"Good morning." My eyes fly open and I sit up quickly.
"Sebastian, get the hell out of my room." He doesn't say anything but hands me a cup of tea instead. "Sebastian." My voice is dangerous. What the hell is he thinking? This is my sanctuary. I glance down at the cup of hot tea in my hands and look back up at him, just standing there. In one fluid motion I flick the cup at his face. "I said," My volume increases, "Get OUT." He shrieks as the near boiling liquid hits his face and stumbles out of my room.
A normal person would have just said it twice. I hate to repeat myself. "AND SHUT THE DOOR!" I scream after him. The door closes with a snap. I flop back onto my pillow and stare at the ceiling. Who cares about normal? I was never normal. I never fit in. I can't believe that it took me twelve pathetic years of my existence to figure something so simple out. Normal children didn't bring home dead birds, normal children didn't threaten to kill everyone, normal children didn't sit alone and watch every other child play and observe every little detail about them. That wasn't normal. My brother hadn't said anything until I was twelve. He told me that I was scaring the other children, that they wanted to send me to counseling. That was the first time I really lost my temper. I'd thrown fits and gotten into fights before sure, but that was the first time what anyone said to me actually made me angry. That was Carl Powers.
I shift on the bed and kick my mug over the edge, listening to it shatter on the floor. I put my hands behind my head and let out a sigh. So sentimental.
I regret nothing. That's probably why I still smile when I remember little Carl. That was my first real gig. My first accomplishment. And then I knew I wasn't normal. I knew just how to kill him and not get caught. I knew everything I needed to. Of course, as a kid the crime shows were my favourite thing to watch, but I always knew who had done it and why, so that kind of took the fun out of it. To be honest, the give fantastic ideas though. Ideas that I can use and make better. I'm more than human you see. Better. I'm a hybrid. I can see more than anyone, and I can think faster than anyone.
I thought I was the only one.
Well.
That was before Sherlock.
I sigh and throw my sheets of as I sit up. I rub my face. It's going to be a big day. I have to go into the night shift tonight, Molly is expecting me, and Sherlock obviously is going to be there. Molly even told me. That little girl is shaping up to be a great tool, but if I have to sit through another nauseating episode of Glee, I might just shoot her. Personally.
That's an honour you know. I hate getting my hands dirty. I only allow myself to execute plans when it's personal. Like Carl Powers. That was personal. And I was only twelve, it's not like I had a gang, or Sebastian. No, he didn't come until much later. But even if I did…. I would still have done it myself.
And after that I disappeared. My brother worked out what I had done, and being the good brother he is, he convinced mum to move. Bringing us here actually. London became my base. Ireland might be my native country, but London is my operative.
I don't know why my brother never turned me in. Maybe it's because we're related. Personally, I would have turned me in, had I witnessed it rather than me, only because I would see myself as a threat. Which is perfectly logical. And even after that he stayed with me. He threated to leave so many times, and he never did. I never cared if he left or not. It wasn't my concern. I shake my head.
What's wrong with me today? I feel like I'm missing something. I wrap my robe around me and pad down the hall, looking for Sebastian.
"Hey! Sebastian!" He should know. And suddenly he's in the door frame. He looks at me in loathing.
"What?"
"What's today?"
"Today?"
"Yes!" I roll my eyes, "What's happening today?"
"You have that thing in Sussex…" His voice trails off.
"I know that! I feel like… There is something today that…" I shrug my shoulders in defeat. I don't really care at this point. "You know what? Never mind. It's not important." I spin on my heel and return to my room, closing the door behind me. I open my curtains and throw myself onto my bed again, placing my chin in my hands.
When I first realized that I was different, I tried to come up with a time period of how long I had been different. That plan failed and I came to realize that I had always been a bit different. My brother always said I was off, but, I happen to be perfectly sane. I feel that I'm the only real person. No one has any substance anymore. It's always the same thing with people. A little diversity please!
That's what drew me to Sebastian I suppose. He was different. Not a lot, I mean he brought me tea this morning for Christ's sake, but different enough to attract my attention. It had started in a church if I remember correctly.
I always remember.
It had started in a church.
Oh I used to be a "good" boy. I went to church every Sunday. I pinched little things most Sunday's, and the only reason I was really there was because of my brother. Anyway, Sebastian had started pinching too, and the first time I saw him was when he stole my hiding spot. From that moment on he was mine. At first he protested, and then he grew to admire me. I saw it in his eyes, the admiration. And I gained a partner. And suddenly, everything I had planned, everything I ever wanted to do took shape. I had a way now.
That was years ago. And Sebastian is still by my side.
At one point I started to think that maybe no one would leave. That's wrong though. Everyone always leaves. Even if they say they won't.
That's the thing about people. They are so predictable, and they always lie. Even if they don't mean to, they do. Not me. I make it a point to be completely honest…
Except when I'm not. Like with Molly. Although I suppose that I'm mostly truthful.
After meeting up with Sebastian, my reputation started to go around, and suddenly people were asking me to do things for them, to help them with their little mundane problems. At first it wasn't anything special, small, out of the law, things. Theft, drug dealing, that kind of thing. And then there was a murder. Sebastian did the first on job murder for me. With each job, we got a souvenir.
My first souvenir was Carl's shoes. The day after I had my epiphany, I took his shoes and watched him die. That was the first day I saw Sherlock as well. I stuck around for the aftermath. I would be a complete fool if I didn't. Carl's mother was the best sight of all of them. Wailing and crying, wanting her little boy. At twelve it was a good feeling. A smug sort of happiness in my heart that made me want to make someone hurt again. Just for the fun of it.
And then money became an issue and well, things just went from there.
Consulting criminal.
I let out a sigh of air and roll over onto my back, glancing out the window. There isn't much of a view of course. I have to be secluded or Sherlock would have found me already. And what a pity that would be. Watching him scurry about to try and clean up after is a show indeed. It's nearly as good as committing the crimes and let others take the fall. Almost. His pet John is the kicker though. So much more human than Sherlock or I. We're two of a kind really. And he'd be where I am at now, had the circumstances been different. Imagine everything we could do together. Oh, we could own the world without the world knowing it. I lick my lips and sit up. I suppose I better get ready.
The door to my room flies open and I glare at Sebastian as he stands there. He's carrying a tea tray, fresh this time, and what looks like a piece of toast.
"Happy birthday." He says before putting the tray on top of my dresser and closing the door quickly behind him.
Oh. That was what today is. I've managed to live another three hundred and sixty five days. Wonderful.
Author's Note: This was a prompt from 'the REAL Sherlock Holmes' and so... Winning. Challenge completed!
Mischief Managed
-P
