Why can't he just have one normal day? Is that too much too ask? Just one bloody day where John can relax with his boyfriend and forget about all the blood and violence they've seen.
And he knows that the universe hated him but this, what the hell did he do to the universe for it to do this.
His dad, who was supposed to be locked up and rotting in a cell somewhere, was in his flat, his safe place and was currently talking to Sherlock.
What the fuck?
"John! My boy! I've missed you" The monster that haunted so many of his nightmares was looking at him like nothing happened. Like they're a normal family.
"John, are you okay?" Sherlock asked, but John didn't really pay attention to him right now.
All that was on his mind was his father. He thought he got over it, but now his worst memory was playing on repeat with every emotion resurfacing again like it never left. He felt like that scared little boy again, he felt the grief of his mother's death, the fear his father planted in him, the protectiveness over his little sister, the guilt because he could have stopped it. If he was just a little faster, a little stronger, a little smarter he would have saved her.
His father was smiling at him with concern in his eyes, but John knew him enough to know that it was just false concern covering up the hate he always felt, even when sober.
"Why are you here?" His voice sounded young, but it was possible that it was just his mind playing tricks on him.
"I wanted to see you." He stood up and got one step closer to John as John got one step futher from him. In the back of his eye he could see Sherlock approaching both of them, ready to interfere if necessary.
"You've seen me. Now you can leave." He doesn't know where he got the courage to stand up to him, but he knows that it was the wrong thing to do as his father's facade started falling apart.
There were some days he asked himself if he remembered his father wrong. Maybe he imagined it all, I mean he was 6 years old. But now, staring at the rage filled eyes all over again, he knows it really happened.
"Don't talk back to me, boy"
Sherlock was about to step in when the front door opened and Lestrade walked in, oblivious of the tense situation unfoalding.
"John, I need you to look at something I found-" He stopped in midsentence and faltered in front of the room. "Sorry, I didn't know you had a client. I'll wait outside."
"No, please, stay" His father offered a hand to the confused inspector. "I'm Hamish Watson. John's father."
"Wha-, John's... What?" The expression on his face would have been comical in any other situation. "John, you hadn't told me your father was visiting"
"That's because I didn't know my father was visiting." John sat in his armchair, unable to process all the resurfacing memories. Sherlock must have realized at least a part of what was happening beacuse he stood behind John and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly while subtly glaring at his father. He was most likely coming up in ways to harm him without it being illegal. Oh, who was he kidding? Like law would stop Sherlock.
"Yeah, I was released early because of good behaviour." Lestrade stiffened, finally realizing the tension in the room. Sherlock was starting to dislike the man more and more and was ready to throw him out in an instance in case he approaches John.
"Good behaviour, as in, you were in prison?" At that Lestrade received an 'are-you-dumb' look from Sherlock and an 'how-did-you-even-become-an-inspector' look from John. He did not get an answer.
"So, John, where's Harriet? I haven't seen her for a long time" His father's voice was calm and casual. It made John feel an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time: Fear. Crushing fear.
"I don't know, she's probably at home."
"Home? My little Harry has her own place now?" His eyes were full with pride and it upset John even more. "And is there any men in here life? She was so beautiful, she must have a thousand men swooning over her."
An awkward silence fell over the group.
"Well, she had someone, but they broke up with her..." John tried to tell him without saying too much, afraid of his father's reaction.
"How could he brake up with Harry? She's an angel!"
"It's not a 'he', Mr. Watson." Sherlock said, startling John who forgot he was even there.
That shocked John's father so much that he forgot to breathe for a second. John could recognize something equivalent to madness on his face. He knew what was going to happen next.
"You mean, Harry is one of those queers?" Hamish asked quietly, "My sweet little girl... What has the world done to her?
He turned his glare to John "You- Why didn't you do something? It is your job to protect your sister, John!"
"It is not a bad thing, dad. I had nothing to protect her from, she was born like that." John would never regret saying that, no matter the consequences.
"Oh, so you're telling me that you support that dirty sin? What, are you one of those fuckers, too?"At that, he barked out a laugh that contained no humor. He stopped laughing once he realized how uncomfortable John became. "No,..."
"I'm not gay, I'm-" That's when he choked up. Sherlock's hand was immediately back on his shoulders giving him the silent push he needed," I'm bisexual. It means I like women and men."
His father was silent for a few moments. And then, all hell broke loose.