"Oh ha ha, very funny! Yes of course I'll join you, but stop being all," Freddy paused, "not like you!" She gestured towards her new partner. "What happened? Your hair has changed and the way you—you just seem so different!"
He raised his eyebrows in response. "You're mistaking me for someone else. I'm Sherlock Holmes. You know who I am and what I do from a series of books written by a man named Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and also from numerous horrid adaptations of said books."
"Look, Drizzt-"
"I am not Drizzt! Whoever the hell that is!" he yelled in exasperation. "Really, your mind is so slow! Isn't it obvious? I come from another universe!" He sauntered off towards the direction Freddy came. She had no other choice than to follow him, still in shock from the revelation he wasn't her Alfheimian friend, but the great Sherlock Holmes who lives in another universe. Should she really trust him? What if he's the one behind all this madness? But who else could she turn to at this point? Her Uncle Phil still hasn't called her back yet and she had an awful feeling that he won't be doing so anytime soon. Who else could she trust? Nothing was making sense today!
Freddy took in a long breath before asking, "So how'd you end up here? How did you know about Moriarty kidnapping my family?"
"All that's ever come out of your mouth are questions," he said. "I've been following Moriarty's whereabouts for months. We have… a past." At this, Freddy smirked. She knew all about Holmes and Moriarty's "past". Her uncle Bruce had read them to her when she was younger. "I followed him until he went off to this universe. I had to get… help," he flinched at the word, "from an old friend." The remnants of the flinch turned into a half smile and all Freddy could do was nod. They spent their walk out of Central Park in awkward silence.
Freddy didn't want to ask a question again, so she gave a suggestion. "We should head over to the mansion, maybe there's some intel on Moriarty in the S.H.I.E.L.D. database."
"Don't even bother trying. There isn't a trace of him, even if he's already got his hands dirty in your world," he said waving the idea off.
"Aside from taking the Avengers?" Freddy asked. She mentally slapped herself when she realized she asked another question. He nodded a reply as they rounded a corner. He took another sharp turn and slowed down to a halt in front of a coffee shop.
"In a hurry? We're meeting someone who can actually be of use to me," Sherlock said casually, walking inside.
Freddy had to grab the door to keep it from closing on her. "Oh no biggie, they can wait," she replied sarcastically. She quickly ordered them their drinks and walked over to where Sherlock sat near the window. Freddy placed a steaming cup in front of the detective as she plopped herself down opposite him. She let out a small cough and her eyes met his for a moment. They sat there in silence—Freddy had to carefully study the wall beside her to avoid his piercing gaze.
All of a sudden, Freddy's face was spewed upon by Sherlock. "What the hell is this?" he demanded, wiping his lips with the sleeves of his coat. Freddy grabbed some tissues and patted her face and hair dry.
"That," she said with a glare, "is some very, very hot tea."
His face twisted in disgust. "It's revolting."
"Much like yourself," she muttered. Smirking, he glanced at the clock on the wall. Sherlock sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. Freddy took a sip from her coffee, catching his display of annoyance. "What now?!"
"You're too nervous."
"No I'm not, I'm fine!"
"At first glance, yes," he said. "But look at you. The entire time we've been here, you've been looking around with panic in your eyes. Your lips are just about to bleed from all the biting. How many times have you scratched your cheek? Eight. Your foot has been tapping endlessly and your right hand," he gestured with a nod and Freddy's gaze moved down to it, "it's twitching."
Freddy stared for a moment at the man and his brilliance, but she knew that those were just simple and obvious deductions for this detective. Finally, she snapped out of her trance. "Look, I just want them back alive and okay! Who's this person we're meeting anyways?" she asked with irritation.
He gave her a smirk again and replied, "An old friend." Just then, the breeze outside picked up, swirling the leaves and other debris off the ground. Freddy's jaw dropped when a big blue box started to materialize from out of nowhere right in front of the shop's window. Sherlock followed her gaze and chuckled. "Here he is."
If you can't tell this is a crossover AU story with other fandoms, like Sherlock!