Here is the next chapter! I know Jim still hasn't been arrived (he is coming I promise), but you do get a little insight into his and Sherlock's relationship in this one. Anyway, enjoy and as always criticisms/comments are welcome! :)
The next day, Sherlock could feel himself shaking as he stepped into the cab. "Why am I so nervous?" He thought. "I don't get nervous." But Sherlock was quickly realizing that John Watson was the exception to everything he thought he knew about himself.
"221 B Baker Street." He croaked to the cabbie.
The cabbie nodded and began driving down the crowded streets of London. Sherlock placed his hands in his lap trying to keep them steady. All these questions and worries kept running through head on repeat. What if John didn't like the place? What if John was bothered by his equipment and experiments? What if John figured out that he couldn't stand Sherlock's brash manner and mood swings? What if John figured out he couldn't stand him?
That last question especially scared Sherlock. He wanted John to like him despite all his obvious faults. He wanted John to accept him, to admire him, to...love him? Sherlock sighed as he laid his head against the cab window. "This is absolutely ridiculous." He told himself. "You barely know the man and you already want all this? You didn't even crave this much acceptance from Jim-"
Sherlock quickly stopped himself. He didn't want to think about Jim. He knew Jim wouldn't react kindly to him moving in with another man. His boyfriend didn't like other men in Sherlock's life.
"Is Jim still even my "boyfriend" though?" He asked himself. They hadn't spoken in more than a month and the last time Jim was in town he only stayed for one night. Of course, he still declared his love for Sherlock as always, murmuring apologies for being away for so long as he held Sherlock tight to his chest. But the next morning, he was gone and Sherlock was left once again feeling hollow.
Sherlock shook his head, trying to get rid of those painful memories. At Eton, him and Jim had been so close, both outcasts, both geniuses. They had formed a bond, one that Sherlock thought would never break. But he was obviously wrong.
Of course, there were things about Jim that bothered Sherlock. For one, he was extremely possessive over Sherlock. He didn't like Sherlock to be around men for long periods of time or even have male friends. However, this had rarely affected Sherlock since he didn't have many friendships to begin with and usually mucked them up anyway. Jim could also be careless with others feelings, even cruel, but then again Sherlock could also so he never held it against him except on a few occasions.
No, what really bothered Sherlock was the change he saw in Jim's eyes. Ever since they graduated from Eton, Sherlock had starting noticing small changes in his behavior. Jim seemed more detached, more manic, more prone to anger. Overall, though he hid it so well that Sherlock would have dismissed much of it if it hadn't been for the eyes. When he first met Jim, his eyes were bright and full of life, curosity and wonder. Now they were sunken and hollow. Sherlock could swear that every time he saw Jim, his eyes seemed even darker and duller as if the light was slowly being sucked out of them. Sherlock of course knew this was scientifically impossible, but he couldn't help but shiver ever so slightly whenever he looked directly in those empty eyes. So far, though, Jim hadn't noticed.
"We're here." The driver grumbled from the front of the cab.
Sherlock quickly put thoughts of Jim out of his mind as he looked up to see that they had in fact arrived at 221 B and there, standing in front of the door, looking rather lost was John Watson.
Sherlock felt his heart leap into his throat as he thrust the bills in to the cabbie's hand and quickly stepped out. "Keep control of yourself, Sherlock." He told himself. "Don't want to scare him off."
"John. It's good to see you." Sherlock said taking off his glove to shake John's hand.
John smiled nervously as his hand met Sherlock's.
"It's good to see you too, Sherlock." He replied.
Sherlock nodded briefly before knocking on the door. He looked down at John who was looking up and down the street, frowning.
"This place has got to be pretty expensive." He inquired. "I mean, uh, with the location and all."
Sherlock shook his head.
"Actually, it's quite reasonable." He answered. "I helped the landlady out of a tight spot when her husband was facing the death penalty in Florida."
John looked quite taken aback as Sherlock knocked again.
"What? Did you stop her husband being executed?" He asked, frowning.
Sherlock shook his head once more, trying to a hide a smile.
"Oh no, I ensured it." He replied.
Suddenly, the door flew open and there was that kind, wrinkled face Sherlock knew so well. Catching sight of him, the woman immediately opened her arms and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Oh Sherlock! It's so good to see you." She exclaimed, smiling as she released him.
"You too, Mrs. Hudson." Sherlock answered.
He turned to John and quickly made introductions before they began heading up the stairs. Upon arriving at the flat, Mrs. Hudson unlocked the door, swinging it open as they stepped inside.
Sherlock watched John out of the corner of his eye as John wondered around the living room and then the kitchen. His brow was furrowed as he looked everything up and down. Sherlock was beginning to worry when finally John spoke.
"Well, this could do quite nicely." He said with a small smile, setting himself down in a nearby chair. Sherlock breathed a sigh of relief and he spoke just as John continued.
"That's why I went ahead and moved in." He declared at the same moment John's voice muttered, "We'll have to get rid of some of this junk."
Sherlock immediately felt his cheeks go red with embarrassment and ran over the table to try and arrange his sea of boxes a little more neatly.
"Of course I can tidy up a bit." He said quickly, refusing to meet John's eye.
Sherlock suddenly felt John's hand on his back, but it was quickly removed as Sherlock turned around to face him. John was quite flush as well as he spoke.
"No, it's, uh, really not a problem." He stuttered, stuffing his hands into his pocket, barely meeting Sherlock's eyes. "I should expect a little chaos if I am live with a bloody genius detective."
Sherlock looked down at John in shock and felt his cheeks warm again this time from the flattery. He nodded, forcing a smile as Mrs. Hudson finally spoke up.
"There is another bedroom upstairs if you'll needing it." She said with a coy smile, her eyes moving back and forth between to the two of them.
John and Sherlock both looked up at each other and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the warm blue eyes meeting the cold blue ones. Sherlock could feel his body beginning to tremble just as John broke the gaze to answer.
"Of course. I mean, yeah, we'll be needing two rooms." He explained quickly.
Sherlock, unable to speak, nodded in agreement and Mrs. Hudson's smile grew. Then ("Just in time." Sherlock thought) there was a hurried rap at the door.
"If you say so dears." Mrs. Hudson replied as she moved toward the stairs."I'll just go and get that. Make yourselves comfortable."
And then she was gone and they were alone. Sherlock tried to busy himself with unpacking some of his boxes while John set back down in the chair. As Sherlock removed his violin from his bags, he heard John's voice behind him.
"So you weren't kidding about the violin then?" He asked.
Sherlock felt his heart sink, but as he turned around he saw that John was smiling. He let out a small smile himself as he picked up the violin.
"Yeah, I'm afraid I do." Sherlock answered as he flicked the strings. "I find it helps me think. I'm no master at it however."
John's smile widened.
"I am sure you play it beautifully" He said. "I would love to hear you sometime."
Sherlock looked up and meet John's eyes once more. They were so kind yet strong and so many secrets hidden underneath. Maybe Sherlock would get the opportunity to find out more about this man. He had never wanted to be a part of someone's life as much as he wanted to be part of John's.
"I would like that." He answered softly.
Everything felt perfect and simple in that moment. "Could I be making my first real friend?" Sherlock thought. "Or maybe even...more?" But the moment was suddenly broken as he looked up at the door to see Mrs. Hudson standing next to a tall man with straight black hair. Sherlock's heart suddenly jumped with excitement and curiosity as he set his violin down and walked up to greet the man.
"Detective Lestrade." He said with a smirk. "Any progress?"
Lestrade cleared his throat before answering.
"Well, you know how they never leave a note?" He inquired.
Sherlock nodded curtly, his eyes widening.
"Well, someone left a note." Lestrade continued.
Sherlock wanted to jump and scream for joy, but he kept his face straight.
"Address?" He asked calmly.
Lestrade thrust a piece of paper into Sherlock's hand and turned to leave.
"See you there?" He asked before walking out the door.
Sherlock nodded once again and as soon as he heard the downstairs door close, he let out a joyful laugh.
"Yes, yes! A note!" He exclaimed, grabbing his coat from the rack. "This is brilliant! Oh, it's Christmas!"
Sherlock almost leap toward the door with joy.
"Don't wait up Mrs. Hudson!" He said quickly as he began rushing down the stairs.
Then suddenly he stopped and one thought flashed through his mind: John. He turned around and ran back up the flat to find a rather shocked and confused John Watson still sitting in the chair. "This is my chance to show him what I can really do." Sherlock thought slyly. "In person..."
"There's been something I have been meaning to ask you, John." He said slowly as he slipped his coat on.
John looked up at him and a new emotion flashed over his face, one that Sherlock recognized: curiosity.
"Yes?" John said tentatively.
Sherlock felt a smirk form on his lips as he asked the question he had been wondering since he first caught sight of John Watson.
"Afghanistan or Iraq?"
I hope you guys don't mind how I changed things around a bit. I know their original and BBC introductions are hard to beat, but I tried my best. Anyway, please do follow, favorite and review my wonderful readers! Till next time!