A/N Hey guys! Thanks for reading and for all the views and everything :) This is the first fanfiction I've ever published online, so any feedback and reviews and critiques are brilliant! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me! Just so you guys know, this chapter is going up un-beta'ed, so any mistakes are mine. Thanks for reading and enjoy :D
Chapter 2
Sherlock stroked his fingers through Jackson's hair. The young man had his head in Sherlock's lap, sleeping soundly with his lover. Sherlock shivered as the cold wind blew into the room. He wrapped the blanket tighter around Jackson. Jackson moaned in his sleep.
"Sherlock."
Sherlock bent over him to give him a kiss on the forehead. He considered telling Jackson about his deducing skills, but the look on Seb's face was engrained in his head. He didn't think he could bear it if Jackson gave him that look.
Jackson, who was sleeping in Sherlock's lap. Jackson, who looked so peaceful. Jackson, who had just turned Sherlock on in more ways than one.
Jackson, whose eyes were fluttering open. He smiled. "Hey there." He sat up and gave Sherlock a quick kiss. He smiled into Jackson's lips. "How long was I out?"
"One hour and 23 minutes." Sherlock closed his French book and allowed Jackson to pull him onto his lap.
Jackson laughed. "I don't know how you do that Sherlock." He buried his face in Sherlock's neck and Sherlock stiffened. "I don't know how you can keep such careful track of everything."
He licked his lips. "Is that… okay with you?" he rumbled hesitantly. He wound his fingers with Jackson's, frightened.
Jackson pulled back and gave him a strange look. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" He brought Sherlock's hand to his lips. Sherlock shivered as Jackson kissed his hand again and took one finger into his mouth to suck on it. He pulled his hand away and replaced it with his mouth and tongue.
Jackson smiled against his lips. Sherlock felt Jackson suck on his lower lip. He moaned. Sherlock felt blood rush to his lower body and he pulled back, climbing off of Jackson's lap. Jackson threw his head back with a groan.
"Sherlock!" He shook his head at his friend, chuckling. "We'll do this in your time, but it's rude to get a man turned on and then leave him hanging!"
Sherlock ducked his head sheepishly. Jackson's smile faded. "Hey." He wrapped his fingers in Sherlock's hair and Sherlock lowered his gaze. "Hey, I'm kidding. What's wrong, man?" Sherlock refused to look at him. "Sherlock, you can tell me."
Sherlock met his gaze and felt the usual rush of temptation to show Jackson his skills. It had been a month since they first kissed, Jackson could handle it. Right? He stared at Jackson's brilliant green eyes, thought about never seeing them again, and shook his head.
"There's nothing wrong."
Jackson frowned. Sherlock felt a stab in his heart. "I wish you wouldn't lie to me. I get it if you don't want to talk, but don't lie to me." He let go of Sherlock's hair and began packing his bag.
Sherlock's eyes widened fearfully. Was Jackson mad? Was he upset? He reached for him. Jackson pulled back and Sherlock let his hand drop.
"I want you to trust me, Sherlock." He stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I wish you would." He left. Sherlock considered running after him, but he didn't. Mycroft, his older brother, would be appalled if he went running after someone. Especially a lover.
Sherlock didn't last an hour. He walked to Jackson's room, bundled against the cold, and knocked on his door.
Jackson's roommate answered. "Not here," he said. Sherlock glanced over the short black haired kid, nodded and left. "He went for a walk," the roommate called after him. "Probably down by the old oak tree!"
Sherlock waved in thanks and headed down to the grounds.
While there were many trees on campus, but the one known to most of the students was an old oak tree in the center of the grounds. Sherlock approached it, but didn't see his friend underneath it. He stood below the branches, looking around with his brow furrowed.
Something hit his head. He looked down to see a little acorn on the ground. He frowned and looked up. Jackson was sitting on a branch in the tree, leaning against the trunk. He gave Sherlock a small smirk.
"Hi," Jackson said.
"Hello," Sherlock replied. Sherlock looked around; climbing trees really was not his strong suit, and he had little interest in shouting up to Jackson.
Jackson held out his hand. Sherlock hesitated. Jackson sighed and began pulling back.
"Wait." Sherlock rubbed his forehead. Why was he doing this? Why was he climbing a tree? For a guy? Mycroft would be disappointed. Sherlock scanned the tree, reached up to the lowest hanging branch, and climbed on to it. He looked up. Jackson was smiling, and he held out a hand. Sherlock took it and Jackson hauled him up to the branch just below him.
"Hello." Jackson rubbed Sherlock's hair.
Sherlock pawed at Jackson's hand, but couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Thanks." He fixed his hair as best he could. "Look, about earlier…"
"Shut up, Sherlock, I need to apologize for that."
Sherlock frowned, somewhat taken aback. "Erm, what?"
"I'm sorry." Jackson ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. "I shouldn't have pushed you. What you're comfortable with sharing with me is your choice, not mine. I'm sorry. Come to me when you're ready to talk, and please, just know that I will never judge. You're my friend and I care a lot about you. But I won't push you." He leaned down to run his fingers through Sherlock's hair, unable to kiss him.
Sherlock grabbed his hand and kissed it, a thousand things running through his head. He really did want to open up to Jackson, show him all there was to him. "Let's go to dinner tonight," Sherlock said finally. "Mycroft just sent me some money for fun. I can take you to dinner."
Jackson smiled and nodded.
Sherlock stared at his water. Jackson stared at him. Finally, Sherlock sighed.
"I want to tell you something." Sherlock licked his lips and Jackson cocked his head in mild confusion. "Most people don't like me. It is because I can tell a lot about a person just by looking at them."
Jackson frowned a bit. "Okay?"
"All right." Sherlock sighed, glancing around. "The woman just to your left is coming out to her parents right now. I can tell because her parents are holding hands and look slightly mortified. She has a very serious expression on her face and she is looking directly at them; she wants them to understand. Why is it not something else? A death? Anything? Because the wedding ring on her finger is not an official wedding ring. How can I tell? It's silver, not gold, and a single band with no jewels. Not standard for a feminine wedding or engagement ring. She's fiddling with it as she talks; she's nervous and the ring is a security blanket for her. Clearly from someone important, someone she feels safe with. It's on her ring finger. Deduction: She has a partner. Her mother is wearing a cross on her bracelet; Christian. Probably staunch. Her parents clearly love her as they have not yelled or fled and there are no signs of anger, but they are distressed at the news."
Jackson stared at him, wide eyed. "How do you know this is fact?"
"Her mother is about to stand, say something, and run to the bathroom."
Sure enough, the older woman got to her feet and somewhat quietly said, "I'm sorry. I just cannot accept this. God called it an abomination, and I… I just can't!" She walked hurriedly towards the bathroom.
Sherlock returned his gaze to the water glass in front of him, not sure he could handle the disgusted face Jackson was sure to be giving him.
"Sherlock," Jackson breathed, and Sherlock prepared for the worst, "that was amazing."
He jerked his head up, his eyes wide with shock. Jackson smiled at him. "What?"
"That was fantastic! Why would I ever think that would be a reason to dislike you?" Jackson reached across the table to grip Sherlock's hand.
Sherlock twined their fingers together. "Most people…"
"Most people are idiots." Jackson pressed his leg against his friend's. "Don't be ashamed of that. That was brilliant. You're brilliant."
Sherlock smiled.
