A/N: Now, don't hate me this chapter! Sherlock is doing a smashing job, but he IS Sherlock and that won't ever change. And it isn't over yet, so don't worry about what he does. Trust your writer. LOL
THANK YOU always and forever to all my readers and reviewers! Especially my beautiful Watson, dearest Petal, and fantastic Tumblr friends!
S&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&MS&M
She smiled and thanked him when he handed her the drink. He noticed her studying his glass and realizing he'd ordered the same thing.
"Seemed easier," he said with a shrug.
At that moment two girls came up to Sherlock. "Excuse me," one said, "aren't you…"
Sherlock flicked his eyes over them.
Uni students. Design major, computer major. The computer major is on her third drink: the design major on her fifth which is why she's doing the talking. Wealthy families, attractive, used to getting attention. Smokers, ecstasy users. Party girls who think being seen with me would be something to brag about. Two steps away from failing out of uni. Their combined brains wouldn't equal a quarter of Molly's. Final conclusion: repellant.
"Aren't I whom? Leonardo DiCaprio? The King of Scotland?" Sherlock asked derisively.
The blonde girl, the one who'd spoken, blinked. "Sherlock Holmes…"
"Ah, good. You're capable of stating the obvious, after all." He leaned back and folded his hands in his lap, and Molly winced, knowing what was coming.
The girl blinked stupidly at him again, then decided it must be time to use her natural assets. She smiled. "We're huge fans of yours. You're just so…"
"Boffin!" the other girl, a brunette, piped up.
"Yes, I imagine you'd think that. So. Ladies. What can I do for you?" Sherlock asked sweetly, smiling. Too sweetly, Molly knew. She was caught between finding it funny and feeling sorry for the girls. She knew what it was like to be on the other end of the sound and the fury that was Sherlock Holmes.
"We wanted to see if we could do some deducing and you tell us how good we do," the blonde said.
"Oh?" Sherlock asked in a soft, dangerous voice.
"Sherlock," Molly said anxiously.
"No, no, it's fascinating," Sherlock said, smiling again, but it wasn't a pleasant smile. "Think you're clever, do you? Think you can figure things out? Well, let me do a bit of deducing for you first."
"Sherlock!" Molly said. But she knew there was no stopping him at this point. And she was right.
He stood up, towering over the two, who stared up at him with wide eyes and slack jaws.
"I see two girls who're used to getting all the attention from the boys. Who think batting their eyelashes and giggling will get them whatever they want. Who want to show off that they're pretty and clever, and wouldn't it be great to be able to brag to all their other little girlfriends how they were praised by Sherlock Holmes. I see girls who are eager, hungry, superficial snippets, who don't have enough functioning brain cells in their combined heads to realize any of this. But if you want to do some deducing, why don't you start with the obvious, which is that I am on a date and want to be left alone?"
The girls' eyes widened even more and they looked as though they wanted to burst into angry, hurt tears
"No?" he asked mildly. "Off you go, then. Charmed, really."
"You right bastard!" the brunette exclaimed. "Fuck you, Sherlock Holmes!"
"You shouldn't offer. We've only just met," he said coolly.
After a final angry stare the two stormed off. Sherlock sighed. "Go ahead," he said to Molly as he sat down, not quite looking at her.
Molly sighed as well. "Sherlock, was that really necessary? They're harmless drunk girls with a crush on you."
"I don't suffer fools gladly, Molly. You know that. I can't just turn it on and off like a tap."
"I know." She looked down. "It just… I know you call it like you see it. It's just hurtful to people."
He looked at her now. "Truth is not always kind, Molly," he said softly.
"Yes," she said sadly. "I remember."
The look on her face told Sherlock she was remembering her own history with him. "Your mouth's too small now…obviously trying to compensate for the size of her mouth and breasts…"
Damn.
He sighed again. "I am awful at times, aren't I."
She nodded. "But you're also capable of saying nice truths. Why don't you do more of that?"
"Because most people don't present anything nice to comment on, and I don't care about what they think."
She glanced down. "I've disappointed you," Sherlock said.
She shook her head. "Not exactly. You are who you are, Sherlock. If I can't accept that, I've got no business being with you."
He blinked in alarm. This sounded potentially dangerous. "Can you accept it?" he asked carefully, quietly.
She looked up, surprised. "Of course I can. I did a long time ago. But that doesn't mean it doesn't bother me."
He took a deep breath. This was one step away from ruining their date. He had to say the right thing, fast.
He took her hand and looked into her eyes. "Molly… I don't know if I'll ever be a better man. But you make me want to try to be."
She blinked a few times and smiled. "Thank you," she said softly.
"Will you forgive my behavior? I promise to not make any other girls run off to cry tonight," he said, and she laughed.
"I always forgive you, Sherlock," she said, smiling again. "Crazy of me, but I do."
"Then I'm even more fortunate to have you," he said softly, raising her hand to his lips and kissing it.
He felt her pulse rev up like a Ferrari engine, saw her pupils dilate. She drew an unsteady breath.
Highly aroused. Just from this. Remarkable.
He lowered her hand slowly, never taking his eyes off hers. Then he gave her the most dazzling smile he had. "Well. Now that I've gotten being an ass out of my system, could we please go back to having a good time together?"
