A/N This one's a bit odd, but whatever.
Thanks to johnsarmylady, 666BloodyHell666, Guest, MapleleafCameo, NinjaGirlRebecca, Hummingbird1759, and Motaku1235
Disclaimer I don't own Sherlock or any associated characters, events, etc.
LXIV. Multitasking
Sherlock has the remarkable ability to occupy himself with more than one task at once. It seems a trivial thing, but John can't help but be intrigued by it. Yes, the basic concept of 'multitasking' is incredibly simple, but he knows about the evidence of recent studies—supposedly, as it's actually impossible for the brain to be focused on multiple things simultaneously; not just difficult, but literally impossible, a function that the human mind isn't programmed to perform.
But Sherlock seems to do it effortlessly. He'll be running an experiment, talking to John, and contemplating the more interesting points of a recent case all at once, and as best as John can see, there's no evidence whatsoever of his mind switching rapidly between them. His actions are fluid, steady, and he seems utterly focused.
"How do you do it?" John asks one day, softly and wonderingly.
Sherlock doesn't look up from his experiment, just responds in a low monotone. "What?"
"You—it's not supposed to be possible. To do so many things at once."
"Half of what I do is supposedly impossible, John, I hope you know that by now." He sounds vaguely irritated. "No need to act like it's the most brilliant thing you've ever set eyes on."
"I thought you didn't mind my being impressed by you," John half-teases. When the only response comes in the form of a low grunt, he sighs and rolls his eyes. "I'm just curious is all. I mean, being a genius, being highly perceptive—that's one thing, but your brain works differently than the rest of humanity. That's insane."
"No. No, it doesn't, and everyone else's could operate just as well if only they took the time to culture it properly instead of filling it with all the absolute rubbish that people do these days. Of course I can't do multiple things at once, but I have the ability to switch between tasks at a much more rapid pace than anyone else—a fragment of a millisecond is all the transition time I need. It's easy, really…" He looks up for the first time, moving his hands vaguely as he attempts to patch together an explanation. "I have several different subjects that I'm allotting attention to, and I hold them all in my mind at once—in balance, if you will. All at the top of my thoughts, so that my focus can move between them quickly… you're not following me."
John shakes his head, grinning slightly. "Not at all."
Groaning, Sherlock glances back towards his microscope, pressing his eye up to the lens. "I should really stop trying to even… just because you put up with me doesn't mean your brain is any more developed than the rest of those apes."
"People, Sherlock, people."
"If idiots like that are people, then I'm concerned for the fate of the planet," Sherlock retorts, his voice thick with frustration.
John can't help but laugh.