Karaoke
noun-
a form of entertainment, offered typically by bars and clubs, in which people take turns singing popular songs into a microphone over prerecorded backing tracks.
All the color in John Watson's face drained away. White as a sheet; he watched his friend, Sherlock Holmes, mount the steps up to the raised stage in front of him. The room around them was silent, devoid of all voices.
The annual Scotland Yard convention had been struck dumb when Sherlock had volunteered for the karaoke stand. John looked on as his friend took the 'walk of death'. Sherlock cleared his throat and tapped the microphone.
Everyone cringed as the high pitch ringing filled their ears.
"Oh, my apologizes." Sherlock rumbled sheepishly.
He stood swaying for a moment. In all honesty, he looked just as surprised at his boldness as everyone else.
The DJ tapped Sherlock on the shoulder.
"Wha' song mate?"
Color filled Sherlock's cheeks. "Er... Bohemian Rhapsody please."
"Sure thing." The DJ smiled. "You've got the honey glow in your cheeks."
Sherlock blushed even more and made eye contact with John, who rolled his eyes. Sherlock's gaze swept over the rest of John's table, the smirking Anderson, the grinning Sally Donovan, and Lestrade who was shielding his eyes.
As the words loaded on the bright, little screen in front of him, Sherlock really started regretting his lapse in judgement.
Can't go back, they'll call you a coward.
Go forward, and they'll call you a freak.
John doesn't think you are a freak.
And Sherlock found that he didn't care anymore. He opened his mouth and started to sing.