a lovely date for a murder, don't you agree

[deductivedetective]

Neither of them called it a date. Sherlock may not have been the most socially up-to-speed person, but he knew what this was; what John was asking. He humored him and agreed, not pressing the matter. It wasn't unusual for them to to be together anyway, even before this. In fact, catching them without the other was even more odd.

It wasn't too fancy, anyway. The Chinese place down the street was good, and authentic (according to Sherlock's verification), and reasonably priced for two men sharing money. The atmosphere wasn't romantic, at least. Sherlock imagined the pressure on John would be lessened if just for that reason, even if he didn't understand the big deal.

"Eating in today for once, eh, Sherlock?" the host asked with a polite smile as they entered. "Two, then?"

"Yes, thank you," Sherlock said, looking at John. "Any plans after this, by the way?"

Comments

[deductivedetective]

"If what lasts that long?"

[deductivedoctor]

"The, um, snogging... as you put it."

[deductivedetective]

Opening his mouth to say something, he stopped upon realizing he wasn't quite sure how he felt about what John was saying. Was there something he still didn't know about 'relationships' that he had missed?

"Is this a short-term arrangement?" he asked. "I'm not sure what you're implying."

[deductivedoctor]

"No," John shook his head. "No it doesn't have to be. I'm just saying things like this don't always work out."

[deductivedetective]

Right. John was a prime example of things not working out.

Sherlock ran a hand through his hair, realizing he hadn't considered the possibility of this not 'working out.'

"I see. Well. I'll, um," he struggled a bit, "try to be discreet."

[deductivedoctor]

John couldn't help but laugh a little at the reaction.

"You're worried."

[deductivedetective]

"I'm not worried," he said quickly.

[deductivedoctor]

"You are, you're worried it won't work out," John said.

[deductivedetective]

"Don't be ridiculous," said Sherlock, looking away and at the TV instead.

[deductivedoctor]

"Right, I'm the one being ridiculous," John returned, all smiles. His glanced lingered on Sherlock for awhile longer before rejoining the movie.

[deductivedetective]

Sherlock spared a glare in John's direction, tugging his legs up on the seat, tucking them into his chest. He didn't like being caught like that. He was supposed to do the catching.

[deductivedoctor]

John didn't even have to look to realize he'd hit a nerve, so he just kept his attention on the television, holding onto his smile. Sherlock just kept surprising him. He seemed to be seeing a lot of Sherlock's human side as time went on. Not that Sherlock wasn't human, no-- He was just so far removed from normalcy and so fantastic that most people couldn't really compare. But there were little things that brought him down from his pedestal. Several of them, as of late. Sherlock could see it too, John was sure. Which is why Sherlock had reacted so defensively on being called out on it.

[deductivedetective]

He sat there with a sour expression for a good minute, before he finally let the show distract him again. There was certainly something changing in Sherlock. He did know. It startled him when it made itself obvious, when people knew, when it suddenly was out of his control - he was slipping, and it felt dangerous. Sherlock knew that in due time, it would turn against him.

On the screen, Kirk was yelling about something, trying to manipulate Spock's emotions - to the point where Spock stands down. Sherlock scoffed at the TV.

"Oh, come on. He has to know he's playing him!"

[deductivedoctor]

"I don't think he can hear you," John chimed in.

[deductivedetective]

Sherlock disregarded the comment, mumbling something else at the movie, before looking over at the bag Lestrade had left behind.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

[deductivedoctor]

"I'm not all that hungry, to be honest," John said, now looking down at the paper bag as well.

[deductivedetective]

"You haven't eaten much yourself, you know," he mentioned.

[deductivedoctor]

"So it's fine that you go for a week without eating but I can't even skip an afternoon."

[deductivedetective]

"Yes, because that's normal."

[deductivedoctor]

John sighed, relenting and taking a sandwich out of the bag. It was either a side effect of the medication or the imagery from the previous to day, but he wasn't really finding anything all that appetizing. Before rolling back the wrapper on his sandwich, he picked up another, throwing it across the room to Sherlock.

"If I have to eat one so do you."

[deductivedetective]

Sherlock caught it, staring at the paper-wrapped sandwich for a good moment before sighing, beginning to open it. The scent of tomato and basil wafted out. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, at least.

"Fine."

[deductivedoctor]

Satisfied with his small victory, John turned back to Star Trek, taking small bites of his sandwich between the scenes.

"This is pretty far gone from the stuff that aired when I was a kid."

[deductivedetective]

"It is," Sherlock agreed, mid-chew. He wasn't much for telly, no, but he had caught enough Star Trek in his youth to know. He might even have looked up to Spock when he was a child. (Perhaps evidenced by that time he had quoted him.) Young Sherlock certainly couldn't relate to other kids; even then, he was considered different. Only, at the time, he didn't know why.

[deductivedoctor]

"You watched the telly when you were a kid?" John asked, nibbling on the bread of his sandwich. "I pictured you as more the type to sit outside and burn ants with a magnifying glass."

[deductivedetective]

"I didn't burn them, I just observed them," he corrected. "But sometimes. There wasn't much else to do. I didn't exactly play with others. And Mycroft was usually busy with... I don't know, normal, boring things."