Chapter 36
Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or anything.
Author's note: Thanks for all your support through reviews, favouriting and alerting! It means a lot! I have had two people point out that there have been no proper fights between our lovely boys. I hope you all enjoy this. Please review! Thank you!
WARNING: This chapter involves mention of abusive relationships (not to worry, it isn't about S&J).
Sherlock and John had finished secondary school. The fifteen year olds enjoyed holidays together, and this year they weren't going abroad or anywhere. They were just going to stay at home as far as their plans went.
John dragged Sherlock out to go clothes shopping and as they sat in a coffee shop on two cosy chairs by the window enjoying some tea they were interrupted by a group of five girls, around their age, who came and sat on the sofa and chairs close to theirs.
"Hi boys!" One confidant girl smiled at them flirtatiously.
"Afternoon." John greeted them with a passing smile and continues to talk to Sherlock quietly about how he was worried about Harry.
"So, what are you two doing around here without girls on your arms?" Another girl asked loudly.
Sherlock sent them an irritated look and John sighed and knew that they could no longer converse freely with these loud girls next to them.
"We don't have girlfriends. We're-"John was cut off.
"Really? Well that's lucky as me and Natty here are looking for two guys. What are your names?" she asked.
John sighed "I'm John, this is Sherlock. And though I'm flattered by your offer we're actuall-"the girl cut him off again.
"I'm Jenny. And this is Natty." She pointed to the girl next to her.
"Good to meet you, but seriously listen, we're-"John was yet again cut off.
"It's nice to meet you too." Natty finally voiced shyly.
"Listen, we're going to the cinema in half an hour. Do you want to come, and for now we can just get to know each other?" Jenny suggested.
All the girls started talking at once and giggling.
"Will you shut up?" Sherlock said rudely and loudly.
All the girls were stunned into silence.
"You barely let John get a word in! Let people finish their sentences and maybe you won't look like such fools in the future." Sherlock scowled.
"What?" Jenny asked.
"Oh for goodness sake." Sherlock growled. He leant over the table, grabbed John by the front of his jumper and pulled him in for a kiss. Sherlock invaded John's mouth with his tongue and John involuntarily moaned. After a few moments John pulled away and they both sat back in their chairs.
"You're… gay?" Natty asked quietly.
"Yes." Sherlock and John said together.
Natty looked fine but Jenny suddenly said "Hey, most people go through experimental stages. Are you sure you don't want to just get to know us? We might… change your mind." She leant forward and pushed her chest out a bit.
"John and I are very much in love. We have been together for ten years and we would both appreciate it if you stopped attempting to guess what we think and let us speak for ourselves. You have to be one of the most loud and annoying girls I have ever met." Sherlock said cruelly.
"Hey, you don't even know us!" Jenny shouted.
"I know more than you think you know." Before John could say anything Sherlock spoke his mind without a care in the world.
"You, Jenny, aren't a virgin, you went from guy to guy every week, never could commit, you could never commit to anything. You think that having experience and all the boys chasing you makes you superior so you have taken charge of your group of friends, making two of them actually dislike you a lot. And just so you know Natty doesn't want you to set her up. Her previous relationship was abusive and she isn't ready. Stop making decisions for others and I tell you, you well get along far better in this world socially. Now leave me and my boyfriend alone." Sherlock said quickly.
All the girls looked shocked, Natty looked horrified. She burst into tears and ran out of the coffee shop, one girl, obviously her best friend, ran after her calling her name.
"You're a liar." Jenny said, shaking slightly.
"No I am not." Sherlock stated. He reached over and took John's hand so they could leave but as he took it John pulled his away. Sherlock raised his eyebrows and looked over to John. John stood up, picked up his bags and had a look of disappointment and anger on his face.
"You're so cruel!" he shouted and ran.
"John! John, wait!" Sherlock said.
But he was too late; John was out of the coffee shop already.
Sherlock sighed and picked up the bags John had left.
"Idiot." Jenny said.
"I think you'll find that you are the idiot and I am the genius." Sherlock said and left with his elegant and purposeful stride.
John was home very quickly, he was ready to have a good old cry. Why would Sherlock do that? Natty hadn't been the rude one, the Jenny deductions were alright, but to say something so bluntly and coldly about something so serious… it was almost too much.
Alan and Julie were rather shocked when their son ran past them, placing his bags on the ground, and carried on upstairs, barely concealing his sobs.
"Honey? What's wrong?" Julie shouted after him.
John ran into his room, slammed the door and curled up under his covers crying.
Julie and Alan walked gently into his room and sat down on either side of the lump under the covers that was sobbing.
"Darling, what's wrong?" Julie asked, pulling back part of the covers so John's teary face was seen.
Alan put a hand on John's shoulder while Julie wiped his tears.
John sniffled and composed himself enough to talk "Sh-Sherlock said to a girl that he knew she was in an abusive relationship recently in front of all her friends. He was so cold and cruel."
"Oh, sweetheart, you know what he's like." Julie said calmly.
"This is different mum. He wasn't telling someone that they were in an unhappy relationship. He said, in front of all her friends, to a girl who wasn't the one bothering us, that she had been in an abusive relationship. Who does that? She ran out in tears. She had been so shy and quiet; she said it was nice to meet us. The other girl who was annoying and a bit rude, sure, say a few nasty things, but never would I wish it on anyone for their private life to be revealed in front of friends. He just… said it… without any sadness. Like it was a passing comment." John said, terribly distraught.
Alan pulled John to sit up and pulled him into a hug. John's tears continued to fall as he gripped on tightly to his dad and absorbed his comfort.
"John?" came Sherlock's voice from the doorway.
John buried his face in further into Alan's shirt.
"Sherlock." Julie greeted him.
"Can I… speak to John alone, please?" Sherlock asked.
Alan and Julie shared a look but they both nodded at him.
"We'll be just downstairs John. Unless you want us to stay?" Alan said.
John pulled away, sniffed and shook his head.
Alan and Julie left with a 'don't-you-upset-our-baby' look.
Sherlock shut the door gently behind them and turned to find John sat in bed, cocooned in a duvet and sniffling as a few tears fell.
Though Sherlock wanted to go up to John and hold him and make his tears stop, he knew that that wasn't the best option for this situation.
"I don't understand what I did wrong." Sherlock said truthfully.
John groaned and fell back so he lay on the bed. After a few moments John sat back up and said "Exactly!"
"I don't understand." Sherlock repeated.
"Sherlock! You revealed to a bunch of gossiping girls that one of their friends was in an abusive relationship before. Do you know how bad that was?" John asked.
"But it's the truth!" Sherlock frowned, very confused. He hated not knowing things.
"You really upset her!" John exclaimed.
"What does that matter?" Sherlock asked.
"It matters because that girl has been hurt repeatedly, she was brave, sitting there with her friends, she was very brave. She was nice too! And you just shot her down. How would you feel if you had been with someone, maybe even loved them, and they had hurt you physically and mentally? How would you feel to have to go out with friends and talk to boys you barely knew? She was nice and brave, and you may have just ruined everything she had worked for to get her confidence back." John said angrily.
"That isn't my problem." Sherlock stated.
"But it is! You caused it!" John shouted.
"Well, yes, but what exactly do you expect me to do?" Sherlock asked.
"There's nothing you can do. Now all you can do is learn from this horrid mistake you made." John said.
"My mistake was… being… insensitive and thoughtless to her feelings and the repercussions my deductions would bring?" Sherlock checked.
"Yes." John said.
"Okay." Sherlock said.
"Do you feel any remorse?" John asked.
"For what I said? Not much. Yes, I regret what I said, but I don't see a point in getting myself worked up over something I can't change. As you said, I should just learn from my mistake." Sherlock said.
"I guess that is better than nothing." John sighed.
"Why were you upset?" Sherlock asked.
"Because in that moment I saw how cold and cruel you can be." John said and shivered slightly.
"But I'm not with you!" Sherlock defended himself.
"Yes, I know, but with others you can be incredibly cold." John said.
"Why does that make you upset?" Sherlock asked.
"I don't like seeing people cry. I don't like seeing people get upset. It makes me sad." John explained.
"Oh. I don't like it when you're sad." Sherlock said thoughtfully "I'll try… for you… to not be so insensitive."
John finally gave Sherlock a small smile "Thank you. But I don't want you to do it for me. I want you to do it because you want to make others happy." John said.
"Do you forgive me? Because I'm sorry for upsetting you." Sherlock said.
"Yes, I forgive you. You're always forgiven with me. I love you so much." John said.
Sherlock walked to John's side and sat next to him on the bed.
John sighed and leant his head on Sherlock's shoulder.
"I love you too." Sherlock said and ran his fingers through John's hair.
John nuzzled his face into Sherlock's neck and relaxed.
They walked downstairs together fifteen minutes later and Alan and Julie asked if they were okay.
"We're fine." John smiled and leant into Sherlock's side.
"Good." Julie smiled.
"Yes." Sherlock agreed and put an arm around John's waist.