Chapter 22

-December 31, 1901-

221B Baker Street

The four people seated around the chest had just completed another round of 20 Questions by futilely guessing at Sholmes's newest secret answer when a renewed ringing of a church bell told them that it was now half past 11, and Iris rose from her spot on the sofa and stated, "Hurley, we should bring everything downstairs and start setting up – the neighbors are probably already outside and waiting."

"Not to worry, my dear, everything is color-coded to make sure our preparations take ten minutes or less," Sholmes returned. However, he still moved to stand and entered the hallway, presumably to retrieve the 'everything' the girl had alluded to, his ward following him.

Somewhat at a loss as to what was going on now, Barok asked his friend, "Do you happen to know what they are planning to do?"

"Oh yes," Albert answered right away.

"And those plans are…?"

"I'm sorry, Barok – I promised Iris that I wouldn't tell you." After this admission, his companion once again appeared to become a little flustered. "Would… would you like to come upstairs with me? She suggested that we should watch from the attic balcony because it'd be more enjoyable than joining them in the street…"

Finding himself curious and perhaps just the slightest bit concerned, Barok nodded. "If that was her recommendation, we'd likely do well to follow it. Shall we?"

Once Albert had turned around to make for the hallway, he reached for the wine bottle still standing on the table before following his friend, only to find that it was completely empty.

I only had two glasses, and Sholmes had one… Apparently, Albert had enjoyed the rest – not that Barok had a problem with it, but he did wonder what it signified, given that the man usually was not much of a drinker.

Did he try to quell his nervousness? But why did he keep drinking throughout the games? After all, a lot of Albert's fluster seemed to have been concentrated on the gift-giving portion of the evening.

Well, he supposed he would find out sooner or later, considering that the happenings outside were apparently supposed to remain secret until they commenced – at least he would be present to ensure inebriation did not cause his friend to fall off the balcony somehow.

Leaving the bottle on the chest, he stepped into the hallway, himself, noticing that Albert had stopped halfway up the stairs and was now looking back at him, although his friend began climbing up toward the attic again as soon as he had caught sight of Barok following him.

They proceeded to traverse the large space underneath the roof to enter Albert's parceled-off bedroom, where the glass door leading to the glorified ledge that the residents referred to as a 'balcony' was located behind a heavy curtain to keep out some of December's frigid temperatures.

While his friend placed the oil lamp he had been carrying here from the desk by the stairs on his nightstand and went to pull said curtain aside, Barok glanced around Albert's sanctum sanctorum, curious to see how the man had made it his own since moving in ten months ago.

Of course, he had known about the large blackboard fastened to the wall above the bed, now adorned with what appeared to be chemical equations of considerable complexity, after having seen it during Albert's demonstration of the television. In the back corner by the door stood a simple chest of drawers likely housing his clothes, and on top of it, standing frames displayed Albert's copies of the photographic prints of the Isle of Wight sandcastle, as well as the group picture they had taken just before taking their leave from the beach house. Opposite the bed, close to the glass door, his friend had placed a shelf to house an assortment of books and small gadgets. It was hardly an elaborate living situation, but Albert appeared to be completely content with it.

By now, his companion had secured the curtain with a strip of cloth, making the balcony door accessible for them. He checked his watch, then turned toward Barok.

"Only five more minutes… we should go outside so we don't miss anything."

"Of course."

They barely had enough space to step onto the tiny balcony and close the door behind themselves so they would not let all of the warm air escape from inside. When Albert did stumble slightly, thankfully catching himself right away by holding on to the side railing, Barok recalled his considerations before ascending the stairs, and reached out for the other man, his arm wrapping itself around his friend's lower back and his hand settling at Albert's waist.

"… I thought this might aid both of us in staying safely upright – as long as you don't mind, that is…"

"O-oh, no, not at all!" As though he wanted to emphasize his statement, Albert moved closer, and a moment later, Barok felt him reciprocating the gesture.

Once again, all sense of time seemed to flee from his consciousness – all that mattered was standing there, arm in arm, warding off winter cold together while simultaneously keeping each other safe from potential accidents, their exhales becoming visible in the frigid air, mingling, then dissipating…

A church bell struck twelve.

Only a moment later, something shot past the balcony with a whistle once, twice, three times, the objects bursting a good hundred feet above them, releasing brilliant white, red, and blue sparks in circular blooms of glittering fire.

The fireworks display went on for multiple minutes, the other residents of Baker Street who had gathered outside their houses shouting and laughing whenever yet another salvo lit up the sky above them – knowing Sholmes and Iris, the detective and his ward had constructed the rockets they were currently launching themselves.

When Barok glanced over at Albert, he found that his companion was fully focused on the sparkling spectacle above, his beautiful smile illuminated again and again by varicolored light.

Eventually, the last projectile had shot past them and disintegrated with a bang against the velvety blackness of the night sky. On the street below, it appeared that Sholmes and Iris were chatting with their neighbors, clearly in no hurry to return to the suite.

Barok and Albert looked at each other.

"Well, I'll say… that was quite something, wasn't it?" his friend broke the silence between them, once again in the grip of nervous energy. "Shall we go back inside? I am starting to feel a little chilly…"

"Yes, let's."

After they had stepped back into Albert's bedroom, his companion gestured for Barok to have a seat on his cot while he busied himself with releasing the curtain from its constraints and pulling it back in place, shielding his personal domain from the outside world and its frigid temperatures.

Once he had completed this task, Albert sat down next to him, that smile illuminating his features as he said quietly, "Happy new year, Barok."

"And a happy new year to you, as well, Albert," Barok returned, loath to so much as blink while they were exchanging glances, wondering if it would be permissible to map that familiar face not just with his eyes, but with his fingers, when…

"Would… would you perhaps permit me to indulge in a custom they have in Germany? Granted, it's usually practiced while the clock is striking midnight, but well, we were watching the fireworks at the time, and standing on the balcony, and I didn't want to spring it on you without asking first, it's also meant to bring good luck for the coming year and of course I'd hope for you to have the best of fortunes…" Albert's muttered explanation sped up with every word as his nervousness reasserted itself, a silent plea beginning to shine in his eyes.

He only stopped speaking when Barok placed one hand on his fingers, which had dug themselves into the duvet at his side as if to anchor his friend in the here and now.

"I'm not opposed. Please, go ahead."

"Oh. Right. All right." Albert studied him intently for another long moment, then he took a deep breath, and –

Warm, slightly chapped lips against his own. Warm exhaled air against his face. The barely-there scent of lavender, layered with a more prominent note of red wine. The brush of soft blond curls against his temple.

Before Barok had fully registered what was happening, the contact ceased, Albert drawing back as if burned, leaving him to raise the hand that had just rested on the back of his friend's to touch his fingers to his mouth in wonder. Did… did he just…?

He was still speechless when his companion began rambling out a string of justifications. "I, I'm sorry, as I said, it's just a custom, I th-think I've read that the Scottish kiss at midnight too, isn't that interesting, at any rate, of course I wouldn't have done it anywhere where someone else might see, and if you didn't like it, I'll never do it again, I promise, I hope you aren't angry with me–"

"Albert." Barok found his voice again as his thoughts finally caught up with what had transpired.

"–oh, I probably shouldn't have done that, but well, I do hope that you have a wonderful year, you deserve everything you wish for, I mean, that's just how I feel of course, n-not that I'd presume that I'd have any part in that–"

"Albert!" Barok's gaze focused on his companion's face, which now displayed an expression of near-panic. In spite of calling out the man's name loudly enough that he should have heard it, the rambling continued without pause.

"–how very silly of me, you're a sophisticated nobleman, I'm sure I can't even fathom what you'd wish for, though if there is anything that I can do, please feel free to tell me…"

"Albert." This time, Barok had managed to repeat his friend's name right when Albert had paused to draw in air. Instead of speaking on, his companion looked for a long moment as though the breath got lodged in his throat before slumping slightly.

"Y… yes…?"

Silence fell between them while Barok did his best to come up with something to say, now that he had finally rattled Albert out of being swept away by a verbal waterfall.

Speak up, damn it. Say anything!

"I… I found myself wondering if you…" he began while studying the blackboard on the wall, following the very first thought that came to mind, his face heating up when he realized just where it was leading him but resolutely forging on. "… If you'd care to kiss me again."

Renewed silence.

After multiple seconds had ticked by without a sound other than their breathing, Barok risked another glance at Albert's face, finding that his companion seemed frozen in amazement, his disbelieving stare glued to Barok's features.

Apparently, once more making eye contact managed to rouse Albert from his trance; his posture straightened as he shifted his weight, as though he was preparing himself for something, and after letting out a long breath, he stated in a voice that was seemingly meant to be firm but still wavered near the end: "Yes, yes I would."

"In that case… feel free to do so." As he slowly uttered these words, Barok found his gaze wandering down to Albert's lips, so expressive, so soft, so very tempting even after having finally felt them against his own for the first time.

"… All right." Those lovely lips formed the two whispered syllables, then they came closer, inch by inch, until they finally shyly met Barok's again.

The kiss remained chaste, their mouths moving against each other gently, not yet seeking a deeper connection, and still it felt so much more intimate, more momentous, than even the most passionate moments shared with another Barok could recall. At some point, he must have raised his left hand, because he found it cupping Albert's cheek, the warmth of his companion's skin managing to radiate through the gloves Barok now regretted wearing, and oh, when Albert moved to do the same, his fingertips hesitantly brushing along Barok's jawline, the touch left a tingling trail behind, the sensation traveling down his spine and seemingly activating every single nerve ending along the way.

Sighing soundlessly against Albert's lips, Barok only just managed to resist the sudden urge to seek more – doing so might well scare off this charming, impossible man, and even if it did not, rushing into things when even this managed to hold him utterly spellbound seemed like sacrilege.

He did not know how much time had passed when Albert finally drew back slightly, ending the kiss.

The bafflement from before was still written all over his friend's features when he shook his head.

"I… erm… I'm dreaming, aren't I? Yes, that must be it, I've nodded off on the sofa after one too many glasses of wine and this is all just a dream, isn't it…? In just a moment, either you or Iris will wake me up and ask if I'm all right…"

Now feeling a hint of concern rising within himself, Barok replied quietly, "While I am, of course, hoping that you are, in fact, all right, I'm not a figment of your imagination, Albert."

"B-but you… I…" It seemed that his companion could not bring himself to take his words at face value. Glancing down at his hands, he took the skin between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand between the digits of the other and pinched it hard, a small grunt of pain escaping him.

"It hurts… but maybe I'm imagining that too, this could just be a very vivid dream…"

He looked back at Barok, uncertainty mingling with sudden fervency in his eyes. "P-please, kiss me some more…! If this is a dream, I might as well enjoy it to the fullest!"

For a moment, Barok wondered whether he should attempt again to dissuade Albert from the notion that what they had been sharing over the last few minutes had not been reality, but then decided against it – if causing himself pain had not served to do so, he doubted anything he could say would be able to achieve better results.

Pulling off his gloves so they would not be in the way from this point forward, he dropped them onto the soft surface between them, then he raised his hands to gently pluck Albert's spectacles from his nose, placing them on the nearby nightstand.

Without the wire-framed glasses in front of his eyes, there seemed to be a new vulnerability to his friend's expression, beckoning Barok closer. Winding his right arm around Albert's back, he leaned in, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Albert nervously licked his lips and closing the remaining distance between them, hoping that he wouldn't mind, only to find that tempting mouth eagerly opening against his own.

If Barok had thought that their previous kiss had possessed an intensity all its own, this new contact proved on the double that it had been but a fraction of what physical intimacy between them could be, forcing a gasp out of him, echoed in short order by the man he was kissing.

Raising his free hand to once again cup Albert's cheek, he marveled at how even the innocuous touch of his bared fingertips against soft skin managed to send jolts of sensation through him.

Apparently, Albert was feeling the same way, as a small, high-pitched noise filled with urgency wrought its way from his throat, just before he clambered onto Barok's lap, one of his arms encircling Barok in a near-desperate embrace, the other rising to allow its hand to map out Barok's face, the bared portion of his neck, then sneaking under Barok's jacket to brush along the contours of his torso as far as it could reach. At the same time, he rocked his lower body forward, bringing them together as close as they could possibly be with all their clothes still in place, and Barok felt the proof of Albert's rising ardor pressing against his abdomen. To his surprise, there was not only nothing strange about being so obviously reminded of the fact that he was kissing and embracing another man, but he found himself reacting in kind, a pulse of arousal shivering through him and causing him to buck his hips up against the delightful pressure.

"B-Barok…" Albert muttering his name against his lips, the utterance trailing off in a sharp exhale, put paid to the remainder of Barok's higher thought processes. Holding on tightly to the man in his lap, he began trailing kisses across Albert's cheek, along his jaw, down the side of his neck, another pang of excitement bursting inside him when a wordless moan sounded next to his ear, his hands settling at Albert's hips to guide him into moving together–

All of a sudden, his companion pressed himself against him, every muscle in his body taut with tension, a shudder taking hold of him, causing him to spasm in Barok's hold once, twice… and then, Albert slumped against his chest, breathing heavily.

"Albert…?" Drawing back to be able to look at his companion's face, concern dousing his excitement on the double, Barok loosened his hold on the man on top of him.

He was certain that somehow, something terrible had occurred when Albert refused to meet his eyes. "I… I'm sorry…"

"Whatever for?" Barok frowned, tempted to nudge his chin up to see his face and discern just how matters had taken an unfortunate turn, but restraining himself – it should be up to his friend whether he wanted to explain, or he stood the risk of worsening whatever had caused the cessation of their delightful activities just now.

To his surprise, Albert chuckled slightly in response. "Well, I suppose this is as good a proof as I'll ever receive that this isn't a dream… usually, I'd have either woken up right after, or you'd have started laughing at me…"

Realization dawned.

"You… did you…?"

Albert nodded, his gaze still cast downward. "I… I haven't… with anyone else… since university… I'm sorry."

Now, Barok did gently coax him to lift his face and make eye contact once more, hoping that his smile would serve to convince his companion that he was not about to react negatively to this revelation.

"Albert… there's no need for you to apologize, nor do I have any reason to laugh."

Cupping this lovely man's cheek once more, he continued, "I daresay any man claiming that this has never happened to him is lying through his teeth… and for what it's worth, I have to admit to being somewhat relieved at being able to affect you to this degree, seeing that I cannot claim any previous experience with someone of my own sex."

"You… you mean, you haven't…? With a man, that is?" Apparently, Albert's bafflement had overridden his mortification at his self-perceived weakness, as he now stared at Barok in wonder.

"That's right," he confirmed. "Truth be told, I hadn't even considered that I might be interested until very recently."

"B-but…" His companion frowned. "Now I'm not so sure anymore that this isn't a dream, after all."

"Why?" Barok glanced at his face in puzzlement.

"Because…!" Albert blushed as he faltered, his eyes widening for a moment before he clenched them shut. "Because I've been in love with you for years!"

His blurted-out confession struck Barok almost like a physical blow. "Years…?"

It seemed absolutely unfathomable that he could have missed something of that magnitude for so long.

Leaning forward to bring their foreheads together in an attempt to re-ground himself in a reality he had apparently been unable to see, he muttered, "I didn't have the slightest idea…"

At that, Albert let out a wan chuckle. "You weren't supposed to know. I initially thought it was just a passing fancy because you were always so kind, and gallant, and polite in always listening to me think out loud without ever telling me to stop… and when I finally admitted to myself that it was more than that, I feared I'd jeopardize our friendship if you ever found out. You might have been disgusted, or embarrassed… and even if you had been interested in a plain, penniless swot, I would've only been in your way…"

Barok had already opened his mouth to protest that, of course he would have never been disgusted at the revelation that someone so brilliant, someone of such unmatched capacity for fervor and dedication, had thought him worthy of romantic feelings, when he realized that, while that much was certainly true, he likely would not have known how to react in a manner that would not have hurt Albert in some way in those days.

Meanwhile, his friend continued speaking quietly, as though, now that his secret had finally broken through the dam erected over more than a decade, he had to unburden himself of all of it. "When I went to Germany to finish my doctorate, I thought I might be able to get over you, so that, the next time we met, I'd be able to see you as the dear friend you've always been to me… but every time I thought of you, or wrote to you, I wondered whether you'd found a wife and started a family of your own… and I couldn't bear that, instead of being happy for you living a good life, I'd be angry at hypothetical people I had never even met, because they got to spend their lives with you. That's why… that's why I stopped writing after a while…"

That's why he always wondered whether I'd have to leave while seeing him after he returned to Britain, even on weekends. In line with van Zieks values, Barok had never spoken much about his family members with others unless absolutely necessary – not only did refraining from doing so preclude gossip making the rounds, it also dissuaded others from prying into his affairs unbidden. Of course, his being tight-lipped on that count would have led to Albert wondering, particularly since he had on occasion spoken about casual meetings with a lady during their shared lunches when they had both still been university students.

"There was no one," he responded in what felt like a feeble attempt at reassuring his companion, wishing he could turn back time and tell a younger Albert that his feelings would ultimately be reciprocated. "Never once. I suspected anyone seeking a connection with me of ulterior motives, and it wouldn't have been safe, anyway…"

"And… and now?"

When Albert raised his head to finally look at him once more, those lovely blue eyes were filled with a wish so fierce it nearly took Barok's breath away. Groping about for an answer that would be able to assuage the unspoken desire, he finally stated slowly, "Now that you've returned to London, and now that we've made it past a month of not seeing each other due to my foolish concerns… I find that I can't bear the thought of missing you anymore."

"Barok…" Now, it appeared to be Albert's turn to be speechless as he stared back at the man whom he was still straddling, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open slightly.

The corners of his lips quirking up, Barok raised his left hand to cup his companion's cheek once more. "Incidentally, to me, nothing about you is 'plain.' You're a great many things, but that is not one of them – you should see yourself when you speak of a new idea or theory. I, for one, find it to be one of the loveliest sights I've ever seen. When I look at you, I see hope. There's nothing more beautiful in my eyes."

While Albert apparently still had difficulties coming up with words, his captivating smile made a reappearance as Barok spoke on, every word brightening it a little more.

Gently caressing the soft cheek under his fingers with his thumb, Barok added, "As you know, I haven't had much cause for looking forward to the future over the last decade, but when I'm in your presence, it feels possible for me to do so again at long last. And right now, I find that I dare to hope that you'll walk the path to that future together with me."

At that, Albert leaned forward to embrace him, his chin coming to a rest on Barok's shoulder, and a minute tremor ran through his body.

"I… I'd like nothing better…"

Barok only realized upon hearing his companion's voice that this dear, sweet man had been moved to tears by his words.

As long as it's within my power to see to your happiness, I'll do my utmost to bring you that happiness however I can.

He held Albert close, occasionally allowing himself to place a soft kiss on his companion's temple or letting his fingers run over the cloud of blond locks, careful not to have his fingertips snag in the more stubborn lower layers.

Eventually, he felt one of the arms wrapped around him loosening its hold, its motions indicating that Albert was likely wiping at his face. A moment later, they were once again looking at each other, both unable to keep from smiling.

Barok felt almost as though he had lost something infinitely precious and irreplaceable when their eye contact ceased as Albert's gaze wandered over to the alarm clock on his nightstand.

"Please don't think I'm asking because I want you to go, but… will you have your coachman come pick you up? I don't believe that there will be a lot of cabs for hire this late at night, even on New Year's Eve…"

As a matter of fact, Barok had not considered that he might stay at 221B Baker Street well past one in the morning, given that neither one of the two lodgers he usually came to meet routinely remained awake after ten in the evening, and his staff would likely be asleep by now.

"… I believe I may find myself stranded here for the time being."

"Oh! I'm sorry…" Albert blushed slightly. "I-If you'd like to take this bed – I can go downstairs and sleep on the sofa…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Albert," Barok returned immediately while shaking his head. "I will avail myself of the sofa. Your bed is just that – yours."

"Oh, well… if you insist…" A moment later, his lap was bereft of the delightful weight it had borne until now as his companion made to stand.

Barok likewise rose, suddenly concerned that he had been misunderstood somehow. "I was not about to go downstairs."

"You weren't…?" After glancing over at him, Albert finally smiled again. "Would… would you perhaps remain here for a while longer? Since you won't depart for a few hours yet, I'd enjoy it if we could spend some more time together, have a pleasant chat…"

"Gladly." As he answered, Barok reached out to cup this wonderful man's cheek once more, amazed all over again how even so fleeting a physical contact could feel like it had the potential to stop the world in its rotation.

"Ah, but…" After leaning into his touch, clearly enjoying it as much as Barok, Albert looked down on himself with an uncertain glance. "I hope you won't mind if I, erm, go change out of these clothes, since… well…"

"Oh. Yes, please, go ahead. I will wait for you here."

"Right… I'll return in just a few minutes." With those words, Albert reached for his spectacles to place them back on his nose and stepped over to his dresser to withdraw something that looked like sleepwear. Then, he left for the bathroom on the first floor.

Left to his own devices, Barok seated himself back on the bed, aware that the smile on his face was now tinged with a healthy dose of disbelief.

In the end, he took the first step. Barok had been thinking about kissing Albert for months now, yes, but if his dearest friend had not taken the initiative tonight, they would likely still be mired in could-have-beens.

For all of his unassuming nature, Albert's bravery when it came to things – and persons – he felt strongly about was truly unparalleled.

Absolutely marvelous.

Of course, Barok also had not expected to taste the beginnings of carnality so soon after their first kiss, but in hindsight, Albert's enthusiasm had managed to thankfully put paid to the concern that Barok would be unable to respond in kind.

Perhaps he would be amenable to some more kissing before we decide to retire for the night. Barok, for one, would certainly not be opposed.

At just that moment, the door separating this bedroom from the remainder of the attic space opened once more, signaling the return of his companion.

Albert now wore a light blue set of pyjamas, his waistcoat and trousers draped over a clotheshanger which he hung on the topmost drawer knob of his dresser.

"Well, I'm back…" After this remark, he appeared to think for a moment before his eyes widened and he continued. "Oh yes, since you're staying over, and you probably don't have anything with you, feel free to use my toothbrush, it's the one on the far left… I'd gladly lend you some clothes to sleep in, as well, but I'm not sure anything I own would fit you…"

He only stopped speaking when Barok smiled over at him. "I'm certain I will survive spending a single night in my regular clothes, and I appreciate the offer of your toothbrush, but I shall worry about that topic when I withdraw to the sofa, unless you'd prefer it if I went to see to dental hygiene now."

Albert shook his head right away. "No, if you're comfortable, please stay."

"I shall, although…" Now, Barok glanced down on himself for a moment. "If you you don't mind, I'll rid myself of some of my accoutrements for comfort reasons."

"G-go right ahead!" Albert blushed as he replied. "Did you want me to turn around…?"

Barok shook his head as he raised his hands to undo his cravat. "For one, I wasn't planning on undressing to such a degree that you'd see anything you haven't already, at least not right now, and for another, you are one of the very few people whom I wouldn't ask to look away."

"I see." Although the dusting of red along his cheekbones intensified, his companion's smile lost some of its nervousness. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Feel free – while I won't advocate for rushing into things, I'll be open to any experimentation you'd care to conduct as we continue seeing each other."

This time, Barok had aimed for the reaction he promptly received: For a moment, there was an unmistakeable spark of pure desire in Albert's eyes, the sight in turn serving to drive home yet again that Barok wanted this man in every conceivable way.

"However, for now, we should probably settle down some," he suggested after suppressing the urge to inhale sharply. "After all, as you pointed out, it is quite late."

"Of course." His companion seemed in agreement with his line of reasoning, as he did not appear disappointed or concerned that he was being brushed off.

For the next few minutes, Barok unburdened himself of all accessories and pieces of clothing that would not be particularly pleasant to rest in for various reasons; before long, his jacket, waistcoat, cravat, and belt had joined Albert's daywear by being hung on or placed on top of the dresser.

When he turned back toward the only other person with him in the room, he noticed immediately that his companion had wrapped his arms around himself, yet still shivered ever-so-slightly on occasion. Apparently, they had not managed to keep enough warmth inside when they had ventured out onto the balcony.

Stepping closer while smiling down on the man who constantly managed to charm him without even trying, he asked, "It has become somewhat chilly in here, hasn't it? Why don't you make use of your blanket?"

"Well… I didn't want you to think that I wanted you to leave, after all," Albert explained, though he rose from the side of the bed to pull back the duvet.

While Barok would have expected him to lie down, his friend then instead glanced back at him once he had fully dislodged the covering from the mattress. "Would you care to share the blanket with me? After all, I wouldn't want you to be cold while keeping me company, either."

Glad to find that the dear man was apparently beginning to get used to the change in their relationship, as he had not stuttered out a word in a little while, Barok nodded. Less than a minute later, they were seated side by side, the duvet draped over their shoulders and held closed in front of them by one of Albert's hands.

"Hmm, this is quite nice, isn't it?" Warm pressure against his left shoulder told Barok that his companion had chosen to lean against him, utterly content to seek contact.

"Very much so," he replied with a smile while wrapping his left arm around Albert's back to hold him closer yet.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while before his friend spoke up once more. "You know… when we were on holiday together, I thought of visiting you in your bedroom for this sort of thing more than once, but I could never gather the courage to do so in the end."

Barok chuckled under his breath before answering. "It's entirely possible that I would have agreed, though of course sharing a blanket for warmth wouldn't have made for the most convincing reasoning in mid-summer."

"That's about what I thought to myself, as well." Albert joined him in chuckling for a moment. "Of course, it was already lovely to be able to spend so much time with you at the beach house – it felt like a taste of what I'd been wishing for when we were still students. Before our holiday, I was telling myself I should be content with seeing you regularly after my return to London, but after we came back here… I'd have loved nothing better than to continue meeting you every morning, and wishing you a good night every evening."

"You weren't alone in yearning for those things," Barok returned quietly. "In fact, I realized not too long after our return from the Isle of Wight just how important your closeness had become to me."

He had just finished speaking when he felt Albert's arm wrapping itself around his lower back, reciprocating his gesture.

"Well… we're together now. That's all that's important from this point forward, wouldn't you say?"

Closing his eyes while relishing both the warmth around them and the one that had lodged itself in his heart, Barok smiled. "I agree."


-January 1, 1902-

221B Baker Street

"-ertie! Bertie! Are you awake?"

Iris's voice, accompanied by her banging on Albert's bedroom door, rattled Barok into wakefulness.

Thankfully, it had also served to awaken her addressee, who called back, "I am now!"

"Good, breakfast will be served in 15 minutes!" After those words, steps moving away from them could faintly be heard echoing in the larger attic space.

Once even those noises had vanished completely, Albert turned around in Barok's arms, a smile appearing on his face as soon as they were looking at each other. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Barok returned, unable to keep himself from letting his thumb brush over his companion's now ever-so-slightly stubbly cheek. "Pray forgive me for falling asleep here."

Last night, they had sat wrapped in the blanket together for who knew how long, talking and kissing, until Albert had not been able to hold back a yawn, prompting Barok to suggest to his companion that he should lie down, only to be told that that would make it impossible to continue sharing the duvet. The compromise had been for him to stretch out on the bed with Albert, thinking to himself that he would remain here until the dear man had nodded off, and then quietly make his way downstairs to claim a few hours of sleep on the sofa in the sitting room. Alas, his plans had apparently not worked out.

In response to his apology, Albert raised his hand to place it on top of Barok's. "I'm glad you're here, actually… if you weren't, I might be tempted to think that I dreamed up all of last night. It'll probably take me a few more days before it sinks in that this is real."

The fingers of his other hand reached out to touch one of the forelocks of Barok's hair that would never stay in place, no matter how much pomade he subjected them to – a feature all men of the van Zieks clan shared. Right now, it was hanging into his face, its mussed strands partially covering his left eye until Albert gently brushed it back.

"I probably look a fright," he surmised with a smile – if he did not take the time to brush out his hair before going to bed, he usually found something not entirely unlike an explosion at a furrier's shop in the mirror come morning.

"Not at all… or at least, no more than I do." Albert chuckled while continuing to let his fingers run through Barok's hair, apparently working to restore some order to it while simultaneously enjoying the contact. "We should probably go downstairs soon."

The oblique reminder that Iris had awakened them a little while ago instilled a mixture of wry amusement and a hint of concern in Barok.

I probably won't be able to take my leave without Iris and Sholmes noticing. And of course, they would also be aware that he had spent the night in Albert's bedroom, which might well lead to a number of wrong conclusions.

Then again, he doubted that Sholmes would be a fountain of off-color insinuations in the girl's presence, and he liked to think that he was not so thin-skinned as to be incapable of weathering a few jocular remarks at his expense.

He nodded slightly. "A cup of tea would be pleasant before I make for my own lodgings."

It would take the two men another couple of minutes to untangle themselves from Albert's duvet. After Barok had brushed the wrinkles out of his attire as much as possible and shrugged back into his jacket and his companion had pulled on a bathrobe over his pyjamas, they made their way across the attic and descended the stairs.

To Barok's bafflement, neither Iris nor Sholmes seemed at all surprised to see him emerge from the hallway alongside Albert. The detective only nodded over at them in greeting while drawing on his pipe, still clad in his sleep attire and a bathrobe, himself.

Meanwhile, the girl smiled over at them. "Good morning, Bertie, Uncle Barry! Please, have a seat, I was about to bring out breakfast."

Concerned that his niece might decide to prepare more food simply because he had remained here overnight, Barok stated while he sat down on the sofa, "I wouldn't want to impose – pray forgive my unannounced appearance this morning."

"Don't be silly, Uncle Barry, you're not imposing – Hurley told me right after I woke him up that it'd be best to make enough for four, and I've also brewed some additional tea since I know you're not a coffee drinker." Iris shrugged before turning on her heel and entering the kitchen.

Speechless, Barok stared after her, wondering just how Sholmes could have known that he had not left 221B Baker Street at the crack of dawn, when he heard the quiet scratching sound of a gramophone needle being placed in the grooves of a record. A moment later, music filled the sitting room, the melody immediately familiar.

Isn't that the piece he played last night…?

After the short instrumental opening, two female voices, a soprano and a mezzosoprano, began to sing in mellifluous French.

Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour

Souris à nos ivresses

Nuit plus douce que le jour

Ô, belle nuit d'amour!

Le temps fuit et sans retour

Emporte nos tendresses

Loin de cet heureux séjour

Le temps fuit sans retour…

While Barok's French was not in the best of states anymore, seeing that he had not made use of it in quite some time, he could still understand the lyrics of the aria.

Shooting the detective, who had now taken a seat in the armchair on the other side of the chest, a questioning glance, Barok only received the slightest of shrugs in return, Sholmes's visage never losing the serene half-smile he sported whenever he was neither surprised nor opposed to a given state of affairs.

He knew this was likely to happen. There was no other interpretation of the man selecting this piece both yesterday evening and today.

Since when…? Considering that the detective frequently made a sport out of deducing things about people in his presence, Barok doubted that this had been a recent development…

Deductions.

Sholmes had offered up three deductions about their companions while keeping Barok company in the sitting room of the beach house, but had kept mum on one of them after having been told to not reveal anything 'potentially detrimental.' Had the third deduction concerned Albert's feelings for Barok?

… And on the first day we came here together, he insisted on deducing something about me. While said deduction had seemed like so much rubbish to Barok, given that he had obviously not been about to get married, he still vividly recalled the detective's gaze settling on Albert just before Iris had joined their conversation, apparently gauging his companion's reaction.

He knew about Albert the entire time… and he probably figured out my itinerary in our relationship long before I did, as well.

Eyes widening at the realization, Barok could not help but stare at the man wordlessly.

Sholmes's smile widened as he lowered the pipe. "Elementary, my dear Lord van Zieks."

"… What is?" Albert asked from Barok's right side.

With a chuckle, Barok turned toward him. "Let's just say that I just happened upon a deduction about a certain set of earlier deductions. I'll explain later."

At that moment, Iris returned from the kitchen with her trusty serving trolley, and the three men rose to aid her in placing everything on the chest.