Well this took way too long to come back to...but at least I finally came back! Hope you enjoy.
...
...
The ride in the back of the cab was relatively silent until they got out of view of Buckingham Palace.
"Okay, the smoking. How did you know?" John asked, turning towards the man in the middle. Sherlock smirked.
"The evidence was right under your nose, John. As ever, you see but do not observe."
"Observe what?" Sherlock reached into his coat and pulled out a crystal dish. One that John had been admiring at the start of the meeting.
"The ashtray." John and Adara burst into laughter, Sherlock joining in.
...
...
Back at 221B Baker Street, Sherlock rummages around in his room while tossing clothes around haphazardly. John waits in the living room, ignoring all the bustling. Adara steps out from the bathroom, wiping off a section of her nude lip gloss.
"What are you doing?" John called tiredly, shaking his head with an amused grin at Adara who returned the gesture.
"Going into battle, John. I need the right armor." Sherlock announced, stepping into the room with a large fluorescent yellow jacket.
"No." Adara deadpanned. Sherlock huffed, ripping the garment off and storming back into the room. He then stepped back out wearing suspenders and a police cap.
"Lovely….but no." Sherlock went back to his room, only to return with his hair slicked back and new glasses. Adara scrunched up her nose.
"When did you get glasses?" John blinked in surprise.
"That's the odd part?" the man frowned looking closer at Sherlock.
"Did you steal my hair product?" instead of answering, the detective huffed and went back to try again. Moments later he returned, wearing the exact same thing he had on when they arrived tucked under his scarf and overcoat.
"Ready?" he asked, not actually waiting for their answer. The other two quickly followed along after him. Sherlock did a double take when he glanced over at Adara.
"You changed your makeup…"
"No time for questions, just get in the cab." She quickly redirected, ushering the boys into the backseat.
...
...
As they got closer to the address of Ms. Adler John watched the scenery outside.
"So, what's the plan?" he inquired quietly.
"We go to her address." Adara pointed out as if it were obvious.
"What, just ring her doorbell?" John asked skeptically.
"Exactly." Sherlock assured before speaking to the cab driver.
"Just here, please."
"You didn't even change your clothes. Even Adara did something new."
"Then it's time to add a splash of color." Sherlock hummed. As the cab stopped the three filed out once the cabbie had been paid. They walked down the street for a while before Sherlock led them down a side ally. He tugged off his scarf and turned to face John.
"Are we here?" the smaller man asked in confusion.
"Two streets away, but this'll do." John stared up at him owlishly.
"For what?" Sherlock gestured to himself.
"Punch me in the face." He instructed. John blinked, looking over at Adara who was alarmingly unconcerned. He turned back to face Sherlock.
"Punch you?"
"Yes. Punch me, in the face. Didn't you hear me?"
"I always here 'punch me in the face' when you're speaking, but it's usually sub-text." John snarked. Adara snorted, quickly turning her back to the duo. Sherlock rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Oh, for god's sakes." He muttered before swinging at John, contacting his face hard. Adara whirled around in surprise at the sound while John reeled from the assault. Sherlock shook his hand in pain before steeling himself. John glared and immediately retaliated, clocking the taller man on the cheek.
"Ow!" he yelped, shaking his hand out as well while Sherlock picks himself up. Adara frowned at the cut that bloomed across his cheekbone.
"Thank you. That was….that was…." Before he could finish John tackled his friend, sending Sherlock back to the ground.
"Oh now you've done it." Adara muttered, crossing her arms as she watched things unravel. The two grown men fell to the ground with John on Sherlock's back, half strangling the man. John's face contorted angrily as his pent-up frustration surfaced. Sherlock's eyes bugged as he tried to get the man off.
"Okay! I think we're done now, John." Sherlock sputtered.
"You wanna remember, Sherlock. I was a soldier. I killed people." John snarled.
"You were a doctor!"
"I had bad days!" Adara shook her head as they continued to bicker while rolling on the ground. Glancing at her phone she took note of how much time had been wasted and decided to take action. Stalking forward she reached down and roughly grabbed each boy's ears, twisting upwards hard. Instantly they released one another and began yelping protests. Shoving them away from each other she glanced between the two men who now looked like scolded children.
"If you're both done mucking around…" Both pursed their lips and slowly began to stand, shying away from her gaze. Adara stepped over to John, brushing him off to make him look more presentable. Once finished she turned to face Sherlock who was waiting for her assistance. Tilting her head to the side thoughtfully she yanked on a lock of his hair.
"Ow!" ignoring the protest she lifted onto her toes and kissed his lips, biting the bottom one hard enough to draw blood. Sherlock grunted in surprise, blinking owlishly as she stepped back.
"You needed a bit of disheveling." She hummed, whirling around and waltzing out of the ally with a satisfied smirk. Sherlock tucked a piece of white paper to his collar, to resemble a vicar, and cleared his throat as he processed what had just happened. That was certainly new. Without a word John and Sherlock walked out of the ally and down the street towards their destination.
...
...
Upon arrival they agreed to let Sherlock stand in view of the camera outside, while John and Adara watched quietly from the side. Sherlock sucked in a breath and buzzed the intercom.
"Hello?"
"Ooh! Um, sorry to disturb you…." Sherlock's form quivered and his voice shook while he glanced around nervously. Easily slipping into the act of frightened civilian.
"….Um, I've just been attacked…um, and um…I think they…..they took my wallet and um, and my phone. Please could you help me?" he sniffled.
"I can phone the police if you want." The female voice on the other end answered calmly. Adara furrowed her brow as she listened. She didn't seem too concerned with this stranger on her doorstep.
"Thank you, thank you! Could you, please?" Sherlock gushed shakily.
"Oh would you…..would you mind if I just waited here, just until they come? Thank you. Thank you so much." Sherlock sputtered, holding a handkerchief to his slightly bleeding cheek and lip. The door unlocked with a buzz. Without waiting Sherlock rushed in with John and Adara following closely behind.
"Thank you. Ohh!" Sherlock looked around the large entrance hall in surprise, still in character. The assistant glanced at John and Adara briefly in question.
"I…I saw it all happen. It's okay, I'm a doctor." She nodded, glancing at Adara who merely stared back without giving an answer. Glancing away from her, the assistant gestured for them to head into the sitting room while John followed her to get a first-aid kit.
...
As they waited Sherlock had shed his overcoat, taking a seat on the sofa as they waited in the elegant sitting room. Adara remained standing as she eyed the room with a frown. No color anywhere. Everything was a pristine white.
"Aren't you going to sit?" Sherlock questioned curiously. Adara glanced down.
"I refuse to lower myself in front of the enemy. You may play your façade but I won't." she insisted sternly. Lowering herself even in elevation could be taken as submission and there was no way in hell she was going to budge for this woman. Sherlock hummed, watching her stiff posture as they waited. At the sound of heels clicking Sherlock swiftly lifted the handkerchief back to his cheek.
"Hello. Sorry to hear that you'd been hurt. I don't think Kate caught your name." the woman's cool voice rang out melodically.
"I'm so sorry. I'm…." Sherlock's act dropped as he stared at the very naked woman in shock. Adara glanced down at the man, pursing her lips. Dolt.
"Oh, it's always hard to remember an alias when you've had a fright, isn't it?" Irene cooed, her eyes lighting up. Adara kept her gaze neutral, making eye contact with the dark haired temptress across the room. Irene tilted her head curiously not looking away. Oh she could tell another predator when she spotted one. And this one was quite attached the to detective on the couch. Sherlock glanced between the two in the seconds of silence. The powerful and threatening auras coming from both women was stifling. Choosing to be the aggressor, Irene stalked forward in nothing but her heels and boldly straddled the man on the couch. Her eyes locked onto Adara's sour expression as she reached for the white scrap of paper in Sherlock's collar.
"There now…..we're both defrocked…Mr. Sherlock Holmes." she hummed, smiling down at the man.
"Miss Adler, I presume." Sherlock answered, the shock having worn off quickly. Irene gazed down at him appreciatively.
"Look at those cheekbones. I could cut myself slapping that face. Would you like me to try?" she teased. Narrowing her eyes, she lifted the paper to her mouth and bit down onto it. Sherlock's brows furrowed in confusion. At his befuddlement Adara's lip quirked up minutely. Leave it to Sherlock to be confused by her seductive tricks. At that moment John entered the room carrying a bowl of water and a napkin.
"Right this should do it." He mumbled, looking up. The man froze in his tracks; eyes widening at the scene. Irene with the paper in her teeth as she nakedly straddled Sherlock, while Adara stood next to the couch clearly displeased. John's eyes flicked between the bowl in his hands and the scene before him uncomfortably.
"I've missed something, haven't I?" Irene removed the paper from her teeth.
"Please, sit down." She offered, stepping back from Sherlock who fidgeted uncomfortably. Irene glanced to Adara, daring her to refuse. The blonde pursed her lips and merely perched on the arm of the sofa next to Sherlock. Sitting, but still on the high ground. Irene's grin slipped for a split second.
"Oh, if you'd like some tea I can call the maid." Their hostess offered politely.
"I had some at the Palace." Sherlock quipped.
"I know." Irene smirked and gracefully sat down in the armchair across from them, crossing her legs and arms to obscure the view a bit.
"Clearly." Adara muttered. John looked around uncomfortably as the trio stared at one another in silence. Sherlock glanced between the two women as they locked eyes with one another. He finally noticed the stark differences, some which Adara had purposefully pushed. Naturally Adara was a tad taller, slimmer, redish-blonde with light eyes. Yet before they left, she had toned down her makeup to more neutral tones to counter Irene's dramatic look. She had made them blatant opposites. His brows quirked down thoughtfully.
"I had a tea too, at the Palace…if anyone's interested." John piped up, desperate to break the silence. He is ignored as Sherlock stares at Irene….with no deductions…..its a blank. Frustrated he glances back at John.
...
Two day shirt, electric razor, date tonight, hasn't phoned sister, new toothbrush, night out with Stamford.
...
Satisfied he wasn't broken he looks back at Irene…still nothing. Glancing to his right he looks over Adara. Curiously he doesn't come up with much. Nothing other than bare minimum. He'd never noticed that before as he never had to deduce her. Adara catches his gaze and blinks as they share a silent conversation. Realizing what he was doing she sent him a 'really' look.
"Do you know the big problem with a disguise, Mr. Holmes?" Irene speaks up, breaking his train of thought. Sherlock quirked a brow at her.
"However hard you try, it's always a self-portrait." She answered.
"You think I'm a vicar with a bleeding face?" Sherlock deadpanned.
"No, I don't." she assures with a teasing grin.
"The disguise signifies that you're damaged, delusional and believe in a higher power. Yourself, obviously." Adara pointed out. Sherlock shot her an offended glance at the assessment. Irene's eyes flitted over to the other woman, pleased with the answer.
"Your friend gets it….and has come with no disguise for herself." Adara smirked.
"It's interesting." She hummed. Irene's brows furrowed.
"What is?"
"You seem to dislike disguises, yet you cleverly used the lack of clothing as its own disguise. You take comfort in physical exposure to cover up your fear of emotional exposure…..often the best disguise is no disguise. Not everyone needs it." Adara explained coolly. Irene's easy grin morphed into something more threatening. Instead of taking the bait she turned her attention back to her main target who had coincidentally unbuttoned his top buttons to expose some collarbone.
"Oh, it seems that somebody loves you. Why, if I had to punch that face, I'd avoid your nose and teeth too. However, it looks like others took advantage of the situation in disheveling your hair and lips. Someone's territorial." She hummed, shooting accusing glances at the two companions. John forced out a laugh.
"Could you put something on, please? Er, anything at all…..a napkin?" he requests, glancing down at the napkin in his hand.
"Why? Are you feeling exposed?" Irene taunted. Sherlock stood.
"I don't think John knows where to look." he pointed out, reaching for his overcoat and handing it to the woman while turning his face away. Irene ignored the gesture and walked towards John who rolled his neck in effort to force his gaze to remain modest.
"No, I think he knows exactly where." The woman countered, brazenly flaunting herself. She turned to Sherlock who was still holding out the coat, pointedly keeping his eyes on Adara who was in the other direction. Adara watched him curiously, easing up as he shot her a comforting stare.
"I'm not sure about you." Irene griped as she finally took the coat, slipping it on.
"If I wanted to look at naked women, I would go elsewhere…or just borrow John's laptop." Irene glanced back at Adara who lifted her brow challengingly.
"You do borrow my laptop."
"I confiscate it." Sherlock corrected, walking over to the fireplace opposite the sofa.
"Well, never mind. We've got better things to talk about. Now tell me, I need to know…." Irene walked over to take Sherlock's vacated spot and sits down. Adara bristles minutely but refuses to be moved. Irene watches Sherlock attentively.
"How was it done?"
"What?" Sherlock questions as Irene rid herself of the heels.
"The hiker with the bashed in head. How was he killed?" The boys look at one another in confusion while Adara stares down at Irene curiously. Sherlock shook his head.
"That's not why I'm here."