Silent Afflictions
Silence Broken
Holding the door for the shivering woman, Mycroft followed her inside his apartment for the second time now. Walking past her, he told her, "You should take a shower, warm up a bit."
Rose just shook her head, frowning though he couldn't see it. "I don't want to be any bother."
He just turned and gave her an obvious look. "Hardly."
She followed him through the spacious apartment, taking in more than the last time she was here. Going through another door, she realised he was leading her through his bedroom to get to the en suit bathroom. Fighting the blush, she just shivered again, the cold of the rain thankfully keeping the flush of her skin down to a minimum.
"Here," He said, reaching into the back of a cupboard, pulling out a fluffy cream towel, handing it to her. "Take your time. There'll be a drink waiting for you when you're ready."
She just smirked through her shaking, spark in her eyes as she narrowed them slightly. "Who are you and what have you done with the Holmes?"
He looked a little offended, though they both knew he wasn't. "Excuse me; my mother raised a gentleman, I'll have you know."
At the mention of mothers though, the spark died a little as she remembered what brought her here in the first place. Pushing away the sad thoughts, she just gave him a grateful smile. "I won't be long."
Mycroft nodded, turning to go and make a couple of drinks, mind turning over the unusual turn his evening had taken.
He had finished up at the office a little earlier than usual, but found the young woman in the pouring rain on his way home. He didn't know why she was there as she didn't seem to be on any official or unofficial business as far as he could tell; she was just there, getting soaked in the storm that had crept over London.
Pouring some wine into a glass for her, he thought about what he was actually doing; taking in a young woman for no apparent reason other than she was cold and wet, taking her back to his place and taking care of her. Caring for her…it wasn't his usual MO. The powerful man wasn't in the habit of caring for anyone - other than his family maybe - let alone this particular woman.
He told her he was just being a gentleman, but he knew it was more than that. He didn't want to see her looking so miserable. And she had looked so very miserable, he had to do something about it.
Just part of the game, he told himself. Another level, a different playing field. He would repeat it to himself until he believed it. Just part of the game…just a game…
Before he could convince himself though, Mycroft found his mind wandering again; why was she out there in the first place? He knew she liked to go for a walk, get out sometimes, clear her head, but in this weather?
Mycroft shook himself; what was wrong with him? He knew better than to think too much about these things. It was only going to lead to trouble. Taking a swig of wine, he topped up his glass again. Caring is not an advantage, he reminded himself.
His thoughts stopped still though - a very rare occurrence for him - as he heard something unusual run through the apartment he occupied.
A sound, crisp and clear rang out through the space, bouncing off every surface until it reached him, calming his racing thoughts instantly. The apartment was always so silent; he could usually hear the traffic on the road several floors down before anything else, the still silence becoming a usual companion to the man who worked far too much. It took him a second to realise it's source, focusing on the notes, the words, everything about the new feature of his unplanned evening.
Rose was singing. He could hear every note, every word. The upbeat rhythm that she followed, a light splashing accompanying her voice as she sang out to him. Even the darker lyrics were perfect and Mycroft Holmes, known for sitting in his silent contemplation for hours at a time lent on the counter top, sipping his wine as he listened to the young woman sing, taking in the music and nothing else.