TheDarkestShinobi: Enjoy!

Jim watches with interest as John paces on the pavement below his apartment before leaving. Hands in pockets, head shaking, muttering to himself: pacing. It's an indicator of infidelity, a very strong one, but in this case John is choosing between Sherlock and him. It's fascinating. Jim feels the smile grow on his face as John pivots before completing another cycle. Somehow Jim has put himself on Sherlock's level. Or rather has managed to knock Sherlock enough that the good doctor is unsure. Jim tilts his head. It truly was a mistake for Sherlock to lie to the veteran with trust issues. John could be trusted with anything. Loyal to a fault and ready to jump in front of a bullet for a stranger, John Watson was not someone worth losing.

Jim appreciates it now. He can only imagine how tightly he'd hold to John if he ever managed to get John on his side, but John would never side with Moriarty-but Jim? Jim takes a breath as the thought filters in his head from Kate. He could tell John and let the cards unfold. John leaves the block just as Jim determines he will tell John the truth. He knows enough now, and he's seen enough that he'll be able to put it together. Jim licks his lips. He's just seen John and he wants him again.

Patience. Jim lets out a breath.

The idea that John could see him is exhilarating. If John could look at him and see the Jim from the Moriarty, he shudders to think of it. If John could prove Jim was worth trusting, protecting and believing in… he shakes his head. He cannot build expectations. John may decide he's a wanker and just leave. John may not trust him. Moriarty has done a wonderful job of keeping John away.

As if thinking the name were enough, Jim feels control slip away from him. He wonders if he'll ever be strong enough to resist Moriarty, but as his body moves without his permission, he is reduced to background noise as Moriarty orders the slaughter of a competing cartel in India. Background noise, even as Moriarty begins to play around with a scientist in Baskerville.

"This will be the nail in the coffin for the duo." Moriarty promises as he changes into a suit at 11 at night, "and then, you'll learn to behave."

…

It's been about a week since Moriarty put a strain on Sherlock and John's friendship, but it's also been a week since any kidnapping, so John figures it's time for one as he notices a black car stopping at the corner. John lifts his hands in surrender as he sees Moriarty's men.

"Spread your arms and legs." John laughs at the thought of a pat down before they kidnap him, but he complies anyway. Moran pats him down as Mariano steps out of the car. As John turns to look at him, he feels the arm slide around his neck. He wheezes as he turns into the choke, but Moran keeps a firm grip on him.

"Choke," he manages to squeeze out, even as he knows his words won't have any impact.

"Sorry, John, didn't have sedative." They didn't need sedative was John's last thought. He knew the way there and back and wasn't going to fight unless, of course, Moriarty is in the mood to beat him and leave him for dead.

"Unnecessary," John growls as he jumps off the bed and scowls. If he's in a bed then he is safe for the day. He shakes his head as he walks out of the bedroom, his hand rubbing his sore neck. Jim looks up at him and John drops his hand to storm over to him. Jim uncrosses his legs as John slams his hands on the table.

"Whatever this is has to stop."

"Now-"

"Why am I here?" John interrupts. As soon as Jim opens his mouth John slams on the table again. Jim feels his pulse race. "No lies, no distractions. Just tell me, why am I here?"

"Fine." Jim closes his eyes as he drops his head. John's hands start to sting as Jim motions towards the chair across the table. John pulls it out and sits as Jim closes the laptop on the table.

"In order to understand why you are here you need to understand who I am." Jim licks his lips. John leans back in his chair.

"I'm Jim,"

"Yes, I know, Jim Moriarty." John interrupts; his frustration is clear in his voice.

"No," Jim corrects, stresses. "I'm not Moriarty."

Yes we are

Jim's eyes close as his head jerks slightly.

"What?" John's in disbelief, it's expected.

"Not in the way you think," Jim continues but John shakes his head.

"And you expect me to believe that?" He's getting angry again.

"Think about it," Jim pleads because it's suddenly important to him that John not view him as the killer, as the criminal. "You've noticed." He insists as he remembers the odd looks that John would give him at times.

"No." John's is firm and the fingers on his right hand curl. Jim knows he's close to making a fist.

"You noticed." Jim continues, sure of his words and their truthfulness. "You didn't care but you noticed," Jim smiles, "and you will continue to." John's eyes narrow in mistrust but he doesn't say anything. "Once you understand that, you can ask me again. You won't understand otherwise." Jim pauses a moment and when John doesn't immediately respond he opens his laptop up. John glances over to Jim, because it would be Jim now, right? He purses his lips before looking away. This is nonsense.

Except he can very clearly tell the difference between the criminal's mindset on certain days; days where he's likely to be blown up or choked to death versus days he gets tea and apologies. This could be another trick of his, but then what's the endgame? John watches Jim type at the computer before studying his face.

John remembers the transformation that occurred in front of him. He remembers the hand on his throat pulling back as the lines on Moriarty's face softened, remembered bringing his hand down willingly. It went from fierce and life threatening to slow and strangely intimate.

"Mr. Moriarty-"

"Jim."

John shakes his head. This has to be some kind of trick. Jim watches out of the corner of his eye and wonders if there isn't a difference for John to notice. Maybe Jim is worse than he thinks he is. Maybe there isn't a difference anymore. He pauses, but the sheer confusion on John's face lets him know there is enough of a difference.

"One of my men can take you home now," Jim says softly and John looks up as his thoughts are broken. He grabs his phone and checks the time to find out he's been sitting for hours. John nods and leaves without saying a word and Jim feels Moriarty bubble to the surface.

"This needs to stop." He says out loud. "Or I'll stop it for you." Jim jerks and Moriarty stills him.

"I've said it before."

I can stop John Watson. Stop his heart.

Moriarty knows its an empty threat, but he needs time to figure this out.

…

Jim was right, John had noticed and the more he thought about it the more it made sense.

"Sherlock?"

"Hmm." Sherlock briefly acknowledges, and John knows what he's doing isn't important enough for Sherlock to disappear into the mind palace.

"Play attention!" Sherlock rolls his eyes but lowers his hands to the table and turns so that he's facing John. John's been demanding and yet distant as of late, so Sherlock tilts his head to assess their new standing.

"Have you ever noticed anything odd about Moriarty, behavior wise?" Sherlock searches John's face for any signs of distress but finds only confusion. Moriarty has already beaten John, left him for dead, fed him and given him tea so honestly Sherlock is not sure what else Moriarty could do to confuse John at this point. Sherlock looks down as he thinks but honestly, Moriarty is crazy and this all comes with the territory. If Moriarty was easy to figure out Sherlock would surely have gotten bored of him by now.

"No, have you?" Though John is dull, he has been in Moriarty's company more. "He is an excellent actor. Even the best disguises are in fact a self-portrait." Red lips flash in his mind and he briefly files it away-maybe red lips point to-focus. "But with Moriarty there was nothing to see that day in Bart's. He even had me convinced," because he wouldn't say fooled, "he was a gay man with very little upward trajectory or desire; just a victim of abuse still trying to get out of it." John closes his eyes and shifts as Sherlock continues. "He completely and utterly convinced me he was someone else." John opens his eyes and looks away before looking at Sherlock.

"What if he didn't?" Sherlock's head jerks up to lock eyes with John's.

"What do you mean-oh!" Sherlock holds the word like a note. He lets the tips of his fingers touch each other. "You're suggesting multiple personalities."

"Yes." Sherlock breaks his gaze into John's eyes and John notices the signs of Sherlock retreating into thought. He prepares to leave Sherlock to it but he pauses. "What do you think?"

"I think it's the only thing that makes sense." Sherlock shifts and John can see the change from entering the palace to beginning a speal of deductions so John grabs the edge of the chair and waits. "Firstly, it would explain why the man is so difficult to track, even the most elusive people have certain patterns, but multiple people in a body all having different paths makes for a very elusive body. Two personalities also mean there is no need to hide, they could simply swap with each other and throw people off, especially me. I saw one face, not the criminal I was against and I couldn't see him because he wasn't there. It doesn't explain his obsession with you." John shakes his head but Sherlock waves his hand as if to dismiss John's thought.

"Yes, John, it is an obsession. Ah, but it would explain why most of your meetings are relatively harmless. Jim and Moriarty are probably the two, so you bring out the docile one leaving less crime for me." It explains a lot.

"Of course it makes sense to you," John's in disbelief but wasn't this what he thought too? Shouldn't he be glad to be confirmed? John lets go of the chair as Sherlock stands suddenly and searches his face. John offers Sherlock an amused but confused glance back as Sherlock steps around the table. "Which one takes you, then?"

"What?" John is almost breathless but it's alright because Sherlock doesn't expect a response. John is being studied right now, as if the answer is written across his chest in sharpie. Sherlock murmurs something before standing straight up

"It's likely that Jim is first, the child, he would have kept his name. The second, assuming there is only two-which I think we can- would have come later. Likely during childhood, often during duress… Ah! Carl Powers" Sherlock groans out, closing his eyes briefly. John swallows. "Explains the shoes! Moriarty's first. He has to call himself Moriarty. That explains why Jim was at Bart's but Moriarty was at the pool. I couldn't deduce they were the same because they weren't! And he wasn't lying either, making detection from that impossible! John you're- how did you figure that out." John huffs and breaks the eye contact that has been going on for decades.

"The madman's kidnaped me half a dozen times; I'm bound to notice something."

"Not quite," Sherlock licks his lips and looks John up and down. "He told you-but which he-seems to be an important question. He wants you to make the distinction, why? Because he wants to be separate from what you know. So Jim, of course Jim." John is amused at the way Sherlock can have a conversation with John without John saying a word and yet, Sherlock knows what he'd say. "But why give himself away?"

John is surprised at the pause. It seemed like Sherlock was buffering, and John smiles in amusement.

"What changed?" Sherlock nods as he drags out an ah. "Sentiment." He moves even closer to John, so much that John debates taking a step back. "It is never a dull moment around you, John." It's said fondly and John narrows his eyes.

"What? Why?"

"It appears you've split a madman." Sherlock's eyes get wide and bright with excitement. "One half wants to kill you," he says looking to the left. "The other half wants to woo you," he continues looking to the right. John mouths the word woo as Sherlock looks back to his face. They're close enough that a shift of feet would press them against each other.

"That is indeed playing with fire," he stresses the last few words. He smiles sadly and closes his eyes as he continues "You'll like that." He'd like that more than he could ever like Sherlock. Sherlock takes a breath and steps back before going back to his microscope. He watches John out of the corner of his eye and wonders how much longer they have left. Moriarty is not someone who will be denied.

John lets the words bounce around his head but they won't stick. Woo him? Jim? Moriarty? But the idea of being number one to someone like that, as an enemy and friend. God help him, John does like it.

Sherlock doesn't.

TDS: thoughts?