?"
"I've got to meet someone," I whispered desperately.
"Come on Angel,"
Aloof, unavailable ice queen.
Aloof, unavailable ice queen.
"No," I said with a firmness that rather surprised me. Especially as, inside, I was shouldering under his gaze.
"Shame," He said softly. "I'll just have to ask someone else to enjoy the pleasure of my company tonight."
He took out his phone and shot me a look so dirty, I felt like throwing myself after him shouting, "Shag me! Shag me!"
He stood up, still tapping away at his phone. "Oh well," He said distractedly in a sing song voice. "See you Monday."
Panicking, I reached for my phone, bashing at it mindlessly.
"Oh! well wouldn't you believe it? You know that person I said I was meeting? Well, he has just text me saying he's ill and can't make it! So I can have dinner with you after all! yeah?" I stood up to face him. "I can... I can still have dinner with you right?" I said hestiantly.
He just stared at me, scrutinizing my face so intensely that I couldn't hold my gaze any longer and shifted my eyeline to stare at his suit. Westwood, naturally.
After he had apparently finished up studying my face, He smiled, he knew he'd won.
"Excellent. I knew you'd fall for me, Angel. My place then. Let's say 8:15," He winked at me, brushed down his immaculate designer suit with young unmarked hands and headed for the door. He stopped, hand on the frame of the door as he looked back with me, dark eyes glinting like a schoolboy with a secret.
"Ciao, my fallen angel."
And with that he was gone.
I collapsed back into the chair breathing fast and trembling slightly.
Bad news: The whole 'unavailable, ice queen' completely failed.
Good news: I had a date with Jim Motherfucking Moriarty!
Bad news: I had a date with the psychopath Jim Moriaty.
Jim was certainly attractive physically. There was no doubt about that, but his mind. Oh, his gloriously brilliant, glittering mind, like shattered glass: dangerous, sharp and often dripping red.
I knew I was one of his little distractions, just a piece in his great game but I still fell for him every time. I thought I could help him, save him some how from himself. Inside I knew. Jim Moriarty was beyond even an angel's help. But don't for one second think I was just going to leave him to burn. If Jim Moriarty was willing to risk everything, I was willing to burn with him.
And hey, I'd just bought a new skirt that was perfect for a hot date.
X X X X X X
Jim Moriarty watched as Eve left the coffee shop looking slightly flushed, a mixture of confusion and excitement on her face. He was enjoying this game with her so much. Watching her edges darkening in such a delicous way right in front of his eyes. watching her gain confidence then trip and fall straight into his waiting arms. Never had he had so much fun corrupting someone before. He reasoned it being she was so pure, innocent and sweet and stripping away those qualities and replacing them with darker, dirtier ones was soo tatalizing. Asking her out for a date was just the beginning soon, she would be his.
It was all so new this game. New and fun and distracting, Jim checked himself in the mirror, perfected the knot of his tie with his steady nimble fingers and smilied.
Things could only get more interesting...