When Stephen first met the other tenant it was after he had finished unpacking his luggage and walked into the small room on the first floor that acted as both a library and a study.

He picked up the first book he saw that appeared interesting it was a book about the headless horseman, not that old a book but it seemed well read.

Flipping it open he examined the pages until he came to the end of the chapter and found scribbles in what seemed to be notes tilting his head slightly he looked at the flourish of the writing and hummed "how peculiar" he muttered then herd the slight creak of the doors not quite well oiled hinges.

He didn't turn around or put down the book simply turned the page and waited a moment before he spoke "didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to sneak up on people"

Putting the book back on the shelf mental noting that he would come back to it later he turned to look at the rooms new occupant, a tall man, at least taller than him though that wasn't saying much since he was only 5'10, stood just a couple of feet from the door staring at Stephen with his hands on his hips.

His hair was black and messy and his eyes were brown, he had a days' worth of stubble on his face and his skin was tanned which was almost impossible to do someplace like London making it rather impressive.

"Are you going to stare at me all day or are you going to introduce yourself" the man sniffed once "I would say the same of you who has barged into my home uninvited" Stephen rose a brow fighting back a smirk and chuckle as he went into a rant about experiments and a nanny, he also believed the man said something about a goat.

The man went silent when he herd his chuckling "I'm the new tenant" he took a step forward and offered a hand "my names Stephen Rowen, most call me Steve"

Looking at his hand the man sniffed again before turning away "I would suspect you know who I am?" Steve dropped his hand with a small sigh "of course, you're the great Sherlock Holmes"

Steve folded his hands and turned to look at the man's back "I had my suspicions of that when Mrs. Hudson mentioned the goat, I heard about your work with lord black briar"

"and you've come to live here and bask in the glory of my genius"

"no the rent was cheap"

The man turned and frowned at him as he rose a brow "honestly I've seen your work and it's to" he rolled a hand as if trying to think of a word "ingenious?" he questioned Steve gave him a unimpressed look "self-destructive for my taste"

Sherlock blinked at him and he sighed hands on hips "Mrs. Hudson warned me about this, alright" he made a motion with his hand "impress me with the detective awareness I've read about"

He rose his brows before folding his hands behind his back and took a good look at Steve eyes flicking over him in several places before looking at his face "your more aware of your surroundings than the common rabble, a trait of a soldier but you have no problem with someone at your back so you're not a soldier, there's charcoal dust on your left hand and your shirt holds the faint whiff of oil paint"

Steve shrugged slightly "I'm an artist" Sherlock hummed "yes but there is more than that" he took a step forward and to the left "the third finger on your left hand is crooked at the second knuckle, it suggests a break but it's not recent, perhaps when you were a child, the location contradicts that notion meaning you were a young adult and most likely in a fight at the time"

He pointed at Steve's head "your hair is tucked under your hat, there's no substantial difference in its shape so either your hair is medium in length and your hiding it or your balding" Steve resisted a snort he most defiantly was not balding.

"but you are too young to be balding, you speak with a refined dialect so you must have been schooled recently, I would thus assume that you're a currently unemployed artist recently graduated from academy and looking for a place to stay possibly by the way you dress you come from a wealthy family but don't want it to show and the fact you overlooked the notion that I live at this residence is either a hideous oversight or you didn't bother to do your reading or you have a ulterior motive for being here"

When he stopped talking Steve's brow was risen and he was leaning against the heavy oak book case with his arms crossed, and his lips were twitching as if he was amused

"impressive. your right in your assumption that I am not a soldier, and I did break a finger on my hand when I was younger but I never went to academy and I do have a ulterior motive, I spent a large part of my young life not far from here, maybe I'm just sentimental"

The man stared at him face blank and blinked a few times "oh also" Steve reached up and pulled off his hat "I'm not balding, I was unpacking and it gets in the way" he pushed back his hair but a few stubborn strands still fell into his face.

Sherlock hummed again and turned away "if you are going to be living here you should be made aware of a few things" Steve crossed his arms "in this cohabitation you will not disturb my work and you are not allowed behind the curtain in my study, I shall leave you to whatever it is you do this will not become an example of the laws of celestial mechanics"

He looked over his shoulder "that's-" Steve cut him off "I know what it is, it dictates that when two objects collide there is always damage of a collateral nature" he couldn't help but smile at his surprised face "I didn't go to academy that doesn't mean I didn't find education else ware"

Turning he placed his hands at his sides and looked at the man "no I believe there are some things you should be informed of, I see no reason why I should be different from the man that rented the room before me, we live together we can at least be civil to each other and you can expect me to tell you if you're not"

He rose one hand and pointed at Sherlock "I won't interfere with your work but if I see something amiss I will bring it to your attention, the only thing I ask is when I require time on my own you will give it to me" the man hummed.

Then he held out his hand "if I must" Steve smiled again and took his hand in a shake "thank you" Sherlock released him and Steve turned taking the book from the shelf "perhaps I will soon test your knowledge with a game of chess"

Steve's smile grew larger "I await with open arms for that challenge Mr. Holmes I will be in my room if you need me" he turned toured the door "Sherlock" he said making Steve look back and his mouth twitched "Sherlock" he agreed and turned closing the door behind himself.

All in all he expected this to be a very interesting cohabitation at the least.

Steve stayed up to read the entire book then he pulled out a note pad and a pen and stayed up until just before sun rise.

When he settled into his bed the sky was just changing from the black of night into the dark blue with pre-morning light.