Disclaimer: Sherlock Holmes © Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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W

Part XII —

I was w(rong)

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Mycroft sits in his office. For once, it feels too big for him. This day moves too fast and he has been asked to be left alone, apart from occasional secretaries bringing him meals and tea. This case has gotten too personal.

He has not spoken to Sherlock in a long time.

'It is time,' he thinks, 'to get over it. To talk it out. Maybe he'd understand, for once, understand why I did what I did. Yes. Yes, I must speak to him.'

With newfound resolve, he remembers John. Mycroft wants to thank him, wherever he is. It is in his power to start a more serious search and he will do so. Perhaps Sherlock would have some more respect for him. Perhaps it will all change.

And then, Mycroft suddenly recognizes the expression on John's face, back at the funeral.

(A tea cup crashed to the ground.)

He'd been grinning, and waving, like a slow goodbye.

And on the coffee table, the phone is ringing.

And ringing.

And ringing...

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fin

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A/N: Ah, the ultimate revenge. Thanks for reading. If you didn't get the end, it basically says that it's been Moran the entire fucking time. I better go over other questions—

Q: Is there a bomb planted in Mycroft's phone?
A: Yes.

Q: Where is John?
A: Beats me. Underground somewhere, or in an abandoned house. I'd imagine Moran pays monthly from one of his secret bank accounts to keep whoever's keeping John alive happy, even after his death. Think Oh Dae-su from Oldboy. Leaving it up to your imagination. Rape, mutilation, idk. Cut off all limbs and the person can still live.

Q: Why so many phone calls?
A: To put emphasis on the disconnection between these characters, reinforcing the whole you can't trust faces thing.

Q: Why did you list this as Johnlock?
A: Because it is. This is told mainly from Sherlock's POV, and he thinks it's John he's with.

Q: Was Sherlock in love?
A: This is up to a subjective analysis. However, I personally see Sherlock as an asexual who is manipulated to think he's in love, simply because of his lack of experience with emotion. Mostly slash operates with "love underneath the disguise of hate" — while in this fic it's "hate underneath the disguise of love". Both are intense and passionate.

Q: Sequel?
A: No. Might do a prequel exploring what made Moran so fucked up in the first place.