Betaed by "MY CABBAGES!" branwyn
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Sherlock, for the first time in his existence, didn't know what to do. He had a child in his hands, a boy no older than ten years old.
Did Mycroft mean for Sherlock to eat him? The boy was untouched, not even a bruise marred his skin. He was like a piece of fruit, ready to be plucked.
Oh God, what the hell was Sherlock expected to do now?
Sherlock turned the boy over slowly, feeling out the weight and shifting of the limbs. He was rather a chubby child, with bouncy cheeks and buttoned nose. Not beautiful but… healthy. Strong. This one definitely was a morsel worth having.
The child suddenly stirred and Sherlock nearly dropped him in surprise.
Giant blue eyes blinked sleepily up at him. Sherlock braced himself for the screaming, for the sudden increase of fear in the air. Sherlock didn't like the screaming and thought he would have to snap the boy's neck if it ever came to that.
Then the most incredible thing happened. The boy smiled up at him.
Not Greg or Sally ever smiled at him when they first met. Greg kept his distance for months before ever getting the courage to come closer. Sally always hid her smile behind dolls and books and false frowns. Nobody has ever gave him a smile freely, not without suspicion.
"Hi," said the tired little boy. "I'm John."
He yawned, mouth opening wide to reveal two rows of growing teeth and pink gums. If he was weak-willed, Sherlock wouldn't have hesitated in taking those teeth or the screams that would come after. He kept his hands to himself, fascinated by the boy's sudden trust in him.
John blinked around, staring hesitantly at the darkness. "Is it morning yet?"
Sherlock shook his head.
"Alright," John murmured. He settled himself more into Sherlock's hands, seemingly uncaring about the unnatural largeness of said hands, and promptly went back to sleep.
Sherlock held him for a second more. He could feel the child's dreams, full of light and soft curves, and could so very easily turn them into nightmares if he wanted.
John. Little John, Sherlock decided, would stay unsullied.