"Never do that again, Sherlock!" John snapped, waving his arms about angrily as he threw his coat and bag on the floor. Sherlock stalked past him and flopped down of the sofa sulkily.

"Really, John, I think you're overreacting."

John's eyes widened as he looked at the detective, "Overreacting? Really? You groped me in public."

Sherlock rolled his silver cat eyes and toyed with his loose, dark curls, "John it wasn't groping, as you so vulgarly put it. I simply placed my hand on your-"

"Stop! Just stop right there- placing your hand... where you placed it... that was enough. Too much."

"But John, intimacy is a crucial part of becoming closer with one's lover."

At this John's mouth narrowed until his lips nearly disappeared. He ran a tired hand through his hair and exhaled heavily. The detective noticed a crease between the doctor's eyebrows. He frowns too much.

"Sherlock. We're not lovers. We're flatmates. Friends."

"...who have sex."

"N-No." Drained, John slumped next to Sherlock on the sofa and stared straight ahead, "I'm not gay. I know I'm not. I can't be. It doesn't-"

"John," Sherlock said matter-of-factly, "There really is no need to define oneself, it's me you're talking to, remember?"

"I know."

"So stop being so dramatic and pass me the remote, 'Countdown' is starting."

John dumbly handed his friend the television remote and they both sat watching 'Countdown'. About two minutes after the first ad break Sherlock gently placed his hand on John's thigh and just rested it there, not taking his eyes away from the screen. After another few minutes John tentatively leaned his head against Sherlock's shoulder. They stayed sat like that in silence until the credits rolled, at which point Sherlock placed a fleeting kiss on John's forehead before heading to the kitchen.

John lingered for only a few seconds before leaving the flat; he needed some air.

Sherlock watched him go, and patiently waited for him to return, which he would. John always came back.