A/Note: Thank you Avlynn Rose and MissAssmerica for favoriting my story so soon, and also, MaxRide, wibblywobblydragonlady and the Guest, who took the time to leave me a review. I usually try to reply directly to all, but not always people have that feature open to me. I'm so happy I captured your attention. Hope you'll continue to like it. :)

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10. Floor mat

A month later, John was back to his normal self. Unfortunately, girls always seemed to be on their path at school, so Sherlock could never actually finish a conversation with John during the week. Occasionally John would go on a date with a different girl, but to Sherlock's relief, none had turned into an annoying full blown relationship yet.

...

'Hey, Sherlock.'

'Hey.'

Sherlock narrowed his eyes, 'What's going on?'

'Why do you ask?'

'John, your face is a giant advert. You're plotting something.'

John smiled widely. 'Come downstairs, you'll see.'

Sherlock saw interlocked red, yellow, orange, blue and green rubber-looking squares on the telly room's floor. 'Where did you get those?'

'Mrs. Swanson down the street was trying to get rid of these playing mats, now that her grandkids are grown. So I took them. Now not only we'll be able to continue with the grappling techniques and falls but also we'll be able to do floor wrestling.'

'John, I don't-'

'Heyaah!' John pounced on Sherlock and flipped him spectacularly onto the mat. He settled his body at a ninety degree angle to Sherlock's right, leaning sideways on his chest, arms locked around his neck. 'I know a few wrestling moves. I want to see you get out of this.'

Sherlock was breathless and wide-eyed. This was much more contact than they had ever had. John's strong hold of his neck didn't allow for escape. But more than anything, he was held captive by a grinning John pinning him. Pin. Right.

Struggling against the tight grip, Sherlock started snaking his left hand under John's right arm, and sinking his right elbow towards his own waist, between their bodies. Then, with his left hand on top of his own head, in one quick motion he lifted both arms and pushed his hips sideways. He slipped out of the neck lock, got away from being underneath and pinned John's neck from behind. John tapped the mat.*

They separated, panting. 'That was brilliant!'

Sherlock grinned. 'Jiu Jitsu'.

'Again! Show me.'

Sherlock's grin faded. This was going to be hard. Literally.

...

But - to his relief - everything went on without incidents. Their closeness was just too intimidating for Sherlock to feel anything but embarrassment and self consciousness. It was only later on in the evening that he nearly passed out in his most intense session to date. Now he knew what it felt like to have John nearly on top of him, holding him still.

He'd have to figure out some sort of bandaging for future training sessions.

...

The following Saturday Sherlock was on the mat struggling to free himself, when he curled over his shoulder blades, spun around behind John's back and grappled with arms and legs around him. 'Once my legs are locked around you-' he rolled over onto his own back, stretching John on top of him. Then he shook his interlocked feet '- like this -, I'm the one in control, even if I'm underneath you.' John's back was arched uncomfortably while Sherlock's forearm started snaking towards his throat.

'Tuck your chin John, don't give me access.'

But Sherlock's forearm was sweaty and slipped in. John tapped and was released. As they relaxed and John rolled away, they lay down, panting.

John frowned. 'Sherlock? Are you wearing a cup?'

Sherlock's gaze shifted sharply, his cheeks a bit hot. He had the excuse ready. 'Yes. Mr. Bart accidentally hit me on the groin one day so, as uncomfortable as this thing is, it's still better than the alternative. I don't like to practice wrestling without protection.'

'Huh. I guess you're right. Maybe I should wear one too.'

'Yes. Accidents do happen.'

'Half a mo, I still have one from my wrestling classes,' he stood up and rushed upstairs.

Sherlock remained lying on the mat. It was a good thing that the blasted contraption was uncomfortable. It was impossible to get an erection wearing that, so he remained focused on the technique itself. He had done some research as to what ballet dancers, wrestlers, gymnasts, boxers, and other athletes wore under their uniforms. He had considered the compression "belts" worn by ballet dancers, but a reviewer said "it made erections a bit less obvious to the audience, but not to his dancing partner". No, something hard like a carapace was still the best solution. He also got the compression shorts, which helped to keep the cup in place.

'All right, my turn?'

Sherlock sat up and had to contain himself. There was an extra bulge under John's track bottoms that just brought more attention to his crotch. Then it hit him, he was tackling John, like he had fantasised many nights ago. He suddenly found out that he could get an erection with the cup after all, but both battled each other and that was even more uncomfortable. Therefore, thankfully short-lived.

He felt he could've gotten out of John's grip, who was a tad too slow in reaching the front of his neck. But he thought best to give John a chance to learn the neck lock. John's legs around him were too strong for him to escape, anyway. And the only way to learn was to practice. Again. And again. And again.

...

'Mount me.' He still felt a certain perverse pleasure every time he said those words.

Sherlock was on his back on the mat, legs bent. John straddled him and reached forward towards the neck. Today John had asked him if he knew how to evade a choking hold. John was visibly embarrassed; only then it occurred to him he might have meant a choking hold while standing up, just like that day in the alley. But now it was too late.

'The key is to place your right hand cupping the opposite wrist from above, like so. Simultaneously, grab the same arm's triceps, palm up. Hook one of your opponent's foot, still on the same side. Raise your opposite hip and rotate towards the shoulder on the side you're grasping.' He easily dislodged John, and rolling together they ended up in the opposite positions. Sherlock's thighs were against John's hamstrings.**

'Wow, that was amazing!'

Those words never failed to extract a smile from him. They practiced both sides, switching roles, then escalating strength and speed as they felt more comfortable with the moves. Perhaps the strangest thing was that, by now, having gotten used to their practice, Sherlock was less keyed up, even if sometimes the positions were embarrassing and/or suggestive. He felt comfortable with John, even though he had never liked being touched much before.

As comfortable as though they were, he wasn't ready to show him the next move Mr. Bart had taught him. A variation, that required a lot of "hugging".

They finished as usual, worn out, tired, thirsty, happy and sharing chocolate. He liked this. This camaraderie. If this was all he would ever have with John that was enough for him. He was happy.

...

At night his bed beckoned him. Now he had the image of kneeling between John's legs, looking from above as he lay on his back, smiling at him. And of John kneeling between his legs, leaning forward...

A/Note: Those two techniques were based on videos with the younger crop of Gracie Brothers (Jiu-Jitsu). If you're interested, go to youtube and enter:

* /watch?v=EucIOqFgfMM or type Catch Wrestling vs. Jiu-Jitsu? (Gracie Breakdown). This first one is long, but only the first 15-18 minutes show what I put in the story. First it's an analysis of the neck lock, then how to get away from it.

** Gracie Combatives Lesson 1 - Slice 1 - This one is only about 8 minutes. And they're brothers, so stop smirking. ;) Imagine our boys instead...