Chapter 1
"John, I told you to ignore them. Ignore them all. They're just ignorant and they don't understand." Sherlock said, both of his hands placed firmly on either side of John's face. John was looking at Sherlock with worry, sadness and pain. John could easily explain why he was feeling so sad and hurt, but worry? He couldn't understand why he was worried.
John didn't reply to Sherlock's words. He looked away, out of their flat's window. John was sitting on a chair, and Sherlock was kneeling in front of him, but still tall enough to reach John's eye level. Sherlock let John go, his hands retreating back to his sides. He didn't know what to do, what could he do to make John feel better? Why do people have to be so rude?
Earlier on, when John was out getting food, a stranger from across the street called him a fag. Then five minutes later, someone called him a gay retard. How those strangers knew about his somewhat discrete relationship, he didn't know. Maybe he was overreacting, maybe these strangers were having a bad day and decided to shout out insults without really knowing the facts, but that was way too much of a coincidence.
"This isn't fair for you either, Sherlock." John croaked, fighting the growing lump in his throat. It hurt for him to swallow, and he tried hard not to cry.
Sherlock frowned slightly. "How?"
John glanced at Sherlock for a slight second and looked away, desperately trying to hide his tears of frustration.
"Your reputation. I'm ruining it. No one wants to hire you for cases anymore because of...of us. They think we're freaks, the devil's joke. And how are you taking this? Are you just going to ignore them like you say?" John queried, ignoring the slight voice crack.
Sherlock was shaking his head before John managed to finish his sentence. "No, no, that doesn't matter to me. Lestrade doesn't mind us, and he's already given me a case."
"It's still not-"
"John, please, stop it. Stop this. We're fine, I'm fine." Sherlock reassured him.
Of course, Sherlock noticed John's tears, but thought it was better to pretend he didn't acknowledge them. When someone tries hard to hide their tears, sometimes it's noble not notice them. Sherlock knew that much.
John slyly wiped his face harshly with his arm. Sherlock looked down, his eyes burning.
John stood up suddenly, walking past Sherlock.
"Where are you going?" Sherlock queried, his eyebrows making a creased line between them.
John looked over his shoulder, just barely staring at Sherlock.
"Out." John mumbled, and he swallowed.
He needed time to himself. This whole relationship was still fairly new to him, and trying to get used to the fact that others aren't okay with it will take a while. But for now, he needed to think. Just think about everything, to work up confidence to ignore others or stand up to them. This is Captain John Watson they're dealing with!
"When will you be back?" Sherlock murmured, but he knew it wouldn't be for a while.
John took a step out the door, still holding onto the doorknob.
"I don't know." He replied, then slammed the door behind him.