221B Drabbles

by tsukinoblossom

My attempt at writing short stories in the 221-B format 221 words, last word starting with B . I'm really enjoying writing and I think these will encourage me to to do it more often and present an interesting challenge. Note: These stories are not sequential, or even necessarily in the same universe. Unless otherwise specified, each drabble is a unique, complete entity.

10. Beautiful

They crash up the stairs into the flat, filthy and breathless. The chase led them through a disgusting series of rubbish skips before ending in the sewers. The thief got away and all they have to show for their efforts are their putrid clothes.

"Eugh, this is revolting." John mutters. "I'm going upstairs to get undressed." He turns to Sherlock, who is already stripped down to his trousers, and rapidly undoing those, exposing a pair of dark purple pants. "Sherlock! What are you doing?"

"The laundry bag's right over here. It's pointless to track this filth all over the flat for some false modesty, only to have to carry it back. Far more logical to just strip down and get rid of it all here." He steps out of his trousers and takes a step towards John, fingers reaching for the buttons of his cardigan. John sighs, resigned and far too tired to bother arguing. When Sherlock gets to his button-down though, he tenses up again. He flinches as the shirt slips down over his shoulders, exposing the puckered scar that's become such a defining aspect of his body.

"John," Sherlock murmurs, his voice deeper than normal, but still inquisitive as ever. He runs a finger delicately along the thin veins of scar tissue weaving themselves across John's shoulder. "It's beautiful."