Unfinished Business Part 2
Jim steadily walked around the flat of 221B as he examined the belongings of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. He was the only one in the flat, but he knew that any second now someone would walk through the door and see him. It had been a solid month since the last he saw the consulting detective, and with Sherlock giving no attempt to have any contact, Jim knew it was time to take action.
The flat was lovely, Jim took note running his fingers across the familiar wallpaper. It seemed now he noticed every detail of the area. Perhaps because the thought that this could very well be the last time he ever sees the place, depending on the outcome of today's events, was far too strong. Moriarty crossed his arms as he slumped down into an armchair. There was nothing left for him in this world, and if he was going to go, he was bringing the one man of any importance with him, ending him once and for all. Glancing at the door, Jim drummed his fingers across his lap. It was only a matter of time...
The door opened letting in a cool draft, and Jim didn't bother looking to look towards whoever entered.
"You!" It was Dr. Watson. Jim closed his eyes momentarily letting out a loud groan. Of course it was John.
"Not again..." Jim muttered, rubbing his temple with the tips of his fingers.
"Leave the bloody flat!" John was clearly angry as he shouted but Jim stayed put. It was no secret that the criminal was in no mood for the boring doctor, but even more clear the the doctor was in no mood for him.
"How about... You leave." As Jim spoke he stood up and drew the gun he was concealing within his pocket. John froze as he blinked a few times at the weapon, and as he glanced at Jim, it almost looked as if there were hidden tears within his eyes. "Why... Are you ALWAYS ruining things?" Jim barked keeping the gun pointed at John with a dangerous glare.
"Sherlock is my friend. We protect each other." John growled with hatred as his eyes stayed locked on Moriarty. Jim rolled his eyes at the response originally, until he began thinking about his words more carefully. John was very protective of Sherlock, and it wasn't any secret that the detective also cared for John in the same way. Jim gritted his teeth at the idea and his last conversation with Sherlock played back in his mind. Sherlock didn't leave simply because he was bored with Moriarty, no. It was because of John Watson. He left for the sake of John Watson and his safety.
"You! It's always been you, hasn't it?!" Jim shouted abruptly and John jumped slightly as he came closer with the weapon. "It has been and always will be you who gets in the way of EVERYTHING!"
"Well it's not like I'm going to let my best friend be killed by some maniac now am I?" John muttered as calmly as possible. But Jim saw now what he had to do. Though he had originally came to end Sherlock, it was now blatantly obvious that John was the one who needed to be disposed of.
"I don't know what Sherlock sees in you." Jim hissed as he could feel the painful burn of tears prick the corners of his eyes. "But maybe... Just maybe if I smash your head open I might catch a glimpse." The criminal chuckled as he approached the doctor with his gun and John took fearful steps back.
"You don't want to do this. Sherlock will never forgive you!" Panic washed over John as he was backed into the wall but he could see by the look in Jim's dark eyes that there would be no mercy.
"We'll see." Jim said with a dark smirk as he cocked the gun with a click.
"Jim." A different voice came from behind the criminal and both Moriarty and John turned to see who it was. Sherlock stood still in the doorway, a calm look in his eyes. "Enough."
"Well, well, well Sherlock. You decided to show up after all!" Jim spoke with a crazed smile but it wasn't enough to hide the tears forming in his eyes. This was the real reason he came.
"John I need you to leave. Now." As the detective spoke towards his flatmate, his eyes were locked on Jim's.
"Sherlock..." John started in protest until Sherlock finally made eye contact.
"I need to talk to Jim alone... It'll be alright." Sherlock said giving the softest smile he could muster to reassure his friend. John opened his mouth but he could see that Sherlock would be persistent on this. Instead of a protest he only nodded and headed for the door.
Jim allowed the flatmate to leave and simply didn't care anymore now that the consulting detective had entered the room. He watched as John left and as soon as the door closed, his eyes met back with Sherlock.
"Boring... Sherlock you called me boring. Boring, boring, boring. And you left." Jim raised his gun with hurt anger. "I can't allow that."
"No, Jim." Sherlock's features hardened as he took slow steps towards the criminal, he almost looked angry. "You... Are insane. A complete psychopath!" The detective raised his voice as he continued to approach Jim and the criminal only stared as he allowed Sherlock to advance forward, holding the gun still pointed at his enemy.
"Yes. I-"
"You've ruined lives!" Sherlock continued, interrupting anything Jim had to say. "You commit crimes, do unimaginable things I'm sure, and you don't even get caught! You play these sick games, you make me dance to solve a case," Sherlock was now directly in front of Jim, staring intensely into his deep eyes and showing no fear that the criminal would shoot. Moriarty briefly opened him mouth to say something but no words came out, and he could feel more tears begin to produce. He gave a subtle nod allowing Sherlock to continue if he had anything else to say to him. "But Jim..." Sherlock spoke in the man's silence. "Jim Moriarty, above all of that, you are a genius." As Sherlock spoke, he placed a hand on each side of Jim's face, grabbing him and pulling him in closer until their lips met. Jim's eyes widened only for a moment of surprise until putting a hand over Sherlock's and allowing his eyes to fall close, kissing him back with caring passion. "A beautiful, tragic, genius." Sherlock breathed under the kiss before slowly drawing back.
"Sherlock... I-"
"Look at you..." Sherlock cut in, wiping a tear from the criminal's cheek. "You're a mess. A complete mess and it's all because you let yourself get attached to your enemy."
"You left me." Jim said as a reminder, and the thought of Sherlock leaving was still painful.
"To protect you." Sherlock explained. "I told you to move on because I knew you would end up hurting yourself if you stayed attached." So the detective was lying... Jim smiled as he glanced away from Sherlock, though he didn't want to admit how true his words were. But the genius detective was completely correct, Jim was attached and there was hardly a point in hiding it any further.
"Darling..." Moriarty had a subtle laugh of disbelief as be shook his head. Sherlock cared. He actually cared. Jim wrapped his arms around Sherlock's waist as he placed a soft kiss on the detective's lips, letting it deepen with time. Opening his mouth to kiss even deeper with more passion, Sherlock closed his eyes as his fingers brushed through Jim's hair. As the kiss ended, Jim buried his face into the shoulder of the detective, and Sherlock wrapped his arms around him comfortingly.
"You really can't move on... Can you?" The question was asked in a whisper as Sherlock's hand ran down Jim's spine.
"Unfinished business... I couldn't leave." There was a pause as Jim wrapped his arms more securely around the other man. "But... The things you said, Sherlock."
"All false. Come on, Jim. I couldn't really be alright with... With us ending with your suicide." The detective drew back from the hug only to kiss Jim again, as gently as one could. "Please Jim, end this. I don't want to see you die again."
"I... I can't."
"Then end as much as you can!" It was clear that Jim simply leaving all his criminal life behind was not something that could be simply done, but he wanted Jim to be safe. Safe from at least from them killing each other in his own game. Jim blinked a few times as he stared into the eyes of Sherlock Holmes, letting the idea of his words sink in.
"Alright..." Jim breathed out as he glanced away from the man in front of him. He would never be able to attempt to burn and completely destroy Sherlock so easily after this, and he knew this admittedly. "Sherlock," there was a pause as the two men looked at each other. "I... Well..." He wanted to say something, anything to express to Sherlock what he felt. But he honestly didn't know how to even explain it to himself. And there was still a part of him that just didn't want any of it to be true at all. As Jim looked at Sherlock with a loss of words, the consulting criminal could see with his own eyes what the man was wanting so desperately to say. Leaning forward, the two men kissed once again with more emotion then before.
He's the only one for me. The thought wouldn't leave Jim's mind as their lips joined together and their tongues entwined. Sherlock pulled the criminal more into himself and firmly held him, making the moment last for an eternity.
"I know, Jim." The whisper was soft as Sherlock slowly pulled out of their kiss, and the words had a smile growing from Jim. Keeping his eyes closed and his smile still, Jim nodded in appreciation.
"Thank you." And Jim then gave the genius detective a soft kiss of his own before letting go of him. Sherlock formed a soft smile for the criminal as he too let go of the man, and he watched as Jim took a few steps back until turning around.
Placing his hands within his pockets, Sherlock gave a last parting nod towards Jim as he made his way to the door.
"Ciao, Sherlock Holmes." There was a grin on Jim's face as he spoke before be opening the door and looking again to Sherlock. The detective had to give a small chuckle and he smiled at Jim as he closed the door behind him.
Waiting on the steps of 221B, John sat with his elbows propped up on his knees. After what seemed an eternity, the door finally opened, and Jim Moriarty stepped out. The two men exchanged glances but neither spoke. Jim seemed... Happy. A lot happier than when they previously encountered anyways. And the criminal's smile gave John an uncomfortable feeling, as if something terrible must have happened. The doctor instantly stood as he turned back towards the door of 221B, wasting now time to enter and swiftly make his way up the stairs.
"Sherlock?" John shouted in almost a panic as he burst through the living room.
"Yes?" The flatmate was standing simply in the center of the room, appearing to be completely unharmed. John let out a breath of relief as he stared at his best friend and he gave almost a confused look.
"What was that all about?" He decided to ask knowing that there was no such thing as a casual visit from the consulting criminal.
"What?" Of course Sherlock knew exactly what John was asking, but he saw no need to talk about it.
"You know what." John seemed to be irritated as he spoke. "With Moriarty. What happened?"
"Oh. We talked." He spoke as briefly as possible.
"And? Is he going to leave you alone?"
"We'll see him around." Sherlock still had a soft smile and he looked out towards the window.
"Sherlock... I don't think that's a good idea-"
"No, John." The detective cut in without making eye contact. "No it isn't a good idea at all." He finished, the smile never fading. "However... I don't think we'll be needing to worry too much about Jim Moriarty." As Sherlock thought of the consulting criminal, his smile grew into a grin. "Everything will be alright." And somewhere inside, Sherlock Holmes knew it was true.