A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry it's been a while, I have exams coming up so revision has been pretty time consuming. I hope you enjoy this next story :) I am almost certain there is OOCness here, so I apologise for that.

P.S. I'm already thinking about it and I'm struggling to come up with a feasible scenario where Sherlock would feel the need to stand up for Mycroft, and Mycroft wouldn't know how to defend himself. So, if you have any ideas I would really appreciate them!

If you have any time I would love to hear what you think :)

Against The Teacher

It was the Easter holidays in Mycroft's final year at university so he decided to give his family a surprise visit – well, he had learnt from past experience that to not forewarn of his arrival was the only way not to get Mummy in a fuss. He had not been home since just after Christmas, and although he spoke to his parents on the phone regularly he had had little contact with Sherlock.

Ever since Mycroft left for university three years ago, Sherlock had started to resent him a lot more, and their relationship had never been perfect in the first place. The then 11 year old boy had accused Mycroft of being selfish for leaving him with a 'bunch of idiots' who did not understand him. Mycroft had said Sherlock was being ridiculous and overdramatic as always. Sherlock had said fine, he did not really need Mycroft anyway. How wrong he had been.

And so over the past few years the Holmes brothers had talked very little and Mycroft wondered if they now had any kind of relationship at all. Although, he supposed that might be for the best. He could not look after Sherlock for the rest of their lives, and his younger brother must learn that independence is a key trait to have in this world. Relying on someone will only make you feel let down and you will probably get hurt – Mycroft had learnt this in his own way over the years.

When he arrived home, Mycroft entered the house quietly so as not to disturb the peaceful setting. A small smile tugged at his lips – he did like being home in his own room, not having to share with those loud obnoxious boys back at university. However, he was disgruntled to find that the normally tranquil and homely place was tainted by the desperate whispers of his parents – clearly discussing something important, whispering so Sherlock can't hear, so it's about him then.

Mycroft slowly made his way down the hall to his father's study where the voices where flowing from – he listened in curiously.

"I'm just so worried about him" Violet Holmes said with a tone if despair "I'm not sure he even has any friends, Siger! A boy Sherlock's age needs other people around him to be social with."

"I know" Father Holmes replied seeming a lot calmer than his wife. "But Sherlock seems happy…"

"Is he?" Violet questioned "You heard what his teacher said. He's disruptive in class, he insults people, he refuses to join in with group activities…and now he's got himself suspended for experimenting on the frogs in the science lab! I just don't know what to do"

"Well, Mycroft was the same at first, remember?" Siger replied, and outside the door said son's ears pricked up at the mention of his name. "Well, he has always been polite but he always kept himself to himself. Now he gets on very well at university and interacts with other people. I'm sure Sherlock will get there in his own time"

Mycroft decided this would be the right moment to interject, and so gently opened the door and cleared his throat.

"Oh, darling!" Violet exclaimed happily as she immediately wrapped her son up in a bone crushing hug "What a lovely surprise!"

"Yes, I've missed you" Mycroft felt obliged to say – that's what people normally say when they have been away for a while.

"We've missed you too, son" Siger said with a smile, which his son returned.

"What's all this about Sherlock?" Mycroft decided to ask and get it out of the way.

His parents shared a look before Violet sighed. "He's just having a bit of trouble at school, nothing for you to worry about, dear"

But I do worry Mycroft wanted to say, however it would not be in his nature and he knew Sherlock would not appreciate it anyway.

"We had a meeting with Sherlock's teacher earlier and he told us about some problems Sherlock was having" Siger said.

"Oh" Mycroft replied, hoping to convey he would not take the matter further, but secretly thinking otherwise. "Where is my brother dearest?" he asked with fake kindness.

"Don't be cheeky" Violet lightly scolded him "He's in his room, where he always is these days. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you though"

"Mm, quite" Mycroft said sarcastically and his mother shot him a look of warning. "I'll just…go see him then" Mycroft said a little nervously after that and then hurried from the room.

When he reached Sherlock's door, Mycroft firstly noted the 'Keep Out' sign which had not been there before and few more scratches around the frame. The elder brother knocked and was only met with a mumbled 'go away'. Mycroft tried the door anyway but unsurprisingly it was locked.

Mycroft sighed. "Not after I came all this way to see you" he replied.

There was a pause for a moment before Sherlock shouted out "Can't you read!? I don't want you in here!"

"I heard you were suspended because of an experiment" Mycroft replied calmly, knowing the only way to get Sherlock to commentate was to address him like an adult and not a child. "I would very much like to hear about it."

"No, because you'll just lecture me too!" Sherlock argued.

"Sherlock, I am the last person on this earth who can judge you for being who you are." Mycroft pointed out "You're partly this way because of me anyway and I honestly want to help you." There was another pause, and Mycroft knew that meant his brother was thinking. "I know what it's like to sit in a class day after day, doing work beneath you, and learning from teachers stupider than you. I know what it's like to be singled out as odd even by members as staff. So although you may not like it, we are not so different, you and I."

Another too long of a pause before the sound of shuffling feet and the door being undone. 14 year old Sherlock stood with his curls more out of place than usual and a ratted jumper and jeans which were alarmingly big on his too thin a frame. Mycroft knelt down on one knee before his brother and studied the almost empty eyes, encircled with ever telling redness.

"Why do you care?" Sherlock mumbled.

"Because I'm your brother" Mycroft replied simply, and Sherlock seemed to accept the meaning behind it.

"They think there's something wrong with me" Sherlock whispered, regressing to the upset state that any boy his age would be in after such an event. "Mr Jefferson said Mummy and Daddy should get me tested."

Mycroft frowned. "For what?" he asked.

Sherlock gave a weak shrug "He thinks I'm autistic or something. He gets really mad when I correct him, but it's only because he's embarrassed, and he gives me detentions for no reason. When I get my work done quickly because it's so easy he accuses me of not doing it properly." The boy sniffed and rubbed his eye, determined not to have an outburst in front of his brother.

Mycroft found himself placing a comforting hand on Sherlock's shoulder; it was very rarely they made contact, and Mycroft was surprised yet glad his brother did not pull away and that he too did not feel very uneasy about the situation.

"Well, Mr Jefferson does not know you like Mummy and Father do, like I do" Mycroft stressed. "Your mind is a gift, Sherlock, and you shouldn't be made to feel ashamed for using it. Every teacher should encourage a child with talent, and clearly Mr Jefferson is just an idiot" he added lightly and Sherlock giggled.

"I hate school so much" Sherlock said, turning serious again. "Why does he have to make me feel like I'm so…freaky?"

Mycroft tensed at the word "You are never to think that of yourself, do you understand?" he said firmly and Sherlock's eyes widened as he frantically nodded. Mycroft closed his own eyes for a moment to calm himself before saying. "Perhaps I shall go and talk to Mr Jefferson myself tomorrow…"

"But I'm not at school" Sherlock pointed out "How will you find him?"

Mycroft's lips curled up into a dangerous smirk "I have my ways."

Mycroft tapped the handle of his umbrella on the door of the flat in East London. A portly man with thinning grey hair opened it. He grunted at the sight of Mycroft.

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly.

"I wish to speak to you about one of your students, Sherlock Holmes" Mycroft said politely. Though he already had a distinct disliking for the man, manners where everything if he wanted to remain in charge.

Jefferson looked Mycroft up and down "You're not the boys' father" he said.

Mycroft bit back a sigh – Sherlock was right, the man did like the obvious. "No clearly, you've met our father. I'm his brother, Mycroft" he raised his hand for the man to shake.

Jefferson ignored the offer and merely grunted again. "Listen, boy, I don't think you'll really understand…"

Mycroft stuck his hand up then to silence the man, and Jefferson did so if not just out of plain shock. "Firstly, I am twenty one years old, so don't call me boy" Mycroft said with a dangerous smile "And secondly, what I understand is that you prey on my brother because you know he's bright, almost too bright for your liking and he makes you feel humiliated. Of course he doesn't do it maliciously but that's how you take it because you just enjoy taking out the frustration you feel in the rest of your life out on your students"

Jefferson looked gobsmacked. He jaw hung open and moved for a few moments but no words came out. "I don't have to take this!" he finally exclaimed and went to shut the door, but Mycroft placed his palm on it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" the elder Holmes said darkly, so much so that Jefferson stopped trying to block Mycroft out. "Who do you think you are to tell my brother that he is not normal?" Mycroft asked a little aggressively, his earlier thoughts about politeness almost forgotten as the need to protect his little brother began to take over like it usually did. "It is your job to encourage every child!"

"But there's something not right in that boy's head!" Jefferson blurted out before he could stop himself, and Mycroft only appeared to grow sterner.

The Holmes' eyes narrowed. "He's fourteen years old. How dare you just dismiss him like that" Mycroft said lowly.

"He's a menace! He should be discouraged for being so arrogant" Jefferson argued. Sherlock is right Mycroft thought; this man really does not know when to shut up. "He's disruptive when I'm trying to teach…"

"Because you're wrong" Mycroft but in.

Jefferson looked extremely offended "I beg your pardon?!" he spluttered.

"Sherlock corrects you because you get things wrong" Mycroft stated simply. "My brother has a mind far beyond his years and he knows it. Yes, admittedly he does use it to show off sometimes – I warn him against that explicitly - but when it is necessary to correct someone who is supposed to be teaching students in order to aid their future, then I think it is clear that you are the one in the wrong, and you know you are wrong, that's why it bothers you too much"

The man in the door narrowed his eyes then in a calculating way. "You're just like Sherlock, aren't you?" he said. "You're not right too." To his surprise Mycroft just simpered.

"Well, has it ever occurred to you that to me and my brother, you are the one who is…not right. We really can't understand how people like you can be so slow"

"How dare you come to my home and insult me like this!" Jefferson bellowed, but Mycroft did not seem fazed at all.

"I don't want my brother to ever think that what he has is a curse when I know he can use it for good" Mycroft said firmly "so I will be discussing the matter with my parents and making sure Sherlock is somewhere he praised and his talents are nurtured. And if things do not improve in your classroom, I will make sure you never teach in this city again"

Jefferson scoffed "Oh yeah, and how exactly do you intend to do that?"

"I have a job offer working for the British government" Mycroft replied "And I'm very, very persuasive" he smiled at the speechless man. "Good day, Mr Jefferson" and with that, the elder Holmes brother walked away, umbrella swinging in his hand.

When Mycroft returned home Sherlock almost jumped on him as he had been waiting at the foot of the stairs.

"What happened? What did you say to him?" the younger Holmes asked, though he sounded more excited than anxious.

"Patience, little brother" Mycroft said as he put his umbrella down and hung up his coat.

"You didn't get me expelled did you?" Sherlock asked.

"No, but then would you mind so much if I had?" Mycroft countered.

Sherlock shrugged "No, I suppose not"

"The man really is incompetent" Mycroft said "And I hate dealing with people like him, so I understand your resentment. I was wondering if you would like for me to ask Mummy and Daddy to consider a private school for you? Somewhere that will embrace your abilities"

"Really?" Sherlock said, his eyes immediately brightening "You would do that for me?"

"Of course" Mycroft said "I only have your best interests at heart, Sherlock, and I always will"

Sherlock stepped forward hastily like he was about to hug his brother, but then he stopped, took a step back, and buried his hands in his pockets.

"Well erm, thanks, I guess" he mumbled as he looked down at his feet he was scuffing along the floor.

Mycroft smiled all the same. "You're welcome"