"Ugh, come on, Mycroft—how did you do it? I've never seen Professor Elliot so bloody pleased with anyone beside himself." Then I glanced at Sherlock and blushed furiously. "Ah, Sherlock, don't repeat any colourful words I use, 'kay?"
"I'll be careful not to if Brolly tells us how he knew about the cheaters." Sherlock said, lifting his chin to look at Mycroft pleadingly, knowing it'd be Mycroft who would pay the price if I taught him swearwords. Mummy liked me too much, and felt too awkward disciplining a child not biologically hers.
Mycroft sighed and set his fork down quietly, straightening his napkin before beginning. I knew his tics, and this meant he was embarrassed by my interest and didn't want to brag about something I was already thoroughly impressed by. "Well, I missed the last test because 'Lock was sick and I needed to stay and take care of him for Mummy.
"There were three other boys with me in the stairwell—we had to make up the tests there, since there was a class going on in the room—and every once in a while, a teacher went past, but not enough to make it very secure."
"Okay. And they were all cheating right in front of you?"
"They hardly noticed me. I'm barely college age, and I look pretty young besides."
"I know the feeling." I muttered darkly, but I continued watching my old friend attentively.
"And they kept slightly shifting and looking at their pockets. I could only see two of them actually checking cheat sheets, but they were all right handed, so logically they'd keep the papers in their left pockets so they could stop and pretend to write when a teacher went by. So when I turned my paper in, I also turned them in and got myself in Elliot's good books."
I grinned at Mycroft. "Brilliant," I said softly.
"That's not what those three guys said." Mycroft replied.
"They're idiots. You get caught, you get caught—the game is up, fair's fair."
"I doubt noble sentiments like those would pacify them."
"Well, then, call me up and I'll go kick some posh Eton arse—sorry, Sherlock."
"S'all right. Brolly cusses a lot when Mummy's not around."
"Do not!"
"Oh, you so do." I agreed, and Mycroft looked at me in mock horror.
"Et tu, Brute?"