"Being in a stable relationship and going public, from the man who thinks caring is a disadvantage?" Mycroft said from John's armchair, eyes fixed on his umbrella, which he was twirling in his right hand. "You surprise me, dear brother. I didn't know you had it in you."
"Mycroft." Sherlock sneered from the doorway. "Thanks for coming by; please feel free to make your way out now that your message has been successfully delivered."
Sherlock closed the door behind him, throwing his coat on the couch, and with an annoyed sigh at Mycroft's immobile figure, he sat in front of him.
"Where's John?" Mycroft asked, his eyes roaming over the living room.
"At the clinic, as you most certainly know already. He will be back soon, and I'd rather you were gone by then."
"No need to be hostile, Sherlock. I merely came around to congratulate you properly."
Sherlock huffed. "You mean you came around to change my mind, to tell me how my relationship with John will only end in disaster, and I should break it off before I ruin him." His face was impassive, but there was an imperceptible twitch on his left eye which betrayed how irritated he truly was.
If Mycroft noticed, he didn't acknowledge it.
"On the contrary," Mycroft's eyes finally met his, and for a moment, he thought Mycroft's gaze had softened, before he put up his usual stoic mask again. "I came to tell you I'm proud of you."
"That's something I've never thought I would hear coming from you."
"Believe it or not, I do worry about you, Sherlock. I have always feared you would end up alone."
"I managed quite well before John. I don't need him."
"Don't you?" Mycroft asked, his voice soft.
Sherlock took a deep breath and clenched his jaw. He knew as well as Mycroft that it was a lie. While he had managed perfectly well without John in his life, he did need him. He didn't think he could go back to being alone, not after John.
No matter how much he tried to deny it, he had changed.
"There is no shame in being loved, Sherlock," Mycroft said. "And there is no shame in reciprocating those feelings, either."
"Isn't it?" Sherlock whispered. "I'm not myself anymore, Mycroft. I have changed. I'm closer to another human being that I've ever been in my life, and..." He took a deep breath, momentarily closing his eyes, "It terrifies me."
Was this how people in a relationship felt? Like they weren't a single entity anymore? Like the line between 'me' and 'us' overlapped to the point where they constantly needed the other person; like the mere thought of losing them made their brain stop functioning properly, and their heart beat faster, until they could reassure themselves that they were still there, that they were still theirs?
He had never been co-dependent before. He wondered if it was healthy, if this was how it was supposed to work. But he didn't care, he realized. He needed John, just as much as he knew John needed him.
And he was happy, wasn't he?
"Have you told him?" Mycroft asked.
"He knows."
Did he?
Mycroft nodded, a curious expression on his face.
"If you say so." He stood up, his umbrella in hand, and walked away.
"Mycroft," Sherlock called, and his brother came to a halt, his hand on the doorknob, facing away from him. "Thank you." He cleared his throat. "And do stop coming around uninvited. It's an unpleasant surprise to come home to you."
"Mycroft, hello," John smiled politely, passing by him on the stairs. "Case?"
Mycroft stared at him for a moment too long and then said, "No, I was merely checking in on him. Nothing you need to concern yourself about."
John frowned, confused. His gaze shifted up to the flat, as if he could sense Sherlock through the wall.
"John?" Mycroft said, regaining his attention. "Take care of him, would you?"
"Of course," John said, his expression a mixture of surprise and determination.
Mycroft merely smiled and, with a small nod, he made his way out.
Author's notes:
Sorry about the short chapter. I'm working on a fic for the LetswriteSherlock challenge on tumblr, and it's turning out quite long, so most of my focus has been on that.
Please let me know if you see any mistakes, and constructive criticism is more than welcomed, as always.
Hope you enjoy x
