Molly leaned against the brick wall. She shifted, uncomfortable with what was beneath her lab coat- The dress was tight and short and not something Molly would wear.
She didn't even own it.
It was her friend Gabby's. Gabby had been thrilled, assuming Molly had a date.
This was sort of a date.
Jim saw it as that, at least. He saw it as the two sharing a fun night with each other, and that's what a date is, after all.
Molly saw it as stopping him from killing anyone else. He'd be too busy playing this 'game' with her to kill anyone. For the moment, at the very least.
And if she happened to get killed with this game, well… That was part of the fun.
"Fancy seeing you here," his voice called. She knew he was taking his time with making his way over- She might not have known the real Jim for all that long, but all she had to do was think 'What would Sherlock do if he were here right now?' and it usually applied to Moriarty. Usually, it was be arrogant and act as though he had the upper hand, as well. The corner of her mouth twitched upward, dragging her heavily red lips halfway up. She didn't open her eyes, though, and it annoyed Jim that she looked completely relaxed.
"Do you like my little game so far?"
"Dunno. So far, all I'm seeing is Molly with suspiciously high heels and red lips and a lab coat. Work hours are over, love, you can take that off." She stopped leaning against the wall and gracefully, seductively, slowly dropped the lab coat and pulled the pin from her hair, all in one motion. Jim was stunned as he took in her appearance. He was literally frozen, except for his eyes. His eyes were everywhere, taking in the curve of her waist, the smooth skin of her shoulders, her straight brown hair sweeping across them, and then his eyes slid further down, and they froze, as well. He was taking in her legs, which were shown except for about three or four inches where the dress stopped. Basically, her dress was a tight, oversized shirt. Her lips twitched into a smirk and she waved.
"Yoo-hoo. My eyes are up here, thanks." He quickly cleared his throat and tried to relax, but he was seeing for the first time just how beautiful she was. Before she'd been mousy, quiet, shy, awkward Molly, but now… She just was the opposite, and that was a huge change for him. He wasn't so sure he'd be able to win this game, now.
"What's the game," he asked, trying to keep his voice from sounding too high-pitched. She noticed and smirked more a she walked closer to him. Even in four inch heels, she was shorter than him, but she still put her hands on his chest and her face close to his.
"Can't you guess, Mr. Consulting Criminal?" Her voice was breathy and he swallowed to restrain a shudder. What was wrong with him tonight? No one ever got to him, and definitely not the terrified little pathologist who got used by everyone.
"Murder," he guessed, repeating the words from her earlier text. He rested his hands on her hips lightly. He had to get control of the situation back. "Although, this doesn't look very much like a game of murder, Molls." Her smile turned genuine.
"These heels are murder on my feet." He didn't smile, though he desperately wanted to, just to keep the smile on hers for a little longer.
"You've disappointed me, Molly."
"Oh, Jim, honey, this is hardly over. The fun is in the chase-" She paused, letting him think about her words. "And the game hasn't even started yet."
"And you're still being a cryptic little shit."
"Think," she murmured, backing away from him so he could see all of her again. He refused to let his eyes linger anywhere but her face. It all clicked, suddenly.
"The fun is in the chase," he repeated gleefully, laughing slightly and shaking his head. But his smile is cruel now and his words are aimed to hurt her. "And what makes you think I want you?" She rolled her eyes.
"You're all just the same, Jim. All of you supposedly superior geniuses. You all think little Molly from the morgue is too kind to have a spine, too awkward to have a brain." Her voice turned harsh and it was obvious that Molly was hurt by this. "But I'm not an idiot. I've got a doctorate in biology. Bet you know that?"
"Oh, did I hurt poor little Molly Hooper's feelings?"
"And I've got a doctorate in psychology, too," she continued, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at Jim. "I saw it. There certain signs. Signs of love. Signs of lust. And even you aren't that good of an actor. You. Want. Me."
"No one ever gets to me, Molly, and if someone did, it wouldn't be the little shy pathologist-"
"Then why'd you show up," she interrupts. "You care. You just don't want to admit you're human." She picked the lab coat up from the ground and slid it on. Disappointment filled his eyes and her smirk only grew. "Now," she said in a voice smoother thank silk or honey. "You can either play the game or not. But I've got some stakes to add to it, I'd you want to make things fun."
"And what might those stakes be," he asked slowly.
"I win if you fall in love with me by the end of December." It was April; Molly had high hopes, Jim thought, or at least hopes too high for the poor girl. "And you win if you don't, by the end of December. And if I win, you've got to shut your business down." She took a few strides closer to him, face close to his. "And if you win, you get to kill me however you please."
"You'd really gamble your entire life on some game that you'll never win? Molls, that's just stupid."
"You scared? Is that your problem? Is big, bad James Moriarty afraid of Molly Hooper's little game?" He narrowed his eyes and set his jaw.
"Fine. End of December, this world will finally be rid of you." And with that, he was gone.
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