Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Please don't forget to comment!
The song Sherlock is playing is 'sad violin (make you emotionally cry)' posted by kk700h on YouTube. (No lie, that is the title)
Beta: twolovesonestone
John closed his mouth, he was gaping like a fool. "How did you know I was a doctor?"
The woman's eyes grew darker and she smiled exposing two rows of perfect white teeth. "It's quite simple, really." She sited her deductions with a wave of a hand and a monologue that had John's mouth agape again.
"That's brilliant!" As the words danced on his tongue he had an odd feeling of Déjà vu.
She gave him another sweet smile and John felt his insides melting. "My name is Irene Adler, and although I was able to deduce much about you, I must admit I am still at a loss for your name."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Adler. I am John Watson." He raised his hand and she gave it a light shake. The cool white leather glove that enveloped her hand touched his skin, and it sent a jolt through him.
"I was just about to eat dinner but I wanted to see the sunset first. Beautiful, isn't it?" John nodded agreeably.
They gazed outside for a few minutes and as John extinguished his cigarette, she asked, "I don't suppose you would like to join me for dinner?"
John hoped his 'yes' didn't sound too enthusiastic. As they made their way back into the ship John held the door open for her. Just before he closed it, John noticed a man coming in from the deck, so he continued to hold the door for him.
The man didn't look up nor thank him, but the sight of the man and his proximity sent his nerves on edge. John knew he was still holding the door open, but his body and brain had stopped communicating.
"Dr. Watson?"
John shook his head out of its fog, at the sound of Ms. Adler's voice. He let the door fall closed and dismissed all thoughts of the man with the black curls.
He enjoyed his dinner with Ms. Adler but something kept trying to claw into his mind, a thought that just wafted in the shadows out of reach. John was surprised when Ms. Adler ordered dinner too, for some odd reason he thought she was just going to order tea.
John tried to push all unpleasant thoughts from his mind to just enjoy the good food and the good company. Ms. Irene Adler was a stunning example of femininity and John still couldn't believe that she had chosen him to talk too.
Dinner was spent in pleasant conversation and John sipped on his wine. He knew that it was the wine making him smile like a fool but he kept drinking anyway. The dining room was filled with the white noise of other tables. John paid them little attention, but whenever he tried to focus on another conversation all he could hear was [static], like there really was no else there.
John placed his sorbet spoon down and finished the last of his champagne. Every cell in his body sang with a delicious high. It had been so long since he had been this intoxicated. It was a bit of a blur as he wished Ms. Adler a good night and he wobbled his way to his cabin.
He was half way to 242D when he heard a sound coming from the cabin on his right. Someone was playing the violin and the melody was sweet and mournful. John felt his shoulders tighten and his breathing became shallow. The music flowed around John and into him; touching, almost communicating with him. The violin stopped and John was broken from his trance, he continued the trek to his cabin leaning heavily on his cane for support.
John was drinking his coffee when he spotted Ms. Adler. She gave him an amiable nod and when back to talking to the gentleman she was seated with. John felt a pang of jealousy and started to contrive reasons for going over and interrupting their conversation.
However, Ms. Adler parted from the man and made her way over to him. She sat down without a word and waved down a waiter. She ordered coffee and John requested a refill. They talked about family and friends; it was bland conversation but John found it very much to his liking.
That was half the reason he had chosen to fly by way of the Nautilus. He was looking for a wife and Ms. Adler fit the bill perfectly. She carried not only a finely toned mind but body as well. Their conversations were not always stimulating, but at least John never felt as if Ms. Adler was going to resort to gossip or useless tattle.
"The Captain would like it very much if you could accompany me to dinner tonight for the welcoming banquet." Ms. Adler gave him an award winning smile over the rim of her coffee cup and he knew he was lost.
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure."
They finished their breakfast and promised to meet before the dinner. When Ms. Adler departed she placed a lingering hand on John's bad shoulder. It seared his skin and John couldn't figure out if he liked the sensation or not. However, after she removed her hand, her lips pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and lust flooded his system. She walked away and John found himself staring brazenly at her rounded ass. John couldn't wait to see what the night had in store for him.
He passed by 221B and heard the now familiar violin playing. It had been emitting a soft song when he had left for breakfast, and it still carried on with its lamentations. John closed his eyes and time stopped. He was brought out of his reverie when the music ceased and the door he was standing in front of opened.
John was faced with the man he had seen the day before. Although he hadn't seen his face, John found that he thought the man's eyes looked sunken and that he had less color than usual.
"Are you enjoying my violin, Doctor?"
John laughed. "How is it that everyone on this bloody ship can guess I am a doctor?"
The man's eyes narrowed. "I never guess."
The words echoed in John's head and he felt ill. He gripped his cane tightly, his knuckles tight and gaunt. The man stared at him in questioning silence. "I do not suppose you have a moment to spare?"
John tried to move the gears in his head again. "What?"
"I am working on a piece and I need feedback from a person who appreciates the arts. I have a feeling you may be that man."
The taller man stretched out his hand and John took it in a handshake, the next moment he was being pulled into the cabin.
John found that the piece the mysterious musician was composing was too bittersweet and made him shift uncomfortably in his chair. Mr. Holmes was in a pair of trousers and a shirt with a robe over it. The silk clung to the man's slender body and every time John looked at him the urge to run his hands over the robe and take it off the man became stronger and stronger.
"What do you think?" Mr. Holmes laid down his violin in its case. His eyes shone with expectancy; wanting to hear his thoughts. John couldn't figure out why his opinion mattered so much to a man he hardly knew anything about.
"It was..." John stopped to clear his throat which had become rough. "beautiful. It really wasn't a happy song though." John licked his lips. "What's it called?"
"It doesn't have a title yet. I don't title my works until they are perfected."
John grunted. "I thought as much." He paused-why did this feel so familiar? Being snarky and upfront with a man he had just met was not the usual behavior of John Watson.
He felt a weight building in his chest and the cabin began to suffocate him. Mr. Holmes must have noticed the change, because he was bending over him the next moment. "Dr. Watson, are you all right?"
John waved his hand in front of his face. "I'm fine. Just a case of light headedness. I do not believe that air travel is agreeing with me."
"Are you quite sure that is the reason?" Mr. Holmes voice had gotten dangerously low and there was a grainy quality to it.
John looked up, and the eyes that met his were gazing down at him with such deep emotion, he gulped. The intense way he was being eyeballed didn't make John feel uncomfortable instead it made him want to kiss the man...which did make him feel uncomfortable. His eyes were captured by Mr. Holmes' and John tried to read what was there in the deepness of them but John couldn't decipher any of it.
He shook his head and stood up so swiftly that he almost knocked Mr. Holmes off his feet. John cleared his throat, which had become itchy again. "I do apologize, but I have an appointment that I cannot be late for."
John turned away after tipping his hat and made an effort to erase the sad smile Mr. Holmes had given him as he shut the door.
He primed himself and patted down his hair. He knew his suit was almost completely out of fashion but he was trying to not let it grate at him. If Ms. Adler had been against men that weren't 'posh' than she certainly would never have talked to him.
An image flashed in his mind of a tailored suit, perfect form fitting and gorgeous. That's the type of man she would usually go for. He squinted his eyes and looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Who had that been? It wasn't just any man I was thinking about but a specific one. Someone with greenish, yellow eyes and pale skin. John was not able to find the image he was conjuring up, as a knock on the door broke him out of his concentration.
"Coming!"
John knew it would be Ms. Adler at the door but he was surprised to see her anyway. It was very rare for a woman to come calling on a man in this way. She looked breathtaking. Her dress was elegant, and it whispered of sexuality; whispers of promises on soft sheets, pleasures that would rock him to the point of destruction.
"You look amazing." John tried to search for a better word but the other ones he thought of could not be used to describe a lady.
She smiled. John noticed that nothing in her eyes alighted to that smile; it was only her mouth. He took her hand and kissed the top of it, his lips lingering longer than necessary.
"Shall we be on our way?"
Everything about the party was polite and proper and John was almost bored to tears. He enjoyed the soft graze of Ms. Adler's leg that would occasionally brush up against his, but he found that his eyes kept wondering to the only empty seat at the table. It filled him with a sadness that almost physically hurt him.
Ms. Adler must have noticed his disinterest, because she tried to include him in conversation. He laughed a few times to please her and then found that his mirth was becoming more genuine. The night finished better than it had started off and he walked her back to her cabin.
"I really enjoy your company Dr. Watson. May I call you John?"
John felt a tingle as she spoke his first name; he rather liked it. "Only if I am allowed to call you Irene."
She closed the gap between them. He could feel her breath come out and it warmed his neck. He leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss.