Prompt at the end.

Takes place not long after Chaos 6

Falling snowflakes stifled the sounds of the city. Cabs did not rattle. Horseshoes did not tap cobblestones. Hawkers did not call quite as loudly.

Her feet did crunch, though. Crackling ice lay beneath crisp snow, voicing its displeasure at her shifting weight. Today's storm dropped the best snow for her plan, and a moment checked her path. Any sign of detection?

No—on both accounts, she amended with a smirk. Mr. Holmes would have groaned at such a pun. The doctor would probably laugh, but she saw plenty of people and no one familiar. Small footprints mingled with the passing adults' on her way back to the alleys. Jimmy should have started by now.

And Mr. Holmes would finish his errands soon. Rapid steps dodged adults to hurry down one path and up the next. They needed at least two feet and a pyramid to have a chance at succeeding in today's mission. Jimmy would never have enough time to do it alone.

"There you are." Her twin barely glanced up from packing snow into large bricks. "Did you bring the water?"

Doris rolled her eyes without comment. Of course she had brought the water. This was her idea!

The snow quieted a faint laugh. "Dumb question," Jimmy acknowledged with a grin at her bucket. "Bricks or balls?"

"Bricks," she answered firmly, already forming her first against the building, "both of us. Ammunition doesn't help if his first snowball takes down our fort."

His grin became a muffled laugh. "That's true enough. You know he's gonna kill us for this, right?"

"Nah." One hand waved away the possibility. "He'll be grumpy, but this is Mr. Holmes. Grumpy means it's a good prank." She paused to stack that brick atop their forming wall. "Besides, it's not like we're doing this a mile from the flat."

Mr. Holmes would have plenty of time to return fire—or try to—before seeking the warmth of home. He would not be able to scold for that.

"You think the doctor will come out to help him?"

She stilled. Would the doctor help? The right angle would easily see the ambush from the sitting room.

"Probably not," she decided, though she still added another brick to the row. "He's been limping pretty bad the last couple days. He might watch from the window, but I don't think even the littles could coax him outside today. It's too cold."

Cold enough she looked forward to returning to the courtyard—but not so cold that she would abandon such a perfect opportunity. Her surveillance earlier had indicated this the day to set their trap. Fresh snow layered the ground as building material, Mr. Holmes had left to deliver items rather than purchase them, and he had gone alone. She would not risk a prank causing injury.

Nor would she risk getting caught before time. A familiar figure loomed in the blowing flakes, and she nearly tackled her brother out of sight. He looked at her like she had lost her mind.

"Wh—"

One finger over his mouth silenced the word. He pulled a face in a wordless question, but she simply motioned again for quiet and listened to the crunching footsteps approaching their alley. Had they gone unnoticed?

"I see you two back there."

No. Drat. Doris hesitantly peeked over their wall.

"Hello, Mrs. Hudson."

Jimmy's eyes widened, then one hand snaked out to retrieve a single missile. If Mrs. Hudson meant to give them away, he at least would get one shot as payback.

A payback that may not be needed. Doris waved him back at the smile twitching Mrs. Hudson's mouth.

"Doris." One step into the shadows avoided creating footprints while also hiding from easy notice. "I saw you too, Jimmy. Are you trying to catch Mr. Holmes or the doctor?"

"Mr. Holmes," Doris replied. "He destroyed our snow fort in the last battle, so I made him teach me how to build a better one. I have to test the design somehow!"

Mrs. Hudson released a quiet chuckle. "I suppose so. Mr. Holmes promised the doctor he would be home by midday. Best hurry."

She disappeared before Doris could reply, undoubtedly headed back to the warm house, and Doris stared for a long moment. Had that—

"Did she seriously let us go?" Jimmy finally breathed. "Without even a lecture?"

She had, and Doris' spreading grin shared Jimmy's surprised glee. Mr. Holmes must have caught Mrs. Hudson in the last prank war, for her to say nothing about an obvious snowy ambush.

Which meant they had work to do. The thought sent her scurrying to the next bin. Snow packed easily into three bricks, then a trip back to their fort restarted the process. Jimmy started forming the pyramid of snowballs once their fort reached two feet high.

"Don't forget the mortar."

She had not forgotten the mortar. Two more rows took their wall to full height, then loose snow packed into the gaps to hold everything together. Jimmy abandoned the snowballs for a moment to help her trickle the chilly water over the top and outside.

"Like that?"

She nodded, grinning at the near-instant layer of ice that formed on their bricks. Mr. Holmes had been right. Such a wall would undoubtedly stop any return fire. No wonder they had lost that fight so thoroughly.

It would not send anything, however, and a final layer of water set the half-full bucket in one of their holes to retrieve later before she went back to the bin for more snow. The next several minutes created a large pile of ammunition on the ground between them, though they kept a continuous watch on the emptying streets. Any minute now…

"There."

Snow-laden sidewalks had sent almost everyone else to shelter an hour ago, and bulky winter gear did nothing to disguise the lone man fighting the wind to reach the flat. Jimmy packed one last ball and joined her behind their fort. Mr. Holmes would pass directly in front of their alley.

Eventually. Small steps trudged through the blowing cold. One building served as a wind block. The next, as a landmark. He turned to walk into the storm, and she did not need to hear him to know the irritation he voiced at Baker Street funneling a light breeze into a decent wind. The storm's direction would conceal their fort. Mr. Holmes would not see them early if he could not see at all.

Though she wished he would hurry. Their alley did not block all the wind, and what little trickled through also found the hole in the back of her coat. She would have to readjust her layers before they returned to the courtyard.

Jimmy's elbow nudged hers in a coming question. "In front of us?" he breathed.

Of course. This wind would ruin their aim if they tried to throw further. Her silent 'yes' made him kneel behind the wall, eyes and hat the only indication of his presence, and one last glance down the street followed his lead. Mr. Holmes should pass their alley in five, four, three, two—

Her first snowball impacted his leg. The second joined Jimmy's on his shoulder. He reacted before the third, spinning to scowl at their fort through a bundle of scarf and hat. Thick gloves ignored the raining missiles to scoop his own snowball, which shot straight at Doris.

Only to break against the ice casing their fort. She laughed and sent another, and his second attempt also broke against the ice before he ducked around the building's corner. She and Jimmy both stilled, watching. He had gone the wrong way to run home, nor would he give up. What did he plan?

A different sort of ambush. A crash said he had found the ice blocking the nearest fire escape, then two freezing projectiles rounded the corner, arching high enough to bypass their fort.

"Missed me!"

His growl carried through the snow, and laughter spoiled her throw to make the next barely graze his arm. She had expected him to return a few volleys and hurry home, not start a true war. Delight made her laugh harder as she ducked his next shot.

"Your aim needs work!"

He grumbled something uncomplimentary towards twins, then metallic clinking announced he tried to climb for an aerial assault.

"I'd suggest leaving that ladder alone." Jimmy leaned far enough away from the building to attempt a lefthanded pitch. "I doubt the doctor wants to come outside because you fell off the roof."

Another muffled crash and a grousing complaint proved his point. Mr. Holmes sent two more blind throws around the corner, then a long pause made her peer at the street. Had he retreated?

Unlikely. She still heard footsteps. Crunching just barely audible over the wind put him nearby, and she fought to see through the blowing snow. Did he try to climb the ladder again?

No, the footsteps came from behind them. She spun to find Mr. Holmes at the other end of their alley. Three rapid throws hit feet, knees, and chest, but her next grab met empty air.

"Good." He stalked closer, a hint of mischief bleeding through the feigned exasperation. The last of the snow made two large projectiles, one of which Doris found herself unable to dodge. Snow covered her front.

She merely grinned. One hit each for him. Way too many to count for them. She and Jimmy had won this round.

"I like your snow fort, Mr. Holmes."

He had deduced that with the first snowball. A scowl answered her excitement though he failed to completely banish the amusement in his gaze.

"Did Watson convince you to do this?"

She shook her head, still smiling—and trying to hide the chill leaking through her coat. Doctor Watson had recruited the Irregulars for pranks many times over the years, but he had played no part in today's plan.

"Haven't seen him all day. You looked like you hadn't had any fun for a while, so we fixed that."

Thoroughly. He still glowered even as one hand motioned them toward the flat. The smirk trying to twitch his mouth revealed he intended to let them warm up before going home.

He may not have counted on an audience, however. Mrs. Hudson's laughing hello and several "pawky" comments from Doctor Watson—all directed at Mr. Holmes—proved her initial impression had been correct.

This was the perfect storm.

From Hades Lord of the Dead: A target on your back

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