December 2

Thieves beware

„Sorry", John mumbled sheepishly as he bumped into someone. He gave the fat woman who was wrapped up in an ugly purple tweet jacket an apologetic smile.
"Oh, no harm done", she chirped, patting his shoulder slightly. He nodded, quickly turning around before she could catch him grinning. Most people just were so oblivious. He stuffed her purse – ugh, even that was purple – into his jacket. Then he let his gaze wander through the crowd on the streets of London. He watched with eagle like eyes, looking for purses and watches.

His attention was caught by a tall man with dark curls who stared absentmindedly up to a street sign. Before the purple lady had distracted him, he had caught a glimpse of some loose pounds in the large pockets of his belstaff coat. Silly, really, that he didn't even use a purse. John tilted his head. How should he approach the man? He didn't really look like the person he could just bump into. The blond man decided for the offensive. With long strides he walked over to him and positioned himself at the side with the money. Gently, he reached for the man's arm, simultaneously sneaking his fingers into the pocket of the coat, while asking: "Can I help you? Are you lost?"

The man whipped his head around, staring incredulously at John and then at the hand on his arm. Piercing eyes seemed to scan the pickpocket as he stuffed the money and something that felt like a card into his trouser pockets.
"No, I'm not", the tall man scoffed, as if the question had been insulting, before turning around and pacing away quickly, without a glance behind. John merely shrugged. He had got what he had wanted.

It took some time for Sherlock to notice that he had no money. He sat in a cab back to Baker Street after presenting Lestrade the murderer of the biologist. When the car stopped in front of the black door with the golden letters 221B on it, he reached into his coat to pull out some pounds. Frowning he rummaged through all his pockets. There were none. Not a single pence he could find.

"What? Are you not able to pay?", the cabby spat, scowling at him.
"No, no, of course I am. Just wait a second", Sherlock mumbled before rushing out of the car. Quickly he ran up to his flat, grabbing the cash which lay on the kitchen table, before hurrying down again to the impatient cabby. He gave him some notes, not bothering that it was way too much and turned around without another word.

As he entered the flat for the second time, he sank down on the sofa, hands steepled under his chin in his usual thinking position. Immediately he went into his mind palace, scanning through his day. The last time he had noticed his money was when he had paid a homeless to get some information about the victims nightlife. Then he hadn't needed it anymore until he sat in the cab. And in-between… there had been the alley behind the brothel which the victim used to visit frequently, then he had noticed the false street sign. Afterwards the blond man had approached him, he had caught sight of the murderer and then- stop. The man. The blond man!

Quickly he replayed the scene in his head, going through every detail. He had been startled by the touch on his arm and the politely concerned smile on the man's face. Normally everyone tried to avoid him, what he wasn't about to change. No he even supported it by sending dark glances whenever someone made effort to come near him. Sherlock zoomed into the moment, as the man touched his arm, reassuring he supposed. What did the other hand? The other hand… Sherlock's eyes shot open. That was impossible! He saw everything, he observed everything, and clearly nobody could steal from him. But when he eliminated every other possibility, the only thing remaining had to be the truth.

Startled he looked up at the ceiling. This man was clever. Not as mundane as the others when he managed to steal from Sherlock Holmes. A small smile tugged at his lips. Well, he thought, two could play that game.

AN: This is a little fanfiction with more then one chapter. It's a pickpocket!john AU if you haven't got that already. The idea for this came from my best friend Jana. Thanks, I love you! :*
- Sadly, I own nothing. -
Please review and tell me what you think about this story-collection so far!
Merry Christmas
~ TheNameIsAllieHolmes