Well, this just happened...
Inspired by this post on Tumblr about John learning the "dip" from Sherlock - and I thought it would have to be Sherlock showing John first and then commanding John to try it himself...

Rated K+


"Sher- what the-" He never finished the sentence before he found himself hanging almost horizontally in Sherlock's arms. Wide-eyed he stared up at his friend.

"I propose that is what you do at the end of your dance," Sherlock said, entirely unfazed. "I suggest you try it yourself. You'll have to take care of the balance of-"

"Yes, thanks, Sherlock," John growled and struggled to stand up again, as Sherlock was still holding him in this dipped position, "I actually know how to hold a woman." The consulting detective let him stand up again and then took a step back, hand folded on his back.

"But I thought you didn't know how..." he wondered, frowning.

"To dance, yes, but I know... never mind. Anyways, thanks for the lesson."

"You really ought to practice the dip. It isn't as easy as it looks."

"Not gonna practice it with you, you lanky giant." When Sherlock straightened his back a bit more and his expression became defiant, however, John realized what he had just said and cringed.

"I'm sorry, it's just... this... is... awkward."

"I'm teaching you how to dance so you won't embarrass yourself in front of the wedding audience. I understand that men are in general not expected to be able to dance, thus this will come, I assume, as a pleasant surprise to both the attendees and Mary."

John scratched his head and considered Sherlock for a moment. "I appreciate the effort, but... how's that even supposed to work?" He motioned back and forth between them, not believing he was giving this a thought.

"As I showed you. But of course we have to reverse hand positions. You put your right hand," Sherlock stepped forward and took John's wrist to guide it, "here on my waist. Your other hand goes in mine. I have my second hand on your shoulder," and he put it there, "and you will need to make a little turn to your right to utilize the movement and dip me." At John's blank stare he rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I'll follow that movement myself, as I know what is coming." Struggling with their feet and who led the dance - Sherlock was apparently used to taking the lead, go figure, John thought - they finally fell into the right step, the triangular forth-side-back. After a minute that seemed all too long, Sherlock announced, "Now."

But John was too focused on his step to be prepared; and before he could even fully exclaim, "What?!", Sherlock was dipping himself to the side. Just in time John managed to wind his arm around his friend's back; not that it helped his balance much. Within seconds, they tumbled to the floor in a heap of arms and legs and with a soundtrack of ohs and ows.

"That went well,"

"An earlier warning would have been nice."

"You knew what was coming. You never pay attention."

"I hadn't-"

"Ju-hu, boys, I have some fresh-" Mrs. Hudson came to an abrupt halt when she entered the living room - to find Sherlock on the ground and John, only held up by his arms on either side of Sherlock's head, lying on top of him. For once both men were too shocked to react, and get up quickly. Not that it would have changed anything, if the landlady's bright and overly happy smile was any indication. She didn't even comment - she just made a noise that could very well have been identified as a squeal, and with a bounce in her step, she turned around and left, closing the door behind her.

"Great," John groaned and, without further thought, let his forehead fall against Sherlock's chest. "Mrs. Hudson will talk."

"Mrs. Hudson does little else."

And all that was heard from the 221B's upper flat was giggling.