Hugs
Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or anything.
Author's note: This is a request written for CowMow with the prompt or 'Ponds and Ducks' Please review! Thank you!
Sherlock and John walked hand in hand through the park. There had been no cases for two days and John didn't want Sherlock to get bored, so he had persuaded him to take a walk with his husband to the park.
They chatted to each other, in their own world and content for the time being.
They came to a pond, John hadn't noticed yet but they came to a stand-still near the edge.
"... and that is why I want to buy you a new cardigan, John" Sherlock said.
"But I don't need one, Sherlock." John tried to say.
At that moment a group of ducks waddled up to the couple and quacked by their feet.
John let out an unmanly squeal of horror and jumped onto Sherlock. Sherlock caught John and the doctor clinged onto him like a toddler, his legs around Sherlock's waist and arms around his back.
"What, John, get off, you're too heavy and people are staring. You are making an unnecessary scene." Sherlock said.
John held on tighter as the ducks continued to quack.
"John... are you afraid of ducks?" Sherlock asked.
"Erm... maybe a little bit. Now can you get me away from them?" John said.
Sherlock shooed the ducks away and carried John a few metres away from the pond.
"John, they're gone, love." Sherlock said.
John took a risk and removed his face from Sherlock's neck and looked around. Once he found the area risk free he climbed off of Sherlock.
"Erm... thank you for your... help... it was very... majestic of you." John struggled to say.
"That's quite alright. Why are you afraid of ducks though?" Sherlock asked curiously.
"When I was little there was a really nasty duck that chased me, it was a particularly unpleasant incident and I haven't been able to feel safe around them since." John said, blushing slightly.
Sherlock smiled and pulled John into a hug.
John smiled and soaked up the comfort that his husband was offering.
"Disgusting behaviour... in the middle of a park, where children play." The men heard a woman gossip to another nearby. A lot of the people had moved along once the scene had ended but there was an old lady, her adult daughter and a toddler in a buggy still close by.
John and Sherlock drew apart and turned to look at the old woman.
"Mum... I'm sure it's fine. They weren't doing anything-"The woman cut her daughter off.
"It was indecent! Two men touching each other and holding each other in a park, in public! Men, Bethany, it's not right!" the old woman said.
"Excuse me." John said, walking toward them, Sherlock followed quickly.
"Ah, I'd like to have a word with you, actually, young man. How dare you-"John cut her off.
"What I and my husband did was not indecent." John stated.
"And how did you come up with that conclusion?" the old woman asked rudely.
"I have a fear of ducks. I have since I was as small as your grandson here is. I obviously acted on instinct and got as far away as them as possible to the safety of my husband's arms. He got me away from them and gave me a hug to calm me down. If a man and a woman had done so, you probably would have thought it cute. You know nothing of my husband or I and I would appreciate it if you kept your close-minded opinions to yourself. Come on, Sherlock, I want to go home." John said and entwined his hand with Sherlock's and left.
The old woman stood there in shock until her daughter said "He was right, you know, mum."
Sherlock felt very proud of John as he walked along side him, through the streets of London. And John was chuffed at himself for standing up for himself.
"I love you, you brave man... even with a fear of ducks, you prove yourself completely courageous and I love you!" Sherlock said.
"I love you too, my clever consulting detective and rescuer from the ducks!" John replied with a smile.
