John wasn't gay – at least, he didn't think he was. He'd had several (unsuccessful) relationships with women over the years, after all. He hadn't even had any particularly close friendships with any other men – that is, before he met Sherlock. John seemed to be the only person in the whole of London who wasn't convinced there was anything going on between the two of them. Speaking of which, he couldn't help recalling a conversation he'd had with Irene Adler – or 'The Woman', as she was known professionally – on this very subject.
"Are you jealous?"
"We're not a couple."
"Yes, you are."
"For the record – if anyone out there still cares – I'm not actually gay."
"Well I am. Look at us both."
John hadn't thought much of it at the time, being more concerned about Sherlock, but looking back on it, he couldn't help but wonder.
Had Irene been accusing him of having feelings for Sherlock?
John could see why people might think he and John were a couple – two single men in their thirties living in the same flat – but there certainly wasn't anything romantic about their relationship (or friendship, or acquaintance; John wasn't quite sure what exactly it was). Sherlock certainly wasn't the romantic type, to begin with. He barely even showed any real emotion, most of the time.
That said, it wasn't your average friendship, either. Sherlock and John frequently bickered – 'like an old married couple', as Lestrade often said – over not-so-average, everyday things like who used the last of the milk, or why there was a bag of what looked like severed ears in the refrigerator, sandwiched between a jar of strawberry jam and an old loaf of bread ("It's an experiment!"). But despite this, there was a sort of unspoken understanding between them. They'd settled into a chaotic yet happy little routine, which neither of them particularly had the desire to break.
It was just as John had said earlier – "We solve crimes, I blog about it and he forgets his pants."
And he was perfectly fine with that.
A/N: also written for the drabble challenge which i never finished.