AN: Sowwy! I'm had a lot of work, and haven't been able to type it up... But finally here it is :) Chapter 2! Enjoy x
Chapter 2 - Love Is War
"If love is war, then you're a good reason to fight." – Joe Mcelderry, Love is War.
"Mum, this is Sherlock Holmes." John announced.
"Oh, hello." Said John's Mum, with a welcoming smile. Sherlock smiled meekly back, feeling more than a little awkward.
"He's a bit… Emotionally challenged?" John whispered to his mother quickly. "He might be rude sometimes, but that's just how he was raised. Just warning you." He didn't want her getting upset if Sherlock was unnecessarily harsh… She just nodded, and looked back to Sherlock.
"Did you get permission to stay over, Sherlock?" she asked. Sherlock nodded, and Mrs Watson smiled again. "I'll go and set up the spare mattress in John's room then." And she left.
"You do have manners…" John joked.
"She smiles too much…" Sherlock murmured, and although John knew he was completely serious, he laughed. "What?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter." John said, not wishing to provoke anger in Sherlock. He'd witnessed the boy's anger, although thankfully he hadn't been on the receiving end… yet.
John led Sherlock into the living room. He dumped his bag and coat in a corner, indicating that Sherlock should do the same. He was more than a little surprised when Sherlock actually removed his coat, and his scarf. This was the first time John had actually seen Sherlock in his school uniform. It looked a tad too small, but perhaps that was what made it fit his perfectly. Every part of his perfectly sculpted body had a matching piece of clothing, which only served to flatter the young teen's features even more! But John couldn't help but notice the strain that the buttons of his shirt were under…
"You've never taken that off before…" John muttered.
"I get too much attention." Sherlock stated simply. He certainly wasn't ignorant of his good looks.
"Ah. Can't say I'm surprised." John laughed. Sherlock didn't. John broke the awkward silence before it could fully develop; "Why do you have them too small?"
"Mother insists. She says it looks better. It's the only thing she doesn't despise about me; my looks…." Sherlock explained. John grimaced, but Sherlock didn't seem bothered by it.
"Sit down." He indicated a seat, and Sherlock sat, his back straight, as if there was a rod up his shirt, and his hands carefully placed on his lap. John decided not to comment. "Why does your mum hate you so much?"
"Honestly? I don't know. Of course, I've had my theories." Sherlock replied.
"Which is most likely?"
"Favouritism, I believe. She loves Mycroft, she hates me. Simple logic really." He said with a shrug.
"Favouritism? But that's just liking someone a bit more than someone else. Not hating one of them!"
"Not in my family." Sherlock said bluntly. John grimaced again.
"Poor you."
"I'm used to it."
"I… I guess… But still…" John murmured, looking down.
"Is that not how things work for you?" Sherlock asked.
"No."
"But your older sister?"
"I never said she was older."
"But you did say she does a lot of partying. If she was younger, she wouldn't be."
"Oh… Nice." John said, with a smile.
"Hm?"
"How you figured that out." John explained, still beaming.
"Oh. People don't normally…" he trailed off, but John looked at him expectantly, prompting him to continue. "Well, they don't like it… When I deduce things…"
"Well, I think it's brilliant!" John said. Sherlock smiled a little.
"Really?" and John thought he saw a glimmer of hope and timid-ness behind the stone mask of his new friend's face.
"Of course! And you're a genius too!" John exclaimed, and Sherlock couldn't stop himself blushing slightly. John felt for a moment like he was getting somewhere, but his heart dropped when he saw Sherlock seemingly reprimand himself under his breath, before rebuilding his mask. John sighed. This would be harder than he thought; but maybe the key to unlocking the heart John knew Sherlock had was the make him feel valued…
John's Mum came down the stairs.
"There we go." She said with a smile that could have been considered sickly, even by John.
"Thanks, Mum. Come on Sherlock." John said, grabbing Sherlock's hand, and pulling him up towards the stairs.
"Tea will be at about six, boys!" John's Mum called. She sighed when they didn't answer. "They always end up ignoring you… He's 16, I shouldn't be surprised… My babies are all grown up…" she smiled sadly, as she returned to the kitchen.
For the next two hours, Sherlock listened diligently to John's tales of family picnics, trips to the beach, holidays gone wrong and Christmas parties that had been a little too full of wine. All things Sherlock had never experienced.
When they were called to dinner, Sherlock was perfectly polite, which John found odd… Even a little shocking. Sherlock had always come across as a rude, uncaring boy. But John was beginning to see now that that wasn't at all true… In fact, he was just scared of being hurt. So, he hid his emotions behind a steel wall, coated in ice. He knew how to act in polite company though… John supposed he shouldn't be surprised really, with the family Sherlock grew up with.
They returned to John's room after Sherlock had given a smaill bow and a quiet "thank you" to John's Mother.
"You surprised me there." John said. Sherlock frowned in confusion. "You were all… polite…"
"I have been taught manners, John." Sherlock snapped, seemingly offended
"Sorry. It's just, you're so sharp usually…" John murmured. Sherlock looked down.
"F-forgive me…" he muttered, sadly. "I did not mean to be so curt." He said. John smiled warmly.
"Don't worry. I understand."
"May I use the bathroom, please?" Sherlock asked. He was being overly polite now… reserved. John knew he should have said anything. He'd taken one step forward and two steps back… Dammit!
"Sure, it's just there." He said, pointing to the door at the end of the landing.
"Thank you." Sherlock said, bowing a little, and hurrying in. John could see that his moves would have to be more calculated if he was going to win this war…
Dunno when I'll get Chapter 3 done... but I'll try and make it soon XD